Who Made You Leader?

‘The evil leader is he who men fear. The good leader is he who is revered. The great leader leader is he who the men say ‘We did it ourselves!’’ ~ A 2,000-year-old saying.

When do you rise to the fore? When do you emerge as a leader?

If people do not regard you as a leader, then how do you proceed? If your team of followers expects you to be present, and represent yourself then your relative absence becomes noticeable. What an irony! To be noticed, when you are not around.

As Seth Godin suggested, to initiate change we will need a tribe that rallies itself behind a common cause, and communicates this cause throughout. Your effectiveness, and subsequent success, as a leader will be dependent on your availability. That is what personal branding is about: make yourself available, accessible, attractive and amiable. Few people appreciate those who incite fear and discord within a team, or community.

Lead with your head, and heart.

Another Brick in the Wall

Alright - so I may have baited you with Pink Floyd's anthemic song title, yet in triathlons a 'brick' means something else altogether.

This evening, I rode about 55km then followed up shortly with a moderately-paced, 11km run. It was tough towards the end of the run as I began to cramp mildly one thigh. Bricks are activities performed, consecutively, so as to accustom your body to the rigors of actual competition. A brick can be a duet, or trio of activities in any combination and sequence. However, sticking to the process, a brick can be a swim-ride, or ride-run. A swim-run is fine for those doing biathlons. A run followed by a swim is much more challenging to the body, and you may not do it that often due to safety reasons. After close to 3 hours, my body is as knackered as workhorse - not that I've ever been a horse, or worked that hard before.

The remarkable thing about our bodies is, that given adequate rest and nutrition, our bodies will cope with the exacting stimuli and adapt by becoming fitter. Certainly, since bricks demand that we operate at a higher threshold of discomfort and resources, we can only do it occasionally.

When marathoners start to fatigue badly, usually after the 30km-mark we call this condition hitting the wall. I once mentioned to my friends after an exhausting marathon that I hit the wall, and an eavesdropping medical-attendant thought I actually ran into a brick wall!

In our daily lives, what can we do to brick it? Can we brick meetings back-to-back? What about conducting performance appraisal interviews one after the other? What would be the consequence of performing too many bricks? Can we brick a more diverse portfolio of duties and responsibilities?

Are You a Triple Threat?

In Broadway terms, a 'triple threat' is a person versatile in three major skills, mainly singing, dancing, acting and directing. My good friend, Bob Fitch is a triple threat and has won major awards on Broadway, and acted in films in his 40 years career. He is a skillful and highly regarded magician and, also, a magic consultant to David Copperfield and David Blaine. He is much sought after for his mentoring sessions.

In triathlon, when you are a triple threat it means that you swim, ride and run very well. In other words, you have few weak links. Most triathletes have an imbalance, thus possessing a severe weakness contrasted against strengths - and this can threaten your overall performance. Consider the decathlete (Bruce Jenner and Daley Thompson) who trains for ten events, and knows his strengths and weaknesses. If he is a very good sprinter, he may be an average 1,500m runner. He may throw well, yet jump poorly. Yet, there is little space for ignoring weaknesses. You keep working at your weaknesses and trust that your coaching and training strategies and efforts pay off handsomely in the end.

So, when you are not a triple threat what are your options? Do you focus on your strengths and compensate? Do you focus on your weakness and over-compensate? Or, do you leave things as they are because there is not much you can do about such tipping points? If you tip in the right direction, you may leverage on your weakness.

If you are ignorant, learn. If you have bad fashion sense, change. If you cannot run fast, walk faster. We have choices to improve or stay the same.

Breaking Away from the Past?

I just watched the film, Breaking Away on DVD. I first watched it in the early-1980’s and, subsequently, on video release. Steve Tesich wrote this poignant yet inspiring Peter Yates film that won it an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1979.

This film is about four childhood friends who grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. They belong to the working class known as cutters. Cutters is a derogatory reference to quarry-workers and their blue-collar families, and who are looked down on by the uppity students of nearby Indiana University. This is about the rite of passage for the four, who are to become adults. So, they spend their remaining days, avoiding responsibilities and swimming in their private quarry pool.

Dennis Quaid makes his appearance in this film as the former high-school football player, and his youthful and muscular build positions him well for his role as the quasi-leader of the team.

David Stohl (Dennis Christopher) believes strongly that the best riders are Italian, and he picks up the lingo, jargon and accent. As talented as the Italian riders are, he eventually realizes that things are not what they seem to be. After a bad bike fall, incurred by the nasty Italian riders who did not want him to overtake them, he wises up. It is interesting that some of the best realizations we experience have to occur after an accident or trauma. The team then has to test themselves after a rare invitation to race with the varsity teams in a track cycling race. Will they live up to the day as the underdogs?

