20 Mile March

The company that I have worked at over the last 17 years has a pretty incredible story. Started by two guys in a basement in 2001, they hired a bunch of college kids and taught them to be sales people. The company grew and grew and eventually those entry level hires were put in charge and one of them became the CEO. But as Bert Bean took over as CEO, he realized that we weren't the company we needed to be. So, we set out on what we called Compass, a retreat with the top leaders in the company to define who we wanted to be, what we wanted to focus on and how we were going to accomplish it (something we can help you and your organization with if you want Compass - Culture & Leadership Development ( insightglobal.com ) Before we went to the first ever Compass Bert had us read Great by Choice by Jim Collins.? As we are about to embark on another Compass (actually 5 years to the day that we had the first) Bert asked us to re-read the book.? One of the things that we will be discussing is a concept that has been instrumental in achieving success at Insight Global - the "20-Mile March."? In the book Jim Collins uses the real-life story of Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer who successfully led the first expedition to reach the South Pole. Amundsen's approach was both meticulous and consistent. He aimed to cover exactly 20 miles every day, regardless of the weather conditions or circumstances. What's truly remarkable is that Amundsen's team wasn't the only one attempting to reach the South Pole. On the same day they set off in 1911, another team led by Robert Scott embarked on the same journey.

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The key difference between the two teams was their consistency. On good days with favorable conditions, Scott's team would push as far as they could, covering 40 miles. On bad days, they would hunker down and only manage 2 miles. Meanwhile, Amundsen's team stuck to their 20-mile march every single day, no matter the conditions. As a result, they reached the South Pole a whole 34 days before Scott's team. Sadly, Scott's team lost five men during the treacherous hike, including Scott himself, while Amundsen's team had all 19 members return safely.

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When I first read about the 20-Mile March, and now upon re-reading it, I fell in love with the concept. At its core, it's about doing the things we MUST do every day, regardless of the circumstances. This principle can be applied to both our personal and professional lives, and I wanted to share my key takeaways with all of you:

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Consistency Breeds Success: The 20-Mile March reminds us that steady, consistent progress can lead to remarkable achievements over time. By setting manageable daily or weekly goals, both individuals and organizations can ensure they make progress, even in the face of adversity.

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Risk Mitigation: In volatile environments, the 20-Mile March helps us mitigate risks. By not overextending ourselves during good times and maintaining discipline during challenging times, we build resilience to unforeseen obstacles.

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Sustainability: This concept encourages sustainable growth and habits. Rapid, unsustainable progress often leads to burnout or instability. The 20-Mile March promotes sustainable practices that can be maintained over the long haul.

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Focus on Key Metrics: In a world filled with distractions, the 20-Mile March guides us to focus on the essential metrics that truly matter for our goals. It helps us avoid the trap of chasing every new trend or opportunity.

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Cultivating Discipline: The 20-Mile March fosters discipline, a crucial trait for success. It teaches us to adhere to our plans and commitments, regardless of external pressures or temptations to deviate.

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I encourage each of you to take some time to reflect on how the 20-Mile March can apply to your personal and professional life. By embracing this principle, we can achieve sustained success and make steady progress towards our aspirations.