Sugar Ray Leonard
Legendary Boxing Champion
Behind the champion lies a dreamer, a strategist and a relentless doer. That’s the way of the legend. And few have epitomized it like one of the pound-for-pound greats of the boxing world: Sugar Ray Leonard.
Inspiration was in the air as the man who once stepped between the ropes took to the stage at Confluence. Between reliving storied victories and haunting defeats, Sugar Ray opened up a window inside the mind of a champion. How to make the climb to the top, rolling with the punches and never throwing in the towel: the famed pugilist’s lessons for the enterprise world were relevant to the times and yet, truly timeless.
Key Takeaways
When you’re done, add more rounds
At the 15-round mark, when his lungs started to burn, Sugar Ray Leonard would say bring on some more. The point of exhaustion is simply the point where the will emerges: when you’re pursuing a passion, elevate yourself to what the task requires.
Find your roadwork: what sharpens your saw?
For Sugar Ray, waking up at five in the morning for a five-mile run prepared him to create additional reservoirs of strength to draw from. The athlete’s routine can inspire a routine in all of us: that one constant which makes us tick among the variables.
Define victory on your own terms
The best thing about victory is that it’s not always about winning. For some, victory is all about accomplishing what they set out to do and then for others, it's just a matter of knowing that they gave it their best on the journey. That they tried.
You can't know success until you've known failure
The thrill of winning constantly places you in auto-pilot. But it’s when you get the wind knocked off your sails that you start questioning how you go through the motions. From the ring to the boardroom, loss spurs reinvention and fresh perspective.
Your dreams are the window to your future. Your goals are the vehicle that takes you there.
