Chief Endurance Officer

What can leaders learn from running 30 consecutive Boston Marathons with diabetes? In this episode of The Company Executive Officer, Greg McDonough sits down with Jason Burke: entrepreneur, investor, athlete, and founder of All Stage. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Jason has not only managed his health with discipline and innovation but also completed 30 consecutive Boston Marathons. Greg and Jason dive deep into the parallels between entrepreneurship and endurance training. Jason shares how his endurance mindset helped him overcome personal challenges, navigate chronic illness, and build a career centered around solving friction points between investors and founders. From launching All Stage to weathering tough times on the race course, Jason brings a powerful combination of self-awareness, grit, and humor.

Takeaways:
  • Entrepreneurship is an endurance sport. Like long-distance running, entrepreneurship requires consistent effort, mental toughness, and the willingness to keep going even when things get hard.
  • Discipline fuels health and performance. Jason's story with Type 1 diabetes underscores how structured habits, fitness, and technological tools can help leaders stay sharp and manage chronic conditions effectively.
  • Listen to your body and your business. Just as runners must pay attention to signs of fatigue or injury, founders should be attuned to signals in their business that something needs adjusting.
  • Build small to test big ideas. Before diving fully into a venture, Jason recommends starting with something small to validate your passion and approach.
  • Resilience comes from experience and choice. Whether knocked down by a deer in a college race or facing tough times at work, Jason’s response is always the same: get up, learn, and finish strong.
  • Community makes you stronger. From running clubs to angel investing groups, surrounding yourself with a diverse and supportive network can help you go farther, faster.

Quote of the Show:
  • " Especially in early-stage startups, they're deciding to invest, not in the product, not in the market, or the metrics, but they're investing in the person." - Jason Burke

Links:

Ways to Tune In:

Keep up to date on our social accounts:

Chief Endurance Officer is produced by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Creators and Guests

Host
Gregory McDonough
Greg McDonough is a seasoned executive who has owned and operated businesses in the professional services sector, navigating them through both good and tough times. He brings his personal experience of knowing what it’s like to be ‘in the owner’s seat’ when working with clients, taking time to ask the questions others may not.
Producer
Rebecca Leberman

What is Chief Endurance Officer?

Join host Greg McDonough on a transformative journey as "The Chief Endurance Officer" explores the incredible power of positive energy and sustained effort. This podcast delves into the real-life stories of individuals who have harnessed the endurance mindset to achieve remarkable goals in every facet of life – personal achievements, professional success, and athletic triumphs. Visit our website www.chiefenduranceofficer.com for additional resources and exclusive content, and subscribe to hear these inspiring episodes every Friday!