Days run together and as your body breaks down as part of the building process. You can get wrapped up in doing whatever it takes to accomplish your goal of setting a new PR (personal record), placing in your age group or just crossing the finish line. In many ways IRONMAN is symbolic of so many goals, be it the next promotion in business, financial success or landing that really big project. Having laser focus can help us achieve our goals, however narrow vision can also blind us to other juicy, wonderful nuances of life that may be sacrificed along the way.

To rise above the rigor and embrace the many marvels of life along the journey is an extraordinary undertaking that takes exceptional vision, discipline and compassion. In work, life and IRONMAN there are incredible leaders who embody the essence of head, heart and guts and Victor Dover, a South Florida Endurance Athlete, Business Owner, Father, Husband and all around “Good Guy” is one such example.  As a friend and fellow IRONMAN he is the epitome of what this sport is all about. His friends know him as Vic, in the community Mr. Dover and at home he is Dad to his two beautiful children and husband to his amazing wife Mari.  As he takes on the Lake Placid IRONMAN event (his second 140.6 miler) he is dedicating this race and raising much needed funds for the Dan Marino Foundation helping kids with Autism and developmental disabilities. https://www.firstgiving.com/victordover2010

Contributing to others while pursuing your own goals brings an element to personal achievement that elevates the motivation when you are hitting the proverbial wall.  Giving without expecting returns shifts the dynamics of energy to propel you to new heights in the long hours of the day when the finish line is no where in site be it business, life or sports. I encourage you to give whatever you can to this great cause, supporting a great man who may be IRONMAN on the outside but his heart is pure gold.

If you are an endurance athlete in sports, business or life or have never run, biked or swam you can join Victor on his journey by supporting his efforts, earning your own medal of heart-gold.  VICtory is taking the first step.

Please share your stories and comments on this topic.

Endurance versus strength, there has always been arguments of which one is better to have. In endurance sports, an endurance athlete must be strong enough to compete, however if they don’t have the endurance to last then they will lose the race. It is the same for business owners. A business owner may have the strength to get the job done or make the decisions, but it is in the final hour when staying focused a little longer or not tiring out is critical to the success of the business.

According to the dictionary, endurance means the ability to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. A good synonym to pair with the word endurance is stamina. Lasting longer, pushing harder and still being able to maintain a consistent force to accomplish goals and tasks.

Strength, defined as having bodily, muscular or mental power. A good synonym to pair with strength is vigor. It is having the power to do something whether it is physical or mental. Often times we compare lifting a car to physical strength.

An endurance athlete must have the muscular strength to participate in marathons and triathlons, while a business owner must have the mental strength to make tough decisions, think about what’s best for the company and run the day to day operations. This is not the same as endurance however; endurance refers to the long haul. It does not matter how much physical strength an athlete has if they cannot finish the race. As a business owner it does not matter how much strength one has to make the tough decisions, if they unfocused, lack energy, short tempered or out sick because they have not taken care of their health.

Endurance is built through lifestyle and habits and includes strategy and balance. One must practice daily what it is that they want to accomplish on the job and in sports. Proper eating habits are a must when you are looking to endure the race of life or any other kind of race, such as a marathon. A person must find balance between work, family and personal time. Working with a business life coach will assist in helping a business owner achieve the success they are looking for in finding balance and keeping themselves happy. A business life coach acts as a checks and balances to an endurance athlete and business owner.

Keep yourself mentally prepared for anything, balanced so you can handle it and happy so you can endure the impossible. Life is truly what we make of it; with the right attitude, support and lifestyle we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.

It becomes comfortable for us to be known as that great professional who is so successful at what they do. However, that road can be a lonely road. When you are “that person”, that “work-a-holic” burnout is usually on the horizon. A body can only take so much mentally, physically and emotionally.  Talented people burnout and fall into a cycle of having to put in more hours to keep up. This leads to work performance issues, relationship problems with family and friends; even sometimes resulting in divorce. Health issues can arise in a person who is all work and no play, as well as lack of life effectiveness.

A top level executive once stated that people at his corporate office wear the hours they work like a badge of honor. While being proud of the work you do and complete is not a bad thing, if you are wearing the “work-a-holic” badge like a badge of honor, it may be time to step back take a hard look at yourself and evaluate the reasons why.

A good night’s sleep can do a world of wonders for increased productivity at the workplace the next day. The day usually looks clearer, your thinking ability is much greater and the work load usually appears less. If you take a moment to look at the stock of your life, you will come t know that you can accomplish more that you ever thought possible. Time is a great equalizer we all have twenty four hours in a day and seven days in a week, it’s what we do with our time that makes the difference.

Don’t be the person that allows work performance issues into your daily routine, only because you aren’t giving your body and life the right balance. If you are an athlete, a business owner or just someone in the company, learn to give your life the proper balance in order to stay at the top of your game.