I’ve run two half-marathons. I’m not a professional athlete by any stretch, but running has been a huge part of my routine for years. It’s where I think clearly, push myself, and reset.

And here’s what I’ve realized after logging all those miles: building and leading a business is a lot like running a race.

You need energy, discipline, preparation — and most importantly, pacing. Go out too fast and you burn out. Go too slow and you miss opportunities. Find the right rhythm, and you’ll not only finish strong — you’ll enjoy the process more.

Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned operator, here’s my take on how to run your business like a race — and why strategic pacing might be the most underrated leadership skill there is.

Start Strong — But Don’t Sprint

Every entrepreneur starts with adrenaline. You’ve got a vision. A whiteboard full of ideas. A pile of energy and maybe even some early momentum.

That’s exciting. But here’s the trap: mistaking a strong start for sustainable speed.

In running, going out too fast leads to early fatigue. In business, it leads to bad decisions, half-baked hires, poor product execution, and often, founder burnout. I’ve seen it — and lived it — more than once.

Start strong, yes. But be honest about your capacity and constraints. Focus your early energy on building the foundation — not chasing every shiny opportunity.

Train Before You Scale

When you run a race, you don’t just show up on race day and hope for the best. You train. You build strength, endurance, and technique over time. You learn how to breathe. You get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Business is no different.

Before you scale, build your internal systems. Understand your numbers. Get your hiring process tight. Nail down your service model. Create clear documentation and workflows.

You don’t scale chaos. You scale structure.

Too many companies try to grow before they’re ready. But scaling a broken system doesn’t fix it — it just breaks things faster.

Find Your Rhythm — and Stick With It

Every runner has a natural pace — not too fast, not too slow, just right for their stride and stamina.

In business, your pace is your operating rhythm. It’s how often you meet, how you make decisions, how you communicate, and how you execute.

At CTS, we built in rhythms that helped us grow steadily — leadership huddles, monthly data reviews, quarterly goal setting. These weren’t rigid meetings for the sake of it. They gave us momentum without chaos.

When your company finds its rhythm, the day-to-day becomes smoother. Teams know what to expect. Accountability increases. And you avoid that lurching, reactive style of leadership that burns everyone out.

Watch Your Energy, Not Just Your Metrics

Most business dashboards are filled with metrics — revenue, churn, CAC, growth rate.

But when I’m leading a team, I also watch something less obvious: energy.

How tired is the team? How engaged are people in meetings? Are we rushing through things or doing them with care? Am I showing up with energy — or just going through the motions?

In long races, runners constantly scan their bodies: how’s the breathing, the stride, the posture? Because if something’s off early, it only gets worse with distance.

As a CEO, your energy and clarity are leadership tools. Don’t ignore your internal dashboard.

Plan for Hills — and Recovery

No race course is perfectly flat. You’re going to hit hills. And when you do, you can’t go full speed — or you’ll crash.

In business, the “hills” are product delays, hiring issues, economic downturns, tough quarters. When these show up, the answer isn’t to push harder. It’s to shift your pace intentionally. You double down on focus. Cut the noise. Recalibrate the goal if needed.

Just as important: plan for recovery. After a big launch or intense quarter, give the team time to reset. Celebrate wins. Take a breath. Don’t run your people (or yourself) into the ground.

Momentum is built in cycles, not sprints.

Run Your Own Race

In a race, the rookie mistake is to look sideways — to speed up just because someone else is ahead. That usually ends in burnout.

In business, it’s the same. Comparing yourself to competitors, obsessing over someone else’s funding round or launch or hiring spree — it’s a distraction.

Run your own race. Know your market. Know your customer. Know your margins. Stay grounded in what works for you, not what looks good for someone else.

In the long run, focus wins. Consistency wins. Authenticity wins.

Finishing Strong Matters More Than Starting Fast

Some of the companies I’ve admired most didn’t have flashy beginnings. They had resilient middles and strong finishes. They played the long game. They figured out how to stay steady while others burned out.

That’s what I’ve tried to do as a leader. I didn’t want to be the fastest-growing company for a year. I wanted to build a company that could last through cycles, grow with intention, and serve customers well over time.

That mindset comes straight from running: it’s not how fast you start — it’s how strong you finish.

Pacing Is Power

If you’re a founder or entrepreneur in the trenches right now — I get it. You want to grow. You want to win. But if you don’t pace yourself, you won’t make it to the finish line.

Run your business like a race:

• Start with intention
  
• Train before you scale
  
• Find your rhythm
  
• Monitor energy
  
• Expect hills
  
• Run your own race
  
• And finish strong
  

That’s how you build something that doesn’t just sprint — but lasts.