1 00:00:02,786 --> 00:00:04,873 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Growing Our Future podcast. 2 00:00:04,873 --> 00:00:08,811 In this show, the Texas FFA Foundation will take on a 3 00:00:08,891 --> 00:00:12,663 journey of exploration into agricultural science, education, 4 00:00:12,663 --> 00:00:15,990 leadership development and insights from subject matter 5 00:00:16,071 --> 00:00:19,669 experts and sponsors who provide the fuel to make dreams come 6 00:00:19,708 --> 00:00:19,969 true. 7 00:00:19,969 --> 00:00:22,440 Here's your host, Aaron Alejandro. 8 00:00:30,184 --> 00:00:33,845 Speaker 2: Well, good morning, good afternoon, good evening or 9 00:00:33,905 --> 00:00:37,267 whenever you may be tuning in to the Growing Our Future podcast, 10 00:00:37,267 --> 00:00:40,167 hey, we just appreciate you stopping by. 11 00:00:40,167 --> 00:00:42,448 You know time's one of those things. 12 00:00:42,448 --> 00:00:44,990 We can't save it, we can't hoard it. 13 00:00:44,990 --> 00:00:48,591 The only thing we can do with time is spend it, and so the 14 00:00:48,631 --> 00:00:51,273 fact that you're stopping by and sharing some of your time with 15 00:00:51,412 --> 00:00:52,914 us, let me tell you it's an honor. 16 00:00:52,914 --> 00:00:55,774 We appreciate you being here. 17 00:00:55,795 --> 00:00:59,335 The podcast itself, growing Our Future, you know, I tell people, 18 00:00:59,335 --> 00:01:02,377 if agriculture's taught me anything, it's taught me this If 19 00:01:02,377 --> 00:01:04,677 you want to know what the future is, grow it. 20 00:01:04,677 --> 00:01:10,260 Well, how do you grow a future? 21 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:11,463 You've got to plant the right seeds, you've got to take care 22 00:01:11,483 --> 00:01:13,769 of those seeds and then you've got to harvest it and then share 23 00:01:13,769 --> 00:01:14,590 it with other people. 24 00:01:14,590 --> 00:01:16,724 That's what this podcast is about. 25 00:01:16,724 --> 00:01:20,498 We bring on people that I consider subject matter experts, 26 00:01:20,498 --> 00:01:24,509 people with incredible stories, testimonies and seeds of 27 00:01:24,569 --> 00:01:27,884 greatness, things that, if we listen, we can find something 28 00:01:27,903 --> 00:01:29,167 that we can plant in our lives. 29 00:01:29,167 --> 00:01:31,572 Today is no different. 30 00:01:31,572 --> 00:01:34,486 I have been looking forward to this interview. 31 00:01:34,486 --> 00:01:37,873 I remember reaching out to this young man's mom. 32 00:01:37,873 --> 00:01:40,826 She said, well, he's got to do these other podcasts first. 33 00:01:40,826 --> 00:01:43,504 I said, okay, let him do them as soon as he gets them done. 34 00:01:43,504 --> 00:01:55,108 I want a shot at him and we got him. 35 00:01:55,108 --> 00:01:56,153 Today we've got Colton Kyle with us. 36 00:01:56,192 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 3: Colton Kyle president of theamericansnappercom Colton 37 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:00,201 , thank you for joining us today . 38 00:02:00,201 --> 00:02:01,022 Thank you very much for having me. 39 00:02:01,022 --> 00:02:01,644 I'm looking forward to this. 40 00:02:01,644 --> 00:02:03,387 I am by no means an expert on anything, but I do my best. 41 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:06,432 Speaker 2: Yes, you are, you've got a testimony and we're going 42 00:02:06,471 --> 00:02:07,995 to talk about that testimony. 43 00:02:07,995 --> 00:02:11,766 That's what you're an expert on , so I always think that that's 44 00:02:11,826 --> 00:02:12,588 really kind of fun. 45 00:02:12,588 --> 00:02:16,247 Sometimes I ask the kids in the FFA. 46 00:02:16,247 --> 00:02:17,852 I said tell me about your business. 47 00:02:17,852 --> 00:02:21,448 And they always look at me and they say, well, mr Alejandro, I 48 00:02:21,487 --> 00:02:22,311 don't have a business. 49 00:02:22,311 --> 00:02:25,320 I said, yeah, you are, you're it. 50 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,108 I said what time do you go to work in the morning? 51 00:02:27,108 --> 00:02:29,348 What kind of customer service do you deliver? 52 00:02:29,348 --> 00:02:33,906 I said you are your business, and just like you, colton, I've 53 00:02:33,925 --> 00:02:38,447 been following your brand and I'm telling you that that is 54 00:02:38,526 --> 00:02:43,026 extraordinary to have a business , it's extraordinary to live a 55 00:02:43,066 --> 00:02:45,973 brand, and that's the reason why I wanted you on this show. 56 00:02:45,973 --> 00:02:52,201 We're going to talk about that. 57 00:02:52,201 --> 00:02:53,685 We start every episode off the same way, though, so I would 58 00:02:53,705 --> 00:02:55,367 like to start this episode off with a simple question, and that 59 00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:58,662 is Colton, what are you grateful for today? 60 00:03:00,326 --> 00:03:02,554 Speaker 3: Today, I could think of a million and one things to 61 00:03:02,593 --> 00:03:03,336 be grateful for. 62 00:03:03,336 --> 00:03:06,668 Specifically, this morning I was able to work out with my 63 00:03:06,707 --> 00:03:10,463 girlfriend, and so I'm very grateful for an able body that 64 00:03:10,484 --> 00:03:13,567 I've been blessed with, that I can go to the gym and work hard 65 00:03:13,667 --> 00:03:17,771 and reap those rewards through the rest of my non-training 66 00:03:17,812 --> 00:03:20,294 activities oh that's good. 67 00:03:20,294 --> 00:03:21,116 Yeah. 68 00:03:21,479 --> 00:03:23,687 Speaker 2: Ability to get out, get a little blood flow. 69 00:03:24,681 --> 00:03:26,447 Speaker 3: With people you enjoy hanging around. 70 00:03:26,447 --> 00:03:27,629 What. 71 00:03:27,629 --> 00:03:30,027 A lot of people don't have that opportunity. 72 00:03:30,379 --> 00:03:33,086 Speaker 2: Well, and with people that you enjoy hanging out with 73 00:03:33,086 --> 00:03:33,086 . 74 00:03:33,788 --> 00:03:35,051 Speaker 3: Agreed Good company. 75 00:03:35,419 --> 00:03:37,985 Speaker 2: I was going to say what a better deal than that? 76 00:03:37,985 --> 00:03:40,792 Not many, yeah, I'm with you. 77 00:03:41,092 --> 00:03:41,693 I'm like you. 78 00:03:41,693 --> 00:03:45,209 I like I don't know about you I love the great outdoors. 79 00:03:45,209 --> 00:03:49,463 Yep, I love, like you said, to kind of get the blood flowing 80 00:03:49,524 --> 00:03:54,591 and good company and live in a country and under an umbrella 81 00:03:54,610 --> 00:03:56,973 that allows me all those incredible freedoms and 82 00:03:57,014 --> 00:04:01,564 liberties and opportunities, and I just can't be thankful enough 83 00:04:01,564 --> 00:04:06,592 that this is where God allowed me to be born and to raise my 84 00:04:06,674 --> 00:04:09,907 family here, and so I appreciate you sharing that. 85 00:04:09,907 --> 00:04:14,381 Yeah, absolutely, colton. 86 00:04:14,381 --> 00:04:16,004 We talked a little bit. 87 00:04:16,567 --> 00:04:19,252 You know, before and after we'll talk some more, but you know, 88 00:04:19,339 --> 00:04:24,754 everybody's got a testimony, everybody's got a story and 89 00:04:24,814 --> 00:04:27,843 sometimes we kind of find our paths through those testimonies 90 00:04:27,903 --> 00:04:30,470 and we find our paths through those stories. 