The Parks Way with guest Brendan Bolasingh, Marketing Manager

Please listen to Brendan's story, he talks about how he stays positive his entire life.  And he uses making the best of every situation, fuel for growing as a leader.  Brendan shares his journey of starting as a parts runner and worked his way up to now he is the Marketing Manager.  Well done, Brendan!

Transcript

Unknown: 0:13

Well, Hello, good morning. Good morning. This is Wyatt, the host of the parks way podcast. We're in an unusual setting in here, but it kind of fits who we're sitting with. He's not at unusually, but he's a great guy. So, sitting here, across from me is Brendan bolusing. Good morning, Brandon, how are you? Alright, I'm pretty good about you so good. So, you know, Brandon, you won the Quality Award, been a great asset to our company. And you got a really unique story that I felt like would be shared and be great to talk about on this podcast. currently sitting in the marketing room, hopefully y'all can hear that echo in the background fan and the big printer that we have. And you know, Britain's Got a unique story of his journey of how he started parks. I want to talk a little bit about the marketing situation at parks as well. But really, his podcast is about you and leadership and what you've how you've just become a great leader in your own right in our business. How's that sound? That sounds perfect. Good. Ready? Good. So Brandon, tell me where are you from? Where you born, where we raised about a little about your family. So it all started in Queens, New York. My family is from New York. They are Jamaican, actually, my father is Jamaican, an Indian. My mom is from Kingston, Jamaica. They met in New York, and then hence me here I am. So it started there. left New York at around maybe nine years old. All right, hold on, hold on. So your parents moved here from Jamaica? Were you born is your Baker. Born in Queens? Well, I was born in Queens. My my mom is from Jamaica. Originally. My dad actually is from London. Really? Yeah, he was born in London. He left around two years old. And then from London, he came to the states. So is that why your accent kind of cancels out because you really don't have that Jamaican mind. And you don't have that British London accent either. So you got that good old Southern Irish kid? Yeah, I've Uh, I've got like, it's my dad likes kind of weird. It's like, I'm like a Yankee mixed with Southern I don't really know where I'm at now, but I get it. So yeah, I came down here around like nine years old. And then at around. After nine, I came to Concord, living in Concord, pretty much for my whole High School, from Queens to Concord. So my family, my mom, actually, really, she wanted to start a new setting for me and my younger sister to kind of thrive in so North Carolina was more of you know, the hospitality, no southern hospitality. So it was a better environment for me and my younger sister live in New York. We're just a little too fast pace. And they kind of got tired of it. So okay, we came down to the south that had an aunt living down here and then from there, then what? And on and on. Oh, see, there you go. Right. Do you say yellow or yellow? Yellow? Yellow? Yeah, say oil or all? oil. Okay. All right. Charlotte, got born here. Born and raised. Interesting. So it's just you and your sister. Down here? Yeah. Okay, down. Here it is. I'm on my dad's side. Now I've got two other siblings. I've got a younger brother, and a younger sister. Again. So on the oldest of I mean, all together on all this stuff for I guess. So your dad had two kids previous or or two kids after? Okay. So yeah, parents. I'm the oldest of both of them. Okay. Both my parents. Yeah. Okay. See in your shoes. Your parents divorced, and they separated and separated. But they both moved down here. No. So my dad is still in New York. Okay. Yeah, maybe I missed that part. Sorry. Yeah, you're fine. He's still in New York. And that's like, it gives me reason to go up there because we're really the only family that came from New York to the south besides my heart. So I'm on my dad's side and my mom's side. Most of my family is in New York still. And if they're not there, then they're in Jamaica. And most of them yeah. And then on my dad's side, obviously the other half is probably in London too. So who would you want to be when you grew up? originally had a lot of different career paths. As a kid I started off wanting to be like a doctor. And then I wanted to be a lawyer. And then I want to be a basketball player. And then after that, then I had my stepdad sister saw me drawn one day. And I was probably I was still in grade school. So I was like, maybe in the third grade, I'd say, because I was still in New York at the time, third grade, or second grade, she saw me drawing she was like, and you've got a really good hand. You should. He thought about being an architect. And I was like archetype. And it sounded cool at the time, right? And then I was like, maybe. So then once I started doing my homework in my research, I realized doctors and lawyers got been in school for like, eight 910 years. And I was like, I like school, but not to be a school for that long. So then I started checking architecture school and architects and I started, like