Purpose
I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s important. Satisfaction, security, purpose, that sort of stuff.
I just started coaching pro downhiller Lisa Myklak. We’ve known each other about three years, and she’s one of my favorite people to ride with. She’s a great rider, and — more importantly — she has a lot of passion and fun. In the 2006 NMBS, Lisa finished third overall and the top American. Pretty cool!
This year she wants to rock the World Cups, and she asked for my help. 1) That’s a real compliment. 2) I’m excited to turn the knobs and make her even faster.
Today we did our second session. It was all about cornering. Not pinning it, but learning the basics that really make you rail. Lisa picked it all up quickly, and we both noticed immediate improvement.
In light of my divorce, I’ve been looking at various job opportunities. Work full time for a magazine, work full time for a bike company, work full time for a marketing agency, or keep doing what I’m doing — work for various clients, do leelikesbikes, publish ebooks, make a DVD and basically help people get more out of their riding.
Lisa and I were doing figure eights in a cul-de-sac, focusing on one of many micro-skills. I railed a hard, clean line that felt amazing. Lisa watched and emulated. She entered the turn, found her reference point, sunk into her outside pedal and — CLICK! Her bike carved a perfect arc. Her tires buzzed, and her hands just barely guided the bars. In that moment, one of the country’s best racers improved by a leap. Stoked!
When I got home, I received an email from KB, a 45-year-old who wants to buy a used mountain bike and get into shape. Responding to him brought a flutter to my heart and a tear to my eye. I remembered — no, I felt — how almost 20 years ago bikes changed my life, and how they gave me a new purpose.
Purpose.
Lee,
Do what you love!!! There is always good form bad and now you are free to do anything you want.
Yep, the way I see it, we have ideas about what we want to do, but the world has ideas about what it wants us to do, too. It’s a partnership. When I say ‘yes’ to something, and the world says ‘yes’ to that, too, then… BRAAAP!
Lee – I’m just stoked for you that you have so many different opportunities to “Do what you love”. You have the option to work for a BIKE magazine, a BIKE company, or Lee Likes BIKES. I’m confident that you’ll be happy doing any job as long as you allow yourself the time to do what you enjoy. After all, a job is a dang job, even if it’s something “cool” to start with.
What you do for work only defines you if you let it. I own a software company, but I consider myself to be a mountain biker more than I consider myself to be a computer geek. Thanks so much, Lee, for the constant inspiration and motivation!
-G
Lee-
It was a few years ago when you first launched this site, and I was still in school studying Journalism/PR. Not sure if you remember, but I asked you how you got where you were. Your response was something like, I pursued what I loved and never looked back.
Since then, your site has exploded, you have helped thousands of riders (including myself) and you continue to progress the sport.
Where ever you end up, you will make a difference and I wish you the best.
Lee,
I enjoy reading the site. I envy you in that you are one of a small percentage of people who get paid to do something they are passionate about. Sorry things have taken a difficult turn for you lately. Hang in there.
I have no idea where you stand spiritually, but let me just encourage you by saying Jesus loves you and God has a PLAN for your life! He is the Creator. He designed you and wrote the owner’s manual. He wants to bless you beyond what you can think or imagine. Any plan you can come up with just pales in comparison to what he would have for you. So if you haven’t already, seek Him. Ultimate fulfillment can only come when you find your purpose in Him.
mb
Lee,
Hang in there ! The best is yet to come.
I’m convinced that when things aren’t going right it’s simply the universe letting you know you’re not on track.
Look back in your life, hasnt every hardship lead to better things?
MB is totally right. Simply go and seek what you really want and it will happen.
Do what you love and you’ll never have to worry about “work.”
Mike
Lee
MB has it right; without Jesus you will never be truly happy or content with your life. Will life be easier? Probably not. Will it be fulfilling? Definitely.
It is a lot like your mountain bike book. You can ride and get by or you can read the book and change the way you ride. When you read the book, your riding goes to a whole new level. Works the same way with the Bible, it’s directions for life. The gospel of John is a great place to start.
Jim
Thanks guys.
Great point about the book.
So many riders think they can get better on their own. They refuse to accept a book or coaching. But those things help so much.
I guess I’ve always thought I could live without help. There are plenty of books, and lots of coaches. But I’ve been resisting The Book and The Coach …
Jim and MB couldn’t have said better Lee! 🙂 Everything will be OK!