09/19/2023
Last weekend, I competed in the Ironman World Championships and it was the most torturous day of my life.
Here are my biggest takeaways and lessons from this life-changing experience. 👇
In life, and especially in business, success isn't just about crossing the finish line first. It's about having the unwavering determination to compete at the highest level, no matter the hurdles.
This is something that I learned from a very young age from the best hockey coach ever and my father, Claude Tetrault.
Having qualified for the World Championships at Ironman Lake Placid seven weeks ago, I was dialed in with my training and ready to post a great time in Nice, France at the Ironman World Championships.
On race day, I quickly realized that I was in for a battle. Having never completed an ocean swim, and without the benefit of my trusty wetsuit, the 3.8km trek was unlike anything I had ever done.
Despite this, I pushed forward, driven entirely by my desire to compete at the pinnacle of my abilities with the absolute best athletes on the planet. 🌍
As a Manitoban, nothing could have prepared me for the treacherous ascents over 180km of cycling in the French Alps.
For hours on end, quitting seemed like the only option, but I persevered.
When things got tough, I told myself to push hard for “twenty seconds of courage”. 💡
I got off the bike and was now staring at a 42.2 km marathon to finish the day in 30 degree heat with no access to shade. I didn’t know how I was going to get through the race but I went back to my “why”.
I reminded myself why I was completing this race. It was because I wanted to compete at the highest level possible.
Starting and growing a business mirrors this journey. Challenges will arise, doubts will creep in, and you'll encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable. But remember, the greatest victories often emerge from the toughest battles.
Just as I didn't quit the race when it got tough, you can't give up on your entrepreneurial dreams. To succeed, you must be willing to compete at the highest level, embrace the challenges, and persist when others falter.
In business, like in an Ironman, it's not about where you start but how determined you are to finish.
On this day, I finished the Ironman in just under 15 hours in what was the most torturous and grueling day of my life.
I hugged my parents at the finish line and cried as I realized that it was finally over.
I will forever know that on this day, I competed with the absolute best on the planet, and that having a drive to compete at the highest level is an incredible source of power and motivation.
So, to all my fellow entrepreneurs and business professionals, remember this: The journey may be tough, but the view from the summit is worth every step. Keep competing at the highest level, and you'll achieve greatness. 🏆
