Michael Yang, founder of the online comparison-shopping company mySimon.com, has plenty of achievements to his name. He is an entrepreneur, tech pioneer, adventurer, and now author. In his debut memoir, Coming Alive on the Ride, he tells the story of a life defined by ambition, adversity, and self-discovery, against the backdrop of thousands of miles traveled on two wheels.
But this isn’t just the story of a successful businessman riding motorcycles with his friends. At its heart, it’s about chasing the American Dream and discovering that achievement is only part of what makes life meaningful.
Michael’s story begins in postwar South Korea, where his family experienced financial hardship and uncertainty. When he was 14, his family immigrated to the United States in search of greater opportunities.
After adapting to a new life in a new land, he eventually found his place in Silicon Valley as the technology revolution took off. He experienced many successes and failures before founding mySimon.com, which was eventually acquired by tech media company CNET.
Years later, Michael returned to a passion he discovered when he was young: motorcycles. After traveling more than 40,000 of miles across four countries and 37 states, he found something often missing from everyday life: time to reflect on where he had been, what he had learned, and what truly mattered.
Three Takeaways from Coming Alive on the Ride:
Life is Beautiful
From coastlines and forests to deserts and mountain ranges, nature is a constant presence throughout Michael’s journeys. Seeing those landscapes from behind the visor of a motorcycle changed his perspective, while hours on the road provided the space to simply pay attention. One such moment came while riding near Mount Rainier: “I just stared in awe at the mountain’s majesty — nature has a way of humbling us in moments like these,” he writes.
Psychologists describe this effect of awe as the “small self,” a temporary reduction of self-focus when we are in the presence of something much larger than ourselves. That shift in perspective can increase feelings of connection and pull our attention away from everyday worries.
Michael experiences another moment of awe while visiting St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Completely overwhelmed by its beauty, he asks: “If these men created such magnificent works hundreds of years ago to honor God, what will I create in my life?”
These moments offered more than just admiration; it was an opportunity to view his life differently.
The Art of Bouncing Back
There are many instances of adversity throughout Michael’s life. Instead of allowing setbacks to define him, he was forced to adapt and find ways to move forward. Whether standing up to childhood bully, immigrating to a new country sight unseen, or being pushed out of a company he helped build, each obstacle proved to be the fuel he needed to push through and find success.
“Yet, amid the challenges, I felt a renewed sense of faith and determination,” Michael writes. “I knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but I was committed to finding a way forward.”
That resilience eventually helped steer him toward his greatest entrepreneurial success: starting mySimon. His perseverance reminds us that bouncing back doesn’t always mean returning to where you were, but rather changing the direction of the course.
What Does it All Mean?
Perhaps the most touching lesson in Coming Alive on the Ride is Michael’s introspective look back at the life he has built. His long motorcycle journeys provided hours of solitude he couldn’t find in everyday life.
During a 40-day, 12,250-mile journey to Newfoundland, he found himself thinking extensively about his childhood in Korea, immigrating to American, his accomplishments, his family, and the path he had charted in Silicon Valley. When we are wrapped up in our day-to-day business, we don’t get the chance to really reflect on we are grateful to have in our lives.
“There is nothing quite like a long journey to refresh and recalibrate your soul,” Michael writes.
The solitude gave him time away from the noise to truly discover meaning behind the life he has already lived. His relationships with his family and friends provided deep connections. His immigrant identity helped shape his tenacity to pursue the American Dream. Each success and failure became an opportunity to learn, and his adventures became less about what was at the end of the road and more about embracing journey along the way.
Most of us won’t have the opportunity to embark on a quest of self-discovery, nor do we have to. This was Michael’s path, and each of us has to find our own. The real lesson from Coming Alive on the Ride isn’t about how far we travel, but whether we make enough space to notice where we are. Meaning and purpose can be found in life when we slow down and pay attention to what really matters: strong relationships, awe-inspiring moments, and the experiences that make us feel fully alive.
