On the surface, the Tour de France doesn’t have much in common with an office job. Spending just over three weeks cycling from Dusseldorf, Germany to Paris is quite different than working in engineering or manufacturing, but there’s more similarities than you might think.
Premium Staffing, Inc. — one of the leading employment agencies in Chicago — recognized three major takeaways about hard work and dedication during the Tour de France that can benefit anyone.
Obstacles Are Meant to be Overcome
Chris Froome won the 2017 Tour de France, but training wasn’t all smooth sailing for the four-time champion. In May, while training near his Monte Carlo home, his bike was struck by a car, in what he claimed was an intentional move by an impatient driver. Luckily, he was okay, but his bike was totaled.
Like a true champion, Froome didn’t even allow the incident to derail his training for a day. He went home, got a spare bike and got right back to work. Clearly, his perseverance paid off.
Honest Wins are the Only Way to Go
During the fourth stage of the Tour de France, Peter Sagan caused a massive crash that got him disqualified from the race. Officials accused him of endangering several riders when he elbowed Mark Cavendish, causing him to smash into a cluster of metal safety barriers. Consequently, two other riders plowed into Cavendish, who was ultimately forced to withdraw from the race after breaking his shoulder blade during the collision.
Playing dirty won’t get you very far in life. Fair and square is the only way to win, so if you want to get to the top, commit to working your hardest.
Know When to Surrender
At the beginning of the Tour de France, Marcel Kittel was on fire. Seemingly a top contender for the title, he garnered five stage wins, before getting involved in a serious crash during stage 17. Not one to give up without a fight, he got a new bike and fought past other equipment challenges for another 60 kilometers, before determining his shoulder and knee were too damaged to continue the race. The decision was a devastating one for Kittel, but he was wise enough to put his health first.
Being dedicated to your work means looking out for the long-term, instead of just the right now. By dropping out of the race when he did, Kittel kept himself from doing permanent damage to his shoulder and knee that might’ve hindered his cycling career for good.
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