“Taking a beating” – a common phrase used inside the boxing ring, and in business, for over a century. It can be used to explain how the market may have left your portfolio, how bottom lines were affected after a downturn, or even the economy dragging an organization down. Boxing terminology or professional fighting phrases are used daily to explain what we, as individuals and seasoned professionals, go through to attain the experience and accomplishments we take with us on our path. When someone is fresh out of school or green to the job market (usually in their early 20s) with endless opportunities in front of them, one of the most common pieces of advice from any seasoned industry professional is, “When the world beats you up a little bit, and you’re forced to learn how to grow, then you’ll understand.” Most professionals don’t grow just from doing the job itself. It comes from being figuratively ‘knocked down,’ or in Megan Castelton’s, Owner and COO of JWM Consulting Inc., case – literally.
If you heard a story about a golden glove hopeful and professional boxer in training who got their start by actually understanding what it means to take a hit, fall, and get back up and start again — how this professional took that experience and became an entrepreneur, an executive and business owner, most would assume it was about an industry star like Floyd Mayweather or Mike Tyson. Most of us would never associate that storyline with a lending and finance professional, and even in the shiniest politically correct light, most would also never assume the story was about a woman. But those assumptions would be incorrect.
Megan Castleton was 19 when she took her first punch to the face. A literal punch. She was training for her amateur boxing title and had decided to pass on a full athletic scholarship to pursue fighting professionally. Castleton had Olympic dreams that were unfortunately held back by policies that did not allow Olympic female boxers until some years later. All of that grueling work could be seen as misspent, but that would be naive. Megan believes her strengths and core beliefs stem from her time in the ring. She explains how she developed these steadfast principles in her own words:
The boxing career happened by accident. In the early 2000s, I was looking for a way to work out that would hold my attention. LA Boxing in Huntington Beach had cardio boxing classes, and a friend invited me to go with her. The rest, as they say, is history. I fell as madly in love with the sport as I did with lending when I started in the high LTV 2nd TD market in 1996. I began to train, and much like my early career formation in lending, I was watching, learning, and working with everything I had. I was transformed the first time I could wrap my hands by myself and punch the heavy bag. Suddenly, I was a woman who could do anything, be anything. The gym allowed me to focus, blow off steam, learn to manage a job, and a home, and focus on myself, something I didn’t have much practice doing. The fighters around me were all male, and I was resolved to be a fighter…wait, could I be like them?
When asked to step in as a sparring partner, many months after I had begun “training for fun,” I leaped at the chance. “Here, put on this headgear, hit ‘em as often as possible, and block the punches, got it?” Ding, ding, I am in the ring, and it is fight or flight time. Isn’t this how it works in business, too? You jump in, learn everything you can, test your skills, and keep adjusting, there is no going back. To be a fighter, one must be disciplined and mentally tough, know the difference between hurt and injured, and learn how to block out fear. These tools would continue to serve me as my career grew. I had no idea that even then, I suffered from the now trendily labeled “imposter syndrome” that affects so many women in business.
While most people have stated they have felt imposter syndrome at some point in their lives, it does seem that women, especially those in professional verticals such as lending and finance, tend to have much higher numbers of those who experience this than their male counterparts. As a general example, an internal study by Hewlett Packard found that men apply to jobs when they only meet about 60% of the qualifications, however, women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of those qualifications. This supports other research such as a 2019 LinkedIn report that found that while men and women viewed nearly the same amount of jobs and expressed similar interest in them, women were 16% less likely to apply. Overall, applying to 20% fewer jobs than men.
Boxing taught me to say yes and never quit. Even if I wasn’t getting paid, I would say yes anyway because there was an experience, a skill, or a mentor who could introduce me to the next opportunity. Here are a few of the principles I learned from my time in the ring.
Pain and losing are inevitable.
This is why winning feels so damn good, especially when you have exhausted every fiber of your skill and being. I poured my heart and soul into my teams and job the same way I left everything I had in that ring. When I lost, or when I broke my nose, I had to choose: was I staying down, or was I getting back up? Bruised, battered, tired, sore, and a million other things, my brain screamed at me, but my heart said, ”Go!” and where my mind directed, my body followed. Limits therefore were what I made them, and I knew the extremes of my psyche and body. When applied to business, I could outwork those still learning how to deal with pain and defeat; I was battle-tested.
Shut out the negative external voices.
“You can’t do that, women can’t fight.” “You’re too young/old to manage a team.” “The answer is no.” I learned to take in what was useful. A lot of times, criticism has some truth. Learn from it, interpret it, make a plan, and grow from it. The negative external voices were like fuel–tell me no, tell me I can’t, and I WILL. Learning to temper the challenge and not be led into absurd or unproductive battles helped me accept challenges. I built a plan and executed it, attempting to take the path of least resistance where possible. I built my tribe. Whether it was coaches who had professional boxing careers or professionals in the C-suite, I found my mentors and my tribe. I built a wonderful team around me, and they inspire me daily. My tribe tells me not what I want to hear but what I need to hear. We hold each other accountable.
Forge your network.
Whether it was coaches who had professional boxing careers or, professionals in the C-suite, I found my mentors and my tribe. I built a wonderful team around me, and they inspire me daily. My tribe tells me not what I want to hear but what I need to hear. We hold each other accountable.
Develop a good strategy.
Boxing is not always brute strength and size. Rely on those that you chose to be your tribe, work out the kinks in the plan, and adjust along the way. When you’re down or have doubts like we all do, go over the plan and plan to win!
Listen to the voice in your head.
This one I am still working on, I hope I always will be. It is taking the fear because the negative voice in your head is truly fear-based, and learning to quiet the doubt. I focus, breathe, go over the plan, and visualize success. The voice I work on tells me it’s not perfect, but who would’ve thought a kid who started with nothing at 17, would have the career, life, mentorship, teams, and friendships I have been so blessed to have.
Win with grace.
A close mentor always told me that when you lose, say little; when you win, say less. It is wonderful to return to your team and tribe to celebrate. You deserve to acknowledge and feel the good things your effort has yielded. Just remember that winning isn’t forever. Stay humble, stay hungry, stay focused.
Stay ready for the next fight.
Opportunities get missed when your focus or judgment is clouded. Dwelling on anything for too long keeps you from seeing your next possible win. Stay alert, and be ready to face each day with your eyes open and your head in the game.
