I don’t often compare myself to Joseph Stalin, but occasionally I feel I must. In 1928 Stalin instituted the first five-year plan for developing the Soviet economy. He set tractor production targets and launched a propaganda offensive to encourage the workers. The five-year plan was completed in four years. It was at a considerable human cost, but very little of that was to Uncle Joe himself. Every subsequent five-year plan had to be completed in four years, or he literally had people shot.
I have a regular two-hour training ride. It takes about an hour and fifty minutes. I might not have myself shot if it took two hours to do it, but I’d certainly be a little ashamed of myself.
