Just like riding a bike

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“Dad, can you please get my bike out of the garage? I know how to ride it now.”

It’s November 27th, and Ellie, my 4-year-old, comes bounding into the kitchen after school with this request.

The last time I tried helping her learn to ride a bike, a few weeks earlier, it ended in tears. She just didn’t seem ready.

So her request catches me off guard - I don’t know what to make of it. But I never want to stop her from trying new things, so we head out to the garage together. I open it up and haul out her bike.

She hops on, kicks off with a bit of a stutter, and rides away up the driveway. She loops up and back without a problem.

I’m speechless with pride, rooted to the spot in complete shock.

How the hell did she learn to do that?

Turns out there’s an added benefit to living in a country where cycling isn’t just a national sport—it’s a way of life. Kids learn to ride bikes at school. I had no idea.

The whole episode got me thinking about riding a bike, or learning to surf, snowboard, or ski. There’s one secret to balance:

Look where you want to go.

Your body and momentum will take you there.

You’ve experienced this yourself. When you look ahead, focus on where you want to go, your body naturally follows. Your bike, surfboard, or skis go wherever you’re looking.

But when you approach an obstacle—a narrowing in the road or an upcoming passerby—you stop looking into the distance. You focus on the patch of road right in front of you. And what happens? You start to wobble. It’s harder to maintain balance. You won’t fall off because you know what you’re doing, but you’ve lost the flow. It takes effort to stay on track.

In the last few weeks, I found myself looking down at the proverbial patch of road in front of my business. Focusing on all the stuff I needed to get done before the end of the year.

It caused some wobbles. Writing this article is one of my last steps before the finish line and a well-earned break. But after that, it’s time to refocus on the middle distance—to get back to looking where I want to go with my business.

It’s completely normal at this time of year. The end is in sight. Little obstacles appear on the road, and we start looking down.

By the time you read this, I hope you’re at the finish line for this year.

It’s time to relax & reset - we can refocus on the middle distance in 2025.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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