Red Bike Leader

take the training wheels off your leadership abilities

Archive for the ‘motivation’ Category

Yitta 2000

by Ryan Russell | March 4th, 2010 | Posted in motivation

When Yitta Schwartz died last month at 93, she left behind 15 children, more than 200 grandchildren and so many great- and great-great-grandchildren that, by her family’s count, she could claim perhaps 2,000 living descendants. – NY Times – Feb. 18, 2010 – read more

Holy Crap! Yitta was focused. Focused on life. Focused on her goals. Focused on her family. Focused on her legacy. Focused on her beliefs. Focused on her purpose.

Yitta Schwartz survived the holocaust.

She also endured the agony of having 18 natural births and then went on the ENJOY the challenge of raising 15 kids (read the story to make the math work) and nurturing the clan. Yitta went strong into her 90’s. There is so much to marvel at in connection with this woman. I am filled with so many questions from such a short story. Bottom line is that this woman is inspiration for every time I feel like giving up.

I Got Sold

by Ryan Russell | February 25th, 2010 | Posted in leadership, motivation

It doesn’t happen often that I get sold by an ad on TV. I am not ashamed to say that I find both of these commercials inspirational & motivational.

2 Degrees

by Ryan Russell | February 22nd, 2010 | Posted in basics, motivation

2 degrees can make a huge difference in your performance. I speak from experience as I have been training in Seattle this winter. The first triathlon on the schedule for the season comes in late March. This equates to running and biking outside NOW, because, of course, the miles have to be put in. Having lived in AZ for 20 years, I never thought I would be able to mark an important difference between 48 and 50 degrees.

I can now say with experience that those 2 degrees can make a HUGE difference in performance. It can be the difference between staying indoors and getting out there putting in those much needed base miles.  It can be the difference between getting by and excelling. Ultimately it can lead to the difference between success and failure.

The more I thought about it on my last 48 degree training ride, 2 degrees can have a HUGE impact in leadership too. It represents a small but important gap between yourself and everyone else.
- attitude
- budget margin
- risk allowance
- wisdom
- education & information
- motivation

Often times we are inclined to think that gap between the uber-successful and ourselves is tremendous, when in all reality it is almost always a matter of 2 degrees. The challenge, identify areas in your preparation and in your leadership to improve the conditions by just 2 degrees. Ultimately, the small improvements in key areas will lead to more wins.

[I wrote this for www.SummerTreks.com - I look forward to seeing their venture take off.]

Grad School Rant

by Ryan Russell | February 17th, 2010 | Posted in leadership, motivation

So here it is… my graduate school rant. I know some of you have been waiting for me to post my feelings in public so others can get a taste of the pain you have had to go through as my friend.

What good is graduate school when you are uncertain about your future and the exact details of your next job?

Jack-shit.

OK, I said that for effect. (Sorry mom.)

It’s possible it’s just the individuals I meet, but I can’t figure out what is going on out there. Why do so many people run back to get more schooling as a primary next step career option? It is most concerning when they aren’t even sure how it will move them forward in their careers. DON’T GO GET YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE UNLESS you can not get into the job you really want without it. Plus, BE SURE you already possess the prerequisite experience & education for that job. Don’t give me the “it will just make me better” crap excuse… You can be better without it AND stay out of debt AND have more time to actually pursue your goals.

Next Post = My alternatives to graduate school for those who are thinking about going BUT have no idea about how it will get you forward towards actual life goals.

BONUS = The basic math …. I really hope you have a very nice job upgrade waiting for you on the other side. FYI – Grad school does NOT pay for itself if you want to teach, do social work or be an upgraded pastor. You have to be in those careers because your heart is in them.

Loan Balance:$60,000.00

Loan Interest Rate:6.80%

Loan Term:10 years

Monthly Loan Payment:$690.48

Number of Payments:120

Cumulative Payments:$82,857.94

Total Interest Paid:$22,857.94

Death to the cynic

by Landon Anderson | February 1st, 2010 | Posted in leadership, motivation

“To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I’ll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask of you is one thing: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism – it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien

I will miss the Conan O’Brien version of the Tonight Show. Personally I think he is a lot funnier than Leno or Letterman. His final show last week Friday was awesome and finished well. I have been stuck on his words of encouragement before joining Will Ferrell for a hilarious version of Free Bird to end the show.

I do not understand why I tend to be so cynical. There are obvious factors such as my relatively young age, being an American, and growing up having a lot of things. But why I choose at times to take a bitter, pessimistic outlook on situations, people, and things must mainly come because I choose to be a cynic. That choice, like the choice for many people, comes from not getting everything I think I should get. This is more then just stuff. It includes opportunities, experiences, and “good luck.” For whatever reason, when denied anything I feel like I am deserved it leads to adding more bitterness to my life.

From one young leader to all you others out there, I see the opportunity lead from a place of hope and out of a desire to make positive change. The challenge I must overcome is my bent towards cynicism. I strive to lead like Conan with optimism, humor and direction.

