How To Manage Pitstops On Your Route
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Have you ever thought about pitstops? Like the one we see in formula one. That's what I'm aiming to explore today. How can we use this knowledge in our everyday life?
If you like to watch Formula One, for example, you would have noticed that there is a need for Pitstop. Now, the race organizers try to make services at each stop as efficient as possible. So, these pit stops have evolved over time. I read a bit of history that... many, many years ago, there used to be a lollipop man that would ‘signpost’ the race contestants. And when the contestants see this sign, they pull over. If you watched a game now, you’ll see that these pitstops have efficiently evolved.
In fact, I read an interesting article where a particular Children's hospital benchmarked the processes involved in Pitstop to see how they can use it to improve the movement of patients in that hospital from when they are moving from surgery or operations to when they are recovering in ICU.
They aim for this because there's so much efficiency in Pitstop these days. It takes seconds sometimes. This is because there are a lot of people involved. And so, this Children's hospital was able to improve their processes when they collaborated with formula one.
Anyway, that's why I find it very interesting that we can actually apply it to our everyday life. The issue is not whether there should be a pitstop in these races. The issue rather, is more of a "how do we make efficient use of time during this stop?" The race organizers ask this so that the race contestants can get back on track as soon as possible.
So, if we understand this, then we must know that there would be pitstops on our life journeys as well. We all know we are on different journeys, right? So, if you are on a journey, there is bound to be some form of refuel, if you like. You must make some stop…you have to get serviced…you have to prepare for the journey ahead.
So, what's a pit stop? In the earlier example, the race contestants stop at a pitstop to change tires, to refuel, to make sure that they are able to continue the journey. Now, it's a wide area but I would just try to be as brief as can be possible. Pitstops are more valuable when they are planned… when they are strategic. For example, there's a possibility that a race contestant can actually stop at the pit, and be ready to move on after being serviced, but he's not able to move on because there's another contestant in front of him. If he tries to go back to the race, he may just start an accident. He may bump into that other contestant. That's why it's very important to be strategic in how we stop on our journey.
In terms of practicality, how does this apply? For example, if you're a worker, you can look at this in terms of your vacation. It goes along the lines of- "Have you planned your vacation?" Have you discussed it with your boss, for example? Do you have a plan? And note that your personal plan should cascade into your professional plan. So, when you're planning, your year doesn't have to be the calendar year. It could be from August to the next July. It could be from November to October. The most important thing is picking a time that works for you. It's whatever works for you and then have a plan.
Now, life happens. Things may not go along with your plan, but at least you have that plan. It makes you to be structured. At least when you want to speak to somebody, you have a blueprint that can help. That is being strategic, that is being intentional. And remember we're talking about pitstop.
Another way we can look at pitstop on our journey is by taking time out for wellness, taking time out for retreats, for rest. It doesn't even have to be a vacation. Taking time out for exercise, for sleep, for doing nothing. Those are pitstops and we need them. Because when I was researching this pitstop, I read that the drivers that do plan their pitstop and do actually have one, have a better chance and they, in fact, they have proven to be more successful at the race than the people that thought they could just do the race without a stop.
So, we have got to plan our pitstop and if you stay on your journey then you won't miss your pitstop. Chances are if you are running another person's race... if you are not true to your race, if you're not on your route, for example, if you're not on your journey, how are you even going to see the pitstops? Because remember that the driver alone cannot fulfil that pitstop all by himself. He needs a team. So, imagine if the driver was not in the race or he was in another race. His team which is supposed to be handling his servicing and refueling would be waiting for him in the garage/various pits where he was supposed to stop.
But he wasn't on that journey. He was on another journey. So, it's very important - stay on your route. Stay on your journey, and then plan your stops appropriately. So that you can stay true to your race... so you can have a successful journey.
I do hope there is an opportunity to explore this in more detail at some other time in the future. But for now, I sincerely hope that you've been able to pick one or two things in terms of applying the principles of pitstop in our daily lives.
Worry can weigh a person down, but an encouraging word cheers a person up. 'Cornish’s Cheer' hopes to be an encouragement to people who are under pressure, feel lonely, discouraged, or rejected. I hope these writings impart cheer, and hope and help you flourish with patience, love, and sincerity. Be encouraged and cheered. Also, practice 'speaking' positive affirmations, which can be a powerful tool to help boost confidence.
Nothing in this blog is intended to serve as life, career, health, or financial advice. Do your own research.