What You Can Learn From A Difficult NYC Bike Ride

My first biking memory is being excited that my mom gave me a brand new red ten speed.  As I passed the police station on my first ride, I crashed straight into a red brick sign and destroyed the handle bars.

It wasn’t dissimilar from many other experiences falling on my head in gymnastics, several trips to the emergency room, and tearing a ligament jumping over an NYC puddle in 4 inch wedges.

I ALWAYS get back up - and for the most part laugh it off. Falls are both physical and mental. It is how you deal with them.

Here is what I learned about myself as an adult re-learning how to ride a bike with the clip-on shoes my boyfriend bought me promptly after I got my new Trek road bike.

It was time for my first bike ride with the new shoes to go over to his place in Astoria after work one day.

Area To Improve #1: Take Your Time

Of course I wanted to get there as quickly as possible or I may decide to take an Uber vs take on this challenge. I rushed to attach the cleats to my shoes.

Area To Improve #2: Ask For Help

If I took the time to ask for help at the bike shop that was on the way, I could have saved myself from a few bruises that day.

I walked my bike across the street to face the right direction and fell sideways literally within a few pedals.

A nice couple helps pull me up while my feet were still stuck to the pedals. When I am upright, I explain to them that it is my first time trying these shoes. We share a laugh as they had experience biking and proceed with guidance for ‘twisting’ out of the pedal before they set me free for the rest of the ride.

Area To Improve #3: Practice

I admit. I failed to listen to the guidance to practice. I only tried to remove my feet a handful of times. Apparently, that wasn’t enough. I was just ready to get going, so I did.

Strength #1: Open To New Adventures

On the side of strengths, I am not afraid to new adventures. I took on a new challenge even though I was scared.

I continue across Midtown with no issue until I had to stop at a red light on 8th Ave and 50th street. I gracefully fall over to the side promptly after I stopped.

The gentlemen on his bike next to me reaches his hand over to try to help me up unsuccessfully since I am glued to the pedals.

Another couple step in to help; however, when I tell them it is my first time using clip-on shoes, they just think I am crazy to learn in NYC rush hour.

Strength #2: Authenticity And Grace Defeats Judgement

I confirmed during the bike ride that I am definitely okay with being authentic - not phased by others judgement.  I truly looked silly each time I fell. I could have been embarrassed, concerned, or afraid to let others help me.

Strength #3: Plan B

I realize that I should be a bit more careful and could potentially hurt myself. I decide to leave one foot unclipped so I can put it down - and not fall. My plan b was successful for the rest of the bike ride across Midtown, along 2nd Avenue, over the Queensboro bridge and through Queens.  

I was excited and relieved to arrive at my destination -  frustrated, annoyed, and felt silly for having so much difficulty. On top of it all, I had to get back on the stupid bike in the morning before work and do it all over again.

After I share my horror story with my boyfriend and he looks at my shoes, I learn that I didn’t attach the cleats tightly enough so they just swiveled. Next time I try something new, I need to take my time, ask for help, and practice. Perhaps, then I will have a better first time experience.

Strength #4: Get Back On Your Feet

While I could have decided to ditch the whole effort after the first fall outside my apartment, a few bruises won’t stop me towards a goal.

I got back on my bike and rode the next morning with my boyfriend into the city. Even with my cleats on tight with his help, I continued to take a couple more falls that same week.

The scariest was the time I fell under a truck next to Central Park. Luckily, I got one foot out in time to get up on my own - with a doozy of a bruise on my bum.

That was one of several bruises that first week weaving in and out of traffic in the city. I was able to use the ‘roadkill’ bruises on my legs as an icebreaker in a product roadmap presentation.

Practice Pays Off

I am pleased to report that my continued practice has paid off. I successfully finished a century ride one month after I got the bike with only one fall. I still need to practice changing gears before tackling a big hill.

I rode across Iowa during Ragbrai last year which was over 400 miles in 6 days. No falls.

