A few weeks ago I decided that it was time to put some extra effort into my fitness (yes, again).  I had been on my bike a bit, but not enough to avoid weekly floggings at the local group rides.  Watching people ride away with relative ease is always a good reality check.

This past week has been filled with work travel, sick kids and other challenges so for the most part my bike has collected dust.  Instead I did a lot of circuit training with all sorts of different bits of equipment.  I scheduled a few sessions around my work travel and connected with various masters of torture/ fitness gurus while on the road.  An interesting and uncomfortable week, but incredible with yet another reality check.

For years I had been to the gym off and on.  The usual stuff did not provide the return on investment I was looking for.  I joked with friends that it was a result of my all-butter diet, but the lack of results did bother me.  I would go to the gym for awhile and then drift away, only to return a month or two later for another dose of gym mania.  No doubt this is a cycle many people know well.

This past week I did not step foot in a gym, but had some incredible sessions.  I fielded many questions as to why I was walking and moving like an old man over that last few days.  I joked that I was an old man but did not admit to the volume of anti-inflammatories required just to get around. I have chopped wood, lifted tractor tyres, pushed cars, thrown some big rocks and only just survived a session with ropes and chains  (not those kinds of ropes and chains).  None of the workouts were very long, but all were very effective.  Apparently this is all called functional fitness, though I doubt I will feel very functional for at least another week.

People talk about game changing innovations all the time, changes to the old way of doing things to deliver a competitive advantage.  Some of my best examples of creativity and innovation have come from the past week.  An axe, some logs, a big rope and a rusty chain all provided an experience I would have never expected.  The thing that made these innovations work so well was the passion of those using them.  The people I met during the week were fiercely committed to what they did.  So much so that I pushed simply because I did not want to let them down.

During the combined five minutes where I was allowed to stop wheezing, I thought about this learning and how it relates to leadership.  In the presence of true innovation and absolute commitment do you also have pure leadership?  Over the past week I was inspired to raise my performance, take some risks and trust the process.  I think that may answer the leadership question.

SDG

I decided to shoot the lock off of my wallet and buy a new road bike.  I had ridden a lot when I was younger, but had not done much in recent times.  At great expense I updated my riding kit and headed out to rediscover the fitness of years gone by.  A few times a week I did some short rides and when possible I would squeeze in a longer ride over the weekend.

I was pretty pleased with my efforts and thought I was going along okay.  My rides were more about keeping active than really training.  To my thinking, this cycling stuff gave me a license to eat whatever I wanted.  The reality was slightly askew from my perception. The output was just a few percent behind the intake.  You can see where all of this is headed.  Let me just say cycling gear is not always flattering, nor are chocolate croissants.

Two weeks ago I did a group ride with a great bunch of guys.  Great because they kept waiting for me.  The physical discomfort and the psychological damage of being repeatedly dropped from the group made this a humbling experience.  As I said, the guys waiting and were very supportive. No one said anything negative, but I knew what they were thinking.  No one wants to be a scrub.

Upon arriving home I tried to find a problem with my bike that would explain the poor performance.  Every component was scrutinized.  I cleaned and adjusted every moving and non-moving almost wishing for a flaw, anything that would rescue my self esteem.   Sadly everything was working just fine.

The solution was pretty clear. GIGO comes to mind, but that would just show my age.  If I wanted to keep up with these guys I would have to put in some effort.  Two weeks into it and I have taken a few steps in the right direction.  I am on the bike more often and with purpose.  I have also made the necessary (and painful) modifications to my diet.  My expectation is that the floggings from the training group will not stop anytime soon and I am okay with that.  As I improve, so do they and for now I just want (and need) to narrow that gap a little.  Misson #1 is to not get dropped.

So my original question week two or weak too.  Yes I am in week two of my “project” and begrudgingly I have to say yes I am weak too.  Heading out the door now to change that…

SDG

I was lamenting with a colleague about the seemingly one-way information flow we often encounter.  You will know the feeling as well.  We agonize over every word to ensure the intent is precise.  Misinterpretation has killed many a good person and we will not be on that list.  Heart on sleeve we press send…

Having raised our game changing comms piece from nothing but a pixel on a screen, we await the glowing responses.  Then we wait some more.  The next step in the process usually involves early stage denial.  Surely, such a beautiful piece of work would have elicited a response by now.  Our friends at the help desk assure us the message has been sent.

By now desperation has set in and we revert to asking those around us if they have received our email.  Yes, we have hit rock bottom.  Salt on the wound would be a welcomed alternative to the affirmation that the message was received but a reply would not be forthcoming.

After awhile we do question if the return justifies the effort.  At what point do we throw in the towel?  We have other stuff to do and if no one cares, why should we?  My colleague’s brilliant advice, “Hold on to that towel.”

Lack of response should not limit the enthusiasm of effort.  People do hear us, it just so happens that our words are so amazing they cant possibly reply in kind. No really.

SDG

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