91 00:04:30,470 --> 00:04:35,303 And you know there will be people that might tune into this 92 00:04:35,303 --> 00:04:38,838 podcast which may not have a background, they may not have a 93 00:04:38,899 --> 00:04:44,612 full understanding of who you are, maybe your lineage, your 94 00:04:44,651 --> 00:04:45,173 background. 95 00:04:45,173 --> 00:04:48,889 So if you could, colton, just kind of take us through a little 96 00:04:48,889 --> 00:04:51,365 bit, then tell us a little bit about Colton Kyle. 97 00:04:51,365 --> 00:04:54,721 Where did you grow up, how did you grow up and how have you 98 00:04:54,822 --> 00:04:57,629 found yourself into this position that you're in today 99 00:04:57,930 --> 00:04:58,932 with American Sniper? 100 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:03,382 Speaker 3: Yes, well, I'm Texan, so I'm going to claim to be 101 00:05:03,422 --> 00:05:04,423 Texan Technically. 102 00:05:04,423 --> 00:05:07,865 I was born in California, but the first soil that my feet 103 00:05:07,904 --> 00:05:09,406 touched was Texas soil. 104 00:05:09,406 --> 00:05:12,629 My dad made sure it was brought to the hospital, because he's 105 00:05:12,668 --> 00:05:15,670 proud Texan, and so I consider myself to be a proud Texan as 106 00:05:15,730 --> 00:05:15,951 well. 107 00:05:15,951 --> 00:05:20,134 So I'm still in Texas now and I probably will be for a little 108 00:05:20,153 --> 00:05:21,194 while at the very least. 109 00:05:21,194 --> 00:05:22,896 Little while at the very least. 110 00:05:22,896 --> 00:05:23,935 I am 20 years old. 111 00:05:23,935 --> 00:05:33,000 I graduated high school two years ago and since then I've 112 00:05:33,021 --> 00:05:34,463 been working on the American Sniper brand, so I run the brand 113 00:05:34,463 --> 00:05:34,463 . 114 00:05:34,463 --> 00:05:36,408 My mom has given me the opportunity to do that, and as 115 00:05:36,487 --> 00:05:41,002 much as American Sniper who is my father, chris Kyle has been a 116 00:05:41,002 --> 00:05:43,149 figure and a book and a movie. 117 00:05:43,149 --> 00:05:46,920 My mom has done enough with it so that it could stay a brand 118 00:05:46,961 --> 00:05:51,937 that way, in case my sister or I wanted to take on that role as 119 00:05:51,997 --> 00:05:52,860 part of our inheritance. 120 00:05:52,860 --> 00:05:56,995 We were able to, and so I had this great opportunity to do 121 00:05:57,055 --> 00:05:59,403 that, and that's what I've been doing these past two years. 122 00:05:59,403 --> 00:06:03,779 So, as you mentioned, my website americansnipercom Right 123 00:06:03,819 --> 00:06:04,940 now I have merchandise on there. 124 00:06:04,940 --> 00:06:08,564 I've got some more things coming soon, specifically 125 00:06:08,625 --> 00:06:12,608 merchandise expanding on that, but also in the next year or two 126 00:06:12,608 --> 00:06:17,312 , I expect to have some tactical gear available and maybe move 127 00:06:17,372 --> 00:06:19,194 into some firearms and some things like that. 128 00:06:19,194 --> 00:06:22,257 I'm passionate about that, so I'm excited about that. 129 00:06:22,257 --> 00:06:24,978 That's what I do now On the side as well. 130 00:06:24,978 --> 00:06:26,240 I'm really passionate. 131 00:06:26,923 --> 00:06:29,908 I'd say my main passion is apologetics and if you're not 132 00:06:29,928 --> 00:06:33,807 familiar with that, that is the reasonable or logical defense of 133 00:06:33,807 --> 00:06:34,269 your faith. 134 00:06:34,269 --> 00:06:37,761 So explaining to people who may have different worldviews, 135 00:06:37,781 --> 00:06:41,146 different backgrounds, or maybe even Christians, and expanding 136 00:06:41,286 --> 00:06:45,454 on what my faith is and why, logically, I believe that and 137 00:06:45,634 --> 00:06:50,088 there is, it's integral to your faith is the faith part of that? 138 00:06:50,088 --> 00:06:51,673 And believing in things that you don't see? 139 00:06:51,673 --> 00:06:55,951 There's also a large part of reason and logic. 140 00:06:55,951 --> 00:06:59,120 And, most likely, why does it make the most sense that 141 00:06:59,139 --> 00:07:00,303 Christianity is the truth? 142 00:07:00,625 --> 00:07:01,728 Because everything takes faith. 143 00:07:01,728 --> 00:07:03,211 Everything takes some belief. 144 00:07:03,211 --> 00:07:06,584 You have to make assumptions at some point to believe anything 145 00:07:06,605 --> 00:07:06,826 at all. 146 00:07:06,826 --> 00:07:11,880 So I just believe that my faith takes the least amount of faith 147 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,889 or belief in trusting things that you don't see, and I think 148 00:07:16,331 --> 00:07:20,725 atheism and other religions take a lot more faith, um, than mine 149 00:07:20,725 --> 00:07:20,966 does. 150 00:07:20,966 --> 00:07:25,454 So I know that can be kind of confusing, but that's my passion 151 00:07:25,454 --> 00:07:26,261 , that's what I like to do. 152 00:07:26,261 --> 00:07:31,490 So I like to read and have Bible study and listen to many 153 00:07:31,831 --> 00:07:34,382 great speakers and authors and that kind of thing. 154 00:07:34,382 --> 00:07:37,269 So that's a little insight into Colton Kyle. 155 00:07:37,790 --> 00:07:38,170 Speaker 2: I love it. 156 00:07:38,170 --> 00:07:41,545 By the way, this, right here, is exactly why we do this 157 00:07:41,586 --> 00:07:45,076 podcast, by the way, colton, so you know the one thing that I 158 00:07:45,117 --> 00:07:48,105 tell people that you cannot argue with, and that is 159 00:07:48,146 --> 00:07:49,127 somebody's testimony. 160 00:07:49,127 --> 00:07:53,041 Nobody could ever come along and say, colton, that didn't 161 00:07:53,081 --> 00:07:53,644 happen to you. 162 00:07:53,644 --> 00:07:56,629 That would be a foolish statement. 163 00:07:56,629 --> 00:08:00,963 The beauty of a testimony is it's built around all of those 164 00:08:01,064 --> 00:08:04,470 things, those experiences, those values. 165 00:08:04,470 --> 00:08:08,802 But something that you said and this is the reason why I share 166 00:08:08,841 --> 00:08:11,670 this, this is what I want people to kind of take away from these 167 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:15,447 podcasts is learn to listen to what the speakers say. 168 00:08:15,447 --> 00:08:18,761 The guests say what they share, and one of the things that 169 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:22,805 you've just shared that I really hope people are listening to is 170 00:08:22,805 --> 00:08:23,987 discernment. 171 00:08:23,987 --> 00:08:31,735 You have a real mature sense of discernment, and I think that 172 00:08:31,814 --> 00:08:40,062 is an incredible attribute, and I hope that young people will 173 00:08:40,182 --> 00:08:40,864 ask questions. 174 00:08:40,864 --> 00:08:43,289 It's okay to ask questions because I think it's in that 175 00:08:43,389 --> 00:08:46,621 asking questions that you find answers, where you become a 176 00:08:46,701 --> 00:08:47,504 better discerner. 177 00:08:49,126 --> 00:08:49,707 Speaker 3: Is that fair to? 178 00:08:49,748 --> 00:08:50,168 Speaker 2: say that. 179 00:08:50,769 --> 00:08:51,530 Speaker 3: I totally agree. 180 00:08:51,530 --> 00:08:54,705 Yeah, I think questions and doubt is understandable. 