I have a ‘one-tracked’ mind. In my teenage years, that used to mean what boys were obsessed with. Now, I am still single tracked – but on other things.

All around us, in nature, we see plants and animals survive in their own niche. From the orchids in the wet tropical forests to the cactus in the deserts. From the prawns that feed on the sea bed waste to eagles that pick out their live prey from the vastness of the sky above the plains.

Everything is specialised. But as humans, we try to do (and be good at) everything. Women are the worst because they want beauty, youth, career, motherhood, fame, fortune, glamour – all at the same time.

Le Tour begins soon and in it, we will see the specialist sprinters, climbers, escapees, time trialists and the team support domestiques. It is all about every rider finding and staying in their niche. You may ask “what about the GC rider?” Isn’t he an ‘all-rounder’?

Well, yes – but the GC rider specialises in the GC classification. That is his niche. He does not fight it out with the sprinters and climbers. Nor does he behave like a camel – loaded down with water bidons. For the GC rider, there is only one focus – time lost or gained.

Panic sets in when we feel overwhelmed, and the only reason we get into this overload situation is because we attempt to do too much at the same time. To be everything to everyone is un-natural. That is why it feels so bad.

A guy called Malcolm Gladwell ‘invented’ the 10,000 hr rule. His proposal was that if someone spent that many hours in their life on some endeavour, they will become experts at it. The emphasis is the time spent on a singular endeavour – not many concurrent activities.

The only reason that we are all born different is because there is only meant to be only one like us in this world. Therefore you are here just to do one thing. Don’t let all the worldly distractions tie you up in knots.