Life Is Like Riding a Bicycle: Tips and Stories to Help You Realize Your Potential and Reach Your Goals

By René Guerra

Ren has done an excellent job of taking a favorite childhood activity and using it as an analogy for life and all of its lessons. His passion for cycling and for helping others shines through as he leads the reader to tools they can use to create success and fulfillment in their lives.

Ren was in the final stages of submitting his manuscript to Balboa Press when his mom, who was his biggest cheerleader about his book, passed away suddenly from a massive stroke. While her death had a major impact on Rens efforts to complete his book, he applied his own advice, using the tips that he mentions in this book to keep pedaling towards his dreams and goals.

Whether youre reeling from a setback that threatens your dream or trying to figure out how to keep focused on that dream or wondering what to do about those friends who say you cant succeed or even if you lack purpose and simply want to find your passion take advantage of Rens experience. Delivered in a warm, conversational style, his stories can show you that you arent alone. That you have what it takes to live a fulfilling life. The stories, along with tips at the end of each chapter, will help the reader move beyond obstacles that may be holding them back.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jul 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781504382441

René Guerra

René is a native Texan, born and raised in Dallas. An avid cyclist and outdoorsman, he enjoys hiking, camping, birding and canoeing. He also loves travel and connecting with new people. René has been certified in High Performance Workplace Practices, Situational Leadership, and Employee Coaching. In 2012, he completed a yearlong intensive coaching program with Jack Canfield. Afterward, Canfield selected René to join an elite group of trainers and coaches to be personally mentored in his Train the Trainer program. After years at a mostly sedentary job, an impulsive commitment to a 2-day, 150-mile bike ride had René scrambling for courage and endurance. Cycling helped build his confidence, both physically and mentally. It has given him the courage to take risks and inspired him to reach higher in all aspects of his life. The discipline that it takes to keep pushing up a mountain when his muscles are screaming in pain is the same discipline he uses every day in his life. You can contact René at: [e-mail] Follow me on Twitter @ReneGuerra544 Connect with me on Facebook-fb.me/ReneGuerra544

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Copyright © 2017 René Guerra.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-8243-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-8245-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-8244-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017909828

Balboa Press rev. date: 07/12/2017

I dedicate this book to my mom, Minerva Guerra, who constantly asked about my progress and inspired me to keep writing stories for my book. Even now, every day I reread one encouraging card she sent me. It includes a scripture from the book of Samuel: God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. My mom only had a sixth-grade education but constantly strove to grow through learning.

She was eighty-five years old when she passed away on June 19, 2016. Through her, I have learned that age is only a number and that it is never too late to begin something new. My mom was still walking two miles a day before she suffered a massive stroke while on vacation visiting my sister. Tricia and I were on our way to Colorado when I got the phone call from my sister. They were at a theater play in Pennsylvania when the stroke happened. Mom was transferred to a hospital in Philadelphia. Thankfully, I was able to get there and spend time with her before she passed away.

When my mom drew her last breath, this song immediately played on my laptop beside her bed. We believe it was a message of comfort to our family from God and angels around us. The music is by my favorite artist, Nicholas Gunn. My mom enjoyed listening to his music. Here are the lyrics in both Spanish and English.

Calma tu mente. (Calm your mind.)

Piensa en mi. (Think of me.)

Cierra tus ojos. (Close your eyes.)

Recuerdame. (Remember me.)

At the end of the Remember Me prelude, church bells rang. Then another song, a flamenco piece, played as she danced off to heaven. My sisters and I shared this story at my mom’s service at the urging of the priest who officiated. We were blessed to have this message, and I think about these words daily.

Thanks, Mom, for your constant love and support. I know we will be together again someday. I am glad to have another angel watching over me.

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1      You Always Have More than You

Think You Have

Chapter 2      Get Back on Your Bike

Chapter 3      Lessons Learned on the Bike

Chapter 4      Uphill Finish—Dig Deep

Chapter 5      The Road to Discovering Your Passion

Chapter 6      Living as a Freewheeling Spirit

Chapter 7      Who Is in Your Peloton?

Chapter 8      Keep Pedaling

Chapter 9      You Had Enough

Chapter 10     Measure for Success

Chapter 11     Cooldown … Inspiration from the

Road Already Traveled

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First, I thank God for providing me with the courage and perseverance to continue working on this book through the many times when I wanted to give up. God has given me many signs throughout the last four years to keep pedaling despite the many challenges and steep climbs I endured along the way.

My wife, Tricia Guerra, has always been by my side. She has supported and cheered me on at my lowest moments. She was with me through the heartbreak of losing my mom, helping me get back in the saddle when I was ready.

This project would have never gotten off the ground without the help and support from my writing coach, Jan Fraser Coles. I appreciate beyond words your help with getting my message out of my head and onto paper. The hours you spent mentoring me through the writing process and attending your writers’ retreat were helpful. Your friendship and compassion, throughout my struggles, have been priceless. I hope to be able to repay you for your generosity.

My accountability partner, Jacki Long, has made weekly phone calls to me and held me accountable for my daily agenda. You also have been an inspiration to me to keep pedaling when I thought the light at the end of the tunnel was too far to reach. Thank you, Jacki.

My life coach, Pat Gross, worked with me by offering her time for free to help me reach my book-writing goal. Your encouraging words, along with your wisdom and coaching skills, have helped me take that next step outside my comfort zone many times.

I have always believed that God places people in our lives at just the right time to help us through challenges and projects. My editor, Jan Johnson, has cheered me on and helped me with my book project, meeting with me over lunch many times in the past year. Your commitment to helping me through this unknown path is greatly appreciated. Thank you for encouraging me, Jan, to keep pedaling towards my goal of publishing my book.

Thanks to my friend and artist, Angela Giles, for creating the artwork for my book. The gentle nudges you gave me throughout the years provided the encouragement I needed.

Thanks to my friends and family who have contributed their own stories in my book so that others may learn from your experiences and ideas. Thank you so much. I love you all.

My dad, Humberto Guerra, instilled in me the importance of taking pride in one’s work and the patience to get the details right the first time. He was always there for me at all my childhood activities. I’ve always been able to turn to him, a father who taught me values that will last a lifetime. He was a man of few words but spoke what was in his heart through his smile and his actions. Thank you, Daddio, for being a great example: a good man who cared for his family. I write this praise in loving memory of my dad, who passed away on December 30, 2016, six months after my mom.

My mom, Minerva Guerra, instilled in me the urge to dream expansively and inspired me to pursue my goals. She was very excited about helping with my project and sharing her story. Thanks, Mom, for always believing in me and sending me those encouraging cards. I still read them to this day.

INTRODUCTION

I remember this football game as if it happened yesterday. Many events help mold youngsters into the adults they are today. This game was one such event for me; I have spoken about this game often. I was right guard and nose tackle on the George W. Truett Elementary team. Our opponents looked like giants compared to my teammates and me.

I was a small kid who had very little confidence except when I was on the football field. My friends came back from summer break half a head taller; I barely grew an inch or gained any weight. Not only that, I was a sickly kid who suffered from tonsillitis every year. The slightest sore throat terrified me because I knew what was coming. I would typically spend a week under a tent that my dad rigged from bed sheets so I could breathe the vapor from a humidifier.

As an adult, I would