Welcome to another Intangible Balance Sheet Episode. Ryan Henderson shares more about his story and the things he hopes outlive him for generations. Please listen in for more about:
Please check out and subscribe to my Youtube Channel and Newsletter!
JOSH KLOOZ, CFP®, MBA
WEALTH ADVISOR
Phone 281.719.0036
Text 281.699.8691
Fax 281.719.0156
jklooz@carsonwealth.com
1780 Hughes Landing | Suite 570
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Music by bensound.com
Welcome to another Intangible Balance Sheet Episode. Ryan Henderson shares more about his story and the things he hopes outlive him for generations. Please listen in for more about:
Please check out and subscribe to my Youtube Channel and Newsletter!
JOSH KLOOZ, CFP®, MBA
WEALTH ADVISOR
Phone 281.719.0036
Text 281.699.8691
Fax 281.719.0156
jklooz@carsonwealth.com
1780 Hughes Landing | Suite 570
The Woodlands, TX 77380
Music by bensound.com
Welcome in again to the Wisdom Middle Off podcast. Today is another of our intangible balance sheet series. And Ryan Henderson has joined me on the podcast today, and I'm so excited to hear more about his intangible balance sheet and learn more about Ryan and his life. Ryan, thank you so much for joining the podcast.
Ryan Henderson:Hey, man. Appreciate you. Thanks for having me.
Josh Klooz:Good pleasure. It is all ours. And if there are newer listeners, Ryan, that are listening to this podcast, that the reason we call the intangible balance sheet is not to make it about anything financial. In fact, it's to make it the exact opposite. Supposed to be about the first principles that we've lived our life by. And specifically, the stories that probably best illustrate those first principles, whether they be in our family lineage or in our own personal lives. And ultimately, you know, what are those things that we wanna pass on that have served us well and that we hope we'll be a part of our our families' lives going forward. But before we get to all that, Ryan, could you introduce yourself briefly to our audience?
Ryan Henderson:Okay. I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Spent most of my life there up until about twenty. I joined the military and listed in the military. And after that came back and finished college, and I went through the ROTC program in my college. And then from there, Post nine eleven was was shipped off to to Baghdad to lead an infrastructure petition. I'm sure we'll talk more about that later. After I got from Baghdad met my amazing wife, Elizabeth. And we now have two kids. I have, like, heart is crazy for me even to say this, but a twenty two year old Jordan who lives in Nashville and a fourteen year old freshman who lives with us here in Florida, Zachary. And after we got married, we spent some time in the Woodlands for about ten years, then a short stint in Louisiana moved there due to business. And in twenty twenty, during the pandemic, as everybody who's gonna listen to this, remembers somewhat painfully. My wife and I made a hard pivot, and we prayed about my executive career, what to do next, and we were just ready for something different. So we decided to move to Destin, Florida. And so we've been living here again since oh, with that a bit. Let's call it summer of twenty twenty one. So we've been here for two and a half years now.
Josh Klooz:Excellent. It's a gorgeous area in this time of year. It's probably almost perfect. Cool. Thank you for that that introduction, Ryan. One of the best ways that I found of starting off the conversation is talking about family heritage. Are there any stories from your grandparents or maybe even great grandparents that come across folks that we'll have those great grandparents stories that are pivotal to your family that come to mind.