getting an interest in and I realized that was where homebuilding was the second and third grade. Yeah, yeah. That's early bro. Yeah, to be kind of, kind of knowing what you're doing what but it kind of fits you, man. You got it together. Thank you. That's cool. Thank you. Where do you attribute that to? As far as why, like, just he just your my demeanor, your demeanor, you're smart. You're you're, you just kind of come across as a guy that that you got together. I've had people like you've been in a couple of classes or been around people just like man, that do sharp. Hey, what's the deal with that, um, I think comes from it takes a village to raise a child for one. So you know, my mom, that definitely taught me a lot. But she wasn't the only one. You know, I've learned from everybody along the way. So that'd be my dad, my uncle's my cousins. My, you know, people like you people like Tony, people like Anthony. I mean, there's plenty of people I learn every day from somebody new. So I take everyone into consideration really, when it comes to how I am as a person. At a certain point, though, I did have to, like fill in a pretty big role. So that probably contributes like why I had to mature a little faster than most kids my age. So there was a there was a time where it was it was pretty rough. My mom had to she had to be a single single parent. So my stepdad wasn't in the picture for a minute because he got sent off. Some things happened. And after that, then, you know, he kind of left me with the the task of payment. You got it. You got to take care of his family for a little bit. I'll be back. But you know, you got to take care of his family. And at the time, like Yeah, I got you. I don't worry. When the seven. I was in the sixth grade. Sixth grade. Sixth grade. Yeah. You had to become in house. Yeah, you know, at the time I, I figured Oh, yeah, man, the house cool. You know, cool, I get to do I get to, you know, play my Xbox, whenever I want to play my Xbox, you know, that kind of thing. And then then I realized there was a little more than just playing Xbox, you know. So I had to, I had to fill those roles, that role at a really young age. And, you know, from there, I had to just keep my mind straight and make sure that I became a leader. Right. So I had to, I had to lead the family and to a certain extent, um, it wasn't fully, you know, let's pause there for a second. All right, I think this is important. So, here, he tries to kind of piece together a little what's going on. And again, this is intriguing to me. And and again, share what you want. Share, share. So you had your dad and your mom, and then you had a step dad, all that one on early age still up in Queens? Yeah. And then your mom and your stepdad moved here. Yep. Okay. And then he had to go do what he had to do. Right. It's sixth grade and do that. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And, you know, how much recruiting came with your dad back when your queens or when you came out here? Or was it? How did that all? Ah, so, when I was younger, I mean, I saw my dad pretty much every break that I got. So you know, as fall break, spring break, you know, winter break. So he was in your life? Yeah, he was, he was there. So yeah, I saw him I saw him pretty much every break I got, but there was a certain point where, you know, he, you want more out of your dad. Right? And, you know, he wasn't really giving it, or at least what I thought, you know, I was getting the cold, hard love. And I didn't realize that at that time, that later that, you know, I was still young, so I didn't really understand the concept of it. But it's not that he was giving me a cold shoulder but it was almost like a woman gotta figure this out. You got to do this. And so it I mean, I you know, I'm looking for my dad to be my dad, because, you know, at a certain point, he didn't even know what my favorite color was, you know, and stuff, man. Yeah, it was it was pretty tough at the time. But, um, I mean, I figured it out, you know, and after a certain point, then, you know, we kind of came full circle, because obviously, I'm gonna say, at the end of the day, so, you know, there's only one of me, at least obviously has another son, but there's only one, Brendan, you know, bolusing. So I had to kind of, we came back full circle, and you know, we meshed our differences, but yeah, it's still there, you know, obviously, because I wish she could have been there. 100%. But at the same time, it taught me a lot, you know, I became my own person, I figured things out. And I did get guidance, whether it be from him or not, you know, I got not a god guidance from everyone. So interesting. That's, that's really fast. And as you know, your trip trips. You know, his mom and I aren't together anymore. And I always kind of you didn't have a, you know, war sparked my heart about, you know, hearing this kind of stories. And so and especially successful stories, because there's, there's a lot of them that don't, right, and that turned out very well, right. And, you know, just kind of why, what do you think the difference was, was Gee, man, like, you know, like, what, what? If you had a point? I mean, maybe you can, and again, it's, this is a loaded question, possibly. Where you early on one, you