I got on a road bike for the first time about two years ago. I was looking for a new challenge, and a hobby, and a good way to stay in shape. I have been getting comfortable with the speed, the narrow tires, and the lack of suspension since then. It is a challenging activity, and a great way to exercise for longer periods of time than are typically realistic for running, lifting weights, etc. Climbing some of the canyons near my home in Salt Lake City, Utah is always a challenge, but the ride back down at 30 – 35 mph is one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done! It’s safe to say that i am hooked on cycling. I love it!
There are so many analogies and examples that can be drawn from cycling. Endurance, determination, perseverance, pacing, planning, and teamwork are all necessary to achieve success in cycling. Each of these attributes is critical in the business world as well.
This post will focus on one of the worst possible things that can happen when cycling: a crash!I have been fortunate enough up to this point to not have been in a serious crash on my bicycle… but each time I feel my wheels slip slightly on gravel, or lean into a sharp turn and feel the force of gravity trying to pull me down I take a deep breath and hope for the best, knowing that inevitably i will fall at some point. The unfortunate part of cycling, both on the road and on trails, is that there really is no chance of having a fall and not being hurt to some degree. Falling from several feet up onto asphalt, or rocks, or dirt at best while moving at a fast speed does not ever end well.
Consider the example below:
This was actually one of the less gruesome and disturbing crash videos that I have seen. This crash occurs at the last turn before the finish line.The rider in second place clearly has his focus on the finish line, he is moving at full speed when he suddenly experiences a failure in his equipment that results in catastrophe! Not only is he not able to finish the race, but he has also suffered undescribed injury, and his performance in future events may even be compromised. Watching the video very closely reveals that one of the rider’s pedals contacted the surface as he negotiated the sharp corner, this threw off his balance just enough to lose traction on the back wheel. When the tire contacted the road again it became dislodged from the wheel and caused the rider to go down, resulting in the subsequent disaster.
What steps can you take to prevent disaster in your organization? Are there redundancies you can put in place, or plans you can make to prevent small miscalculations from resulting in catastrophe? If you misjudge your market, or make a poor investment what safety nets do you have to minimize losses or impact to your business?
We must also recognize that in certain professions/industries/markets there are risks that simply cannot be avoided. Is your organization tough enough to handle the bumps and bruises that come along with that circumstance? Or you should you be pursuing success in another venue? If you aren’t cut out for cycling, maybe you should consider auto-racing, where you have higher speeds, but more protection…
Considering the worst possible outcome can be a starting point for determining what safety checks are are appropriate. Keep in mind that there is a fine balance between playing it safe and taking risk that must be maintained. The best way to avoid a crash on a bicycle would be to ride with training wheels and never exceed 5 mph… but you will not be winning any races, or anywhere near the lead if you choose that route.
business confab 