Ryan Henderson:Yes. So it was unique, especially speaking of grandparents. Both of my grandmothers were homemakers, and they were very loving women But, specifically, my grandfather's being a guy, you know, attached any nammer with them. Two totally different worlds my dad's side, I'm gonna call him Pawball. That's what we call him. He's deceased now. Both of them are deceased, but extremely hard worker, but blue collar. And and and I'll explain why I mentioned that we're did everything with his hands and his body. He owned a tree service He was a World War two vet, so I was always fascinated with that growing up and the few stories that he would share. But I tell you he lived in ninety six, and he he was very healthy right until the end. I have never seen anybody work harder. Like in his nineties, he would outwork anybody I knew in my twenties. He's just a old school, you know, went through the great depression. So never knew really how much money he had, but he acted like he didn't have a penny. And that's just the way he lived his life. But his resiliency and his work ethic was something that that I'm so thankful for because from the blue collar side that's in me, working with my hands, working hard, especially in the military as an infantry officer, as you know, Josh, had helped me tremendously to be resilient, persistent, and just tough. Mhmm. So I appreciate that. I that's again my dad's dad. My mom's dad was an extremely hard worker, but white collar, very well educated engineer, owned his own business when I was young, and taught me how to work with my mind and how to run a business per se, not so much neither one of them really verbalize it to me, but I'll watch them, and I'll watch their actions. And I get involved, you know, helping my grandfather working his his he had a very large garden piece of property during the summer. So the blue collar side and then sitting with my grandfather when I was younger watching him run his businesses and working on whatever the spreadsheets were called back then. I don't think it was Excel, but so I learned more than anything. Work ethic and the unique thing on both sides being with my mind and then, of course, hands and body. So appreciate that.
Josh Klooz:And the other thing that I'm always curious about, when you think back to that environment, are there books, music, or or maybe even programs on the radio, or or things of that nature that is Spark know, when when you think of them, and and I ask that question that spark a memory at all.
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. You know, my my my grandfather and my dad decided to get my pop off if you will. He was a big hunter. So that has always been instilled in our family. So, you know, when we get my dad and I get together and we go hunting around that event, I do I do remember fond memories have grown up hunting with him and, you know, us all going to Camping as a family. They have a big family on that side. He was a big country music guy, old school country music, Mhmm.
Josh Klooz:So
Ryan Henderson:I don't even really listen to that kind of music, you know, old school hanks senior and stuff like that. So I wouldn't say music really does it. And and for my my grandfather on my mom's side. Again, his work I think was white collar, more educated business. I just I I know that he told me a quote, he and he and I were not extremely close, but I remember this as I was getting my twenties and starting to kinda find my way in what I wanted to do. I asked them when they said, you know, grandpa's what I called them. What made you successful? And what would you suggest I do? And a man of not of a lot of words at the time for stuff like that. I just remember him telling me, hey, look, if you wanna be something, you have to get into sales. And I'll never forget that because I was I did not ever think I was a salesman. I ended up being a salesman for a large part of my career and to an extent am now. But I I was going engineering track mainly because of him because he was successful, had money. He didn't have to use his hands like mother grandfather. I just remember him telling me that I thought it was the weirdest thing, but you know what? If you ask a lot of CEOs, successful men, they have had either they truly believe in sales or they've had a stint, a long stint as being a salesman and I'll always take that to heart. It was it was critical.
Josh Klooz:Very sage advice for sure. And I I'm I'm trying to imagine the delivery too because I imagine that probably had some of the some of the effect of of the advice too. Now, what about your parents? Are they are
Ryan Henderson:they still there?
Josh Klooz:Yeah. Go ahead.
Ryan Henderson:Well, real real quick, you know, you say deliver. It's fun exam memory. Again, what we talk about all kind of stuff. But when I talk about personal kind of direct things like that, he it was almost uncomfortable for him maybe. I mean, I don't remember. I just remember it wasn't very deep. But he was litter he he loved to cook. I remember he was digging in the pantry and asking the question. He stops, turns around, looks at me tells me that one liner goes right back to what he was doing. I was, like, big success to end up. So the eye is kinda unique. Yeah.
Josh Klooz:The irony of it. Now, what about your parents? Are there are there stories that or or events in life that you hold dear in relation to your parents or maybe even it was coaches or teachers growing up that helped trying to steer you on life's path.
