During the last two weeks I’ve been following the Giro D’Italia. The reason, Egan Bernal, a Colombian cyclist was leading and finally won it today.
During these two weeks, interesting related things happened. I rode my new road bike and was very close to turn back by half way. I’ve been on physical recovery after some days in the hospital due to a bacterial infection that was a challenge to surpass; my body is still weak and I feel how patient I must be with it. And last, it’s been couple weeks adapting my routine to find more joy in the daily menu of working from home that will complete a year and a half soon.
Well…the Giro came at the right time to give it a different look and consider some lessons from a business and life perspective.
Strategy – The tool that guides adaptation in changing conditions.
The teams come with a plan that normally changes when they hit the road. They plan around their leader, time, speed, cadence and segments of the race. They plan reactions in case other teams and competitors attack. There is an order when they start and they try to keep it, however changes is what they will meet the most and their flexibility to adapt and decide quickly will define the end result.
The Team – You can’t simply win alone
It could not be easier for understanding the role of a team. A cyclist can’t simply win a race without his team. Every single member has a role to play, a moment to grant and an effort to do for his team. The reasons why you see the cyclists together and normally the same color t-shirts in the same line, are that they are stronger together, they replace the front of the line by time segments so the effort is distributed accordingly. Normally the winner of a Giro counts with a team that is aligned towards the same objective and a shared direction.
Winning is not a matter of one day. It is a holistic process
When I did not understand the numbers behind a Giro, everytime I was watching a race I was wondering why the leader cyclist was not always winning the race of the day. The reasons host special lessons for business and life: You can’t always win, you do not have to win everyday to achieve the main goal but you have to work hard and don’t lose the north, you have to remain alert every single day of the process so you can move wisely and react when it is a must.
My basic instinct will push me to rush at the end or when another clyclist passes me, however the key aspect is to manage your energy and understand that it is a process, there is a tomorrow and you have to do it again and be ready anytime. Manage wisely, understanding the finish line is for a process and not for a day.
Family and Friends
Always there. Winning would have no sense if your loved ones are not part of it. Family and Friends are those that when losing will also welcome you with arms the same wide open. So either the result, they stand as saints in your temple.
David Perez 