Hard work pays off
We are the creative force of our life, and through our own decisions rather than our conditions, if we carefully learn to do certain things, we can accomplish those goals. (Stephen Covey)
Thank you Jürgen Trapp from Sporteffekt to make this diagnostics and your great hints how to improve further.
Here some impressions from the last 14 months:
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Happiness Advantage
This is one of the best TED talks ever! Shawn Achor has a wonderful way to explain his research topic “positive psychology”. First he rises the energy levels in the audience by telling a wonderful story from his early childhood and once everyone is waiting for the next joke to arise he explains his research findings over the last years. Here some quotes out of his talk:
See what we’re finding is it’s not necessarily the reality that shapes us, but the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business outcome at the same time.
90 percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world.
We’ve found that there are ways that you can train your brain to be able to become more positive.
By doing these activities and by training your brain just like we train our bodies, what we’ve found is we can reverse the formula for happiness and success, and in doing so, not only create ripples of positivity, but create a real revolution.
Very inspiring talk and a great summary of his book: “Happiness Advantage”
Leave your comment what you think about this talk and maybe you have another awesome TED talk to share.
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Teaching and learning in Kyrgyzstan
Have you ever heard of Kyrgyzstan? Two years ago I had no idea where exactly this country was. And this year it was already the second time I traveled to this amazing country in Central Asia.
Everything started when Gerrit Beine asked me to join him giving a workshop about agile software development in Bischkek (here some impressions from 2012).
This year I was offered the possibility to teach, inspire and learn again in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This time Michel Löhr joined in as the main coach for the agile workshop at KSUCTA University. And it was amazing this time I was already used to the not so good things like infrastructure or air pollution (which has improved in a good way over the last two years) and then on the other side I saw all this beauty!
The nature is stunning and looking to those massive mountains just outside of Bishkek is amazing. Hiking in those mountains was even more rewarding and then you had the people of Kyrgyzstan: Awesome! So friendly, hospitable, open minded and curious people it was a wonderful experience. Every day at least two students took care of us by doing activities to explore nature, culture, people or food. Thank you all for making this possible.
The 5 days agile software development workshop was a lot of fun where we taught the basics of Scrum. With a lot of games and interactive exercises so that the students could experience the agile culture first hand and learn to work and improve as a team and excel with each iteration.
I’m already looking forward to inspire, teach and learn more in this wonderful country called Kyrgyzstan in the next years.
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Motivation Boot Camp – Power Days
Ever wanted to experience a soccer stadium atmosphere combined with some intellectual input regarding how to use more of your potential. Well then maybe the Jügen Höller Power Days are something to consider.
Saturday 10am the event started in Nürnberg, Germany together with 2200 people and the song “I got the Power” from Snap and immediately the energy level in the hall rises. In this environment it was easy to learn new things. I liked how Jürgen Höller and Mike Dierssen used metaphors to explain their topics.
One exercise I really enjoyed was for instance everyone was handed out a 100 centimeter paper yardstick and then was told if you are a man cut it of at 85, for a woman at 90 (to show the typical life expectance). Then you should to some calculations: Start from your current age and depending if you are a non-smoker or smoker, eat healthy or unhealthy, do sport regularly or no sport, … you changed the years (+15,+10,+5, 0,-5). The end result you subtracted from your starting point (85 or 90) and you got your remaining years. Well that was very vividly for me. Sure not everything is in your hand but you can do a good part yourself to stay healthy and increase the odds to live a long and happy life.
Well to summarize the event: I liked the “stadium atmosphere” and the energy levels, I met some really great people and got some nice inspirations out of it. Here some sayings from those two days:
“Grow your comfort zone then your personality grows”
“Workout leds to championship”
“Never give up and always give 110%” (the clapping and cheering to the song “I got the Power” was a metaphor for that)
“Never think for your customer”
“The more successful you are, the more humbled you should be”
“Never stop to grow because that’s the beginning of dying”
“Personality sells”
“Strangers are only friends you don’t know yet”
“Success always starts at home”
“Success is 15% expertise and 85% personality. Invest in your personality if you want to become rich”
“How you do your job, is how you live your life”
“Successful people are decisive”
“Every NO is one step closer to a YES” (The power of the quote: e.g. 1 out of 50 will say YES, so every NO gets you closer to the yes)
“5 pillars of your life house: Career, Finances, Health, Relationships, Private Development” (Have 4 or 5 pillars set up you have a great foundation for your life house, only 3 and the foundation is not solid anymore not speaking off when only 1 or 2 pillars are in order …)
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Life lessons from a farm visit
My sister and I were recently invited to visit relatives on their farm north of Frankfurt. As soon as we arrived childhood memories were back. For over 20 years I haven’t been in a stable and reflecting upon the weekend I realized how many life lessons I took from these days on the farm:
1.Plan for the future
As a farmer you have to plan way in advance. You have to prepare the fields in spring, nourish them over the summer and harvest in autumn so that the animals have food in winter. The same holds true for your on life. Setting up a dreamplan for the year helps to focus and plan ahead so you can harvest the fruits of your development later.
