<![CDATA[Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!H-KR!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7e1bc3bd-2637-49cc-9815-b948665d3d68_608x608.pngChief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonoughhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.comSubstackThu, 12 Nov 2026 13:00:30 GMT<![CDATA[Grit: Why Staying Power Beats Raw Talent]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/grit-why-staying-power-beats-rawhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/grit-why-staying-power-beats-rawWed, 11 Nov 2026 20:06:17 GMT

The Warm-Up

Every race has someone more gifted than you on the start line. Most of them won’t be there in five years. Angela Duckworth spent her career asking why, and her answer is the foundation of this club: the people who go farthest aren’t the most talented. They’re the ones who keep showing up for the same long goal.

Big idea in one line: Sustained passion and perseverance toward a long-term goal predict achievement better than talent does.

Read it if: you start strong and fade, or you lead people who do.

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]]><![CDATA[The Capacity to Endure: How Crushing Debt, Insomnia, and Ultra-Racing Built a $100M SaaS Architect]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-capacity-to-endure-how-crushinghttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-capacity-to-endure-how-crushingFri, 06 Nov 2026 15:02:36 GMT

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At 22 years old, Jean-Baptiste (JB) Daguené thought he was invincible. Running high-level sales across Denmark and closing multi-million euro deals, he convinced himself the game was too easy. He quit his job to launch an e-commerce startup - and within 11 months, he went bankrupt.

Left with eight years of personal debt and a plane ticket home paid for by his parents, JB faced a brutal reality check. But instead of breaking, he took a sales role at Trustpilot, cold-called founders who were succeeding where he had failed, and closed 600 deals in two years to dig himself out of the red.

Today, JB is the Founder and CEO of EverGrowth, a partner at 70V who has backed 50+ startups, and a seasoned endurance athlete who has conquered full Ironmans, 400-kilometer solo winter bike rides, and the Tokyo Marathon.

In the latest episode of Chief Endurance Officer, host Greg McDonough sat down with JB to explore the intersection of extreme physical stamina, AI-driven go-to-market strategies, and executive leadership.

1. Meeting the “Inside” You

Most executives spend their days performing for the outside world - the curated profile you see on LinkedIn. For JB, getting hooked on endurance training started as a practical fix for teenage insomnia. But spending 6 to 8 hours a week running alone through forests without music or podcasts unlocked something deeper.

“I never really asked myself, ‘Who is JB inside?’” JB explains. “When you spend so much time with yourself, you have no choice but to figure it out. It becomes therapy and meditation. You stop defining yourself by what you think other people think of you, and you learn to prioritize what you actually need.”

2. Why Great Salespeople Learn to Love the Pain

Sales is not a cube; it’s a funnel. Rejection is built into the business model.

“The definition of endurance is your capacity to endure pain,” says JB. “In sales or entrepreneurship, you need to like pain. You get rejection in your face every single day, and you still need the discipline to make that next call. It’s just like showing up on race day feeling terrible - you still go through it, appreciate the process, and get back to training the next day.”

3. The Golden Rule of AI Agents: Do It Manually First

As the leader of EverGrowth, JB helps enterprise B2B teams automate complex research and outbound workflows using AI agents. But his advice to founders rushing to implement AI is surprisingly old-school: do everything manually first.

  • Crunch the list yourself: Make the first 100 calls and do the research by hand.

  • Treat agents like interns: Imagine you have 100 hyper-intelligent interns available 24/7. If you cannot articulate the exact task and expected output format, they will fail.

  • Build fallbacks to kill hallucinations: Tell your models - and your team - that if they cannot find the answer, the required response is simply “I don’t know.”

4. Racing for Grandpa: Purpose Over Podium

After taking a two-year hiatus from racing to rebuild EverGrowth from the ground up and care for his wife’s grandfather during his battle with cancer, JB received a notification for Norseman - widely considered the hardest triathlon in the world - on the very day of the funeral.

“Grandpa was sent to Siberia during the Soviet era, survived, beat multiple cancers, and never once complained - he was always grateful,” JB shares. Rather than racing purely for personal achievement, JB is tackling the brutal Norwegian mountain course to fundraise for cancer research and honor a life defined by resilience.

]]><![CDATA[Translating Ultra-Endurance into SaaS Execution - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #186]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/translating-ultra-endurance-intohttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/translating-ultra-endurance-intoFri, 06 Nov 2026 10:02:17 GMTTake your revenue operations, endurance discipline, and executive mindset to the next level with game-changing insights on navigating bankruptcy, training AI agents to eliminate manual sales friction, and finding deep self-identity through hours of solo training. It’s time to move past surface-level vanity metrics and start building the mental stamina required to embrace rejection and execute daily. Who better to guide you through this transition than extreme endurance athlete, B2B SaaS investor across 50+ startups, and Founder & CEO of EverGrowth, JB Daguené?

You will learn how JB overcame severe insomnia through early morning running, navigated 8 years of personal debt following the collapse of his first startup, and scaled sales teams from initial MRR to over $100M ARR. Discover how to treat AI agents like 24/7 interns by mastering unscalable manual processes first, and why racing the brutal Norseman triathlon with a charitable purpose transforms physical pain into lasting legacy. Get ready to build unwavering discipline, prioritize your internal well-being, and turn setbacks into execution!

Takeaways:

  • Discovering the “Inside” Self: Extreme endurance strips away screens and social expectations, forcing you to move past your public LinkedIn persona and understand who you truly are inside.

  • The Endurance Definition of Sales: Sales and entrepreneurship mirror ultra-running - success requires the capacity to endure daily pain, absorb constant rejection, and step up to the next call without losing momentum.

  • Master the Unscalable Before Automating: Before deploying AI agents, founders must manually perform the clicks, research, and outreach themselves to clearly define the exact tasks and fallback rules.

  • Treating AI Agents Like Interns: Think of AI agents as brilliant interns who can work 24/7; if you cannot clearly teach them a specific, repeatable workflow, you are not ready to automate.

  • Racing with a Purpose: After pausing racing to rebuild EverGrowth and care for family, JB signed up for the Norseman triathlon to honor his wife’s late grandfather and raise funds for cancer research.

