A Story of Catching the Wind... and maybe a metaphor for success.

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here

Is there anything that invites nostalgia more than the thought of a spring fed pond? Long carefree days filled with the sounds of laughter and the endless escape into the cool water from the hot summer sun; a harmonious balance with nature - Except when it isn't. 

It seems a pond is a dynamic creature with thermal layers, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, a constant amount of "nature" going in, and unpredictable movement; all of which can lead to an overgrowth of algae and pond scum if not in balance, and this was very much my pond.

In looking for a root cause, it seemed to be an imbalance between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; as oxygen in the water is depleted, the anaerobic bacteria flourishes and creates ideal conditions for algae, pond scum and bad smelling water. The solution it seems is to simply put oxygen back into the pond that encourages the aerobic bacteria to restore the harmonious balance of nature.

So, with an environmentally friendly windmill to aerate a pond on order, the Story of Catching the Wind begins.

An unassembled sixteen foot windmill comes in six boxes that includes a compressor, a large number of galvanized metal pieces, what seems to be a countless number of bolts, nuts and washers, and an abundance of one off parts. Also included is one very detailed twenty-five page manual to aid with assembly. 

There was never any doubt that I would do the work myself; with the help of Big Red and a long in the tooth Toyota Tercel named Doris we planned to start early Saturday morning, under what turned out to be a cloudless sky. I suppose I could have hired someone but skills and competencies are developed when you do it yourself; to truly understand something, including yourself, you have to become a practitioner - In the end, this windmill (as well as catching the wind) was an exercise in patience and perseverance.

The assembly process was systematic and not to be deviated from; the legs, cross supports, bolts, washers and nuts were put together but left loose; as the tower took shape, the holes did not always align, necessitating the need for shear muscle to coerce the bolt through the hole. With the sun high in the sky, we were now able to divide and conquer with Big Red working on the blade assembly and I (awash with déjà vu) readdressed the nuts and bolts of the tower to fully tightening them. With the tower and blade assembly complete, that left us just with the compressor assembly and then final windmill assembly. 

The compressor housing assembly consisted of inserting a pivot tube through two holes in the compressor housing (and fastening it) and then sliding a brass bushing over the pivot tube. What we quickly discovered was the pivot tube too large to go through the holes of the housing and the brass bushing was too small to go over the pivot tube. Two and a half hours later (after some cursing, creativity, tools used outside their design specification and lots of muscle and sweat) the "what should have been a 15-minute" task was complete.  

With the top of the tower now resting at a 15 degree angle on a bench, the pivot tube was greased and inserted into the hole at the top, the blades were attached to the compressor shaft (involving the ongoing equal tightening of bolts and nuts until the blades were balanced) and the tubing that would carry the air to the pond was secured - With he windmill now fully assembled, all we had to do was get it vertical! After two failed attempts to lift the windmill into place and the shadows around us started to get long, the possibility of leaving the windmill lying on its side was a real and would be a monument to our failure.

Now enter the ever-dependable Doris whose only desire is to help you get from here to there. With Big Red behind the wheel, Doris strapped to the windmill, and me guiding and directing progress, the windmill started to rise. There was a moment where it almost fell over onto Doris and then back onto the ground but in the end the windmill settled majestically into its new surroundings. After celebrating a little, we secured the windmill to the ground, attached the air tube to the air diffuser and sank the diffuser in the middle of the pond. We were now set; in theory the wind would turn the windmill, the windmill would pump air into the pond, and the diffuser would inject micro-bubbles of oxygen into the water.

As we looked at the water and then at each other, we slowly looked up at the windmill with the realization that the early evening air was dead still - The windmill was motionless. Our day was now done, so we packed up and left the property to its own devices. In the end, the 16-hour day positioned us to "catch the wind" and that was all right by me. Literally it is about being in the right place at the right time and I knew the wind will come. 

Metaphorically speaking in a professional sense, "Catching the Wind" (or "catching the wave" if you identify with surfing) means you are in the right place at the right time to catch the energy of the "moment" to propel yourself fast and far in your career. Metaphorically speaking, the assembly of the windmill that day was a reminder of what it takes to position yourself to "Catch the Wind that propels your career far": 

• Depending what you are positioning yourself for, it may come with any steps and some are such that you just can't "skip over" them - Know what you need to do.
• You can't do it alone, and you need good people to help you along the way - Their support is crucial to learn, to develop and motivate you.
• It is hard work. Don't think otherwise.
• Unforeseen problems will arise and they have to be solved before you can continue - This will most likely take creativity and perseverance to work through them.
• The only one stopping you from quitting is you - Don't quit!
• Sometimes the wind just isn't blowing. Make sure you are positioned in the right place and have a little patience.

