Good Coaching Beats Talent-Every Time

I learned as a rowing coach that I can outwork my opposition. As an entrepreneur, the same rule applies.

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IN NOVEMBER 2017, I founded Hydrow, an indoor rowing machine startup. Prior to that, I'd spent years rowing and coaching-and witnessing the transformative power of the sport. Rowing is a singularly efficient exercise, engaging 86 percent of the body's muscles. On a deeper level, it requires unique teamwork; a crew on the water builds a special bond. We created Hydrow to share that feeling with everyone.

Earlier rowing machines had eliminated everything from the experience except the physical work-as though the makers of those machines had specifically excluded the best parts of crew, reserving those for the privileged few who could afford to get on the water. We set out to make our machines different, pairing electromagnetic drag technology with live-streamed content from the world's waterways to provide a complete experience. It's also how we raised $288 million from the likes of L Catterton, Travis Kelce, Lizzo, and Kevin Hart.

Bringing this product to market, I discovered, was a lot like getting elite athletes across the finish line.