Quote of the Show:

“The definition of endurance is your capacity to endure pain, right? I think working in sales or being an entrepreneur is you need to also like pain.” - JB Daguen

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[86,400 Seconds - Jack Wilson - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #185]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/86400-seconds-jack-wilson-chief-endurancehttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/86400-seconds-jack-wilson-chief-enduranceFri, 30 Oct 2026 09:01:33 GMTTake your executive performance, personal accountability, and adversity management to the next level with game-changing insights on setting unwavering goals, celebrating strategic failures, and leading under pressure. It’s time to stop letting past labels dictate your future and start putting in the actual work required to achieve your vision. Who better to guide you through this transition than ultra-endurance athlete, Olympic marathon trials competitor, 8x startup exit veteran, author of Revenue on the Run, and founder of the Jack Wilson Mindset, Jack Wilson?

You will learn how Jack overcame being born a 1-pound premature baby labeled “disabled” to complete the grueling 240-mile Moab ultra-marathon, how to apply the 4 Pillars of the Ultra Endurance Mindset to business, and why accountability is the missing layer in building sustainable daily habits. Get motivated to maximize your 86,400 seconds every day, reframe business failures into growth opportunities, and let exits find you naturally through relentless passion!

Takeaways:

  • The 4 Pillars of the Ultra Endurance Mindset: Sustainable execution relies on four core elements: unwavering belief in yourself, thorough preparation, disciplined work, and continuous forward motion.

  • The Missing Layer is Accountability: Belief and preparation fall flat without a person or system holding you accountable until daily discipline becomes automatic muscle memory.

  • Maximizing Your 86,400 Seconds: Every day gives everyone exactly 86,400 seconds; success comes down to eliminating time wasted on worrying or scrolling and investing those seconds intentionally.

  • Celebrating Failure: Experiencing 7 corporate firings and countless race setbacks taught Jack that failure is the greatest teacher when embraced rather than hidden.

  • Exits Find You: Entrepreneurs shouldn’t obsess over hunting for an exit; focusing passionately on building a great, profitable business naturally attracts acquirers.

Quote of the Show:

“Discipline is another word for actual work. There are no shortcuts in success.” - Jack Wilson

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Keep up to date on our social accounts:

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[From a 1-Pound Premature Baby to the Moab 240: The 4 Pillars of the Ultra Endurance Mindset ]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/from-a-1-pound-premature-baby-tohttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/from-a-1-pound-premature-baby-toFri, 30 Oct 2026 09:01:27 GMT

When Jack Wilson was born in 1968 weighing just 1 pound and 6 ounces, doctors gave him a 30% chance of surviving the night. After two months in the NICU, his parents were told their son would live a normal life, but with permanently damaged lungs: “Your son will never do anything athletically inclined.”

For the first eight years of his life, Jack lived under strict limitations. Then, on June 15, 1976, an after-school YMCA coach asked a bleacher full of kids if anyone could run four laps around the track. Jack raised his hand, shut down the doubts, stepped onto the dirt in Chuck Taylor high-tops, and ran a 7-minute and 46-second mile.

That single mile re-wired his DNA forever.

In the latest episode of Chief Endurance Officer, host Greg McDonough sits down with Jack Wilson - founder of the Jack Wilson Mindset, author of Revenue on the Run, veteran of 8 startup exits, and finisher of the legendary Moab 240 ultra-marathon.

Here is how Jack translates extreme physical endurance into executive leadership.

1. The 4 Pillars of the Ultra Endurance Mindset

Whether running 240 miles through the Utah desert or scaling an enterprise software company, Jack breaks high performance down into four fundamental principles:

  1. Unwavering Belief: Having total confidence in your vision before you have empirical proof.

  2. Preparation: Reverse-engineering what a goal actually requires in terms of physical, mental, and operational training.

  3. Discipline (The Actual Work): “Discipline is just another word for actual work,” says Jack. “There are no shortcuts in success - I’ve tried them all, and they’re all dead-end streets.”

  4. Unwavering Forward Motion: Maintaining daily progress without taking days off from mental and physical momentum.

2. The Missing Layer: Accountability

Most leaders fail not because they lack belief or preparation, but because they lack an accountability layer during the early stages of building a habit.

“When people have to check in at the end of the day and give a simple yes or no on whether they completed their commitments, you’d be surprised by the wiggling that starts happening,” Jack notes. Having a coach or peer hold you accountable bridges the gap between intention and automatic muscle memory.

3. Valuing Your 86,400 Seconds

Every human receives the exact same daily deposit: 86,400 seconds. You can’t roll them over, buy more, or pause the clock.

“If those seconds were a pile of cash, we’d guard them with our life,” Jack explains. “Yet we waste them scrolling, wishing, waiting, and worrying. When you break your day down into seconds, time management becomes deeply personal.”

4. Stop Hunting for Exits

Having navigated 8 exits and 1 IPO over 30 years in business, Jack offers a blunt truth to grinding entrepreneurs: “Exits find you; you don’t find exits.”

If you are waking up with the “Sunday afternoon blues” and grinding purely to sell a company you hate running, you’re looking in the wrong place. Focus relentlessly on doing work you love, creating value, and building a profitable business - the acquirers will knock on your door naturally.

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]]><![CDATA[Can AI Make Me a Better Endurance Athlete?]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/can-ai-make-me-a-better-endurancehttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/can-ai-make-me-a-better-enduranceThu, 29 Oct 2026 13:01:34 GMTI’m training for Ironman Cozumel this November, and lately, I’ve been experimenting with something new: AI as part of my training routine.

Like most endurance athletes, I already have plenty of data at my fingertips. Between Garmin, Zwift, my Oura Ring, and other training tools, I can track just about everything.

The interesting question is what to do with all that information.

Recently, my triathlon coach, Hunter Allen, introduced me to several AI-powered training platforms that are attempting to bridge the gap between athletes and coaches. One of them is called Ride with Dave, and I’ve started playing around with it.

It’s still early, but the possibilities are pretty fascinating.

From Tracking Workouts to Understanding Them

After one of my recent cycling workouts, Ride with Dave automatically analyzed my performance and sent me feedback. It recognized my cadence, commented on the elevation, and asked what I was trying to accomplish with the ride.

There was one problem: it thought I’d climbed a particularly steep hill.

In reality, I was riding indoors on Zwift, and the elevation was simulated. My legs were tired from a previous workout, so I’d switched out of ERG mode and finished with an easy spin.

