Jared Ryan - Bold Realty, Plymouth, MI (2026)

05/21/2025

In nature, storms almost always come from the West and travel Eastward.

Sensing that a storm is coming from this direction, a cow will try to run East to get away from a storm. But cows are really slow. So the storm catches up with them rather quickly. Without knowing any better, the cows continue to try to outrun the storm.

But instead of outrunning the storm, they run with the storm, maximizing the amount of pain, time, and frustration they experience from that storm.

Most of us have the same reaction to the storms in our lives. We spend so much time constantly trying to avoid the inevitable challenges that come along from the difficult circumstances that our very own choices have led us to be in.
→ When we are in debt, we try to find ways around paying our bills
→ When we are unhealthy, we make rationalizations for why we can’t do anything about it or why it doesn’t matter
→ When we are struggling with our spouse or significant other, we are often trying to avoid the difficult but meaningful conversations that need to be had to reconcile the relationship
→ When we are unhappy with our job, we stay and complain rather than developing our skills to acquire a better job

In contrast, what buffaloes do is very unique for the animal kingdom. Buffaloes wait for half the storm to cross right over them. Then buffaloes will turn and charge directly into the storm.

They run at the storm and straight through it, minimizing the amount of pain, time, and frustration they experience from that storm.

Both the buffalo and cow go through the exact same storm. And most of us are dealing with the same types of storms in our lives. We don't get to choose whether or not we have storms. But we can choose how and when we respond to the storms.

Waiting and procrastinating usually makes it worse. When we see a challenge and are willing to face it head on, the consequences are fewer and the resolution comes more quickly.

So let's embrace our storms and tackle or problems head on. That is how we will become the best versions of ourselves.

05/15/2025

In the past, we...
→ Thought the world was flat... Then we changed our mind
→ Treated depression with co***ne... Then we changed our mind
→ Used leeches to drain blood from the sick... Then we changed our mind
→ Used he**in in children's cough syrup... Then we changed our mind
→ Had doctors endorse ci******es as healthy... Then we changed our mind

Learning, growing, and improving requires us to constantly change our mind. As we collect new data and have new experiences, our perspectives can change too.

Not everything we see on TV or hear on the news is true. The media, politicians, large corporations, and other experts have greatly benefited from the majority of us waiting to be told what to do and how to think.

They can't keep this illusion up forever. But they will certainly try. And they will continue to succeed as long as we let them.

What can be done to stop this?
→ We can start thinking for ourselves again
→ We can be tolerant again to other people's opinions
→ We can have the courage again to change our mind and stand up for what we believe in

Our country is at is best when...
→ Debate is encouraged, not suppressed
→ People are taught HOW to think; not told WHAT to think
→ We look at ALL data and evidence to form conclusions; not just the data that supports what we want to believe

It is hard to admit when we are wrong. It takes humility to pivot and change our mind. However, no one is coming to save us and fix this for us. It is up to us.

So be strong. Be confident. Don't wait for others to have the courage to change their mind first. Be the leader you know you can be.

05/08/2025

I sincerely enjoy cutting my lawn.
→ It reminds me of my dad. As a kid, I used to follow behind him with a toy lawnmower as he cut our lawn
→ It allows me to relax and think without distractions
→ It gives me a sense of accomplishment
→ It makes me VERY POPULAR with the retired older ladies in the neighborhood that compliment me during their nightly walks 😆

For the past 10 years, I have cut my grass like clockwork every week from mid April to late October. No matter how busy I was, I always found time to cut our lawn each week.

I just occurred to me a few days ago that I have not cut our lawn this year yet. Not even once...

In years past, I would have felt like at absolute failure about my inability to carve out 1-2 hours a week to cut our lawn.

But I am at peace with it so far this year. I am content on where I am spending my time
→ Real estate has been VERY BUSY for me recently. I have been able to keep up with my sellers and buyers so far. I have a great team behind me to help too.
→ Roofing and siding is gaining momentum and we are starting the Metro Detroit market this month. I also have a great team here behind me to help out.
→ Baseball season is in full swing with practices, games, and tournaments. Behind me, there is another awesome team of assistant coaches and supportive parents.

I wake up each day and ask myself "Who can I disappoint the least today?"

So far I have been able to keep up. But I feel like a duck in a pond.
→ From above the water, a duck looks like it is effortlessly gliding over the water
→ But under the surface, a duck's legs are working non stop to keep the ducks head above the water.

Thank you...
→ To everyone I work with.
→ To all my clients.
→ To all my players, coaches, and parents
→ To my wife for not making me feel bad that I haven't fixed our leaky sink for months
→ To my in laws who will probably call someone to come over to fix that leaky sink after they read this 😆

I wouldn't be half the person I am today if it wasn't for the people around me.