do kind of what you wanted to be? Right? You had a lot of change? Yeah. As you could say, you know, and you obviously data that did that, and then you know, you lost another male figure in your life for a period of time. And you didn't let that defeat you. Right, you didn't you didn't you come another statistic is, as I call it with people do that. Why? What do you think, what do you think it was, man, I knew I had a promise out of promise to keep. And that was, you know, I had to take care of the household. So I didn't want to put my head down. When I knew I had to keep my head up. You know, I was trying to be that rose out of the concrete, you know, I'm saying good word. Yeah. Thank you. Um, you know, and I say this all the time, success, success comes from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm. So, with that, I knew as long as I kept a smile on my face, and I kept going every day, then it worked out eventually, maybe not tomorrow. But over time, something's gonna work up something. So eventually, it all kind of played into effect, you know, interesting, interesting, well, that, you know, that kind of goes hand in hand with, you know, where you are today. And what, what, what's going on in your life today, as far as from a professional standpoint of, you know, now you're like the marketing manager, like, I mean, you've run the whole marketing program, and if, you know, far exceeded any of my expectations, and you've been here that have with held that position the longest, over the years. That's, that's, that's good to man. And I think it speaks volumes about your character and who you are by sharing a story. So thank you for that. Eric. You didn't know that. And, you know, I get it, and it makes sense. And it and it's you, man, but thank you. So fast forward a little bit, you know. You had to Concord high rat. Yes, sir. Oh, man, a spider spider wants a spider always a spider. So you didn't really bounce around meaning like you didn't go queens and Boston and Concord and you know, gas donia or Atlanta or any of that you kind of were stay here. So you kind of had a foundation here. Maybe just an ant here. Obviously, you did pretty well in school. You went because you graduated and went to UCC, right? Yes, sir. Yeah. But she can stay home man, right. I mean, wasn't too far. Not only 30 minutes, it was kind of the whole you know, man, that house kind of still thing and it was okay. It was um, that's not a normal lot of people do that. Yeah. You know, honestly, I wanted to get away obviously, every senior is like, I'm gonna get as far away from home as I can, you know, and I applied to NC State. And their architecture program actually and I got deferred deferred. defer. defer. defer defer and then it was finally Yeah, I got deferred up and so tough program. Oh, yeah, it was tough. It was tough. But it was one of the schools I wanted to go to. And by the time I think it was June, they told me Okay, you didn't get in but you can apply this at this time next year something like that. But by the time they told me that I didn't get in Charlotte had already they already told me yet. You know, I already went to the architecture interview process and you know, I just went with a trade wind blows and oh, yeah, there I was, was Yeah. Wow. Okay. So college experience good, bad, ugly, liked it. Didn't like Kids oh man college. It's the best four years of my life. Well, in so far, we'll get to the really cool part of your story or cool for me, you know, in this industry, let alone unit parks. I mean, having a four year degree speaks, I mean, you're almost like no fence, like a Harvard graduate. If you have that, in this industry, right? It's really not this. It's one it's not needed so much in tune. Nobody does. But um, you know, so that that's powerful in itself there. And, you know, so had an architecture background and said, neither would you want to do or what kind of was your focus? Or would you you know, when you graduated, have a plan? I mean, hell, you had one or two? Yeah, excuse me. Second grade. I'm sure this guy had a plan. By his junior year of college of what, what was your life? Honestly, yeah, by the time it was my junior year, that was when I decided like, man, I like architecture. But at that point was when I realized that architecture wasn't everything. Not just not to speak your age, when what year was this? So I graduated high school at six or 17. So yeah, I was I was what so I guess that's 20 years old. I graduated college at 20. What year in time? Oh, 2017. You graduated college? No, I graduated 2018. But I decided in 2017. Yeah. Oh, young. Yeah. Young phase with an old mentality. I feel like a sauce on application off topic, but it's what I do. I get where they were born after the year. 2000. Whoa, see now? Yeah. When I look at anybody, like in 2000 and below, I think Yeah, same thing. But I'm not I'm close. You know, I'm close to change. Alright, so you graduated. Go back. So you What would you What were you gonna do? What was your plan? Ah, so yeah, at that point, I realize architecture isn't everything. There's a couple different inspirations for that. So I don't know if you know, Tom Ford is Tom Ford, the fashion designer. He's a fashion designer now. But he went to architecture