In the last few days, it has been really hard to ride my ten-speed bike. Actually, it’s been no fun at all and I have been dreading it! I’ve been falling way behind going up the hills, actually having to walk up a couple. It seemed like a constant struggle to just keep momentum on the straight-a-ways.
I do a spot check (squeeze the tires, brakes, chain) every time before I go out, so, it seemed like the bike was okay. At that point, the “stinking thinking” (as my girlfriend calls it) sets in:
- The bike’s 20 years old – maybe it’s seen its last days and I’m going to have to spend the dollars on a new bike.
- Maybe I’m ill and won’t be able to ride like I used to.
- Maybe I am too old like my young daughters keep telling me.
Then, after checking my girlfriend’s tires with a tire gauge and adding air, I decided to check mine.
They were flat!
I have racing tires that take very little air, but very high pressure. So, even though they “seemed” full – they were not.
The change, both physically and mentally, is simply amazing! I can blow up the hills again; the bike glides on level ground. Riding is fun again! The bike, nor I, are too old — or sick. I can’t wait to go riding again.
This made me think about projects and personal productivity:
- Does your project seem like it has enough “air” in it, yet, it is dragging?
- Do you have, or have you used the right tools, to make sure your project is on the right track?
- Is there doubt about the project, or even yourself, that you need to really analyze, find the non-truth’s in and straighten out?
- Do you need to “put some air” in yourself or your project?
Think about all of this and see if you need to air things back up. I think you will be glad that you did!
