The Thrill of Victory & Agony of Defeat
Heartbreak Hill in the Boston Marathon is one of the most iconic features in sports. It has literally changed people’s lives, starting with the story behind how the name was coined. In the launch of my website, I’d like to draw some parallels to how this story applies to you, in whatever capacity you hold at home or work.
Heartbreak Hill starts with a David and Goliath story where the previous year’s champion, John Kelley, gives a little pat on the backside of Tarzan Brown at mile 20 as he passes him by. Tarzan, who was fading on this set of hills, uses this snarky gesture as motivation, re-energizes himself, and goes on to win the race by three minutes. With only a few miles left, Kelley whose spirit is broken by this sudden turn of events, ends up finishing fifth and is carried off by medics at the finish line. Despite being favored to win, Kelley demonstrates that often it’s the unseeable that leads to outcomes . . . and the lore of Heartbreak Hill lives on many decades later.
The Truth Lies Somewhere in the Middle
If you break the race up into beginning, middle, and end, Heartbreak Hill is situated at the end of middle. A lesser-known fact is the first 16 miles are downhill and many are lured into running faster. Just when your energy levels bottom out, you hit the hills. Race trainers agree that the way to achieve success is with the correct race day plan and mindset. Once past the last hill, it’s literally downhill to the finish. It’s a great analogy. Starting and finishing the race is relatively easy. The part in the middle gets hard. Brute force and will power are not enough if you want good results. Everything has to come together, and the intangibles matter when the going gets tough.
I’ve observed this similar themes throughout my technology and consulting career. The biggest challenges often happen well after inception, yet this gets idea very little attention. I’ve often noticed companies and people have a vision, but despite preliminary enthusiasm, progress eventually then tapers off, thereby never realizing full potential of the effort. Maybe you still finish the race, but you don’t win, and need to be carted off at the finish line. Once I started actively observing this theme, I see it frequently now.
Welcome to MezzoConnect
I’d like to introduce you to my project, MezzoConnect, where I explore different perspectives about what happens in the middle. While I do have a day job as a consultant focusing on Customer & Employee Experience, Digital Transformations, and Enterprise Architecture, MezzoConnect is my channel to draw insights upon my years of experience. I find many people often trivialize what happens in the “mezzosphere” largely because it’s easy to overlook, if one even notices it at all. All the glory happens with shiny objects at the beginning or end. However, those are arbitrary points in time with only symbolic meanings. The glue that makes it all come together occurs somewhere in between, yet few pay much attention to it. The reality is, this is where champions win . . . or lose.
Please join me as I explore a variety of topics. My goal is to post every two weeks so please check back at MezzoConnect.com and look out for me on social media. Let’s open a dialog. I would love to hear your thoughts and perspectives.
