IN THE SADDLE: Using time, getting things done and having fun

Yes, it is possible to use time properly, get things done and have fun at the same time.

A few people have asked what I think about when I go on long rides? My answer… “It varies and I can’t really script it. Sometimes I zone out”. If you ask one of my mates I ride with what goes on in his head on the bike, he will tell you maths… always wanting to work out his power and averages etc. When you’re on the bike you do have a lot of time to yourself and your thoughts. Sometimes I get rather philosophical – and this weekend was one of those rides.

You have heard the term “lifestyle business”, yes? If not, Google it or check out some of the other blogs on the CN&CO site. A key element for me in this business model is that you have to know when you need to put in the graft. People aren’t going to be chasing up and micro-managing you. It comes down to planning, prioritising and remembering to have fun with what you are doing.

Another key element is making the space to have time out and reset your thoughts, which is part of the reason I ride my bike. This resetting is important as it provides the opportunity to reflect on what you have been grafting on. Sometimes I find myself figuring out the solution to something that I have been struggling to get my head around for days. Even weeks.

This weekend my thoughts revolved around the space that I find myself in at the moment and the responsibility that has been given to me. Trust shown in me by my colleagues (who also happen to be my mates), to get things done and meet deliverables. I have always had a good work ethic and do not shy away from putting in the hard yards when required, possibly a trait that I learnt from playing a lot of sport through school and maybe because I can be a bit stubborn (will deny this if you ask me to my face though). I have been working for a little under two years now and one of the biggest lessons that I have learnt to date is that you can work as hard as you like, but if you don’t prioritise and work smart, you will end up wasting a lot of effort redoing things.

I am slowly learning to combine my work ethic, prioritising and remembering to have fun/take time out. There are a lot of deliverables on the cards over the next few months; rather than being daunted by this, I am excited because I have been given responsibly and an opportunity.

Time is not an infinite resource. I have found, though, that if I am enjoying what I am doing there is always more time to work with.