3 Lessons from Cycling for Life and Work

Motivation, perseverance, and the power of community

May was National Bike Month, and on June 3 we’re recognizing World Bicycle Day: biking is a simple, affordable, and sustainable way to get around.  So as spring turns into summer, many of us are dusting off our bikes and getting ready to go out for a spin.  I’ve been a fan of bike riding since I was a kid, and love biking for fun as well as for basic transportation needs (I wish more people could commute on bikes!).  In this post I share some reflections from biking that connect well to navigating the ups and downs of work.  Biking requires balance, perseverance, and openness to learn from both successes and failures.  The insights I share here revolve around motivation, perseverance, and community.

Be weary of training wheels, but seek out soft landings

When I learned how to ride a bike, I used training wheels.  I learned in the lonjas behind our apartment building in Madrid: hard pavement, and some pretty treacherous inclines.  As a way to ease into normal biking, we removed just one training wheel.  In retrospect, this was a big mistake: I remember weeks or maybe months of lopsided riding, because I was afraid to let go of that remaining crutch.  I was terrified of falling on the pavement.

With my own children, my approach was very different: no training wheels, and early rides on grass (stained pants, but no bloody knees).  They learned much faster than I did, and cried a lot less.  Not over-relying on a training set-up is advice that also applies to business contexts.  When you need to learn a new skill, you’ll be tempted to start with simplified examples or a simplified version of the tools, but choose your learning environment with care.  Don’t over-rely on artificial supports.  Instead, take risks ensuring there are soft places to land on if you make a rookie mistake.

Look for immediate milestones

It’s liberating to ride, especially when you’re on a long trek and have no time pressure.  I usually ride alone, which means I set my own challenges and need to keep up with myself.  I’ve found that short distance milestones are an excellent motivator:  Can I get to the upcoming light post before I count to 10?  Can I reach the middle of the hill before pushing the turbo boost button?  (Yes, it’s an e-bike!)  I have found that those immediate milestones are much more invigorating than the long-term goal of getting to where I’m going.

The business application here is straightforward:  Long-term goals are great, but you’ll never motivate yourself sufficiently on an ambitious target if you don’t have some more immediate measures.  Break down the goal into smaller targets you will need to achieve in the shorter term.  In the 4 Disciplines of Execution framework, McChesney and colleagues distinguish between lead and lag measures.  We often focus on the lag measures, the ultimate results: business growth, diversified revenue, and on my bike, riding 60 miles in one afternoon.  If we instead set our attention on lead measures, we focus on actions to take now that will ultimately influence the lag-measure results.  Examples of lead measures could be the number of calls generated for a campaign, the number of social media posts related to an event, and on my bike, getting to the next lamp post with as few pedaling rotations as possible.

You will do better with others

As already mentioned, I almost always ride alone, but I recognize that riding with others is much more enjoyable.  On a bike expedition I participated in many years ago, we were a group of 20 or so riders of different ages and talents.  I remember being surprised by how many miles we were riding each day (including riding in the rain).  The camaraderie (as well as the competition among some of us!) made the journey much easier and far more enjoyable than had we each done it alone.

In the context of entrepreneurship, this lesson is essential.  Building a business can be isolating at times.  You face uncertainty, you’re making decisions with limited information, and you’re carrying the weight of responsibility.  But no successful entrepreneur has done it entirely alone.  There are at least three people-resources you can tap:  mentors to provide guidance and advice, team members to complement your strengths and challenge your weaknesses, and networks to share experiences and build relationships.

Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery along the way

My cycling insights have helped me when I’ve been challenged with learning something new (no crutches, but look for a soft landing), or when I’ve been concerned about a difficult-to-reach long-term goal (look for short-term milestones and track lead measures), or when I’ve felt isolated (find a mentor, lean on your team, connect with your network).  And in between all the planning and the pushing, I also try to not forget to enjoy the scenery along the way!

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