100 Pedals

Recovery for Parents Dealing with Addiction in their Families

## Under Pressure

October 31, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

“Knowing and understanding what is critical to our success enables us to filter out all the noise that distracts us from true progress and accomplishment.”

When I speak with people about my experiences, particularly in relation to the lessons learned in 100 Pedals, one of my biggest learning experiences was discovering how to clearly focus on what it is most important.

We have so many distractions, challenges, expectations, and pressures relating to where we are, what we are doing, where we are going and what we want to accomplish, that sometimes the to do list is larger than the amount of time available to do them. We put far too much pressure on ourselves to accomplish everything because we don’t understand what is truly important; hence, everything seems important.

What I discovered in my 100 Pedals journey is that I only have so much time and energy to give. In order to stay on track, I need to focus only that which is most critical to my vision for success and accomplishment. This does not mean that I don’t have a lot to do or obligations to fulfill — for there are and I do. However, I have defined a very clear vision of what I must accomplish and, relative to all the other things going on, I allocate enough time every single day to do something toward that specific objective. I am not distracted by other demands or requests — I focus on that one objective. Nothing is more important than my vision and goals and nothing is going to prevent me from accomplishing them. Hence, I make certain that I do something every single day to push myself toward my goal.

Life presents us with all sorts of things that we would like to believe are important. In reality, until we define what is truly important we have no clear sense of what “important” really is. This is reflected in one of my favorite sayings: “You create a well defined process and manage to the exceptions; when you don’t have a process, everything is an exception.” Unless you have defined what is critically important, everything presents itself as important. It are those false indicators — continuous exceptions — that bring unnecessary pressures in our life, for everything seems critical. Having a clear sense of purpose and priority helps us focus our time and effort in a manageable fashion. Minus the well-defined focus, everything seems important.

Before you get distracted by all the noise around you, focus your energies, your goals, your priorities, and your time in this fashion:

1. Know what your goals and vision for your life are.
2. Define what needs to happen everyday to help move you there.
3. Commit to doing some every day toward that goal.
4. Make certain that is simple, concise, and measurable.
5. For 100 Days write it down, track your progress it, and do it.
6. Never miss a day.
7. Any amount of daily time spent on that commitment is success.
8. Celebrate your progress and your accomplishments.
9. Plan your next 100 days the same way.
10. Don’t allow anything to interrupt or distract you from your commitment.

We are all under pressure. The demands on our time, on our energy, and the obstacles seem to be increasing by the minute. Until we know what is truly most important to our success, these demands are unnecessary distractions that actually threaten our ability to be successful. Avoid the pressure of the distractions and learn to zero in on what is most important. As plan and execute your daily activities you will discover that the most important thing on your to do list is your daily commitment. While other demands and obligations will appear, nothing will get in the way of your daily commitment. It is through this process that you manage your time, deal with the pressures of the day, and make significant progress on your journey to where you desire to be, Before you know it, you will be celebrating your successes on these critical accomplishments daily. And, you will be driven and inspired to accomplish more in a very focused direction.

Filed Under: Celebrating Accomplishment, Inspirational Perspectives, Maintaining Focus, Make A Commitment

## The View From on High

October 24, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

“Though the journey to the top is challenging, you cannot do it alone and you don’t get to stay there long — it is definitely worth the trip!”

When I look at this picture, the euphoria of accomplishment is everywhere. Anyone who has successfully crossed the finish line relating to a challenging goal, a tremendous accomplishment, or a difficult, rewarding journey knows what it is like to have the moment of reflective celebration and joy. It is the combination of a victorious exhale, a smile, and a inner feeling of peace, joy, and fulfillment. And, nothing replaces that inner peace that, while fleeting, goes with the success of accomplishment.

When I look at this picture, I am also reminded of three aspects to accomplishment that influence our ability to keep pushing ourselves to success in other aspects of our life. While many of us have celebrated great accomplishments in our lives, many of us are unaware of the ongoing strength, power, and insight we gain from those accomplishments that can and will inspire us from that day forward.

1. Celebrate Your Successes: Nothing is a substitute for that singular moment of reflection where you get the opportunity to pause and say, “I did it!” What we need to realize and celebrate are the little things we accomplish every single day as we push toward our goals. Every day that you spend time on reaching a goal is worthy of a celebration and acknowledgement that says, I am moving closer to my goal. And, no matter what that effort is or how insignificant it seems, it is a progressive activity in the right direction — forward. Yes, accomplishment may be measured by the “crossing of the finish line”; however, success is only possible when you move forward every single day toward that end. Celebrate those events for they are bringing you to your goals.