school. Correct. Samuel Jackson, I think he went to like drafting school or maybe as ice cube. But there's a couple of weird out, you know, you might have heard him. Yeah, he went to architecture school also. So, you know, and then now you might have heard of Virgil abloh. He's the creative director of Louis taan. And off white. And he went architecture school also. So, you know, at that point, I realized like, wow, there's architecture and everything like you know, for example, also Tinker Hatfield, you know, Tinker Hatfield, he's the guy who created the Jordans are some of them. So Jordan, three, Jordan, elevens. All those. But you're all talking about fashion and apparel man. But I mean, it. It just, it was just part of the process in New York. And I don't think so. I mean, because that's professions that bro. Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm going into fashion and apparel though. It just opened my mind to understanding that architecture was everywhere. So it's like, it's in the makeup of this microphone. It's in the creative process with these postcards. It's, it's an everything, it was more of a process than it was, like anything else to me. And that's what I realized that I could take that process and apply it to a lot of different situations, whether it be at home building fashion, or whatever the case is. It was it was one of those things that like a plug and play kind of system, like, okay, I can use this here. I can use this here. But what was the plan? So with me, I had a minor in humanities, technology and science, and what the heck is that? Yeah, so it's pretty much like a psychological like minor pretty much, um, you start understanding human behavior, but you integrate it in a way to where when you go to class, oh, and say that, okay. It's more of like a just a deep thinking. Just one of those like, you know, people say, oh, You're overthinking. You know, like to say, Man, how'd you get a pass or fail grade on a class like that? I'm just curious. You know, I don't it's more opinionated I guess. It it's just based on if you align with their values, I guess maybe it's okay. Surrounded by another fellow podcaster. Anthony that go ahead. Yes. It was it was more of like that. It just it just a more opinionated, I guess. It was just having that minor What did it What did it want you to do when you got done? So it taught me about human connection, and how to really speak to people on how to understand by Language and to speak body language at that point, we don't really speak body language. But if you understand that you can learn a lot about a person within a matter of like a few minutes, seconds, hours, I mean, you can learn a lot. So with that, I take that and realize that Hmm, so what's a profession that understands human behavior, but can still be creative? marketing. So then I was like, wow, let me figure out how I can take that process and make it cool. And then, I started researching and doing more and more research into that, I was like, man, I could see myself doing this. And I made it like something that I would study up on in my side, like my weekend time, I would read articles about marketing, all that kind of stuff, and how they kind of, I don't want to say trick the brain. But that kind of is what it is. It's like, you trick the brain, or to make people think or feel a certain way. Right. And, you know, you're speaking a language at that point. So you're communicating with people without even having to actually speak to them. And you do that in a creative way. And you know, and then so marketing was still creative. It was still, you know, something, I didn't want to get rid of my artistic ability. So I found this realm and I was like, wow, this is something that people actually do for a living. So why don't I try it out? And I, so far, I enjoy every minute of it. So you graduate, right? With architecture degree and you have it were you employed? Did you have a job set up lineup or internship or any ready to roll since you graduated? Yeah. I had an internship. I was working at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center. That's right. So I was working there as a special projects intern. Still doing creative stuff and a couple Excel files and stuff. I was working out there. And then after that, I came back home and tried to save some money. Because at that point, I had graduated. So try to write not really no, not really, I was still kind of dabbling, do it. It felt like it felt like I did everything for no reason. I hit a certain point. Yeah, at a certain point. And I was like, man, like what I do when I do these four years was people getting jobs. I'm watching it all just unfold anywhere else. Oh, like a part time or doing anything? Like with the internship now? Just anything like work, you know? Oh, yeah, I've had I've had jobs since since I was 16. Really, there's, there's maybe one year that I didn't have a job, or one summer, but I got it at the last minute, though, when I did get the job. So, um, yeah, I've been working since I was 16. We've been doing part time gigs. And then I started going, like, more full time towards my senior year of college. And then after that are we doing when you graduate? Um, as far as like, work wise. So at the Government Center was to just do creative stuff. So I was still doing more architecture like floor planning and just more architectural related stuff in regards to the city. And then we were doing like a lot of planning stuff. Was that a full time job? Yeah, it was full time. Okay, boy, yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yep. And then, after that, I came back home and started working with another company where they targeted distressed property. So it's still in architecture realm. what he would do, he would he was a investor as well as not an account broker, but a financial advisor. And so I was learning stocks at that point, as well as like investing and still in the architecture like home realm, and he would target distressed properties and flip them. So then I was learning that process. And then after a while, I was like, still not I don't like I'm interested but it's not piquing my interest right? And I was still I still wanted to talk to people and meet people and you know know everything about people and how to communicate with them. So then that that point was like marketing for sure. Marketing for sure. No, no doubt about it. So then you come and you are a delivery guy or parks runner at parks. Yeah. How in the heck did you go from learning stocks? Yeah. Okay. And learning architecture marketing, get a four year degree from UNCC is not no fence some online place that that that's a good degree. And no offense. You don't have a degree in your partner doing all that. Being a parts runner at parks in new construction and working on delivery teams. Well, what So that's a funny story to that after I left that job, learning stocks and investing, and I was at that point where I wanted to try something else, and I didn't know where to go really. So then, yeah, again, hit another wall. And again, I felt like man, this is this, like degree is pointless, I got to the point of wanting to just rip it up. And just, it makes no sense. Like, it's not helping me. And, um, and I had a good friend of mine that I went to high school with, as well as middle school you will, for instance, a sixth grade name's Chris Bradley. And Chris knew my situation was like, Hey, man, I know you're looking for a job. He's like, you can just come on as a parts runner, make some quick cash. And at that point, I already told him my aim, and I just, I'm gonna make some cash and go up to New York and go live my people and try to learn about my dad's side of town, because I don't know them that well, you know? Yeah, just because, yeah, exactly was a changing environment. And you know, I started there. So I figured I could go back up there and maybe find some opportunity because it was New York, right. So I figured it was plenty of jobs out there. And that's what my family was telling me. So they're all trying to recruit me. Yeah. So they're like images come to New York, you know, we got this, this, that and the third for you. So I was like, Alright, I'll just mainly just get some quick cash. And then so I got something in my pocket, and I can go back up to New York. Wow. And right before that happened, I came on at the parks run parks at parks. I tell you, man, we want to use that because that I mean, New York, so Whoa, you know, all the fun fast paced of New York. ain't got nothing on being a new construction Park. At parks are way more attractive than chasing girls up in New York City. Life and all that man. Right? Right. You're one weird. See, so interesting. So man, that's Wow. So wild to me. But anyways, alright. So you come and you start that and then I want for the people that have almost shared story that I got. So you know, this was a hectic time. This is last year. Summertime, right? Yep. Tom last year. And you know, we were in a technical team meeting and Mike came to me and said, Hey, bud, you know, Mike Collins, and he's like, Look, man, I got this guy on my team that's doing this delivery stuff. parser and he's amazing, but he is way too qualified. And he's in and I don't want to lose him. He's a good dude. You know, you need to sit down and talk with him, check out his resume, look at some stuff. And at that time, we were bouncing around marketing companies and and, you know, try I'll try and do some of it in house myself because it's just I hate marketing firms and everything else. But never really had a direct client or or set thing we're doing we're doing okay, marketing. We're growing and doing stuff. And he's a hit me with. And man, how's it bro? That was it. Like, to the point where I was almost embarrassed man. Like, this cat. You got a four year degree guy working out in the field, new construction, you know, doing parks run and no, no offense to those guys. Like I don't have any. But it's kind of like you see a diamond in the rough with you, man. Yeah, appreciate it. Shout out to Mike Collins. Thank you. Yeah. And Chris having the chris chris. Oh my gosh, you know, like referring selling you on the fact of man. Don't go to New York. Yeah, go chase a bunch of models as you stay here and work on this frickin truck. Yeah, pretty much. Pretty much. So that's, that's Dude, that's fascinating. Hey, man. That's why everything happens for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. And, um, but so at the same time, though, Brandon, you