(00:00:00.349): This episode is sponsored by The Bridge to Recovery, (00:00:03.590): a nonprofit program on 115 acres near Bowling Green, (00:00:07.411): Kentucky, (00:00:08.531): a tranquil place where they've been changing lives for over 40 years. (00:00:12.392): Their people improve their quality of life by acknowledging past emotional wounds (00:00:17.013): and healing from all forms of trauma. (00:00:19.374): The CEO, Paul Hamlin, has been a friend of mine for 20 years. (00:00:23.275): Call him directly at 858-945-7848. (00:00:27.836): That's 858-945-7848. (00:00:30.977): Or you can learn more about the Bridge to Recovery by clicking the link in the show (00:00:35.618): notes or visiting thebridgetorecovery.com. (00:00:42.741): Thank you for listening to The Path to Authenticity. (00:00:45.882): My name is Tom Gentry. (00:00:48.769): I think of this show as the opposite of small talk. (00:00:52.871): You'll hear real conversations with real people who know who they are. (00:00:58.895): We talk about what makes them who they are, (00:01:01.677): how they became who they are, (00:01:03.678): and how we might become truer expressions of who we are. (00:01:11.342): I'm Jamie Vance, and this is The Path to Authenticity. (00:01:31.724): I'm Tom Gentry. (00:01:33.405): Thanks for listening to The Path to Authenticity. (00:01:38.670): This episode features a conversation with a friend and colleague named Jamie Vance. (00:01:45.655): Jamie lives in Nashville, Tennessee. (00:01:47.677): And he's just someone who I respect. (00:01:56.169): professionally, personally, you name it. (00:01:59.652): He's one of the best people you'll ever meet. (00:02:05.516): So we get to hear about what he's doing with the company he's built, (00:02:08.539): the Vance group and how we got there. (00:02:12.522): And you'll, you'll definitely get a sense of what a great guy he is from this conversation. (00:02:19.067): So I hope you enjoy it. (00:02:20.308): Jamie Vance. (00:02:33.025): Jamie, how's it going? (00:02:35.487): Good, man. (00:02:36.188): It's good. (00:02:36.828): Just, you know, nice weather outside. (00:02:40.010): Got a little trail run in today. (00:02:43.132): You know, I think it's in the 70s here. (00:02:46.114): Probably not as warm as it is down there, but it's nice. (00:02:49.356): And, you know, just one day at a time, man. (00:02:54.955): Well, this is a nice little surprise, having an opportunity to have you on the podcast. (00:03:01.838): And I really didn't plan it or expect it and just kind of thought of it and reached (00:03:07.321): out to you over the weekend. (00:03:08.682): And it came together quick. (00:03:10.923): Here we are. (00:03:11.683): So thank you. (00:03:13.324): Yeah, I'll try not to let you down. (00:03:14.785): You're not going to. (00:03:16.568): Come on. (00:03:17.009): What are you talking about? (00:03:19.611): No, you never have before. (00:03:20.872): I don't expect you to do it now. (00:03:22.573): So why don't you just take a minute to tell the folks listening what it is you do (00:03:29.398): and what a typical day in the life for Jamie Vance looks like? (00:03:32.521): Man, a typical day in the life. (00:03:36.504): And what do I do? (00:03:39.306): You know, there's no... (00:03:42.637): other thing to call what I do than a consultant. (00:03:45.699): But, you know, consultant sounds way too advisory for what I actually do every day. (00:03:53.283): And so various types of companies and organizations, (00:03:58.166): I work with them on, (00:04:01.428): you know, (00:04:01.688): my background is marketing and behavioral health. (00:04:04.609): But I've ended up, (00:04:06.931): you know, (00:04:07.191): working with a lot of different types of companies, (00:04:09.332): organizations, (00:04:10.153): individuals, (00:04:12.666): And basically, (00:04:14.086): in marketing or personal performance or anything, (00:04:18.087): you know, (00:04:18.467): there are blocks to success. (00:04:21.448): You know, (00:04:21.808): the same as in, (00:04:22.969): you know, (00:04:23.229): there are certain blocks to personal health and other things. (00:04:27.050): There are blocks to realizing that success. (00:04:31.131): And so what I do is I come in and work with them, (00:04:36.992): work with their team on helping them to realize that. (00:04:41.233): And (00:04:42.032): It's a lot more, (00:04:44.814): you know, (00:04:45.154): kind of on the ground with them than, (00:04:48.236): you know, (00:04:48.896): than it is, (00:04:49.696): you know, (00:04:50.077): some advisory type of position. (00:04:52.918): And it looks different in a lot of different scenarios. (00:04:56.840): I think my sweet spot in the marketing realm is to take, you know, 10 of your, you know, (00:05:11.289): outreach representative, (00:05:12.530): sales representative, (00:05:13.651): whatever the vernacular is, (00:05:15.913): and work with them individually to improve performance. (00:05:19.976): That's helped me a lot in my life, and so that's one of the things I really like to do. (00:05:24.260): But I do everything from working out business plans for large companies, (00:05:31.386): consulting other leaders on how to best lead their teams, (00:05:35.509): doing workshops on organizational health, which is something that's really important to me. (00:05:42.191): And then, you know, startups of creating the total marketing engine and getting that to work. (00:05:51.114): That's what I do. (00:05:52.535): But a day in the life looks like, (00:05:54.155): you know, (00:05:54.915): if it's not right now, (00:05:56.276): I've been sleeping a little later right now for some reason until about 530, (00:05:59.217): but (00:06:00.680): Usually I'll get up at 4.30 and get my day going and do some meditation and, (00:06:07.522): you know, (00:06:07.782): make some breakfast or something like that and get after it. (00:06:11.883): You know, I work on all the coasts, and so my days are pretty full. (00:06:15.944): And I go train jujitsu at about 11 o'clock and then come back. (00:06:21.766): And, you know, I always told somebody once that they were, you know, the best man. (00:06:26.414): group and they said what's your dream job and i said i don't know exactly but if i (00:06:30.557): could show up and board shorts and flip-flop uh that would be it so some days i get (00:06:35.281): to do that and so that's pretty cool uh but that's what a day in the life looks (00:06:40.404): like when it's not you know we're not under a pandemic lockdown i i tend to travel (00:06:46.189): quite a bit and so i'll go on site and work with teams uh on the ground a lot uh (00:06:53.121): And then I come home and I play with my kids every day and I'm pretty normal. (00:07:01.964): Well, I would consider you above normal or at least above average in my book. (00:07:12.567): And modest is another way I would describe you. (00:07:15.048): So... (00:07:19.568): What's your story? (00:07:20.869): How'd you get here to this place in life where this is what you're doing? (00:07:26.711): Yeah, it's interesting, man. (00:07:28.152): I mean, (00:07:29.693): specifically, (00:07:33.114): I'll answer that in a second, (00:07:34.715): you know, (00:07:35.035): specifically how the Vance Group formed is its own story. (00:07:41.018): How I got here was that, you know, I grew up, my parents, (00:07:48.251): did healthcare. (00:07:49.853): Um, (00:07:50.894): I don't know if that had any influence or