Let marathoners run your business

Marathon runners are delightfully idiosyncratic.

I would know.

I’m one of them.

After being an enthusiastic spectator of the NYC marathon for over a decade, I decided to tackle the unfathomable and join the ~1% of folks mad enough to go the (26.2 mile) distance.

As many in my network know, for the past four years, many nights, weekends, and early mornings have been devoted to running. Each year, I’ve spent my birthday weekend participating in the TCS NYC Marathon. From these experiences, I’ve challenged myself, grown more than I realized I would, and learned about who I am at my core – and how that ties me deeply to a community of runners and equally importantly, a community of like-minded marcomms professionals.

Marathon running is a pursuit that demands a unique combination of dedication, discipline, and resilience. These attributes directly translate into the professional arena, making marathon runners exceptional candidates for roles that require commitment, structured planning, and the ability to overcome challenges.

Here's why hiring a marathon runner can be a wise business decision for any business seeking an empathetic, motivated, comms professional ready for an uncharted challenge. Marathoners are marked not only by their contagious enthusiasm and willingness to do what many others believe to be impossible. They embody several qualities that prudent and strategic hiring managers actively seek:

1. Discipline and Goal-Oriented Mindset: Marathon training requires a strict regimen, setting goals, and consistently working towards them. This parallels the need for structured program management and the achievement of clear communication objectives. A marathon runner's disciplined approach ensures tasks are executed meticulously and goals are met consistently.
2. Endurance and Resilience: Marathon runners understand the importance of perseverance. They are well-acquainted with the physical and mental challenges of pushing boundaries. This endurance equips them to handle high-pressure situations and navigate setbacks in the professional realm, ensuring that communication strategies remain resilient in the face of adversity.
3. Time Management: Marathon training necessitates precise time management. Runners learn to balance training with their professional lives, demonstrating their capability to manage tight schedules and meet deadlines efficiently, a crucial skill in program management.
4. Focus on Continuous Improvement: Marathon runners are always looking for ways to enhance their performance. This mindset of continuous improvement can translate into a commitment to refining communication strategies, exceeding KPI expectations, and driving efficiencies across program management approaches for better outcomes.
5. Team Collaboration: Run clubs and group training are common, fostering a collaborative spirit. This is instrumental in the workplace, where effective teamwork is essential for achieving collective goals and ensuring smooth communication.
6. Adaptability: Weather, terrain, and personal circumstances can change during a marathon. Runners are adept at adapting to unexpected and unideal conditions and making quick decisions. In the corporate world, adaptability is essential for managing evolving projects and unexpected challenges.
7. Mental Toughness: Marathon runners develop mental fortitude to overcome "the wall" – a point where the race becomes incredibly challenging. This resilience equips them to handle high-pressure situations with composure, making them ideal for crisis management and effective communication during critical times.

To all recruiters and hiring managers, I encourage you to continue seeking out diverse candidates from new industries and backgrounds when filling your pipeline. There are many other unconventional ways to source potential employees, but this may be a nuanced group of professionals currently untapped at your organization. Consider how versatile marathoners can be, and how your company can benefit from applicants possessing these qualities to ensure efficient program management and the execution of robust communication strategies. I am confident that my experience as a dedicated marathon runner has equipped me with these valuable skills, and I am eager to highlight how transferable they are to my daily work in communications, marketing, and program management.