When our cyclist became fixated on the podium, on the medals, the glory, their performance suffers. He paused, taking a slow sip. It's a subtle shift, but it's profound. The podium exists in the future, a place beyond our immediate control. The more they obsess over standing on that podium and winning that medal, the less attention I pay to the one thing that actually matters: the present moment. The rotation of the pedals beneath them.
He leaned in closer, his gaze steady and earnest, his voice carrying the weight of heart and wisdom. So we changed our approach. We told them to forget about the podium and focus entirely on the pedals: each rotation, each breath, each muscle contraction. This is why success is truly forged at the podium. It resonated with me so deeply—the simplicity of focus on the immediate, tangible, now. It was a lesson that transcends cycling, one that can be applied to any endeavour pursued by any of us in any of our lives. Back in the car, my friend continued to explain his fears and uncertainties. The echo of Sir David's insight seemed more relevant than ever. So I turned to my friend, offering a small smile of reassurance, and I said, "Don't worry about the podium, focus on the pedals."
“Don’t worry about the podium. Focus on the pedals.”
I heard this on a podcast recently — Sir David Brailsford talking about GB Cycling.
The athlete had become consumed by the idea of standing on the podium — the medal, the recognition, the win. But in chasing that image, their performance dipped. The pressure of the outcome took them out of the present. Sir Dave gently redirected their focus: not to the future, but to the moment. To the pedals beneath them. Each breath. Each push. That’s where real success lives.
This is relevant for sport, for life, for work, for leadership.
At numi, we talk a lot about ambition, growth, goals. But this was a reminder that the real magic doesn’t happen at the finish line. It happens in the middle — in the effort, in the rhythm, in the consistency of showing up, again and again.
The people I admire most aren’t fixated on “deals” but the quiet dedication that creates lasting impact.
You might be building a company, interviewing for a new job, on route to a promotion.
It isn’t the podium you should be chasing.
Instead, focus on the pedals.
One rotation at a time.