The Will to Finish: Leading When the Training Ends

You can't find that "will" if you’re drifting. You have to be intentional. You have to know what’s on your "bib."

What do you do when the "training" stops, but the mission hasn't even started yet?

Maybe you’re leading a team through a merger you didn’t see coming. Maybe you’re navigating a personal crisis while trying to keep your business afloat. Or maybe, like me last Sunday, you’re standing at the starting line of a 26.2-mile marathon knowing full well you haven't run more than a few miles in months.

Most leadership experts will tell you that "luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." And they’re right: usually. But what happens when the opportunity arrives and your preparation is... let’s just say, "non-existent"?

You have two choices: You can walk away and wait for a better season, or you can lean on something deeper than training. You can lean on your Will.

The Bib, the Girls, and the "Why"

Last Saturday, I took my girls downtown to pick up my marathon bib. It was one of those rare, beautiful moments where everything felt aligned. We were taking photos, the girls were chatting away (they’ve both had so much to say lately, it’s incredible!), and for a second, the looming 26 miles didn't feel so heavy.

We went to church afterward. My oldest sat right next to me, behaving so well, while my youngest caught some Zzz’s on Mommy. Sitting there, I realized I hadn't followed a training plan. I hadn't hit the long runs. I hadn't tapered. I was about to go into a grueling physical test on sheer "vibes" and stubbornness.

But I did one thing right. I wrote their names on my bib.

In leadership, we talk a lot about "Knowing Your Why." It sounds like a corporate buzzword until you’re at mile 18, your quads feel like they’re being stabbed with hot needles, and your brain is screaming at you to find the nearest Uber. At that moment, your "Why" isn't a slide deck. It’s the names on your chest.

I had a "Why" that was bigger than my pain.

Mile 16-18: Where the Training Ends and Leadership Begins

The first 13 miles went great. I felt like a "G," as I like to say. But around mile 16 to 18, the reality of my lack of training hit me like a freight train.

This is the "Crucible of Leadership." It’s that point in any project or career transition where the initial excitement has evaporated, the "plan" has been thrown out the window because of unforeseen obstacles, and all you have left is your mindset.

If you’re a high-performing leader, you’ve been here. You’re "limping" (literally or metaphorically), and you start questioning if you should have even started.

Here’s what I learned between mile 18 and the finish line:

Focus is a choice.

When you don’t have the "training" (the resources, the time, the perfect market conditions), you have to rely on sheer will and determination. I didn’t have the mileage in my legs, but I had the names on my bib. I had my wife waiting at the finish line. I had a "Why" that was bigger than my pain.

The Framework: Motivational Fuel

To get through these "no-training" moments, I use what we call the Motivational Fuel Framework. It’s a simple pyramid that keeps you moving when the tank is empty.

1. The WHY (The Base): This is your foundation. For me, it’s my daughters. It’s building a legacy for two autistic girls who deserve a father who never quits. If your "Why" is just "to make money," it will fail you at mile 18.

2. The WILL (The Engine): This is the sheer determination to take the next step. It’s the grit. It’s the refusal to let the circumstances dictate the outcome.

3. The WIN (The Peak): This is the result. It’s the Freddy’s burger at the end (which, let’s be honest, was a huge motivator), the medal, and the look on your family's face when you cross the line.

From the Marathon to the "Last Duty"

The day after the marathon was my Duty Day. For those who aren’t military, Duty Day is exactly what it sounds like: you’re the one on point, responsible for the watch. And as fate would have it, this was likely my last duty day in my military career.

Talk about a transition.

I was limping around the deck plates, my body screaming for rest, but I still had a job to do. I had to complete my RBLP (Resilient Building Leadership Professional) recertification exam right after my duty.

It would have been so easy to say, "I just ran a marathon, I’m tired, I’ll do the exam later." But that’s how Drift starts. Drift is the silent killer of intentionality. It’s the "I’ll do it tomorrow" that turns into "I never did it."

Leading when the training ends means being present, resourceful, and grateful even when you’re limping.

Authentic Leadership is Messy

Let’s keep it real for a second. While I was feeling all visionary about finishing a marathon and finishing my military duty, life was still happening at home.

The day I got back from duty, I found out my youngest had a major diaper leak in the living room. (Thankfully not the bedroom: win!) My oldest making huge strides with her potty training at school, but we’re still dealing with the occasional accident at home.

Why tell you this? Because authentic leadership isn't just about the "wins" on LinkedIn. It’s about the "will" it takes to clean up a mess on the floor after you’ve worked a 24-hour shift and ran 26 miles.

It’s about Work-Life Harmony, not balance. Balance is a myth. Harmony is knowing that some days you’re the marathon runner, and some days you’re the guy with the carpet cleaner. Both versions of you require the same level of intentionality.

Are You Drifting or Driving?

As I move toward the end of my military career, I’m reflecting on what it means to finish well. Whether it’s a marathon, a 21+ year career, or a potty-training milestone, the secret is the same: Where there is a will, there is a way.

But you can't find that "will" if you’re drifting. You have to be intentional. You have to know what’s on your "bib."

Most leaders rely on "training" (their degrees, their experience, their past successes). When a situation arises that they haven't been trained for, they freeze.

Build a "Why" so strong that it fuels your "Will" when the "Training" runs out.

If you don't define your "Why" today, you will quit at mile 18 of your next big challenge. And that's not just a missed goal: that's a legacy left unbuilt.

Reflective Interaction

What is the "marathon" in your life right now where you feel under-prepared? What are the names (or values) you need to write on your bib to make sure you finish?

Stop drifting. Start finishing.

Ready to find your "Why" and stop the drift?
Take the Alignment Assessment here to see where you’re leaking fuel, or book an alignment call with me to map out your finish line.