I explained that to the AI, and it immediately adjusted its interpretation. Instead of treating the session as a demanding climbing workout, it recognized that I’d been focusing on recovery. That exchange got my attention.

We’re moving toward a point where technology can do more than collect performance data. It can have a conversation with an athlete about what actually happened during a workout.

The Accountability Factor

Another aspect I’m interested in is accountability.

Because the platform can access historical training data, it has the potential to recognize patterns across workouts.

For example, if I consistently fade during the final miles of my long runs, it may be able to identify that pattern and suggest adjustments to my pacing.

Traditionally, that type of analysis requires time. You finish the workout, review the numbers, compare previous sessions, and discuss your performance with your coach.

AI has the potential to make that feedback available almost immediately.

Instead of spending hours reviewing workouts and trying to identify patterns, athletes can get a clearer picture of their performance while the workout is still fresh.

For endurance athletes, that’s an exciting development.

Can AI Replace a Human Coach?

Of course, there’s another side to this conversation.

Hunter mentioned that several athletes had returned to him after trying AI-only training plans and experiencing injuries. That’s an important reminder that a training plan is only as useful as its ability to account for the person following it.

Fatigue, recovery, competing priorities, and the countless variables that influence athletic performance don’t always fit neatly into a spreadsheet. A good coach understands the numbers, but also understands the athlete.

I’m interested in seeing how AI can support that relationship by making information more accessible and helping coaches respond more efficiently.

Where Do We Go From Here?

I’ve only just started experimenting with these tools, so I’m not ready to declare AI a game changer for my own training.

What interests me most is the possibility of getting more value from information I’m already collecting.

As I continue preparing for Cozumel, I’ll be paying attention to whether these tools actually help me make better training decisions, recognize patterns, and stay accountable.

Because ultimately, having more data doesn’t automatically make you a better athlete. What matters is what you do with it

Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[The Business Suit Marathoner: Why Your Enterprise AI Strategy is Missing the 50-Year Game]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-business-suit-marathoner-whyhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-business-suit-marathoner-whyFri, 23 Oct 2026 16:01:01 GMT

What drives a 3x tech founder and 10x Ironman finisher to run a 26.2-mile marathon through the muggy heat of Mumbai wearing a three-piece corporate business suit?

It wasn’t a stunt for social media clout - it was a lesson in constraint management.

In the latest episode of Chief Endurance Officer, host Greg McDonough sits down with Nishant Bhardwaj - CEO and CoFounder of PingAura.ai, author of “Marketing for Machines: How AI Agents Will Become Your Next Customers and Revenue Channel”, 2x TEDx speaker, and digital innovator who previously helped scale India’s largest banking app to 150 million active users.

Over an explosive conversation, Nishant broke down why most corporate leaders are approaching both their physical fitness and their enterprise AI strategies from the wrong perspective.

1. Re-Engineering Life Around the “Race Date”

Before committing to ultra-endurance sports, Nishant admits he was like many executives: winging his schedule, falling into complacency, and reacting to daily fires.

Everything changed when he registered for his first long-course triathlon.

“I started setting the goal, registering for the race, and then re-engineering everything from that date backwards,” Nishant explains. “Building tech products is the exact same. You set the launch date, and then you structure every single daily habit around that deadline.”

By treating fitness and business as seasonal cycles rather than year-round sprints, Nishant balances an 80-to-110-hour work week while maintaining 10 to 12 hours of weekly endurance training without burning out his team, his health, or his family life.

2. You Become an Ironman in the Unseen Training

Just days before recording the episode, Nishant traveled to South Korea for Ironman Gurae, only to discover a hairline fracture in his carbon bike frame at check-in. Disqualified for safety, he couldn’t start.

Years ago, a Did Not Start (DNS) would have crushed him. But this time, a shift occurred.

“You become an Ironman in your training,” Nishant says. “On the finish line, you just get a medal. The race day doesn’t define who you are. If you’ve put in the 20 weeks of dark, rainy morning runs when no one was watching, you’ve already won. Endurance is a 50-year-long game - you shed the need for social validation along the way.”

3. Why Public LLMs Are a Trap for Enterprises

Transitioning from endurance to technology, Nishant highlighted a massive blind spot facing modern CEOs: relying on public AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity for core operations.

“When you feed your proprietary data into public models, you are paying rent on intelligence that harvests your data to train their platforms,” Nishant warns. “If 90% of your business logic relies on an external algorithm, you don’t own your business.”

Instead of public 1-trillion parameter models that yield probabilistic (and often hallucinated) outputs, Nishant advocates for Small Language Models (SLMs):

  • Owned Infrastructure: Deploying 2-to-4 billion parameter models on-premise or within private clouds.

  • Deterministic Accuracy: Running workflows that strictly adhere to corporate compliance, financial regulations, and precise brand guidelines.

  • Agent-to-Agent Commerce: Preparing your business for the era where customer AI agents directly query enterprise AI agents to make purchasing decisions.

4. The 250-Hour Rule

When Nishant finished that Mumbai marathon in a business suit, he calculated a simple math formula for busy executives who claim they “don’t have time” to get fit.

There are 8,760 hours in a year.

If you dedicate just 250 hours a year - roughly 5 hours a week, or less than 2% of your annual time -

you can run a marathon, lose 15 kilograms, or train for a half-Ironman.

“Stop looking for excuses,” Nishant challenges. “Remove the fluff, embrace the constraints, and play the long game.”

Watch the full episode here:

]]><![CDATA[The 250-Hour Rule - Nishant Bhardwaj - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #184]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-250-hour-rule-nishant-bhardwajhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-250-hour-rule-nishant-bhardwajFri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:43 GMTTake your operational focus, enterprise AI strategy, and personal performance to the next level with game-changing insights on setting immovable goals, managing corporate burnout, and looking at leadership through a 50-year horizon. It’s time to stop relying on public AI models that harvest your data and start building private, deterministic AI infrastructure that your enterprise actually owns. Who better to guide you through this transition than 3x tech founder, 10x Ironman finisher, 2x TEDx speaker, and CEO and CoFounder of PingAura AI, Nishant Bhardwaj?