not, (00:07:53.816): uh, (00:07:54.257): on me working in that realm, (00:07:56.659): but, (00:07:57.400): you know, (00:07:57.680): I started, (00:07:58.741): um, (00:08:00.442): you know, (00:08:00.743): I didn't graduate from high school. (00:08:02.524): I didn't go to college. (00:08:03.705): I did go to college, but I didn't graduate from college. (00:08:06.788): Uh, (00:08:07.889): but, (00:08:08.630): um, (00:08:09.010): most of my work ethic and anything that I've kind of learned, (00:08:12.814): I learned through, (00:08:13.995): um, (00:08:14.468): you know, agriculture and like being out among the world and working with people. (00:08:18.550): And, you know, one of the things that, you know, I polished that later on in life. (00:08:23.952): I think that's important. (00:08:25.032): But, (00:08:25.793): you know, (00:08:26.633): the raw piece of it was, (00:08:28.694): you know, (00:08:29.114): being out among the world and, (00:08:31.515): you know, (00:08:31.815): the average person in learning how to get along with other people. (00:08:36.837): I think that's the number one skill that (00:08:39.542): you can be as smart as you want to, (00:08:41.283): but if you can't work with somebody, (00:08:43.205): you're not going to get anything done. (00:08:44.666): So, you know, I kind of learned that and learned to kind of hustle a little bit. (00:08:49.169): And so those are my two saving graces, I think. (00:08:52.131): And then I got into behavioral health through my own personal recovery. (00:08:56.895): I was sober and wanted to work with addicts. (00:09:00.558): And so I worked on an adolescent addiction unit and then, (00:09:04.661): you know, (00:09:05.982): tried, (00:09:06.442): was going to do kind of the therapy route, (00:09:08.904): but (00:09:10.282): If you don't know me, (00:09:13.304): if you do know me, (00:09:14.165): rather, (00:09:14.965): you would know that sitting in a room all day talking to people, (00:09:17.867): I'm going to kind of phase out and, (00:09:19.748): you know, (00:09:20.169): pretty quick. (00:09:20.829): So I need to be up and moving and accomplishing a lot. (00:09:24.432): It's important for me. (00:09:25.552): I got what they call the ADD. (00:09:27.914): So I like to do a lot of things. (00:09:30.576): And so the role in business development opened up and I had no idea why. (00:09:37.315): really what I was getting into, but I got into it. (00:09:40.336): And for me, it's just kind of a failure is not an option kind of person. (00:09:44.878): If I've got, you know, two legs and two hands, then I've got a chance. (00:09:49.080): And so I just kind of made that work at first and then made that work for a while (00:09:56.043): and learned, (00:09:58.344): you know, (00:09:58.664): a long time ago that there's nothing wrong with asking for help and kind of (00:10:05.286): mirroring other people. (00:10:07.094): And so I've always had mentors and coaches. (00:10:10.856): And then I went on to work for a company and that was kind of a lucky thing because (00:10:16.279): that company had a really invested a lot into their employees. (00:10:21.961): And so I was able to receive a lot of coaching to kind of smooth off some of my (00:10:25.983): rough edges and just learn some things. (00:10:29.685): And so I was a, (00:10:31.838): rep there for a number of years and then became a vice president, (00:10:37.101): was recruited to be a vice president and was having to fly out west a lot and (00:10:46.005): didn't hate it but didn't love it either and learned a lot about myself and learned (00:10:52.148): that I work really well if I'm the person you need and (00:10:58.570): then you let me do what I do. (00:11:00.651): And I've learned to also do that with other people. (00:11:03.573): But if I'm the person you need, but you won't let me do what I do, that's a no start. (00:11:08.775): So I was fortunate enough to work for a guy named Kevin Lee. (00:11:14.718): And he taught me a whole lot. (00:11:16.099): And he was the CEO of a company and hired me as his chief marketing officer. (00:11:21.681): Both of us knew that (00:11:23.243): I didn't have the on-paper qualifications, (00:11:25.885): and there were probably other people that he could have got, (00:11:28.226): but we grew that company a whole lot, (00:11:31.448): and I learned a lot along the way. (00:11:35.351): Just about, (00:11:36.011): you know, (00:11:36.331): from him, (00:11:36.751): he was a really kind of humble guy and really nice to all his employees, (00:11:40.254): and I just really loved how he just was who he was, (00:11:43.976): you know, (00:11:44.196): and he never changed, (00:11:46.417): and success didn't change him, (00:11:47.978): and nothing changed him. (00:11:49.079): He had several, you know, successful ventures, and (00:11:52.901): He was just cool. (00:11:55.222): But he was also very perceptive and kind of operated on a few set principles. (00:12:00.245): And any successful person I've ever met does that. (00:12:04.388): So I learned a lot in that experience. (00:12:06.289): And then, (00:12:06.629): you know, (00:12:06.989): after a while, (00:12:07.710): I think that you find, (00:12:11.652): for me anyway, (00:12:12.653): people like me find that, (00:12:15.154): you know, (00:12:15.434): there's a confinement and that you have to continue to grow. (00:12:19.557): And my next (00:12:20.660): stage uh which is how i formed the dance group a few years ago um i like doing (00:12:26.543): things that that are really hard and i have no idea what i'm doing i think it's (00:12:31.126): always good to be engaged in something like that and so i started brazilian jujitsu (00:12:37.409): a couple years ago um and you know you're a white belt when you start right and you (00:12:43.753): just basically uh kindly you know (00:12:49.264): get beat up for, you know, a couple of years because you're not good at it. (00:12:53.305): So it's such a, (00:12:55.846): you know, (00:12:56.206): technique based thing that, (00:12:57.846): you know, (00:12:58.326): what happens is, (00:12:59.067): you know, (00:13:00.547): 40 year old athletes like me go in there and think they still got it and all the (00:13:04.668): brute brawn and strength that you have is not going to do anything. (00:13:07.469): And so my first experience was that, (00:13:10.450): you know, (00:13:10.670): I just got mauled by like a hundred thousand woman and I was like, (00:13:14.571): okay. (00:13:15.851): Uh, and so, you know, I, I, (00:13:19.565): also met a lot of really cool people. (00:13:21.647): And one of those guys named Andre Kutrich, (00:13:24.949): and he's a black belt out of Studio 540 in San Diego, (00:13:29.332): which is a really neat thing. (00:13:31.994): But also he is, (00:13:35.176): you know, (00:13:35.476): an executive in behavioral health and healthcare, (00:13:37.758): you know, (00:13:38.258): and has a good tenure in that. (00:13:41.280): And I was in, (00:13:42.001): you know, (00:13:42.401): there and just, (00:13:44.843): you know, (00:13:45.163): for the last several years, (00:13:47.064): you know, (00:13:47.364): I've been pushing people (00:13:49.119): rocks up hills with companies and that's what i'm good at doing and you know but (00:13:54.262): after a period of time our industry kind of took a shift and he was like you know (00:13:58.865): we were doing a private lesson and i think he could tell that i was just kind of (00:14:01.887): wearing it and we were just sitting