181 00:08:54,705 --> 00:08:56,548 Everybody has doubt at different points, about 182 00:08:56,570 --> 00:08:57,150 different things. 183 00:08:57,150 --> 00:09:01,729 But earnestly and honestly seeking answers, I think you'll 184 00:09:01,769 --> 00:09:02,291 find the truth. 185 00:09:02,291 --> 00:09:05,803 Jesus says if you seek you'll find the truth, and the truth if 186 00:09:05,803 --> 00:09:07,106 you seek you'll find the truth and the truth is Him. 187 00:09:07,106 --> 00:09:09,451 So I'm all about asking questions and asking the hard 188 00:09:09,491 --> 00:09:15,363 questions, because if somebody doesn't know that they should 189 00:09:15,383 --> 00:09:16,345 say I don't know and I'll help you. 190 00:09:16,345 --> 00:09:18,109 Look, and there will be things that go unanswered, but there 191 00:09:18,129 --> 00:09:21,703 will be a lot of things that have good answers that in the 192 00:09:21,744 --> 00:09:23,386 very end you can find comfort in . 193 00:09:24,489 --> 00:09:26,974 Speaker 2: So one of my favorite verses in the Bible. 194 00:09:26,974 --> 00:09:29,586 I was speaking to a bunch of kids down in the Houston area 195 00:09:29,606 --> 00:09:31,881 the other day and they asked me some pretty interesting 196 00:09:31,922 --> 00:09:36,291 questions by the way Kind of surprised, yeah. 197 00:09:36,291 --> 00:09:39,245 They asked me about how important is faith to leadership 198 00:09:39,245 --> 00:09:39,245 . 199 00:09:39,245 --> 00:09:42,254 I really appreciate that question. 200 00:09:42,254 --> 00:09:45,285 And then they asked me they said do you have a favorite 201 00:09:45,365 --> 00:09:46,149 Bible verse? 202 00:09:46,149 --> 00:09:48,745 And I said interesting that you would say that. 203 00:09:48,745 --> 00:09:49,408 I said I sure do. 204 00:09:49,408 --> 00:09:51,921 I said I got lots of them, but I got one in particular and it 205 00:09:51,961 --> 00:09:53,245 really kind of goes to what you just said. 206 00:09:53,285 --> 00:09:54,249 It's James 1.5. 207 00:09:54,249 --> 00:09:57,769 It says if any man seeks wisdom , let him ask God, who gives it 208 00:09:57,808 --> 00:09:59,572 freely to all men without cast and judgment. 209 00:09:59,572 --> 00:10:09,321 So that means anybody If so that means anybody if you need 210 00:10:09,421 --> 00:10:10,721 wisdom, you just got to ask and there's an opportunity there to 211 00:10:10,741 --> 00:10:10,981 gain insight. 212 00:10:10,981 --> 00:10:12,864 But discernment, I think, is really important for today's 213 00:10:12,903 --> 00:10:19,009 young people because I think in today's world of media, social 214 00:10:19,090 --> 00:10:24,094 media, entertainment, there are so many different touch points 215 00:10:24,173 --> 00:10:30,404 that can try to sway a value system, sway an opinion, that I 216 00:10:30,465 --> 00:10:34,033 think having that element, that leadership tool I'm going to 217 00:10:34,052 --> 00:10:37,746 call it a leadership tool that leadership tool of discernment, 218 00:10:39,350 --> 00:10:41,514 I think can keep your compass in the right direction. 219 00:10:42,620 --> 00:10:43,142 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 220 00:10:43,142 --> 00:10:47,722 Yeah, I think we used to be in the age of information and now 221 00:10:47,743 --> 00:10:49,246 we're in the age of misinformation. 222 00:10:49,246 --> 00:10:53,104 So many things out there and so many. 223 00:10:53,104 --> 00:10:57,615 It's so easy to deceive people, kind of with the rise of AI and 224 00:10:57,615 --> 00:11:01,327 just with presenting things that aren't facts as if they are 225 00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:04,979 facts and, in our short form, content, how we don't fact check 226 00:11:04,979 --> 00:11:07,508 hardly anything or spend time researching anything. 227 00:11:07,508 --> 00:11:10,980 We just trust who who claims to be an expert, without even 228 00:11:11,020 --> 00:11:12,184 finding out if they are an expert. 229 00:11:12,184 --> 00:11:16,600 So discernment is yeah, it's incredibly important and 230 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:17,142 powerful. 231 00:11:18,384 --> 00:11:21,610 I really like when you mentioned james five part of the. 232 00:11:21,610 --> 00:11:24,865 The end part of the verse is he gives it freely, without 233 00:11:24,905 --> 00:11:25,768 casting judgment. 234 00:11:25,768 --> 00:11:29,586 So it doesn't matter who you are, what your background is, uh 235 00:11:29,586 --> 00:11:31,871 , if you're, if you're supposedly the most holy 236 00:11:31,912 --> 00:11:33,583 christian, if you're somebody who's been in the church for a 237 00:11:33,624 --> 00:11:36,322 long time and has done all the right things, or if you're 238 00:11:36,342 --> 00:11:39,216 somebody who's never been in the church and doesn't know who god 239 00:11:39,216 --> 00:11:41,302 is or what he's supposed to be like, when you start asking 240 00:11:41,342 --> 00:11:44,610 questions and you're honestly seeking answers, god's going to 241 00:11:44,630 --> 00:11:46,655 give it to you and he's not going to look down upon you 242 00:11:46,696 --> 00:11:48,822 because you shouldn't know these things, because you've been in 243 00:11:48,841 --> 00:11:50,928 the church, or you should know these things because you've 244 00:11:50,948 --> 00:11:52,221 heard it, or anything like that. 245 00:11:52,221 --> 00:11:55,750 Um, it really speaks to his character that he gives that 246 00:11:55,831 --> 00:12:01,245 freely and his knowledge about himself I had a friend here. 247 00:12:01,745 --> 00:12:04,028 Speaker 2: I live in north North Texas, I live in Wichita Falls 248 00:12:05,850 --> 00:12:08,113 and I was 23 years old. 249 00:12:08,113 --> 00:12:09,495 I just moved to this community. 250 00:12:09,495 --> 00:12:17,041 By the way, colton, get this I'm 23 years old, I'm the 251 00:12:17,061 --> 00:12:18,003 district director for a member of Congress. 252 00:12:18,003 --> 00:12:18,403 I got four offices. 253 00:12:18,403 --> 00:12:19,566 I've got an office in Denton, wichita Falls, lubbock and 254 00:12:19,586 --> 00:12:19,745 Amarillo. 255 00:12:19,745 --> 00:12:22,389 I'm the gatekeeper and I hardly know anybody That'd be like 256 00:12:22,711 --> 00:12:26,240 being 23 and being the gatekeeper for Marcus, marcus's 257 00:12:26,302 --> 00:12:26,623 brother. 258 00:12:26,623 --> 00:12:29,711 You know it's like it's crazy to think that that's what I did, 259 00:12:29,711 --> 00:12:35,211 but when we think about you know, discernment and and 260 00:12:35,291 --> 00:12:40,481 knowledge and wisdom and just making yourself accessible. 261 00:12:40,481 --> 00:12:45,231 There's also another trait in here, a leadership trait, and 262 00:12:45,251 --> 00:12:46,293 this one's tough for people. 263 00:12:46,293 --> 00:12:52,610 It's vulnerability, because I've got to be a little bit 264 00:12:52,691 --> 00:12:55,162 vulnerable to be a potentially a little bit wrong. 265 00:12:56,303 --> 00:12:57,046 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's true. 266 00:12:57,386 --> 00:12:58,068 Speaker 2: Does that make sense? 