by @m2jr
Even though our blog is less than a month old, we have gotten a lot of great feedback and suggestions from readers. Apart from questions like, “Do you really know how to surf?” many have asked for a more in-depth explanation of Roger’s 10 Hypotheses for Tech Investing. We’ve also…
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I work at a multinational company. Their success and growth has created a number of pains. I’m essentially working on a startup project in the context of a large corporation—something Eric Ries discusses in The Lean Startup, so I’m applying his methodology to my work with very positive results.
I enjoy the challenges of the product and project that I’m running. More, I respect the audacity of the VP who is sponsoring and funding the effort because we have created a solution to a major problem even though we’ve open the pandora’s box of new, arguably lesser, problems.
Big organizations can suffer Stockholm Syndrom for their own practices and processes. I see this all too often in people who defend the broken status quo, or significantly elongated project cycles, only because every possibility for change brings with it unknown pains and complications.
The question we’ve answered is whether the ongoing pain of not changing outweighs the risks associated with the effort, focus, time, and money it takes to try a novel solution. We choose the former (choose life). I like being on a Screw it, let’s do it project.
Like so many large organizations, the tension between corporate, top-down efforts and the bottom-up projects of motivated teams can create conflicts. Teams that build novel solutions to alleviate their own pain in the present become frustrated as the slower moving corporate folk plan comprehensive rollouts that render the team’s efforts short-term. Worse, the corporate rollout is often a shadow version of the superior and pre-existing solution that the small team came up with. This situation causes a breeding ground for cynicism, of course, because many on-the-ground people in organizations of this size simply stop trying to resourcefully solve their problems for fear of wasting time and money.
I’m pleased to say that my first experience working for a massive company is more Lean Startup than Dilbert.
We have found that the startup approach of a rapid build-measure-learn cycle, which is driven by voice-of-customer-feedback, means that we’re spending little money while still rapidly proving out the product hypothesis. This doesn’t guarantee longevity for the solution we’re building but it does mean we are helping to powerfully shape the future solutions that corporate will roll out.
It is very possible that the decision makers at the highest level will decided to scale the model we’ve piloted because we’ve been validating our product from the beginning.
My point: startup is sexy right now, but there are opportunities to gain many of the same experiences within the context of larger organizations. The grass isn’t greener on the smaller side of the fence and neither road is easy. Easy is the cynical road of doing the minimum and being average—not a great career plan given the state of the global economy. The opportunities to revolutionize existing global companies (and have an amazing, lucrative, and exciting career) are many and it is going to start from the ground up.
Since I’ve started juggling work, work, and work, I am still finding lots of time to run and bike. Swimming, on the other hand, needs some attention. I just find is far more difficult to fit in. I commute to work almost daily by bike, so taking a long way to work and back gets me 1-1.5 hours/day of cycling. I run with the dogs a few times a week and sometimes even run in to work. Swimming is a destination workout rather than a multipurpose activity, so it is hard to make it happen.
Also, you should go browse Rapha. They have some gorgeous cycling clothes.
The last few months have been a rollercoaster for me. I’ll jump the shark (the snark?) on the boring goring details . . .
Summary: I hit a wall called financial reality, which significantly impacted my ability to race and focus on training. Given some of my choices, this wall was inevitable. I had an overly optimistic view of how much I could bring in through sponsorship and consulting work while training. That said, my triathlon goals are measured in years, not months, so I don’t feel that I’ve fallen off the wagon for racing as a pro. I’m eager to prove myself as a pro and I don’t feel I’ve come close to my potential yet.
I’m now gainfully employed in a fairly stable job, which has enough flexibility to allow me to train and race. I continue to work with Noa Deutsch of PT Performance Training, who I believe is one of the stand-out triathlon coaches in Canada (I believe time will prove out my claim here). I’m extremely thankful to my sponsors whose assistance has always been so helpful. Each of them have been very understanding of my situation and continue to encourage me to my long term goals.
Outside of my own stuff, I’ve continued to be involved in the local community, doing whatever I can to help other athletes and give them any advice I can about the fuller picture of racing at the pro/elite level, which requires not only athletic ability but also a fair amount of business and marketing savvy. To be clear, athletic ability and perseverance are critical; the other stuff is important but meaningless without athletic performance.
If nothing else, my errors can serve as a warning to others so that they aren’t forced into a corner. I really value the opportunities I’m getting to help and invest in other athletes. While I’ve a long way to go still, and much to learn, I really get a lot of joy from helping others accelerate down their path.
Best.
I took this past week off from training to mentally regroup, focus on other parts of life, and remind myself why I do sport in the first place. I love training and I love racing. I love pushing myself but I also love the solitude of a good trail run or the presence of mind one needs to have in fast moving group rides.
Laura (my partner) has started attending the Triple Shot morning rides, so on I went to the Friday morning ride with her. Woke up at 5:00, left the house on the bike at 5:30, group ride started at 6:00. I went out with the A group and it was just what I needed (I also have to learn better sprint tactics). After coffee, I spent more time on the bike heading home the long way and then doing some extra stuff. This ride helped remind me that I love cycling, I love pushing myself on the bike, and I love training.