there on the mat you know kind of rolling and (00:14:05.909): doing some stuff he's like man what's going on and i kind of told him he was like (00:14:10.151): here's what i want you to do (00:14:11.843): and I love that I have people in my life like this, (00:14:14.224): you know, (00:14:14.425): he's like, (00:14:14.705): here's what I want you to do. (00:14:15.645): You didn't, you know, dance around or anything. (00:14:18.027): He was just like direct to it. (00:14:20.388): Um, I want you to start a company and I want you to work for yourself. (00:14:24.150): And, and what I think you need to do is call it the Vance Group and, (00:14:28.720): yeah, you're one person, but, you know, collectively, you know, I've seen you do it a lot. (00:14:33.642): If there's a project that needs to happen in this space, (00:14:36.584): you can bring the right people to do it together and you won't do a bad job because (00:14:41.146): you won't let somebody work on the project that's not good. (00:14:44.527): And so whatever it is, you can do. (00:14:46.968): And I was like, yeah, whatever. (00:14:48.009): He's like, no, really, I want you to do this and you need to start it. (00:14:50.350): I was like, I love it. (00:14:51.610): And so I kind of dipped my toe in the water. (00:14:55.312): And then I got a call that (00:14:57.867): the position I had that I didn't have anymore, (00:15:01.109): and I've never lost a position in my life, (00:15:04.431): ever, (00:15:05.372): except, (00:15:05.712): you know, (00:15:06.192): a long time ago, (00:15:07.073): but not in any recent history, (00:15:09.955): and that just wasn't a part of my story, (00:15:11.896): and I'm a big, (00:15:14.118): like, (00:15:14.298): David Goggins fan, (00:15:15.518): and just, (00:15:16.199): you know, (00:15:17.560): I don't kind of follow anybody. (00:15:19.241): I kind of follow my own beliefs and ideas, but (00:15:23.140): You know, I am like a no rear view mirror kind of a guy. (00:15:26.942): And so, you know, I came home and told my wife, like, yeah, I lost my job. (00:15:31.964): She, you know, devastated. (00:15:33.705): You know, we've got four kids and new house and, you know, it wasn't a good situation. (00:15:38.888): And she's like, so what are you going to do? (00:15:42.049): And I said, (00:15:42.589): well, (00:15:43.870): you know, (00:15:44.170): for the past 10, (00:15:47.372): 15 years, (00:15:47.992): I've been, (00:15:48.552): you know, (00:15:48.893): leading people towards, (00:15:51.334): you know, (00:15:52.626): exactly what to do right now you know so how do you go make it work um and you know (00:16:00.631): it was the first time that 100 i had to really practice what i preached and you (00:16:05.815): know i always tell people to work for me you got to hustle you got to do five (00:16:10.238): meetings a day and at least 20 phone calls you know i mean the number doesn't (00:16:14.321): matter but if you want something you you have to work for it it's just you should (00:16:18.423): what are you going to do (00:16:19.582): I said, (00:16:19.762): well, (00:16:19.962): I'm going to wake up tomorrow and I'm not going to go to sleep until, (00:16:23.224): you know, (00:16:24.225): I figure it out. (00:16:25.406): And so I formed the company in like one day. (00:16:27.607): I had no client. (00:16:29.549): I had one client, (00:16:30.529): but it was just a small thing because I dipped my toe in the water with it a little bit. (00:16:35.413): So I had one client and, you know, I just really got after it. (00:16:42.137): I called a few of my mentors because it kind of shook me in my pride and my ego. (00:16:46.741): that I'd lost a position. (00:16:48.742): How could they do that? (00:16:49.662): Don't they know how great I was for the organization? (00:16:53.764): In retrospect, ethically, I probably wouldn't have done that. (00:16:59.486): I've had to eliminate positions before. (00:17:01.988): I'm just the kind of guy that I'll make sure you land okay. (00:17:06.630): I think for me, (00:17:07.930): actually, (00:17:08.310): it was a good thing because I needed to be forced into what I'm doing right now or (00:17:13.593): I would have never done it. (00:17:15.307): the way that I'm doing it now. (00:17:17.288): And, (00:17:17.628): um, (00:17:19.188): you know, (00:17:19.728): it, (00:17:20.008): it, (00:17:20.368): I was sure that it was going to take, (00:17:24.289): you know, (00:17:24.669): six months to get kind of solvent with the company and everything where it needed (00:17:28.631): to be. (00:17:29.091): And, (00:17:30.271): um, (00:17:31.291): it took off very quickly and, (00:17:33.012): and I just, (00:17:34.892): it was invigorating for me because I just got to really hustle and grind again and (00:17:40.414): be smart with my time and, (00:17:42.381): and have fun. (00:17:43.261): And, and, and that's what I've been doing. (00:17:45.502): And, um, I really enjoy it. (00:17:48.263): And, (00:17:48.944): you know, (00:17:49.284): it's, (00:17:49.644): it's really good because, (00:17:51.745): you know, (00:17:51.985): I get to really see those tangible results. (00:17:54.346): It's a hundred percent, (00:17:55.706): you know, (00:17:56.046): results and performance oriented and I either perform or I don't. (00:18:00.108): And I like being in that position. (00:18:02.069): So, um, I think it's taken, you know, it's added a few years to my life. (00:18:06.590): I mean, I feel, you know, better, younger, and just, you know, I'm not carrying anything (00:18:11.403): weight that's not mine so that's it well and you know one of the things that i've (00:18:19.988): experienced at least to some degree in my career is and and i'm sure you can relate (00:18:25.831): to this that you know at some point as you progress um (00:18:34.835): I mean, (00:18:35.215): if you're like me, (00:18:37.017): and I think you're this way too, (00:18:40.419): you get to a point where you can't be as good as you are if you're working for (00:18:49.226): somebody else. (00:18:50.547): It just gets in your way. (00:18:52.148): Unless it's just the exactly right set of circumstances, you know? (00:18:58.974): Which is hard to find. (00:19:01.215): Yeah, I think it's hard to find (00:19:03.717): I think it's possible, if you know that concept, I think it's possible to create. (00:19:11.739): I've done a good job as a leader and I've done a really bad job. (00:19:15.579): So, (00:19:16.120): you know, (00:19:16.640): I could talk for days about the bad things, (00:19:18.720): you know, (00:19:19): the things I've done that, (00:19:21.181): you know, (00:19:21.601): weren't good decisions. (00:19:22.781): But the one few times I can think of that I tried to make it that if you work for me, (00:19:30.863): it's almost like you don't. (00:19:32.879): And my only job is I think with leadership, (00:19:37.941): once somebody gets that opportunity, (00:19:40.122): they kind of don't know what it means. (00:19:41.962): And so they kind of just insert a bunch of stuff. (00:19:45.743): And, you know, I remove instead of add. (00:19:49.885): And so my only thing I did in leadership with a few people, (00:19:53.866): and it turned out really well, (00:19:55.607): was to just support them being successful. (00:19:58.968): Period. (00:20:01.189): Period. (00:20:02.386): Like, (00:20:03.767): I'm going to make you really successful at this thing because ultimately, (00:20:06.968): yes, (00:20:07.268): that would pay off