You will learn why consistency and training redefine who you are long before race day, how small language models (SLMs) protect enterprise data privacy, and how applying the “250-Hour Rule” can completely transform your personal and professional health under extreme constraints. Get motivated to shed social validation, build sustainable seasonal habits, and harness AI agents as your next primary revenue distribution channel!

Takeaways:

  • The Endurance Re-Engineering Framework: Treat product launches and business milestones like an Ironman race: set the date on the calendar first, then reverse-engineer every daily habit around it.

  • You Become an Ironman in Training: Crossing the finish line is just a validation point; true resilience and character are forged during the quiet, unseen weeks of preparation.

  • Private SLMs vs. Public LLMs: Enterprises must move away from renting public models that harvest proprietary data and invest in owned, small language models to achieve deterministic, secure business outputs.

  • Marketing for Machines: As search behavior shifts to AI environments like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, businesses must prepare for AI agents to become their primary customer acquisition and distribution channels.

  • The 250-Hour Rule for Health: Investing just 250 hours a year - less than 2% of your total time - is all it takes to complete a marathon, lose weight, or transform your physical longevity.

Quote of the Show:

“You become an Ironman in your training. On the finish line, you just get a medal.” - Nishant Bhardwaj

Links:

Ways to Tune In:

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[The Ironman Trap: Why Chasing Personal Bests Is Quietly Wrecking Your Health & Energy]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-ironman-trap-why-chasing-personalhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-ironman-trap-why-chasing-personalFri, 16 Oct 2026 16:03:57 GMT

Most high-performing CEOs are addicted to the grind. We treat our physical fitness the exact same way we treat our P&Ls: push harder, hit bigger targets, crush the next finish line, and scale at all costs.

We line up for 140.2-mile Ironmans, sign up for 50+ marathons, and push our bodies through intense, punishing regimes, assuming that a faster finish time equals a better, healthier life.

Except it doesn’t.

In the latest episode of Chief Endurance Officer, host Greg McDonough sits down with Gerry Morton, 4x Ironman finisher (including Kona), 50-time marathoner, TIGER 21 Chair of Excellence, and CEO of NutriScience Corp, to expose a glaring truth that most executive athletes learn the hard way: you cannot out-train an unsustainable lifestyle, and chasing short-term intensity will eventually break you.

1. The Myth of the “Big Day”

Whether it’s crossing the finish line on Ali’i Drive or closing a multi-million dollar acquisition, high achievers live for the big moment. But after 22 years of running businesses and racing ultra-endurance events, Gerry realized a fundamental truth: nobody wins on the big day.

You win on the “boring days”. You win on the dark, rainy Monday mornings when there are no crowds, no medals, and zero fanfare. Consistency will destroy intensity every single time.

2. Why a Supplement CEO Dropped Supplements for Friendship

As the CEO of a major CPG wellness and supplement company, Gerry spent decades refining high-performance nutrition. When he drafted his definitive guide to health and longevity (The Energy Guidebook), supplements were originally listed in his top essentials.

Then he looked at the data.

In a move almost unheard of for a supplement founder, Gerry pulled supplements off his primary essentials list entirely and replaced them with human connection.

The research was undeniable:

  • Having a recurring, non-negotiable connection on your calendar (a monthly CEO peer group, weekly golf games, or a daily walk with your spouse) has a more profound impact on all-cause mortality and cognitive health than almost any pill or powder on the market.

  • A 20-minute daily dog walk with your partner can do more for your nervous system and longevity than obsessing over an extra split second on your run pace.

3. The 5 Zero-Cost Fuel Sources for Executive Energy

Forget $10,000 biohacking gadgets or extreme 10-day cleanses. Gerry’s framework strips away the noise and focuses on five foundational pillars that cost absolutely nothing:

  • Nutrition (The 75% Rule): You can’t outrun a bad diet. Prioritize high protein (.85g to 1g per pound of body weight) to preserve lean muscle mass and stay satiated.

  • Movement (The Step Floor): Aim for 7,000 steps daily (6,000 post-60) and strength train each muscle group twice a week to fight age-related muscle loss.

  • Sleep Anchor: Stop obsessing over bedtime; lock in a strict, non-negotiable wake time to anchor your circadian rhythm.

  • Micro-Recovery: Practice 5 minutes of “cyclic sighing” (two quick inhales, one deep exhale) daily to instantly super-oxygenate your system and flush out cortisol.

  • Scheduled Connection: Build recurring social touchpoints directly into your calendar so you never have to “find time” for relationships.

4. Surviving “Always-On” Stress in the Age of Agentic AI

Why are modern CEOs more exhausted now than they were ten years ago, despite having better tech tools?

Gerry points to a subtle psychological shift: expectations continue to ratchet up.

When the internet arrived, we carried work home. When smartphones dropped, we put work in our pockets. Now, with always-on agentic AI, we have the capacity to produce 10x more work 24 hours a day, which means our brains never naturally disengage.

The delta between our performance expectations and reality is where chronic stress lives. To survive the next decade of leadership, executives must stop treating work like a sprint and start treating their personal energy like an infinite game.

Ready to Upgrade Your Energy Blueprint?

Stop chasing finite finish lines and start building an infinite lifestyle.

👉 [Click here to listen to the full episode with Gerry Morton and claim your blueprint for high-energy leadership]

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]]><![CDATA[Winning on the Boring Days - Gerry Morton - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #183]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/winning-on-the-boring-days-gerryhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/winning-on-the-boring-days-gerryFri, 16 Oct 2026 09:02:29 GMTTake your energy, leadership, and personal longevity to the next level with game-changing insights on building sustainable daily habits, staving off executive burnout, and shifting from finite athletic goals to an infinite lifestyle. It’s time to stop chasing short-term intensity and start winning on the “boring days” through relentless consistency. Who better to guide you through this transition than 4x Ironman finisher, veteran CPG entrepreneur, TIGER 21 Chair of Excellence, and CEO of NutriScience Corp, Gerry Morton?

You will learn the 5 essentials for health, strength, and energy, why connection and daily walks are just as critical as workouts, and how to protect your mental and physical bandwidth in an always-on AI world. Get motivated to perform an energy audit, prioritize recovery over constant performance, and build a high-performance routine that lasts for the next decade and beyond!

Takeaways:

  • Consistency Beats Intensity: Nobody wins on race day alone; long-term success in business and athletics is built by showing up on the quiet, routine days.

