Play to Your Strengths

Although we often focus on fixing or improving our weaknesses, we would be better served by building upon our strengths.  We cannot excel at everything, but we can excel at something for which we are particularly well suited.  Excellence in any area is rare and valuable.  This applies to individuals, leaders and organizations.  

Execution Matters More (than Strategy)

What is execution?  Execution is the ability to get things done and to drive results, even in the face of unexpected obstacles.  It is the ability to make decisions and solve problems that ultimately result in achieving strategic goals.  Strategic goals focus activities on success, but single-minded attention to flawless day-to-day execution is how success is achieved. 

Strategy Matters

Having well-defined goals and a strategy to accomplish those goals are critical to any achievement.  Without goals, you are on a journey without knowing your destination.  Without a strategy, you are on a journey without a map.  Lacking either, you will not get where you are going, and you will not know it if, by chance you get there. Unfortunately, I had to experience the consequences of not having a strategy in both mountain bike racing and in business.

Leadership Lessons from Mountain Bike Racing

Although I never quit my day job to race full-time, I have ridden my mountain bike regularly for over 25 years.  I raced competitively for more than 10 years in the amateur circuit and now ride on a team in endurance races.  I am particularly drawn to the combination of hard physical effort and high-speed adrenalin involved in off-road mountain bike riding and racing.