In addition to projects, I also have a passion for cycling. Mountain biking in particular. The freedom I experience when I cycle through the woods is wonderful. Just like project management, mountain biking is challenging. But when you approach the bumps in the right way, it feels euphoric.
Planning and concentration
At home, you cycle away with a plan for a specific route. A route that fits your schedule, because you want to be back on time for your other appointments. You follow your plan and dive into the woods. The hundred thousand things that go through your mind make way for concentration on the challenging, rolling and winding path in front of you. A path that is not a straight line to your destination, but meanders through the woods and has a different surface each time. A surface that you have to scan continuously to have an appropriate speed, in addition to challenging steering.
Overcoming Obstacles
By looking ahead, you can identify the obstacles in your path as early as possible. After all, you want to lose no or as little speed as possible. So you're thinking. How are you going to overcome this obstacle? Can you get past it, can you get over it, do you have to stop or is deceleration enough? The sooner you see the obstacle, the more time and options you have to deal with it properly. Are you just looking at your front wheel? Chances are you won't see the obstacle coming. You have to press the brakes immediately. You don't want that, because it costs you speed and power. And you just want to waste as little power as possible. Flow is what you want. Because with driving in flow, everything seems to go by itself.
On the edge
Mountain biking, like project work, is not without risks. We accept those risks and manage them with measures where possible. You wear a helmet, but outside of it, you are almost unprotected. When things go wrong, it hurts. So you think carefully, look ahead and make sure you don't get into trouble. Still, you're looking for the edge, because speed and strength determine whether you'll reach the end in time. And that's what you want: drive off the mapped route unscathed and get home on time. In fact, the next project is waiting.