  • The 5 Essentials for Health and Energy: Focus on nutrition, movement, sleep, stress recovery, and connection, none of which require expensive products.

  • Connection as a Health Essential: Prioritizing scheduled relationships and daily walks is just as impactful for longevity as heavy physical training.

  • Combating Always-On Executive Stress: As technology ratchets up performance expectations, leaders must deliberately disengage and audit their time to preserve energy.

  • Shifting from Finite Goals to an Infinite Lifestyle: Transitioning away from chasing personal bests toward sustainable, multi-discipline habits leads to greater fulfillment and long-term health.

Quote of the Show:

“Endurance teaches you that nobody wins on a single big day. You win on the boring days by showing up again and again.” - Gerry Morton

Links:

Ways to Tune In:

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[When Pushing Harder Isn’t the Answer: Lauren Golen on Growth, Identity, and Leadership]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/when-pushing-harder-isnt-the-answerhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/when-pushing-harder-isnt-the-answerFri, 09 Oct 2026 14:01:17 GMT

We often associate success with perseverance. Keep going. Work harder. Push through the discomfort. Prove you can do it.

But what happens when the determination that helped you succeed becomes the very thing holding you back?

On Chief Endurance Officer, host Greg McDonough sits down with Lauren Golen, founder and principal advisor of Your Aligned Life, to explore a different side of the endurance mindset: knowing when to push forward, when to reflect, and when it’s time to let go.

The Identity Behind the Achievement

Lauren’s entrepreneurial journey included building yoga studios, navigating the challenges of leadership, and learning lessons that went far beyond business strategy. One of her biggest realizations was how often she relied on doing everything herself, believing she had to figure things out independently and prove she could make things work.

That mindset can take you far. But it can also make it difficult to ask for support, accept feedback, or recognize when something needs to change.

As Lauren explains, challenges and failures can become opportunities to learn, uncover blind spots, and break through patterns that keep us stuck.

Knowing When to Let Go

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Lauren reflects on closing a yoga studio she had built from the ground up. She had signed a five-year lease just one year earlier, yet she reached a point where she knew continuing wasn’t right for her. Closing the studio brought its own consequences, including a lawsuit, but she still recognized that the decision was necessary.

Her experience raises an important question for anyone leading a business or building a career: Are you persevering because the goal still aligns with who you are, or because you’re afraid of what it means to stop?

Endurance isn’t always about tolerating more discomfort. Sometimes, it means being honest enough to recognize that the path you’re on no longer serves you.

Leading From a Different Place

Today, Lauren works with female founders and CEOs who have achieved significant success but find that the strategies and identities that brought them there no longer fit the lives they want to lead.

Her approach encourages leaders to slow down, notice what isn’t working, and reconnect with their own judgment rather than automatically relying on the strategies that worked in a previous season.

It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t always require another goal, another plan, or another push. Sometimes, the next level of leadership begins with reflection, openness, and the willingness to change.

The takeaway: The ability to endure is powerful, but so is the ability to recognize when it’s time to do something differently.

Listen to Lauren Golen’s conversation with Greg McDonough on Chief Endurance Officer for a thoughtful look at the relationship between personal growth, identity, and sustainable leadership.

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Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Beyond Boardroom Identity - Lauren Golen - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #182]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/beyond-boardroom-identity-laurenhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/beyond-boardroom-identity-laurenFri, 09 Oct 2026 09:00:41 GMTTake your leadership, self-awareness, and personal alignment to the next level with game-changing insights on breaking free from outdated survival identities, intentional room-stretching, and body-led discernment. It’s time to stop letting past strategies drive your future and start leading from deep internal knowing rather than performance-driven metrics. Who better to guide you through this transition than serial entrepreneur, executive advisor, wellness pioneer, and Founder of Your Aligned Life, Lauren Golen?

You will learn how to recognize when business identity diverges from personal fulfillment, why stepping into intimidating rooms accelerates personal growth, and how to transition from simply “surviving” to truly living. Get motivated to embrace life’s inevitable struggles, let go of unnecessary control, and build an intentional, aligned legacy for your next decade of leadership!

Takeaways:

  • The Power of Getting Up: An endurance mindset is built on getting up after every failure and viewing every obstacle as a breakthrough opportunity.

  • Seeking Intentionally Harder Rooms: Growth happens when you intentionally place yourself in environments where you feel like the least experienced person in the room.

  • Breaking Survival Identities: Midlife leaders often carry early “survival identities” formed before age 13; recognizing when these patterns are running the show is essential for next-level leadership.

  • Body-Led Discernment Over Spreadsheets: Continuing to rely on past strategies, spreadsheets, and external noise leads to unfulfillment; real clarity comes from stillness and trusting internal knowing.

  • The Discipline of Letting Go: Leading from alignment requires opening your hands, letting go of performance-driven control, and focusing on your core calling rather than external validation.

Quote of the Show:

“Every single challenge, every time there was a real failure, was an opportunity to learn, see something, and break through.” - Lauren Golen

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[What If Discipline Isn’t About Pushing Harder?]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/what-if-discipline-isnt-about-pushinghttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/what-if-discipline-isnt-about-pushingFri, 02 Oct 2026 14:02:46 GMT

What If Discipline Isn’t About Pushing Harder?

We tend to think of discipline as something hard.

Push through. Don’t quit. Do the work when you don’t feel like doing it. Hold yourself to a higher standard.

But what if discipline could actually make you more capable of enduring by asking you to be a little less hard on yourself?

That’s one of the ideas Aaron Hendon explored in his conversation with Greg McDonough on the Chief Endurance Officer podcast, and it offers a fascinating perspective on what endurance really looks like.

Aaron, a best-selling author, mindfulness instructor, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur, has spent years working with sales professionals, business leaders, and others on developing a more resilient mindset. His approach challenges the traditional idea that better performance comes from more pressure.

Instead, he defines discipline as:

“Doing something over and over and over again with an open heart and a willingness to learn.”

That small shift in definition changes quite a bit.

The difference between pushing through and paying attention

Aaron points out that there is a difference between being tough and simply ignoring what your body is telling you.

He talks about learning to recognize the difference between exhaustion and resistance, and between taking a necessary break and making an excuse. The goal isn’t to eliminate discomfort. It’s to become more aware of what that discomfort is actually telling you.

