Leading the Marathon...Not the Sprint

In leadership, success is rarely the result of one big breakthrough. More often, it’s built through small, consistent improvements over time. The Japanese term Kaizen captures this idea perfectly. Kaizen means “change for the better” and represents a mindset of continuous improvement — focusing on progress every day rather than perfection all at once.

Great leaders don’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect strategy. They commit to learning, adjusting, and improving continuously. They understand that growth is a journey, not a destination.

A powerful example of this principle in action is the story of Cliff Young.

In 1983, Cliff Young, a 61-year-old potato farmer from Australia, entered the grueling Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon — a 543-mile race typically dominated by elite, highly trained athletes. While the professionals showed up in sleek gear and followed strategic patterns of running hard and sleeping in between, Cliff arrived in overalls and work boots.

Most people assumed he wouldn’t last long.

But Cliff had spent his life chasing sheep across vast farmland, sometimes running for days without stopping. Instead of sprinting and resting like the others, he adopted a slow, steady shuffle — moving continuously without long breaks.

While the elite runners stopped to sleep, Cliff kept going.

Amazingly, he not only finished the race — he won it. He crossed the finish line nearly ten hours ahead of the next competitor.

Cliff Young didn’t rely on speed or flashy techniques. He relied on consistency. He kept moving forward when others paused. His steady progress outperformed bursts of intensity.

This story is a perfect analogy for leadership and continuous improvement.

Too often, leaders focus on big wins, major transformations, or quick results. While those moments matter, real leadership impact is built in the everyday habits: improving communication, refining processes, learning from feedback, developing people, and adjusting strategies.

Embracing your Kaizen means asking simple but powerful questions regularly:

• What can I improve today?
• Where can I be more effective as a leader?
• How can I better support my team?
• What lesson did I learn this week?

Small improvements may feel insignificant in the moment, but over time they compound into extraordinary results.

Continuous improvement also builds a culture of growth. When leaders model learning and progress, teams feel empowered to do the same. Mistakes become opportunities. Feedback becomes fuel. Innovation becomes part of daily work rather than a special initiative.

Just like Cliff Young’s steady shuffle, leadership growth doesn’t always look impressive in the moment. It’s not about sprinting toward success and burning out. It’s about showing up consistently, staying committed, and moving forward even when progress feels slow.

The most effective leaders understand that improvement is a lifelong process.

They don’t settle.

They don’t stop learning.

They don’t pause when things get hard.

They keep moving.

So embrace your Kaizen. Focus on becoming just a little better each day — in how you lead, how you communicate, and how you serve others.

Because in leadership, just like in life’s longest races, it’s not the fastest start that wins.

It’s the commitment to continuous improvement that carries you across the finish line.