Mitch Thrower | Source | CEO, Chairman & Co-Founder at Events.com`

If you model your business career after the sport of triathlon, there really are four critical things you should think about. The first is preparation - in a business situation you need to be able to pull a file, work with information, and know how to use the data. Getting organized in life is worth a solid 10% gain in what you can achieve. The second is transitions - you need to know when to make the transition from something that didn't work and wasn't generating revenue to creating something that does. Too many times people throw good money after bad ideas, or chase losses with time and resources. The third is training and learning - You have to stay on the cutting edge of technology, in sport and in business. With the knowledge base for almost anything becoming deeper and more universally available, it's important to stay on top of what's happening. Number four is networking - You become like the people you surround yourself with. Align yourself with people who have sought success, made mistakes along the way and learned from them. Hang out with people who know how to set goals and achieve them, and voila! You will too.

Align what you love with your work. That makes a dynamic difference. A successful career comes from a mindset of making your daily job something you love and look forward to doing because it's your passion. It’s your life; it’s your career. I lecture at the University of San Diego, Stanford University and UCLA and I often encounter students and recent graduates who say, "Hey, I'm bored working in a cubicle." I'll then ask them how many people work in their organization. And they'll say, "Oh, there's about 200." And I'll say, "How many do you know?" And they'll say, "Three." And so, my challenge to them is this: Have a breakfast, a lunch, or a coffee five days a week minimum with someone new. Even if you just meet one different person in that organization every day – you can cycle through the lessons and the lifestyles and the connectivity with the 200 or 300 people that work there in a year." The diamonds we all seek are buried in the relationships we build. Too many people go to work and simply do whatever they're told, rarely aiming above the limits of their role, as opposed to going to work to build connections with people that they're going to end up spending 30 percent of their day with. Interacting with others and learning the life intelligence they have garnered over the years is essential for success.

I've had a lot of time to analyze my motivation for me to fully engage in this sport. In every triathlon, your body and soul asks you why? Nearing the end of every Ironman, when the pain is most intense, my answer's always been, "Okay, never again, I promise." And then, after I finish, and cross that magic pavement on Alii Drive, it's always, "I have to race again!" because the race, the journey and the people I meet along the way, are so amazing. But perhaps the driving force came from the death of my sister Stacey, who passed away at age 16. From that moment, that aching loss fueled my passion for fitness and living a healthy life. Part of it was not wanting to die, which I think we all share at some level - that fierce desire to stay on this amazing journey called life as long as possible, and be fit enough to really enjoy it.