For endurance athletes, that idea is particularly interesting.

Training requires consistency, but consistency doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means knowing when to push, when to recover, and when to pay closer attention.

And that same principle extends far beyond physical training.

Endurance is also an attention game

A major theme throughout Aaron’s conversation is mindfulness, but not necessarily in the way most people picture it.

For Aaron, mindfulness is fundamentally about training your attention.

Where is your attention right now? What are you actually noticing? Are you responding to what’s happening in front of you, or are you already replaying the past or preparing for what’s next?

He describes the mind as constantly wandering, comparing it to a puppy that keeps escaping its crate. The practice isn’t to punish the puppy for getting out. It’s simply to gently bring it back.

Again. And again. And again.

That is the practice.

And perhaps that’s where mindfulness and endurance intersect most clearly: the willingness to return to the work, without judgment, over and over again.

From getting results to learning through the process

Aaron also challenges the idea that pressure is what keeps high performers performing.

There’s often a fear that if we stop demanding so much of ourselves, we’ll stop accomplishing as much.

But Aaron suggests another possibility: what happens when you stop doing something only to get a particular result and start doing it because you genuinely love the process?

That shift can change the relationship we have with performance.

Instead of constantly asking, Did I win? Did I succeed? Did I do enough?

We can start asking:

What can I learn from this?

What is my body telling me?

Where is my attention?

What happens if I stay curious?

That may not sound like the traditional definition of endurance.

But maybe it should.

Aaron’s conversation with Greg is a thoughtful exploration of discipline, mindfulness, performance, and the ways we train ourselves to keep going. It’s a reminder that endurance isn’t always about finding the strength to push harder.

Sometimes, it’s about developing the awareness to know how to keep going well.

Listen to Aaron Hendon’s full conversation on the Chief Endurance Officer podcast to hear the rest of his perspective on discipline, mindfulness, performance, and building a more resilient mindset.

https://chiefenduranceofficer.transistor.fm/episodes/developing-agency-over-your-attention-aaron-hendon-chief-endurance-officer-with-greg-mcdonough-episode-181

https://youtu.be/MuSB7Gv6wLo


Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Developing agency over your attention - Aaron Hendon - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #181]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/developing-agency-over-your-attentionhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/developing-agency-over-your-attentionFri, 02 Oct 2026 09:01:54 GMTHow can a radical new definition of discipline transform your sales performance, executive endurance, and relationship with hustle culture? Today’s guest is a mindfulness instructor, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur. Introducing Aaron Hendon, Founder of The Mindful CEO, managing broker at Christine & Company with eXp, creator of the Mindful Sales Method, and best-selling author. Aaron joins host Gregory McDonough to discuss how abandoning harsh self-criticism in favor of open-hearted learning creates sustainable endurance in both business and life. He also shares practical micro-meditations, strategies for agency of attention, and how mindfulness shifts performance from forced obligation to genuine passion.

Takeaways:

  • Redefining Discipline: True discipline isn’t harsh, strict grinding; it is doing something over and over again with an open heart and a willingness to learn.

  • Self-Kindness as an Endurance Fuel: Being gentle and open with yourself provides far greater capacity for long-term execution than fear of failure or shame-based motivation.

  • Developing Agency of Attention: Mindfulness isn’t about emptying your mind; it’s the intentional practice of bringing your attention back to the present moment without judgment.

  • Listening to the Body’s Communication: Learning to distinguish between physical exhaustion and mental resistance helps leaders avoid burnout and make better long-term decisions.

  • Mindset Over Mechanics in Sales: Top-performing salespeople thrive when they shift from manipulative, script-heavy pressure to grounded, present-moment listening and relationship-building.

Quote of the Show:

“Discipline is doing something over and over and over and over again with an open heart and a willingness to learn.” - Aaron Hendon

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[From Antarctica to the IVF Clinic: Why Unapologetic Audacity Wins in Business]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/from-antarctica-to-the-ivf-clinichttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/from-antarctica-to-the-ivf-clinicFri, 25 Sep 2026 16:00:27 GMT

When former M&A lawyer and polar explorer Jenny Wordsworth walked into a venture capital pitch, the investor barely looked up. He lazily asked her to begin.

Then she flipped to slide one: a photo of her skiing solo across Antarctica.

The investor sat straight up. The pitch about financial models and unit economics instantly took back seat to a much larger story—one about grit, multi-year preparation, and pulling through a harrowing, life-threatening expedition.

In the latest episode of the Chief Endurance Officer Podcast, host Greg McDonough sits down with Jenny, the founder and CEO of Ovum, to unpack how dragging a necrotic, split-open leg across 700 miles of ice prepared her to shake up the UK fertility industry.

Lessons from the South Pole to the Boardroom

  • Drop the “A-Bomb”: For years, Jenny resisted using her extreme athletic achievements in business, believing the numbers should speak for themselves. A pitch coach set her straight. Now, leading with her polar expeditions—what her team internally calls “dropping the A-bomb”—opens doors that cold calls never could.

  • Control the Controllables: Whether navigating Antarctic blizzards or facing an unpredictable fertility journey, you can’t control the outcome. You can only control how you show up, how you prepare, and how you refuse to compromise your standards.

  • Uncompromising Integrity Drives Credibility: When launching Ovum, manufacturers begged her to cut ingredient dosages to boost profit margins. Jenny held the line, designing an evidence-based fertility supplement so trustworthy that over 38 IVF clinics now independently recommend it without receiving a penny in commission.

Whether you are scaling a startup, training for an endurance race, or trying to break through institutional noise, Jenny’s story is a masterclass in leveraging your unique lived experience to build something undeniable.

Listen to the full episode on the Chief Endurance Officer Podcast or catch up at chiefenduranceofficer.com.

Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Dropping the A-Bomb - Jenny Wordsworth - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #180 ]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/dropping-the-a-bomb-jenny-wordsworthhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/dropping-the-a-bomb-jenny-wordsworthFri, 25 Sep 2026 09:02:32 GMTHow can 700-mile solo expeditions across Antarctica unlock capital, break open doors in business, and build an evidence-based FemTech company? Today’s guest is an inspiring polar explorer, M&A lawyer, and femtech founder! Introducing Jenny Wordsworth, North Face endurance athlete, polar explorer, former M&A lawyer, and CEO & Founder of Ovum. Jenny joins host Gregory McDonough to share her harrowing stories of solo skiing to the South Pole, including surviving gangrene and medical evacuations, and how she translates her extreme endurance mindset into founding an award-winning fertility brand. She also delves into controlling the controllables, pitching VCs, and navigating the startup journey without cutting corners.