267 00:12:58,068 --> 00:13:00,679 I've got to be a little bit vulnerable, you know. 268 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,586 The other side of that is, you know, I tell kids all the time, 269 00:13:03,625 --> 00:13:07,212 be open minded, but just don't be so open minded your brain 270 00:13:07,232 --> 00:13:07,614 falls out. 271 00:13:07,614 --> 00:13:12,331 So I mean I want you to be open minded, but I want that 272 00:13:12,390 --> 00:13:17,408 discernment and I want that humbleness of vulnerability to 273 00:13:17,469 --> 00:13:21,418 say, you know, maybe I don't have all the answers, maybe I 274 00:13:21,479 --> 00:13:23,546 need to seek wisdom. 275 00:13:26,654 --> 00:13:28,857 Another thing that I share, colton, which is another reason 276 00:13:28,878 --> 00:13:33,004 why I wanted you on the show a wise mentor of mine once told me 277 00:13:33,004 --> 00:13:35,947 he said, Aaron, he goes always have 10 friends older than you 278 00:13:36,729 --> 00:13:38,270 and 10 friends younger than you. 279 00:13:38,270 --> 00:13:41,442 The ones that are older than you are going to tell you where 280 00:13:41,462 --> 00:13:41,965 we've been. 281 00:13:41,965 --> 00:13:44,518 The ones younger than you are going to tell you where we're 282 00:13:44,538 --> 00:13:44,798 going. 283 00:13:44,798 --> 00:13:47,202 And I've never forgot that. 284 00:13:47,202 --> 00:13:58,255 And so when I moved to Wichita 23 years old, there was a doctor 285 00:13:58,255 --> 00:14:00,740 here that befriended me and I befriended him and he was a man 286 00:14:00,799 --> 00:14:01,039 of faith. 287 00:14:01,039 --> 00:14:02,763 We did a lot of work with Fellowship of Christian Athletes 288 00:14:02,763 --> 00:14:02,763 . 289 00:14:02,763 --> 00:14:04,846 He's just a good man and we used to go over to his house 290 00:14:04,907 --> 00:14:08,398 every week and, you know, other men would come and we'd sing and 291 00:14:08,398 --> 00:14:13,769 do Bible studies and stuff and he got cancer and he passed away 292 00:14:13,769 --> 00:14:13,769 . 293 00:14:13,769 --> 00:14:19,520 And I remember we came over to his house after that and we were 294 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,163 all sitting there and everybody said, well, you just got to 295 00:14:22,183 --> 00:14:22,725 have faith. 296 00:14:24,386 --> 00:14:25,006 Speaker 1: And I was mad. 297 00:14:26,568 --> 00:14:28,110 Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I'm human. 298 00:14:28,110 --> 00:14:31,325 I was mad and I said it's not right. 299 00:14:31,325 --> 00:14:34,315 I said Jerry's one of the finest men that I've ever known 300 00:14:34,355 --> 00:14:34,836 in my life. 301 00:14:34,836 --> 00:14:38,304 He's one of the most incredible men of character that I've ever 302 00:14:38,304 --> 00:14:39,027 known in my life. 303 00:14:39,027 --> 00:14:40,596 It's not right. 304 00:14:40,596 --> 00:14:41,759 So I was mad. 305 00:14:41,759 --> 00:14:43,842 I got up and walked out by the way and thankfully it's not 306 00:14:43,863 --> 00:14:43,964 right. 307 00:14:43,964 --> 00:14:45,285 So I was mad, I got up and walked out by the way and 308 00:14:45,306 --> 00:14:46,609 thankfully my brothers still loved me. 309 00:14:46,609 --> 00:14:51,794 They knew I was just mad. 310 00:14:51,794 --> 00:14:57,263 But I happened onto a book and the book was called by John 311 00:14:57,283 --> 00:14:57,403 Fisher. 312 00:14:57,403 --> 00:14:58,450 It was called True Believers Don't Ask why. 313 00:14:58,450 --> 00:14:59,335 And the don't is crossed out. 314 00:14:59,335 --> 00:15:04,455 Okay, good. 315 00:15:06,755 --> 00:15:08,538 So I remember it must have been a God thing that I just happened 316 00:15:08,538 --> 00:15:09,961 to walk by that book and I grabbed that book and that's 317 00:15:09,981 --> 00:15:14,048 what the book is about is asking questions yeah and I do a lot 318 00:15:14,075 --> 00:15:17,364 of stuff with teachers where we train teachers, and they get on 319 00:15:17,384 --> 00:15:21,158 the bus and I give them a work, a work manual, and the first 320 00:15:21,198 --> 00:15:23,763 thing in their work manual is the word question. 321 00:15:23,763 --> 00:15:27,349 And then below it it says what is the root word of the word 322 00:15:27,408 --> 00:15:31,383 question Go on an adventure. 323 00:15:31,383 --> 00:15:37,282 So to hear you at 20 years old talking about going on an 324 00:15:37,341 --> 00:15:42,789 adventure, of learning, of discerning and then being bold 325 00:15:42,830 --> 00:15:43,591 enough to share. 326 00:15:43,591 --> 00:15:48,844 I think there are some real intriguing leadership tips there 327 00:15:48,844 --> 00:15:49,586 for young people. 328 00:15:50,388 --> 00:15:50,567 Speaker 3: Yeah. 329 00:15:51,918 --> 00:15:53,475 Speaker 2: Because they could duplicate what you're doing. 330 00:15:53,475 --> 00:15:57,775 They might duplicate it in an engineering space, they could 331 00:15:57,816 --> 00:16:02,187 duplicate that in a medical space, in a law space. 332 00:16:02,187 --> 00:16:03,841 I mean, I can think of several things. 333 00:16:03,841 --> 00:16:07,057 In other words, I think God gives us concepts that are 334 00:16:07,076 --> 00:16:07,557 scalable. 335 00:16:07,557 --> 00:16:11,345 Yeah, absolutely so. 336 00:16:11,345 --> 00:16:12,967 That's good stuff. 337 00:16:12,967 --> 00:16:13,708 What you shared. 338 00:16:13,708 --> 00:16:14,914 Yeah. 339 00:16:14,934 --> 00:16:17,681 Speaker 3: And then I have a few things on leadership and 340 00:16:17,741 --> 00:16:19,325 important leadership qualities. 341 00:16:19,325 --> 00:16:24,880 I'd say the first one is communication, so to speak, to 342 00:16:24,941 --> 00:16:25,961 your vulnerability. 343 00:16:25,961 --> 00:16:29,788 You do have to be vulnerable, but to be able to express that 344 00:16:29,827 --> 00:16:32,677 effectively and communicate effectively, if you want to lead 345 00:16:32,677 --> 00:16:34,701 somebody, you have to let them know where you want them to go, 346 00:16:35,003 --> 00:16:37,235 or what you want them to do, or how you want them to do it, and 347 00:16:37,254 --> 00:16:39,462 if they don't know any of those things, then you really can't be 348 00:16:39,462 --> 00:16:39,823 a leader. 349 00:16:39,823 --> 00:16:43,621 So I think communication, and effective communication, is 350 00:16:45,186 --> 00:16:48,400 incredibly important and I think you know that when you run into 351 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,517 a leader, that's an effective communicator, that you really 352 00:16:51,537 --> 00:16:54,666 understand what they're saying or how they're feeling or what 353 00:16:54,686 --> 00:16:57,464 they want you to do, then you're able to do it so much better. 354 00:16:57,464 --> 00:17:01,683 And then on top of that, so communication is the, I think, 355 00:17:01,703 --> 00:17:05,719 the first thing and then, once people can understand what 356 00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:09,125 you're trying to tell them, then that goes into how you 357 00:17:09,144 --> 00:17:11,990 communicate and and how you're treating others. 