595: Joe De Sena Founder of Spartan Race & the Spartan Up! Podcast
Sep 13, 2017
In this fascinating interview, Sal, Adam & Justin interview Spartan Race founder Joe De Sena.
You will likely agree this is Mind Pump’s most fascinating interview to date. Joe is a master story-teller and his life is absolutely fascinating.
Tales of cleaning pools for crime bosses (the REAL Good Fellas), starting businesses, Japanese Marathon Monks, starting the Spartan Race and much more.
- The guys introduce themselves to Joe (2:42)
- Joe talks about the beginning of the Spartan Race (4:25)
- Goodfellas filmed in his hometown of Queens
- Taught life lessons from crime boss next-door neighbor
- Had pool business
- Introduced him to 700 clients!
- His mom got into yoga
- Went to St. John’s to pursue his education
- Graduated Cornell and got into stocks
- Decides to sell the business and go to Wall St.
- Starts own business on Wall St. and has 10-year run then sells
- Starts family and moves to farm town
- Starts wedding business
- Meet fitness guy that takes him to first Adventure Race
- Has to go through trial races to join the team
- Gains perspective through experiences of being challenged
- What kinds of people do his races? (40:43)
- CrossFit, Military bulk audience
- Everyday people
- What kind of growth has he seen? (42:13)
- China next market to bring races to
- In the people he interviews, what makes a person successful? (44:36)
- No fear
- Don’t care what people think
- Upside/downside decision making
- What scares him now? (48:46)
- Anything involving his family
- When did the company take off? (53:45)
- Came up with name Spartan
- 3 distances and multiple races a year
- People can stay on track health wise
- Had to create a network for people to see
- Joe talks competition (1:00:35)
- How else does he monetize the business? (1:04:35)
- Apparel
- Gym
- Moving ahead, what is he looking to tackle? (1:06:20)
- People need a date
- Delayed gratification
- Joe tells Japan story (1:10:17)
- Marathon Monks
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