Small Business Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint: Lessons From Track & Field

Running a small business is a lot like stepping onto a track. The crowd is buzzing, the lanes are tight, and the temptation to explode off the line is real. But those who’ve survived more than a few laps know the truth: business success is far more marathon than sprint.

In track and field, runners learn early that the cleats don’t make the champion. Training, discipline, rhythm, and heart do. Likewise, in entrepreneurship, the newest technology doesn’t make a business—the operator, the strategy, and the consistency behind the operation do.

The Cleats Don’t Make the Runner

Every new entrepreneur experiences the excitement of purchasing the “best tools”—sleek software, automation platforms, and shiny systems promising to change the game. But just as a new pair of spikes won’t turn a beginner into an Olympian, technology alone will not sustain a business.

Technology enhances a well-run operation; it does not replace one.

Over the years, Real Deal Laundry Service has witnessed this first-hand. Flashy tech firms in the laundry logistics space came onto the scene with big promises and bigger fundraising. Many convinced investors to pour in astronomical sums. Some raised millions in weeks. Yet, despite the hype, countless collapsed because the fundamentals weren’t there.

Innovation can amplify excellence, but it cannot compensate for a lack of sound business strategy, discipline, and customer care.

A Fast Start Doesn’t Guarantee a Strong Finish

In the 100-meter dash, the first few steps determine everything. But in business? Starting fast can actually set you back.

A sprint is often finished just as fast as it began. Burnout, mismanaged cash flow, and unrealistic expectations are the entrepreneurial equivalent of “hitting the wall.”

On the other hand, marathoners pace themselves:

• They conserve energy.

• They study the course.

• They understand that endurance—not speed—wins.

In business, the ones who start up front don’t always last. The ones who manage their pace, stay consistent, and adapt—those are the ones who cross the finish line year after year.

Cheer on Small Businesses this Holiday Season

Creating Distance Through Uniqueness

Track athletes don’t win by trying to copy the stride of the runner next to them. They win by perfecting their own form.

Small businesses thrive the same way.

Instead of blending into the sea of similar service providers, longevity comes from:

• Embracing what makes you unique

• Building a brand that stands alone

• Maintaining steady discipline

• Having a firm but adaptable hand on the steering wheel

• Being patient while your efforts compound

This is where Real Deal Laundry Service has always excelled—by staying rooted in its strengths while using technology as a tool, not a crutch.

SBA Insights: What Helps Small Businesses Last

According to long-standing data from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA):

• About 80% of small businesses survive their first year.

• Roughly 50% survive five years.

• Only about one-third make it to the 10-year mark.

The SBA highlights key factors linked to long-term success:

1. Strong financial management

2. Clear differentiation from competitors

3. Adapting to changes in the market

4. Consistent marketing and customer engagement

5. Sustainable growth practices—not rushing expansion

All of these align perfectly with the mindset of a marathoner: patient, strategic, focused.

Conclusion: Cheer on Your Local Champions

This holiday season, we can all support the entrepreneurs who have paced themselves, fought through the long hills, and stayed in the race through thick and thin.

By making even one intentional purchase from a local small business, you are cheering on the runners who make our communities stronger.

Because small business isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon—one we run together.