Welcome to the 1st issue for for 2016! Last week was my 1st ride over 500km and today is the 1st issue to over 500 subscribers. Coincidence? I think not! ; )
Those numbers got me thinking about the power of progress; of small wins. I did some digging and found Teresa Amabile's 2011 HBR article: The Power of Small Wins. To me, her 'Progress Principle' applies to cycling like it does to work. Hear me out:
That is, that "of all the events that can deeply engage people in their work the single most important is simply making progress on meaningful work." On my ride, each 50km was a small win. This analogy of small wins as I struggled to complete the challenging 500km ride was like the distance covered last year in my professional career. 2015 was a series of small wins for me and my company in a challenging 365 day year. That progress added up to a great starting point for 2016. Keeping that cadence is always half the battle!
What were your small wins already this week? As always, thanks for reading!
Cycling
In the spirit of the #Festive500, #pimtani in #lapetitefestive500
I love this video. Myself included, people get sucked into the epicness of cycling. The 'oh, man! How brutal!' The glory through suffering and proceeding despite anguish, awful weather, mechanicals and worse. But you know what? Cycling is simple and pure beauty. Innocence with nothing to prove. Watch this video by my friend Koen of his son Pim and you'll know what I mean. Awesome work. See the snaps on instagram.
2016 TSH RESORT LAUNCH & 10 YR ANNIVERSARY in CHICAGO
Tenspeed Hero is a cycling journal located on the world wide web and a sometimes newspaper located in your mailbox. I've been a fan since day one. And that means 10 years?! If you're in Chicago or anywhere nearby, RSVP & tell Luke I said hello! p.s. stay tuned for details on an @tsh_europe event in Amsterdam soon!
Celebrating the union of graphics, packaging design and cycling
"Graphic design and cycling are mighty comfortable, oft-Lyrcra-clad bedfellows." Progress Packaging has worked with Rapha for 5 years now and their work is always impressive. This article offers some behind the scenes peeks at that process.
Startups
Dutch startups raise €430 million in 2015 - Startup Juncture
In 2015 Dutch startups have raised 427.8 million euro - more than 70 million euro less compared to last year. The number of deals doubled from 76 to 150. W00T!
Meet the Lawyer Challenging the Food-Delivery Industry
After confronting labor practices at Uber, Shannon Liss-Riordan is looking to your takeout next. She alleges that delivery drivers should not be considered independent contractors, as their companies have deemed them, but official employees. What do you think?
Peter Thiel On The Seven Questions A Startup Must Answer
Peter Thiel, in his book Zero to One, laid out seven questions that a startup must answer in order to be successful. Hat tip to Bram for reminding me to pick up this book!
Sales
The right way to end an email to a client
Hat tip to James from the Phuse for sharing this. "Suggest a next step at the end of your email and double your responses.” #winning!
Social Aerodynamics: Improving Efficiency of Social Selling
Learn 5 ways to leverage social listening tools to bring the conversation to you and increase your social selling efficiency.
Start saying “Thank You” instead of “Sorry”
How often do you tell someone you are “Sorry” in the course of a day? I'd wager way too much. Especially if you're British ; ) Seriously, this one is worth a read.
Radness
We did it. Long time friend, former client, competitive speed skater, fixed gear race organizer, inventor and engineer Olaf Wit of Fendor Bendor fame and I cycled nearly to Maastricht & back from Amsterdam.
See the photos on Instagram here. The ride on Komoot & Strava and stay tuned for a proper recap of the experience. The general theme was small wins = a big win. Tackling each brutal stretch of headwind, making it to the next town and from sun up to sun down to sun up again. Turn each corner until you're home again.
Each little win is what got us back on our bikes and not a train. Massive thanks to Olaf for doing this with me and thank you to all the positivity on social media! Hat's off to everyone that completed the challenge this year!