Cycling And The C-Suite: Making The Case For Pedaling Your Way To Success Whilst most will tell you that the secret to success is taking risks, remaining optimistic, and working hard, few will tell you the truth, which is that cycling offers the most promising route to success.
By Tim Cordon •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
For centuries, human beings have sought out to uncover the secret to success, so much so that if you input the phrase "the secret to success" into your Google search engine, you will find approximately 1.6 billion results.
Whilst most will tell you that the secret to success is taking risks, remaining optimistic, and working hard, few will tell you the truth, which is that cycling offers the most promising route to success.
Well, that may not be necessarily true- but isn't it a strange coincidence that many successful people enjoy cycling? From Joe Biden to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio to George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez to Pippa Middleton- the road to success certainly seems full of cyclists.
Source: Tim Cordon/Radisson Hotel Group
But why cycling? Here is a four-point explanation of why I love cycling, how it's helped me in my role as the Chief Operating Officer for the MEA region at Radisson Hotel Group, and what it could do for you:
1. A sustainable sport With rising temperatures, the change in seasonal cycles, the increased prevalence of natural disasters, diminishing wildlife species, and the growing reality of a global climate disaster, practicing sustainability is more important than ever. Sustainability is integral to the Radisson Hotel Group, its operations and its people who are committed to achieving a 1.5° future.
Whilst averting a global climate crisis is a major undertaking, it begins with small, realistic, and sustainable changes to your lifestyle- like cycling. Instead of driving your car, opting to ride your bike when travelling short distances is one way that you can reduce your impact on the environment. Cycling does not only reduce air and sound pollution, but it also promotes biodiversity, and, ultimately, reduces your contribution to global warming.
2. Cycling is the new golf Any successful business executive will tell you that you're only as good as your network. Just like playing golf, joining a cycling club allows you to meet new people with various professional backgrounds. Due to its increasing popularity among executives and CEOs, cycling is a great way to network with accomplished business professionals. It gives those who are early in their careers a chance to connect with more experienced professionals and vice versa in a relaxed environment.
Related: Five Ways To Prepare Leaders For A Changing Economy
3. Motor your mind Most exercise is good for your mood and mental health, and cycling is no exception. A study published in 2019 observed 100 adults of which one-third were non-cyclists, another third cycled at least three times per week, and the final third used e-bikes. Over an eight-week period, participants were asked to maintain these cycling (or non-cycling) routines. It was discovered that the participants who cycled at least three times per week -either on traditional bikes or e-bikes- demonstrated notable improvements in mental health, cognitive function, and overall perception of health and well-being compared to the non-cyclists.
This is because different types of riding stimulate different cognitive functions. For example, mountain biking is technical, and so, it requires you to be focused, which improves your concentration. Meanwhile, road cycling allows you to ride at greater speeds, which spurs a rush of adrenaline and endorphins, and allows for a greater sense of enjoyment.
Tim Cordon, Chief Operating Officer, Radisson Hotel Group. Source: Tim Cordon/Radisson Hotel Group
The versatility of the sport also allows you to service your emotional need for self-reflection during solo rides, as well as your need for socialization during group rides. Whilst I enjoy the incredible sense of freedom, peace, and solitude that biking gives me, I equally look forward to riding with my race team from The Cycle Hub, which is great fun and super important to me- after all, cycling can be a team sport!
4. Life is like learning to ride a bike Life can be likened to cycling. Just like life, cycling teaches you the art of balance. Balancing not going too fast and missing the scenery with not going too slow and becoming stagnant. It teaches you that just like oiling your bike makes for a better ride, taking care of yourself makes for a better life. Riding a bike teaches you that the only way you'll know if you can do it is by taking off your training wheels, as is the case with life.
Cycling also teaches you that with good planning, you can conquer even the roughest terrain, and so, it's important that you plan your life goals according to your values, and have fun even when doing the hard work. Most importantly, riding a bike teaches you to enjoy the ride. To me, being a great cyclist means demonstrating self-control, patience, respect, and, most importantly, humility. These are the lessons that I have taken into my career, and one of the reasons I am where I am today.
Related: C-Suite Execs, Listen Up: Here Are Five Things HR Experts Want You To Know