And I do plan to cut the grass FOR REAL sometime this week.

04/30/2025

Every time we talk to someone or scroll online, we have the ability to spread true, good, and useful information. And we also have the ability to do the opposite and spread toxic information instead.

In ancient Greece, Socrates was visited by an acquaintance of his. Eager to share some juicy gossip, the man asked Socrates if would he like to know the story he just heard about a friend of theirs. Socrates replied that before the man spoke, he needed to pass the “Triple Filter Test”.

The first filter, Socrates explained, is truth. "Are you absolutely sure that what you are about to say is 100% true?

The man shook his head. “No, I actually just heard about it, and…” Socrates cut him off.

“You don’t know for certain that is true, then? Socrates then asked the second filter. "Is what you want to say something good or kind?

Again, the man should his head. “No! Actually. Just the opposite. You see…”. Socrates lifted his hand to stop the man speaking.

“So you are not certain that what do you want to say is true, and it isn’t good or kind. One filter still remains, though, so you may yet still tell me. That is usefulness or necessity. Is this information useful or necessary to me?”

A little defeated, the man replied, “No, not really.”

“Well, then,“ Socrates said, turning on his heel. “If what you want to say is neither true, nor good or kind, nor useful or necessary, please don’t say anything at all.”

This story isn't just about the information we spread through gossip. It is also about the information we seek through others and information we create ourselves.

Negativity and gossip is much more entertaining than something that is true, good, or useful. That's why the news and media is full of it... because toxic information sells.

We have a limited amount of information that we can process each day, each week, each year. Let's choose the harder and more disciplined path and seek information that is true, good, or useful.

04/23/2025

An unknown author writes,

→ "If you collect 100 black ants and 100 red ants and put them in a glass jar not much will happen."
→ "But if you take the jar, shake it violently and leave it on the table, the ants will start killing each other."
→ "The red ants will believe that black ants are the enemy while the black will believe that the red ants are the enemy."
→ "When the real enemy is the person who shook the jar."

While I am not sure that this is actually true in nature (most of these memes are not), this does give an interesting perspective to all that has been going on.

It sure feels that we have lost our way sometimes and have been polarized into choosing sides. Instead of a red ant vs a black ant, it is:
→ Men vs Women
→ Left vs Right
→ Rich vs Poor
→ Public vs Private Sector
→ Faith vs Science
→ Etc ...

Before we continue to fight each other, we should ask ourselves: Who rocked the jar? And why?

Forcing us to be polarized by taking a side and choosing to be a red ant or a black ant does us no good. It keeps us distracted. There are many that profit and benefit from us fighting with each other like a bunch of red and black ants. It is time we stopped predictably responding the way they expect us to whenever they decide to shake up the jar.

How can we take a stand and get control back? By realizing that the real foes are the ones that are shaking the jar. We are not each other's enemy; nor do we have as many differences as we are told to think we have.

Whomever is shaking the jar is only effective and in control if we allow them to be.

04/16/2025

Parents are ALWAYS looking to find good teaching moments. I had one of those moments as a father 9 years ago at our first ever Easter Egg Hunt. I will leave both the location and the host anonymous. Chase was only 2 at that time. And I had blind optimism of what was about to go down that day.

I envisioned watching in joy as the kids would frolic about picking up eggs with smiles of their faces. What transpired was the exact opposite.

I didn't expect that our 2 year old would be competing with 100's of kids of all different ages. Turned out also that most of their parents would be joining in on the Hunt as well (in the "guise" of helping out their kids by getting eggs for them). When the whistle blew, it was mass chaos as kids and adults battled it out for every egg on the field. Chase got 6 eggs AT MOST. That is far less than most of the adults got that literally snatched them from Chase's grip as he went down to pick up more.

Traumatized and disappointed by our family's first ever Easter Egg Hunt experience, the Ryan Family went back to the drawing board for a new strategy and vowed to redeem ourselves in future Easter Egg Hunts.

The future Easter Egg Hunts we entered were well run (by NOT allowing parents to participate). And we tested our improved family strategy. And minutes before the main event each year, we went over it again:
→ While most kids will run up to the first egg they see, fight for that egg with all the other kids, and then move to the next closest egg to do the same
→ Instead, our kids would sprint to the very back bypassing the closest eggs
→ With no competition in the back, our kids would scoop up as many eggs as they want with ease

Year after year, the plan worked again like a charm. I watched as our kids sprinted to the back and without any competition.

Flash forward to today... Our kids are not too cool yet to do an Easter Egg Hunt. But they do have limited time due to all their activities. So it looks like we won't even get an Easter Egg Hunt in this year.

