​​Today, I facilitated a group of employees who are building equity and inclusion in their workplace as union ambassadors – the topic was engagement and intrinsic motivation. We talked about the value of setting goals, goal-setting behavior, and the power of accountability partners (i.e. inclusion) in staying motivated. 

Often, when we discuss goals and I share that I have a Peloton bike, most people boil it down to its simplest form, “an exercise bike.” While I certainly was interested in a Peloton under the weight of postpartum beauty standards and the accessibility of a challenging workout within feet of our newborn, what I found within the community was unexpected. Yes, I met my fitness goals, but I also found myself taking classes with empowering playlists and values-based motivational content. 

Peloton focuses on the original meaning of the word, a group of riders together in a pack in a cycling race. This company doesn’t just preach DEI, it breathes it. It focuses on that group energy by sharing stories of intersectional identity and creating inclusion and connection amongst the riders. 

When I first got a Peloton to help me navigate the post-partum transition, as an early adopter family, we didn’t know anyone with a bike yet. In between countless episodes of Shark Tank reruns on CNBC with Josh, we saw dozens of commercials. Needless to say, Peloton knew innovators watched Shark Tank, and only a few weeks later we purchased the Peloton bike through 0% financing (they still offer this plan for those who qualify).  Neither Josh nor I had taken more than 1 cycling class before we bought the bike. 

This past May, I set a milestone goal of 500 rides before I turn 35 this October. Given how deeply rooted society’s value of women correlates with their youth, age milestones for many women generate mixed emotions. For me, 35 does not represent anything more than beads on an abacus someone else created. But I knew that as the pandemic waned, more would come back onto my plate. Despite all the learning and unlearning I’ve done this past year, I know that this is still one of my weaknesses. Like many caretakers, prioritizing self-care is the most important to maintaining consistency, but often the first thing to go when our plates are full. 

Consistency can be one of the most challenging leadership qualities to maintain. It is especially hard to stay engaged and steady over long lengths of time and when the road gets tough – stay strong. Although this sounds like an intense goal, it was a reasonable goal based on my consistent habit of riding. The act of setting the goal is a covenant with myself to keep up this self-care routine as the world continues to emerge post-pandemic. 

“Leadership is not about directing other people, it’s about providing a relationship that allows others to learn and grow.”

– Robert E. Quinn, The Economics of Higher Purpose 

To me, Peloton isn’t only a fitness company, it’s a leadership company as it provides both a tool and leadership content. As a tool, strong leaders know how they regulate their emotions, and many use regular physical movement to process emotional reactivity and mitigate burnout. We know that innovative leaders build grit by setting goals, falling, and getting back up again.  

Recently returning from maternity leave as the first pioneer Peloton female instructor to transition to motherhood, Robin Arzón has led from the bench these past few months with grace and strength. During an “In the Heights” inspired class, she talked about being a young attorney wanting to live up to her immigrant parents’ story and creating a legacy by paying forward opportunities to others. Both her story and her memory of seeing the Broadway show about the Latinx community of Washington Heights, NY strongly resonated with me and inspired this letter; that in and of itself demonstrates its leadership impact. 

Like Robin, when I saw this show live in NYC 12 years ago with my husband Josh, I was inspired by the story of resilience and immigrant hustle. In addition to being an In the Heights superfan, we both share the value of “paying it forward” or for me, Tikkun Olam (helping the world) and the act of mitzvot (good deed). Robin is one of the many instructors whose personal leadership stories inspire me to keep towards my goals both fitness and otherwise with measured persistence and confidence. I dare to even call it mentorship. Although Peloton is a leader in DEI, there are still barriers to entry for those with financial constraints who cannot access this leadership tool and content. In the pay it forward spirit, I want to use the payoff of our bike to create an opportunity to buy an original Peloton bike for someone else. We financed our bike, but that is not an option available to everyone based on a variety of barriers. 

So here’s where you come in: In hopes to create an opportunity for someone else to learn and grow, we want to buy an original Peloton bike for someone who wants it but the equipment cost is a barrier to access. 

The offer: Reply to this blog by email to:info@mindteamsolutions.com with your personal leadership story by the end of this week. I will review the entries and select a leader to receive an original Peloton bike delivered to their home when I hit 500 rides. I ask that the story be written in a way you are comfortable sharing, as we hope to share it in a follow-up to this letter, on or about October 28, 2021 (My 35th Birthday). 

The rules: The goal of this offer is to break out of my network of privilege to pay it forward, so if I know you personally, you are ineligible. I encourage you to forward this email to someone in your network so they can reply. I make a covenant that I will have no personal connection to the person to whom I pay it forward. 

The disclosure: The Peloton Bike requires an interactive software subscription at a $39/month fee. I will be purchasing the bike, but will not be sponsoring the monthly fee for content. 

Together we go far.