5 Critical Career C’s learnt from Guinness World Record Attempt

26th January 2019 – We created history. As many as 1235 cyclists peddled 4 km in a single lane to break a Guinness World Record.

It wasn’t easy (as it seemed to be). 

We made the first attempt. We failed.

Then we made another. This time we made it. On trying to evaluate what made the difference the second time, I discovered the following 5 C’s played a crucial role in allowing us to taste this victory.

And when I see these through the lens of a 10X Career Success Coach, I strongly opine that these are the exact 5 C’s that will help you achieve significant breakthroughs in career.

#1 - Concentration

We were instructed not to carry our cell phones. Some people still did. It was one of the major distraction. A phone rings or even vibrates, your thoughts are diverted to it. Whether you pick it up or not is secondary. For a split second if your mind is diverted, it is difficult to get back on track (literally!) So those who had phones, were asked to give it back.

For significant career breakthroughs, you need to be in the present moment. So you obviously have to do away with the distractions. One of the easiest way to do that is to monotask – concentrate on one and only one task at a time, finish it and then when you are doing the next one repeat apply the same technique.

#2 - Critical Self-Evaluation

Can you really do it? – a critical self-evaluation was necessary. Riding slow for 4 km seemed to be a cakewalk for many. But then there were guidelines to be followed. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed to be. When some people realized this in the first attempt, they volunteered to opt-out. And then there were some who were made to opt-out.

While making career decisions too, it is indispensable that you do a critical self-evaluation.

What are you good at? What are your core skills? How can you use these skills to solve business problems? How do these help me enhance my career? Once you do a critical self-evaluation you would know whether or not it makes sense to pursue what you are currently pursuing. If it doesn’t, there is no harm in volunteering to opt-out.

#3 – Competition

Most of the participants were cyclists who had participated in various cycling events called the BRM (Brevet des Randonneurs Mondiaux) - which are long-distance, free-paced cycling events, where each rider can ride at his/her own pace. In the first attempt, the approach of most of the participants was that of the BRM. This event was no BRM – so there was no competition or race against time. Once everyone realised this and stopped competing – the second attempt was a success!  

Our career too is no competition. But we get into one unnecessarily. We strive to be better than others or get paid more than others. The day we realise our career is not about doing better than others and is about doing better than yourself – there is nothing that can come your way of achieving career breakthroughs.

#4 - Consideration

Riders were slow, riders were fast. There was suddenly no place for you to go ahead and at the very next moment there was a huge gap (which was not permitted as per the rules). It was irritating. But being clam was the key. We had to have consideration for people ahead of us. We did not know the dynamics because of which such circumstances were created.  So there was no point getting irritated. We adapted to these circumstances which allowed us to create this record.    

In your career, you will come across a lot of people who would criticize you, be a roadblock in your way of success or just make your life difficult for you. You may feel frustrated. You may wonder why this is happening to you. But being considerate is the key. Let the people do what they want to or say what they have to. You figure a way out of this. Concentrate on your end objective. When you achieve it, you will realize – all that people did to you was for a reason. You have had a better career because of all these people and the circumstances that were created by them.   

# 5 - Collaboration

We were initially instructed to stay focused on the rear wheel of the cycle in front of us. We did. But it didn’t really work. This strategy need to be backed with support for each other. So during the second attempt, while we were concentrating on the rear wheel of the cycle in front, we were also instructing the person behind to speed up or slow down. The first cyclist instructed the second, second instructed the third, and so on. We developed a system that helped us collaborate with each other and create history together.

We often have a wrong notion that it is our career and we have to strive all by ourselves to achieve the breakthroughs we are looking for. Hell no! This is one of the biggest things we have gotten wrong. Yes, it is you who have to achieve the breakthroughs in your career, but alone you can only achieve a wee bit. With people to support you, you can scale the Everest (of your career). So collaborate. Find out those who would be keen on helping you. You offer help in your area of expertise.  Create a system that allows you to win!

By the way, I was able to learn these critical lessons because I participated in this event. I had been cycling, but to cycle slow and together to create a record was the challenge I had accepted for the first time.  

It thus is sometimes necessary to challenge yourself in areas other than your career, to excel in your career.  

So which non-career challenge are you considering to take up next?