Why Success Demands a Tortoise Mindset

I often ask myself, what does success look like?

And…

How do you get there without feeling like a zombie on three hours of sleep, with the risk of burnout?

Success, whether in your career—like mine in Executive Search—or in sports (which I reference often, probably too much for some of you), isn’t just about hitting personal bests or racing to meet deadlines.

Think back to the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare. It’s not the rabbit with a caffeine addiction that wins the race, but the one who paces themselves perfectly executing a tried and tested strategy.

We all know steady discipline leads to long-term success, but we still crave quick results.

As someone who has competed in running, boxing, soccer, and cricket (yes, the sport with the wooden paddle for my American friends), I’ve seen firsthand how discipline has driven my progress, and later, my professional success.

Research backs this up: a Cornell study found that people who play sports are 15% more likely to land management roles and consider this 94% of women in C-suite roles (think CEOs and CFOs) have a sports background, according to Ernst & Young and ESPNW. Now, that’s pretty significant.

What this tells us is that the qualities you develop through sports—discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—are what you need to succeed in your job. And just like in the fable, it’s not about racing ahead and flaming out like the hare who discovered those espresso shots. It’s about the steady pace that keeps you in the game for the long haul.

This is especially true in Executive Recruitment, when you’re juggling complex negotiations and multiple stakeholders, you’ll want the calm of a monk.

I wear a Whoop Band that I’m obsessed with, and on the side of the device it says, “Mentality is Everything.” It’s the thing that separates the pros from the wannabes in both sports and recruitment. The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology confirms that mental toughness boosts resilience, confidence, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. And let's face it—keeping your cool when things get stressful, it is priceless in recruitment.

But resilience isn’t built by going all out in short, exhausting bursts like the hare. Athletes don’t become mentally tough by giving it 110% on just some days. It's the tortoise approach—showing up consistently, training even on the tough days—that helps them push through. The same applies in recruitment.

That being said, it’s not all about being tough and disciplined. Especially in recruitment, where adaptability and emotional intelligence matter as much as grit. You can’t just bulldoze through every situation.

Sometimes, you need to channel your inner tortoise, not for toughness, but for patience and in reading the room. Executive Search isn’t about muscling through; it’s about having the empathy to understand what’s really going on when clients or candidates need you the most.

While sports might teach you discipline and perseverance, they’re not always great at developing those softer skills. In recruitment, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are the secret ingredients to success.

This is where the magic happens.

Or, at the very least, where you avoid running out of steam halfway through the race!

References

Cornell University. (n.d.). Study on the benefits of sports participation and career success.

Ernst & Young & ESPNW. (2014). Women in C-suite roles and sports participation.

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. (n.d.). Study on mental toughness and career resilience.