The directors socialising

What running every day for 5 years taught me

Image of people's legs whilst running

Nearly five years ago, I made a decision to start running.  It was the first day of lockdown in the UK (March 23rd 2020) and we could only leave our houses once per day.  At that point, I had no idea I would still be running daily over 1750 days later, irrespective of rain or shine, being sick or healthy, being motivated or not, I simply laced up my trainers and hit the pavement. Over those years, I’ve learned a lot about myself, my limits and what it takes to stay the course — lessons as it turns out, translate seamlessly into running a business.

As the managing director of a marketing agency, I often draw on these insights to guide my decisions and keep my team moving forward. Here are five key lessons running has taught me about managing a business.

1. Consistency is the foundation of success

In running, consistency is everything. It’s not about setting a personal best every day; it’s about showing up and putting in the effort, no matter how you feel. Some runs are slow, some are short, and some feel downright awful — but they all count toward the bigger goal.

In business, it’s the same. Consistency in the small, everyday actions — following up with prospects, nurturing client relationships, or conducting regular performance reviews, all build the foundations for long-term success. Even when progress feels slow, the habit of showing up and doing the work ensures momentum.

For h2o, maintaining a consistent approach to lead generation and client engagement has been a game-changer. Those small, daily actions add up to big results over time.

 

2. Stick to the plan, even when it’s hard

When training for a marathon, working toward a fitness goal or maintaining a streak, it’s easy to doubt the plan when results aren’t immediate. But sticking to it, trusting the process, and following through, even when tempted to give up, leads to growth and improvement over time.

In business, this means committing to strategies and initiatives, even when results aren’t instant. Whether it’s a long-term marketing campaign or a new business development push, staying the course is often the difference between success and failure.

Showing his running statistics for 2024-2025
My running milage this past year!

3. Challenges are inevitable — resilience is key

Not every run is a good one. Some days it’s pouring rain; other days, your legs feel like lead. But showing up even on tough days, is where resilience is built.

In business, challenges are just as inevitable. Difficult clients, missed targets and unforeseen problems can derail even the best-laid plans. But resilience, focusing on solutions and refusing to give up, makes all the difference.

I’ve seen this firsthand during challenging periods for our agency, whether it was managing resource constraints or navigating a client’s shifting priorities. Each time, pushing through the discomfort and staying focused on the end goal helped us come out stronger.

4. Discipline beats motivation

Motivation is fleeting. Some days you wake up raring to go; other days, it’s the last thing you feel like doing. Running every day has taught me that discipline — committing to the task, no matter how you feel, is far more reliable than motivation.

As a business leader, this lesson has been invaluable. There are days when it’s hard to stay focused, especially when juggling sales, finances and growth strategies. But discipline ensures that critical tasks get done, even when inspiration is lacking.

For me, this means setting aside time every day for high-impact activities, like reviewing our pipeline or refining our growth strategy. It’s not always exciting, but it’s always necessary.

 

5. Celebrate milestones along the way

One of the joys of running every day is hitting milestones: 100 days, one year, 1,000 days (which I learned is referred to as “earning your comma”). These moments remind you of how far you’ve come and motivate you to keep going.

The same is true in business. Celebrating wins, whether it’s landing a new client, hitting a revenue target, or completing a big project, all boost morale and keep the teams motivated.

 

Final thoughts: lessons for life and business

Running every day for almost five years has been one of the most challenging and rewarding commitments of my life. It’s taught me success isn’t about grand gestures or quick wins; it’s about consistency, resilience and discipline.

Iain playing golf

As a managing director, I apply these principles daily. Whether it’s sticking to a growth strategy, pushing through challenges, or celebrating team milestones, the lessons I’ve learned on the road have shaped how I lead.

So, what’s your equivalent of running every day? What habits or disciplines can you build into your life, or your business which will help you achieve long-term success?

If you’re ready to take your marketing efforts to the next level, let’s talk. Because just like running, building a great business is all about putting one foot in front of the other and never giving up.