Spin class saved my life. While that might seem overly dramatic, I can assure you it’s not. I would not have qualified for the stem cell/bone marrow transplant that saved my life without it.
The more often I attended class. The harder I worked. The stronger I got. The more my doctors became convinced I just might make it.
I’m almost two years post-transplant and almost a year into the COVID crisis with this past year proving itself more difficult—more physically challenging—than the first. With just about all avenues for physical activity gone during the pandemic, it occurred to me that my only way forward was to get back on the bike. The only question was how. The answer was simple. Bring the workout home. What I couldn’t imagine was the important lessons that would be delivered with the bike!
The bikes I got to ride at the gym were adequate but had no way of letting you know how effective your effort was likely to be. The stationary bike I just purchased creates a data-rich environment abundant in critical performance metrics (see the the attached image) like Cadence—pedal revolutions per minute. Resistance—the friction required to overcome the Inertia of Rest and move the pedals. And, Output—work or power measured in watts.
What Gets Measured Gets Managed…
These are key fitness metrics and like performance indicators of all kinds, what gets measured can be managed. Change cadence or resistance and the change in output is apparent instantly. Any change in resistance or cadence will result in an equal or greater change in yield.
Think about your work and the resistance you encounter and must overcome every day in order to succeed. Then, think about cadence, rhythm, speed, efficiency, and productivity. Think about output—the reward for all your planning and effort. Most of all, think about the importance of measuring and managing input, effort, and results.
Whether you focus your attention on your own health or the health of your business, improvement is a function of effort applied, measured, and managed over time. The natural by-product of which is success.
It doesn’t matter what you do. Without focus, dedication, and determination. Without measurement and management, you’re just spinning your wheels!