Known Route Is The Easy Route

What can I say? It seems every time I ride my bike, I have a new leadership thought….

I got up this morning and went out for a bike ride.  I have a certain place I always ride out of and I know the route like the back of my hand. It is a good route, the scenery is pretty, and I enjoy it. Because I have ridden it so many times I know when to push it, when to back off, and how hard it is going to be. It has become so familiar that to be honest it isn’t much of a challenge. I’m no where as tired as I was when I first did it and while I enjoy it, the ride isn’t that hard and is pretty safe.

Today when I pulled out of the place I ride, I went left instead of right. Instantly I was on a new route that I was NOT familiar with at all.  I wasn’t exactly sure where to turn, I didn’t know when hills were coming, I didn’t know where dogs were on the route, and I had NO idea when the route would lead me back to where I started meaning the ride was over. When it was all said and done, it was almost the same exact distance (30 miles) that I always do. The difference was I almost couldn’t finish the ride. It was unknown to me and I overdid it early on. Remember I can finish the other 30 mile route easily but today I didn’t know if I was going to finish the last two miles. I was cramping and it was the closest I have ever come to not making it. Same distance but a new route. Same distance but an unknown journey. Same distance but way harder.

The thing is the new route was a better workout. I almost died but I rode harder, burned more calories, and pushed myself like never before. It was unknown but the outcome was better.

As leaders it is so much easier to take the easy route that doesn’t stretch us, the route we know, and the route we know the outcome of. But most of the time the benefits of this route are small.  As a leader of Revolution I never want us taking the familiar route. I want to take the unknown route. Yes, it is harder, I don’t know the outcome, and I might not even make it but the impact is much greater.