2. You Cannot Do it Alone: The journey we travel always involves others. Yes, we may the ones with the vision, who may be doing the work, and who celebrate the victory. But, there is no way we can accomplish anything significant without the guidance, inspiration, support, and encouragement of others. Whatever you are working on, build a team of fans, supporters, and advisers around you. They will be your most important resources on those days when you do feel alone on your journey. Engage, trust, and share with others your vision and your quest. Ask for their insight, support, and their willingness to hold you accountable. Having partners on your journey will only help assure you that you will get there sooner with the right level of support.

3. You Cannot Celebrate Forever: Eventually you will have to climb down the mountain and go back to your “normal” life. Just because you accomplished an incredible feat does not mean you can stop living, growing, pushing, or learning. In fact, life is just the opposite. Once you have learned how to push yourself to incredible levels of success, you are now in a position to share your knowledge, your energy, your formula, and your experiences with others who are working on their goals. Pay close attention to the lessons you learn along the path of your journey. For it is these lessons that will be a tremendous guide to success and accomplishment for you and others. You may never have to go through the journey to accomplishment again; however, the lessons you learn along the way are what you really discovered about success and you. Internalize those lessons, they will be a guide for your life and for others for a long time to come.

Success and accomplishment is not a single, solitary, individual event. It is the culmination of an ongoing, focused effort that involves a series of celebrations, a team of fans, and the awareness of the journey you are on. It is worth the effort, the energy, and the reward. Tackle the mountain — you will be glad you did!!

Filed Under: Celebrating Accomplishment, Inspirational Perspectives, Learning From Experience, Make A Commitment

## One Heckuva Ride

October 17, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

Risk is that fear driven assessment that defines the potential outcome of our future actions before we engage. When life is going great, our tolerance for certain types of risk is very high – we don’t worry as much about failure because there is so much good going on around, recovery is likely. When life is going bad and there is no momentum our tolerance for risk is very low – after all, the last thing needed in our life right now is another problem.

Right now few have much tolerance for risk. That fear of disaster, failure, more bad news, or another calamitous event is getting in the way of our ability to live with passion and energy and embrace the unique opportunities that come our way every day. Survival is the opposite of risk. Survival is risk adverse behaviors that keep us moving forward in a seemingly positive direction as we look for hope and opportunity.

For many of us, our assessment of risk is clouded by the fact that many of us are in survival mode. Survival comes from a point of high stress and low failure tolerance. Nothing is more risk adverse that someone in survival mode. Unfortunately, we cannot embrace real opportunity and engage in a productive, positive quest to transform our lives when our survival skills are at their highest.

True change and transformation in our lives are only possible when we embrace the potential and the promise of who we are and what we are capable of. Our lives are not defined by or determined by those who give us permission to be who we were meant to be. For those who we look to for permission is likely living in their own constrained and stressful environment and have not discovered the opportunity to live the promise of being who we were meant to be, not what people told us we need to be. These thoughts only constrain our potential for moving out of our situation not help us grow and improve from it.

Moving out of a low risk, survivalist mindset starts with the realization of change. The reason you are in survival mode is because something or everything has clearly changed – loss of income, divorce, death, illness, displacement of wealth. It is when something beyond our control changes that we try to hang on to things that we believe have not changed. And, we hang on to those things because we are hoping it will help us find stability or recovery in what has been lost or changed. Unfortunately, in the face of change hanging on to things that appear to have not changed is a mirage; for everything in our lives are connected – once something changes, everything is transformed in relationship to it.

There is nothing that we are hanging on to that remains unaffected or untouched as a result of what has gone on around us. Recognizing the enormity of the impact of the change around us is the first step toward realizing and embracing the opportunities for a transformation out of survival mode. We cannot undo some of those changes that have occurred around us. We cannot help but feel the stress and the discomfort associated with the impact of these events. However, we have complete and total control over how we are going to use these experiences as a catalyst to do what we desire.

There is an old familiar saying – when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Every one of us has been given the opportunity to take an incredible ride. Our journey is not over. And, there are no shortcuts, safe havens, or easy outs. The best thing that we can do is jump into the seat, buckle up the safety harnesses and go for the ride of our life. For it is in the way we take control of our present is how we can and will define our future!!

Filed Under: Inspirational Perspectives, Live With Passion, Living Your Purpose, Maintaining Focus

## Do You Have Enough Time?

October 10, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

“The time we have is not defined by us; what we do with what are given is — make a conscious choice and make a difference.”

With all the tributes, information, and commentary shared through the passing of Steven Jobs, one couldn’t help take notice on the significant contributions he made in all walks of life. Here was a man who shaped the world of technology, ushered an entire generation into a new frontier, and inspired just about anyone who would listen. And, in the period of 48 hours – from Tuesday until Thursday – he went from a respected, revered leader to an iconic legacy.

