01 / TECHNICAL
Complex problems
Break complicated process and operational challenges into practical decisions, then execute.
Chemical Engineer · Problem Solver · Endurance Athlete
Live with
intention.
I'm Mark Burton: a chemical engineer and endurance athlete focused on solving difficult problems, helping others grow, and pursuing meaningful goals.
Engineering
with intent
My work combines technical depth, operations, problem-solving, and continuous improvement. I care about developing capable people and creating measurable, sustainable results.
02 / PEOPLE
Develop capability
Push knowledge, ownership, and decision-making closer to the people doing the work as competency grows.
03 / RESULTS
Make it better
Focus on measurable improvements in reliability, cost, capacity, safety, and long-term operating performance.
Skills built
deliberately
I seek out frameworks that improve how I lead, think, troubleshoot, and make decisions: then apply them in the real world.
Leadership Development
Intent-Based Leadership
Training based on the leadership model popularized by former U.S. Navy submarine captain L. David Marquet: distribute authority as competence grows rather than relying on a traditional leader-follower model.
Strategic Thinking
Rapid Transformation Intensive
Dr. Benjamin Hardy's framework for working backward from an ambitious future state and prioritizing the few high-impact actions that materially change the outcome.
Analytical Problem-Solving
Kepner-Tregoe Analytic Troubleshooting
A methodical troubleshooting approach built around precise problem definition, distinctions, comparisons, changes, and evidence-based testing of possible causes.
Data Analysis
Statistical Process Control
Use process data, control limits, trends, and outlier analysis to distinguish normal variation from meaningful changes that require action.
The other
laboratory
Endurance sport is where I test the same ideas I value professionally: consistency, measurement, patience, discomfort, planning, and incremental gains.
Finishes & results
Years of training distilled into a few results.
1×IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Qualifier
3×IRONMAN Finisher
7×IRONMAN 70.3 Finisher
3×Marathon Finisher
Track the work
Training data makes the process visible. Follow the day-to-day work, not just the finish line.
View Strava ↗
What I
believe
Principles I try to apply whether I'm at work, training for a race, or working toward something that matters to me.
01
Think long-term
The best decisions compound. Optimize for the person, team, or system you want years from now.
02
Begin with the end
Define the outcome, work backward, and make today's priorities serve the goal instead of relying on activity for its own sake.
03
Do hard things
Doing hard things builds confidence. The more I prove to myself that I can handle difficult situations, the more willing I am to take on the next challenge.
“I will do whatever it takes to live a life that inspires others to be their best self.”
Always
learning
Personal development is not separate from performance. Reading, courses, travel, and unfamiliar challenges continually reshape how I think about leadership, resilience, precision, and potential.
Books I return to
I read around 50 books a year, almost all non-fiction. These are a few I keep coming back to because they have genuinely changed how I think and what I try to put into practice.
Turn the Ship Around!L. David Marquet · Probably the leadership book that has influenced me the most. I like the idea of pushing authority down as people gain competence instead of making every decision flow through the leader.
Can't Hurt MeDavid Goggins · A good reminder that most limits show up in your head before they show up in your body. I like the emphasis on accountability and choosing to do hard things even when you do not feel like it.
10x Is Easier Than 2xDan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy · This changed how I think about goals. Instead of asking how to do more, it makes me ask what actually matters and what I should stop doing so I can focus on the end goal.
How Bad Do You Want It?Matt Fitzgerald · One of my favorite endurance books. It helped me understand how much performance is tied to perception of effort and how willing you are to stay uncomfortable when things get hard.
Challenges I've chosen
I'm drawn to experiences that require endurance, precision, discomfort, skill acquisition, or a willingness to find out where the limit actually is.
1× HYROX FINISHER1 MILE OF CONTINUOUS LUNGESSOLO 24-HOUR CYCLING CHALLENGE3-DAY ENDURANCE EVENT · 50 KM RUN · 10 KM SWIM · 200-MILE BIKE1-MILE LONG-RANGE TARGET HITRADFORD 3-DAY GT ROAD RACINGTravel
I have visited 24 states and 9 countries. Travel gives me a chance to experience different places, try new things, and collect a few good stories along the way.
