When Work Meets a Workout

30 minute partner AMRAP (as many reps as possible) of:

• 300m rowing
• 12 deadlifts (135 lbs for men / 95 lbs for women)
• 10 lateral burpees over the bar

No, it's not a workout. Well, OK, it is a workout. But it's not. The movements in that list are ingredients. Three specific activities intended to push the limits of what someone is capable of on that particular day, at that particular level of fitness. It should stretch the participant. Push them to a place physically that may be a little bit outside their comfort zone. Above all? It creates perspective. And creating perspective, for all intents and purposes, was the goal of this event. Let me explain...

Last week, the Drift sales leadership team ventured out of the office for an atypical offsite at CrossFit 128 in Wakefield, MA. Were we there to discuss strategy? No. Performance and thoughts on process breakdowns? Nope. Better options for territory mixes? Also no. What about a whiteboard session - would there be a whiteboard session? Well...yes. But a very different kind of whiteboard session. Remember, this is a Crossfit affiliate. And the only whiteboard that matters in a Crossfit gym is the one with the workout of the day written on it. What you see above was our workout. That was our whiteboard session.

The link between physical fitness and one's performance at work is well-documented. But this session at CrossFit 128 was not a sermon on fitness and exercise. The intent was to create a counterbalance for the sales leaders at Drift. To convert the stored mental stressors - that inherently come with leading high velocity sales teams at an extremely high-growth company - into physical exertion. And to complete it together, as a unit, working to accomplish the same goal.

A workout like that, for an individual, is a great release valve. It releases endorphins and instills a sense of accomplishment. But a workout like that for a team - who push each other to reach new levels of achievement on a daily basis - is cathartic. It's unifying. It's memorable. And it's what, ultimately, sets us up to win the long game together.

It's not often that those who work together, workout together. At least not like this. It's the first time in my career that I've had a chance to do that with a team. It was fun. We all learned a lot about each other that day without having to say a word (granted, it's hard to talk when you're just trying to breathe). The determination, the effort, and the cheering on of partners and peers, said it all. This is a team destined to summit a very tall mountain together.

Thank you to Jason, Mike, Sam, Michelle, Jillian, Kyle, Dakota, Jill, and Armen for all you do as leaders here at Drift. Your efforts - in and out of the gym - are deeply appreciated!!