Why Endurance Beats a Hot Start 🏌️♂️🧳

After a ‘bit of a wobble’ over the past couple of months, I’m pleased to report that I’m back in the swing of things, and my game has taken a turn in the right direction.  Falling out of love was never going to last long, and anyway, I need to be in form as it’s the Club Championship this weekend.

Two rounds. Two days. One shot at glory.

It’s the biggest event in my personal golfing calendar. The course is in incredible condition and, fingers crossed, the weather will be kind.  Naturally, I’m excited about the prospect of competing, however, I know from experience that it’s not about smashing it out of the gate on Saturday. Because you can’t win the championship in the first round, but you can lose it.

What really matters? Endurance.

Staying sharp. Playing consistently. Dealing with setbacks. Managing energy. And showing up on day two with purpose, not just pride from a good start.

And oddly enough, it’s exactly the same for recruitment business owners.

⛳ Golf Is a Long Game. So Is Leadership.

A hot front nine means nothing if you blow up on the back. Likewise, in business, a standout quarter isn’t impressive if followed by months of reactive chaos or revenue drop-offs.

Too many recruitment leaders can fall into the “quick win” trap:

• A great month of placements
• A lucky pitch win
• A few high-performers carrying the numbers

But if the infrastructure, mindset, or delivery model isn’t sustainable, it doesn’t last.

 💼 Business Endurance = Consistency Across Quarters

Think of endurance in your business like round two of the Championship:

• Are you still confident when the adrenaline’s worn off?
• Can your team deliver after a tough rejection?
• Is your pipeline strong beyond this month?
• Is your strategy built for a year, not just a month of record billing?

According to a 2024 REC & LinkedIn Talent Solutions report, 67% of UK recruitment leaders cite “inconsistent performance” as their biggest operational risk, yet only 38% have documented quarterly growth plans.

That’s like heading into day two with 9 clubs, a hangover, and a dodgy knee.

🧠 Mental Toughness Over Momentum

There’s no trophy for Best Saturday Score.

It’s about bouncing back after three-putting the 11th, or taking a couple of shots to get out of a bunker. Just like in business, you’ll have:

• Candidates drop out
• Clients ghost you after final interviews
• Key consultants resign unexpectedly

It’s not about being perfect - it’s about staying in the round.

📈 The Recruitment Equivalent of Day Two Fatigue

Here’s what business fatigue often looks like:

• Energy drops mid-year, and so does new business outreach
• You rely too much on your top biller, without developing others
• Growth plans stall because delivery teams are overwhelmed
• Marketing, content, and BD activity gets deprioritised until Q4

And just like poor hydration or nutrition in a golf tournament, these dips don’t show up immediately. They creep in quietly and then bite hard when the market tightens or a key client leaves.

🥇 Endurance Mindset: What to Focus On

If you want your business to thrive across 36 holes, not just 18, here’s where to invest:

👉 Process, Not Panic - Do your systems still work when things go wrong, or does everything become reactive?

👉 Energy Management - How do you stay fresh and focused as a leader? Who supports you when it get's tough?

👉 Team Resilience - Are you developing consultants who can think strategically and handle tough, demanding clients?

👉 Sustainable Pipeline - Do you have consistent outbound activity and long-term nurturing in play?

👉 Clarity of Vision - Does your team know where the business is going, or just what this month's target is?

🧠 Coaching for Endurance, Not Just Efficiency

Coaching isn’t just for when things go wrong, it’s for when things are going well but you want to make them last.

A good coach can help you:

• Pace your leadership so you don’t burn out
• Build infrastructure to support scale
• Develop consistency across people, process, and pipeline
• Refocus on your business vision not just delivery

If you’re doing well, that’s fantastic. But ask yourself: Can it last across both rounds?

☕ Want to Talk? Let’s Take It to the Course

If this message has hit home, I’ve got a simple offer.

Join me for a round at Chart Hills Golf Club. Let’s talk about leadership, growth, golf, and what it takes to build a business that performs across the full championship. Breakfast is on me. You bring your A-game (or your questions, I’ll take either).

📅 Book a time here: https://miles.theprofitcoach.com/discovery-call.

Alternatively you can DM me or call me on 📞 07540 138779

Additionally, I'm really looking forward to playing in the The Recruitment Network (TRN) Open next week. Hopefully I may get to meet a few of you then!