358 00:17:13,355 --> 00:17:16,239 Strategical thinking is obviously incredible, incredibly 359 00:17:16,239 --> 00:17:22,726 important to manage multiple people, but then faith and part 360 00:17:22,746 --> 00:17:25,910 of that being compassion and love and patience for people, 361 00:17:26,470 --> 00:17:30,782 because, like you said, I'm human, we're human, and when you 362 00:17:30,782 --> 00:17:35,236 lead people you're not leading robots and it's easy to say it's 363 00:17:35,236 --> 00:17:39,269 kind of cliche, but really you have to understand that people 364 00:17:39,288 --> 00:17:42,138 are human and they're going to make mistakes and they're also 365 00:17:42,159 --> 00:17:44,222 going to do things better than you would do them and you have 366 00:17:44,242 --> 00:17:47,990 to be okay with that and and harness that power of of 367 00:17:48,049 --> 00:17:51,458 people's strengths and understand their weaknesses and 368 00:17:52,058 --> 00:17:53,082 be able to play into that. 369 00:17:53,082 --> 00:17:56,836 But having patience with any people that you're over as a 370 00:17:56,876 --> 00:17:59,989 leader is incredibly important because when people know that 371 00:18:00,009 --> 00:18:03,221 you care for them, they want to do better work for you and they 372 00:18:03,241 --> 00:18:07,676 want to yeah, they want to run head first with you as you're 373 00:18:07,696 --> 00:18:11,505 leading the sharps keep going. 374 00:18:11,525 --> 00:18:12,226 Speaker 2: You're doing good. 375 00:18:12,226 --> 00:18:13,388 What else do you got for me? 376 00:18:13,388 --> 00:18:14,878 Make some more leadership tips. 377 00:18:14,898 --> 00:18:17,305 Speaker 3: That's great stuff well, I mean that's. 378 00:18:17,305 --> 00:18:18,467 I just think that's the base. 379 00:18:18,467 --> 00:18:21,824 And then it's kind of like you said, it's a quest and you kind 380 00:18:21,844 --> 00:18:23,856 of find your own answers as you ask your own questions. 381 00:18:23,856 --> 00:18:27,443 Um, and I could probably talk forever about anything if you 382 00:18:27,463 --> 00:18:32,865 wanted me to uh, just kind of inherited that, but, um, yeah, I 383 00:18:32,865 --> 00:18:36,273 mean, I think it's effective communication and strategical 384 00:18:36,314 --> 00:18:39,642 thinking, which not everyone is is blessed with in the way that 385 00:18:39,682 --> 00:18:43,257 they can manage people, um, but I do think that's important. 386 00:18:43,317 --> 00:18:45,744 And then what anybody can learn is how to treat others. 387 00:18:45,744 --> 00:18:50,144 And when you show people love, they understand and they respect 388 00:18:50,144 --> 00:18:50,365 that. 389 00:18:50,365 --> 00:18:52,657 And if that's missing a deadline or something, that may 390 00:18:52,698 --> 00:18:55,526 seem detrimental and you say, well, I want to discourage that. 391 00:18:55,526 --> 00:18:59,084 I don't want people to not follow through or to make 392 00:18:59,144 --> 00:19:03,377 mistakes, but, um, the man who's the most grateful is the man 393 00:19:03,397 --> 00:19:06,894 who's been forgiven the most right, and so the person who's 394 00:19:06,914 --> 00:19:09,423 going to work the hardest for you is going to be the person 395 00:19:09,462 --> 00:19:11,396 who you've forgiven the most, that owes you the most. 396 00:19:11,396 --> 00:19:15,365 And so at a certain point, as an employer specifically, 397 00:19:15,685 --> 00:19:18,339 there's a, there's a place to draw the line for people who are 398 00:19:18,339 --> 00:19:22,134 repeat offenders of something and they're not learning and 399 00:19:22,153 --> 00:19:24,278 they're not growing, but someone who is. 400 00:19:25,260 --> 00:19:28,688 I have a kind of a mentor who told me they got to be smart, 401 00:19:28,768 --> 00:19:29,449 humble and hungry. 402 00:19:29,449 --> 00:19:33,362 And anybody who works for you needs to have those three traits 403 00:19:33,362 --> 00:19:33,362 . 404 00:19:33,362 --> 00:19:37,818 Smart, if you can read, you're probably smart enough to do any 405 00:19:37,858 --> 00:19:39,884 job, because most things can be taught. 406 00:19:39,884 --> 00:19:43,701 And if you're humble and you can respect authority and 407 00:19:44,063 --> 00:19:45,666 respect orders, then you can work hard. 408 00:19:45,666 --> 00:19:49,276 And then hungry means they have to want it for themselves and 409 00:19:49,676 --> 00:19:51,884 you can kind of stoke hunger and stoke that fire. 410 00:19:51,884 --> 00:19:57,963 But someone who's lazy and chooses not to be hungry, you 411 00:19:57,983 --> 00:20:00,409 just at some point there has to be a line drawn. 412 00:20:00,409 --> 00:20:02,561 That doesn't mean you give up on them as a person, but maybe 413 00:20:02,622 --> 00:20:03,244 as an employee. 414 00:20:03,244 --> 00:20:07,806 So that's some of some of my thoughts on leadership, I 415 00:20:07,846 --> 00:20:08,207 suppose. 416 00:20:10,255 --> 00:20:11,217 Speaker 2: Okay, we can stop there. 417 00:20:11,217 --> 00:20:11,719 That's good. 418 00:20:11,719 --> 00:20:13,982 No, that's the. 419 00:20:13,982 --> 00:20:16,474 I really related to a lot of that, by the way. 420 00:20:16,474 --> 00:20:19,961 So you know my mom and dad. 421 00:20:19,961 --> 00:20:23,747 I grew up there in the Metroplex and my mom and dad 422 00:20:23,788 --> 00:20:24,910 divorced when I was six. 423 00:20:24,910 --> 00:20:34,125 My father passed away when I was 10 and I got into a lot of 424 00:20:34,145 --> 00:20:35,971 trouble and I got sent to a boy's ranch. 425 00:20:35,971 --> 00:20:38,381 And if I'd got sent there I'd have never met the FFA. 426 00:20:38,381 --> 00:20:40,818 I'd have never met the FFA, I'd have never been state president 427 00:20:40,818 --> 00:20:44,057 , I would have never gone to college, I'd have never had the 428 00:20:44,096 --> 00:20:46,240 incredible life We'd have never had this podcast. 429 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:51,167 But to your point, I'm very grateful. 430 00:20:51,167 --> 00:20:54,520 I'm grateful for the love of my mother that realized she didn't 431 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:56,326 have the tools she needed help. 432 00:20:56,326 --> 00:21:04,967 I'm grateful for a place that gave me opportunity and an 433 00:21:05,047 --> 00:21:06,817 organization that gave me opportunity. 434 00:21:06,817 --> 00:21:09,740 And, to your point, I think that that being grateful 435 00:21:10,442 --> 00:21:12,446 provides some energy to get through tough times. 436 00:21:13,296 --> 00:21:13,939 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 437 00:21:13,999 --> 00:21:16,398 Speaker 2: It does, you know it? 438 00:21:16,398 --> 00:21:19,655 It allows us to to reflect and say you know, yeah, it's not 439 00:21:19,675 --> 00:21:19,876 good. 440 00:21:19,876 --> 00:21:21,663 I had a girl on this podcast. 441 00:21:21,663 --> 00:21:24,583 Her name was Madeline Barber. 442 00:21:24,583 --> 00:21:29,258 She was from Bernie, texas. 443 00:21:29,258 --> 00:21:32,083 She sold a pig at the county fair. 444 00:21:32,083 --> 00:21:36,189 She sold this pig at the county fair for $35,000. 445 00:21:36,189 --> 00:21:40,173 That's a lot of money, Colton, that is. 446 00:21:40,173 --> 00:21:44,462 She turned around and donated all $35,000 to St Jude's 447 00:21:44,522 --> 00:21:45,424 Children's Hospital. 448 00:21:45,424 --> 00:21:47,068 That's impressive. 