Finally, I completed the Timberman 70.3 half Ironman a few weeks later the summer of 2014. And, lucky for me, I didn’t fall or get a flat tire because I need to learn and practice how to change a tire. A race is NOT a time you can ask for help.

Thanks to my bike ride, I learned and confirmed some valuable things about myself.

Yours Truly,

The Pukka Panda

Learn Through Frequent First Time Experiences

There is something about the first experience that we don’t forget. Whether it is the first trophy, kiss, gymnastics competition, 'The First Time', or when we first learn what it feels like to be hurt - from peers, co-workers, someone we love… it shapes who we are as individuals…  The first time we experience something, we are the most vulnerable; hopefully open to learn and embrace the opportunities the world has to offer.

I personally love to try new things, embrace challenges, meet new friends, and welcome opportunities to learn and grow. Here are two recent events that remind me of the significance of first experiences.

Being Vulnerable

During a recent business trip to California, I watched ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ starring Audrey Hepburn - a personal fashion icon of mine. I am refreshed by her carefree attitude, authenticity, and positive outlook on life. She and her neighbor take a day of adventure in NYC to experience a day of ‘firsts’ - being vulnerable to both new things and about one another.  Wondering why I don’t do this more frequently, I texted my boyfriend the idea as soon as I landed…

To my surprise, Friday of that week, he planned an evening of first experiences for me in NYC; running 5 miles of interval training on a Friday evening (I typically like to run in the mornings…), walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (I had only biked), dinner at a new restaurant, and the top of the Empire State Building. I truly felt like a little kid in a candy store with the world to explore and learn - and luckily the world is a big place.

Times Square and Bryant Park from the top of The Empire State building

Tough or Rewarding - It Is Your Choice

I signed up for my first Tough Mudder a few weeks ago for Saturday, August 15th. I didn’t really know the details until I watched videos a few days later… I just expected some mud, monkey bars, ropes; however, the Electroshock Therapy 2.0 particularly worried me a bit. I was secretly hoping I would nail the Funkey Monkey 2.0 with my background as a certified child monkey.

As you can see on my face, the electric shock was not my favorite. At least it was the last obstacle. It was just a really weird feeling since you could feel it throughout your entire body.

Fast forward to past our team carpool from Brooklyn, Def Leppard jam on the school bus ride to the location, and coordinated ‘warm-up area’, it was finally our turn to be TOUGH! When we arrived at the start line, we were told to kneel down for a pep talk from Sean Corvelle, the MIC guy for Tough Mudder. During his speech, he emphasized the power of teamwork and positivity, shared Tough Mudder stories, and highlighted the importance of trying new things. 

I am pleased to report that I successfully completed the Funkey Monkey! The monkey bars were always my favorite on the playground. Even today, I become a kid again at any playground that has monkey bars or anything to climb.

Sean said, "Try to do something for the first time at least once a week."

Done! The Tough Mudder was not only a great first experience, I am now inspired to try take Sean’s advice.

Whether the first experience is tough or rewarding, I encourage you to be open and think positively. You have the choice to create your own adventure, learn from each challenge, and create endless opportunities for yourself and others.

I look forward to sharing new first experiences with you all. I would love to hear about your first experiences.

Yours Truly

The Pukka Panda

A Challenge Is Your Opportunity To Create A Winning Solution

I don’t accept no for an answer. There is always a way to find a solution to achieve the desired objective. Think differently. Ask the next question. While It may not be the easiest path, there is a a way to get where you need.

Fortunately, my life is filled with family, friends, and business leaders that have taught me you can achieve anything with the right approach. I am always up for a challenge, which is well known to those people… especially my mother when challenging me to cross the adult rings at the lake at age 6, to climb a tree, or recently to swing on a vine in Puerto Rico.

When there is a challenge to overcome...

