Inspiring Conversations with Ryan Cass of Won Day

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Cass.  

Hi Ryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’m most passionate about helping people establish a foundation for sustained success in their lives, and I believe that starts by incorporating goal-setting into daily life. Growing up, I was not the most focused person especially going through High School as I cared more about athletics than anything else. I spent more time focusing on wrestling than I did academics because it was a mental and emotional release for me at the time as I grew up in a household with a systemic trend of alcohol, mental, and emotional abuse. 

I always had a vision for being a successful leader, business owner, and someone who would change the course for my family to ensure a prosperous life for future generations to come. In order for that to occur, I needed to do something different, which led me to attending The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. 

This turned out to be one of my best life decisions as I developed and retained strong goal-setting habits, refined my focus, and built the foundation for the life I live today. During my first semester, the fall of 2011, I wrote a list of goals for the first time in my life. Accomplishing some of those goals was the best feeling ever, and I never turned back from there. This simple list of goals evolved into a “Success Book” where I have documented each goal I have written since college. 

Since discovering the power of goal setting in 2011, I realized that the benefits of goal setting are not as widely spread as they should be, and that became a big driver towards starting my own brand. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for being intentional about goals, having amazing mentors, and surrounding myself with the right people. I want to help as many people as possible to be able to experience the same thing and live amazing lives! 

I love what I do through my brand, Won Day. It allows me the opportunity to teach people how to be more intentional, overcome obstacles, and chart the course that they want for their lives. I believe that the best gift in life is to give back! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. I am grateful for the bumps in the road, though. I believe that they simply serve as learning blocks and can provide the greatest opportunities for growth. 

The biggest struggle that turned into the greatest opportunity was experiencing years’ worth of witnessing alcohol, mental, and emotional abuse at home. This is something that has been passed down in my family and it created a lot of difficulty at home that made me upset at the world until I learned about the power of a positive mindset and how to take control of life itself. Without this struggle, I likely would not have started Won Day, therefore I am grateful for it in a unique way. 

When I began publicly sharing my passion for personal development and coaching, I felt imposter syndrome which impacted my confidence. Some people did make fun of me which made me debate going down this road; I’m grateful for those people as well because they have made me better. 

I encourage people to view roadblocks and setbacks as nothing but opportunities. They make you stronger and we should embrace them. Short-term pain, long-term gain. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my full-time role, I have the opportunity to serve as a Quality Engineering Manager at The Boeing Company. In this role, I work with my team to ensure that we’re leading efforts to improve the production system and eliminate defects during the manufacturing process. I have always loved airplanes and I am in awe whenever I walk through the factory and step foot on the 787 Dreamliner. 

In addition to my work at Boeing, I run my business, Won Day. I named it Won Day because at some point in life we have all said something along the lines of “one day I am going to have x,y,z.” When the day comes, it’s a win, hence Won Day. Through Won Day, I educate, coach, and connect. Goal Setting and Habit Development are my two niche areas within personal development. I educate and inspire through the speaking side of my business, delivering speeches to thousands of students and leaders each year about the power of goal setting and how it may impact your life. I love sharing my story about overcoming obstacles at home and how it has made me a better person. 

I offer a coaching component to my business where I work with people on a 1:1 basis focusing on building strong habits, forming goals, and ensuring that everything remains in place over time. I am currently working on launching a group coaching mastermind in addition to a paid accountability group where there will be opportunities for large groups of people to connect with each other and share best practices related to goal setting and habits. 

Finally, I connect with people through my podcast, Win Today. The mission of the Win Today podcast is to inspire people to win today by connecting with amazing leaders and sharing amazing stories. 

Ultimately, I am focused on impact and helping people. That means more to me than the awards and titles. The best accomplishment in my book is when someone tells me that my speaking, coaching, or podcast made an impact on them to set goals and do great things. This is why I love what I do. I believe that my intense focus on people, self-discipline, and constant pursuit of pushing my limits is what helps separate me.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Love this question! If you’re in a corporate setting, I believe that finding the person that’s in the job that you want to have or that has had the job that you want to have in the future is a good place to start. Don’t be afraid to ask them for the opportunity to sit down with them and learn from them. I’ve learned that at the end of the day, a senior executive is still a human and they’re not going to eat you. They welcome the opportunity more often than not. 

Next. find a group that aligns with your passion. In my case, I love a good mix of business and community, and therefore becoming involved in the Charleston Chamber of Commerce was the right pick for me. Since becoming involved in the Chamber, I have met several leaders that align with my passion and that have helped me. 

I’m also a huge fan of LinkedIn and use it regularly although I am not searching for a job. LinkedIn gives you access to millions of people all over the world and by simply putting out a post as simple as “searching for a business mentor”, you can open many new doors. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ryan@wondaytoday.com
• Website: www.wondaytoday.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondaytoday/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WonDayToday
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/win-today/id1550874329

Image Credits
Alex Shi
Jaime Huddy