Knocking at the Door of the Crazy Club

By 9 p.m., I’m in bed, and most days, I wake up before 4:30 a.m.—seven days a week. I’m awake before sunrise, jogging into the quiet, dark streets. For years, I swore my Brazilian-Italian blood would never allow me to run outdoors when temperatures dipped below 50°F (10°C). Cold air? No, thank you.

But this year, everything changed. I wanted to push myself a bit more, so I bought the right gear, and for the first time since I started running in 2012, I began running in below-freezing temperatures.

These last few weeks, I found myself running through Boston at just shy of 5 a.m. The temperature? A brutal 6°F (-14°C). My chest burned from inhaling the icy air, and as I exhaled fog into the darkness, that's when those invading thoughts arrived:

I imagined every driver shaking their head at me. I thought of my body, clearly not built for this kind of punishment. And yet, here I was, crossing into what felt like uncharted territory.

I average anywhere between 4 and 8 miles a day—every day. My app, which doesn’t include the hundreds of hours on the winter treadmills of life, has me clocked at just shy of 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) all time. (Yes, I’m bragging!)

Embracing the Crazy

Sometimes, all of us—whether as leaders, managers, teammates, or simply humans trying to navigate life—find ourselves on a similar path. The work we pour into our passions, the risks we take, the goals we set for ourselves—they can all feel overwhelming, even a little irrational at times.

Think about the moments when you've stretched yourself. Maybe it was tackling a work project no one believed in, starting a new career path later in life, or committing to a personal goal that seemed unattainable.

These actions may feel “crazy” in the moment, but they are often the ones that define us.

The beauty of the Crazy Club is that membership is open to everyone. There’s no age limit, no entry fee, no resume required. You simply need the willingness to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unknown.

This doesn’t mean the journey will be easy. The cold air I run through at dawn can sting, both physically and mentally. Your own "cold air" might be a mountain of self-doubt, fear of failure, or external skepticism.

But that discomfort is the price of entry into something greater.

Why the "Crazy" Is Worth It

So why do we do it? Why wake up at 4:30 a.m. to run in freezing temperatures? Why take on risks that seem unreasonable to others? Because these moments teach us resilience.

It’s in the so-called "crazy" where we discover our capacity for growth. When I’m pushing through those miles in subzero temperatures, it’s not just about physical endurance. It’s a reminder that discomfort is temporary, but the pride of accomplishing something difficult lasts much longer.

In life, just like in running, the biggest breakthroughs often come right after the hardest struggles. When your lungs are burning, when the uphill climb feels endless, when everything in you says, “Quit!”—that’s the moment when growth happens.

Backed by Science

Our willingness to embrace discomfort and pursue the "crazy" isn’t just a romantic idea—it’s backed by data.

• Bold Risks Fuel Growth: A 2023 study revealed that leaders who take what seem like unreasonable risks achieve 35% higher innovation rates. Boldness creates breakthroughs.
• Stretching Limits Builds Resilience: Facing extreme challenges—whether physical, emotional, or intellectual—increases mental endurance by 25%. Hardship becomes a tool for future success.
• Visionaries Were Once "Crazy": History is full of people labeled as dreamers or unrealistic—Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Elon Musk. What seemed irrational to others was the very foundation of their brilliance.

The evidence is clear: humans are hardwired to adapt and thrive when faced with challenge. The key is learning to see struggle not as a setback, but as a stepping stone.

The Invitation

So what about you? What’s your version of the Crazy Club?

Maybe it’s that passion project you’ve been postponing. Or a bold business idea that feels risky. Perhaps it’s committing to improving your health, building better relationships, or leading your team in a way that’s never been tried before.

The challenge is universal. Whether you’re a manager making tough decisions, a parent juggling endless responsibilities, or someone simply trying to do better, we all face moments where the leap feels too big. But those leaps define who we are.

Your Roadmap to Boldness

1. Identify Your “Crazy” Goal: Choose one goal that scares you but also excites you. Write it down. Share it with someone. Make it real.
2. Start Small: Don’t aim to conquer everything in one day. Take the first step. Then another. Momentum builds courage.
3. Embrace the Discomfort: Know that the hard parts are where you’re growing the most. Recognize discomfort as a sign of progress.
4. Track Your Wins: Celebrate small milestones. Progress fuels motivation and reminds you why you started.

The Reward

As I finished the many freezing runs, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. But I also felt a deep sense of pride. It wasn’t about the miles or the temperature—it was about proving to myself that I could do it.

That same sense of pride is waiting for you.

Your Crazy Club membership is an invitation to step into something extraordinary. It’s a chance to embrace the madness, to take bold risks, and to discover what you’re truly capable of.

So, go ahead.

Take the leap.

Because sometimes, the things that seem the most irrational are what make us truly extraordinary.

References

1. Bold Risks Fuel Growth: Harvard Business Review (2023) highlighted that leaders taking calculated, unconventional risks achieve 35% higher innovation rates compared to their peers.
2. Stretching Limits Builds Resilience: Research by the American Psychological Association (2021) shows that consistently facing challenges increases mental endurance by 25%.
3. Visionaries Were Once "Crazy": Walter Isaacson’s The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution (2014) outlines the risks and achievements of visionaries like Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, and Elon Musk.
4. Physical and Mental Benefits of Running in Adverse Conditions: A Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2019) study found that training in challenging environments boosts physical endurance and mental toughness.
5. The Psychology of Bold Decision-Making: Psychology Today (2020) explained how stepping outside one’s comfort zone enhances problem-solving and adaptability through neuroplasticity.