I haven’t run a full marathon (yet).
But every weekend, I lace up for a half-marathon in training.
Here’s what those miles have taught me about building a SaaS company:
You can’t just hustle non-stop.
When I started, I thought pushing harder, running longer, was the answer. The truth? If you don’t build in rest, your body—and your mind—will push back. Fast.
As a founder, working 24/7 feels noble. But that’s how you burn out. It’s impossible to see the big picture (or make good decisions) if you never take a step back.
Training hard is only half the equation. Rest matters just as much.
And then there’s this:
The secret is just showing up.
I’m not the fastest. Some runs are slow. Some are rough. But I keep going. Week after week.
Startups are the same. You show up, even when things are tough. You move forward, even if progress is small. Most companies only “fail” when they stop.
There’s power in not giving up. Just being consistent.
I haven’t crossed the marathon finish line yet. But I’m still running—and still building.
Anyone else find that the real lessons come outside the office?