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!

The Many Sides of Leadership

Leadership can assume various positions. These pre-positions orientate the leader to other perspectives, mindsets and decisions. As leaders, we have the choice to operate from different sides: outside, inside, be-side, a-side and side-by-side. So, when we take sides, we are exploring possibilities from a certain side.

By using the language of prepositions (‘pre’ and ‘positions’), we determine the perspectives we can operate our leadership from. We can lead from the front, behind, from the side, and more. Our research has revealed that leadership can operate from five positions of relevance.

This blog (and its mirror website) will attempt to be a source of inspiration, point of departure, and disposition on the diverse topic of Leadership.

(Extracted from Leadership Lessons from Triathlons, 2007-2009)

The Indomitable Spirit of Ironman

The images of ABC’s Wide World of Sports resonate in my mind vividly. It is the image of athletes running the marathon till late night; a Japanese triathlete was ecstatic when he crossed the finishing-line at crawl-pace. I was touched, impressed and shocked; I thought that it was mad to even attempt such a race.

Circa June 2009, I am packing for my trip to Ironman Austria. It will be my eighth Ironman, and it has taking me about five summers to prepare. I have also actively reflected on my decisions to race in this grueling, and some say, extreme sport (again). Isn’t once enough?

What is the intent of doing the Ironman triathlon? As I shared with my friend, Walter Strach III, ‘I was influenced by idiots!’ Besides this fact, I have been inspired and motivated by many triathletes who came and completed before I even began this sport. To paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton, “I am riding on the shoulders of giants!’

We have our reasons for doing such endurance sports. It may be a decision based on cognition and intuitiveness. Whatever these are, it will be a fairly long day for all participants to complete 226km. The longer a triathlete takes to complete, the more his/her body is exposed to the external elements and internal damage.

Having stated all the misery that one can only imagine subjecting one’s body to, I am personally impressed by those who train! My dilemma is: I hate training, but I enjoy racing. It can be a colossal task to awake on weekends (before dawn), and on days where the weather is unforgiving to swim, ride or run. It reflects on the many qualities and values of leaders. There is method behind the madness. Triathlon may be an individualistic sport, yet we rely on others to spur us on. We also train as part of a team, and we do take turns leading and encouraging each other on.

Whatever time it takes to cross the line, the participant deserves his moment of his achievement. This is something that you remember for the rest of your life. Pain is a partner that we travel alone with. So is regret, for not finishing when you can.

‘Swim 3.8km, ride 180km, run 42km – brag for life!’ I like the sound of these original words uttered by John Collins.

Fit to Tri

If the shoe fits, wear it! So goes the saying.

I tend to get serious and unsightly blisters after a marathon. My informed triathlon buddies attribute it to poor shoe fitting. Some believe that cotton socks are to blame, and synthetic fibres are better in allowing moisture to drain away from active feet. If your feet are wider at the toes, then narrow shoes (however attractive they may be) will be useless.

The same goes for bicycles. If you have a poor bike fit, it can cause strain on your back. Riding in an aerodynamic position for prolonged periods can stiffen your body into poor posture. The time spent to feel comfortable on a ride, is surely worth the investment.

When a new staff doesn’t fit into an organization, he may quit. That is what the probation period is for. It gives both employees and employers a chance to test each other out. Leaders must learn how, and when to let people go. If the staff is unmotivated and unhappy, the best thing we can do for us is to let them go. If a staff is frequently ill, late for work, or wantonly takes last-minute leave, he may be deliberately sabotaging his career. Either re-fit, him with a revised job description or he will end up a misfit in your organization.

In Praise of a World Record

This evening, at 9.40pm, Singaporean illusionists J C Sum and ‘Magic Babe’ Ning established a new world. The dynamic duo performed 15 illusions in 5 minutes, in open-air conditions, without missing a beat. Despite the nagging humidity, a large audience of hundreds of tourists, locals and shoppers were enthralled by this highly ambitious challenge.

Emcee, Cyril whipped the audience into enthusiastic response, beforehand. Prior to the attempt, videotaped footage of a previous stunt (upside-down, blindfolded, straitjacket escape), set by Ning a week before was shown on two giant-screens.

I met Mr Ong Eng Huat, President of the Singapore Book of Records. He was present with his colleagues to act as adjudicators for a new national record. According to him, Singapore has positioned itself well with a significant number of world records. He presented the illusionists with an official certificate for their national record. President of the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), John Teo presented JC and Ning with a plaque as recognition of their special achievement.

I also met Sin Yong, NUS medical student and a national record holder for the longest card throw of 29.8 metres (set in April 2008). He is focused on attempting the world record in a few years’ time.

Broadcast journalists from the region lined up for one-on-one interviews with the beaming illusionists. MagicSeen UK, a publication for magicians, sent Graham Hey from London to cover the event. Reporters from the Singapore-based website Red Dot Magic, were also present to cover the event.

As a point of interest, Olympian wheelchair athlete Dr William Tan completed 7 marathons across 7 continents in 26 days, 17 hours, 43 minutes and 52 seconds in 2008. Another Singaporean, Dr Kua Harn Wei was the first Singaporean (and world-ranked) to complete a Deca-Ironman in 2006; that is 10 Ironman triathlons over 10 days for a total of 2260 kilometres!

Let us know when you are attempting a world record. We are always on the lookout for leaders in their field of physical and mental prowess.