for me. (00:20:08.348): And so I really got out of their way and I didn't, (00:20:12.070): you know, (00:20:12.430): have all the answers and it was more consultative and it worked really well. (00:20:17.172): Now, I haven't done that every time. (00:20:19.193): I'm sure there's people that could call you up right now and say, (00:20:21.413): well, (00:20:21.513): that's not what he did with me. (00:20:23.034): Yeah, I mean, it's true. (00:20:24.635): Yeah. (00:20:26.764): but a couple of times I have, and I learned a big lesson there. (00:20:30.365): So I think that it is possible to create that to some degree, certainly not typical. (00:20:36.027): And certainly for the most part, not what I've experienced. (00:20:39.247): I told you that one time, (00:20:40.948): I think, (00:20:41.288): you know, (00:20:41.708): with Kevin Lee, (00:20:43.709): I think that guy just knew how to make things work because, (00:20:47.810): you know, (00:20:49.070): he had been, (00:20:49.650): you know, (00:20:50.151): so many times in a position that he had to make that thing work. (00:20:54.452): So he just knew, (00:20:55.956): like hire good people get out of the way, you know? (00:20:59.298): Um, (00:21:00.339): but even then you've got to still deal with all the other people you work with and (00:21:04.481): all that kind of stuff. (00:21:05.441): And so there is, I think it is limiting. (00:21:07.723): I think that on my own, you know, it's just me. (00:21:11.625): So, you know, it does, I think it just causes me to perform better too. (00:21:17.008): Um, you know, I can tell you that especially early on and even today that, um, (00:21:25.112): I just had to really get after it because it was up to me. (00:21:31.377): I kind of rather it be that way. (00:21:33.539): People are uncomfortable with that. (00:21:35.220): I'm not. (00:21:38.483): Well, it's not that I'm not uncomfortable with it. (00:21:40.425): It's just that it's worth it to me. (00:21:42.146): So I'll go ahead and go through it. (00:21:43.407): I'll take the risk. (00:21:46.930): Well, and I've met a lot of people over the years in our industry who were (00:21:55.126): afraid to take the risk, you know, just afraid to venture out on their own. (00:22:01.550): Yeah. (00:22:03.171): And their own inner dialogue, they buy into that. (00:22:06.073): Well, I just can't make that work. (00:22:07.874): Even if it's a matter of being a therapist in private practice, (00:22:11.896): you know, (00:22:12.276): people convince themselves that, (00:22:13.897): well, (00:22:14.158): how am I going to get the business? (00:22:15.759): And they, (00:22:17.820): they get sucked into the illusion of security of working for somebody else or a big agency. (00:22:24.464): And, (00:22:26.657): One of the things that's really interesting to me about this time that we're going (00:22:31.619): through right now with this pandemic is that it's shining a light on the fact that (00:22:40.903): security is an illusion because it's just not real. (00:22:47.807): It's not. (00:22:48.567): I think that (00:22:53.479): you know, (00:22:53.799): you can certainly increase or decrease the odds, (00:22:56.982): you know, (00:22:57.362): on your own by what you do. (00:22:58.763): But I think that, you know, we're not guaranteed anything. (00:23:02.186): I'm not guaranteed another second, you know. (00:23:06.710): And that really changes. (00:23:08.431): And, (00:23:09.192): you know, (00:23:11.193): through some life circumstances that were, (00:23:13.916): you know, (00:23:14.256): kind of unfortunate, (00:23:15.597): I just live my life that way, (00:23:19.040): you know, (00:23:19.320): because I'm very aware of my own mortality. (00:23:23.790): Um, (00:23:24.671): and I'm also very aware of, (00:23:27.353): you know, (00:23:28.594): um, (00:23:29.094): how toxic, (00:23:30.776): um, (00:23:32.237): to way more people than me, (00:23:35.179): you know, (00:23:36.200): those limiting beliefs can be. (00:23:37.741): And so, um, you know, I'm not a perfect example of anything, but I think that, um, (00:23:51.354): it makes me really sad to think about, (00:23:54.756): and I've seen it, (00:23:55.577): you know, (00:23:56.017): so I don't want it for myself and I'm sure to some degree I still do it. (00:23:59.139): I'm not totally free of anything, (00:24:01.380): but I think that it just makes me sad to think about, (00:24:05.202): you know, (00:24:06.183): going through this life and not doing it the way, (00:24:11.326): you know, (00:24:12.607): not doing it to the extent that that fire inside you, (00:24:16.349): you know, (00:24:16.709): or just letting that fire die down. (00:24:18.650): I mean, God, uh, (00:24:21.445): there's nothing worse for me than to think about that, (00:24:24.888): you know, (00:24:25.768): well, (00:24:26.028): and that's with mediocrity. (00:24:28.690): Well, (00:24:28.931): and that, (00:24:29.211): that's really what this podcast is about is, (00:24:32.393): you know, (00:24:32.793): I mean that fire inside that you're talking about, (00:24:35.635): I mean, (00:24:36.796): can be, (00:24:37.937): you know, (00:24:39.483): synonymous with your own authenticity. (00:24:43.848): Like when we're in congruence with who we really are and what we're really supposed (00:24:49.234): to be doing, (00:24:50.656): then we do have that fire and it feeds everything that we do. (00:24:54.761): And, and we're better than, (00:24:58.374): at everything because of it, you know? (00:25:02.357): And for me, (00:25:04.358): what part of, (00:25:05.739): you know, (00:25:06.059): doing this podcast and what's been going on with me the last couple of years is at (00:25:11.422): some point I had to decide, (00:25:15.144): am I going to take another job in the interest of having a steady paycheck, (00:25:20.768): health insurance, (00:25:22.629): whatever it is? (00:25:24.653): You know, (00:25:25.113): but at the expense of doing what I really want to do, (00:25:30.415): you know, (00:25:31.416): and the last go around when, (00:25:34.237): you know, (00:25:34.497): I had this contract that lasted a couple of years and this job kind of ran its course. (00:25:42.219): it was okay, Tom, like what, you know, what are you going to do? (00:25:45.660): You're going to, (00:25:46.600): you're going to go, (00:25:47.200): uh, (00:25:48.441): try to, (00:25:49.881): you know, (00:25:50.601): find a box that you can fit in, (00:25:53.082): or are you going to do what you actually want to do and stop putting it off? (00:25:57.723): And if you're not going to do it now, when the hell are you ever going to do it? (00:26:02.704): And, and it was just making that decision was empowering. (00:26:09.406): And a lot of it, (00:26:12.737): It was a process unfolding too. (00:26:15.119): You know, (00:26:15.419): I ask you these questions as if I don't know the answers to any of them, (00:26:20.802): but we've known each other for a long time. (00:26:22.984): And really this process for me started, (00:26:27.807): you know, (00:26:28.408): probably a couple of years after you and I met when we were working together and, (00:26:32.530): and it started by me asking myself, (00:26:35.012): you know, (00:26:35.332): is this really how I want to be spending my time? (00:26:39.615): Yeah. (00:26:40.696): And I think that we, we, (00:26:43.874): Tom, (00:26:44.214): I think, (00:26:44.575): man, (00:26:44.795): we lie to ourselves and tell ourselves that we have a certain