As Easy as Riding a Bike? The Parallels Between Cycling and Business
My biggest passion, after my family and running a business, is cycling. There are a few reasons for that, not least the mental well-being it brings me. I find that cycling can produce an almost meditative state that gives me clarity on all kinds of things. I end up doing a lot of deep work with the wind in my face, and when I get home I’ll inevitably start writing things down. That’s what I’m doing right now.
A group of us just went out cycling for three hours in freezing fog, zero temperatures. All of us had to dig deep to fight the elements and support each other, and it got me thinking about the parallels between the challenges of cycling and the challenges of business. Some of the similarities in ethic, teamwork and endurance are quite striking. No wonder I love it so much!
Preparation. You can't just get on a bike and cycle up a mountain. There’s the training, the planning, clothing, the bike itself. But all the cool kit in the world makes no difference unless you’re properly prepared and you’ve got your ducks in a row. In the same way, plush offices and meeting rooms, swish credentials and websites mean nothing in isolation. For you to get where you need to go, the core has to be strong.
Anticipation. When you're cycling down a mountain you don't look at the road directly in front of you. Your focus is way ahead. You’re already imagining going through the corner. That same foresight is critical in business. Thinking and planning ahead, making quick decisions. Holes can appear quickly, and obstacles need navigating. You can’t afford to be asleep at the wheel. (Or the handlebars...)
Collaboration. Cycling in a peloton is built on trust. If you’re not communicating with and listening to those around you, you’re in trouble. That need for trust is exactly the same in the workplace. You look out for each other for the sake of the business. In fact, when you’re drafting – cycling behind a teammate – you get 20% more power, a benefit that you’ll later give back when it’s your turn to take the lead. You take the heat, just for a while, for the good of the team.
Paying attention. Small things can make such a difference. On a bike there might be two dozen points that can be minutely adjusted to improve your comfort and performance. It’s about becoming more powerful with the tools you have. Finessing little details – your deck, your vision, your positioning, your team – can help you to meet any new challenges heading your way.
Dedication. Climbing a hill or mountain means going pedal stroke by pedal stroke. It’s a long process. Sometimes you can be hours and hours in the saddle. You have to break down the journey, step by step. It’s impossible to crack tough challenges in one go. But it’s worth persevering, to be able to look back and see how far you’ve come.
In business, as with cycling, you can’t fake it. Both endeavours involve a lot of bloody hard work. It takes years of practice to reach a summit, to win a pitch. In cycling we have a saying which we remind each other of regularly: It doesn’t get any easier, you just get harder. In other words, if it’s easy, you’re not doing it properly. But the benefits of that hard graft, for you and those on the journey with you, can be incalculable.
By Daniel Robey, Founder & CEO of ReMake & Think Jam.
Want to learn about ReMake? Our team would love to take you through the benefits of our platform.