In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Michael Yang - Coming Alive on the Ride

Terry Shepherd

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 25:33

What happens when a Silicon Valley pioneer trades the boardroom for the open road? 🏍️✨

I recently sat down with Michael Yang, the founder of MySimon, to talk about his incredible new memoir, "Coming Alive on the Ride."

Michael reached the "Silicon Valley summit" early, but he discovered that the view from the top can be surprisingly isolating. From arriving in San Jose as a teenager with no English to navigating the unpredictable world of tech and eventually riding a motorcycle to the tip of Patagonia, Michael’s story is about much more than business—it’s about "shin-na-geh" (a state of joyful immersion).

Here are a few takeaways from our conversation:

  • Adaptability is everything: Whether it’s a broken shifter in a Patagonia storm or being pushed out of a company you built, how you pivot defines your success.
  • The "Personal Exit": The most important exit isn't financial; it’s stepping beyond your comfort zone to rediscover yourself.
  • Confidence is balance: Much like riding a motorcycle or standing up to a bully, confidence is a skill that must be practiced daily.

If you’ve ever felt "stalled" despite hitting your goals, Michael’s journey is a powerful reminder that reinvention is always possible if you just keep moving.

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo