Knowing when you’re ready to strike out on your own as an entrepreneur is a challenge in and of itself. So many new business ventures fail due to a lack of proper planning and foresight – and you certainly don’t want to be part of that statistic!

Sometimes it’s difficult for busy professionals to have an objective perspective on their lives. If we’re not careful, we can get so caught up in the daily grind that we don’t see clearly. This is especially true where work-life balance is concerned. Unfortunately for us, we can operate out-of-balance for quite some time – only recognizing the problem when it culminates in catastrophic burnout.

A lot of leadership content I see is geared toward handling crises. And to be fair, having guidance on hand for unprecedented challenges is extremely valuable. I do see, though, that this approach can put us in a “damage control” mode versus prevention. We’re focused on putting out fires rather than fireproofing.

Summer is in full swing here in Tennessee. The South has been under a heatwave lately, making outdoor activities more untenable than usual. I’m used to running in year-round conditions, hot or cold, but even I have to admit that things are getting toasty!

Our bodies are highly efficient machines. They’ll give us everything we need – if we treat them well and offer quality fuel. The best types of fuel for your body (especially for exercise) are complex carbohydrates.

Regret is a natural part of the human experience. There will always be things left undone and unsaid, time wasted, words fumbled, and mistakes made. Regret can be used to avoid future missteps: part of the entrepreneurial trial by fire that leads to refinement.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to reach the next level of success or an aspiring athlete hoping to crush your fitness goals, self-discipline is a key component of success. Unfortunately, being disciplined is often easier said than done.

As a leader of any kind – a boss, a CEO, a manager, or an entrepreneur – it’s never easy when someone leaves. Losing a valuable team member will always come with some sort of upheaval even in the most ideal circumstances.

I don’t know a single athlete that rushes to the doctor at the first sign of trouble. I’m certainly not one of them! It may not make logical sense, but I think there’s a part of ourselves that believes if we avoid getting an official diagnosis, we can get moving forward. But trust me, any real injury is going to stop you from keeping up with your training schedule – whether or not you visit a physician.

As much as I talk about how important it is for leaders to support their teams, I think we must acknowledge the other side of the coin. Leaders need support too, and when they don’t have it, they can grow bitter, unmotivated, and ineffective. After all, getting anything done when everyone else seems to be working against you is like Sisyphus eternally pushing the boulder up a hill.

Conflict is an inevitable part of life. We’re all going to face it personally and professionally but our tendency, our human nature, is to avoid conflict at all costs. But avoiding conflict isn’t the same thing as having peace. And conflict, if handled properly, can lead to growth and positive outcomes for everyone involved.

While it’s a myth that leaders are born and not made, there are some key characteristics that make leaders worth following. Knowing the characteristics can not only help you hone your own leadership skills, but it can aid in identifying, training, and retaining new leadership for your business. After all, it’s not just the guy at the top who leads. Leadership and initiative among your whole team produces top-tier results.

However fit and active you may be, we’re all prone to periods of burnout and low motivation. Maybe you hit a plateau and feel discouraged about a lack of progress. Maybe the holiday season means lots of travel, disrupting your normal fitness routine. Whether you’re a chronic quitter or a seasoned pro hitting a stumbling block, it helps to know what you need to recharge your motivation and get back on track with your fitness goals.

In the minds of some experts, emotional intelligence (EQ) has become more valuable in the workplace than the intelligence quotient (IQ). This may be in part because testing intelligence with an IQ test is now considered inaccurate at best and problematic at worst. Our traditional understandings of intelligence are quite narrow – only accounting for a small part of what can lead to success in academia and the workplace.

For the most part, we exercise for the physical benefits: increased muscle, loss of excess weight, preventing heart disease and other maladies, and building up energy and stamina. But the benefits of regular exercise go far beyond the physically evident. If you needed another motivator to get up and get active, let this be it: regular exercise strengthens and protects your brain.

As I’ve discussed leadership here, I’ve often talked about some of the key qualities that make a great leader. From communication skills and confidence to introspection and vision, there are any number of traits that make leaders, well…leaders!

Creativity isn’t an inherent, unchangeable quality. It’s a muscle, a skill to be flexed and developed. Entrepreneurs in particular need a strong creative drive. Business leaders, too, should never underestimate the infinite value of a creative mind.

Feeling overwhelmed in the workplace is incredibly common. It’s not just something new hires experience, either. The constant pressure to produce, innovate, and achieve can wear anyone down. When your to-do list is long and you find yourself struggling, you need a strategy.

When it comes to watching what you eat, your waistline isn’t the only concern! Your nutritional decisions make an impact on your whole body, including the brain. As your most important organ, you want to do everything in your power to protect it!

I cover quite the mix of topics on this blog, all of which I’m personally involved and invested in. Believe it or not, these seemingly unrelated topics – endurance running and fitness, health and nutrition, entrepreneurship, and leadership – tie together in marvelous ways.