Comments on: 9 Reasons Why Doing a Startup is Like Running a Marathon http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/ Canadian. Entrepreneur. Investor. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kyle Brown http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-159 Kyle Brown Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:00:09 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-159 I have often thought of running as a daily mental test that keeps you motivated and ready for the days challenges. This comparison is a bit broader but has the same meaning. Glad to know other fell this way it validates my thought. I have often thought of running as a daily mental test that keeps you motivated and ready for the days challenges.

This comparison is a bit broader but has the same meaning. Glad to know other fell this way it validates my thought.

]]> By: Denis Bastarache http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-158 Denis Bastarache Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:26:53 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-158 Love the comparison.... and also great to see a fellow Monctonian doing so well for himself in this Business. I agree with you 100%.... hard work and dedication do eventually pay off! Best of luck.... and make the Maritimes proud! Cheers! Love the comparison…. and also great to see a fellow Monctonian doing so well for himself in this Business. I agree with you 100%…. hard work and dedication do eventually pay off! Best of luck…. and make the Maritimes proud! Cheers!

]]> By: Greg http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-157 Greg Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:23:23 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-157 For me, #9 is the biggest similarity. Unlike a lot of things in life, you can't overpower a marathon with an adrenaline rush and a big push. No matter how fast you are on the first mile, the other 25 will still be there staring at you. The key to beating it is patience and consistency. Apart from a few outliers, startups are the same way. No matter how much you rock it in the first day or the first month, it's a long road. So focus on doing something useful every day, not on whether one particular thing is going to make or break you. You have to keep your mental reserves at a level where you can build the company day after day instead of getting discouraged. For me, #9 is the biggest similarity. Unlike a lot of things in life, you can’t overpower a marathon with an adrenaline rush and a big push. No matter how fast you are on the first mile, the other 25 will still be there staring at you. The key to beating it is patience and consistency. Apart from a few outliers, startups are the same way. No matter how much you rock it in the first day or the first month, it’s a long road. So focus on doing something useful every day, not on whether one particular thing is going to make or break you. You have to keep your mental reserves at a level where you can build the company day after day instead of getting discouraged.

]]> By: Heather Scott http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-156 Heather Scott Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:46:04 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-156 Congrats on completing your first marathon! I have been wanting to run one for a while but have yet to do it... Cheers to you, as this is an awesome accomplishment! A good #10 for your list may be "Tackle Hills Head-on." Handle bumps in the road with confidence, knowing that your hard work will pay off ;). Congrats on completing your first marathon! I have been wanting to run one for a while but have yet to do it… Cheers to you, as this is an awesome accomplishment!

A good #10 for your list may be “Tackle Hills Head-on.” Handle bumps in the road with confidence, knowing that your hard work will pay off ;) .

]]> By: dmartell http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-155 dmartell Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:49:15 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-155 @Dave THANKS! Honestly, you inspired me to run this - our talks help me understand what I was getting into. Love the corporate America analogy ;-). Thx for the comment. @Dave THANKS! Honestly, you inspired me to run this – our talks help me understand what I was getting into.

Love the corporate America analogy ;-) .

Thx for the comment.

]]> By: Dave Cohen http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-154 Dave Cohen Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:20:23 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-154 Dan, congratulations on the marathon. it's also a lot like working for corporate America... most people end up in the middle, there's a lot of pain, and by the time you reach the finish line your too tired to do anything else :) Dan,
congratulations on the marathon. it’s also a lot like working for corporate America… most people end up in the middle, there’s a lot of pain, and by the time you reach the finish line your too tired to do anything else :)

]]> By: The Classic Carol http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-153 The Classic Carol Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:38:13 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-153 Psst: "you need to insure you have resources available throughout the statup" Should be 'startup.' Oh, and Saturday should be capitalized (first sentence). And dang good post, loved the simile. Psst: “you need to insure you have resources available throughout the statup”

Should be ‘startup.’ Oh, and Saturday should be capitalized (first sentence).

And dang good post, loved the simile.

]]> By: Jeremiah Owyang http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-152 Jeremiah Owyang Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:38:43 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-152 congrats on running this marathon and running a startup, very helpful tips congrats on running this marathon and running a startup, very helpful tips

]]> By: Mike Shanks http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-151 Mike Shanks Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:56:33 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-151 Dan, Great post! I did my first 1/2 marathon this year. One of the things I found to be the key to finishing the race in a great time (1:57) was to surround myself with the right people. Not in the race but in the training. I didn't surround myself with others doing their first race. I surrounded myself with Ironman Triathletes, Boston Marathoners, and people that live and breath running. I think that startups are similar in the fact that you can surround yourself with a bunch of people that have never done it before or you can surround yourself with the best of the best. Learn from those that have done it and succeeded. Always keeping in mind that those that have succeeded have probably failed more than anyone else you can find. No different than talking to a Boston Marathoner telling you the story how they started too strong and finished with their worst ever time. Learn from others' mistakes to save yourself some time! The parallels between running and business are so plentiful you could continue with a whole series on it..... Mike Dan,

Great post!

I did my first 1/2 marathon this year. One of the things I found to be the key to finishing the race in a great time (1:57) was to surround myself with the right people. Not in the race but in the training. I didn’t surround myself with others doing their first race. I surrounded myself with Ironman Triathletes, Boston Marathoners, and people that live and breath running.

I think that startups are similar in the fact that you can surround yourself with a bunch of people that have never done it before or you can surround yourself with the best of the best. Learn from those that have done it and succeeded.

Always keeping in mind that those that have succeeded have probably failed more than anyone else you can find. No different than talking to a Boston Marathoner telling you the story how they started too strong and finished with their worst ever time. Learn from others’ mistakes to save yourself some time!

The parallels between running and business are so plentiful you could continue with a whole series on it…..

Mike

]]> By: Gabriella http://www.danmartell.com/9-reasons-why-doing-a-startup-is-like-running-a-marathon/#comment-150 Gabriella Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:47:26 +0000 http://www.danmartell.com/?p=545#comment-150 Dan, Congrats on marathon number 1! I say that because there is no chance you won't do another. serial entrepreneurs = serial marathoners Funny thing...I was thinking about this exact same topic this morning, albeit in a different context. Someone was talking about milestones and I was thinking how much they are like mile markers. Each one is different, each is just as important as the last in achieving your final goal and though the last ones are the hardest, they give us the biggest sense of accomplishment. So many more analogies, but I will let you and your readers make them. On the cofounder issue; a marathon is even better when run with someone you trust to do the work too. I ran my last one with my best friend that recently moved to Wisconsin (I'm in TX). We trained together in different cities. It was amazing! Give it a try sometime. Happy trails, Gabriella Dan,

Congrats on marathon number 1! I say that because there is no chance you won’t do another. serial entrepreneurs = serial marathoners

Funny thing…I was thinking about this exact same topic this morning, albeit in a different context. Someone was talking about milestones and I was thinking how much they are like mile markers. Each one is different, each is just as important as the last in achieving your final goal and though the last ones are the hardest, they give us the biggest sense of accomplishment. So many more analogies, but I will let you and your readers make them.

On the cofounder issue; a marathon is even better when run with someone you trust to do the work too. I ran my last one with my best friend that recently moved to Wisconsin (I’m in TX). We trained together in different cities. It was amazing! Give it a try sometime.

Happy trails,
Gabriella

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