5 Things That Spartan CEO Joe De Sena Will Start Doing in 2022
There’s a lot to be excited about in 2022. Spartan finished off 2021 with one of the most awesome races we’ve ever put on: the Spartan World Championship in Abu Dhabi. It’s hard to imagine that we could outdo such a killer event in the Liwa desert dunes, but if you know Spartan you know that we always like to raise the bar. The same goes for myself.
I constantly like to extend the finish line and exist outside of my comfort zone. There are a few notable things in 2022 that are really going to push me — brand new things that I’ve never done before. It all starts with a new show…
What Does Joe De Sena Aim to Accomplish This Year?
No Retreat: Business Bootcamp
In 2021, I spent a ton of time on the road. When traveling opened back up again I was off and running, working on projects that had been sidelined during the most restrictive time of the pandemic. One of those projects was a new CNBC business show. I talk a lot about the importance of building resilience into a business, and after the last two years, many senior team leaders are wishing they had more of it. They’re asking themselves, How do we keep our doors open and our teams well-staffed?
Related: Joe De Sena's Guide to Being Ready for Anything in Business
In order to survive as a business, you often have to implement unconventional methods and do whatever you can, because failure is not an option. No Retreat: Business Bootcamp, which premiered Tuesday, March 8 at 10 p.m. EST on CNBC, is all about what it REALLY takes to succeed in business. I put together a stellar team — including Dr. Lara Pence, Spartan's Chief Mind Doc and an executive performance coach, and Qu’Harrison Terry, a marketing expert and entrepreneur — to help me develop some of the most grueling, nearly impossible tasks that will test the resilience and grit of companies and their leaders like never before. This is a show like no other. Tune in Tuesdays at 10 p.m. to see what it's all about.
The De Senas Are Moving to Florida
I’ve always fancied myself a cold-weather kind of guy. With a farm in Vermont and a home in Boston, it’s no wonder that the frigid air is where I thrive. But when you get comfortable, you start to become complacent. And so I’m headed to Florida! Not just to thaw out for a weekend of races, but full time. That’s right: The family and I are moving to the sunshine state.
Related: 10 Things Spartan CEO Joe De Sena Is Jacked up About for 2022
As the Spartan team and I discussed opening an office down South, Florida seemed like the perfect spot. And if you talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. If I’m going to ask some of my team to make the move, I better follow suit. It won’t be the first time that I’ve moved my family, but it will be the first time that we’ve lived in the South. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about the weather, but it’s the transition to a whole new environment that excites me the most. New opportunities for training, new offices, new school for the kids... What’s not to love?
New Satellite Spartan Offices
I like to push my team at Spartan. Come work for us and you know that you’re going to put in more grind time than you would anywhere else. But you’re also going to have some pretty sweet opportunities. Putting together a world-class event in Abu Dhabi sound familiar? Thought so.
I realized this year that a global company needs more global representation. As a result, we are opening up some satellite offices all over the world. It’s not going to be easy. I like people to convene in one place as much as possible so everyone can reap the benefits of that in-person camaraderie, but it’s time we got creative in our approach. First destination: Columbia.
Giving More Hugs
I promise this is real. I’ve never been a hugger, but social distance mandates made me realize how important it is to have physical contact with the ones you love. Believe me, if there were scientific evidence that indicated that hugging was bad for you, I’d be shouting it from the rooftops. But it turns out that the opposite is true: Physical touch — even simple high fives — has been shown to increase motivation, performance, and optimism.
Related: 10 Reasons to Be Optimistic TODAY
So, I’m making a commitment to do more hugging in 2022. This is probably the new thing that will pull me the most out of my comfort zone, but it’s a new year… a new me.
Ready, Aim, THEN Fire
This new approach will be tough. You know me. I’ve always been a fire, ready, aim kind of guy. But I’m turning over a new leaf and trying to take a more pragmatic approach: Listen, learn, and then execute. I’ll work more slowly and gather up all of the tools before I start to build the shed. At 52 years old, the fire, ready, aim approach can be exhausting. I’m always pacing quick, trying new things, and throwing darts, hoping to hit the bullseye. (Now that I think about it, I might just stick with my old approach — it just feels much more Joe. C'mon guys. A man can only change so much.)
