Winning is that way

Awhile back I was doing some research for a workshop and came across the story of adventure racing uber star Robyn Benincasa.  Reading about Benincasa’s career as a fire fighter, her sporting achievements and her work on Project Athena was inspirational stuff.

Of the many takeaway messages from Benincasa, two have really stuck with me all this time.  The first gem: “Commitment starts when the fun stops” has proven invaluable in the human capital field I work in.  The start of any change process with an individual or a wider organisation is always filled with the excitement of possibility.  Any sustainable change requires time and application.  When the dust of euphoria settles and the real work begins, it is common for commitment to wane.  It is at these times that the Benincasa commitment battle cry has always served me well.

The second big takeaway message from Robyn is something I think about several times a day: “Winning is that way.”  The saying comes from a comment made by one of Benincasa’s teammates who wanted her to focus on the race ahead rather than the actions of the competitors behind.

Applied outside the world of sport, Robyn’s words are still well placed. Of course reflection is good.  However, in my experience too much time focusing on what’s behind can inhibit the pursuit of what’s in front.

Winning is that way!

SDG