Takeaways:

  • “Dropping the A-Bomb” in Business: Authentically leading with your most extreme personal achievements and endurance background opens doors with investors and partners faster than standard financial decks.

  • Control the Controllables: Whether facing Antarctic weather or navigating an unpredictable fertility journey, high performers focus purely on their preparation, inputs, and mindset while letting go of unmanageable variables.

  • Uncompromising Product Standards: True brand credibility is built by refusing to compromise on scientific evidence or safety data, even when manufacturers or investors pressure you to cut costs.

  • Building Trust Through Independence: Gaining top-tier medical and B2B validation, such as inclusion in 38 UK IVF clinic protocols, requires delivering genuine, uncompromised value rather than transactional affiliate kickbacks.

  • Growth Mindset in Community: Surrounding yourself with collaborative, curious, and resilient people transforms extreme personal goals into compounding long-term success.

Quote of the Show:

“I can’t believe how many doors in business just that one story opens... We call it ‘dropping the A-bomb.’ I cannot believe the doors it opens.” - Jenny Wordsworth

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[Life Before and After the Row: Thomas Cremona on Endurance, Entrepreneurship, and Persistence]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/life-before-and-after-the-row-thomas-0efhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/life-before-and-after-the-row-thomas-0efFri, 18 Sep 2026 14:31:03 GMT


What happens when you take on something you’ve never done before, spend more than 30 days rowing across the Atlantic, and ultimately set a world record?

For Thomas Cremona, it changed the way he looked at life.

A multiple world record holder, endurance athlete, serial entrepreneur, and founder of Casa Rooms, Thomas joined Greg McDonough on the Chief Endurance Officer Podcast to talk about the experience that he describes as dividing his life into two chapters: before the row and after the row. At just 21, Thomas went from having virtually no rowing experience to training twice a day, raising money and sponsors, and joining an international team attempting to set a world record. The record ultimately stood for seven years.
But the most interesting part of Thomas’s story isn’t just what happened on the water. It’s how much of that experience carried over into his career as an entrepreneur.

Whether you’re trying to cross an ocean or build a business, there will be plenty of setbacks, difficult days, and people telling you that what you’re attempting isn’t possible. Thomas remembers getting plenty of “no” responses while trying to secure sponsors for his row, but his approach was simple: keep going, keep pushing, and keep the goal in sight. He even conducted more than 100 interviews during a six-month fundraising period to get his story in front of as many people as possible.

That same mindset followed him into business. Thomas eventually built Casa Rooms into a sizable property management business in Malta before exiting the company and returning to an advisory role. To him, the overlap between endurance and entrepreneurship is clear: you have to show up every day, deal with challenges, motivate the people around you, and keep moving toward the bigger picture even when things aren’t going according to plan.

Thomas also shared a simple productivity trick that applies far beyond endurance sports: start with the easy wins. When a task feels overwhelming, knocking out something small creates momentum. One completed task becomes a reason to keep moving, rather than another excuse to put things off.

Ultimately, Thomas’s story is a reminder that endurance isn’t only about how far you can physically push yourself. It’s about developing the mindset to keep showing up when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

As Thomas put it, you may hear a lot of “no’s,” and people may think you’re crazy for pursuing the goal. The answer is to keep persisting, wake up every day, and keep pushing.

Listen to the full conversation with Thomas Cremona on the Chief Endurance Officer Podcast, Episode #179.

Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA[Life Before and After the Row - Thomas Cremona - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #179]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/life-before-and-after-the-row-thomashttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/life-before-and-after-the-row-thomasFri, 18 Sep 2026 09:02:27 GMTHow does a childhood battle with leukemia transform an individual into a world-record-holding ocean rower and successful serial entrepreneur? Today’s guest is an inspiring ocean rower, world record holder, and serial entrepreneur. Introducing Thomas Cremona, multiple world record holder, chartered accountant, founder of Casa Rooms, and Director at Malta Business Network. Thomas joins host Gregory McDonough to share his life-altering journey of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, setting a world record that stood for seven years, and scaling a premier property management business in Malta. He also explores how pushing through extreme physical limits translates directly to navigating business challenges, fundraising, and team leadership.

Takeaways:

  • Life “Pre-Row” vs. “Post-Row”: Taking on extreme ultra-endurance challenges, like a 30+ day Atlantic ocean row, fundamentally shifts your confidence, mindset, and perspective on what is possible in life and business.

  • Persisting Through the “Nos”: Achieving ambitious goals requires enduring countless rejections, whether securing sponsors for a record-breaking row or pitching investors.

  • Overlapping Mindsets of Business and Endurance: Both scaling a business and ocean rowing demand waking up every day, managing team motivation, maintaining a positive attitude through bad days, and pushing toward a long-term goal.

  • Overcoming Childhood Cancer as Inspiration: Surviving childhood leukemia inspired Thomas to undertake his Atlantic row to demonstrate life beyond cancer and raise vital funds for Putinu Cares.

  • The “Easy Wins” Productivity Hack: When feeling unmotivated or overwhelmed, breaking down massive daily goals by starting with small, easy-to-accomplish tasks builds momentum to tackle tough challenges.

Quote of the Show:

“You get a lot of no’s and people say you’re crazy... You just have to keep on persisting. You see your goal out there, and every day you wake up and push, push, push.” - Thomas Cremona

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

]]><![CDATA[The Endurance Mindset: Why It Matters in Business and Life ]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-endurance-mindset-why-it-mattershttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/the-endurance-mindset-why-it-mattersWed, 09 Sep 2026 13:03:41 GMTSome of the hardest parts of my week don’t happen behind a desk.

They happen before the sun comes up, during a long training ride, a run that doesn’t go as planned, or a workout where everything feels harder than it should.

I’ve spent years training for endurance events, and while crossing the finish line is rewarding, I’ve realized the biggest lessons have very little to do with racing. They’ve shaped how I lead teams, advise businesses, make financial decisions, and navigate the inevitable setbacks that come with work and life.

