Footprints in the Sand

Travel is an educational process. You can get breadth and depth when you move across geographies. My last 10 days in Austria completing an Ironman triathlon, and doing it with friends left another lasting impression on me. Memorable experiences leave an indelible mark on people; life is a collection of numerous experiences. My friend, John Cooke wrote an introspective, and heartfelt essay on his experience touring the concentration camps in Munich. The footprints of the past still resonate in the living history of people and its monuments.

Shoe-designer, Jimmy Choo wrote: ‘Holidays are all about taking time to relax and do something you enjoy. That's so important because if you feel good, you pass that on to those around you. God gave me a good, comfortable life and I like to share that.

The thing I like to do on holiday best of all is sit with friends I have invited as my guests and just be together, have some delicious food and maybe some champagne. If you pass something on, it makes you feel good, so you benefit and so do other people.’

Mr Choo is right in his observation and practice. You can share in many ways – both simple, or creative. You can join a lone friend on his journey to another city by train. Hop on the subway with that same friend to view a landmark before sunset. Thank a stranger on a train for offering a seat on a train, and then have a small chat. Smile at a stranger. Show respect for the train-conductor. When things are done from one’s heart, it reflects on our genuineness and sincerity, values that endear ourselves to others. People can be polite and courteous, too.

Passing goodwill along seems like an admirable thing to do. Spreading your joy is about sharing your values.

Lessons: Plan your next holiday, and ensure that you execute it. Never compromise vacation time. Share stories; be attentive and bask in the storyteller’s rendition. There are so many dimensions and complexity in each story told, and even retold.

Against the Odds

Two days ago, on a 4-hour train ride from Vienna to Klagenfurt, Austria I happened to spot two lone deer within a five-minute interval. What were the odds? I was glad I kept my eyes open for those two instances; otherwise, I would have missed those decisive moments.

Talking about deer, I read about the concept of Purple Cows as a marketing principle (Seth Godin). A purple cow stands out from the boring brown ones by being different. Purple cows are rare. Yet, brown cows are just as rare in a country with few cows.

How do you stand out? Leaders have to make a stand. Stand out, and be noticed. If you stand back, you might be missed. Gary Yardley and Jan Kelly proposed in Profiling Instruments of Potential Succession (PIPS) that we take different stands like: withstanding, understanding, upstanding, outstanding, and standing out.

What do you do to stand out? What do you stand up for? What is your standing in your company and community? As a leader, how do you develop your ways of standing? How do you stand up to the truth?

Trading Up

In his book, One Red Paper Clip, Kyle MacDonald actually traded up a single piece of stationary into a dream house within one year! He took 14 trades, integrated through active and passive networking, and achieved his amazing results. This was the challenge he posed himself, and his inspirational story may trigger off your own ideas. By the way, did you attempt the challenges I posed you recently?

A few days ago, I proposed doing something with 80 pairs of spectacle frames. What can we do with them? Shall we:

1) Trade them up for something of higher perceived value?

2) Sell them to get some startup capital?

3) Combine them with a lens sponsor and an ophthalmologist to equip 80 children and adults with better vision

4) Start a blog called ’80 Pairs of Vision’ and trade up like Kyle did in One Red Paper Clip?

Come on. Participate. Let’s make some changes. Change can be very good. I will be collecting the frames soon.

Update: I had quite a few suggestions on what to do with these spectacle frames since then. Keep the ideas flowing. Remember, this project is for charity.

Save A Sight

Here is an initiative for us: A kind sponsor will be giving us 80 pairs of spectacle frames. These frames are, by fashion standards, out-dated. However, functionally, they can be used.

Our Challenge: What opportunity and actions can we take to enhance this act of generosity? How can we grow this into better results? What are your ideas for growing this investment into something much larger and useful?

Write me, and we will review our options. Thank you all.

In Memory and of Memorials

The past week has been strongly focused on the death of Michael Jackson. Major TV networks have spent exclusive, air-time on his memorial service held today. Such was the late-singer’s impact on numerous performers, celebrities and his fans. The last time a celebrity made such a global impact on television viewers was Princess Diana.

MJ was a leader in the field of entertainment. He was a mega-star (in the league of Bruce Lee and the Other King, Elvis). MJ made history for his many musical and artistic achievements. Thus, he had a legion of dedicated and loyal followers. Leadership meets followership.

When watching the many celebrities paying homage and tribute to the King’s memorial service, I could not help recalling the final lines in the film ‘The Last Samurai’. When the Japanese emperor asks Tom Cruise about his teacher’s demise, ‘Tell me how he died!’ Cruise’s reply was: ‘No. Instead, I will tell you how he lived!’
That line, I believe best summarises a eulogy of a great person. Tell them how you feel about them now; not later.

