10 Things That Matter More Than Talent In Business And Triathlon

Talent is often glorified, but true success in both triathlon and business depends on habits and mindset rather than innate ability. Here are 10 things that require zero talent but make a massive difference in performance—whether you're racing against the clock or leading a company to success.

You might find excuses for the lack of talent, but not for these 10 key attributes:

1. Being on Time

• Triathlon: Race-day punctuality is crucial. Being late to a training session, transition setup, or warm-up can disrupt performance and increase stress. Good timing also applies to pacing strategies during the race.
• Business: In professional settings, punctuality reflects discipline and respect. Being consistently on time builds trust with clients, teams, and stakeholders.

2. Work Ethic

• Triathlon: You can’t fake the miles. Success in endurance sports comes from consistent training, attention to nutrition, and mental toughness. Hard work always beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
• Business: Long-term success is built through daily effort, persistence, and continuous learning. Entrepreneurs and executives who outwork their competition often create sustainable success.

3. Effort

• Triathlon: Every race is a reflection of training effort. From swim drills to brick workouts, the energy you put in determines the output on race day.
• Business: Effort in business means showing up, giving your best, and staying committed to results. High effort leads to innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.

4. Body Language

• Triathlon: Your posture on the bike, relaxed shoulders while swimming, and strong running form make a difference in energy efficiency and confidence. A powerful stance at the start line can even intimidate competitors.
• Business: Non-verbal communication is key in leadership and negotiations. A confident handshake, good eye contact, and an engaged posture can influence meetings, sales, and presentations.

 5. Energy

• Triathlon: A positive mindset fuels performance. Whether in training or during a tough race, bringing energy keeps motivation high and helps push through fatigue.
• Business: Leaders with high energy inspire teams. A productive, enthusiastic attitude is contagious and drives momentum in projects and team collaboration.

6. Attitude

• Triathlon: Racing is as much mental as physical. A strong attitude helps overcome setbacks like tough weather conditions, mechanical issues, or bad race starts.
• Business: The right attitude determines how setbacks are handled. A resilient mindset turns failures into learning experiences, fueling long-term success.

7. Passion

• Triathlon: Passion is the fuel behind long training sessions, early morning swims, and pushing through tough conditions. Athletes who love the sport stick with it for the long run.
• Business: Passionate people bring enthusiasm to their work, making them more persuasive, innovative, and committed. Customers and employees gravitate toward passion-driven leaders.

8. Being Coachable

• Triathlon: Even the best athletes seek coaching. A willingness to take feedback, adjust form, and refine techniques leads to steady improvement.
• Business: Growth-minded professionals seek mentorship and feedback. Those who listen, adapt, and continuously improve have the highest career trajectory.

9. Doing Extra

• Triathlon: The difference between good and great is in the extra reps, extra drills, and extra recovery work. Elite athletes do more than the minimum required.
• Business: The extra effort—following up, adding value, exceeding expectations—is what separates high performers from average professionals.

10. Being Prepared

• Triathlon: Checking equipment, training consistently, and planning race strategies lead to peak performance. Preparation reduces stress and increases race-day success.
• Business: From meetings to market research, preparation is key. Leaders who anticipate obstacles and opportunities position themselves ahead of the competition.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re an executive triathlete or a professional pushing towards business excellence, these 10 attributes require zero talent—but 100% commitment. Mastering them creates a strong foundation for success in sport, business, and life.

Don't forget. It is the small daily steps that turn into positive habits, patterns, and beliefs ingrained in body and mind. Enjoy the journey!

BONUS TIPS COACH GLENN:

1. Identify which of these 10 habits you already excel at and which need improvement.
2. Set small daily goals to reinforce these habits in both sport and business.
3. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who embody these traits.

Share this blog with your friends, colleagues, and fellow athletes who strive for excellence in sport and business!

In the corporate world, networking often follows a predictable pattern—coffee chats, conference meetups, and LinkedIn connections. Yet, some of the most valuable business relationships aren’t formed in boardrooms but on the open road, in the pool, or during the final kilometers of a run.
​
For executive triathletes, networking isn’t a primary goal of the sport, but it happens organically. The endurance lifestyle creates an environment where professionals naturally connect, not over small talk but through shared effort, discipline, and commitment. These factors build trust, likability, and ultimately, new business opportunities in ways that traditional networking never could.

Like-Minded People Like Each Other And Do More Business Together

It’s no secret that people are naturally drawn to those with similar values and mindsets. Studies show that likability is a key driver of trust, and trust is the foundation of business relationships. When executives meet in a typical networking setting, interactions can feel transactional—gauging interest, exchanging pleasantries, and trying to find common ground.

In contrast, triathlon provides a natural bond. Every early-morning swim, long ride, or hard-fought run offers insight into a person’s work ethic, resilience, and determination. These shared experiences create stronger relationships than a handshake at a networking event ever could.

The Unspoken Factors Of Trust and Respect

Trust isn’t built overnight, and it certainly isn’t built over an elevator pitch. But suffering through a 100-kilometer ride together or pushing through a tough interval session creates a level of camaraderie that’s hard to replicate. The sheer challenge of triathlon ensures that those who stick with it share similar traits—persistence, discipline, and the ability to push beyond comfort zones.

In business, these are the same qualities that make great leaders and successful partners. When you’ve witnessed someone’s grit firsthand on the racecourse, you don’t need a resume to know they’re capable of following through on a deal. The understanding of what it takes to build the character to train for an Ironman results in mutual respect and recognition of the type of person you are dealing with.

