A few months ago, EO Bryan-College Station (thank you Uri Geva, Steven Sutton and Jen Zwieaker for setting this up) hosted James Lawrence aka The Iron Cowboy. James is a Guinness Book of World Record holder, and in 2015 he completed 50 Ironman distance Triathlons, in 50 states, in 50 days! He wrote a book about it titled Iron Cowboy and over the last week while I was on vacation in Durango Colorado, I tore through the book.
As I read, I tried to think of the most difficult thing that I have accomplished, so far. There is no doubt that physically, the most difficult task was completing US Army Ranger School. While graduating Ranger school was also a mental battle, actually being deployed overseas was the most mentally difficult thing I have accomplished. Emotionally, the first year working in Bryan/ College Station was the most difficult. I was breaking into a new market that didn’t know my employer and didn’t know me. There is no doubt that the decision to move here was the right one, but that first year really challenged my emotional fortitude.
I asked a few of the entrepreneurs that I serve what the most difficult thing they have accomplished so far and the answer was always the same: leading their business.
With that in mind, I wanted to share with you 4 lessons that I took from the Iron Cowboy, and how I think you can help you in leading your business.
1. Have a vision and a purpose. If you don’t know where you want to go, then how do you expect to get there? James had a desire to accomplish something that had never even been attempted before (vision) and he wanted to see what would happen when his mind and body reached the absolute breaking point (purpose). To be sure, James also used this experience to draw attention to a cause (eradicating childhood obesity), but he also had a north star that he could set his nose towards, when things were tough. You also have to have a vision and a purpose that will lead you (and your team) though the uncertainty that is entrepreneurship.
To find out more about defining your vision, check out Traction by Gino Wickman and Leading From Purpose by Nick Craig.
2. Build a team. James completed this amazing accomplishment only through the support and dedication of his team. As I thought about his team, I noticed that James selected members that believed in him (and his vision), took coaching well, and operated with very decentralized command. After all James was kind of busy running an Ironman distance triathlon every day, he didn’t have the time, capacity, or energy to micromanage. He actually talks about a point during the 50 where he emotionally releases his own team focused limiting frustration. This was a major breakthrough for him and it allowed him to focus on his Queen Bee Role (thanks Mike Michalowicz). Entrepreneurship today is a team sport, with the wisest entrepreneurs building a team of supporters around them, both inside and outside their company. I am going to challenge you to audit your team with a 2-fold purpose: 1) identify where you need additional support and 2) ensure that there is no one on your team that is acting more like an anchor than an engine.
To find out more about how I think your banker should prove themselves as part of your team, click here to check out this discussion that I had with members of Dillon CPAs.
3. Grit. If I only had 1 word to describe James Lawrence, it would be GRIT. The mindset that he has to keep going when things are at their most difficult and painful is remarkable. I loved when he described how he willed himself to keep going after he had hit his breaking point. It was 30 days into the adventure, and in that moment, he realized his purpose of finding out what he would do when he had had enough. In that moment, The Iron Cowboy was born and James found the strength to continue. It is not lost on me that his philosophy during this moment of crisis was the same philosophy that he lives by. Focus on this next swim stroke, pedal push, step. Don’t worry about the one after that. Just focus and make this one perfect. After that is accomplished, then focus on the next one. Don’t get overwhelmed with what you have to do tomorrow, the next day, or the next year. Just focus on now. This may seem a bit of a contradiction of my first take away, but I see this as not allowing the waves of uncertainty or difficulty keep you from doing what operationally needs to be done.
4. Be prepared to be lonely. During the entire 50, James was surrounded by friend, family, and supporters. Yet he was all alone, in the sense that no one could fully understand or empathize with what he was accomplishing. He had to endure being lonely while surrounded by people. At times, I hear my entrepreneurs say the same thing. They don’t come out and say it directly, but I can tell by the weight that is sometimes in the back of their eyes. This is when I encourage them to reach out to God, for He truly does know what you are going through (and has the wisdom to help you). But don’t also forget about the other members of their team that actually understand to the core what they are going through. This is why I love groups like Entrepreneurs Organization, Gazelles, and other Mastermind groups. If you are not part of these groups, then I would highly recommend that you find one that is in your area or fits your schedule (virtual mastermind) and you join immediately.
Check out the EO website and find one near you. Do it today, then let me know which one you joined.
The Iron Cowboy has stated emphatically that there is nothing special about him, but I would beg to differ. The willpower and grit that James displays is truly something special and worthy of all of us to try to emulate. Thank you, James for sharing your story and teaching us to always get better. Thank you again to EO Bryan-College Station for hosting this event.
Being an entrepreneur is one of the most difficult and demanding things you can do. The good news is that entrepreneurship today is a team sport. Hit the connect button on LinkedIn or Facebook NOW and together we will work towards hitting your 10-year target. Along the way we will increase your profit, strengthen your leadership skills and define your strategic vision. This will lead to confidence in your path, freedom to dream up bigger targets and a strategic banking relationship. When we connect, tell me about the toughest physical, mental, or emotional challenge you have ever faced.
Greg Martin is an entrepreneur’s insider to the banking industry and passionately believes that every person was uniquely designed for a higher purpose and calling. Greg guides entrepreneurs in defining and achieving their purpose and calling. His deepest passion is living life with his wife and their wonderful son.
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