Ep. 73 - Building Winners: What Sports Teach About Business, Leadership & Community
Thu Feb 05 2026
Consistency, culture, and community drive Episode 73 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Mike Rush, founder of Rush Running Company, to connect the running world with leadership in business and explain why long-term commitment beats short-term motivation.
The conversation opens with why people keep showing up for hard workouts: surrounding yourself with people who elevate and challenge you. After a quick “what’s in the garage” segment featuring the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, the discussion shifts into Mike’s journey from running at the University of Arkansas to coaching and building Rush Running into a nationally recognized community hub.
Mike explains why great leaders focus on people first, hire for culture fit, and build environments where accountability is built into daily habits. He shares how Rush’s Monday night speed group has stayed consistent for 18 years, growing from 24 runners to regular crowds of 70–130 — all built by simply showing up every week with no cost and no barriers.
They also unpack why most people quit goals early: lack of accountability and lack of community. Strong culture does not happen by accident — it is created through consistency, celebrating small wins, and removing negativity before it spreads. The episode closes by reinforcing that whether in running or business, real progress comes from surrounding yourself with the right people and staying consistent long after motivation fades.
KEYWORDS
consistency, leadership, culture, community, accountability, coaching, running, mindset, discipline, Rush Running Company
TAKEAWAYS
Consistency beats motivation
Culture must be built intentionally
Hire for values, train for skills
Accountability keeps goals alive
Small wins create momentum
Negativity kills team culture fast
Community makes hard work sustainable
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Elevation through community
00:23 Podcast intro
01:31 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack
03:07 Mike Rush and Rush Running
05:00 Staff-first leadership
11:25 Monday night speed group
32:06 Building lasting culture
44:06 Why people quit goals
48:10 Negativity vs culture
50:38 Small wins and momentum
01:12:18 Where to find Rush Running
01:15:52 Closing
CONNECT WITH RUSH RUNNING COMPANY
Rush Running Company is dedicated to helping runners of all levels improve through coaching, community, and expert support.
🏃 Website — https://www.rushrunning.com/
📘 Rushing Running Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/rushrunning
📍 Rush Running Fayetteville Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057123803763
📸 Rush Running Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rushrunningco?igsh=MTg1NjVqcmE2em53Mw%3D%3D
Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving.
Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!
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Consistency, culture, and community drive Episode 73 of Crossroad Conversations. In this episode, the Lewis Brothers are joined by Mike Rush, founder of Rush Running Company, to connect the running world with leadership in business and explain why long-term commitment beats short-term motivation. The conversation opens with why people keep showing up for hard workouts: surrounding yourself with people who elevate and challenge you. After a quick “what’s in the garage” segment featuring the 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, the discussion shifts into Mike’s journey from running at the University of Arkansas to coaching and building Rush Running into a nationally recognized community hub. Mike explains why great leaders focus on people first, hire for culture fit, and build environments where accountability is built into daily habits. He shares how Rush’s Monday night speed group has stayed consistent for 18 years, growing from 24 runners to regular crowds of 70–130 — all built by simply showing up every week with no cost and no barriers. They also unpack why most people quit goals early: lack of accountability and lack of community. Strong culture does not happen by accident — it is created through consistency, celebrating small wins, and removing negativity before it spreads. The episode closes by reinforcing that whether in running or business, real progress comes from surrounding yourself with the right people and staying consistent long after motivation fades. KEYWORDS consistency, leadership, culture, community, accountability, coaching, running, mindset, discipline, Rush Running Company TAKEAWAYS Consistency beats motivation Culture must be built intentionally Hire for values, train for skills Accountability keeps goals alive Small wins create momentum Negativity kills team culture fast Community makes hard work sustainable TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Elevation through community 00:23 Podcast intro 01:31 2026 Dodge Charger Scat Pack 03:07 Mike Rush and Rush Running 05:00 Staff-first leadership 11:25 Monday night speed group 32:06 Building lasting culture 44:06 Why people quit goals 48:10 Negativity vs culture 50:38 Small wins and momentum 01:12:18 Where to find Rush Running 01:15:52 Closing CONNECT WITH RUSH RUNNING COMPANY Rush Running Company is dedicated to helping runners of all levels improve through coaching, community, and expert support. 🏃 Website — https://www.rushrunning.com/ 📘 Rushing Running Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/rushrunning 📍 Rush Running Fayetteville Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057123803763 📸 Rush Running Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rushrunningco?igsh=MTg1NjVqcmE2em53Mw%3D%3D Feel the dynamic energy of the Lewis Brothers as they deliver real stories and lessons that keep local businesses on their toes, and share how experiences in the community inspire them to keep on driving. Check out all our great episodes at CrossroadConversationsPodcast.com!