Death is the ultimate, unknown deadline. For death marks the beginning of the end of our ability to influence and innovate. While our contributions can live on long after we are gone, what we do while we are here is the essential ingredient to our impact and influence. The most essential aspect of our existence is defined by what we do with the time we are given. The time allotted for our life’s contributions do not have a definitive deadline like a homework assignment; rather, we have no idea when our final report is due – meaning we better be working on our assignment every single day of the rest of our life.

Contributions, like those of Steven Jobs, are gifts. The greatness of the gift is not measured for the purpose of improving our stature, our legacy, or solidifying our standing in history – the greatness of our gifts are measured in the humility with which we use, share, and apply those skills and abilities we have been blessed with. We have a tremendous opportunity to freely, willingly, completely, or responsibly share our unique gifts and talents with those who need what we have to offer. We have the ability to take advantage of the time we have been given to apply and develop our unique abilities and offer them to others for their benefit.

It is always a loss when a talented person is no longer around to inspire, guide or lead us. However, it is a greater tragedy when someone who has the ability to offer their wonderful talent and skills fails to share them before their time runs out.

Many of our lives exist in the middle of chaos. It seems as though so much of what we deal with can be more overwhelming and challenging that we can manage. The idea of being accessible for others and of giving and sharing our greatness with those around us is may be asking more of what we believe we are capable of or willing to do. In reality, it is the collaborative process of sharing, of making your skills and gifts accessible, and in embracing and believing in what you have to offer the world around you is what is going to make your life better. For in giving, sharing, collaborating, and being you will find the joy, the energy, and the opportunity you so desperately desire for your life.

The opportunity to be great at a time when people need you most is now. I encourage you to get busy being who you were meant to be and to celebrate the experiences that come with it. More importantly take advantage of the time you have for you never know when you it will run out.

Filed Under: Celebrating Accomplishment, Inspirational Perspectives, Living Your Purpose, Make A Commitment, Seizing Opportunity

## Put Your Life in Drive and Hit the Gas!!

October 3, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

“Looking back to the past is like driving your car using only the rear view mirror — eventually you will lose your way and crash.”

A lot has changed in all of our lives. In many cases, where we live, how we live, our jobs, our health, our relationships, our financial situation have all changed dramatically. While there is a great deal of stress, tension, and pain involved with these changes, they also have provided us with a powerful lesson about ourselves — provided we are willing and receptive to it. Many have called this period in our history as the great reset — where we have been forced to adjust our lives to a more realistic and responsible way of life and of living. There is opportunity in this period in our lives. The question is — are you embracing it?

Change, especially when it is forced upon you, is often difficult to embrace. When we decide to do something and make a change, we are more likely to anxiously and excitedly look ahead to opportunities in front of us. However, when we suddenly and ferociously find ourselves tossed into the middle of a massive shift in our lives, finding the silver lining is not always easy. And, it is the midst of this chaos that we often try to find ways to re-create what we loved or enjoyed previously. Unfortunately there is no rewind button in life.

Everything in our lives is based on today and is moving forward to tomorrow. Life is all about progress. Our lives are like driving a car. When we get in the car we often know where we are going, we know how we plan on getting there, and we have some idea or expectation about how long the trip is going to take. Getting there means facing forward, looking out the front windshield, putting the car in drive, and hitting the gas. The only time we really need to use the rear view mirror is to back up in order to move forward and to see who is behind us in case we change lanes. You never drive your car to your destination by driving in reverse and looking in the rear view mirror. If you have ever tried this before, you will notice it is very difficult to get anywhere safely or quickly.

Our lives in the midst of this great reset is very much like being behind the wheel of a car. We may not have planned to take a trip or journey at this time; but, you have put at the wheel anyway. You may not know where you are going just yet; but, you will figure it out very soon. And, you aren’t sure how long you are going to be on this particular segment; but, if you think about it, you will have some idea once you decide it is time to move forward toward your redefined destination.

As you start to consider what has taken place in your life — all the changes and challenges — the first thing I would encourage you to decide is what you need to do to get moving forward in a positive direction. This decision is based on the criteria of who you are, what energizes you, and how committed you are to define and determine the next direction in your life. Once you decide on the direction you plan on heading in, define how you are going to get there, and how long you expect it to take. Then, put your life in drive, hit the gas, and don’t look back. You cannot anticipate any of the challenges or obstacles that may slow you down; however, if you are clear on where you are going you will get there. Have a fantastic journey!

Filed Under: Inspirational Perspectives, Maintaining Focus, Make A Commitment, Uncategorized