"I just bought a lucky ticket," Rick Steves says as he prepares to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. He recalls how one of his friends described not being afraid, but sad after surviving a helicopter crash. "It makes me wonder how many other people on that plane would echo that same thought."
In this episode, Ric Elias, founder of Red Ventures, opens up about the fateful day he knew for certain that he was going to die as a passenger on US Airways Flight 1549. Ric dives deep into how that day impacted his life, greatly changed his perspective, and improved his relationship with his family and the broader community. We also talk about his incredible role as CEO of an enormous company, his remarkable work in philanthropy, and all the wisdom he has acquired in his extraordinary life. We discuss:
- Ric’s life leading up to the day of the plane crash [5:30];
- The plane crash—What it’s like knowing you’re about to die, feelings of regret and sadness [11:15];
- The improbable plane landing in the Hudson River [19:00];
- Emotions after the safe landing (and a story he’s never told before) [25:45];
- A powerful story about Captain Sully [29:30];
- Earning his second chance at life, and playing the “infinite game” [38:30];
- Why time is the ultimate currency, and how (and why) to say “no” [46:15];
- Raising kids in an achievement culture, Ric’s definition of life success, and what Ric wants to instill in his kids [53:00];
- What Ric believes is actually worth getting upset, and the organizations that are taking steps to help people [1:09:00];
- The core principles of Red Ventures (Ric’s company) [1:19:15];
- Ric’s tips for developing business acumen and negotiation skills [1:29:30];
- What qualities does Ric look for in people he wants to work with? [1:32:50];
- What is the next big problem that Ric wants to solve? [1:35:30];
- What is the most challenging part of your business today? [1:37:30];
- If Ric could go back and talk to himself in the morning before getting on that plane, what would he say? [1:39:15]; and
- More.
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