Sustainable Ambition Forum - 07.26.22

 
 

This year I’ve been exploring what we can learn from those who do endurance events like long-distance hiking and cycling, ironmans, and ultramarathons that both stretch them and require that they sustain themselves in these endeavors. Why? Because I think they are analogous to living+working and managing careers from decade to decade in our modern times, which is an endurance event itself.

I first talked with my good friend Dominic DeMarco in Episode 54, and recently I spoke with Jack Hseuh, an ultramarathoner, about his experiences. Jack tends to run 100-milers but in the recent past ran the Tor de Géants, a 330 km race (~230 miles over 6 days!) in the Italian Alps. Imagine what that required from a stretching and sustaining perspective!

In the podcast episode featured below, we talk about finding motivation in loving the journey, the benefits of putting in the work, redefining success beyond the outcome, embracing failure, and how others support you along the way. There are a lot of analogous and helpful insights for all of us from Jack’s experiences and what he shares.

I hope you’ll give it a listen and be inspired like I was. A big lesson for me from this episode that I’ve embraced is to lean into what I want to experience rather than worry about the end goal. It made me think of these questions, which might be helpful for you, too:

  • What if success was about enjoying the journey and honoring my values?

  • What would it look like if I were to make choices such that I loved the journey?

  • What if I were to focus on just the next action I need to take?

  • Who can I surround myself with to make the journey one I love?

  • Who is my cheering squad for whom I can be grateful to be with on this journey?

At the end of the episode, Jack’s parting wisdom was to encourage us all to reach for big, audacious goals, to put in the work, and to not be afraid of failure.

So let’s stretch and strive, go the distance, and, importantly, enjoy the ride.

Be well, all.

Kathy Oneto
Founder of Sustainable Ambition


The Round-Up

Great life hacks to enjoy the ride. A few of my favorites. 1) Something does not need to be perfect to be wonderful. 2) If you can’t make up your mind between two options, flip a coin. Don’t decide based on which side of the coin came up. Decide based on your emotional reaction to which side came up. 3) If you’re traveling in a place you’ve never been before, listen to an album you’ve never heard before. Forever after that music will remind you of that place. Check it out to learn more!

Patience and persistence. I live in the Bay Area, so enjoyed watching the Warriors win another NBA championship. But even more, I love Stephen Curry’s journey and his example demonstrating patience and persistence. Reaching one’s ambitions doesn’t have to happen overnight. Embrace the journey.

Make it a holistic journey. I also appreciate how Curry presents himself. The first thing on his Twitter account isn’t his role as an NBA player or champion. Rather he prioritizes his faith and his family roles. It’s a reminder to consider how we might want to look at our ambitions holistically to support us loving the journey.

Take a break. To go the distance, breaks are powerful. Read how Brené Brown committed to taking a sabbatical and creating space for herself and her team.

At a breaking point? Take a break or slow it down. This is a good listen from the Productive Flourishing team on taking sabbaticals or slowbaticals. I wholly approve of both!

Laugh along the way! Ha, ha, ha! Laughter builds resilience. Remember to have a good laugh.

Keep going. Ways to motivate yourself to get things done.

Inspired to go for it. This is a beautiful story of Vivian Stancil who is blind and learned to swim in her 50’s to improve her health and who now competes in swimming competitions at the National Senior Games. Amazing!

It won’t get easier. Get some straight talk from Kara Lawson, the Duke Women’s Basketball Head Coach, to embrace the idea of handling hard better. “Make yourself a person who handles hard well.” Read more. Watch it.

“From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life.” A great read by Arthur Brooks if you’re at the second stage and especially if you are a striver. He writes about how our capabilities and interests change, how transitional stages are powerful moments, and more.

Commitment to vision. A lesson from Beethoven and his “Ode to Joy.”


The Sustainable Ambition Podcast - Episode 62

Join me for conversations with experts, authors, and friends on what it means to live with Sustainable Ambition.

Listen to hear Jack Hsueh’s experiences as an ultra-marathoner who has run races like the Tahoe Rim Trail 100-mile race, Tor de Géants which is a 330km race in Italy running through the Alps (which takes about 6 days to run!), and the Western States 100. Jack does these events while managing his career and having a family. Jack’s experiences that require commitment, resilience, and grit offer valuable insights into how we might manage a more sustainable life+work over time and in the moment.

Listen on your favorite player here or on our website here

You can also find the podcast, subscribe, and listen on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, and more.

Find Inspiration to Keep Your Energy Intact


Do you love podcasts? Here’s a playlist of some of the best I’ve heard over the last few years on making life+work more sustainable and building resilience.

How do we beat burnout? Why should we avoid “serving from our reserves?” How do we reframe busyness and craft work to fit our lives? Why is it important to take back your day and keep your energy and spirit intact? And more.

Give a listen. I hope you find a few that you find interesting and helpful!



“It’s not about achieving the goal. It’s about who you have to become in order to achieve the goal. The juice is in the growth.”

– Tony Robbins

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SUSTAINABLE AMBITION™ IS ABOUT CRAFTING A FULFILLING CAREER TO SUPPORT YOUR LIFE FROM DECADE TO DECADE.

It is centered around articulating your personal definition of success and achieving that without burnout while honoring your personal aspirations and ambitions as they ebb and flow over time. The end game—more fulfillment and ease in your professional and personal life, while still being ambitious.

We offer 1:1 Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, or Career Strategy Coaching, as well as VIP Leadership Brand Sessions and Workshops on a range of Sustainable Ambition topics. We also provide tips and inspiration, advice on career management over the decades, guides on key Sustainable Ambition topics of interest, and coverage of tools and inspiration.