Breaking Away is part Rocky, part Chariots of Fire – which were definitive films that also won the Oscar for best films. The similarities may be coincidental, yet who does not root for the underprivileged and unfortunate?

Do you really want to be an imitation of whom you idolize, or do you want to be the best ‘you can be’?

Inspired by Other People’s Choices & Courage

'Courage is an inner resolution to go forward in spite of obstacles and frightening situations: cowardice is a submissive surrender to circumstance.' ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King

I could have stayed in bed this morning, however chose instead to crawl from my somnambulistic state to make it to the start line at 7.30am. By 7.00am, the traffic on Coastal Road was already marked by dedicated cyclists training for their next triathlon. I urged my taxi-driver to slow down and give way to my fellow cyclists. I know how it feels to do this lonely ride before sunrise (which is a totally different take of riding into the sunset).

We are the choices we make.

This morning, I spent it running 10km at the Yellow Ribbon Run. 20-year-old Mok Yin Ren, our top national triathlete (who won a gold medal at the 2007 Sea Games) won the Men’s section in 32 minutes. I also met with fellow runners of Crazy2Tri, Loganathan and Reese Kwek and we stayed on to enjoy the events held, thereafter.

Overall, it was a well-organised program that was strongly supported by volunteers, staff and sponsors. The stage entertainment was provided by local deejays from MediaCorp Radio; music and songs by ex-offenders; dance performances by students; magic and balloon sculpting; and testimonials from ex-offenders. There were offstage activities like archery (which I encouraged my friends to do), carnival games, and charity and sponsors booths.

I was, particularly, inspired by the testimonials of former-inmates. Hanniel, a 48-year-old reformed ex-offender broke his 48 minutes record for the 10km. In April this year, he showed that ex-offenders could become contributing member in the community by being part of the 70.3 Singapore Ironman triathlon team to raise funds for the Yellow Ribbon Fund. The poster-boy of this inaugural sporting event also contributed his sporting talent to the Yellow Ribbon Fund and another designated charity.

How much courage and boldness did the ex-offenders demonstrate? I think that they chose to brought it with them in buckets - so that we can learn from their choices. It is not easy to address strangers and express your life lessons that you have learnt from incarceration. Too many would shy away because of the stigma associated with imprisonment. We can choose to accept them, or not. Some of us have limited choices; some feel as if they have no choice at all.

With these abstract lessons and reminders, I am glad I ran* alongside many others in a shared purpose.

*[I had another personal best in my run; unofficially, I would have placed seventh in the Women’s Open category. Thank you Executive Coach, Tony Mayo for the Dr King quotation.]

Forgive and Forget?

Does everyone deserve a second chance?

Tomorrow (Sunday, 6 September), I will participate in the inaugural Yellow Ribbon Run 2009. This run serves to raise funds for ex-offenders. This run offers participants an opportunity to run through the Changi Prison Complex while passing through historical sites such as the Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall. It finishes off at the new Changi Prison Complex, where participants will be able to see the development of a new generation prison designed to cater to the security and rehabilitation needs of the prisoners.

This year, the Singapore ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM 115) will participate, with the provision of entertainment by way of about 20 magicians and balloon-sculptors. All of them volunteered themselves, for they collectively believe in the cause.

It can be very disheartening and challenging to seek jobs once your past has been revealed. As a former-convict, the second chance can still be a second prison. Society can be quite cold towards citizens with a record of crime. There is a sense of distrust over them, so hiring them can be a cautious process for employers. It is what it is.

When would you forgive somebody? When will you not? Which personal values do you live by that expresses your sense of forgiveness? When someone close to you betrays your trust, how open-minded and open hearted will you be to forgive him/her? Can you forgive your trespassers?

Those with medical conditions, and have benefitted from an organ-donor, or remission from cancer – they, too, have been given a second chance. How do they value their lives? Lance Armstrong battled cancer to win seven, consecutive Tour De France titles.

At 7.30am, I will join a few thousand runners at the start-line! Hopefully, this symbolizes a starting-point for many others.

[Results just out.]

Leading with Wisdom

I take pride in sharing the success strategies of my new friend, John Miranda who is all of 62 summers young. He continues to stay employed, and is a leader in his organization. His energy is highly infectious, infused with enthusiasm and warmth. In the 1960’s, he was a self-trained, national-level athlete, whose best timings were:

100 metres: Best unofficial time was 11.2 seconds (hand-timed)

400 metres: 49.7 seconds

400m Hurdles: 56.8 seconds

800m: 1minute 56.3 seconds (grass track, 1972 Police record, which still stands – the then-National record was 1minute 55.9 seconds)

I give you, John - in his wise words:

‘I started from very young to be humorous, forward thinking, and with a positive mental attitude. Most of my behaviours are the result of reading inspirational books, mixing around, observing and learning from positive people and avoiding negative people with attitude problems.

