Joe De Sena joined me this week to share his journey from selling fireworks as a kid to building Spartan, a global obstacle course race company known for its intense races, ranging from 5K sprints to ultra-endurance events. Throughout Spartan’s expansion across 40+ countries, Joe remains focused on his mission to help people transform by pushing beyond their physical and mental limits. On the podcast, Joe shares what it takes to keep going when things get tough, how he leads a team of 500 with a purpose-driven focus, and why starting a business is like running one of Spartan’s Death Races. We also discuss how Spartan stays true to its mission, how Joe evaluates business risks, and the value of having the right team around you.