So my windmill is ever vigil and waits to catch the wind.

So does my pond for that matter.

iamgpe 

"The Project Oriented Business Life" and other such things.

The following is the original and the rewrite can be found by clicking here.

With an air of triumph he slid the piece of paper across the table as if it was the final offer after a series of long negotiations and proudly announced he had sketched out the business life model he uses.

As I looked at the drawing, it was apparent that penmanship was not a core competency; after he dismissed my quip regarding his mastery of the crayon, he went on to explain "The Project Oriented Business Life".   

For him, business was all about the opportunity - Something that had a beginning and an end, that was ultimately closed off, and offered a chance for reflection before you put it behind you and moved onto the next opportunity.  

As I listened to his passion, it was his view on the time spent to "go away" and "regain energy & perspective" that offered me the greatest pause for thought. Like most of us, his business life model had him reviewing the outcome (be it either a "win or a lose") but instead of jumping right back in, he would take time to change his context to regain energy and perspective before starting over. Analogous somewhat to taking a walk in the forest when all you do is drive in the city I suppose... "It's opener there in the wide open air"*.

As I walked out of his office with a copy of his "Rembrandt" in hand, I could not help but think of other business life models that people have offered up over the years. 

A very competent business leader I have known for years explained to me that for him it was all about working backwards from his goals. He went on to explain he would set out a goal and then work backwards to determine what he needed to get there, how he would get there, develop the timeline and the milestones he needed to ensure success. He went on to say that this just wasn't about developing the right skills or networks but it was important in helping him understand the emotional wherewithal needed to make it happen... achieving a goal, particularly a big one, can be exhausting physically, mentally and sometimes spiritually, so you have to be prepared. 

Another insight came with an idea of the iterative development of core competencies and strengths - The thinking in this instance was to understand what you are good at and then start building on it. In doing so, you create an iterative process of development that continues growing as your awareness for new skills increases, which was a result of what you have learned. It was visualized as a spiral forever increasing in size with the centre getting tighter and tighter over time; the reflection of true domain expertise.

Is any one model of thinking better for success, wellbeing, and happiness? Who's to say, and luckily for me it was never my intension to answer this "bunny hole of a question" as I zigzagged my way to making a point.

And that point is it's important to understand and be able to articulate the business life model you use. We all operate using some sort of model (whether we recognize it or not), and the need to understand what it is, how it works, and how you use it is imperative for one important reason - It will help ensure you have aligned what you do with what you want.

This actually brings me back to that "bunny hole question" I was trying to avoid which it seems turns out to be rather straight forward... the best work life model is the one that will help you meet your goals, with each being as unique as the dreams and goals of each person.

In the end, knowing how you operate your business life model increases the chance that you are aligned with your goals and ensures you are using the best tool for your success, wellbeing and happiness.

I will admit I am very surprised how much you can glean from a collection of chicken scratchings... so grab a pen and a piece of paper and get on with it.

iamgpe

* A line from "Oh, the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. 

"Getting a flat tire"... a nice framework for thinking about the fine art of problem solving.

There is a realization that comes with uttering the words, "Oh-oh, I think I have a flat" when you ride a bicycle; literally your journey has come to a complete halt and emotionally you have just come face to face with something that is 100% yours - Your flat, your bike, your problem to fix.

Don't get me wrong, fellow riders are always concerned for your safety and willing to help, but there is an expectation you should know how to deal with your own tires (for no other reason then one day you may be all alone and unlike your car, a bike offers no shelter from the elements as you wait for CAA or AAA to arrive). Recently, one of the riders I train with experienced back to back flat tires; this not only allowed him to practice changing a tire but also illustrated a nice framework for thinking about the fine art of problem solving... all very transferable outside the world of amateur cycling. 