Earlier today, I ran at Mt. Work with my dogs. While I had more knee issues after about 30min, getting lost on the single track mountain bike trails through lush, west coast forest was a real pleasure. Again, I started triathlon because I love to run, bike, and swim. I train because I love it. I race because I love it.
The reminder of my passion puts my shitty race in perspective.
Up next: Get some physio. Keep training as much as possible while looking for work (or startup funding). Love life.
I posted this video back in 2008.
You may have seen this video, or versions of it, elsewhere, if not, enjoy! I wanted to repost the video because it offers an important reminder about drivers’ awareness of cyclists.
Initially, I was glad that I got the number of passes correct! Watch the video closely and read on. 
Because I cycle (and drive) so frequently, I am always keen to observe how motorists and cyclists interact. Earlier today I saw a classic (aka dangerous) maneuver by a vehicle. The driver sped past a cyclist, giving him a reasonable berth, and then made a hard right turn about 100m-150m away. The cyclist had to stop to let the car turn while the driver didn’t even realize they had cut the cyclist off. The driver focused on passing the cyclist safely, but didn’t bother to shoulder-check before turning. Failing to understand the cyclist’s speed, the driver mentally dismissed the cyclist after passing him safely. I imagine that the driver focused on making the turn, not making a turn with a cyclist coming up beside them. This video is so great because it reminds me how easy it is to miss something that is right infront of you. When I head out on the road, I frequently have this video in mind. As a cyclist, I’m not invisible, but I am unexpected, which is frighteningly similar to invisibility (but not invincibility). I’m a bear on a bike in a world of motorists thinking about passing, gas, and basketball.
Probability sucks. The longer I ride my bike to train and commute, the more likely I am to experience some sort of collision or accident. Last year I had a minor run in with a tow truck on a rainy day.
Thankfully, both my bike (commuter) and I were okay. If you follow the road cycling or triathlon community, let alone the experience of work commuters, you know how lucky I am.
I love my sport and I love my life. I’d like to continue enjoying both for years to come. Here are some tips to staying safe on the road.
I might come up with more later, but that’s it for now. Enjoy the road!
I really want to emphasize the importance of knowing what to do if you are in a cycling accident. I’ve heard horror stories about failed insurance claims and persistent injuries. This checklist is really important because, if you follow it, you will increase your chances to receive proper compensation for the accident.
Download and print the Cyclist’s Collision Checklist. Read it and keep a copy of this in a ziplock bag in your saddlebag. Hopefully you will never need it. This brochure was created by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Clinic, so it is specific to British Columbia, but I believe their advice is relevant for most cyclists.
Happy holidays. My most recent semester of graduate studies ended strong with a term paper on Joyce’s Ulysses. I bled out training sessions to get that last project done, but I’m back in the game and really excited about the 2011 season. I will be racing both short and long course triathlon next year, with my focus on the longer distance. First though, I’ve a thesis to tackle (keep tackling), which I am working on over the holiday season. I’m punch-drunk from school (as per the video below), but I’m not crying uncle yet.[
I'm busy with the combination of training, school, consulting, and sponsorship inquiries. My goal is to finish my MA strong and then (in an ideal world) train almost fulltime starting in April. That goal will require a little creativity to bring into reality, but I've never been one focus on why something can't be done. Rather, I find my way. My focus races will be slightly later in the season . . . more on that soon.
It’s end of semester, so I’m a little swamped. Ran the Stewart Mountain 10mile cross country race yesterday. Placed 4th, right behind my teammate Adam O’Meara. I’m happy with the run, considering my rum and coke based activities from the night previous. But, now that I’ve seen the video below, maybe I can adopt the “never lose” strategy: smoking.
There have been some necessary upheavals of late, but I am feeling good about them. I have modified significantly my thesis, moving further from English Literature and more fully into 20th century philosophy and theory, switching supervisors, and selecting different readers for my project.
I’ve been feeling glass-is-half-empty lately but, to continue the cliche, at least I have a glass and some water. I value what I’ve been given. After trying to imagine working on the wrong project with the wrong supervisor, I fell into a period of dismotivation. I recently sat down and asked myself what my goals are for my MA and how I want to position myself if I go into the Ph.D. Clarifying my path helped inspire the recent changes I listed above, which have totally invigorated me.
I am enjoying my off season workouts as they provide me a time to enjoy the local topography and environments. Not only am I keeping my fitness up but I’m decompressing and clearing my thoughts too. I’m hoping the weather holds up this weekend so I can go for a ride.
What I’m listening to presently:
It has been a gauntlet run since I returned back from Budapest last month. I missed the first week of grad school so I came back to Victoria already needing to catch up.
Life is everything I anticipated—good—but I’ve recently struggled to keep all the balls in the air. As I’ve heard it said, it isn’t about keeping every ball in the air; managing multiple commitments and responsibilities is all about knowing which ball to set down temporarily, which to drop completely, which balls bounce, and which balls mustn’t ever hit the ground.
Time to recommit myself to GTD and all the productivity hacks I’ve picked up along the way!
What am I up to?