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Tonight We Ride

This weekend saw something of a milestone at my house. Without warning, my youngest daughter decided that is was now time for a memorable rite of passage: riding a bicycle without training wheels. It's an important and exciting accomplishment, so we were happy to oblige. My wife is infinitely more mechanical than I am, so she had the honor of removing the wobbly aids from the tiny purple (and fabulously adorned) ladybug two-wheeler.

There's something magical about learning to ride a bicycle. I'm not sure if it's the combination of developing mechanical understanding and physical skill or the amazing thrill of accomplishment when you first ride unassisted and almost weightless. Whatever the reason, it's no wonder that it's a skill one never seems to forget regardless of how long it's been since you've done it. (I've found that the same doesn't apply to 2nd grade math, by the way.)

Teaching my daughter to ride has proven equally memorable for me. With all due respect to Hallmark, I say this not just because of the tender family moment and the whole "my baby's growing up" thing, but rather because of how the experience offers an important lesson in goal achievement. (Yes, I know there's something wrong with me, but let's just go with it, people.)

Take a moment to see the similarities, and let me know if you agree.

Riding a bicycle starts - naturally enough - with getting started. Kids just starting out often suck at this part. If you're an experienced rider, you take for granted that you need to position one of the pedals for a proper downstroke while firmly placing your weight on the opposite leg. In one motion, a rider will lunge forward and press down to start the whole process. While this is an action Lance Armstrong may do without thinking about it, my daughter hasn't grasped the concept just yet. Her set-up wouldn't allow her to go anywhere. With some coaching, though, she's able to get herself ready.

After a soft nudge, she gets to her favorite part. She loves to pedal. Fast. Applying maximum effort is not a problem for her. Watching her grind out foot after foot of pavement, I realize that she's going to be a machine. She's not afraid of the hard work and really enjoys the process. She's a natural thrill-seeker. While I'd love to take a moment to muse on just how far in life this quality may take her, I find that I'm too busy clutching my chest and gasping for air, trying to keep up with her. She definitely gets an "A" for effort.

Unfortunately, a strong start and maximum effort alone don't add up to quality bike riding. Steering is another critical element that can't be neglected. Unfortunately, this concept is also lost on my daughter. At maximum speed, I find that she likes to look backward, down at her feet, from side to side, at random objects in the road (Ooh! Shiny!) - everywhere but where she's going. With a some coaching, though, she's able to crash gently into the hydrangea.

All of the steps required to ride a bicycle can be related to those required for proper goal attainment. Again, for your convenience, those are:

• Start strong. Do the necessary work up front to put yourself in a position to succeed. Don't take shortcuts here or you won't get far.
• Pedal hard. You have to put forward the necessary effort to keep things moving. Once you've started it takes less energy to persist than to stop and start again.
• Steer clear. Don't forget to watch where you're going. Pick an ultimate destination or direction and make a series of minor adjustments along the way.
• Balance. This is the thrilling reward of pulling it all together and getting it right. If you find yourself taking this feeling for granted, try the alternative some time.

There's another important similarity between bikes and goals: riding conditions dictate your focus. If you ride on a flat road, you still execute the steps, but you can do so almost on auto-pilot. If you're careening down a treacherous trail, you may be 100% absorbed in the act of not falling off. If you're THRIVE! co-founder Jim Hill, you may prefer an acrobatic over-the-handlebars maneuver.

The same holds true for your goals: The more challenging the objective, the more difficult your ability to perform the seemingly simple principles will be. Tough goals are going to be tough, but that's kind of the point. Major accomplishments are worth the extra effort. Match like for like and don't be afraid to stretch your comfort zone. (Even Jim healed eventually.)

I don't ride nearly as much as I should, but I appreciate that I could do so any time I'd like. It's a learned skill that never goes away. Riding a bike is a great learning experience, and one that we can use to guide our goal pursuits. No matter what age, the above principles are important for our proper health and safety.

The next time you see someone riding a bicycle, stop and appreciate their real-world demonstration of proper goal pursuits. Remember that at some point in life, he or she was just learning to get it right. While your goals don't come with training wheels, you do know what it takes to succeed.

So, let's ride.

Coaching Quickie: Piled High

Check back next week for results!

Last Week's Results

Coaching Quickie: Piled High
When you add up all of the micro-tasks in your life, where do you end up?

(14%) Overwhelmed - I'm staggering under my own ambition.
(57%) Pressed - I'm making it through, but not comfortably so.
(14%) Balanced - I'm tackling the right about of "to dos" for me.
(14%) Underwhelmed - I've got room to be doing more right now.