Lance Armstrong is a seven time winner of the Tour de France and the founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Tour de France takes place over 25 days in the heat of July. It involves snow caped mountains and time trials that have riders traveling at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour. Lance was the team leader of team consisting of nine riders each with a specific skill set. As the team leader the other meembers used their skills to help Lance survive and succeed. Although the Tour de France has an individual, it is very much a team sport and great riders have often failed due to the weakness of their team. (Coyle, 2005)
As team leader, Lance led by example and worked as hard and harder than his teammates. This work ethic inspired the riders and built a mutual respect and a sense of loyalty that was critical to success. He was a teacher who through modeling has taught many other riders how to become elite and the best in the world. Lance taught them how to use their minds, their body, and most of all their heart. Today, many of the top riders in the world spent a part of their career learning under Lance and Lance's team manager; Johan Bruynell. This is critical because it is another example of how important it is to work together and understand how difficult it is to succeed alone over the long term.
In 1996 he established the Lance Armstong Foundation, a charity to aid the fight against cancer. Over the past decade it has become synonomous with the term "Livestrong". He has become a role model to millions fighting cancer and an inspiration to people who may only surivive with inspiration and a positive outlook. He was given a ten percent chance of survival with cancer throughout his body. In a miraculous journey that was governed by a strong will to live, a positive outloook, and a refusal to give up or give in, Lance overcame the odds and survived cancer. It si following this episode that he went on to win the Tour De France. As the title of his book indicates his life is about his victory over cancer and "It's not about the bike". (Jenkins, 2000)
Coyle, D. (2005). Lance Armstrong's war. New York: Harper Collins.
Jenkins, S. (2000). It's not about the bike. New York: Penguin Putnam.
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A friend of mine gave me a copy of "It's Not About the Bike" when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2005 (two months before our wedding). Consequently, Lance Armstrong and his book have had a serious impact on both my husband and myself because we were able to take Armstrong's message about the importance of attitude and apply it to our own situation. Even though my husband only had a 17% chance of survival, he is alive and healthy. He will be celebrating another cancer-free birthday tomorrow and his doctors and I agree that his attitude had as much to do with his success as his chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments. Lance Armstrong's life, his book, and his message to "Livestrong" have irreparably changed my life.
ReplyDeleteI felt compelled to comment on your choice of Lance Armstrong as a great leader. I have personally been very inspired by Lance, not only because of his unyielding fight to battle cancer, but because of his true competitive spirit and work ethic. I was absolutely humbled by Lance when he completed his first marathon (the New York City Marathon) in just under 3:00 (2:59 to be exact). I was humbled because this quintessential athlete who can climb the Alps and race for over three weeks on a bike, referred to his marathon experience as the toughest thing he had ever done. As a marathoner, my goal has always been to run sub 3:00. I haven't quite reached my goal, but I have run 3:01. Knowing that I could come so close to one of the greatest athletes of our time is quite humbling. I know what it takes to run a marathon well, but I will never know what it takes to ascend the Alps!
ReplyDeleteCharles, I must admit that I, along with the previous poster, read excerpts from "It's Not About the Bike." I was never truly a fan of Lance Armstrong's, especially after the accusations of doping became newsworthy. However, after reading sections of the book, I must admit to having some newfound respect for Armstrong. He has indeed overcome a great deal in his life. In many ways, he is a testament to hard work and perseverance. Your blog also enlightened me on a number of issues concerning this individual. I must admit that I stand corrected when it comes to Armstrong’s achievements and success.
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