Endurance Athlete to Dynamic Entrepreneur Connection

When considering endurance sports, the words running, ultrarunning, marathon swimming, and long-course cycling and triathlon are part of the discussion. People do not always think of endurance athletes in an entrepreneurial way, however many of the athletes participating in these sports also strike out on their own as entrepreneurs. You will find them leading organizations as solo coaches, trainers of coaches, and as business founders in their respective industries. This association leads to the question of whether there is a natural connection between individuals who participate in endurance events and their ability to weather the ebbs and flows of business ownership.

Risk and Resilience: Shared Traits of Athletes and Entrepreneurs

Participation in sports and entrepreneurship can be risky business. In sports, the risk is often to your body as injuries can occur more for active participants than in people who are lightly active. Risks involved in owning a business is in part the reliance on that business to support the needs of the owner and any employees. When previously studied, those who have an inclination to participate in risky sports also exhibit higher levels of risk acceptance, extraversion and lower levels of neuroticism. Those same traits were not displayed as heavily in lower risk sports, such as golf (Steinbrink, et al., 2020). Other personality traits correlate between these groups as well, such as openness, emotional stability, and more conscientiousness.

While risk acceptance is an important trait in people seeking both excitement in sports and business, Steinbrink et al. (2020) found that there was a limitation to the upper end of positivity and more risk seeking was not always constructive. Their study found individuals seeking high levels of risk may make impulsive decisions when seeking exhilaration, which can be negatively correlated to winning in sports and in business.

The Role of Gender: Women Leading the Way

Traditionally men have been the gender and group studied most on this topic, however we see the number of women in endurance sports and women coaching endurance sports is growing. Although not a personality trait, passion is the emotion exhibited in women who are interested in endurance sports and running businesses, such as coaching athletes. Marlow and Patton (2005) suggested that the stereotypical presumption is that women go into these roles because of their traditional characteristics of nurture and passiveness, but studies have been done that show it is more so women’s ability to think differently than men that lead them to desire and excel at entrepreneurship.

Rather than an inherent nurturing trait leading women to coach and start businesses in athletics, studies have found that one thing that leads them into this journey is their desire to connect with the sports they love (Ratten & Miragaia, 2020). As they continue to participate in running, ultrarunning, marathon swimming, and triathlon they look for more ways to be involved in the sports and to involve the sports in their lives. One research subject reflected on the fact her business became successful because it was her passion and what she loves doing as a person. Another echoed that she made her business successful because she wanted to be the best at business like she was the best at her sport.

Community and Connection: Building Business Through Relationships

More than their male counterparts, women also find their human and friendship connections important. They will utilize their networks in helping their businesses succeed (Ratten & Miragaia, 2020). These female entrepreneurs are excited to support their friends’ businesses and also bring their athletic connections into their own companies. An excellent example of this played out at a Phoenix Last Person Standing ultra running event recently, where a group of five women came from all over the country to support their one friend who had previously been a support in their athletic adventures, as well. Other women start businesses in athletic areas, like coaching, because they see a lacking trait in coaching services they’ve used and want to see that change.

Having hobbies and passions that are harmonious with keeping in touch with your friends and owning a business is the best way to integrate parts of life so you are not dividing yourself and your time, but enriching the whole of your experiences and helping others at the same time.

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Lessons from the Course: Resilience in Sports and Business

Regardless of gender identification, resilience in athletics and entrepreneurship leads to success. Stressors in both pursuits are similar and identified as daily personal stressors, competitive performance, and organizational performance, such as finances (Steinbrink & Strohle, 2024). Athletes build their emotional capital as they face adversity, and many would agree that endurance sports are particularly specific to resilience and flexibility, because long events require a constant stream of trouble-shooting problems and challenges. In a marathon, the stress of the speed can cause gastrointestinal issues, in a 100-mile ultra-event sleep deprivation can cause unforeseen challenges, and in a marathon swimming event the temperature of the water may cause unpredictable reactions that have to be handled in the moment.

The growth and improvement of athletes through the coping strategies they learn in challenging moments carries over into their business pursuits. Steinbrink and Strohle (2024) found that a high level of resilience was evident in athletes over non-athletes, which is a skill needed as they focus on running their own businesses, especially the business of coaching athletes, which requires them to help others work through executing training plans, as well as navigating race strategies, and accomplishing big goals in endurance sports even when they cannot step in and control the situation for the athlete.

From Athlete to Coach: A Natural Transition

Entrepreneurs know best the excitement and challenges of growing business, which includes the planning, organizing, and marketing for clients to achieve the success they seek. Athletes have already mastered these skills in their endeavors, including marketing their own personal brand to gain attention and maximize earning potential in that way. It is a perfect cross over from current or retiring athlete to business owner, especially in the coaching realm as it allows them to remain participating in the sports they love, by taking that participation in new directions.

Training athletes, training new coaches, and building businesses is a rewarding adventure with no finite finish line, so it allows those who seek achievement to continue building and triumphing in new ways. In addition to all of these skills, seeking certifications in their chosen business path, such as coaching, further enhances the trustworthiness and public reliability of the transition of these skills from athlete to entrepreneur, building on their potential success from the jump.

References 

Marlow, S., & Patton, D. (2005). All credit to men? Entrepreneurship, finance, and gender. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 29(6), 717-735.

 Ratten, V., & Miragaia, D. (2020). Entrepreneurial passion amongst female athletes. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 32(1), 59-77.

Steinbrink, K. & Ströhle, C. (2024). The entrepreneurial intention of top athletes—does resilience lead the way?. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 20(2), 607-629.

Steinbrink, K. M., Berger, E. S., & Kuckertz, A. (2020). Top athletes’ psychological characteristics and their potential for entrepreneurship. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 16, 859-878.

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