Running the Business Mile by Mile

Why do we chase the “magic system”—EOS, Scaling Up, V/TO, OKRs—or buy the brand-name version of something, even when the off-brand works just as well? We hope it will fix our business, like we hope a designer purse will make us feel accomplished.

But here’s the truth: owning the designer bag doesn’t make you successful. Likewise, implementing system tools doesn’t automatically make your business better. Doing the work does.

To be clear—there’s nothing wrong with choosing these systems. They create structure, shared language, and often the buy-in leaders are desperately looking for. The problem isn’t the tool. The problem is what we expect the tool to do for us. Great marketing and success stories make us feel like the hard work is already done. But no framework, no matter how polished, eliminates the

need to actually do the work.

I know this because I’ve lived it, both in business and on the road. Running is hard. It hurts at first. It demands discipline, resilience, and the willingness to push through when every muscle is screaming.

The same is true in business: building results takes grit, day after day. It’s easier when you’re surrounded by people who share the same desire—a team aligned in vision, moving together.

In Portland, there’s an annual running event I enjoy: Wood You Rather. It’s a team trail race: you go from one checkpoint to the next, and everyone must finish together. Alignment matters and knowing each team member’s strengths is crucial. Everyone has a role: someone reads the map, someone leads the team, and everyone motivates each other—despite the 9+ miles and nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain!

We chase the shiny, well-marketed product because it feels like value. Systems, frameworks, and “best practices” look impressive, but often they’re just noise. Complexity gives the illusion of progress. Checking all the boxes and using pretty templates can feel like moving forward, even if we’re still at the starting line. Shortcuts feel easier than discipline, and the boring stuff—the habits, the follow-through—can feel overwhelming at first, so it often gets ignored.

Results come from habits. Asking what matters, cutting what doesn’t, fixing friction at the root, and designing around the customer. Day after day. It’s slow. It’s repetitive. It’s uncomfortable. But that’s how muscle memory is built—in running, in work, in leadership.

I still remember the day after my first mile run—every bit of my body hurt, and I just wanted to stop. Thankfully, I had a support system (that I found annoying at the time) to encourage me to get back on the road. They had experience, they provided guidance, and they held me accountable—but in the end, it was still up to me to do the running.

A coach—or someone to help guide you—is invaluable. They help set the right pace, hold you accountable, and reveal the blind spots you miss. They remind you that running—and building a business—isn’t a solo sprint; it’s a long, aligned journey. Habits stick when you train consistently, push through discomfort, and celebrate the small wins along the way.

The ones who get real results? They show up. They run the miles, shoulder to shoulder, step by step, building the discipline, resilience, and habits that carry them forward—both on the road and in business.

What’s the habit your team is building now? What are you doing to help them build muscle memory?

#BusinessHabits #ContinuousImprovement #Leadership #WorkSmarter #SimplexityPM