Why Triathlon Beats Traditional Networking

Triathlon’s networking power isn’t about forced connections. It works because:

• It removes status barriers: On the course, there are no titles—just competitors striving for the same finish line. This levels the playing field, making connections feel more authentic.
• It attracts high achievers: Triathlon demands a long-term commitment and a growth mindset, traits that are also found in top executives and entrepreneurs. If you are looking for high-potentials this might be the right breeding ground.
• It fosters trust through shared struggle: Business deals are built on trust, and there’s no faster way to establish trust than overcoming a challenge together.
• It builds relationships without an agenda: Unlike structured networking events, there’s no pressure to sell or impress. Conversations flow naturally during training sessions or post-race debriefs.

Many executives have unknowingly expanded their professional circles just by participating in triathlon. Deals have been brokered mid-ride, partnerships have formed over recovery shakes, and career opportunities have emerged through race-day camaraderie.

Your Next Business Opportunity Might Not Start With a Handshake But With a Finish Line

In a world where business relationships are often forced, triathlon offers an alternative: an organic, trust-driven way to connect with like-minded professionals. The sport naturally filters in high-performing individuals who value perseverance, continuous improvement, and pushing limits—both in sport and business.

For executives looking to expand their network, the best connections might not be found at the next conference—but in the transition zone, on the long ride, or over a post-race meal.

So if you’re already a triathlete, embrace the networking power of the sport. If you’re not, maybe it’s time to start training—your next great business opportunity might be waiting at the start line.

Don’t forget. It is the small daily steps that turn into positive habits, patterns, and beliefs ingrained in body and mind. Enjoy the journey!

BONUS TIPS COACH GLENN:

• Use triathlon meetups, training camps, and local club events to foster connections in a natural, pressure-free setting where you have more time for the social aspect, when  you are less focussed on the race.
• Follow up post-race—relationships built through sport often lead to business conversations when the time is right.

Share this blog/newsletter with your friends, family, and colleagues who are also pursuing a sportier and healthier lifestyle!
 

When we cling to the past, we risk repeating it—not because it’s inevitable, but because we doubt our ability to change. By learning from the past without being shackled by it, we harness the power to alter our present actions and, in doing so, reshape our future.

​You often hear people talk about creating, visualizing, or manifesting your future. But the real power is within you, and it resides in the NOW. By fully engaging with the present, embracing the lessons of the past, and believing in your capacity to evolve, you can shape a future that is not a mere repetition of what has been, but a reflection of what can be—a future by design, not by default.
 
Five Daily Practices to Design Your Future Without the Shackles of the Past

1. Reframe Your Narrative

Every day, take a moment to shift your mindset from being a product of your past to becoming the architect of your future. What do you want your future to look like? Recognize that past experiences—failures, successes, struggles—are lessons, not permanent definitions of who you are. If something didn’t go as planned, don’t let it dictate today’s actions.

Instead, ask yourself what did I learn? How can I use this knowledge today to move forward? The past may have influenced you, but it does not define you.
 
2. Take One Bold, Purposeful Action

The only way to break free from old patterns is to act differently. Small steps lead to big changes. Each day, commit to one action—however small—that moves you toward your vision.

• Make that tough call.
• Start your workout despite fatigue.
• Say no to distractions that don’t align with your goals.

Every intentional step taken today strengthens the path to your future.
 
3. Detach from Emotional Anchors

Guilt, regret, and nostalgia are chains that keep you mentally trapped in the past. These emotions drain energy and distort reality, making you believe that past mistakes are permanent roadblocks rather than steppingstones. Instead of dwelling, rechannel your focus.

Practical tools include:

• Meditation to clear mental noise
• Deep breathing to center yourself
• Journaling to release emotions

The key is to acknowledge emotions but not let them dictate your present decisions. Let go and move forward.
 
4. Visualize and Embody Your Future Self
​
Instead of wishing for change, start acting like the person you want to become.

• How does your future, more successful self-behave?
• What habits do they follow?
• What choices do they make?

Create a vision board if it helps you stay focused. Then, start living as if that version of yourself already exists. The more you align your daily actions with your ideal future, the faster that future becomes your reality.
 
5. End the Day with Reflection and Reset

Every night, take five minutes to ask yourself: Did I make choices today that align with my vision? What small adjustments can I make tomorrow? No judgment—just course correction. Momentum isn’t built through perfection; it’s built through consistency.

Journaling can be a game-changer here:

• Write down what went well.
• Identify what can be improved.
• Keep yourself accountable.

Final Thought

Your past does not own you. Your future is not a rigid script.
The power to shape your tomorrow exists in the choices you make today.
Live in the now—not just with awareness, but with intention. Learn from what was, envision what could be, but act in the present. That’s where true transformation happens.

Don’t forget! It is the small daily steps that turn into positive habits, patterns, and beliefs ingrained in body and mind. Enjoy the journey!

BONUS TIPS COACH GLENN:

Consider that you will never be 100% right in the future but doing nothing will be 100% wrong.
So, the only way to get to where you want to go is to start moving one step at the time. And know that you will fail at some points, but those will be lessons to allow you to correct your journey and move closer to your goals. Your future self is built on decisions NOW. Choose wisely but choose.

Share this blog/newsletter with your friends, family, and colleagues who are also pursuing a sportier and healthier lifestyle!