amount of time. (00:26:51.857): You know what I mean? (00:26:54.438): And I'm not trying to be morbid and saying that you don't because I don't know. (00:27:01.220): But it's like if you don't know how much money is in your bank account, (00:27:08.383): well, (00:27:08.483): that's going to affect the way you spend money. (00:27:10.743): So if I just blinded you (00:27:12.864): to how many funds you had, (00:27:14.284): you know, (00:27:15.045): you had no idea, (00:27:16.165): I would say that you would be more conservative with how you spent because you (00:27:23.907): don't know. (00:27:25.028): You know what I'm saying? (00:27:26.068): Yeah. (00:27:27.469): You're going to watch that because you don't want to run out of it. (00:27:30.569): And the same thing with time, (00:27:31.890): I think that we operate as if we have any clue to what that account looks like and (00:27:39.792): what's in it. (00:27:40.653): And in fact, we don't. (00:27:42.979): Um, (00:27:43.520): and so, (00:27:44.760): you know, (00:27:45.121): it's almost like, (00:27:46.522): okay, (00:27:47.002): what a couple of different things, (00:27:49.764): you know, (00:27:51.705): one, (00:27:51.905): you know, (00:27:52.245): is saying no, (00:27:53.366): you know, (00:27:54.327): like I started doing that a while back and, (00:27:57.829): and I'll, (00:27:58.429): you know, (00:27:58.710): I don't waste my time. (00:28:00.150): I try not to, (00:28:01.752): I mean, (00:28:01.892): I'm sure I do like on some stupid Netflix stuff or, (00:28:05.134): you know, (00:28:05.434): a slot machine game on my phone. (00:28:07.015): But in general, you know, with my bigger life choices, um, (00:28:12.242): I no longer do things because I think that a, (00:28:18.025): it's some social construct or things that I got growing up that, (00:28:23.407): you know, (00:28:23.667): would make my mommy or daddy proud, (00:28:26.128): you know, (00:28:27.188): some crap like that, (00:28:28.389): or, (00:28:28.889): you know, (00:28:29.309): what you would want me to do or, (00:28:31.330): you know, (00:28:31.750): anybody for that matter, (00:28:33.091): you know? (00:28:33.611): Yeah. (00:28:34.492): Um, it's, it's just interesting, man. (00:28:37.053): You know, um, the way that, (00:28:40.438): For whatever reason, we're kind of hardwired to view these types of things. (00:28:45.280): Well, (00:28:45.560): and those social constructs, (00:28:47.261): I talk about that kind of stuff a lot on this podcast because, (00:28:51.803): you know, (00:28:52.043): we're just groomed to believe that we have to live a certain way. (00:28:57.626): You know, you get out of high school, you go to college. (00:29:02.688): If you're not married within a couple years after that and there's something wrong with you. (00:29:07.386): You know, and you're supposed to have kids in pretty short order. (00:29:11.108): And, (00:29:11.388): you know, (00:29:11.689): you need to have a full-time job that you work during the day and you have benefits. (00:29:17.292): And, you know, really, that is just a social construct. (00:29:24.136): It's not something that we have to do. (00:29:27.438): It's funny, man. (00:29:28.239): You know, (00:29:28.499): I was kind of like, (00:29:29.800): because I was running today, (00:29:31.340): I went trail running, (00:29:32.561): and I went with a friend of mine, (00:29:33.762): and we social distanced for you. (00:29:36.877): police out there and but anyways you know I was just kind of inventorying you know (00:29:45.901): my circle of influence and nobody answers to anybody you know what I mean it's (00:29:54.204): really interesting I mean it's a diverse group of people in a way but you know all (00:30:00.707): of them kind of call their own shots and it's not you know a difficult you (00:30:05.419): way of life, (00:30:06.159): and all of them are very successful in whatever that channel may be, (00:30:12.201): and that may wear different on some people than the others, (00:30:16.063): but, (00:30:16.983): you know, (00:30:17.263): I mean, (00:30:17.523): like, (00:30:17.763): one of my buddies, (00:30:19.984): and, (00:30:20.344): you know, (00:30:20.764): I'm not like this guy at all, (00:30:22.285): but in my own way, (00:30:23.885): you know, (00:30:24.225): I am, (00:30:24.785): but, (00:30:25.526): you know, (00:30:25.846): he, (00:30:26.126): like, (00:30:27.186): travels around the world and does photography and, (00:30:29.967): like, (00:30:30.267): swims with sharks and, (00:30:32.108): you know, (00:30:32.952): He's a black belt and does all kinds of cool stuff. (00:30:35.554): And right now he's just got his kids like off the grid, you know, in the Sierra Mountains. (00:30:40.297): I mean, you know, it's so diverse of people. (00:30:44.240): But the one common denominator is that they aren't concerned with what you think about them. (00:30:50.625): I mean, really not. (00:30:52.947): Like, I'm not saying like this is a mask. (00:30:55.829): I'm saying for real. (00:30:58.631): And they're not defined. (00:31:02.483): buy much of anything you know they don't allow you know things to define them I (00:31:08.608): can't be around that you know to where it's you gotta have you know the suburban (00:31:14.433): with the stickers on the back and you gotta go here and do this you gotta be at (00:31:18.176): this country club not that I disagree with that lifestyle at all you know because (00:31:23.240): there's parts of it that I think are cool and I'd like to do but it just doesn't (00:31:28.284): work for me you know um (00:31:31.209): to do what everybody else does, (00:31:33.070): you know, (00:31:33.411): never has, (00:31:33.891): that could be some kind of flaw in my character, (00:31:35.953): but just how I am. (00:31:38.715): Well, I don't think of it that way. (00:31:42.678): Not, yeah, not with you anyway. (00:31:44.479): I think we're in the same boat there, Tommy. (00:31:49.223): No, (00:31:49.583): but, (00:31:49.963): uh, (00:31:50.564): you know, (00:31:50.904): we've, (00:31:51.545): you and I have been fortunate enough to have, (00:31:54.907): to share some mentors over the years and, (00:31:58.850): uh, (00:31:59.070): and to get to work together and, (00:32:01.907): Um, (00:32:03.928): it's, (00:32:04.269): you know, (00:32:04.569): when I think about that and I want to think about the time that we, (00:32:07.671): you and I got to share and it just makes me happy to think about it. (00:32:12.734): And, (00:32:13.154): uh, (00:32:14.595): yeah, (00:32:14.936): I mean, (00:32:15.256): you know, (00:32:15.676): it, (00:32:16.076): uh, (00:32:17.217): what I think about, (00:32:19.338): uh, (00:32:19.579): with you, (00:32:20.139): um, (00:32:22.661): when I think about you, (00:32:23.741): my go-to is, (00:32:24.242): you know, (00:32:24.782): um, (00:32:29.102): in the middle of my career, (00:32:30.463): like a big milestone was getting this job at this facility in Nashville where you (00:32:35.885): worked at the time. (00:32:36.946): And your career was just in the beginning of really taking off. (00:32:42.348): And, uh, and you know, I mean, it's this, to me, it's a big company with like 300 people. (00:32:47.691): I don't really know anybody, you know, um, I'm up there training and, um, (00:32:55.441): you know, (00:32:55.961): like all the people who I did know, (00:32:58.382): like all of a sudden one day or like one's out of state here and one's out of state there. (00:33:04.183): And