Both Lisa and I miss those simpler times. But we are both very proud that our kids seem to still use our Easter Egg Hunt strategy in other things they do. They...
→ Don't feel the pressure to do things just because everyone else is doing it
→ Understand that it takes hard work and sometimes doing things differently to achieve a goal
→ Love to celebrate the spoils of their efforts

Perhaps we should all treat life a little more like and Easter Egg Hunt...

04/10/2025

Kids can learn a lot from Youth Sports. That is... if the parents stay out of the way.

All parents mean well in their own way supporting their kids. But sometimes they can do more harm than good. Anyone involved in youth sports has witnessed the two types of parent behavior that is counterproductive and distracting to youth sports.

Too Intense
→ Parents that think their kid is already a major league athlete
→ They think their kid is the best and demand they get special treatment
→ They argue with coaches and officials
→ They expect and demand perfection from their kids

Too Coddling
→ Parents that can't leave their kids alone
→ They won't let the coach do their job
→ They are overprotective
→ They don't want their kids to experience any stress or hardship

So what is the right way for parents to behave during youth sports?

I don't claim to have the answer. However, there are three questions I ask my kids after every game or practice that seem to go over well:
→ Did you have fun?
→ Did you do your best?
→ Did you get a little bit better today?

Both Chase and Dean know that dad will ask those questions in the car ride home. And they know they better have their answers ready.

They know that they have a lot of time in their life to play sports. And if they are able to keep it fun, do their best, and get a little bit better each day, they will become great.

I appreciate the opportunity I get each day with my kids playing youth sports. I know these moment are finite and won't last forever. As kids get older and dads become less cooler, I am sure there will be less opportunities to teach them life lessons and values through sports. Until then, I will savor every moment and opportunity I get.

So for any kid in youth sports and any bigger kid (adult) that is humble enough to know they don't have all the answers, let continue to:
→ Make every day fun
→ Do our best each day
→ And get a little bit better in something every day

04/02/2025

What is one of the biggest destroyers of self esteem?

Making promises that we don't keep. Especially the ones that we make to ourselves.

We have all been there before. No one is perfect.
→ We had planned to start a new good habit.
→ Maybe we were going to tackle an obstacle that we know we should do.
→ Possibly start that project.
→ Or connect with a long lost friend or family member.

We planned to start on Monday. Then on Friday. Then after the weekend. Then after the holiday. Next thing we know, we are into the next month. And still we keep pushing it off.

Most things in this world are out of our control. However, our ability to keep our word and uphold our obligations is something that each of us can 100% control.

Every promise we keep builds our self esteem. Every obligation we honor makes it easier to honor the next one. When we uphold the deals that we make with ourselves, our "inner voice" becomes more positive. The self-talk from our "inner voice" is either strengthened or weakened by the daily decisions we make.

The "inner voice" is the thing talking to you now while reading this. What is it saying? What is that one promise that we haven't kept that has been tearing us up inside?

The best time to have kept that obligation has already passed. However, the second best time is now.

By making the decision today to keep that promise and honor that obligation, we are taking control of our "inner voice" one kept promise and obligation at a time.

03/26/2025

Most of us would mock or laugh at the runner in lane 2.

→ Are they doing well?
→ Are they keeping up with the pack?
→ Are they demonstrating great form?

Probably not...

But they are miles ahead of those that haven't yet started, those that were too afraid to run at all, those that quit, and those critics still in the bleachers.

Many people will spend their entire lives watching a race like this from the sidelines:
→ Preparing for the "right moment" to enter themselves
→ Waiting for permission from someone
→ Criticizing those that are participating

Others will simply decide to "just get in the race". Our personal hurdles and efforts are sometimes messy and often misunderstood. But we should give ourselves credit for being in the race.

Progress and achievement is created by action and effort; not by waiting and criticizing. So the next time you hear criticism about something you are doing, ask yourself...
→ Are they in the race with me?
→ Or are they just complaining from the sidelines?

It can be intimidating to be in a race sometimes. We can feel silly or that we don't fit in. We can be discouraged that others in the race are doing much better than us. But what is the alternative?

How many of us spend our entire lives...
→ In a job we don't want to be in
→ With someone we know we shouldn't be with or without someone we should be with
→ With the body, career, and/or finances we don't want

Yes... it can be risky. However, we can't become the best version of ourselves waiting and observing from the sidelines. We must get in the race.

03/19/2025

One of my fondest memories as a kid was participating each year in the NCAA March Madness Basketball Brackets at my dad's work.

Back then, there were no electronic brackets online. All brackets were manually filled in on a piece of paper. I actually liked it better that way. I remember my dad coming home with a stack of those paper brackets. After each game, he would let me highlight the losing teams and manually update the points.

