What does it mean to build endurance in your mind, and how can leaders apply it to business and life? In this episode of Chief Endurance Officer, Greg McDonough sits down with Marc Champagne, mental fitness strategist, bestselling author, and host of Behind the Human. Marc shares his journey from the corporate world to becoming a pioneer in mental fitness, and how developing an “endurance mindset” helped him overcome setbacks, navigate burnout, and support high-performing leaders and teams. Through practical strategies and personal stories, Marc reveals why mental fitness is as critical as physical training and how leaders can audit their daily habits, fuel their minds with the right “mental nutrition,” and build resilience for both business and life.

Takeaways:

• Mental endurance is built through daily practices, not just in crisis moments. Checking in with yourself even briefly can reset your mindset and prevent burnout.
• Burnout in business mirrors endurance sports: without recovery and rest, you’ll eventually break down. Leaders must prioritize recovery as much as effort.
• A clear goal or “event” in business can motivate consistency, just as training for an Ironman keeps athletes focused during tough days.
• Mental audits help leaders see where their attention and energy are going. Use this data without judgment to align habits with your bigger goals.
• Teams thrive when they’re mentally fit. Survival mode limits creativity and decision-making, while mental fitness unlocks peak performance.
• Leaders set the tone by modeling practices, like journaling, sleep routines, or reflection, that foster clarity and resilience in their organizations.
• Asking better questions leads to better leadership. Reflection builds self-awareness, which is the foundation for sustainable growth and innovation.

Quote of the Show:

• " It's hard to start building tactics and practices if you don't have the self-awareness muscle built up." - Marc Champagne

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-champagne-%F0%9F%A7%A0%F0%9F%92%AA-14767b17/  
• Company website: https://www.mchampagne.com/  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchampagne/ 

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• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/580aLDKac1ld031W4nWDtp 
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• Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/chief-endurance-officer-ringmaster-KMdv2I8XwkN/ 

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