Welcome back to Betting on Yourself! Today’s guest, Doug Ulman, who has survived cancer, not once, but three times, has used his unique experience to make a profoundly positive impact on the world by making a career out of fighting cancer. Doug is the former CEO of Livestrong, a founder of the Ulman Foundation, and the current CEO of Pelotonia. During today’s conversation, he tells his own story, inspiring listeners to believe that anything is possible. We hear about his work as a leader within Pelotonia, and the unlikely experiences he had climbing Kilimanjaro, meeting Dan Rather, and coming to understand the incredible value of self-care. Doug believes that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t function effectively, and you definitely can’t lead! Sometimes you learn this lesson the hard way, but it’s not selfish to take time for yourself, and if you don’t, you end up in a downward spiral.  Join us to hear more from today’s amazing guest!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to today’s guest: three-time Cancer survivor, former CEO of Livestrong, a founder of the Ulman Foundation, and the current CEO of Pelotonia, Doug Ulman. 
• What betting on yourself has meant to Doug in his life: anything is possible! 
• How being diagnosed with cancer has brought an incredible long-term benefit into his life.
• Why it is impossible not to ask the question of ‘why me?’ when you are diagnosed with cancer.
• Why it is beneficial to overcome this phase quickly: you may never know!
• The debt of gratitude he owes his parents for teaching him the values of service and gratitude.
• How having had cancer has altered his relationship with fear.
• Why the shock of being diagnosed with cancer showed him that anything is possible.
• His experience of being on a team while playing sports and how it made him an optimist.
• Choosing to be transparent with his audience as the CEO of Pelotonia.
• The platform that Pelotonia provides for people to share stories and make a difference.
• The privilege of being a leader within Pelotonia.
• His predictions for the future of nonprofits and why the separation between businesses is not sustainable.
• The importance of self-care in all the work that he is doing and how he came to realize that it isn’t selfish.
• The phrase ‘walk if you can, run if you must’ from soccer, and how it has inspired him.
• Doug shares the Dan Rather story.
• Climbing Kilimanjaro and how team spirit helps us to move forward.
• Advice he would give to himself: know that challenges you face seem much bigger at the time than before you overcome them.
• How exercise acts as a way to escape the chaos of the world for Doug.
• Where to find Doug Ulman online.

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To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dan Rather
Ulman Foundation
Livestrong
Pelotonia
Doug Ulman on Twitter
Michael Redd
22 Ventures