EP07 - Preparing = Succeeding, In Cycling And Business

As business owners, we continuously strive for efficiency, innovation, and productivity. But more than that, we strive to make connections. Whether it’s between people, concepts, or life, we bring it all together.

Something you might not know about me (but you will now!) is that I love cycling. To me, it’s not just a hobby: it’s a mindset. And it’s one that I apply to my business every day. As a cyclist, like a good business owner, I understand the importance of being prepared, and the “flow state” achievable with it. In this installment, we’ll discuss how these cycling principles can be applied to business too, ultimately leading to successful deliveries and a thriving enterprise.

A cyclist's performance is heavily influenced by their preparation. It’s a union of man and machine, which means it’s important to keep our bodies and our gear in optimal condition. This means making long-term commitments to physical fitness, and putting in the hours to fine-tune equipment, adjust gears, and make sure all the components are in prime condition. Like cycling, business requires a high level of preparedness to achieve success. It’s important to keep our organization and processes efficient (fit) and in good working order.

Before heading out, cyclists need to know their route - and to think strategically about when to focus on the sprint and when to focus on endurance. If you’ve read my other posts, you’ll know the term for this application in business, too: strategic thinking - the planning, strategizing, and proactive anticipation of challenges ahead - which can propel us to the head of the pack. By ensuring that every aspect of our business is well-maintained and in top shape, we set the stage for delivering excellent products and services to our customers.

In conjunction with preparedness, strategic thinking around the Agile concept of Readiness ensures that we’re focused on delivering the highest value work in a timely manner. By knowing and planning our route through clearly defined requirements and goals - not just on an individual basis, but as part of the project team, we can prevent delays that would waste our time and otherwise hold us up from a successful finish. A rock spotted up ahead is easy to avoid, whereas hurtling towards one at 40 km/h with our focus elsewhere would be a good way to end up flying over the handlebars.

When we’re thinking of Readiness in a business context, it’s crucial that we:

• Have clearly defined project goals and objectives,
• Know the availability of required resources - like budget, personnel, and equipment,
• Have a clear understanding of project requirements and scope,
• Identify dependencies and potential risks,
• Align our vision with a consensus of stakeholders.

All these things let us spot our “rocks” before we’re flying towards them - they let us reduce ambiguity, enhance collaboration, and prevent wasted effort or rework due to insufficient information or unclear requirements. Knowing when we’re ready - and even how we define what “Ready” means with respect to all our endeavours, keeps us focused, safe, and on track to consistently deliver high quality outputs. Whether it’s business, or cycling, or really anywhere else, these are good habits for success everywhere.

Cyclists often face harsh conditions. Bad weather and rough terrain can make things challenging, and require adaptability and perseverance to overcome. Likewise, businesses must navigate an ever-changing landscape of market conditions, competition, and customer expectations to stay relevant. If you’re with us, at the forefront of digital transformation, you know things can change by the day. But by embracing adaptability and resilience, business owners can respond effectively to change and ensure their success.

In cycling, regular maintenance and check-ups are essential to ensure the bike is in optimal condition. In business, regular assessments of processes, finances, and overall performance can identify areas that need improvement or fine-tuning. This proactive approach allows us to address issues before they escalate and could hinder our ability to deliver outstanding results.

Cyclists also understand that getting enough rest is crucial for their performance on the road. Similarly, business owners should prioritize rest as needed, so as to maintain optimal cognitive function and decision-making abilities. A well-rested entrepreneur is more likely to make sound business decisions, manage stress effectively, and lead their team to success. So consider whether that late-night session might be more productive if pushed to the morning.

More than anything else, both cycling and business are all about mindset. Both require commitment - to maintain ourselves and our tools, and to stay disciplined with our focus on long-term success even when the short-term might be difficult. What’s the payoff for this preparation? Flow. The concept of “flow”, or being in a “flow state” was introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who described it as a state of complete immersion and engagement in an activity. You might also call it being “in the zone”. When you’re in this state, notice how time flies by?

This type of mindset - this state of being, even - can be incredibly beneficial in our endeavours. In cycling, achieving a flow state lets us power through pain and maintain the stamina needed to reach our physical peak. In business, this state leads to increased productivity, creativity, and performance. By eliminating distractions and maintaining a singular focus on the task at hand, we can harness our full potential to achieve outstanding results.

To get into this state, it’s imperative that we prepare by having clear, attainable goals broken down into manageable steps. This lets us stay focused and see clear progress along the way. It also clearly allows us to clearly differentiate between what’s part of the current task and what’s just a distraction - since interruptions, unwanted notifications, and even attempts at multitasking can cause us to lose our flow. We’ll never win a race if our chain falls off.

Flow states are most likely to occur when we’re engaged in tasks that align with our skills and passions. When we harness that passion, our intrinsic motivation drives us to immerse ourselves in the activity and reach peak performance. So stay prepared, stay focused, and achieve the best you can - whether on the bike or in the boardroom.

See you at the front,

/Sarj

Founder at knowledgebasedconsulting.ca