I’ve always been fascinated by how people think, feel, and interact with the world. My studies in philosophy and psychology gave me a framework to explore big questions about the human mind and spirit. But I never expected to find the most practical life lessons on the track.
Did your parents ever sign you up for a sport when you were a kid? Or maybe you naturally gravitated toward one on your own. In my case, I tried a bit of everything: gymnastics, acrobatics, hockey, handball—you name it. Somewhere in my twenties, I finally stumbled into running. It felt like I’d found my calling.
Running has been part of my life for six years now, and I’ve even managed to win a few races along the way. But the trophies aren’t the real prize, what really matters are the lessons I’ve learned that are key for my interpersonal and profesional life:
Building self-confidence
From missing out on that easy win to facing rejection from dance class, sports taught me to bounce back. Over time, you discover your own strength and see how practice transforms self-doubt into self-confidence.Developing resilience
Nobody loves waking up at 6 a.m. to run in the freezing cold. But when you stick to it, you train your mind as much as your body. You learn to push through discomfort and keep your eyes on the longer-term goal.Focusing on the long game
Sports are about slow, steady improvement. In business, it’s the same: you show up every day, chip away at obstacles, and remember that small steps today lead to big wins tomorrow.Mental discipline
It’s easy to get caught up scrolling crypto Twitter or letting minor setbacks derail you. Sports remind you that your biggest competition is yourself, and the real triumph is learning to keep moving forward despite distraction or doubt.Teamwork and leadership
Even in individual sports, you need support—coaches, training partners, and a community. You learn to collaborate and respect different roles. In a startup environment, that’s pure gold. Aligned teamwork moves mountains.
In fast-paced environments—where quick decisions and constant pivots are the norm—habits built through sports become invaluable.
That pre-dawn run trains you to stay focused despite fatigue and distractions; regular practice sessions remind you that steady effort compounds over time. And when challenges arise, you learn to see them as part of the journey, not a dead end. The endurance, mental toughness, and determination honed through sports can keep you moving forward—even when the finish line feels out of reach.