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Choices.

Updated: Feb 27, 2019


We are faced with thousands of choices everyday. Choices about food, activities, plans, purchases and goals. Carefully weighing the costs and benefits of our options, we make a decision. This process continues on a loop day in and day out. But how often do we truly step back and analyze the decisions we make, and things that we do? My dad would argue not enough. It is human nature to settle into a routine and form habits that can be difficult to change. Recently, my dad decided to challenge this and made a series of decisions that have completely altered his life. All of which started with one simple question, "What the hell am I waiting for?" For those of you just starting to follow his journey, you may be lost as to what choice I’m referring to. At the young (you’re welcome dad) age of 54 my dad decided to stop pushing off his dreams and start living them.

His first decision: I want to love my job!

Bye Bye Financial Analyst and hello building bicycles in his brand new workshop! After 30 years in corporate America Freeman was a free man. What kept him from doing this sooner? The hierarchy of needs demonstrates that traditionally, people are far more motivated to take care of lower level needs (food, water, sleep) and lose sight of higher level needs (achievement, confidence, creativity, spontaneity). Like most people would, my dad put providing for his family and having a successful career first. With all three of his kids off to college, that was no longer going to drive his decisions. This change inspired more, and following a successful knee surgery, he set his sights on his next goal.

Second decision: I am going to bike across America!

To most this would seem crazy, but not to my dad. Riding across America has been a dream of his for as long as I can remember. The push to finally go after this dream was impacted by many different factors and influences.




The Decision Making Process:

  1. The Value Equation:

First, he had to change the order of things he valued and address how easily the true value of something can be clouded. For most people, things like time, lost opportunity, and effort are highlighted as important “costs” in the decision making process. It is easy to lose sight of the true value when distracted by costs or the negatives that come along with making a decision. To overcome this, my dad asked himself where he would be, what he would be doing if there were no constraints or costs. The answer came quickly: On a bike.


Recently, my dad shared a new favorite quote he felt encompassed his mindset going into this ride.

"Let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is lost"

It was time to start living life exactly as he wanted, traditional or not. This way of thinking has made it possible for my dad to live out his dreams, and enjoy every single second of it.


2. The Time is Now:


Not only did Freeman change the way he valued experiences, but he was also influenced by situational factors such as time, environment, and conditions. Prior to his career change, there was always a reason not to schedule out the time to train and complete this journey. After making the decision to exit corporate America, it seemed he was in the right place at the right time to begin the journey of a lifetime. He had the time, was in the right environment with all the support in the world, and now just had to be in the right condition. This began with recovering from knee surgery and training to ride over 3000 miles all in only 8 months time. This process pushed physical and mental barriers, but he did it. In the best shape of his life and with the support of friends and family, he set off to bike across America.

 

His life on the road is entirely different than the one he normally lives. Every decision he makes is influenced by the lifestyle of the road. He eats when he finds food, rests only when he can't ride another foot, and sleeps when he has reached his destination. This means that somedays, he goes an entire day (almost 74 miles!) on trail mix and water, and other days he has to grab any snacks he can find just to keep himself moving.

Not all bad! He claims this was the best ice cream sandwich he has ever had!

Through every obstacle, I am amazed with his positive attitude and resiliency. If you are wondering just what some of these obstacles have been so far (only 3 days in!) check out the other featured blog: "Day 1: From sand to snow"I wrote to document his first day's adventures!

As he continues on this Journey across America, he keeps his family and friends updated with multiple video blogs and daily diaries. He has also decided to raise some awareness about the Chicago Humane Society, which my family has been very involved with for multiple generations. To learn more about this part of his journey, there's a Mission button on the Homepage! Keep it up dad, we're all rooting for you!!





Word Count: 888

Types of added value: "Day 2: 2/26/19" Vlog Post and "Day 1: From sand to snow" Personal Blog


CITATIONS:

Angell, A. (2019, January 23). CB Chapter 2: Value and the Consumer Behavior Framework. Lecture presented at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Angell, A. (2019, February 4). CB Chapter 6: Personality, Lifestyle & Self concept. Lecture presented at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

Babin. B., & Harris, E. (2017) CB8. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

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