How cycling shapes me into a better person both on and off the saddle
1. IE MBA application question:
Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it
contributes to your personal and professional development.
2. Ain’t no mountain
high enough
How cycling shapes me into a better person both on
and off the saddle
Prepared by Phil Houghton, MEng, Candidate for IE MBA Programme
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3. Contents
Man vs. mountain 3
Cycling isn’t for the faint hearted 4
No pain, no gain 6
What cycling does for me 7
Happier 8
Healthier 10
Calmer 12
Tougher 14
Conclusion 17
My next objective…? 18
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4. Man vs. mountain
Cycling is my passion and
I’m not talking about going
for a leisurely spin in the
park. I’m talking about
climbing mountains, big
ones.
That’s me in yellow, climbing Passo
di Valparola in the Italian Alps.
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5. Cycling isn’t for the faint-hearted
Imagine you’re struggling up a mountain on
a bicycle…
Your legs are screaming. Sweat is pouring
off your body. And just when you feel like
your lungs are going to pop, you reach the
summit.
As you dismount, you catch your breath. The
sheer height you’ve climbed sets in as you
look at the breathtaking scenery.
You feel relieved and relaxed. After all, it’s
only downhill from here and that’s the best
part!
4Me climbing Passo dello stelvio in Italy
7. No pain, no gain
Cycling is the “most furious, the most
poetic, romantic, brutal, life-affirming and
soul-destroying sport of all” according to
Professional Cyclist Lee Rodgers.
He’s got a point.
Pain and suffering are synonymous to
cycling. But the experience is also freeing,
exhilarating and satisfying. I can’t imagine
ever giving it up.
The summit of Passo dello stelvio in Italy
Source
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8. What cycling does for me
Cycling helps improve my personal and professional capabilities by
making me:
HAPPIER HEALTHIER CALMER TOUGHER
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10. All of my worries slip away when I’m cycling. It
boosts my energy levels, puts me in a good
mood and, crucially, makes me feel happy.
When I’m happy, my performance at work
improves because I feel more driven, engaged
and productive, which enables me to work at my
best.
I’m more sociable, confident and energetic when
I’m happy. All of this is good for me both in and
out of the workplace.
HAPPIER.
My best mate Steve and me cycling in Italy!
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11. Ø Cycling can increase life expectancy by up to two years
Ø Riding a bicycle before work can increase productivity by 15%
Ø Physically fit employees make 27% less errors in the workplace
Ø Cyclists take two less sick days each year compared to non-cyclists
Did you know…?
HEALTHIER.
Source
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12. Cycling is one of the healthiest sports due to it’s
low-level impact, reducing my risk of injury. It has
other great benefits too, as it tones my muscles,
makes me flexible, and improves my
cardiovascular health.
When I cycle, I sleep better and am fresh and
alert the following day, making me more
productive and efficient at work.
Cycling is so beneficial that I build it into my daily
routine, even commuting to work!
HEALTHIER.
Parking my bike outside of work
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13. Life can often feel like an uphill struggle, with stress coming from all directions.
CALMER.
Stress at home
Ø Financial
Ø Family wellbeing
Ø Relationships
Ø Moving house
Stress at work
Ø Tight deadlines
Ø Long hours
Ø Excessive workload
Ø Job security
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14. CALMER.
From the moment I start moving on a bike, I feel
weight being lifted from my shoulders. Whatever the
source of stress, my mind is put at ease and I feel
calmer.
It clears my head and helps me unwind, and
recharges my batteries so when I return to the office,
I’m better able to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Cycling gives me clarity and perspective on activities
I’m working on. Often my best ideas for solving
problems come when I’m cycling!
But cycling makes it all go away!
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15. TOUGHER.
When climbing mountains, you must be prepared
for every eventuality—bad weather, flat tyre,
fatigue, thirst, hunger. You have to be tough.
I’ve learned on the bike that the greater the
struggle, the greater the reward. I train hard to be
able to achieve my goals. I constantly push
myself, always striving to go faster and climb
higher.
I apply the same principles to my professional life.
I don’t take the easy road, instead I challenge
myself, aim high, and work hard to fulfill my
potential.
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16. TOUGHER.
One of the biggest challenges I faced cycling was when I
seriously injured my knee. How did I do this? I trained too hard for
a competition. As a result, I not only could not participate in the
race, but I couldn’t even cycle and I was devastated.
What did I do? I picked myself up, starting first with stretching and
slowly working my way back onto the saddle over several
months. I designed a new training programme to ensure I never
made the same mistake again.
I learned from this experience to know my limits and not push
myself too hard. And I’m pleased to say that the following year, I
achieved a new personal record, climbing the tallest mountain
I’ve ever climbed!
On the podium in France!
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17. TOUGHER.
From this experience, I learned how to recognise the signs and
symptoms of burnout, how to avoid it, and also how to identify it in
others. This has enabled me to not only ensure that I don’t exceed
my limits, but that others in my team don’t either.
As with cycling, a team is only as strong as the weakest link.
Therefore, as a leader, it’s important to know when to push and
when to pull back.
Pacing myself on the bike is just a crucial as it is at work
During my time at a start-up company, I regularly worked 6-7 days
a week for more than 12 hours per day. Over time, the inevitable
happened: I burned out.
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18. Cycling helps me grow as a person, both
personally and professionally. It makes me
happier, healthier, calmer and tougher, and
I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Conclusion
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19. ie
I continue to set my sights
high. My next goal is to get
into IE Business School!
My next objective…?
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