449 00:21:47,068 --> 00:21:51,746 She was a cancer survivor, yeah , oh yeah. 450 00:21:51,746 --> 00:21:54,758 And she said you know, they saved my life, I want to save 451 00:21:54,798 --> 00:21:55,560 somebody else's. 452 00:21:55,560 --> 00:22:00,201 And I think that, to your point , when you have that kind of 453 00:22:02,567 --> 00:22:08,951 humbleness of humbleness, that kind of ability to be smart 454 00:22:08,991 --> 00:22:13,674 enough to recognize that, and then the ability to work hard I 455 00:22:13,694 --> 00:22:15,019 mean, that pig didn't feed itself. 456 00:22:15,823 --> 00:22:16,023 Speaker 3: Right. 457 00:22:16,755 --> 00:22:18,078 Speaker 2: You know I tell people all the time. 458 00:22:18,078 --> 00:22:20,557 When people ask me about what separates our ag kids from 459 00:22:20,596 --> 00:22:22,022 everybody else, I said it's real easy. 460 00:22:22,022 --> 00:22:25,541 The reason why I like your dad, by the way because in the world 461 00:22:25,541 --> 00:22:27,886 of agriculture, if we don't do our job, something does. 462 00:22:27,886 --> 00:22:33,383 So when you can teach a kid early on that we got to get up, 463 00:22:34,144 --> 00:22:36,499 whether we want to or not, we got to feed it, we got to water 464 00:22:36,519 --> 00:22:40,416 and I know it's a pain my daughter she's tiny and she was 465 00:22:40,457 --> 00:22:43,202 a senior cheerleader at a big 5A school Guess what? 466 00:22:43,202 --> 00:22:44,606 She had to get up and go feed heifers. 467 00:22:44,606 --> 00:22:49,477 She had to water them in cold and in heat. 468 00:22:49,477 --> 00:22:52,703 But now that she's a nurse today she's so good at her job 469 00:22:52,884 --> 00:22:54,808 because my son too. 470 00:22:54,808 --> 00:22:57,383 They're so good at their jobs because I think there's things 471 00:22:57,403 --> 00:23:02,738 that they learned, that things depended on them, that they were 472 00:23:02,738 --> 00:23:05,705 able to carry on into other aspects of their lives. 473 00:23:06,915 --> 00:23:11,724 And I remember when I read American Sniper and I read about 474 00:23:11,724 --> 00:23:15,839 your dad's growing up in the FFA and talked about wanting to 475 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,856 be an ag teacher initially when he started to go to college, it 476 00:23:19,876 --> 00:23:21,683 was it's the craziest thing. 477 00:23:21,683 --> 00:23:24,057 I think I share this with you, but I'll share one more time 478 00:23:24,076 --> 00:23:28,761 since we're on the air, but I had been trying to find a way to 479 00:23:28,761 --> 00:23:31,644 get to talk to your dad and, of course, with the explosion of 480 00:23:31,684 --> 00:23:36,509 American Sniper, it just got harder and harder to find ways 481 00:23:36,549 --> 00:23:37,030 to get there. 482 00:23:37,030 --> 00:23:41,881 If I'd have been smart, I would have started with the most 483 00:23:41,901 --> 00:23:42,040 obvious. 484 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:46,355 I'm fixing to tell you what that was, but I didn't obvious. 485 00:23:46,355 --> 00:23:48,259 I'm fixing to tell you what that was, but I didn't About the 486 00:23:48,259 --> 00:23:48,358 time. 487 00:23:48,358 --> 00:23:49,039 I finally finally found a way. 488 00:23:49,059 --> 00:23:53,910 Then the tragedy that happened happened and I was at a loss 489 00:23:54,130 --> 00:23:59,298 because I was so eager to want to share that story and then, 490 00:23:59,358 --> 00:24:02,744 luckily, I found my way to your mom and then we got to reconnect 491 00:24:02,744 --> 00:24:05,890 and I told Tay, I said you've got to come to convention. 492 00:24:05,890 --> 00:24:11,048 I want you to see what Chris's life was really all about. 493 00:24:11,048 --> 00:24:14,423 All that, colton, all that came together. 494 00:24:14,423 --> 00:24:16,280 This is where the story gets really crazy. 495 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:21,298 Ready for this, all that comes together I was asked to go to 496 00:24:21,397 --> 00:24:24,605 Level Land, texas, and speak at a banquet in Leveland, Texas, 497 00:24:24,665 --> 00:24:25,508 out in West Texas. 498 00:24:25,508 --> 00:24:30,583 I show up at Leveland and this ag teacher that I have not seen 499 00:24:30,663 --> 00:24:33,048 in years gets out of his truck. 500 00:24:33,048 --> 00:24:36,423 He starts walking over in my direction. 501 00:24:36,423 --> 00:24:38,281 I've not seen this guy in years . 502 00:24:38,281 --> 00:24:40,134 You know what he said. 503 00:24:40,134 --> 00:24:45,648 He said, aaron, I saw where you were doing that tribute to 504 00:24:45,670 --> 00:24:46,070 Chris. 505 00:24:46,070 --> 00:24:48,615 I saw where you had been talking to Taya. 506 00:24:48,615 --> 00:24:52,060 He said, aaron, I was Chris's ag teacher. 507 00:24:55,686 --> 00:24:56,428 Speaker 3: That's pretty cool. 508 00:24:57,429 --> 00:25:01,799 Speaker 2: Now what are the odds , colton, that all of that came 509 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:02,921 into alignment? 510 00:25:02,921 --> 00:25:07,626 Everything that I just shared with you, within probably three 511 00:25:07,686 --> 00:25:10,371 months, sled up. 512 00:25:10,371 --> 00:25:16,045 So that's why I say, anytime we think, you know, I like to 513 00:25:16,085 --> 00:25:19,696 think I'm a pretty good strategic thinker, anytime I 514 00:25:19,737 --> 00:25:20,258 think I am. 515 00:25:20,258 --> 00:25:22,423 I remember the guy upstairs because he's a lot better than I 516 00:25:22,423 --> 00:25:22,804 am. 517 00:25:22,804 --> 00:25:28,380 Oh yeah, he's really crafty at what he does, but there's just a 518 00:25:28,380 --> 00:25:31,247 lot of really good stuff that you just shared there. 519 00:25:31,247 --> 00:25:35,135 And you know another thing that you shared and I'm going to 520 00:25:35,155 --> 00:25:37,604 kind of turn this back into American Sniper a little bit 521 00:25:37,644 --> 00:25:41,907 here you know, one of the things that we like to tell people is, 522 00:25:41,907 --> 00:25:44,959 when the opportunity arises, I need my sharpest tools. 523 00:25:46,201 --> 00:25:46,363 Speaker 3: Yeah. 524 00:25:46,383 --> 00:25:50,021 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, when, when and if I ever need it, I 525 00:25:50,102 --> 00:25:51,045 need my best tools. 526 00:25:51,045 --> 00:25:56,392 They, they have to be ready to go, and so I'll ask you a fun 527 00:25:56,432 --> 00:25:59,673 question Do you happen to know how many high schools are in the 528 00:25:59,673 --> 00:26:00,515 state of Texas? 529 00:26:00,601 --> 00:26:03,632 Speaker 3: Oh man are in the state of Texas. 530 00:26:03,632 --> 00:26:07,688 Oh man, I can only imagine. 531 00:26:11,517 --> 00:26:12,578 Speaker 2: I'll take a random guess and say like 6,000. 532 00:26:12,578 --> 00:26:13,560 Listen, you did good. 533 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,746 It's just over three. 534 00:26:15,746 --> 00:26:19,692 Okay, that's still a lot of high schools, though Most people 535 00:26:19,692 --> 00:26:19,934 are way low. 536 00:26:19,934 --> 00:26:21,440 Most people are way low. 537 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:22,403 Colton, you did good. 538 00:26:22,403 --> 00:26:25,560 3,000 high schools. 