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. We'll just focus it on my parents. You know, I was very, very blessed that both of my parents were together. Throughout my my life is still over. I forgot how many years they've been married. They told me the other day. It's just pushing fifty something. So very blessed. They've always been very healthy. So nothing tragic, you know, nothing like that. I'm so blessed. They have both been believers in Christ, which has been a huge foundation for me since I remember mom way before I was born and my dad gave his life to Christ when I was four because I remember being there when the moment and when he got baptized. Mhmm. So just huge part of our lives, you know, we grew up southern Baptist I was talking about this and they were obviously so going to church was huge for us and just having a relationship with God. I mean, it's just rolled over into my life and now my kids life and my sister, she's only sibling, all of her family. So that was pivotal and so important for us. You know, they just taught us things My parents are both busy. You know, my dad was a school teacher, so and he did some extra things, obviously, to help provide for us because we were lower middle class. My mom worked full time as an office manager and insurance, so they were busy. Right? They didn't have a lot of time for us. I just remember them showing me probably more than they told me, you know, about being kind, putting others before yourself, working hard, obviously, Saving are huge savers. Mhmm. I wouldn't call them quite frugal, but very very good saving, and they've been able to retire, you know, at a reasonable age. And that's that's passed over to me for sure. The importance of saving, importance of tithing to the church. Like I know a lot of people struggle with that aspect. Believers, non believers have given money to the church. To god ultimately, like, it's never been a thought for it's never been a challenge. I just do it ten percent plus. And I'm so thankful for that. And living within your means, huge and it's carried over now in my my wife and I's lives. Importance of prayer, I mentioned serving others is huge. And being in a Christian community, you know, in the church outside the church. And those are some things that, again, they did talk about them. But they showed me. And that was huge and still today. And I appreciate it very much.
Josh Klooz:I'm curious, do you remember because I I don't even remember the first time this happened in my life too. But you were the first time where your parents told you that about tithing or giving back even charitable. Is is there a memory that comes to mind with that one?
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. I don't know how old I was, but it was young. Right? Because I had to do chores to get allowance. Right? Yep. Not just to get extra privileges, but to get whatever it was, ten bucks or whatever. And I had to tie my dollar about ten. Yeah. And so, you know, there there there was never a big speech about it. It was just you're gonna tie, then it was okay. And I tied it. So so, yeah, that that's where it all started at a really young age with my allowance.
Josh Klooz:Now as you as you think about some of those building blocks at life that kind of started pushing you down the certainty of the path that you've taken. Are there any events and then stand out to you that were critical in that the kind of the forming of, hey, I'm gonna go to the military. Hey, I I wanna be I wanna be in the infantry, things of that nature. Like, what what stands out to you in that perspective?
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. So I have a lot of pictures from when I was really little with, like, special operator shirt or special forces shirts on running around with a fake gun. You know, that was the thing with some kind of nerf going at the time or whatever. So it's always kinda been in me, you know. And and the real thing, I don't have a big military presence in my family on either side. My grandfather was in World War two, but he never talked about it. He never talked about it much. An uncle that was a b fifty two pilot in Vietnam, doesn't talk about it much. And that was really it. You know, had a couple of uncle up in the marines during the cold war era, so I guess not a whole lot to talk about in their minds. But I just went through a really dark period, self self inflicted bad choices from about started into my sophomore year in high school. It's definitely junior year. And and lasted about three to five years. And I just made a lot of board choices and hung around the wrong people and addiction abuse. And addiction distribution.
Josh Klooz:There was a
Ryan Henderson:few name and I did it, and it was not good. And I just got to point where I was really low. And felt like I was failing a lot of people including myself. And I knew I needed to make a change and I had some good buddies that still stayed in touch with me from high school, and I saw what the military did for them. Because it's funny. I'll never forget sophomore year in high school, you know, marines and army come visit I remember going to the library just because I was gonna get out of school, get out of class because the Marines came and literally five minutes into his speech. I just got up and left because I there's, like, there's no way I'm joined in the military, especially the marines after listening to this guy. You know? And so it was never on my radar once I got to the age where you start thinking about it, I guess, sixteen seventeen. But almost felt like I was back to the corner, not enough choice. But as gloomy as that sounds, it was the group. Besides myself, my relationship with God, it was the greatest gift he's ever given me because I enlisted. You'll you'll appreciate this, Josh. I enlisted. As fourteen mike stinger manpads. That's the back when they used to have shoulder fire stingers
Josh Klooz:Mhmm.