Whatever inspirational books you read the information would be recorded in your subconscious mind. When you need certain information, you will be surprised that you know them. After all, we receive information by sight and sound.

Always remain positive; avoid negative people; use positive words; be yourself; don't compare your achievement with others (you are what you are); and, compete with yourself to improve.’

Moment of Truth

Can you honestly tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Can you imagine laying yourself on the line, by answering questions of a very personal nature? If the question hits home, it can be revealing, demeaning and damaging. For the viewer, it can be very difficult to watch. One of the most difficult episodes actually aired, after much deliberation by the producers.

Moment of Truth is a controversial new program by Fox TV that aired, intermittently (3 episodes so far), on American television. It is a tough, quiz show that calibrates contestants’ answers to close-ended questions (yes, or no) before and during the show. Your close, family members and friends will accompany you to the studio. You will be asked very personal questions – some of which are so awkward and uncomfortable, and which you may have never told a soul before, including those present. However, the pot of gold at the end of this insane journey is US$500,000.00: Truth or dare?

A lie-detector test, measures inconsistencies on three levels: galvanic skin response, heart rate and breathing. It works on a digital process, and close-ended questions that prey on a yes/no response. Is this test reliable? There is continued controversy over its use despite overwhelming and persistent use by renowned authorities.

The main values tested in this show are honesty, integrity, trust, transparency and courage. Values are abstracts that everyone experiences and lives with, and we can get personal when these are violated or trespassed. Values can be described as ideal, expressive, shared, or value disciplines.

Would you ever consider joining such a show? Are you ready to lay your life on the line? Would you be honest just to clear the air? Would honesty be the best policy? How honest would you be in a performance appraisal? How honest are you with feedback?

On the side of the viewing fence, would you want to hear the truth?

[As an aside, one couple’s shaky marriage was wrecked by the wife's revelations on the show. No, she did not the get the half million dollars - only $100,000.00]

Thinking on the Run

When do you get your best thoughts? Which time of the day do you gather your thoughts, and reflect on the happenings? Do you do your best thinking in solitude, in a quiet environment, or on the move?

I had some of my best thinking when I exercise, especially during my run. Although after a sustained period, it is quite easy to lapse into the ‘zone’. It would be less relevant to do deep thinking during a swim or bike-ride – at least, for safety reasons. It may also significantly affect your rhythm and technique; and almost riding into a stationary car parked by the roadside (which has nearly happened on a few occasions).

Apart from the exercise you will receive during your jog or run, clarity of thought usually occurs when you are fresh into your early strides. Fatigue can impair deeper thinking, other than finding ways to reduce the strain and discomfort. After a while, pain wins over logic and rationale and creative damage control kicks in, like the final sprint towards the finish line.

Go with the flow. I believe that there is a Zen-like quality to endurance sports, especially when your mind runs free and free-associates. Therefore, an easy pace across a cross-country terrain may release freedom of thought. I have enjoyed these thoughtful connections, and transferred them to writing a training manual, business plan or designing strategies. The stimuli offered by wind, sunlight, and the salt of the sea can arouse natural, mental alertness. Perhaps, that is why some of the famous writers do their best writing by the sea.

Run, and enjoy your runaway thoughts!

[This piece was triggered off by this evening’s run, where I also set a personal best timing.]

Coaching Moments

I enjoyed two training sessions with Australian triathlon professional, Pete Jacobs in the past week. Pete won second place at Ironman Roth last month with an 8:02 timing. He is a triple threat in triathlon: fast on the swim, ride and run. We worked on my run and swim techniques, which needed corrections insofar as optimizing on my physical attributes.

What I learnt most over the two, encouraging and insightful sessions were simple, however these were leverage points. By leaning forward slightly and using my arms to swing more, I could gather and muster more speed in my run. I was already an efficient runner, however I lacked the speed required to drive my run-times lower. My swim needed the most work, yet it should deliver the most result as I need to work more on my technique: mainly coordination, utilizing my core, and rhythm.

Learning to swim within a comfortable pace and rhythm was much tougher for me. Timing and pacing are vital aspects of one’s rhythm. Ballroom dancers work on timing to get their rhythm going. So, working with a metronome teaches us different timings and rhythms. Despite having some degree of confusion to work with, I was certainly encouraged by the fact that I can be a better and more effective swimmer once I get my technique down right. My coach, Craig Holland has been driving home this point to me for a long time, and perhaps, I may have paid scant attention as I lost some focus over my weaknesses. Weaknesses have a way of rearing their heads if we allow them to develop. Certainly, when we address our Achilles Heel, we can develop this into our potential strength.

Bad habits and ignorance can reinforce our weaknesses. Be mindful of these as you engage assistance from others to give you feedback and guidance. I am passionate about endurance sports because there is always so much to learn of ourselves, and from others. Choose to change for the better.