Post by Felix Hanisch

Yesterday we had Lukas Kaufmann, extreme cyclist, visit us in #Muttenz for a great talk about #WinningAsATeam! Lukas, two-time finisher of the #RaceAcrossAmerica #RAM 🚴‍♂️, very nicely shared what it takes to master a 5000km race from the Westcoast to the Eastcoast of the U.S.A., crossing deserts at 40+ degC, two mountain ranges and enduring straight highways for 45 km while having only about an hour sleep a day for nine days in a row. I was really impressed – of course – by this huge achievement and his casual way to talk about it, but also how well his experiences and learnings can be mapped to our challenges and strengths as #TeamMuttenz: ➡️ Go the extra mile – literally and figuratively - Especially in times of crisis you can excel and differentiate yourself from others. - His example: finding sponsors in COVID times – when all races were called off, being creative, initiating a personal endurance race 24 hours around a local lake gave him – and his sponsors – much media attention, when others were just waiting for COVID to pass. 👉 Focus on what you can influence - When you ride your bike almost 24/7 across a continent, you could worry about A LOT! But if you do, you get lost and discouraged. AND you cannot influence the strom that might hit you in 200 miles anyways. So prepare diligently and focus on the now – riding the bike, providing your body with enough calories and water. - We, too, are faced with al lot of outside noise – daily changing tariff schemes, political turmoil, projects coming and going. But we can focus on #DeliveringChemistryWithPassion and do our part! 🧑‍🤝‍🧑👫 Empower the Team - Lukas so nicely said: “I had the easiest job – I only needed to ride my bike!” But it was the team of 18 people around and behind him that allowed him to do that. Organize everything, protect him from traffic, keep him informed and nourished, even deciding when to sleep for how long. - And perfectly fitting to Bayer’s #DynamicSharedOwnership: Not he or the team lead made all the calls, but he always asks the team to take ownership, embracing their ideas and creativity. And, of course, after the talk we couldn't miss the opportunity to have Lukas join our 🚵‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚵‍♂️ #MuttenzCyclingGroup! Thanks Lukas Kaufmann and thanks Fabian Rodler for the idea and organization!