Four rules on building endurance

March 19, 2013 in Growing Companies, Leadership, Sales and Marketing Strategy with 15 Comments

While I was attending a conference in Charlotte last week,  an audience member asked one of the speakers, “How do you build endurance?” Honestly, I didn’t like the speaker’s answer, so I won’t repeat it here. But, while out riding my bike on Saturday, I gave it some thought.


Matt Cycling

Here are the four rules I came up with on how to build endurance:

      1. Don’t stop to rest while pedaling uphill
      2. Don’t stop to rest at the top of the hill
      3. And, don’t stop to rest while pedaling downhill
      4. When approaching the next hill, repeat steps 1-3

Why?

Stopping during an uphill climb takes extraordinary effort to restart, regain momentum, and make it to the top. Stopping at the top of the hill is pointless. The worst is behind you and it only gets easier from there. By the time you’ve pedaled halfway down the hill, you’ve recovered, you’re moving at top speed, and you’ve forgotten you were tired in the first place. Enjoy this part of the ride. Abiding by these rules over many hills creates endurance. And, the hills get easier with repetition.

Teams

If you extend the rules to building team endurance, the four rules are even more important. It’s incredibly hard to get group momentum restarted if you stop to rest in the midst of a great challenge. Nearing the top, it takes just a little encouragement to get the team over the crest of the hill. And, the momentum of the whole team’s weight really propels the group to maximum speed during the downhill portion. And the rush of satisfaction for having conquered the challenge is rejuvenating to the team.  Once you’ve led the team through several challenges, team endurance is created. Leading through challenges gets easier and easier with repetition.

“So, you never stop to rest?”, you might ask. In fact, you DO stop to rest. If there is a finish line, that’s a great place to stop and rest!! If there is no finish line (as true as this seems at times), pick a spot someplace in the middle of a flat road. Allow any stragglers catch up. And, catch your collective breath. Make sure that the flat spot is close enough to the last decent that the team can still recall the great feelings of speed and success, yet out of sight of the next major hill such that the team’s mind is on rest and not the next hill.

Question: How do YOU build endurance? And, what techniques do you use to get yourself or your team over the hills?

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  • tony Quin

    I knew it!! the hamster mill NEVER ends. No rest for the wicked.

    • http://suits2boots.net Matt Oess

      What an unfortunate reality we live in. Oh well, just keep going!!

  • Scott Davis

    Matt: My son’s football Coach is a tough older gentleman and I was asking him the other day about his workout routine because he is in great shape even though he is approaching 60. He said his rule is to NEVER take a day off. He said he had tried to take one day a week off and always something happened the next day or two when he started back. He’d claimed soreness, bad attitude and a variety of other set backs everytime he rested for a day instead or working hard each and every day. I can’t wait to share your comments with him about building endurance, and I’m going to think about your advice as I coach my team this week.

    Thanks
    Scott

    • http://suits2boots.net Matt Oess

      Scott, thanks for the great comment. Your son’s football coach has created endurance, indeed. So much of endurance is psychological. Humans are amazing at adapting to whatever we throw at it. Start eating 4 pizzas every day, and your body will adapt (as best it can). Start running 4 miles every day, and your body will adapt. Add massive stress, and your body will adapt.

      Creating endurance, for better or for worse, is really about telling your brain to keep going, even though your brain or body is telling you to stop. Working out every day was your son’s coach’s way of forcing his body and mind to adapt to these new circumstances.

  • Goodlu

    Hi Matt,
    Thanks for sharing…as I’m getting older…endurance seems a bygone…It’s a good thing you are taking the time to teach us as you all will be the ones taking care of us….By the way you are getting handsomer by the day…and wiser aswell. Keep us informed…
    Goodlu

    • http://suits2boots.net Matt Oess

      Thanks Goodlu! Teamwork is as much about taking turns carrying the load as it is about inspiring the team.

  • Gina

    The words, don’t stop came up many times yesterday cleaning up from the tornado. We knew if we stopped for long…..these old bones would have been done working for the day. Encouraged each other to stayed focused on the job, why it needed to be done helped us work from sun up till sun down!

    • http://suits2boots.net Matt Oess

      Thanks for the great comment, Gina. Amazing what happens during crisis situations. People come out of the woodwork to lend so much more than a hand. The focus becomes intense and endurance comes out of nowhere. There is so much positive love that occurs as a result of events like tornados that barely makes the news. It’s a shame, too. Because it is these stories that demonstrate the wonderful true nature of humanity and really inspire us.

  • maria konoff

    Matt…. I needed to hear these words today more than you know…. thank you for relaying just the right message in the nick of time. My finish line keeps getting moved as well. I am hoping that the newest line says put so I can finally rest a little….. Thanks for being an encouragement to others!

    • http://suits2boots.net Matt Oess

      Maria, Thanks so much for the wonderful comment. I am so happy that I made your day just a tiny bit better. Tomorrow will be GREAT!

  • Steven Landuyt

    Hi Matt – - I LOVE the cycling metaphor! As in business and life, things in motion tend to stay in motion, right!? I’ve learned that when I approach a climbing challenge, it’s so important to pay attention to the details. (Things like gradient, length of climb, debris or potholes, any dogs running at you from the side, etc.). When I do take note of details, the next time I want to tackle that same challenging climb, I’ve more prepared and success comes easier. It’s never easy, but with knowledge and confidence of having done this before, it does become easier. Keep cycling and writing, my friend. Last time we rode together, you ‘crushed’ that one steep hill and I just know that it felt great! You’re in great form. Looking forward to more rides together!!

    • mattoess

      I crushed a couple more hills today! You are right about the details. It’s especially important for leader to communicate the pitfalls to the team coming up the hill behind him/her, right?

  • http://www.mitel.com Stephen Brown

    Matt,
    This is a great post. I am always encouraged to be around people, that regardless the task or tasks, find ways to success. For me personally, for the journey, it always comes down to a choice. You can choose to worry, complain or just plain do nothing. Or, you can choose to conquer the hill, choose to be happy, choose to be a team player, choose to win. I look forward to more posts!

    • mattoess

      I’m thinking you could market a rubber bracelet that says “CHOICE” on it. Anyone want one?

  • Marek Wasilewski

    Hi Matt

    It might be worth mention that whilst you never stop, you do need to occasionally pause for reflection to ensure you not heading full steam in the wrong direction.

    Cheers

    Marek