539 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,479 So, of those high schools, how many of them are going to have a 540 00:26:27,479 --> 00:26:28,662 graduating class this year? 541 00:26:30,305 --> 00:26:30,906 Speaker 3: Well, all of them. 542 00:26:31,106 --> 00:26:31,607 Speaker 2: Every one of them. 543 00:26:31,607 --> 00:26:33,882 So everybody's going to be out. 544 00:26:33,882 --> 00:26:36,403 They're going to be looking for a job, a scholarship or an 545 00:26:36,503 --> 00:26:37,025 opportunity. 546 00:26:37,025 --> 00:26:40,282 So the question that I ask young people is what's your 547 00:26:40,343 --> 00:26:41,045 competitive edge? 548 00:26:41,045 --> 00:26:45,064 What separates you from your competitor? 549 00:26:45,064 --> 00:26:50,305 Sometimes it could be littlest things, a firm handshake, a yes 550 00:26:50,405 --> 00:26:51,891 or no sir, yes, ma'am, no ma'am. 551 00:26:51,891 --> 00:26:54,679 Those can be little things that give you a competitive edge. 552 00:26:55,461 --> 00:26:55,662 Speaker 3: Yeah. 553 00:26:55,981 --> 00:26:58,147 Speaker 2: But I do believe that young people have to have 554 00:26:58,234 --> 00:27:01,298 something that sets them apart from their peers, of course. 555 00:27:01,298 --> 00:27:07,221 So, at your age, starting your kind of professional career with 556 00:27:07,221 --> 00:27:12,247 a lot of incredible experiences under your belt, what would you 557 00:27:12,247 --> 00:27:15,429 share as some examples of competitive edges that you think 558 00:27:15,429 --> 00:27:19,332 young people could employ to give themselves an edge in life? 559 00:27:21,896 --> 00:27:24,144 Speaker 3: I have to think about that and I will get to that. 560 00:27:24,144 --> 00:27:26,200 I have kind of overarching. 561 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,736 Um, I have a bible verse here. 562 00:27:29,736 --> 00:27:35,786 Sure, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as 563 00:27:35,866 --> 00:27:37,429 working for the lord, not for men. 564 00:27:37,429 --> 00:27:39,318 That's colossians 3, 23. 565 00:27:39,318 --> 00:27:40,982 Uh, that's in the niv version. 566 00:27:40,982 --> 00:27:44,269 Um, and I was even. 567 00:27:44,289 --> 00:27:46,454 I had a Bible study last night and we were even talking about 568 00:27:46,575 --> 00:27:51,848 this very similarly what I'm going to get to, but I can't 569 00:27:51,888 --> 00:27:52,651 remember who said it. 570 00:27:52,651 --> 00:27:57,381 It was a Christian in the 1600s that was significant for being 571 00:27:57,401 --> 00:28:02,257 a public figure, but he said along the lines of a good 572 00:28:02,357 --> 00:28:06,307 Christian cobbler is not a good Christian cobbler because he 573 00:28:06,366 --> 00:28:09,521 puts little crosses on his shoes , but because he makes the best 574 00:28:09,602 --> 00:28:09,902 shoes. 575 00:28:09,902 --> 00:28:14,441 And so I think that's that's what the verse is speaking to, 576 00:28:15,304 --> 00:28:18,914 and that's often what I think about when I'm doing business or 577 00:28:18,914 --> 00:28:19,817 coming up with ideas. 578 00:28:19,817 --> 00:28:24,007 Is that, well, I need a way to show my faith and I want to. 579 00:28:24,007 --> 00:28:27,056 I want to honor God and all that he's done in my life and 580 00:28:27,135 --> 00:28:29,044 show him like look, I'm not forgetting about you. 581 00:28:29,044 --> 00:28:32,424 I don't want to take part in something pagan that's godless, 582 00:28:33,758 --> 00:28:36,778 but I want to live my faith, and if it's something I'm 583 00:28:36,817 --> 00:28:38,904 dedicating so much of my life and time to. 584 00:28:38,904 --> 00:28:39,674 It's my business. 585 00:28:39,674 --> 00:28:44,421 I need a way to incorporate God , and so what's given me a lot 586 00:28:44,442 --> 00:28:49,816 of peace is that my values and how I operate and how I do 587 00:28:49,855 --> 00:28:52,102 business are going to be based on my faith. 588 00:28:52,102 --> 00:28:53,484 So that's first and foremost. 589 00:28:53,484 --> 00:28:57,204 Many people should be able to know that you're a Christian 590 00:28:57,446 --> 00:28:59,778 without knowing that you go to church without you saying that 591 00:28:59,798 --> 00:29:02,592 you're a Christian or anything like that, but just because of 592 00:29:02,632 --> 00:29:04,958 the way that you're so loving and the way that you treat 593 00:29:04,998 --> 00:29:09,045 people, the way you act in good faith and you keep good on your 594 00:29:09,086 --> 00:29:13,279 word, I think those are all incredibly important and those 595 00:29:13,319 --> 00:29:16,446 are ways that honoring God in the way that you do business. 596 00:29:16,446 --> 00:29:21,750 You know if you are, if you're breaking laws and you're 597 00:29:21,810 --> 00:29:23,634 cheating people, but you're putting Bible verses on your 598 00:29:23,571 --> 00:29:24,611 clothing, you're not honoring God at all. 599 00:29:24,611 --> 00:29:25,102 In fact, you're cheating people , but you're putting Bible 600 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:26,159 verses on your clothing, you're not honoring God at all. 601 00:29:26,159 --> 00:29:28,784 In fact, you're making a mockery of him. 602 00:29:30,046 --> 00:29:34,281 So I think it's important to show your passion and dive into 603 00:29:34,321 --> 00:29:34,823 your passion. 604 00:29:34,823 --> 00:29:38,557 You know God's given you a passion, whatever it may be, and 605 00:29:38,557 --> 00:29:39,396 he's put that there. 606 00:29:39,396 --> 00:29:44,061 You don't have a longing and a yearning to go into agriculture, 607 00:29:44,061 --> 00:29:49,226 to be a skateboarder, to go into business, to be the best 608 00:29:49,666 --> 00:29:52,449 chief financial officer of a firm you could possibly be, 609 00:29:53,130 --> 00:29:55,751 unless God has placed that passion in you. 610 00:29:55,751 --> 00:29:58,862 And so we, I mean we can't get by. 611 00:29:58,862 --> 00:30:01,499 If we're all preachers and missionaries, the world wouldn't 612 00:30:01,499 --> 00:30:04,759 survive, we wouldn't be able to advance. 613 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:11,997 So for some people, that's their calling is to be a 614 00:30:12,017 --> 00:30:13,601 missionary, for some people to be a preacher and a pastor. 615 00:30:13,621 --> 00:30:17,087 For a lot of us, our calling is to dive into the mission field 616 00:30:17,229 --> 00:30:19,516 that God has given us, because anywhere we go is going to be a 617 00:30:19,536 --> 00:30:20,038 mission field. 618 00:30:20,038 --> 00:30:23,246 They're going to need to encounter you and, through you, 619 00:30:23,326 --> 00:30:26,498 jesus, no matter where they are, and so that's an opportunity 620 00:30:26,618 --> 00:30:27,461 for you to show your faith. 621 00:30:27,461 --> 00:30:30,498 And then you need to do good work as if you're doing it for 622 00:30:30,538 --> 00:30:31,441 god, because you are. 623 00:30:31,441 --> 00:30:33,756 He's giving you the opportunity for that, he's giving you the 624 00:30:33,796 --> 00:30:37,664 passion for that, um, and we can't explain how all these 625 00:30:37,744 --> 00:30:40,376 things work out and when we're another and things just fall 626 00:30:40,396 --> 00:30:42,921 into our lap and we're in the right place at the right time 627 00:30:42,961 --> 00:30:46,085 for things to happen and, like you said, that's all because of 628 00:30:46,105 --> 00:30:49,471 the number one strategical mind out there, which is God. 629 00:30:49,471 --> 00:30:55,329 So, just living out your Christian faith and your walk in 630 00:30:55,329 --> 00:30:58,859 your daily life, in the values that you operate in, I think is 631 00:30:58,901 --> 00:31:02,221 the best way to honor God and through that you'll have a 632 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:02,923 competitive edge. 633 00:31:02,923 --> 00:31:06,941 You'll be the best at whatever it is that you choose to do, uh, 634 00:31:06,941 --> 00:31:09,753 because that's what God has for you, and then I believe that 635 00:31:09,773 --> 00:31:11,299 you'll have God's blessing in his favor. 