Going flat out will cause you problems in your business in the long run, problems that can be prevented by slowing down and saving your energy.

I’ve recently cycled across France and it dawned on me that cycling is a lot like running a business. I’ll be writing more about this comparison over the next few weeks

I’m an active person and I like to take on physical challenges that push me too my limits. I end up running around and doing things as quick as I can so I can move onto the next challenge.

Business owners tend to do the same thing. Running around to get things done as quick as possible to get the invoice in before moving onto the next project.

We end up working long hard days, neglecting sleep, friends and family to get stuff done. In the short term this is manageable but not great business practice. In the long term it’s called burn out.

For the first 2 days my cycle ride was a bit like that. I’d race off and kid myself that waiting a few moments to wait for my wife to catch me up was rest. I’d then rush off again, not to race her, she’s to sensible for that. I’d was pushing myself to my limit, as I’d normally do on a days bike ride.

I’d forgotten to consider the next 7days of cycling that lay before us and by the end of day 3 I was burned out. I’d used up all my energy reserves and I hit ‘the wall’ as my body resulted to getting energy from less readily available sources.

I just couldn’t get going again. No matter what I tried, even peddling downhill became too much