It was four weeks before he accepted, he said.
He had intended to help Cabinet minister and Rotorua MP Todd McClay's re-election, after backing him in 2011.
"I talked to my grandfather - John Appleton - as well as colleagues who are involved in politics, and businesses in New South Wales.
"They were all diplomatic but their advice was take the opportunity, the experience and contacts made will be beneficial in the long run.
"I do know I would have been better off financially if I had not said yes," he said.
Mr Russell said he believed in people helping themselves before seeking help from others.
Growing up on the Reporoa farm of his parents Wayne and Denise Russell prepared him for hard work, he said.
"We had strong rural values but politics wasn't a main talking point around the dinner table.
"Whenever there was work to do on the farm we all helped out."
The Reporoa area is close to his heart - he went to Mihi School and Reporoa College, before heading to Victoria University.
He was not a standout student - either academically or sporting - he said.
"I was environmental captain," he laughed.
He took up road cycling to keep fit, completing the 160km circuit of Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, and the 100K Flyer from Rotorua to Taupo, plus the Taupo half marathon.
He is back with his parents during the election lead-up.
A six-month school exchange programme on a Kansas ranch gave him the opportunity to see how things were done differently in a bigger world.
"I really enjoyed the time away, the people were great but at the end of the day I missed New Zealand, it's paradise, you can't beat it."
Mr Russell's ambitious streak was not directed entirely towards political life which he sees as just one step on the ladder.
He was motivated by a proven career path offered by American Income Life, he said.
He admitted suffering from nerves during election debates and doesn't want to let the party down, he said.
ACT patriarch Richard Prebble told him to touch his toes and look upwards to help control the nerves.
Others suggested reciting "how now brown cow" to warm the vocal chords.
"Everyone knows I'm new and I get nervous before each debate.
"But I have had good feedback from the debates so far."
He believed in ACT's core values that the state should not do for the people what the people can do for themselves.
"I consider a vote for ACT as a vote for stability," he said. "Where is stability in a vote for the Left?"
Lyall Russell
• Born/Bred: Te Kuiti, before shifting to Reporoa
• Education: Mihi Primary School/Reporoa College/Victoria University.
• Biggest Inspiration: Sir Edmund Hillary. He showed anyone can overcome the highest limits.
• What law change would you enact in parliament?: "Not so much changing the law but working to free up restrictions to personal freedoms to allow people to achieve what they wanted to do in a safe society."
• Best MP?: Sir Roger Douglas. He reformed the economy that, while not overly popular, allowed the country to prosper and be safeguarded against the global recession.
