About
Ric Elias does not impart business lessons, but rather provides insight into what lessons may be learned from his near-death experience. In this recent TED presentation, he describes the events leading up to the historic accident. Discover how those few minutes influenced Ric to make a significant decision: “I make the decision to be happy.”
And if this narrative wasn’t incredible enough, here’s a strange coincidence detail from Tony Hsieh‘s files: Ric had visited Zappos the week before the disaster and was carrying a Zappos catalog on the fated flight. Following that, he returned the water-damaged book to Zappos. What a great reminder that life is full of unexpected twists and turns!
Works
Elias began his work at GE but later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. After graduation, he founded Red Ventures, which he transformed from a firm that narrowly survived the dot-com boom to the number four spot on the Inc. 500 list. Elias was on Flight 1549 when it unexpectedly landed unhurt on the Hudson River in 2009, an event he claims transformed his life. He was so moved that he created a book titled ‘How Facing Death Changed My Life‘ (And My Business). As a determined businessman who was previously frustrated by the constant quest for work-life balance, Ric Elias’ keynotes encourage people to surround themselves with good energy and “live in the present.”
Social Media
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Inspiring Talks by Ric Elias
Interview
Notable quotes
- “I no longer try to be right; I choose to be happy.”
- “I regretted the time I wasted on things that did not matter with people that [do] matter.”
- “As leaders & citizens of the world, it is our responsibility to understand what is going on and what is truly at stake.”
- “Never accept no as a good answer. Question everything, always.”
- “Our ability to create lasting change relies on our commitment to having important conversations today that we did not have yesterday.”
- “If you had asked me 20 years ago about the future of Red Ventures, I never would have imagined we’d have teams across Europe who are helping millions make more confident decisions. Looking forward to building even more momentum together.”
- “Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy remind us – we all must recommit to interrupting injustice wherever and however we see it.”
- “Heroes are made long before the day they are called to action.”
- “If we allow every experience to be a source of awe or gratitude, we will live the richest of lives.”
- “There will always be someone who is smarter, stronger, or luckier – but what matters most isn’t “winning.” Give your best to the work that’s worth doing, so you can earn the right to keep doing it.”