then, (00:33:05.103): you know, (00:33:05.363): all of a sudden I'm in this big cafeteria, (00:33:07.784): like a little kid who's the first day at the new school and who the hell am I going (00:33:14.386): to sit with? (00:33:15.346): And, and you're the guy who made me feel welcome. (00:33:21.340): You know, (00:33:21.940): you're, (00:33:22.280): you're the one guy who was like perceptive enough to see what was happening with me. (00:33:27.101): And you went out of your way to make me feel welcome, (00:33:31.843): which was a big deal to me at the time, (00:33:34.183): you know? (00:33:35.504): Yeah. (00:33:35.864): I mean, (00:33:36.104): I don't understand, (00:33:37.084): you know, (00:33:37.324): the one thing I'm, (00:33:38.604): I'm, (00:33:38.864): I'm often like, (00:33:40.985): nobody ever does that stuff with me. (00:33:43.465): You know what I mean? (00:33:44.146): I mean, sometimes people do, but it's almost people are the opposite. (00:33:49.027): Generally. (00:33:50.632): like they kind of want things to be hard for you. (00:33:53.314): I don't know why, but like people just aren't very nice, you know, sometimes. (00:33:58.478): And so it's just weird, man. (00:34:01.620): But I think, (00:34:02.380): you know, (00:34:02.841): I try to be to people just because I really know what it feels like, (00:34:07.023): like for people not to be, (00:34:09.565): you know, (00:34:09.986): just to make it kind of hard for you and to not be inviting and welcoming. (00:34:13.568): Like, you know, how would you want to be treated in this situation? (00:34:16.430): You know, simple little precepts, (00:34:20.208): you know, people really look over. (00:34:24.210): Well, and, and, uh, again, this is another one of the things that I talk about on this podcast. (00:34:30.234): The, the last two words I say at the end of each episode are be nice. (00:34:36.617): Right. (00:34:37.378): And it's, (00:34:38.859): uh, (00:34:40.580): just like it's to remind myself and to just put that out there into the world (00:34:45.562): because we do have a choice. (00:34:49.151): And at some point a number of years ago, (00:34:52.093): I just kind of decided that I don't want to live in a world where people don't say (00:34:58.076): hello to each other, (00:34:59.736): even though they walk right past each other every single day. (00:35:03.598): You know, I want to make eye contact with people. (00:35:08.361): And I made a decision that I was going to live that way. (00:35:14.414): That I was going to say hello to people. (00:35:16.255): I was going to acknowledge people. (00:35:17.795): I was going to make eye contact with people. (00:35:20.836): And, you know, when it felt inviting or whatever, make conversation. (00:35:25.618): And just be friendly. (00:35:29.619): And it really changes the way you see everything. (00:35:35.321): And it enhances the quality of your life so much. (00:35:43.240): And you know, that it was more than anything with traveling, you know? (00:35:47.362): Yeah. (00:35:48.403): Yeah. (00:35:49.423): And it's funny cause I was taught not to do that. (00:35:52.805): You know, (00:35:53.125): I mean, (00:35:53.625): you know, (00:35:53.905): the kind of messages I got as a little kid was, (00:35:56.187): you know, (00:35:56.467): it's fucking crazy to do that. (00:35:57.967): You don't do that, you know? (00:36:00.029): Right. (00:36:00.949): Which is, which is really, you know, not who we are. (00:36:07.632): I don't think, you know, cause I, I think we are all inherently good and nice people and, (00:36:13.766): You know, (00:36:14.847): those that inclination to make things hard for people or not roll out the welcome mat. (00:36:21.431): You know, that's I don't think that's really us. (00:36:23.632): I think that's our bullshit. (00:36:25.393): You know, it's a fear, man. (00:36:27.114): And I think that you're either opened or closed, (00:36:31.237): you know, (00:36:31.557): and there's an illusion that if you're closed, (00:36:38.681): you're going to cling to what you have so that you won't lose whatever that may be. (00:36:45.343): And that if you're open, (00:36:48.045): that somebody is going to take it from you, (00:36:50.027): you know, (00:36:50.727): or take advantage of you or whatever. (00:36:52.548): It's like, (00:36:56.491): I'm open to arguments, (00:36:57.772): but I'm convinced 100% that if you're open, (00:37:03.276): you're not only open, (00:37:04.296): you're open to everything. (00:37:05.637): You know, yeah, you're open to more disappointment. (00:37:08.099): You're open to more heartache. (00:37:09.946): You're open to more success. (00:37:12.128): You're open to more financial success. (00:37:15.370): You're open to more financial loss. (00:37:17.172): You're open to everything. (00:37:19.714): But if you're closed, baby, you're just closed. (00:37:21.956): And, you know, you're limited. (00:37:23.757): And so I think that, (00:37:26.319): you know, (00:37:26.619): being open to everything, (00:37:29.702): and that starts with just like what you're saying. (00:37:32.204): Like, say hi to the person at the gas station. (00:37:34.706): You're not that damn important. (00:37:36.087): Like, get over yourself, man. (00:37:38.249): Like, (00:37:39.417): you know, get off the phone and talk to your kids. (00:37:42.119): Yeah. (00:37:42.739): Dude, (00:37:44.340): you know, (00:37:44.761): and I, (00:37:45.021): you know, (00:37:45.821): any given day I can, (00:37:47.382): can be either one of those people, (00:37:48.923): but I, (00:37:49.704): I'm conscious and aware of when I'm being the other guy and I try not to do that. (00:37:55.148): Yeah. (00:37:57.949): Yeah. (00:37:58.690): Well, you know, this is why I love you, dude. (00:38:02.272): This is why I wanted to have you on the podcast. (00:38:05.374): I mean, and you know, uh, (00:38:09.562): it's so important for us to have as guys to have good, healthy men in our world. (00:38:19.470): And it's, uh, I mean, until you have it, you just don't know how valuable it is. (00:38:26.896): Right? (00:38:28.097): Yeah, man. (00:38:29.658): I, I couldn't, you know, I couldn't and wouldn't want to live without that. (00:38:35.642): But, you know, as a child, I, I, (00:38:39.560): It's not that I didn't have it, but I didn't have the kind that you're supposed to, you know. (00:38:45.305): Right. (00:38:46.706): It happens, you know. (00:38:47.547): It's not an excuse or a crutch, you know. (00:38:50.509): It's just you're dealt kind of the cards you are. (00:38:53.471): But I believe it's also, you know, that's why we, you know, kind of have a life. (00:38:58.375): You get to kind of make some of those things right. (00:39:02.018): But in recent years, (00:39:04.180): I mean, (00:39:04.400): I've been surrounded, (00:39:05.401): you know, (00:39:06.502): by wonderful people and men, (00:39:08.363): especially. (00:39:09.967): and women but I think for me it was a male thing because of the father piece of it (00:39:15.749): but you know just people that you know help me and now I'm at the age to where it's (00:39:22.431): my turn and that's so weird dude you know that it's my turn to be that guy and you (00:39:30.113): know I try to do it and I am doing it and people are like you know they don't know (00:39:36.635): what to think when you know (00:39:39.392): you really try to help them get a leg up on life legitimately, (00:39:43.793): you know, (00:39:44.293): they don't know what to