Opening Keynote Session—Clarify, Adjust, Complete: The Art of Ironman Success

How can we create certainty in an uncertain environment? How can we learn from our defeats to ultimately succeed? From where do we draw strength when we want to quit?

These were some of the many difficult questions Mark Allen had to answer in his seven-year journey from defeat to victory. After competing and losing in the IRONMAN World Championship in his first six attempts, he ultimately emerged victorious, winning the most difficult one-day sporting event in the world. It would be the first of six IRONMAN World Championship victories leading him to be named “The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time” by ESPN.

Whether you are a leader of a large enterprise or an elite athlete, success is a team sport. Building your team around core values and demonstrating a commitment to excellence, paired with the positive determination to be at the top, can drive a culture for success in your organization. Once the path is determined, developing and coaching others sustains the value and import of others’ journey to the top and ultimately, the value of your profession.

Mark Allen’s book, The Art of Competition, provides a thoughtprovoking look at competition, overcoming challenge and achieving personal excellence. Post-retirement, Mark has devoted his career to sharing the lessons he learned about preparation, perseverance and living up to your full potential with teams, companies and organizations worldwide.