Ryan Henderson:The IRR to that way, he'd see can hit some kind of rotary or fixed wing and aircraft. And I literally walk in the recruiter's office, and here's the great guidance I got. They said, ask for the best bonus. Whatever pays the best bonus set that you sign up for. And that month, that's what had the best bonus. So I didn't know anything. I didn't know I didn't ask for a certain duties. I didn't ask for nothing else. I said, bus bonus. Like, I knew what I was talking about. And I signed. And the cool thing is the minute I hit I stepped our foot off of the cattle truck at Fort Leonard Wood and the chaos began I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Like, I just I got into my element where I thrived. And from there, my life went from the pit of despair to incline in the right direction. So
Josh Klooz:who were some of those people that you look back on, whether it be pull two's are squad leaders or even team leaders or or even buddies that were instrumental in that path. And you know, taking those those initial steps.
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. So, you know, a couple of buddies, good friends, Tommy Bear and Guy Gerard. They they they both live in Houston actually and have Guy went on to have an amazing military career. As an officer, and Tom did his time, and then has had a great career in oil and gas industry. He was very blessed with their careers. And their families. And they were instrumental in that and still do your friends today. You know, when I think about, there was a a dress sergeant Guzman the minute I hit the ground at Leonard Wood, and he was tough on me, but I think he saw what I had in me. And I will always appreciate that man, and I wish I could see him again. And, you know, an r a t ROTC instructor had his name was master sergeant Scott. I think he retired and he's living at Benning now, but that was believe it or not. That's whenever I got even closer than any of my platoon sergeants over the years. I was so close to him during that time. Mhmm. And I guess he just had a lot more freedom. Right? He didn't have the pressure of having to get in all all the enlisted troops and the UNI, so I get that. So no offense to the other ones. But just he was the first senior listed NCO that I really got to get close to in and out of the uniform. Mhmm. And since I had a listed background, of course, he kinda treated me a little different, I think, compared to the other ones. But Those two guys and there's so many more I could go on and say, but those two guys were huge. I'd say in one building my confidence from that Derserne Guzman and the basic training and let me know, hey, man, this is this is something I might have been made to do. Mhmm. And then, you know, sergeant Scott just molding me into transitioning Mustang, right, from an EnLISTE to to an officer, and I truly appreciate those two guys.
Josh Klooz:As you think through probably the events that are most meaningful to you and to, you know, kind of the the building blocks of who you become. Are are there any events along your military career that you wouldn't mind sharing with us on the stand out?
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. Well, I wanna give you I wanna give you a couple of civilian ones in there too. So the first one at ten years old, I gave my I gave my life to Christ. Again, Southern Baptist, Louisiana. So this sort of been nineteen eighty seven, and that was pivotal. Right? Because it it got my then, kind of, a cheesy statement like that we would have punched my ticket to heaven. And Jesus entered my heart at that moment, so that was huge. And then the just signing, stepping out and being bold and and listening. It was my friends at the time and the influence in looking at my bank account, which is probably negative, and just the position I was in, but being bold enough to sign up for the army in general. I mean, that was a huge pivot point in my life. To get me on the right track. Thank you god. And then right before I got to lead men in combat, which was another one, but stepping before that I rededicated my life to Christ, and that was huge because that got me on the path where, okay. Like I knew what I'm supposed to for who I'm supposed to follow now. Nine eleven was big, you know, for so many because real quick story I got I got commissioned and graduated May of o one. So right before, at the time, the army was letting you take diabeticals for two reasons to go to grad school because they didn't need officers. Right? We're still there's nothing going on. If you get some kind of really good job. You could have a request because it makes you more diverse for the army and help them anyways. Right? And I got my sabbatical approved. And I got a job at Johnson Space Center in Houston. And I was really considering resigning. And working on that when I was almost about it because I kinda didn't wanna be in anymore. The nine eleven happened and it changed my mindset again. Right? Yeah. And so nine eleven was huge. And then the honor of leading forty young infantrymen I say they're all young, some some long roll with me too, but forty infantrymen in combat was just unexplained what would you understand, Josh, and some people got a listen to this will. Those are all all pivotal. Mary and my wife was huge. My two kids, huge. And then I'd say the next one was leading an organization. So another war, if you will, was leading a service company as a CEO. During the pandemic. Right? Nobody knew nobody could give you an advice. Right? The senior the most senior were were just hamstrung, but they're in that scenario. So leading through that, working hard through that, grinding through that, And then I wrote two books. Those were those were pretty cool. You know, especially one, I wrote a devotional called messages. From a warrior and it is a daily devotional that literally the holy spirit gave me every word in it. And and that was touching on it and really, really cool that he chose me to represent him. And it's made a difference in a lot of people's lives and especially mine. That was huge. And then I'd say, lastly, kinda taking this bold jump to move to Florida and even kinda semi retire, you know. I mean, I'm a goal oriented guy and I thanks to God, I destroyed every one of them, but this was huge. And And so this is the latest and the greatest here two years ago, you know. Again, kinda semi retiring and moving here. So
Josh Klooz:Now as you Ryan, thank you for that those events. Now as you think kind of of your great great grandchildren's generation and their community, you know, four generations out you know, are there are there any stories within, you know, those you've mentioned those events, but are there any stories that you think would be most instructive to them to illustrate why those those events are important to you?