2. Have multiple streams of income
But not everything goes according to a plan and for farmers the weather is a big factor of unpredictability so to secure the income have multiple streams available. So if one source of revenue is becoming a very small stream in one year have other sources to compensate therefore.
3. Enjoy the small pleasures
Being on a farm surrounded by all those animals is such a great pleasure you loose the feeling of time and you relax. Wonderful just to feed the calves, cuddle the dog, watch the milk process, ride on a truck, watch cats play, have great talks, let the farmer explain their work, wonderful and enlightening.
4. Work ethnic
Working on a farm is hard work and it amazes me how dedicated and disciplined you have to be, to work 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The great thing is you see the results right in front of you e.g. when you milk the cows.
5. Appreciation of milk
When you go into the supermarket and buy 1 liter of milk it costs you around 0.90€ and the thing is done. But when you see the cow milking process than this is only the last step on the farm. First you need a cow who just recently had a carve, you have to take care of the cows health, you have to secure the food chain of the cow (if it is summer or winter) and you have to milk the cow twice a day, every single day. And this is only the process I was able to see on that one day.
These life lessons came to my head. What were your reflections while visiting a farm? Please leave a comment
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First Triathlon
It is the 11th of May 2014 and after a good night sleep I wake up early in the morning to get ready for my first Triathlon ever. Although I had a good preparation for the first triathlon I was still a bit nervous of what will happen that day.
Great that the competition started at 1pm, so enough time to prepare myself. With my bike and all my stuff for the upcoming challenge I took the Munich underground to the famous Olympic Park. And already in the underground I met another participant and funnily he was starting just next to me and it was his 3rd Triathlon. His hints on what to think about in that specific Triathlon helped me to relax a bit.
After the check in of my bike and all other stuff what you need for your transition (water, power bar, cycle shoes, running shoes, socks, towel) it was time to change into my triathlon outfit and get ready for the swim in the Olympic pool.
Then I was standing there, second in line to jump into the water [funnily my registered swimming time was second slowest of the fast group] and then they guy infront of me jumped into the pool … so only 12 seconds left till my start … count down … 3 … 2 … 1 … GO
In my head I was super excited but as I already knew from my running where I’m also super excited at the start I only said to myself… swim slow… slow and steady with long strokes and off I went … slow and steady … after 2 out of the 8 lanes I was overtaking that first dude (who started first with the slowest swimming time of the fast group) … WOW … So now nobody was infront of me and I had all the remaining 6 lanes clear (my biggest fear in Triathlon was to be packed into one big swimming group and not getting ahead) So too not become over excited … swim slow … slow and steady … well that worked fine till lane 7 where I had my first foot cramp … ok keep calm … relax … swim slow … slow and steady. And then I went out of the water and I was first, what a feeling!!! [Please keep in mind there were 400 guys behind me who had faster swimming times, but I didn’t care] and the volunteers were supporting me: “Yeah you are the first!” 🙂
Transition from swimming to bike was good and went without big mistakes. Slow but steady …
I was on my bike and went onto the first of 5 rounds in the Olympic park, to get to know the course. Second round was even better and third was great. But in round 4 I got my first cramp on the bike so I had to slow down a bit and also the course was a bit slippery and very twisting. Then getting from the bike one volunteer shouted to me “You’re a the 5th guy”. Wow so I only lost 4 positions [please still keep in my there were 400 guys still behind me who started later] but hey it sounded great!
Transition from bike to running went like this … ok running with my bike to my transition position was good … put the bike back on a pole check … helmet down check … cycle shoes out check … both running shoes on check … wait something is in my left running shoe … 5 seconds I’m thinking is it ok to run like this? 3 … 2 … 1 … NO … so after taking the left shoe off and searching what might be in this shoe I found a … power bar (!!!) [Reminder to myself: Please check next time in the check in procedure if anything is still in my shoes!] ok I put the left shoe on and then something was in my right shoe as well a bit smaller but I decided to check this shoe as well. This time I had to search a bit longer but I found another [but smaller] power bar in my right shoe … then both running shoes on check … change the number from the back to the front check … Great then it was time to get back on track and to the start of the running trail.
