Hello!
This weekend, I joined my rider group for a biking session after a long break. An year ago, I could ride up to 20 miles, so I assumed an easy 10-mile ride would be simple. I thought my “muscle memory” and past experience would carry me through.
But reality hit quickly. My gears were off, and I hadn’t refreshed myself on the basics. A good friend stayed back to help me, but before long, a steep downhill curve appeared. I panicked before I could hit the brakes and ended up off the trail, tumbling onto the grass. Thankfully, I escaped with just a few scrapes and bruises—my bike, however, now needs costly repairs.
The lesson was clear: I wasn’t prepared. And that lack of preparation turned what should have been a joyful ride into an expensive, humbling experience.
Isn’t life just like that? We often jump into things without slowing down to prepare:
- Starting a business without a clear plan
- Closing a deal without proper research
- Meeting a client without learning their background
- Choosing a college or activity for our kids without weighing all the options
- Buying a house or car without reading the fine print
- Even everyday things—like going grocery shopping without a list and forgetting the essentials, or rushing into cooking without checking if we have all the ingredients
Preparation doesn’t always guarantee perfection—but skipping it almost always guarantees mistakes.
The biking lesson reminded me of a simple truth: take time to refresh, revisit the basics, and prepare. Whether it’s a boardroom decision, a big purchase, or something as simple as a weekend plan, that pause can save us from unnecessary stress and setbacks.
So, this week, I encourage you to ask yourself: “Where do I need to pause, prepare, and refresh before I leap?”
Sometimes, that extra bit of preparation is the difference between “falling hard—and riding strong”.