The (add)ventures don’t stop at the end of the workday for our designer, Kylee. She is always exploring new ways to stay active. However, when she signed up for YMCA swimming ten years ago, she never would have imagined it would lead her to the adventurous world of cyclocross.

Need the low-down on cyclocross? Imagine off-roading for bikes…

We sat down with Kylee to learn more about her experiences and to our surprise, cyclocross and our approach have a lot in common.

Taking the first jump is the hardest part.

Even after attending a race as a spectator, Kylee still had some doubts about starting cyclocross. However, taking the risk and embracing vulnerability resulted in more confidence and a newfound love for the fitness activity.

In our line of work, ideas or projects that are the first of their kind can trigger similar hesitation. However, great successes can be attributed to going against the grain and pushing past those hesitations. Sometimes it’s necessary to take the jump, no matter how hard it may seem.

Deciphering a healthy risk from a reckless one.

Cyclocross courses are risky and pose many obstacles along the way. The muddy terrain and natural hurdles like boulders, logs and stone walls leave it up to the ‘crosser to make crucial decisions. When making these risky decisions, racers have to be mindful of how their choices will affect the other participants. One decision could change the fate of the race or even lead to a major injury.

Risk-taking in business is a double-edged sword. Our company culture and history are built upon risk-taking, but it is truly about taking the right risks. Just like in cyclocross, healthy risk-taking can lead to growth. A reckless risk not only negatively affects our success, but also the success of our clients.

The course can always change.

Cyclocross is a never-ending learning experience. Kylee could do the same race multiple times and there will always be different obstacles to overcome as a result of uncontrollable factors. Weather could make the course more muddy than usual or your bike could have a malfunction mid-race. It teaches you to be fluid and flexible.

There will always be external factors in any project that create unforeseen obstacles or changes. There may be a set strategy in place, but it is important to be flexible and ready to switch gears at any point in time. Here at (add)ventures, we learn from these experiences and use this knowledge to read our environment better and predict future challenges.

What have we learned?

Cyclocross isn’t easy, but it sure is rewarding. Breaking out of comfort zones, taking responsible risks and adapting to obstacles is necessary both inside the (add)ventures HQ and out.

Kylee said it best, “I’m not an inherent risk-taker and getting out of my comfort zone is, well, uncomfortable. But each time I do, I am grateful for the experiences.”

So, tighten your helmet, share the (add)venture and enjoy the journey.