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Issue Date: March 23, 2008
A new spin on success
Bicycling's a great workout and can help build your career network. Top business guru Stephen Covey helps you wheel and deal.
When it comes to executives and networking, is cycling the "new golf"? Many successful people are pedaling -- instead of "driving" on the golf course -- to develop strong professional social circles. Where I live, in bike-friendly Provo, Utah, a number of people will go out for a ride and, during a break, exchange ideas and business cards. Plus, more than four in 10 cyclists have a household income greater than $75,000, and nearly one-quarter of them make more than $100,000 per household, says the National Sporting Goods Association.
More than four in 10 cyclists have a household income greater than $75,000 per year.
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Movers and shakers enjoy mixing business and biking for a variety of reasons. Vistage International, a global 14,000-member organization for CEOs that is based in San Diego, uses cycling regularly as a popular social activity so top bosses can get acquainted in an active, informal manner. Rob McGovern, CEO of Jobfox, the McLean, Va.-based career website, is among the many in pursuit of connections on the bike path. "Golf just doesn't work," he says. "It's slow and sedentary. Besides, who has five or six hours in a day to network? Think of it as having all the social aspects of golf, but while wearing spandex and going 20 mph with a heart rate of 150 beats per minute."
Tom Evans, of Morey Evans Advertising in Denver, has added doctors, attorneys and businesspeople into his social network, thanks to cycling. "I don't ride for this reason," he says. "But going on rides -- like a salesman prospecting for business -- can build business relationships and increase mutual affinity."
Overall, I see this wheeling and dealing in a positive light. Cycling is healthier than golf -- and a sound body makes for a sound mind, which translates to better performance in the office. So, go ahead and saddle up.
Contributing Editor Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" has sold more than 15 million copiesand has been translated into 38 languages.
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Ride right
Know when to schmooze. That's before or after, not during, the action. Sure, some execs may enjoy business-flavored chat while going 20 or 30 mph, but many want to achieve a goal first and talk later.
Gauge your skills. Connect with a group thatcomplements your professional interests and matches your skill level. A cyclist who looks weak on wheels might be judged as weak in the boardroom.
Be accountable. Show upon time with equipment that's in good working condition. If you hold up the action, you could come across as unreliable.
Love it. If cycling isn't your thing and you're doing it strictly for professional advancement,it will be obvious before long,and your effort could have anegative effect.
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