Relationships

Podcast Version
(With NotebookLM AI)

Relationships That Shape Us

Today’s blog is inspired by my daughter, who starts her very first day as a doctor on October 1st, 2025. A proud moment for her and for me as her father. With this milestone, I realized the importance of relationship dynamics. Officially, all my kids are now “off my payroll”. Yet the relationship remains. The connection, the support, the desire to see them thrive never ends.
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So, what do relationships really mean?

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​1. Personal

With our kids:

Even when they’re grown, they remain part of us. You want the best for them. You keep cheering them on. In some ways you live through them, in others they’ve taught us more than we’ve taught them. Children are mirrors. They reflect not just our nurturing and genetics, but also our strengths, flaws, and blind spots. They help us grow just as much as we’ve helped them.

With our parents:

They are our foundation. If you’re fortunate to have their support, you know the quiet strength that comes from knowing someone always has your back. And if that support wasn’t there, that too shapes who you become. As kids we often revolt against their point of view, but as we grow older often catch ourselves seeing it their way.

With our friends:

This is where relationships can be bittersweet. My wife often reminds me: you have a friend for a season, a reason, or a lifetime. Some friendships endure, others fade, even when you think they’ll last forever. I had a 20-year friendship that ended. He was the one who introduced me to triathlon, so every time I train, I think of him. If he called me tomorrow in need, I’d still be on the next plane. That friendship, even though it ended, is still a part of me. It shaped who I am. Even a divorce can teach you a lot about who you are. If only, you are willing to learn.

2. Business

With entrepreneurs:

Businesses create their own relationships. For me, building a company was almost like raising a child. When I sold my company, it felt very similar to seeing a child grow up and leave the house. You’re no longer materially responsible, but the bond doesn’t disappear. You still want the best for it, and you know part of you will always be tied to it. Even 20 years after selling the company,  I still get goosebumps if somebody catches me and reminds me they were a customer and how much they enjoyed our service.

With employees:

Even in roles where I wasn’t the founder, the connection remained. I’ve been fortunate to work for companies whose products and missions I truly believed in. To this day, I’d still support many of them, because they gave me as much as I gave them. Whether it’s a relationship with a boss, a colleague or a team member, the bond can be as real and lasting as any other. Work relationships transform us. They shape how we see ourselves, how we grow, and how we show up in the world. I have learned from the best bosses and the worst and have grown as a human being learning from my colleagues skills, personalities and flaws.

3. Triathlon

With coaching:

As a Coach, I have a deep relationship with my athletes. I suffer with them, fail with them, win with them. Watching them cross a finish line or get a personal best in training or race day is as great a joy as if I did it myself. But what often goes unseen is how much they give back to me. Through their struggles and breakthroughs, I learn. I visualize their mistakes, search for solutions, and in doing so, refine myself; not just as a coach to leverage the experience for others, but as an athlete getting better.

With the community:

The triathlon community is unique. It represents effort, ambition, drive, and commitment at a level few other communities can match. And the biggest lesson? It doesn’t matter how fast you are. If you’ve trained for, committed to, and completed an Ironman, you’ve earned respect. Success in triathlons, like in life, is about the mental and physical commitment to the journey, not just the clock. It is about seeking continuous improvement and learning from every experience and relationship you have.

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:

• Reflect on your relationships: family, friends, work, and sport. Write down the positives and negatives. See what they’ve taught you.
• After every big chapter, whether leaving a company, finishing a race, or moving into a new stage, create a list of lessons learned. Revisit it before starting something new. I have been doing so for 30 years and by now my list is long.

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