Joe De Sena: Spartan Founder on Resilience and Doing Hard Things

Joe De Sena: Spartan Founder on Resilience and Doing Hard Things

Join Greg Inglin as he goes deep with Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of the Spartan Racing Series, entrepreneur, author, and lifelong advocate for pushing the limits of human potential. From his gritty childhood in Queens to nearly losing the Spartan business during COVID, Joe shares hard-won wisdom about resilience, doing the impossible, curating mental toughness, raising strong kids, and building an enduring global movement around challenge and community. Joe's message of resilience and doing hard things will inspire you.

Joe opens up on the business’s near-collapse and recovery after the pandemic, why endurance and hardship are crucial to growth, and how lessons from a pool cleaning business, Wall Street, and failed attempts to get into Cornell shaped his relentless drive. Hear why he believes everyone needs to put a hard date on the calendar, why community is the real magic of Spartan, and how seemingly small habits and perspectives can transform lives—even in the face of daunting obstacles.

What You Can Expect from This Episode:

- How Joe went from Queens kid to global fitness leader

- Turning personal struggle and business failure into fuel for growth

- What the pandemic taught about business, adaptability, and grit

- The role of community and friendship in overcoming big challenges

- Practical advice for parents to raise more resilient kids

- How military values, global travel, and “failing forward” keep Joe and Spartan innovating

- Science-backed reasons to do hard things for your body and mind

Guest Resources:

Joe on IG: @realJoeDeSena

Joe’s Email: joe@spartan.com 

About My Guest: Joe De Sena is CEO and founder of Spartan, adventure racer, author (including "10 Rules for Resilience for Families"), and a passionate advocate for getting uncomfortable and transforming lives through adversity. His events have drawn millions worldwide and inspired tattoos, community, and even military integration.

Guest idea? Feedback? Connect with Greg on his website or LinkedIn.

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Want to skip to the good part? Here’s this episode’s segments:

00:00 From Vermont to Florida: A New Chapter

03:54 The Spartan Empire: Growth and Impact

07:02 Endurance and Upbringing: Shaping a Resilient Mindset

09:50 The Journey to Cornell: Academic Perseverance

12:59 Wall Street to Spartan: A Career Transition

15:53 Finding the Endurance Bug: A Personal Transformation

18:49 Building a Business: From Hobby to Spartan Race

21:51 Challenges and Triumphs: The Spartan Journey

24:48 The Pandemic Impact: Resilience in Business

27:52 Resilience in Business: Overcoming Financial Struggles

32:37 Harnessing Doubt: Finding Strength in Naysayers

37:19 Cognitive Benefits of Hardship: Changing Biology Through Challenges

38:33 Raising Resilient Kids: The Role of Parents in Toughening Up

41:14 Curating Mental Toughness: Overcoming Self-Doubt

42:35 Defining Resilience: Learning from Life Experiences

43:43 Failing Forward: The Mindset of Persistence

45:25 Future of Spartan: Motivating Change in Society

47:18 Learning from Global Perspectives: Innovation Through Diversity

48:26 Finding Fun in Challenges: The Thread of Enjoyment

51:51 Impact on the Military: Building Connections Through Hardship