drawing by Kane Lynch (kanelynch.com)
Written March 24, 2017
There is snow on the ground at home. Another 4 inches have fallen today on top of the foot that winter left behind. This is our normal weather this time of the year, for 4-5 months. I am in a heated car now, wearing four layers, including a down jacket.
In 9 days, I will be racing on the southern tip of Africa in 80-degree weather. Some of the bikes will be covered in zebra stripes or leopard spots. I will be wearing a skintight speedsuit, made of angel sneeze or fairy fluff or whatever Castelli is making speedsuits out of.
I have just spent this entire day explaining a super smart executive how to sell a product that I have never used, never even touched really, in a country I never been to and know next to nothing about. I was told we nailed it, and got some serious kudos for the work.
In 9 days, I will be riding my bike, running, swimming, exactly the same way as I always do, happy, staying in my comfort zone (generally speaking, you know). My result will be the best I can deliver, but mediocre compared to my competitors. There won’t be any kudos and the reward will be a polyester t-shirt that I will likely never wear.
So, what is real and true? Which world do I belong to?