Cycling was the easy part of the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge.

And I mean that seriously, because the project involved many aspects that were much more difficult to manage. Training is a clear component - you follow a training plan. But there were challenges for which there was no prescribed plan:

Someone wanted to take the project out of my hands: "Moni, just ride your bike. I'll do everything else," I was told. But I knew that my mission would have been completely lost.
Throughout the project, I had to deal with internal and external conflicts of interest. Every manager knows how much energy that takes. I was happy when I was on my bike and could just ride.
It was very important to me to build a team that was 100% behind the project. However, this also meant having the "right" people in the team. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to one person a week before the launch. Tough decisions, because this is about people.

Whether it's a cycling challenge or a business, every project has many complex tasks and interactions that often make the goal seem unattainable. As a manager, you are challenged on several levels that are often invisible to many.

I loved this 124 Swiss Passes project and gained valuable experience, even though it was very tough. Standing up for yourself as a leader, motivating and strengthening the team, making tough decisions and still having fun - all under difficult conditions. It's not just 124 "physical" mountains that I talk about in my presentations and share the valuable lessons.