think about that. (00:39:46.054): And I only do it because I couldn't have made it through this without it. (00:39:51.375): Yeah. (00:39:52.656): Yeah. (00:39:52.996): Well, (00:39:53.536): uh, (00:39:53.816): it, (00:39:54.176): it, (00:39:54.696): uh, (00:39:56.137): that, (00:39:56.637): that, (00:39:58.057): uh, (00:39:58.357): flip of the switch to where, (00:39:59.898): when you become the one who's giving that energy to, (00:40:04.502): to younger guys. (00:40:05.522): I mean, (00:40:05.783): it kind of happened gradually for me and I don't, (00:40:08.784): I don't know if I noticed it as clearly as you're noticing it obviously now or in (00:40:15.326): recent years, (00:40:16.327): I guess is when you've started to really put it together. (00:40:19.488): But, (00:40:20.869): um, (00:40:21.509): the, (00:40:21.789): the beauty of it for me is I get to give what nobody gave me or not enough people (00:40:31.513): gave me or whatever, (00:40:32.914): you know? (00:40:34.185): And, (00:40:34.626): um, (00:40:35.546): and one of the things that, (00:40:38.489): and I mean, (00:40:39.549): a lot of guys would think it sounds funny talking about this, (00:40:42.852): but you know, (00:40:44.453): um, (00:40:44.814): it comes up in some of the readings I've, (00:40:47.516): I've done on men, (00:40:49.377): you know, (00:40:49.838): one of the needs that we have as men is to have admiration from older men, (00:40:57.063): you know? (00:40:57.404): So yeah. (00:40:59.781): To be able to like see a guy who's a couple years into this process of change or (00:41:08.325): sometimes even just a few months into like changing their lives and to be able to (00:41:14.568): look at him and say, (00:41:16.809): you're a good man. (00:41:19.983): Like you, you are good. (00:41:22.804): I mean, and I'm at a point now where I, I, I do that without even thinking about it. (00:41:33.148): And it, (00:41:35.568): it, (00:41:35.909): it hit me a while back because I got feedback from a guy who reminded me how many (00:41:42.411): times I said that to him and how much it meant to him, (00:41:48.053): you know? (00:41:49.572): Um, (00:41:50.273): but yeah, (00:41:50.833): man, (00:41:51.154): we, (00:41:52.015): we need that stuff and we need to be, (00:41:54.577): we need to be welcomed in to manhood, (00:41:57.179): you know, (00:41:58.601): and, (00:41:59.001): uh, (00:41:59.221): and to the, (00:42:00.402): you know, (00:42:00.963): higher tiers of manhood, (00:42:02.604): I guess, (00:42:03.045): for lack of a better way to describe it. (00:42:07.028): But, um, you know, and we've had, you know, like, like (00:42:13.126): I think both of us, (00:42:14.347): one of the things you and I have in common is that Frank is someone who gave that (00:42:20.429): to both of us. (00:42:22.590): You know, (00:42:22.950): there was this experience of admiration that we got from him and, (00:42:27.972): and I know I needed it. (00:42:30.973): Um, and, and, and I just say that, you know, I don't know if you've noticed it or not. (00:42:37.296): I just know how much he thinks of you, you know? (00:42:41.158): And, uh, (00:42:42.520): I mean, he's been a really important person in my life in so many different ways. (00:42:48.162): For sure. (00:42:49.502): Yeah. (00:42:51.122): It's awesome. (00:42:51.763): I think that there's, (00:42:52.903): you know, (00:42:53.883): there's enduring qualities to him and other people like him that, (00:43:00.145): you know, (00:43:00.385): I learned a while back, (00:43:01.725): I had a coach and I had an employee who is underperforming and they were (00:43:07.407): consistently underperforming and I was going to have to write him up. (00:43:12.034): and I've always paid for my own coaching, (00:43:14.095): and it's never the stuff you think you're going to hear. (00:43:16.075): It's very interpersonal and deep, (00:43:18.036): you know, (00:43:19.797): because leadership is about who you are at your core, (00:43:22.718): not what your skill set is. (00:43:25.999): And so the coach, (00:43:33.661): you know, (00:43:33.961): he asked me, (00:43:34.382): he said, (00:43:34.682): okay, (00:43:35.162): well, (00:43:35.562): yeah, (00:43:35.902): you can go ahead and put him on a performance plan, (00:43:38.043): but what's his wife's name? (00:43:40.464): And I was like, I don't know. (00:43:42.446): oh yeah, what is he having trouble with in life right now? (00:43:46.329): I don't know. (00:43:48.210): And I learned a huge lesson there. (00:43:51.392): And he said, how can you expect to motivate someone if you don't know what motivates them? (00:43:59.117): You don't know them on a human level. (00:44:02.740): And that was a young kind of rookie leadership mistake on my part. (00:44:06.402): And one thing I've really learned from guys like Frank, I mean... (00:44:10.663): dude, Frank's been there for me in the thick, you know, or then, you know, but, uh, definitely. (00:44:18.705): And, (00:44:18.925): and still is like, (00:44:20.645): there are very few people that, (00:44:23.546): you know, (00:44:24.006): I think are capable of helping me with, (00:44:26.727): you know, (00:44:27.027): major decisions. (00:44:27.987): He's on that short list, you know, um, and, and has been for a long time. (00:44:36.309): Yeah. (00:44:36.569): Yeah. (00:44:37.847): Yeah, it's amazing. (00:44:38.988): We do end up finding the right people if we keep our eyes open, don't we? (00:44:43.792): Right. (00:44:44.672): Yeah. (00:44:47.014): Well, and, you know, this has been great, dude. (00:44:52.618): Yeah, thank you so much. (00:44:55.300): Is there anything else you want to talk about about what you're doing? (00:45:01.185): You know, (00:45:02.046): it's just the only other thing that I would, (00:45:04.568): you know, (00:45:04.848): my latest kind of discovery, (00:45:06.449): which is already like a (00:45:08.979): inner truth that I knew but it was proven again and it was kind of during this (00:45:16.724): COVID-19 thing that kind of immediately like a few people of course rightly so you (00:45:23.788): know hit the panic button and then my company lost some revenue or whatever like a (00:45:29.451): lot of people did and so you know what I also found was there was tons of (00:45:36.936): opportunity like (00:45:38.948): just to be helpful. (00:45:40.589): And who knows how you're, how that's ever going to monetize itself or not. (00:45:43.890): But, (00:45:44.790): so that wasn't clear, (00:45:45.831): but the, (00:45:46.631): the, (00:45:47.171): there was, (00:45:47.931): what was clear was that Jamie, (00:45:49.672): there's a lot of work for you to do. (00:45:52.073): What wasn't clear was how are you going to get paid for it? (00:45:55.234): And so that I got to say for me, it was a hard thing, you know? (00:45:59.536): So I went ahead and did that anyway, (00:46:02.977): because I've learned that lesson in another, (00:46:06.238): other points in life and through other things. (00:46:08.179): And, (00:46:09.105): I just, you know, was available and did tons of free stuff and just, you know, whatever. (00:46:15.828): It was there to just be helpful. (00:46:19.810): And what I found was that, (00:46:21.571): you know, (00:46:21.871): through that, (00:46:22.612): you know, (00:46:23.112): some other opportunities presented themselves and whatever, (00:46:26.053): and I was fine. (00:46:27.194): But, you know, I told my client right when all this stuff hit, I said, you got one