Ever notice how the principles that make you successful in sports often mirror what works in business? I sure did after spending 11 days pushing my physical limits alongside my colleagues. What started as a simple company challenge turned into a masterclass in strategy, endurance, and teamwork.
Strategy and endurance lessons from sport for business
Challenges are not only in sports, they also define the business world.
Between March 3rd and March 12th, the LifeinCloud team accepted a real challenge, namely, to compete in the competition “Run For Your Brand” organized by SportIn, along with 126 other companies.
We formed a team of three colleagues:
- Bogdan – the one who inspired us through his own example (489,630 steps) to surpass ourselves.
- George – the man behind the technical strategy, but also the physical balance.
- The undersigned, focused on pace and monitoring the results of the competition.
The final result, 12th place out of 126 companies. It’s not just a decent ranking, but a proof of the fact that the strategic approach and perseverance pay off, both in sports and in business.
The endurance challenge
In sports, as in business, strategy is key. It is not those who start the fastest who win, but those who know how to dose their effort to resist until the end.
In the 11 days of competition, personally, I covered 172 km – 119 km running and 53 km walking.
At first, the pace was fast, but as the days went by, I learned to dose my effort so as not to risk an injury or a sudden drop in performance. Just like it happens in business, if you use up your resources too quickly, you won’t reach the finish line.
The strategy was clear: Bogdan was the engine of the team, accumulating 489,630 steps and thus providing a strong start but also a clear motivation for the rest of the team. I finished the competition with 232,109 steps, maintaining balance and constant pace. George, with 125,156 steps, provided stability and consistency in critical moments.
I quickly understood that it was not just about speed, but about balance and the ability to respond intelligently to every obstacle encountered on the course. In business, the same thing happens, it is not only important to be fast, but to be agile and to have the ability to respond effectively to challenges.
The importance of the team or why you can’t go far alone
There is a saying that says: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, let’s walk together.”
In a competition, you can start quickly and gain a significant lead, but if you don’t have a team to support you, you’ll lose your rhythm and fall behind. In business, it’s the same, you can have a promising start, but long-term success depends on collaboration and synergy. Success does not come only from individual performances, but from the way we manage to align ourselves as a team.
First lesson: Adaptability and resilience – pillars of business success
In competition, I learned that speed without adaptability means nothing. In business, as in sports, obstacles are inevitable. What makes the difference is how you manage them.
- In the 11 days of competition we encountered multiple challenges, from low temperatures in the morning and strong wind, to accumulated fatigue. But we have learned to adjust our rhythm, listen to the body’s signals and save our energy for the end of the competition.
- In business, when the market changes or new challenges arise (from economic crises to cyberattacks), you need to have the flexibility to adapt your strategy without losing direction.
This is antifragility, the concept described by Nassim Taleb in the book Antifragile. Taleb explains that fragile systems need predictability, but antifragile ones become stronger in the face of chaos. Challenges, pressure and competition are essential to grow and adapt quickly.
“Antifragility is not just about withstanding shocks, it’s about thriving because of them.” – Nassim Taleb
Just like in sports, in business, constructive pressure creates the context for adaptation and evolution. Without challenges, there is no progress and success comes from balance, consisting of the ability to maintain a steady pace and accelerate at exactly the right time.
Lesson number two: agility and speed – critical factors in business as well
In competition, speed without control is a recipe for failure. In business, the rapid adoption of new solutions can make the difference between success and failure.
LifeinCloud applies the same approach in business:
- Scalability: The pace must be constantly adjusted to cope with the terrain and conditions. In business, the ability to scale resources according to the requirements of the moment makes the difference between adaptability and failure.
- Security: every wrong step could mean an injury. In business, every vulnerability can lead to a cyber attack with irreversible repercussions
- Performance: Maintaining a steady pace is key to long-term success.
Sport and business are not different at all, both require:
- Clear strategy: Without a solid strategy, you consume your resources too quickly.
- Resilience: obstacles are inevitable; The way you manage them makes the difference.
- Synergy: neither in sports nor in business, success is not just an individual performance.
The LifeinCloud team has demonstrated in this competition that agility, adaptability and collaboration are the key to success. Just as we ranked in the top 10% of competitors, we continue to push our limits in the IT industry, offering flexible and secure solutions for any type of business.
