Doing hard things shapes us. The hard things teach us about ourselves and the world around us. They transform us into a fuller version of ourselves. And ultimately, doing hard things can make an impact in the lives of others.
I recently finished an eight day, 1,000 mile bike ride around Lake Michigan. It was painful, overwhelming, and absolutely incredible. Each day brought its own set of challenges that sometimes ground me to a halt. But each day also brought new triumphs and moments of elation that can only be found on the other side of struggle.
Undertaking this journey taught me lessons that shed new light on life, work, and even the credit union movement. Please join me in this story as I share some of my reflections with you.
Miles
It may sound selfish to say that I did this ride for myself. Riding 130 miles a day was not a leisurely cruise but more of a grueling, long-distance endurance race. The purpose of a physical challenge is often deep and personal, like taking on a monumental challenge that can only be accomplished with training and force of will. For me, the 8-day sequence of ultracenturies was way outside my comfort zone. But that was the whole point. My WHY. I wanted to find that limit where my thoughts would begin to waver, sending me every message of fear and catastrophe, because I knew there was something on the other side. A hidden oasis of personal strength and confidence that can only be revealed by doing the hard thing.
I love sharing stories of my adventures, because I want to invite others to consider what may lay ahead for them. Ultimately, we are all tied together as family, friends, community, and society. My wife inspires me and I hope to inspire my teenagers. I love to spark a little inspiration in the many friends and connections who follow the story. Hopefully it leads to “Hmmm, what could be my next adventure?” Each of us is different and you may not like bikes. But you have a God-given calling like all of us and that quiet voice will often lead us to dream about what’s possible. The joie de vivre is about tapping into that dream, taking the leap of faith, and doing the thing that you never thought you could do.
Mindset
As I rode my bike, I couldn’t help but think about the parallels to work. Too often we compartmentalize work and fun, like separating 9-to-5 and the weekend. I like a relaxing Saturday as much as anyone, but I also want to view work as part of my adventure. I want to stretch myself, try new things, fail, and learn how to do even more. When we view work as a sequence of tasks to be completed, we lose that sense of excitement that can only be found outside the comfort zone. My bike ride was both physical and mental. By learning how to calm my mind during the moments of fear, I learned how to focus my intention and execution. There are so many professional benefits because I have developed a set of skills and personal confidence that will help me reach new levels in my work.
Credit unions will always face a tension between excitement and fear. There is widespread interest in new opportunities that come with emerging innovation, like AI and stablecoins. I love that about the credit union movement. However, there is also widespread fear about all the things that could go wrong. The challenge is to manage the fear. Although there is a healthy form of fear around any new venture, we can never let fear drive. It must be acknowledged, given its opportunity to be heard, and then we must press on. On to the next hill and further down the road. That’s why adventure is so closely tied to entrepreneurial thinking. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Mission
One of the coolest elements of the ride was our fundraiser for the Michigan Credit Union Foundation. We raised $25,000. Seriously!! Our original goal was $3K and we passed that before I left my garage. I feel so good about how this trip drew attention to the important community initiatives of the credit union movement like financial empowerment. The fundraiser was a great call to action for those who were inspired by the ride and wanted to be part of it. This magnified the purpose by making it bigger than any of us individually.
So many amazing organizations stepped up in the fundraising. Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU) was the original sponsor, launching the campaign with a matching grant that gave us early momentum. I met their team in Grand Haven. Team One Credit Union supported the ride and gave me personal encouragement in Traverse City. In Whitehall, the leaders of HarborLight Credit Union welcomed me with open arms. At the end of my longest day, I shared firewood and laughter around a campfire with Scott McFarland, CEO of Honor Credit Union, and his wife. That night reminded me why credit unions are different. People helping people. Other major sponsors included Genisys Credit Union, MSU Federal Credit Union, Michigan Business Connection, and Vibe Credit Union. To all of you, thank you for your generosity. 🌟
The open road
What’s next? For me or you? For the movement?
I’m already dreaming about a ride in 2026. I’m thinking about something from the US into Canada, maybe along the Atlantic seaboard into Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Adventure is out there.
If you’ve been inspired by my trip, I hope you will consider what’s next in your own personal and professional adventures. Maybe it’s getting outside or maybe it’s starting a new project at work. My goal is to inspire that innovative spark in the credit union movement to always be asking the question, “What’s next?” 🚀
Keep on dreaming and keep on doing the hard things. The best is yet to come. I look forward to seeing you out there on the open road. 🙏
Special thanks: Lake Michigan Credit Union, Honor Credit Union, Team One Credit Union, Genisys Credit Union, MSU Federal Credit Union, Michigan Business Connection, Vibe Credit Union
