This is a fantastic
compendium from 60 people of stories about routine and of survival and triumph
taking everyday and extraordinary experiences and applying them to the strange
set of circumstances we now find ourselves in. It is full of fun, insight and
some valuable lessons about life.
This book went from
concept to creation in a matter of days thanks to an absolutely epic effort by
a hastily assembled team of editors, the book shaped up to launch today.
A number of formats are available from www.wordcatcher.com/letsresetnormal
Sadly, my story did not make it into the book
They asked for stories about working together and
teams and collaboration but in the end decided my story (copy below) was nice, but wasn’t
enough about epidemic, virus and uncertainty. However, there is something from
me in the book (a check-list) and it will be good to read all the other
stories.
Please feel free to
read the stories and promote. Look out for the hashtag #LetsResetNormal
In the meantime below is my story.
Tim
#LetsResetNormal
The old lifeboat shed was the venue for a
have-a-go-row and given the recent good weather and boat show there were a
number of novices gathered to try coastal rowing.
Coastal rowing could not be more different
from Oxford v Cambridge but the larger sea-going boats are accommodating and
forgiving and ideal for novices on their first venture onto the water.
After a basic induction on indoor rowing
machines the club captain divided the attendees into random crews of four with
an experienced rower as their cox, coach and co-ordinator.
One crew in particular protested that the
teams were uneven and unfair. “Our
crew are all girls, we cannot compete against the men, it’s not fair!” Their cox however
was more confident but used the perceived inequality to secure the best choice
of boat.
Out of earshot the cox explained in a team
huddle with his new crew: “Rowing is about collaboration
and timing. Even if you are rubbish, being rubbish together will move the boat
better than everyone doing their own thing.”
If you rush it is like a car wheel spinning
from the traffic lights, lots of effort but little progress forward. Moreover,
if you are not synchronised, it is like driving with the handbrake on. Boats
are like cars, smooth is fast.
Once launched and on the water the mixed and
men’s teams conceded the ladies crew a boat length head start. This was a show
of confidence in the absence of experience and the cox knew it and how to play
on it.
The crews made themselves ready. The final
advice the cox gave to the novice crew was “Ignore
everyone else and everything else, just listen to me each time I call ‘stroke’
and stay on that rhythm”. Focus on what you are doing and
nothing else matters.
At the first victory over 1000 meters the
ladies were jubilant, but the cox (small, bossy and loud) feigned surprise to
the rivals who trailed by nearly a boat-length. Clearly a fluke, he shrugged.
But the second heat cut their head start by half.
A combination of overconfidence by the women
and prudence by the other teams meant the ladies crew trailed in a narrow
second place on the second heat.
Ironically, the third heat win and
best-of-three victory was made easier when the women went back to basics and
the mixed and men’s teams abandoned any technique in favour of all-out effort
and a clash of oars and personalities.
After the race the club captain and cox
chatted: “I bet that’s the first time any
of them have won anything since they left school, and in some cases that was
clearly a long time ago!”.
For the rowing club it was just another
have-a-go-row but it dawned on the cox that even that experience was
intoxicating for people who possibly have forgotten what it feels like to be a
winner.
By TimHJRogers (Cox)
Lessons
There are some rowing lessons about team-work,
timing, technique and a bit of gamesmanship to underplay your hand or overplay
your hardship. There are also lessons in leadership: Stay simple with a clear
message and an obvious achievable target. Leadership is sometimes helping
others succeed with your help but with no thought for reward or status. But
there are some life lessons too…
Co-ordination + communication = collaboration
and this beats the solo effort of individuals that just happen to be in the
same boat. Never underestimate your opponent. Decisions without data (or
experience) mean you give your rival a head start from which you may not get a
second chance.
You cannot win them all. However, provided the
ups outnumber the downs you’re a winner, even Darwin knows that. The only
certain way to lose is to not try.
A loss can make you humble, a win can make you
complacent, both may change your fortunes. But your ultimate success is not
about luck, it is about repeatedly doing simple things well.
Can you apply these lessons to coronavirus or
even your thinking? You may have a healthier and better life if you did.
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