A Vehicle for Progress

I love my bike. I’m an avid cyclist and I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend involved in the sport. For me, the opportunity to experience the outdoors, its scenery and air, are a wonderful way to unload concerns. I look forward to the physical investment in cycling. Over the past few years I’ve logged over 9,000 miles on that bike. It’s a great form of exercise that I intend to maintain for the rest of my life.

But bikes are more than sporting gear. They are vehicles for progress. They are modes of transportation. One can use a bike to get from point A to point B. In fact, in most places around the world, that’s exactly how bicycles are used; for progress.

Part of my venture into cycling has been to understand that the best bike to ride is the one that fits you best. Sure, there are different bikes for different styles of riding. But the biggest revelation to the cycling newcomer is that there are different sizes of frames for different sizes of people. Far beyond the ‘off the rack’ bike of the typical department store, specialized bike shops offer numerous sizes of bikes to very closely fit the individual rider. In fact, those with plenty of money, and the desire to spend it, can be measured and uniquely fit for a custom-made bike. The reach to the bars, the angle of the fork, the stand-over height; every detail is created exactly for that owner.

Why?

Because cyclists know that the most successful cyclist is the one who rides a bike best fit for him. Cycling comfort and achievement is directly proportional to riding a bike that fits the rider. Even the most talented, able or gifted athlete will not meet her full potential as a cyclist if she is not correctly fitted to her bike. The rider will not progress as far or as fast if riding a bike that doesn’t fit his frame. The success of the rider is connected to the fit of the bike.

Organizations are also tools for progress. They exist to take their constituents from point A to point B. Assuming that all the participants know where point B is, they still can not be effective in reaching their destination if their organization does not fit them properly. The most effective group, the one that readily and often meets its goals and gets to its destination, is the one whose organization fits its size.

A transportation company that is just getting started with two small client contracts doesn’t need a fleet of 25 trucks and a logistics program to service thousands of monthly deliveries. That level of organization wouldn’t fit the size of the business. Likewise, a food service company serving a 2,000 bed hospital will not be successful with two residential grade ovens and three employees. This business is much too big for that scale of organization.

Here’s the bottom line. Organization is distinct from the business just as the bicycle is distinct from the rider. Organizations, like bicycles are merely vehicles for progress. If a business, or a group, or a church, is going to continue to operate successfully, it must continue to allow its organization to grow accordingly. While the business, church or group might be a wonderful, healthy, even God-ordained entity, it will not achieve its greatest success unless it is correctly fit to the proper organizational structure. The success of the business is connected to the fit of the organization. Thus, businesses must be willing to reorganize as the scale of business or ministry demands.