Exploring Possibilities: Joggers Track Or The Cyclist Track?

Running and cycling are two popular cardiovascular sports that provide different benefits, depending on your fitness goals. While both activities are good calorie burners, running burns more calories compared to cycling.

But hold on, we are not here to discuss which one is superior over the other. Today I will share the analogy that inspires the way we live life.

Once there was a runner who was running in the jogging track. It was a crowded track on which lots of people were jogging.  Runner was not able to increase his speed. He was trying to run but had to stop due to the rush. He was an ardent “to do” kind of a person. When he didn’t get enough space, he gradually shifted to the cycling track.

It wasn’t late when he realized that he was running a lot faster than the jogging track. One reason was very obvious that the rush was less and there were fewer people who were stopping him. This path had lesser restrictions and he was not required to halt and again build up his speed. People who run will agree with me that this stop and run, then again stop and run, takes a toll on the stamina.

But this was not the only reason behind his acceleration. His interesting observation was that, whenever there was a cyclist behind him, he used to give the space to him, but when the cyclist used to overtake him, he used to get an upsurge in momentum. This resulted in enhanced acceleration with help of which he was able to match up the cyclist speed and at times even used to surpass it. This helped him to build up enhanced speed and stamina.

Let us relate this analogy with the personal effectiveness strategy of our life. Jogging track is the popular path of life where most people follow. They get comfortable with it, but lead a life of mediocrity. Paths of mediocrity are perceived to be safe but are always crowded. People are competing amongst themselves, working hard to find a place for themselves. Once they find it somehow, they are not ready to leave it. Insecurity looms large on them.

Self-development is Greek and Latin for them. Obviously their speed is slow, as it suits their comfort zone. Now a new runner joins them on the track. They will also make him match his speed. In case he wants to accelerate, the crowd will pull him back. They will make him halt and hop. Not only that they might even make him feel that he can’t run faster than this.

Now this guy changes the track. He comes to the cycling track. This is much like a track of proactive people who are not afraid of taking initiatives and ownership. This obviously is less crowded. People on this path are automatically on the fast pace.

Humans here are not stopping but inspiring others to gather momentum. Comfort zones are being challenged, and new comfort zones are created. Self-development is the way of life. People on this path are setting up examples for others to follow. These are the people who set stretch goals, create roadmap to achieve them, and in the process, get evolved.

People who are on the track of mediocrity mostly appreciate and are in awe for those who are on the faster track of proactivity. But deep down they address them as an exceptionally talented lot, and forget that this runner was also once in their track only, but had the courage to change the track.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you have the intention to develop yourself as an effective individual, who is the master of the situations, all you need to do is to select the right track and explore possibilities…….

(The author is a Certified Designed Thinking Master practitioner and Clifton Certified Strength Finder Coach, Corporate Trainer and a Leadership coach. He is based in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India.)