TVG

“I’m gonna run a marathon thru the Smoky Mountains wearing combat boots.” “Say what?” I said, “that’s impossible.” “And oh,” my son continued, I’ll be carrying a backpack with 35 pounds of sand in it.”

That explanation begged the obvious question, “Why?” “Dad, the idea is honor through action. The goal isn’t to win an award, it’s for ROTC groups to come together to raise money for scholarship grants to Gold Star families.  It’s our way to honor the sacrifices of American service members and their families.”

That was my first introduction to what is called the Mountain Man Memorial March held each April in Gatlinburg TN.   Now that I’ve actually attended one, I have but one thing to say to terrorist enemies of the United States, ”You are burnt toast.  Don’t think for a second you can beat the American military.  We have the smartest, most dedicated, most incredible young people in the world lining up to be in service.”

After watching my son participate (and win) this event about ten years ago, I couldn’t help but wonder where he got this drive and intensity.  Though both his grandfathers were proud WWII veterans, he hadn’t grown up in a military culture, but his mother and I were proud beyond words to see him cross the finish line with enough energy to seemingly go another 10 miles.

So instead of questioning how my son might have learned this from me, I realized what I need to do is learn from his example of focus, endurance and training.  As I reflect on this inspiring example, I see four life principles from which we can all learn.

1. You are stronger as a team. Most of the ROTC teams in attendance ran as a team, so by definition the team was only as strong as its weakest member. But in a fascinating way, this also made the team stronger, because the team stayed together. The bond created between them all but ensured that every team member would cross the finish line. Success in business requires the same team mentality.   
2. Preparation is everything. My son and his ROTC buddies at University of Tennessee had been in training for months for this. They’d wake at 4:00AM three or four days a week to take a “routine” 13-mile jog before classes, then once a week they’d strap on combat boots and 35-pound backpacks and run a longer distance.  All this time my son is still attending a full load of classes, staying current with school assignments, and working part-time to make money buy his fiancé an engagement ring.  Now, you didn’t have to go through all this preparation or training to participate, anybody could show up and run.  But without an extended level of preparation, it’s obvious you wouldn’t be able to finish the race.
3. You have to be flexible. If you gather 50 people in a room and ask them one word that describes Gatlinburg, I am sure “crowded” would be near the top of the list. So how do you run on a beautiful spring weekend day through the streets, roads and trails of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains?  You have to be flexible.  The last and toughest mile of the course was a long uphill stretch along the sidewalks of busy Gatlinburg.  It was a crazy sight to see a normal busy day with the sidewalks filled with tourists, and these down men and women in boots and heavy backpacks dodging and weaving around them.  There were even a couple of points where the runners had to cross streets which hadn’t been closed, meaning they had to dart around fast-moving cars and motorcycles.  Life is like that.  We daily face distractions, some are silly annoyances and some are downright dangerous, but through it all, we just have to be flexible.  I’ve never negotiated, led, or participated in a business transaction that didn’t have one or more crazy distractions for which you simply can’t plan.  Unless you maintain a good attitude and be prepared to jump around proverbial “moving cars,” you are likely to get hit.  Stay flexible, prepare for anything.
4. Every uphill eventually has a downhill, and often it’s the downhill that’s hardest to handle. As my son was cooling off after the race we sat under a tree and I listened to his description of the course. Before the race started I heard a guy say how much he dreaded a 1.5 mile stretch up a 14 degree incline.  I asked my son if this was in fact the toughest part of the course, and he surprised me by saying it wasn’t.  My son told me the toughest parts of the course were the downhill stretches because the impact of the 35-pound backpack hurt his feet more than on the uphill stretches.  Then he said something that really struck me, “it’s hard to keep your balance going downhill.”   As I reflected on that comment, I realized life is often that way.  We tend to dread the hard times we think might be coming, but in fact when things are going well we are probably more susceptible to making our biggest mistakes.  Show of hands, how many of you have seen a friend or family member make a life altering bad decision while things were otherwise going well in their lives?

It’s hard to describe the feeling of seeing your son participate in such a tough, yet noble event. But beyond just basking in my parental pride, I am grateful to use the opportunity to reflect on what I learned that day from my son ….. talk is cheap, you gotta get in the game.

 

Tennessee Valley Group

Jim is an attorney (non-resident status with the Missouri Bar) and though he no longer practices law, he has read and negotiated enough legal documents to fill a cargo tanker. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and knows how Wall Street and private equity operates. Jim is a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 listed general civil mediator with tons of experience helping business owners (large and small) work through sensitive problems to achieve winning results. He is the author of "Home Run, A Pro's Guide to Selling Your Business, Seven Principles to Make Your Company Irresistible."