I've been working in the corporate world for more than a decade and a half now. I've been mountain biking that long as well. While my riding time significantly decreased from 3000 kilometers to 500 per year due to priorities, the skills and lessons learned from this sport will always be a part of me. The practical lessons are applied in my corporate life as well as my personal life. Consistency in application is another story.
1- Boy Scout
Mountain Biking: A boy scout's motto is laging handa (Translation: Always be ready). That holds true in mountain biking. Be ready to bring parts that you won't necessary need in every ride such as a spare tube, equipment-matching-tools and extra cables. While the probability is that you won’t be needing it in every ride, it better be there when you need it. Not having it around when you need it is a lesson ill preparation.
Corporate World: Similarly, it's better to be prepared at work. When attending a meeting or presenting, aside from being ready for the action, be ready to bring items or files that you don't directly need buy may eventually find value. It’s better to have it around even if you don’t really need it that to look for it when the moment dictates. Worst is the moment dictates that you need it but you don’t know where to find it (and you know that the data is on hand).
2- Near, Far, Whereever You Are.
MTB: While busting your lung on a single dirt track, always look 4 to 6 feet in front and occasionally look beyond 8 feet. It's important to know what's ahead of you so you can anticipate. Anticipation means adjusting your gear (shifters, fork adjustments, seatpost) to make the equipment work for you and be in for a comfortable ride.
CW: What is your agenda for the year? To meet that agenda, make sure every month's result is attuned to your annual target. What tools do you have in hand or tools that you need to learn. Make tools work for you (and not against you). Facebook is a tool. Make it work for you. How? That’s another entry. It is critical to have the mission, vision and targets in mind as well as the strategies on how to make it happen.
3- Trail Guide and Sweeper Role.
MTB: When mtbing in a big group (usually 6 bikers or more), there are 2 major responsibilities to guide the pack and these are the 1- trail guide and 2- sweeper. The trail guide is the leader of the pack and knows the trail like the palm of his hand. The sweeper's role is to ensure nobody is left behind and often the last biker in the group. Almost always, the sweeper carries the necessary tools and first aid kit.
CW: The trail guide is the superior or the project leader. They define the objective, lead the way and ensure the everybody is lined up to the objective. The sweeper is an unofficial role often played by the "understudy." He gives advices to the team which should be aligned with the superior. It is common corporate knowledge that one of the biggest challenges is opening up to a superior as people would rather relay the message to their peers so the role of a “sweeper” is actually critical. This role is often misunderstood and disregarded sometimes even by the corporate trail guide.
4- Body Shot.
MTB: The core of mountain bike is the frame. At least to the eye of a non mt biker. His bike is red or his bike is blue. They don't give a hoot if their groupset is the highend kind (like Shimano XT or XTR) or if their grip is the P1,300 per pair kind (like Cane Creek Lock Ons). The average cost of a grip is p500. In the eye of a real mt biker, every part counts and often, bikers have a mental list of their co-bikers set up. The bubble thought of a mtber goes like this “naka low end frame lang siya pero naka full XT.”
CW: Perception is everything especially if your superior or peers work this way. They’re the “His bike is red…” kinda guy. But you can’t blame them because that’s how they are and that’s how it works. They call the corporate setting a rat race so it’s every rat for himself. In so many ways (informally or formally), you have to brag your accomplishments. This is where humility takes a back seat. Then again, refer to my earlier statement “you can’t blame them because that’s how they are and that’s how it works.”
5- What Discipline?
MTB: A non cyclist would say “Nag ba-bike din siya” (Translation: He also rides a bike.). A cyclist would ask “Mountain bike or road bike?” A Mountain biker would ask “What kind? Cross Country? Trail Bike? DownHill or Freestyle?” Cycling is a complex sport and a cyclist can easily spot a real biker from a faker.
CW: “Sa SMT siya nagwork? May problema ako sa linya ko eh!” (Translation: He works in SMT? I have a problem with my line!) If you’re in Customer Service and Sales, you’d probably know what do: either have the answer ready or know where to refer it. If in a department outside those two mentioned, they should know where to refer the concern unless they read’ve the corporate website word per word. So the next time you meet somebody who works at a company, the next appropriate question is what department are they connected?
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