Funnily the guy from the underground who started 1min behind be at the swimming was now next to me. We had a short chat and then I went of. And all the transition preparation from my trainings camp in Croatia was coming into place. Actually I was feeling very good in my running shoes [without all that power bars] and my pace was good. A former colleague and triathlete athlete found me and cheered me up [Thank you Hannes for your support and the pictures] and then the last 500m to the finish line.
Volunteers were handling out water but I refused and just saw the finish line. Wow what a great joy came over me. All this tough 6 month preparation was now paying of and all the endorphins were rushing into my body and with a big smile and hands in the air I was crossing the finish line. WOW what an AMAZING experience.
For the next three days I was full of endorphins and I was already looking forward the next two events in Ingolstadt and Hamburg. More from those two events in the next weeks …
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- All my gear for the first triathlon
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- After morning rain the weather picked up and the sun was out
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- That’s how my transition zone looked like
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- Here the thumb was still up but the preparation for the transition could have been better
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- Swimmers in line to get ready for their start
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- Very focused while running to the finish line
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- Running in the Olympic park
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- YEAH!!! Crossing the finish line at my first triathlon. AWESOME 🙂
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- Thanks mate for the hints in the underground!
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- Results of my first ever triathlon (swimming 400m, cycling 19km, running 5km)
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TED: Great leaders
I love watching TED videos and once in a while there are awesome new talks available like this one from Simon Sinek: “Why good leaders make you feel safe”.
He emphasizes how leaders can create an awesome organization in which people can thrive. Love the example at the end of the video how a great leader refused to lay of people instead found another solution for it.
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First Triathlon – Preparation
After almost haft a year of preparation it was time to participate in my first triathlon and what an awesome experience but let’s recap from where this all started …
Last year in November I thought about doing my first triathlon and this is where I stood: I could only swim the crawl for 25 meters, I have never set on a racing bike and I was injured on my left and right ankle so for over three month I din’t run. Great! 😉
But then things picked up … Beside a core muscle training once per week I started to swim twice per week and after a few weeks the first success was to crawl for 5 then 8 and end of December for 60 lanes (each lane was 25 meters) and in February 2014 I mastered even the 152 lanes which was part of my dream plan for 2014. So swimming wise I was on track. Still very slow but with the confidence to conquer the distance.
End of February it was time to participate in my first trainings camp in Malaga and after one week and more than 300km on a racing bike I felt that this is going to become a great sport for me even though my body needs much more race bike training. One trainings camp more (in Porec, Croatia) the confidence and fun for cycling grew further.
And for the running part I started in January with very very slow but long runs and the pain in my ankles was gone. And as I love running this was a good sign.
And now it is the 10th of May 2014 and only one day left for my first triathlon ever, how exciting! All my gear for the racing day is prepared … story to be continued …
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Triathlon Camp in Poreč
April comes and so does my first Triathlon trainings camp. How exciting, after my first cycle camp in Málaga it was now time to put all three triathlon parts (swimming, cycling and running) together for my first upcoming triathlons in May, June and July 2014.
Together with the two awesome coaches Sabine and Wolfgang from ESV Ringsee Ingolstadt, Natalie and Karin we had one week of training in Northern Croatia in the small beautiful coastal town Poreč.
Training conditions were very good: Sunny weather, Plenty of good food, hilly surroundings for our cycle tours, great running track on the coastline and a salt water pool.
Here some impressions:
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Cycling in Malaga
Long time no update from my site and thus a short flash back to February when I went to my first ever trainings camp to Spain to learn Cycling on a race bike. Together with some experienced cycling mates I was on my way to southern Spain, Malaga.
We arrived there end of February and for one week the hills around Malaga were our training grounds. Especially one hill which went up from 0 to 965m was twice part of our course. Amazing to cycle over 1 hour only up a hill, great fun.
The weather was already nice with up to 25°C just the gusty wind was a bit disturbing. So let’s tell you about our regular day, which looked almost every day like that:
Wake up at 7:45
Have breakfast at 8:00
Get ready for the cycling day till 11:00
Cycle for 3 to 6 hours
Take a nap … long nap 🙂
Go for dinner at around 19:00
Go to sleep at around 22:30
And here some impressions from our trip. Thanks Jochen, Daniel, Andreas and Tomasz who joined in this trainings camp and helped me to cope with a new sport. Result: I love race cycling 🙂
Sven Around The World 