A Marathon I Never Wanted to Attend
Let me be honest: I hate crowds. I hate traffic. I hate road closures. Heading into San Francisco early Sunday morning for the marathon wasn't high on my list. I would have been perfectly content at home with a cup of coffee, some work to catch up on, and a comfortable chair.
But I went. And I'm genuinely grateful I did.
What I Witnessed
Standing on the streets of San Francisco, I was surrounded by something unexpected: thousands of strangers who came together for one purpose. To cheer on people they'd never met.
There was a guy with a portable speaker. People dancing. Homemade signs. Others handing out water and Gatorade to runners passing by. And the encouragement—"You got this!" and "Great work!" shouted to people the crowd didn't know, giving runners that boost exactly when they needed it most.
All the world's noise, politics, and divisiveness? It faded away for a moment. It was just people coming together to support each other.
I'm beyond proud of my daughter Sarah (and her boyfriend and roommate) for finishing the SF Marathon. That's an accomplishment fewer than 0.1% of people ever achieve. But what moved me even more was the community surrounding it. Thousands of strangers, united in supporting each other. That's humanity at its best.
Why This Matters Beyond the Marathon
This experience taught me something I try to practice in my work but sometimes forget: people are at their best when they're supporting each other toward something meaningful.
In the context of sales and team building, we talk about "alignment" and "shared goals." But what I witnessed on those San Francisco streets was something deeper. It was genuine human connection. Strangers caring about the success of other strangers. Not because they had to, but because the effort was clearly worth it.
That's what great teams look like. That's what great cultures look like. People genuinely invested in each other's success.
The Hard Things Are Worth the Discomfort
Sarah trained for months for this marathon. Early mornings. Sore legs. Questioning decisions. But she kept going. And when she crossed that finish line, all of it was worth it.
The same is true in your career, your leadership, and your life. The hard things are worth the discomfort. Stepping outside your comfort zone—even when you hate crowds and traffic—brings the most rewarding experiences.
I went to support my daughter. But I came home with a reminder about what really matters: showing up for people, celebrating their hard work, and being part of a community that lifts each other up.
"Sometimes humanity is at its very best when we come together and support each other. Whether it's a marathon finish line or a team hitting a milestone, that collective joy is something worth stepping outside your comfort zone for."
Building a Team Culture That Celebrates Each Other?
Great teams are built on genuine care for each other's success. Let's talk about how to create that culture in your organization.
Book a 30-Minute CallNo commitment. No pitch. Just a conversation about building teams that genuinely support each other.