In life and in business, it’s the people who care—those who take responsibility and put in the work—who cross the finish line. The ones who dodge accountability rarely make it off the starting block. Jack Daly is proof that success is no accident. At 76, when many shift into cruise control, Daly continues to operate with a relentless intentionality tracking goals, building systems and designing a life of purpose.
“I say it this way,” Daly shared on a recent episode of The Corporate Competitor Podcast. “We have one life to live—why not make it intentionally magnificent?”
That philosophy has carried Daly far. He’s built companies, coached thousands of CEOs and run marathons in all 50 states and on all seven continents. He’s a bestselling author and a sought-after speaker. But none of those accolades came by chance. Daly understands that how you spend your time defines who you become.
“I can make more money. I can build more businesses,” he said. “But I can’t make more time. What are you doing with your 168 hours each week?”
To maximize his, Daly measures everything. He journals. He tracks. He sets clear steps toward the next goal. For him, success is a scoreboard, and the discipline to record progress is the only way to keep winning.
“Things that get measured get done,” he explained. “If it matters, write it down. Track it. Build a plan that gets you where you want to be.”
On the podcast, Daly broke down the principles that have shaped his extraordinary life:
• Define success on your terms. For Daly, success starts with family and friends, then extends to a mantra: Make a difference in people’s lives. He challenges leaders to define theirs. Without clarity, you can’t lead yourself—or others.
• Share your bucket list. Help rarely arrives if no one knows what you’re chasing. Daly put his own out into the world—including a dream to fly a fighter jet. Because he shared it, someone opened the door. “Once you tell people,” he said, “watch the magic happen.”
• Live by regimen. Daly has completed more than 100 marathons. The discipline fuels his health, sharpens his focus and creates unforgettable moments. One stands out: In 2017, his wife Bonnie was fighting stage-four cancer. That same year, Daly was invited to run the New York Marathon for the Jimmy V Foundation. The date? November 5—the anniversary of the day he first met Bonnie in 1965. Serendipity met discipline.