option. (00:46:34.977): But you got two options, but only one is going to lead you toward success. (00:46:38.418): The other one is not going to be something you want, (00:46:41.119): but it's the more likely one you're going to take. (00:46:44.320): And those two options are, you can think about yourself. (00:46:48.741): I said, because this is what we call a defining moment. (00:46:52.923): And so your choices are to think about yourself, (00:46:56.984): your company, (00:46:57.664): and cling to what you have and try not to lose it any way you can. (00:47:02.806): And chances are, (00:47:04.264): You're going to. (00:47:05.505): You're going to prematurely let go of employees. (00:47:07.707): You're going to do all kinds of stuff. (00:47:10.169): And there are people that have done that. (00:47:12.630): And some had to, but I'm not of the school that everybody had to. (00:47:17.995): I think that fear drove the bus on a lot of stuff, that it was unnecessary. (00:47:23.018): I said, or you have the opportunity, because in a crisis, there's two people. (00:47:32.366): There's a victim and a responder. (00:47:34.869): that's it or a bystander you know people that just kind of watch but you know in (00:47:40.811): the action part of it there's a victim or a responder and you've got an opportunity (00:47:47.432): to really rise above and go and spend some time and think about wipe the money off (00:47:54.934): the table don't even think about it given what I do as a profession how can I help (00:48:03.316): the world right (00:48:04.514): Right. (00:48:05.914): And only do that thing. (00:48:07.935): Only do that thing. (00:48:09.716): And I don't want to hear about the money part of it. (00:48:13.937): I just want you to do that. (00:48:15.657): Right. (00:48:16.498): And that's hard, right? (00:48:20.019): It's hard to initiate it, but once you do it. (00:48:23.339): Right. (00:48:23.820): But, you know, some of the greatest companies in the world were not formed. (00:48:30.049): on green pastures, they were formed in like the great depression. (00:48:33.590): So I don't want to hear it. (00:48:35.331): You know what I mean? (00:48:36.351): And some of the best people in the world came out of our toughest times is the (00:48:41.713): toughest generation, (00:48:42.793): you know, (00:48:43.653): went through the worst crap. (00:48:44.713): I don't want to hear it, you know? (00:48:46.474): So do the right thing point blank. (00:48:51.576): And that's really hard to do. (00:48:53.336): And, you know, it's a lot easier to, (00:48:57.226): just worry about yourself and worry about your company and complain all the time (00:49:01.128): and be in fear. (00:49:03.989): I think that light has really shined itself. (00:49:09.011): You see that with small businesses in the world didn't even have a chance because (00:49:15.374): the big ones came in and just grabbed that money. (00:49:17.535): You see it everywhere. (00:49:20.416): It's just like fear response, fear response, fear response. (00:49:23.558): Somebody's (00:49:24.895): some companies, (00:49:25.595): some organizations, (00:49:26.616): some leaders will take the other route and take the high road, (00:49:30.759): and they'll be recognized and be in history books. (00:49:33.161): Well, and I would argue those are the real leaders. (00:49:36.643): Yeah, yeah, for sure, yeah. (00:49:39.625): I mean, just because you're successful today doesn't mean you're a good leader. (00:49:44.428): And I'm here to say that. (00:49:45.909): You know, that doesn't mean you're a good leader. (00:49:47.490): Just because you got a little money, (00:49:49.331): you had some success, (00:49:50.452): doesn't mean that you're a good leader that's going to stand the test of time. (00:49:55.956): All right. (00:49:56.316): One last question that I ask everybody at the end. (00:49:59.619): So if, (00:50:00.900): if there was a time in your life when the younger Jamie, (00:50:04.402): there was something he needed to hear, (00:50:06.344): he was going through it. (00:50:08.125): When was it? (00:50:08.986): And what would you tell him? (00:50:12.328): Huh? (00:50:13.469): You know, I've actually done this a lot. (00:50:15.811): I've done a lot of my own interpersonal work. (00:50:18.593): I've done this a lot, but being asked that question today, um, (00:50:23.809): You know, it had to be in one of the many times, you know, when I was a little, little boy. (00:50:30.151): And I have a son now. (00:50:31.552): And so this whole thing has kind of changed for me. (00:50:33.712): But I think the worst thing that ever happened, (00:50:38.774): one of the worst things, (00:50:39.654): not be worse by any stretch, (00:50:41.355): but one really damaging thing was that I gave up on something and somebody else (00:50:49.058): told me that it was okay. (00:50:52.122): You know, and I gave up because I didn't think I could do it or whatever. (00:50:56.984): And, (00:50:58.125): you know, (00:50:58.365): if there was a way to communicate that to myself and just tell myself that, (00:51:04.288): man, (00:51:05.028): it's not going to be easy, (00:51:06.369): but you got this. (00:51:07.910): You know, man, I think that would have really changed the course of my life. (00:51:12.672): Yeah. (00:51:15.013): And, you know, I remember I quit martial arts. (00:51:17.934): I was really good at it. (00:51:19.679): And just one day, for whatever reason, like, you know, you get ideas as a kid. (00:51:25.301): And I think the quitting mind and the quitting attitude in life, (00:51:29.703): personally, (00:51:30.263): you know, (00:51:30.544): it's a personal opinion, (00:51:32.825): I think that it's super toxic, (00:51:34.645): you know. (00:51:35.766): And I remember it was so easy to quit. (00:51:38.007): Like, I was just like, I don't want to go. (00:51:39.407): And everybody was like, okay, you know. (00:51:41.588): Yeah. (00:51:42.108): Don't go. (00:51:42.789): And nobody tried to say, (00:51:43.809): hey, (00:51:43.969): man, (00:51:44.189): you think, (00:51:44.750): you know, (00:51:45.250): nobody tried to kind of talk me through that. (00:51:47.471): Yeah. (00:51:48.559): And so I would go back and I would have a real man-to-man conversation with myself. (00:51:54.224): And I said, no, that's not the way we do it, man. (00:51:56.325): No, you keep at it. (00:51:59.207): And I wish I would have learned that lesson earlier in life. (00:52:02.510): Yeah. (00:52:03.891): Well, Jamie, this was great, man. (00:52:05.412): I appreciate it. (00:52:07.294): Thank you so much. (00:52:09.195): Thank you, man. (00:52:09.976): And have a great rest of your day. (00:52:11.657): Be safe out there. (00:52:13.790): uh tell jack i said what's up and uh you're a good man you're a good dad thank you (00:52:18.651): for having me on your show and anything i can ever do to help you let me know (00:52:22.412): thanks for listening to the path to authenticity (00:52:40.014): If you'd like to learn more about our guest, (00:52:42.236): you can find links in the show notes or visit our website at thepathtoauthenticity.com. (00:52:49.704): If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, (00:52:52.187): if you have a suggestion for a topic or you know someone who would make a great guest, (00:52:57.432): email the show at thepathtoauthenticity at gmail.com. (00:53:03.058): If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. 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