One of the things I enjoy most about working with endurance athletes and leaders is that many of them naturally think this way. They understand that meaningful progress takes time. They know there will be setbacks. They don’t expect every day to be perfect, and they recognize that success is built through consistent decisions rather than one extraordinary effort.

The good news is that you don’t have to be an endurance athlete to develop that mindset.

Whether you’re leading a business, managing your finances, growing your career, or simply trying to create a little more balance in your life, the same principles apply.

Here are four ways anyone can build an endurance mindset.

1. Lead with the Long Game in Mind

Leadership isn’t tested when everything is going well, it’s tested when plans change.

In endurance training, there are days when your body doesn’t cooperate, the weather turns, or an injury forces you to adjust. One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that pushing harder isn’t always the right answer.

Earlier this year, I dealt with a calf injury before a race. I could have ignored it and chased a personal best, but the risk wasn’t worth the reward. One race wasn’t worth jeopardizing the rest of my season.

Leadership requires that same perspective.

Strong leaders don’t react emotionally to every challenge. They pause, assess the situation, and make decisions based on where they want to be months from now, not just by the end of the day.

Sometimes the smartest move is protecting your ability to keep moving forward.

2. Build a Business That Can Go the Distance

Businesses, like endurance races, reward consistency over time.

It’s easy to get caught up chasing rapid growth, new opportunities, or immediate results. The businesses that last aren’t always the ones growing the fastest. They’re the ones making disciplined decisions over and over again.

An endurance mindset reminds us that progress compounds. Small improvements made consistently often outperform big bursts of effort followed by burnout.

Instead of asking how to grow faster, ask how to build something that’s still strong three years from now.

That shift in perspective influences how you hire, how you invest, and how you prioritize your time.

3. Respect Capacity Before You Chase Growth

This is where endurance and finance intersect more than most people realize.

One of the quickest ways to end your season as an athlete is to ignore your body’s limits.

Businesses have limits too.

I’ve seen companies have a great month, look at the cash in their bank account, and immediately justify a new hire, a larger marketing budget, or another investment without asking whether it truly supports their long-term goals.

Just because you have the resources doesn’t automatically mean it’s the right time to use them.

The decisions that matter most are the ones that keep the business healthy six months or a year from now.

Just like endurance training, protecting your capacity often leads to better long-term results than pushing to your limit every single time.

4. Accept That You’ll Get Knocked Off Course

One of the biggest misconceptions about consistency is that it means doing everything perfectly.

Life doesn’t work that way.

Travel happens. Family needs your attention. Work gets busy. Injuries happen. Unexpected opportunities come along.

Over the years, I’ve learned those moments aren’t interruptions to the journey. They are the journey.

As I’ve told my coach more than once, there are going to be times when you’re on path and times when you’re off path. The important thing is recognizing that both are part of the process and learning how to adjust without losing sight of the bigger goal.

Getting knocked off course is inevitable. What matters is how quickly you adjust and keep moving.

An Endurance Mindset Is for Everyone

People often assume endurance training is about becoming physically stronger. In my experience, it’s really about becoming mentally steadier.

It’s learning to think beyond today’s challenges, manage risk without losing ambition, stay consistent even when motivation fades, and understand that lasting success is built one decision at a time.

Those lessons have helped me become a better athlete, but they’ve also made me a better advisor, business owner, leader, husband, and father.

That’s one of the reasons I enjoy working with leaders who already embrace an endurance mindset. They understand that sustainable success is rarely about quick wins. It’s about making thoughtful decisions, adapting when circumstances change, and staying committed to the long game.

The good news is that you don’t need to train for an Ironman to build that mindset. You simply need to choose progress over perfection, consistency over intensity, and long-term success over short-term gratification.

Those are lessons all of us can put into practice, no matter where we’re starting.

Chief Endurance Officer by Greg McDonough is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

]]><![CDATA["Control What You Can Control - Andrew Towne - Chief Endurance Officer with Greg McDonough - Episode #177]]>https://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/control-what-you-can-control-andrewhttps://www.chiefenduranceofficer.com/p/control-what-you-can-control-andrewFri, 04 Sep 2026 09:02:01 GMTWhat can five ocean-rowing world records and a childhood nickname like “Town’s Busted” teach us about resilience? Today’s guest turned early rejection into an extraordinary athletic and professional career. Introducing Andrew Towne, founder and CEO of Gregory Point, a fund building retail concepts across the country. Andrew partners with host Gregory McDonough to share how his endurance mindset, shaped by collegiate rowing, mountaineering, and ocean rowing world records, has taught him to focus only on what he can control. He also delves into how preparing for worst-case scenarios, on the water, on a mountain, and in business, has shaped his approach to leadership and decision-making.

Takeaways:

  • Andrew credits his endurance mindset to three lessons: the direct correlation between effort and results in sport, confidence built through consistent showing up, and resilience learned from picking himself back up after setbacks.

  • As a teenager, Andrew was bullied and nicknamed “Town’s Busted” after being teased for his weight. He found rowing in college with no prior athletic experience, and by senior year, helped his team win a national championship.

  • Andrew describes focusing only on the “bullseyes,” the wins and successes, rather than dwelling on the much larger number of near-misses, as a mental framework that has carried him through both sport and business setbacks.

  • In 2015, Andrew was at Mount Everest Base Camp when an earthquake triggered an avalanche that killed dozens of people nearby. His expedition camp became a makeshift hospital for 48 hours, an experience that taught him the value of preparing for the unexpected.

  • A near-miss on Denali, where two teammates suffered altitude sickness and the group wasted critical time deciding how to respond, led Andrew to build a 35-point safety checklist before a later ocean row from South America to Antarctica, testing every safety system in advance.

  • Andrew is now founder and CEO of Gregory Point, a fund building and operating retail concepts in the garment care industry, starting in Colorado. He’s drawn to the real estate and community aspects of the business, as well as the opportunity to help workers without formal credentials grow into skilled professionals.

  • Before founding Gregory Point, Andrew spent six years at BCG advising energy, tech, and government clients, then helped scale the Tommy Express car wash platform from one location to 29 across 10 states in just 36 months.

Quote of the Show:

  • “I can’t necessarily control the outcome, but I can control how I respond, how I get back up, and even if I’m not happy with my result, how I prepare for the next race.” - Andrew Towne

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Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

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