know, um, you, you knew that there was a lot more responsibility, right? You know, I had high standards and really, that this this was, but this was also a role that, you know, there was no set bullet points. There's nobody kind of managing you or overseeing you are really, you know, giving you direction that you needed, I thought, right? It just kind of smelled and felt good. We were like, hey, we'll just do some next door trainings and he'll come back, you know, like freakin you know, the Michael Jordan marketing. It doesn't have this facade. That's everything else. And, you know, I've learned so much throughout all that and dealing with that. And you inherited our printer. Right, right. Yeah, it was just sitting here basically collecting dirt because I thought it was a good idea and everything else. And man, you've done fantastic man you've hit the comic thing was awesome. I still think about the lunch different trip, we actually get a copy of that framed and, you know, you've really, really stepped up your game. Thanks. Right. And, you know, kind of I was kind of, you know, reluctant like man. Yeah, like architecture is marketing. Like, you know, we I think we even talked a little bit about maybe you have an out crystal estimating endpoint. Yeah, we did. I remember. We did. Um, and then you kind of stumbled into this and did this man. So you notice in some of the chaos or the end, you came on, right on, right, before we had our peer group, right. And we're thrown into the wolves, man. I mean, it's just exciting story that, that that done it to now I mean, you know, towards the end of the month, man, you're gonna create your own budget. Yeah. for the whole year, and, you know, for for parks exciting. And, you know, we got some really cool stuff going on marketing wise. Right. And you've done fantastic, man, I appreciate it. And the quality of stuff is unbelievable. Thank you. Um, you know, so that, that's awesome. And that, you know, that that shares a lot of your leadership because I really want to hit home on that point of, you know, Hey, man, he kind of got pulled out of the, you know, the, the grind of dirty and T shirts and everything else of the H fac world, which is still very, very, very important. Right. And, and, you know, as much as to, you know, I mean, man, you're running around some good, you're hearing john Maxwell last week, right? And you're going to be around some powerhouses in the marketing world on your on, you're working out your budget and doing all that and controlling, you know, hundreds, thousands of dollars and doing it. You know, and you could let that defeat you, man. Right. And what do you think it was that allowed you to me? Because it had to at times, I'm sure it had to be overwhelming. I can be overwhelming. Yeah. Right. I mean, we had a guy that was in that role, and I will say any names to where he had ulcers, and he thought he had cancer. Oh, gosh, there's really just a fire here that he had to report to me. Oh my gosh, right. It was I mean, it was bad. He was calling at work once a week. He said the other Oh, my god and wipes to the bathroom. Yeah. And, you know, I'm not saying maybe we should sell some podcasts at this part. Maybe not. It's real. Yeah, to the point where I mean, he was health wise, and I was concerned, but I'm not a doctor. I don't know. Like, I don't know what to do. And then all he did was is we kind of move to an another role when you came on doing what you're, you know, because you're coming and doing. He's magically healed. Really? Yes. He's not magically like, health wise. Yeah, it's a little bit of complications here in the stomach, but medically he's, he's back to normal. Right? Well, a lot of it had to do with I mean, I think the pressure of the job not saying he's weaker to send the other. But it's a lot to carry on. Yeah. Right. And he went through the podcast or through the through the peer group, and it was bad leadership on my part. Especially Listen, john Maxwell. And Jocko last week that I need to own it. Right? I kind of fed into the wolves that the peer group kind of marketing stuff, but he buddy, he's great guy, and I am says name but you know, dealing dealing with me and everything else, it's a lot. And you know, you didn't let that defeat you know why? I don't know. I just, I grew up, I grew up always loving a challenge. You know, and like I said, I had I had to play the role already. So I was never scared to take the big jump, to take that leap of faith. And whether I did it good or not, at least I did it. So that was really part of it. I'm just not very fearful. I don't I don't fear much of a task, much less a man. A fear God. But that's pretty much it. I mean, I just wasn't scared. I was ready for it. I'm ready for whatever really, whether it be marketing, whether it be taking care of my family, whether it be going to school. Yeah. What learning? Um, I'm ready for it. Yeah. So and again, man, you know, it speaks. It speaks volumes of how important and how great nexstar is to because you didn't kind of know it know. Well know that know that you you were on interview. When you went to that class. Oh, right. I have a lot of my buddies were there. Y'all went out to dinner with a couple. Oh, yeah. The other Yeah, and we all do that. We