Missing the Trees for the Forest

I had a number of new experiences over the weekend of August 7, 2022 which I hope to never have again. Some tell me it was a rite of passage. Others tell me they feel my pain. But there is something for leaders to think about in all of this.

Let me explain.

On this day, my husband and I made plans for me to capture the Enduro World Series in the Whistler Bike Park. I was excited about this amazing opportunity. The plan was to take the gondola up to the Garbanzo zone and then ride down to a good location. On the way up though I was really tired and could barely keep my eyes open. But the excitement of getting to capture these talented riders was my only focus and I ignored my exhaustion and hit the trails.

I crashed on Blue Velvet just before the treehouse. I was told later I was unconscious for roughly 30 seconds and I still have no memory of falling off my bike, until I was standing off the trail talking with my husband and Mel from Bike Patrol. This is 30 minutes of my life, which only my husband can remember (poor guy!). Luckily, I was wearing recommended protective gear — my many bruises surrounded that gear (which makes me wonder if I need to exceed the recommendation).

I got a ride in an ATV down the mountain, a truck to the Whistler Health Care Centre where I spent the rest of my afternoon. I then got an ambulance ride to Lion Gates Hospital where I spent the night and next morning.

I received a number of CT scans, X-rays and an angiogram. The X-rays showed a chipped pelvic bone. The CT scans showed bleeding on the brain — but on the top of my brain and not the left side which my helmet showed.

My mother-in-law reminded me I had hit my head the night before on a fireplace mantle. That hurt like crazy but there was no blood, and I could still function so I thought nothing of it. The exhaustion I felt the next day should have been enough to stop me. But instead, I let the excitement of capturing the Enduro World Series drive my decision.

That’s what leaders do sometimes — we get so excited about the end point, we fail to notice the signs of failure along the way which would hamper getting to our end point. Or consider it missing the trees for the forest? 

Now one could argue my crash actually put me in the hands of many amazing medical professionals over the next 24 hours as brain bleeds can lead to an aneurysm. So maybe this was my body’s plan all along?

But what are you missing right now because you are so focused on the end point? Is it time to take a look?

Photo: William Semrau