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. So for sure, given my life to Christ and rededicating one because without without god. I'm nothing. Jesus died on the cross for us so we can go to heaven and then enjoy our time here on earth. So rededicating my life because we're all gonna have twists and turns. Right? Especially people I've noticed like myself to give their life to Christ really young before they have any life experience, it's gonna come. And you gotta be ready to ask for grace and rededicate, and I'm thankful I did that. So those two are huge for generations to come. Served in our country, which you know as well, I mean, is such an honor. Especially to lead young men and women. Right? But it's it's such an honor. And I would do it all over again. Combat and peace time. And then just working hard, whether it's through a pandemic or through years where your company is extremely profitable, being consistent, persistent, working hard, and just not changing no matter what, and treating everybody like they need to be treated whether you're the CEO, which I've been blessed to be, or the new salesman on the block, which I've been as well, you know. Those are all things that that I think really matter in life the most and operate that when I'm when I'm with God one day in heaven that great, great, great, great grandkids, whatever you wanna label as, that that's how people describe me. Yeah.
Josh Klooz:And then the last piece that we we dive into, you know, I think we've we've probably talked about it a little bit already, but some people call it your ethical will, but ultimately your eulogy. And and the reason I I was bringing this up is I I had the privilege of being able to help write my mom's ulogy. And so there was that that moment where you're sitting in the kitchen table and you're going, okay, is this Is this right? You know, is is this is this enough? Is this is this as accurate as it could be? Is this a a fair representation? And so I always ask people, you know, hey, if you were able to write your ulogy for yourself today, what what are some of the things you hope would be in there In, you know, have you I guess, the first question would be, have you written your urology? And then the second one is if you have it, what are some of the things you hope would be in there? And it's an awkward question I will admit, but it's one that I found has spurred a lot of a lot of self reflection from from me personally.
Ryan Henderson:Yeah. That's a great question. Right? I have not written it. But I tell you, these things are floating through my mind as you're asking the question. And I I would truly hope that people would understand because, like, I'm so blessed. If you looked on LinkedIn and looked at my resume, whatever, it looks great. But but I know who's really did that. It was me. Right. I I was I was just used by god to to be in this right situation to be able to influence some people for him and for the kingdom. But I I would hope that that I would be you know, the the bad of, you know, understood that, hey, look, I was a fraud center. And will be to the day I die, but I was redeemed my guy. For what Jesus did by his grace. And then I was a hard worker and I treated everybody the same like I wanted to be treated. You know, so serving leader and I loved others. Man, if I can be remembered, is that? That's a home run. That's a home run.
Josh Klooz:Absolutely. Ryan, thank you so much for your time today. I really enjoyed the conversation and been so encouraged. Look forward to to connecting with you again in the future. Is there anything else that we need to cover before we sign off today?
Ryan Henderson:No. I appreciate it. This is this was good in many ways. One, I hey, it's an honor to come on here, whether one person listens or a million listens, you know. It's it's it's an honor to share my story and get to meet you. And and some great questions really to make me think. It's fantastic. I appreciate it.
Josh Klooz:As as always my pleasure and know that myself and my family are wishing you and your family nothing but truth beauty and goodness in the road ahead. Have a great rest of your day. Okay?
Ryan Henderson:Few too, buddy.