I recently watched ‘Moneyball’ - a great story of challenges and the motivation to win. In ‘Moneyball’, they are challenged by the lowest budget for baseball. How do you win with no budget to buy the best players? After losing their top player, Billy, the General Manager pleads for additional money as his first approach. Being told ‘no’, he tries his next option to buy a sub-par player from another team. When Billy hears ‘no’ again influenced by a recent Yale Economics graduate, he takes the opportunity to dig deeper with this individual and learn more about why he won’t give up this player. Sold on this new method using analytics to redefine what makes a winning player, there is an opportunity to get the right team of players to win the game.

It is not about one player, it’s about the team...

Billy is motivated to create a winning team and hires the Yale graduate to help him find those players. While Billy is motivated, his initial method to execute on the new analytic approach is a failure - the team loses 15+ straight games with the three new players, while giving him a bad name. Billy was determined, yet was trying to win with a strategy in a vacuum of two people, without properly communicating the tactics to the rest of the team.

And leading through personal connection and individual motivation.

After a tarnished reputation from failure to deliver using the new technique, it hits Billy personally when his daughter expresses her fear of him losing his job and moving away. At that point, there was something that hit home and he became a leader.

Before, he was unattached to the players on the team - not riding on the plane with them or visiting them in the locker room. There was no personal connection. He was not being a leader.

Billy took the time to meet with each person individually, to understand them, to learn what they needed to feel motivated. Sure enough, the team wins the next 20 straight games to beat the record.

In the end, they did not win the World Series; however, Billy grew as an individual and learned what was important. He was offered the highest General Manager position and refused it to stay with his team. It wasn’t about the money, it was about how he felt - accomplished - appreciated. In the story, he made a difference in the game with other teams adopting the strategy in future years.

Whether you are on the giving or receiving end of ‘no’, use it as an opportunity to help provide an alternative solution or think differently to achieve the objective. I would love to hear your story about creating an opportunity out of a challenge.

Yours Truly,

The Pukka Panda

Compliment A Stranger Challenge - It's Free & Full of Smiles

Are you up for a challenge that requires you to pay attention to your surroundings, get outside of your work bubble, and look up from your smartphone?

Add one or two compliments to your daily activity to help brighten three days and beyond.

There is something different about a compliment from someone other than friends and family. It seems more genuine, it takes a bit of guts, and is just a great surprise.

Smile #1 Scenario: Complete Stranger - Give a compliment to a complete stranger each day. It makes your commute to and from work more enjoyable than playing 2048.

I was shopping the other day at one of my favorite places for jeans, GStar. Imagine that... As I was waiting for an Uber to return to Brooklyn, this gentlemen passes by on his bike, smiles, and says 'nice trousers'. I returned the smile and had a little giggle to myself about the word trouser which I don’t hear often.

5 minutes goes by... The same gentlemen passes by me on his bike, smiles, and again says 'nice trousers'. I return the smile for the second time. My Uber arrived so I am not sure if he would have passed by a third time. While he may not remember it, I still smile when I think of this interaction. That simple act of kindness produced 4 smiles on that day and continues to increase.

Smile #2 Scenario: Colleague - Give positive feedback or a compliment about work to a colleague with whom you don't typically interact.

While it is generally nice to provide compliments about style, positive feedback regarding his/her work is well received. About a year and a half ago, for a large conference, there was a colleague whom executed planning the event brilliantly. At that time, I had only a few interactions with her; however, I really thought she should hear of mine and others appreciation for making it simple. I sent a nice email to express that appreciation. In person is the ideal and likely most impactful.

Over the past year and a half, we have become close friends and frequently interact. About a month ago, she told me that she still remembers that email I sent. She shared about the planning experience and that I made her day! Guess what, she made my day, too - and the thought that a simple gesture can make someone smile and continue to bring smiles to our days, is amazing.

I would love to hear your stories about how you feel after giving or receiving compliments. Are you up for the challenge to help make our days brighter?

Yours Truly

the pukka panda