This past summer, what started as a simple bike ride turned into a lesson I didn’t see coming.
I had just dropped my car off at the mechanic. Since the shop wasn’t far from home, I figured I’d bike back—just a quick 15-minute ride. The only issue? I wasn’t exactly sure which streets to take. So I pulled up Google Maps and let the voice guide me.
After a few turns, though, I could tell something was off. It felt like I was riding in circles through an unfamiliar neighborhood. My confidence started to dip. So while still riding, I made the mistake of pulling out my phone to manually check the route.
Phone in my dominant hand… steering with my left… heading downhill. Fast.
When I realized I needed to slow down, I instinctively pulled the left brake—which controls the front wheel. Bad move on a hill. The wheel locked, I flipped forward, and slammed onto the pavement. I braced the fall with my hands and ended up fracturing my wrist. I wore a cast for weeks afterward as a reminder of that moment.
Looking back, the lesson is crystal clear:
I should have stopped.
Instead of coasting forward distracted, I should have pulled over, reviewed the route, and then continued when it was safe.
And isn’t that a picture of how we sometimes move in business?
We keep pushing ahead even when we’re unsure of where we’re going. Whether it’s a marketing campaign, a launch, a deal, or a new idea—it’s easy to keep pouring energy into something that’s clearly not working. But maturity isn’t in the grind; it’s in knowing when to pause, reevaluate, and reset.
Stopping isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
If the numbers say the ad campaign isn’t converting—stop.
If the deal doesn’t make sense—pause.
If you’re overwhelmed and confused—don’t just keep pressing. Slow down. Seek direction.
Proverbs 19:2 (CSB) says, “Even zeal is not good without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily sins.” Enthusiasm is good, but without understanding it can cause damage. That’s exactly what happened to me on that bike. I had momentum—but no clarity.
And yet, even in the fall, God’s grace met me. No concussion. No broken phone. No traffic in the street. It could’ve been far worse. But God was merciful. Even when we make a mess, He cushions the blow.
So here’s your reminder today: Don’t mistake movement for progress. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do as a leader, investor, parent, or entrepreneur… is stop.
Get clarity.
Get direction.
Then move with purpose.
