Philanthropy when you're wired for self-reliance.

I pride myself on getting the job done, making my boss' life easier, accomplishing the mission... "Don't worry about me! I'll get it done!"

However, I also listen to podcasts, read leadership books, attend a church, and have life experiences that tell me that life works best when its working collaboratively. We were made for community, we were made to help. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” say the wise words of what the internet vaguely calls an "African proverb."

That brings me to the decision-turned-mild-obsession of wanting to run my 4th marathon, and to make it this year's 50th running of the New York City Marathon. But I cant do it alone.

I didn't hit the entrance lottery. So, after talking with my wife we decided I would run for a cause. The Breathe Team for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

There are three kids of friends in my life that have CF and the struggle is real: nightly treatments, daily medicine, the need to eat WAY more calories than a normal adult because their bodies are fighting an infection it will never conquer on its own... But there is hope! New treatments have come out in the last year alone that can vastly improve 90% of the cases of CF. Now is as important as ever to continue the push, to keep funding those who are researching the cure, to give these kids a hope of a life expectancy never seen before for people with CF.

And something happened to me too! My self-reliance says: "OK Mike, you pay 10X the normal entrance fee in order to achieve your goal." This cause says: "Spread the word and give your community the chance to help contribute to something that matters."

So this chronically self-reliant person is reaching out and asking you to:

• Research CF - see what it is, how do people and families with this disease live, what is the clinical outlook?
• Think about how you can help - shameless plug, you can donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and support my run here. All donations go straight to the Foundation (not to my running fees).
• Find your community and your cause - The impact of having to rely on you to help, and tell this story in a way that we can make a difference in the CF community has taken me beyond my self-reliant mindset. Find what you care about and engage your community!! It will change you for the better.

Do I love asking for money? Nope, hate it.

Do I have any problem asking you to support a truly worthy cause? NOT. AT. ALL.

And that is a beautiful lesson to learn. It's bigger than me and I can't do it alone, but we can together!