Running the Marathon of Marketing:
How Consistency Breaks the Rock

Every strike counts, whether it's on the pavement or in the market.

Two years ago, I resumed running consistently, lacing up my sneakers and hitting the pavement anywhere from two to four times a week. But a quick backstory first:

For most of my adult life, I’ve seen myself as a runner. In my early 20’s, I took up running to try to get in shape and it has been my favorite type of exercise since. Fast forward two decades, and my passion for running hasn't waned. Of course, I will be the first to admit, life’s challenges did occasionally throw a wrench in my routine. Sleepless nights tending to a crying infant, running related injuries, fatigue, or even those periods when motivation just ebbed away— all these had me taking temporary hiatuses. Sometimes these breaks would last six weeks or six months (or longer!) at a time.

Yet, despite these pauses, the call of the outdoors, whether on pavement or on a nature trail, the rhythm of my heartbeat syncing with my footsteps, always pulled me back in. And I have to admit, treadmills never did it for me. The idea of running in place, staring at a static view— it felt like purgatory. The world outside had too many stories to tell, like the one time I was ambushed by forest animals, but I will save that story for another day. 😂

Treadmill running doesn't compare to what the outside world can bring.

Running is a paradox. It’s both demanding yet therapeutic, a distraction and an immersion. While running, my mind often wanders, crafting solutions to personal and work challenges. Some of my better ideas have surfaced during a run, perhaps a testament to the famed “runner’s high.”

On a very recent run, a book written by James Clear titled "Atomic Habits" popped into my thoughts. The book is about breaking unhelpful habits and establishing beneficial ones through consistent action.

Clear references that a stonecutter will hammer away at a rock 100 times without a single break. But at strike 101, the rock yields splitting into two. The irony? It wasn't the final blow that split the rock but the cumulative effort of all before that mattered. The energy was not wasted; it was just being stored. This part of the book resonated deeply within me.

Reflecting on this, memories of my initial return to running two years ago after a long hiatus flooded in. I remember feeling like every stride was a struggle. I felt like I was a total beginner. My body ached (often during and after a run). My breath was short, I’d have to walk intermittently, and any terrain incline felt like I was climbing a mountain.

But despite the discomfort, I pressed on. Each week I kept showing up. Running. Resting. Repeat. Then, one day, I suddenly realized I no longer had intense muscle soreness after a run. I breathe easy and no longer gasp for air. Running 5k without stopping for a break became my new normal. Those challenging hills became mere bumps and I welcomed them during my excursions. Little by little, day by day, my body became stronger, and I transformed both mentally and physically.

I broke the rock.

With this journey in mind, I then realized marketing is eerily similar. Results don’t always show immediately. The first campaign may not always yield the best results. Sales can be sluggish. This, like steep hills, can make a person uncomfortable and wonder if it's a waste of time, and debating whether or not to call it quits.

But the key is unwavering persistence. Tweaking strategies, learning from setbacks, and above all, consistently narrating your brand's story, and regardless, keep showing up at the starting line. Just like the stonecutter, you never know which effort will finally crack the rock.

So, wherever you are in your journey, be it personal, professional, or somewhere in between, remember the importance of tenacity. Every effort, however small, compounds. And who can say? Perhaps the next push, the next campaign, or the next run might be the defining one.

Now, if you'll excuse me, the pavement is calling. Another run, another chance for revelation awaits.