Moving towards ‘it’

by Ryan Russell | December 9th, 2009 | Posted in motivation

Every leader wants to be doing ‘it’.

Problem = finding ‘it’, being passionate about ‘it’, being able to do ‘it’ right now, or being hired for ‘it’.

‘it’ can be allusive.

Sometimes ‘it’ is out there in the future a little bit further from where you are today. Don’t get discouraged. Just keep working towards ‘it’. Do things that build towards ‘it’. Make sure that your next career steps are taking you in the direction of ‘it’. Be reading and learning about ‘it’. Network with people who do ‘it’ or something along the lines of ‘it’ or are associated with ‘it’. Get a mentor that can help you prepare for ‘it’. Apply for internships that give you a taste of ‘it’. Don’t let go of your dreams about ‘it’. Don’t compromise and settle for something less than ‘it’. Take encouragement knowing that even the best leaders have periods in their lives when they aren’t doing ‘it’ right now, but that they have had transitionary seasons and jobs that moved them closer to ‘it’

Keep pursuing ‘it’… you can get to do ‘it’ if you don’t give up.

Polarizing & Powerful Women Leaders

by Ryan Russell | November 23rd, 2009 | Posted in leadership, motivation

Watched Palin on Oprah.

Fascinating.

Like them or not, both women have got the leadership ‘it’. Both are driven, opinionated, strong, directional and visionary —- don’t get in their way. They each have an expansive audience. Obviously one can buy the other one 100x over. I thought Palin showed remarkable courage and insight by making her first interview on Oprah, and not just because it will sell her more books. Let’s be fair, Oprah gained by having the Palin exclusive and also by getting the Katie Couric rift flaired back up… in the end it makes Oprah look better than Katie. (But I digress).

Here is the take away: If you are a young leader, look for inspirational people like these and learn from them. Read their books. Watched their shows. Figure out what makes them tick. Look into their leadership development journey… where did they go to school? what did they major in? what are key decisions in the past? Not so you can be like them BUT so that you can be energized by them to pursue your goals, dreams and visions. Stoke your leadership fire.

Chills of Great Leadership

by Ryan Russell | October 7th, 2009 | Posted in leadership, motivation

It is 2 days after the big showdown between Brett Favre and his old team and I am still basking in the glory of his performance and leadership. For the record, I am not a huge football fan. I wasn’t even a Favre ‘fan’ until recently. It is always easy to root for someone like Favre or Jordan when they are at the height of their careers, but as soon as their  greatness starts to wear off just a touch you find way too many people piling on the bandwagon that they need to hang it up and make room for the youngsters. I wholeheartedly disagree… and not because I am getting older.

Here’s the thing about GREAT leaders… they worked their asses off to be GREAT. Sure, they might have some natural talent that adds to their greatness, but no body is accidently great. Young leaders need to know this. Young leaders need to work towards this. Young leaders need to strive for this.

Monday night Brett was driven. You could see that he was determined. His new team was behind him. I had literal chills of excitement that came from the controlled leadership and the raw moxy he displayed during this big game. He wouldn’t say it directly, but you know he wanted that victory just a little more than anyone else. It was fantastic. I wanna follow people like that. Don’t you? Don’t you wanna be that guy or gal that rallies a team to do the improbable? Don’t you want to develop your leadership to the point were real, life changing things occur with the people you are leading?

Study it. Dream about it. Envision it. Work for it. Be determined to go after it. Work you ass of to be the next GREAT leader in your environment, city, profession, area of study.

Look alive 35!

by Ryan Russell | May 21st, 2009 | Posted in motivation

“Look alive 35!”

That was a lot to process as the lady ran past me on mile 5 of the triathlon. First, I just got passed by a lady… again (which I am getting very accustomed to as there are many amazing female athletes that are putting me in my place). Second, her pace was amazing and it alone inspired me to push beyond what I thought I had left in reserve. Third, she just read my age and produced a quippy little rhyme under the pressure of time, fatigue and mental strain… I can’t rhyme on a very good day with all conditions being ideal.

More than anything though, her attitude inspired me. It cost her absolutely NOTHING to be the most standout athlete that I encountered over the course of almost 3 hours of competition. I wish I had the wherewithal to keep up with her through the finish and get her name OR even be able to just recognize her again if I saw her. Her simple words, tone and approach brought out of me something more than what I was giving before she came along. In fact, it was so inspiring that it didn’t even bother me that she just passed me and was definitely going to finish in front of me. I kicked it up to the finish line. How could I not?

Every day it costs me absolutely $0 to put forth a great attitude and exceptional energy. The only thing I need fight are my lazy tendencies to act & respond as I desire or as I feel. As a leader and as a person I want to be the caliber of individual that brings out the best in others at all moments. So… here’s to looking alive and bringing an attitude to the table that inspires, encourages, motivates and lifts up. Here’s to being the most uplifting and memorable person in the meeting, difficult situation and at the dinner table.