Take off your business suit and put on your wetsuit!

"When business competition is not enough..."  This is the tag-line for Ted Kennedy's company: CEO Challenges.  A company that allows business owners to step outside of the boardroom, take off their $1,000 dollar suits and then slide into a $600 wetsuit, climb aboard a $5,000 bike, and run in a pair of $125 sneakers...to determine who is the fastest CEO.

I met Ted less than a year ago through LinkedIn...what became a few email exchanges turned into a run in Central Park with a few of his business associates.  Most recently, he invited me back to NY for a kick-off event for his latest event: The CEO Endurance World Championship.  This event takes place in Hawaii, with the goal of determining the "healthiest and fittest C-level Executive in the world."

Let me say this: Ted gets it!  CEO Challenges is one of those companies who's taking full advantage of the dollars in the world of endurance sports.  Tuesday's kick-off event was held at the Forbes Building on 5th Avenue.  With the majority of their marketing going thru Forbes magazine and the WSJ (vs. triathlon magazines), they are focusing directly on the CEO.  One of the title sponsors of their events is Chartis...once again, a major player in the world of Private Client Insurance.  Who else was at the event??  NetJets for one!  Champion Systems...creator of personalized training and racing gear.  One of my conversations with a few individuals centered around using a high-end luxury car (who i won't name at this time) at the event...

ARE YOU SEEING A PATTERN HERE???  The world's most recognized financial magazine...one of the biggest insurance providers to high-net worth individuals...a private jet service...the maker of personalized racing gear...luxury cars...and of course wealth management...

I have to say that it was a truly impressive event and the connections i made were amazing.  There is nothing better than mingling with individuals who all "play" in the same pool of clientele, but you can spend 95% of the conversation to talk about triathlons vs "business".  There was a great connection with everyone you spoke with ...most of us there were up at 5:00 that morning to get our workout in, went about our daily routine of balancing family then work, and headed over to the event at 6:00 that evening to build more relationships...only to get up the next day to do it all over again.  It was both refreshing and invigorating to be around these people!  It was such a great opportunity to network with successful people who all choose to focus positive energy on balancing a successful career, an amazing family, and finding an additional 10+ hours in the week to swim, bike, and run...

I'll keep you updated on what CEO Challenges is doing, but in the mean time, check them out at http://www.ceochallenges.com/.