Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned about leadership didn’t come from board meetings or business school. They came while I was out on a long run, watching a game, or listening to music with my headphones on and my phone off.

The older I get and the more businesses I lead, the more I realize leadership is less about memorizing frameworks and more about how you show up, with your team, with your values, and especially under pressure. And that kind of presence is sharpened in places that don’t look anything like a boardroom.

Here’s how running, music, and sports continue to shape the way I lead.

Running Teaches You to Pace for the Long Haul

I’ve always loved running. Not because I’m fast, but because running forces you to confront your limits. You’re out there with no shortcuts, no distractions, no applause. It’s just you, your breath, and the road ahead.

That’s exactly what leadership feels like some days. Especially as a CEO scaling a business past startup mode. There are stretches where everything is uphill. You’re tired. You want to stop. And no one’s coming to rescue you.

Running taught me how to pace myself. You can’t sprint every mile or burn out by mile five. You have to find rhythm, understand your capacity, and trust that consistent effort beats occasional heroics.

In business, I’ve applied that to how I build teams, set strategy, and manage my own energy. Growth is not a straight line. CEOs who try to muscle through every problem don’t last. The ones who plan, breathe, and pace their moves tend to stay in the game long enough to win.

Sports Build Team Instinct and Competitive Grit

Growing up, sports were a huge part of my life. And they still are. I follow them, play when I can, and learn from the dynamics on and off the field. Sports are the clearest mirror of what it means to work as a unit with a shared goal.

A team sport teaches you that your role matters even when you don’t have the ball. Great players communicate, anticipate, and trust each other. They don’t micromanage every pass. They just know where everyone is supposed to be.

I take that same mindset into business. I don’t need to control every decision across the org. I need to make sure everyone is playing their position well, understands the playbook, and knows how to adjust on the fly.

There’s also something deeply valuable about the competitive edge you sharpen through sports. Not arrogance. Not ego. But a deep hunger to improve, outwork, and outlast, especially when the scoreboard isn’t in your favor.

When CTS hit tough patches, I didn’t panic. I went back to the basics. I focused on preparation, coaching, and resilience, exactly what I learned from years of being part of a team sport.

Music Teaches Leadership Flow and Timing

I didn’t expect music to shape my leadership style, but it has in more ways than I realized. I’m not a trained musician, but I love rhythm. I love the way a great track builds, flows, and makes you feel something without saying a word.

Music reminds me that timing matters just as much as strategy. A decision made too early or too late can have the same result, failure. In music, you learn to feel the beat, not just follow the notes.

As a CEO, especially during rapid growth, I’ve learned to listen for that same rhythm inside the business. When are we in a groove? When is it time to push tempo? When do we need to pause and regroup?

You also learn to recognize harmony and dissonance. Is this new hire syncing with the team? Is our product messaging clashing with what customers need? Music teaches you to feel when things are off, even if the data hasn’t caught up yet.

And maybe most importantly, music reminds you that great things aren’t built solo. Even a solo artist works with producers, engineers, and collaborators. Business is no different. If the song doesn’t work, you change the arrangement, not just blame the instruments.

Bringing the Lessons Together in Leadership

The more I pull from running, music, and sports, the clearer my leadership principles have become. I want to lead with endurance, timing, and teamwork. I want to be the kind of CEO who doesn’t just push, but pulls people forward with clarity and confidence.

These interests also keep me grounded. When business gets overwhelming, which it does, going for a run or watching a game resets my mindset. It reminds me of the bigger picture and helps me come back to the office with more patience and perspective.

In fact, I’d argue that the best leaders aren’t just thinking about spreadsheets and strategy decks. They’re drawing insights from everywhere. From a coach’s halftime speech. From a bad run that turned into a breakthrough. From a song that helped them process a hard decision.

Leadership isn’t something you turn on from 9 to 5. It’s a mindset you carry everywhere. The real work of becoming a better leader happens when no one’s watching.