It didn't matter that I never won; actually after the first weekend of upsets, it was pretty much over for me every year 😆. It was just a fun way to spend time with my dad.

Three years ago, when Chase was starting to like sports more and knowing that it was most likely my dad's last year, we decided to bring back the tradition of the brackets. It was a way to introduce this tradition to my kids.

This year, our youngest Dean is starting to like sports more as well and is equally excited to pick his brackets. Chase decided to make our bracket tournament a yearly tradition now and would like it to grow each year.

So for anyone else that would like to join us and participate this year, fill out your bracket at this Ryan Family NCAA Bracket Link at https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=257&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=2bbf699c-a4fd-4b69-abee-6383f7937763&joinKey=043b96b1-5c0c-34b6-99eb-5d89c4e7bd83

Chase would love to have you join us. It is free for anyone to join. The first game is Thursday at 12 noon. So all picks must be submitted by then.

Once again, this is just for bragging rights, a fun way to remember my Dad, and continue the family tradition. The more that want to join, the merrier.

03/12/2025

Last Wednesday was the first day of Lent. As a kid, Lent was a time to:
→ Pick something to give up for 40 days
→ Not eat meat on Friday
→ Work the Fish Fry on Fridays at my school (and get cash tips!)
→ Try to be a little bit nicer to everyone during this time
→ Countdown to Easter

I will be the first to admit that Lent was pretty much a routine that I did because I thought I had to. As I got older and gained my autonomy, I stopped practicing Lent. It wasn't really a conscious choice to stop. Life just happened. I got busy and preoccupied with other things.

Some reading this can relate and have had a similar detachment with Lent. While others are avid Lent participants still and are reading this with ashes still on their forehead from church last week. And there are others that have never practiced Lent, nor ever heard about it.

Regardless of what Lent experience we identify with, there is something to be said about being intentional for a period of time each year to reflect and improve ourselves. In its purist form, that is what Lent is all about.

As a father of two young boys now, Lisa and I continually look for positive routines and habits to use as teaching opportunities. The Ryan Family 2025 Version of Lent will be a little bit different than one many of us grew up with. We will still eat meat. We LOVE to eat meat. We will not focus on having to give anything up.

Instead we will use these 40 days to live intentionally. Our focus for this year will be COURAGE. We plan to do our best to discuss each day how we can display courage and become leaders in our world.

Courage is NOT:
→ Found by looking to fictional TV characters as examples
→ When you say something on social media hidden behind your electronic device
→ Waiting for someone else to say something first or give you permission to act

Courage is:
→ Doing the right thing no matter what others say
→ Speaking up when you see something that is wrong
→ Admitting that you made a mistake and learn from it
→ Facing challenging obstacles head on

True courage is hard. It takes practice. And like a muscle, we have to work on it if we want it to grow.

03/05/2025

Fleas are one of the smallest insects. They are known for having one of the highest vertical leaps of any insect based on their size. A flee can jump up to 36 inches in the air.

If you catch a flea, put it in a jar, and put the lid on the jar, that flea still has a 36 inch vertical leap. So it will start jumping in that jar and start hitting its head at the top of the jar. And once this starts happening, the flea starts to make adjustments. So then the flea reduces its jump. And it eventually jumps just high enough to where it almost touches the lid, but not to hit the lid anymore so it doesn't get knocked back down.

If you put another flea in the jar, that flea will have the same 36 inch vertical. But it too will eventually start jumping just high enough to not hit the lid anymore so it too doesn't get knocked back down.

If the lid from the jar is removed, the fleas will not jump out. In fact, the fleas will never jump higher than the level set by the lid. Their behavior is now set for the rest of their lives.

If these fleas have baby fleas in the jar, the baby fleas are born with a 36 inch vertical. But because their parents showed them only a 4 inch jump so they don't get hit, these baby fleas will end up jumping just as high as their parents jump.

As humans, we do the same thing. We allow
→ Our environment to dictate to us how high to jump
→ The approval of our friends and family to drive our actions
→ The media to tell us how to think or act

Think about what we wanted to be when we grew up
→ Why did most of us give up on that dream?
→ Who made us put the lid get put on our jar?
→ What do still have the lid on our jar?

Sometimes, the most effective way to take the lid off our own jar is to inspire others to keep the lid off their jar. Kids have no lids whatsoever on their jars yet. One of the reasons that I enjoy coaching youth sports is that most kids still believe that they can play professional sports one day. It is my obligation as a parent and coach to keep this passion, work ethic, and belief alive as long as possible.

No matter who we are. No matter where we are in our lives. We can take the lid off our jar.

Jared Ryan - Bold Realty

05/21/2025

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