Ep. 154: Putting Kindness on the Map: “Blind Optimism” and a 2,000 Mile Bike Ride
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Losing Paul
04:20 Founding Sunshine People and Blind Optimism
10:47 Kindness Routes and Record-Breaking Rides
16:22 Persevering Through Hardship on the Ride
20:22 Stranded in a Headwind Rescued by Strangers
26:05 Next Book and Kindness at Work
30:00 Feedback, Trust, and Asking Good Questions
34:53 Emotional Intelligence and Gratitude at Work
39:29 Sharing Life Stories in Team Workshops
42:42 Future Plans and Closing Thoughts
Nahla Summers arrived in Minneapolis knowing no one, on a side-by-side “quadricycle” she’d bought sight unseen on Facebook Marketplace. She had one plan: ride a 2,000-mile route across Minnesota, Iowa and the American heartland that spells out the word KINDNESS. By the end she was hosting a thank-you tea party for about 100 new friends.
Nahla’s path to this point started with loss. In 2012 her partner, Paul, died during a 160-mile charity bike ride. Her grief led her to rethink how we measure success. After 15 years in facilities management and leadership, she had seen workplaces built on transactions rather than human connection. As a result, she founded Sunshine People to spread acts of kindness, and later A Culture of Kindness to bring those ideas into organizations.
Have a look at Nahla’s book on the Blue Sky Bookshelf!
Resources:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