Leadership Lesson: Learn how others lived. Learn how to live. Take pride in being with the living.

Leadership & Triathlon: The Nexus

What do triathlons and leadership have in common? You can find out more in ‘Leadership Lessons from Triathlons’ (2009). There are several points of consideration. These include:

1) You will re-experience pain and discomfort as part of the Endurance equation
2) You will engage core values like persistence, perseverance, patience, passion and tenacity
3) You will experience renewed energy, vigour and focus
4) You will make more new friends
5) You will be inspired and motivated by amazing people
6) You will appreciate the Power of 3
7) There are numerous lessons to be learnt at any moment
8) You will lead, and you will follow
9) You will learn to challenge yourself constantly
10) You may establish yourself as an expert or authority in a particular sport/discipline. Leadership is about leaders and followers. Triathletes are an unusual tribe. They are united by a common cause. They communicate in a common language. They share a sense of understanding over personal challenges and achievements.

2009 Copyright Enrico Varella

Challenges for You

These challenges are based on what is already out there. The joy of living is in the interactions, actions between you and me, and with others. You can choose one of these challenges found in LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM TRIATHLONS. It will help you facilitate your thinking, mindset and relationships should you consider taking those first steps. Do write me about what you have experienced and discovered.

SWIM: Discover something new. Immerse yourself fully in it for 3 days. Review what you have learnt. When was the last time that you plunge into something new? What did you like about it? What did you dislike? Why?

BIKE: Ride along with somebody for 3 days; do ask for permission first. Find out what it is like to work closely with somebody in a project. What is most challenging about working closely with them? What did you appreciate from their Personal Space? What did you learn about what is uncomfortable and comfortable for you? What is like being a follower?

RUN: We run our own lives, don't we? Have you ever run towards something different? What drives your curiosity? What are you most curious about? What happens when you are curious? Have you been spontaneous before? Have you run away with a runaway idea? What was it like? Swim fluidly. Ride hard. Run gracefully.

Apologia Apropos

It has been about two months since I started this blog. Along our journey, we may have, missed a few opportunities to give due recognition for our collaborators. As editor and soap-box orator, I take full responsibility for it. I assure you, that if we have not given you full credit it is our mistake. We fully believe in giving credit, where credit is due.

Please write to us if you feel that you may have been misquoted, or your photographs (that we used) were not fully acknowledged. We, at Lead2Tri, respect and recognise all intellectual copyright property. Sometimes, in our attempt to praise others, we may have overlooked another. Sorry for the mistake. We appreciate your feedback when you spot any errors or inconsistencies.

Pre-Race Anxiety

Anxiety may be a double-edge sword. Being anxious can be debilitating to your well-being if you allow it to. Otherwise, when you harnass your anxiety in useful and purposeful way, you can enjoy insight and confidence.

It is 10 hours before the canon goes off for Ironman Austria. I will be resting soon; although I can expect a few weird dreams, and the occasional call of nature. I recall my coach saying: hydrate, hydrate and hydrate!

By refocusing our vision and energies during times of stress and anxiety, one can lessen the severity of one's muddled physiology. Our body and brain are remarkable in making sense of things - given time. Anxiety makes us alert, so we stay aware and observant of our surroundings. In a race situation, this assault of emotions can keep us safe. Instinct and intuition can be sharpened when we are atuned to our surroundings. We just need to, constantly, keep our emotions in check.

I am looking forward to the Ironman race. Anxiety can be mixed into a cocktail of hopefulness, curiosity and sense of adventure. I hope and trust that Team Triathlon Family races safely and well. I believe that our collective anxiety will be the cornerstone of our team spirit. Participants - lead on!

The Sound of Music

The Singapore team is now in Klagenfurt, Austria. It is two days before Ironman Austria 2009. The air is buzzing with electricity, the kind you find just before 2,700 anxious triathletes plunge into an adventure of a lifetime.

I am anticipating my day of reckoning. Doing my eighth Ironman triathlon does not make it easier. It is different. The same physiological functions of 'fight, flight and fright' kicks in instinctively. There many athletes here; some look humble and unassuming, and others intimidating in their own ocean of confidence. No one is malicious or deliberately challenging. It must be somewhat akin to pre-battle anxiety before warriors take that all-or-nothing swipe at their enemies.

Triathlon has that warring antitude, except no lives are claimed; only personal best times, personal achievements, a podium possibility, a medal, and a t-shirt. Otherwise, it is just another day at the office. A day that is punctuated by the full-stop: 'You are an Ironman!'

What may happen a day after the 226km race may be these words: 'This morning I went for a swim, ride and run, and came home an Ironman!' Yes, these are infamous words and they come along with the morning-after limp; it is part of the territory. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. So does the crippling, calculated, walk that follows days after. Ouch!