It is probably worth offering a quick overview of changing a tire, as it will help with the colourful illustrations regarding problem solving that are to come (feel free to skip this part if you are all too familiar with fixing flats): 

After you find yourself uttering the phase "Oh-oh, I think I have a flat", it's important to pull over to the side of the road and assess the situation - Is the tire completely flat, partially flat and could you get to your destination (without damaging your rim) by simply pumping up your tube? If the answer is "no" and you will need to repair the tire, the following is needed: a spare tube, tire levers, a pump and a sunny day (the latter is preferred but not mandatory). The steps for repairing a flat tire go something like this:

1. Remove the wheel from your bike. The front wheel is easier than the rear because you don't have to deal with the chain (and far less messy).
2. Remove the round nut that secures the value to the rim.
3. Using the tire levers pry the tire away from the rim and fully separate one side of the tire from the rim enabling you to get at the tube. This will require two levers, some muscle, and the knowledge you will get better with practice.
4.  Pull the damaged tube away from the rim and tire (you don't have to be gentle as it's already damaged). Put the round nut back on the value and keep the tube to be repaired later.
5.  Remove the round nut from the valve of your replacement tube and put it to the side. Inflate the tube slightly and then insert the value in the hole in the rim while pushing the rest of the tube around the rim under the tire. Finish by putting the round nut back on the valve. 
6. Now for the tricky part - Fit the tire back onto the rim so the tube is inside the tire using your hands. Some people can do this just using their hands, but I need the levers to get the whole tire back on the rim because there is always part that needs some extra help to fold it over the rim. If you are not careful here, you can "pinch" the tube and put a hole in the tube.
7. Inflate the tire and hope the tube didn't get pinched or the tire valve isn't faulty. Tighten the round valve bolt so it is against the rim. If this doesn't go well you will need to go back to step 2 and repeat. If this happens, hopefully you know someone close by who has a spare or you happen to be carrying a second tube. 
8. Enjoy the rest of your ride.
9. Once you get back repair the hole in your old tube or buy a new one before you ride again.
10. Check the tire you repaired before you ride again... just in case

I've included the link to a video that outlines the fine art of fixing a flat.

These were the steps I watched a couple of times while offering moral support, the odd piece of advice, and experienced a nice framework for thinking about the fine art of problem solving.

Sooner or later problems will occur; they are inevitable: Problems will happen, and as much as you may be able to prevent some of them, you can't control the unexpected and unforeseen (you may be able to avoid the glass but not a faulty valve that decided to leak 20 kilometres into your ride) - Problems will happen so deal with them intellectually and not emotionally (screaming at the cycling gods serves no one).

Anticipate and prepare for problems to the best of your ability: It is a given that if you ride a bike you will get a flat tire so carry a spare tube, a pump, the levers to fix it, and ensure you've watched a Youtube video on "fixing a flat". If you are an active rider you probably should have a chain tool as chains break too - Spend time understanding the problems that could occur and prepare yourself as best you can; it will get you back on your bike sooner.

Evaluate the problem in context with your situation and determine the best course of action: A slow leak may afford the short term fix of just pumping up the tire so you can get back home before it rains; changing a tire in a dry garage is preferable to being on the side of the road in the rain - Sometimes there are a number of "fixes" available before you eventually solve the problem.

Problems always find better solutions when more people are involved: Although getting a flat does occur, it doesn't happen that often so it's easy to forget how to be efficient at fixing it. Having others around who may have more experience and offer advice is helpful, as well as having the ability to borrow another tube when you realize your spare is defective - Take advantage of the resources around you to solve your problem quicker.

Problem solving usually consists of a number of steps, each of which can create their own problems: A lever breaks, you lose the round valve nut or it turns out your pump isn't working - Don't underestimate how the simplest of solutions can turn complex very quickly.

The more problems you deal with, the better you get at dealing with them: The more you fix a flat tire the better you will get... and better understand the mechanics of your bicycle for that matter - Don't be afraid to take on situations and the inevitable problems that come with them; they will make you more capable.

Learn from your problems and try not to repeat them; with that said, be prepared to deal with them again in the future: Try to understand why you got the flat. Did you ride over something sharp and need to be more attentive, or are you buying a poor make of tube and need to change manufactures? - Use problems as opportunities to learn for the "next time" and make sure you have have a new replacement tube.

The ride is well worth all the problems that may come your way: It is a beautiful thing to ride a country road on a hot summer day; well worth any problem that may come your way - Don't let problems stand in the way of your goals. Deal with them head on, get them behind you, and enjoy the ride.

My next ride is this coming weekend and hopefully it's not my turn to get a flat. Although it's an easy problem to solve, it's still a pain in the ass.

gpe.

PS: I would be remiss if I didn't include a link to "A shameless plea to support a very noble purpose (with an endearing story included as a thank you)", as it is one of the reasons we risk all of those flat tires.