all come You know, you go up there and you see a name badge or something else a parks well, you know good friends with Wyatt or I'm good friends with, you know guys out of Virginia or Texas or cross country. And then we always kind of just talk after the fact of like, hey, well, it's a class. You know, what do people get out of it? This is what I heard from mine. And I'm telling you, man, I had four or five guys and gals, said, Dude, Brandon dude's the man he sharp like was key working with him and dealing with him and he didn't know that you know, any of them. Nope. And that's the power of that organization one right in to that tells you there that man you you keep doing what you're doing. Right, thank you keep doing what you're doing. He got a good head on your shoulders and dealing with that. And so, you know, starting to wrap up this podcast and finishing about talking on leadership. And and man, this has been a lot of these things. And then talking about how you're raised and growing up and overcoming those things. And your mom playing a big part in your life and you still wanted it. But you still did. Right? You went to college, he graduated. Right there. A lot of people don't do that. Yeah. To bouncing around careers and not getting defeated, but you know, not giving up on your dream or your hopes or or, you know, wanting to use your degree for something right? To now. Right? But what would you say? What would you speak? What would you if somebody was in that situation? And maybe they're dealing with that in their career? Or they're another person out here parks that maybe we haven't seen that Dinah rough with them yet? Hopefully we do. Or somebody is is just kind of not in a good place? What would you share to them? I would, I would just say to never give up? Never give up? Um, I know. It's Yeah, it's really it's really cliche, but it is the truth. It is the truth though. It's it's just one of those things that rain is gonna come. But it doesn't. It doesn't last forever, though. You know, so trouble don't last all the way deeper than that, man. Don't guard down a little bit help some people out there. Right, we get back? What? What about not giving up? What about not giving up? Why did you dig deep to never give up and keep moving forward? Like what is it man? I mean, you just, I feel like you got to know yourself. You got to know your calling. And you got to want it. And from there you go get it. I mean, is it you persevere over everything. I think no matter what it takes to get there. You got to get there, you got to finish that race. But at the same time, it's not a race. It's a marathon. And the marathon is gonna keep going. So long as you stay on pace. stay on track. You'll get there eventually. It's not gonna take it's not gonna be the you know, the sprint. You're not a hurdler. But you'll get there. You'll get there and at least you finish the race. You could you can at least pat yourself on the back at the end of day and say, Man, I did it. I tried to do it at least. Yeah. So Dude, I heard some are five or six great pieces there. I mean, it. That's amazing, man. You know, I can tell you been out of your comfort zone. Thanks. Right. Yep. You know, you've had overcome adversity. Mm hmm. You've been disciplined to stay on course, and not just going where the wind tells you to go. Right. Right, right. You didn't get a big heart man. yet. You care a lot about things. I mean, he could have done this for a little bit and moved on to New York. Who knows what would happen right? Right. And you you you weren't scared to fail on it right? I'm pretty sure I laid out it really dark and nasty picture about marketing and about how many people we've had come through and try and do it and you are smart enough to know about the chaos of it. And this setting the other and you kind of owned it man. Oh, yeah. And now you've you've collectively learned and in? Yeah, you know, you made some mistakes. I mean, everybody has but nothing. Nothing big or major anything crazy. And you've you took ownership of it all, man. Oh, yeah. And so that's huge, man. Well, well done, bro. Thank you. Well done. Thank you a ton of fun man. I got a question about you. And I hope the listeners out there have been able to relate to your story. Yeah, I understand that. You don't ever give up man. Never. Never ever give up? Never. And your positive. Positivity is is I mean, it's it's attractive thing man. people gravitate towards that achieve. So don't ever lose me. Don't ever lose that. Oh sir. That's awesome. glass half Yeah, that's always helpful. Well, on that note, man, we'll wrap this up. So thank you, Brandon for being here. Congratulations on your on your quarterly award. Keep up the hard work. I can't wait to see after you're done with the budget and see what kind of cool things you got going on, and you know that don't sweat his stuff is been amazing and impactful. Thanks, man. Just keep doing what you're doing, bro. Yes, sir. All right. Well, with that we're gonna sign out of that's the parks way. Excuse me, the parks podcast. And this is your host Wyatt Tucker. And we've had a great morning talking with Brandon Bowles saying, that's it. You got it. And we're gonna sign out with this. So y'all have a great day. Thanks, Brian. Thank you.