636 00:31:11,299 --> 00:31:15,914 And if you run into roadblocks, um, it could be an opportunity 637 00:31:16,076 --> 00:31:16,778 for you to persist. 638 00:31:16,778 --> 00:31:20,733 It could be an opportunity for you to change where you're at 639 00:31:20,753 --> 00:31:21,335 and what you're doing. 640 00:31:21,335 --> 00:31:24,319 You know that's very individual and based on your relationship 641 00:31:24,339 --> 00:31:26,303 with God and how he's talking to you. 642 00:31:26,462 --> 00:31:31,049 But, um, I'm trying to think of specific examples. 643 00:31:31,049 --> 00:31:34,185 I know when I speak to people and people think highly of me, 644 00:31:34,527 --> 00:31:36,694 it's because of, uh, three things. 645 00:31:36,694 --> 00:31:39,788 One of them I know I'm blessed with, and that's just God given, 646 00:31:39,788 --> 00:31:42,758 and then the others I believe that anybody could do and work 647 00:31:42,798 --> 00:31:43,057 towards. 648 00:31:43,057 --> 00:31:48,087 Um, I'll start with how I believe God has blessed me is 649 00:31:48,188 --> 00:31:52,285 immense focus, and so if I'm working on something or I'm 650 00:31:52,326 --> 00:31:55,636 speaking to someone, they have my focus, they have my attention 651 00:31:55,636 --> 00:31:58,324 and I'm retaining the information in front of me. 652 00:31:58,324 --> 00:31:59,386 That's number one. 653 00:31:59,386 --> 00:32:02,502 Now, number two and I believe a lot of people can do that and 654 00:32:02,522 --> 00:32:03,445 you can improve on that. 655 00:32:03,445 --> 00:32:06,986 I just know that I'm blessed with that ability. 656 00:32:06,986 --> 00:32:11,964 Number two like you said, a firm handshake goes a long way. 657 00:32:12,515 --> 00:32:14,721 If I shake anybody's hand, it doesn't matter how old or young 658 00:32:14,801 --> 00:32:15,443 or what gender. 659 00:32:15,443 --> 00:32:19,022 Their handshake will tell me a lot about them. 660 00:32:19,022 --> 00:32:23,538 Eye contact when I'm speaking to somebody, I know, when I'm 661 00:32:23,577 --> 00:32:28,419 writing, if I'm texting somebody , if I'm completing an email, if 662 00:32:28,419 --> 00:32:31,085 someone has poor punctuation or poor grammar. 663 00:32:31,085 --> 00:32:32,627 That bugs me. 664 00:32:32,627 --> 00:32:35,182 A lot of people in my generation don't care for 665 00:32:35,261 --> 00:32:38,018 punctuation and grammar and spelling, but it really bugs me 666 00:32:38,239 --> 00:32:41,026 and it tells me that someone either does or doesn't care 667 00:32:41,086 --> 00:32:44,078 enough to put that effort into that area of their life. 668 00:32:44,078 --> 00:32:47,665 And while they may not value it as much as I do, I still know 669 00:32:48,006 --> 00:32:48,406 that there's a. 670 00:32:48,887 --> 00:32:50,978 I believe that there's a proper way to do some of these things 671 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:56,815 and you know, casual situations differ from formal situations, 672 00:32:56,914 --> 00:33:00,645 of course, but I believe that's part of the living at your walk 673 00:33:00,685 --> 00:33:01,448 and doing the right thing. 674 00:33:01,448 --> 00:33:07,816 So I said the handshake, I said looking someone in the eyes and 675 00:33:07,816 --> 00:33:10,909 then I believe, if you can relate, a lot of these are going 676 00:33:10,909 --> 00:33:11,230 to be personal. 677 00:33:11,230 --> 00:33:15,419 I think personal interactions are much more important than you 678 00:33:15,419 --> 00:33:16,622 can bond with somebody that way . 679 00:33:16,622 --> 00:33:21,201 But if you can relate to someone, if you can even if 680 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,647 you're being interviewed or you're submitting a resume or 681 00:33:23,667 --> 00:33:26,653 whatever it is if there's an opportunity for you to take a 682 00:33:26,693 --> 00:33:30,461 peek into the other person's life and ask them a question or 683 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:33,490 two just personally, that makes a big difference. 684 00:33:33,490 --> 00:33:36,518 At the end of the day, everybody just wants to be seen. 685 00:33:36,518 --> 00:33:40,673 We have a I forget who says this, but my mom's told me but 686 00:33:41,615 --> 00:33:45,634 we're all wearing an invisible sign on us that says see me, 687 00:33:45,794 --> 00:33:46,115 please. 688 00:33:46,115 --> 00:33:50,652 We all want to be seen and known and recognized and as an 689 00:33:50,711 --> 00:33:55,740 individual, so you're wearing a sign that says I am Aaron, 690 00:33:55,801 --> 00:33:58,194 alejandro, I want to be known, I want to be seen. 691 00:33:58,194 --> 00:34:01,048 And you may not be expressing that all the time, but when 692 00:34:01,088 --> 00:34:04,339 somebody answers that call, when somebody does that, you feel so 693 00:34:04,339 --> 00:34:07,569 refreshed and relieved and feel like you can really bond with 694 00:34:07,609 --> 00:34:07,971 someone. 695 00:34:07,971 --> 00:34:09,213 It makes a big difference. 696 00:34:10,235 --> 00:34:13,242 Um, so, being able to personally connect with people, I think 697 00:34:13,751 --> 00:34:17,121 oftentimes, when I've thought of the business or corporate or, 698 00:34:17,943 --> 00:34:22,414 um, some world, or it seems highly competitive I've I've 699 00:34:22,454 --> 00:34:25,740 thought of it as losing its humanity a little bit, that is 700 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:29,456 just entirely performative and that everything you do is based 701 00:34:29,496 --> 00:34:32,813 on your performance and how you do the best, which, like I said, 702 00:34:32,813 --> 00:34:36,360 your performance is important, and that will come based on what 703 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:40,215 God has given you, but being able to personally relate with 704 00:34:40,235 --> 00:34:43,143 people will get you so much farther than you could expect. 705 00:34:43,851 --> 00:34:46,615 When you run into people that seem just so incompetent at what 706 00:34:46,615 --> 00:34:48,079 they do and you're like, how did you get here? 707 00:34:48,079 --> 00:34:51,851 It's probably their personal skills and work right, and so if 708 00:34:51,851 --> 00:34:53,938 they're lacking in one area, they've made up for it with 709 00:34:53,958 --> 00:34:56,655 their strengths and their ability to speak to people, and 710 00:34:56,735 --> 00:34:57,838 anybody can get better at that. 711 00:34:57,838 --> 00:35:00,893 Anybody can personally invest and care about someone else's 712 00:35:00,972 --> 00:35:02,677 life, or at least a little bit of it. 713 00:35:02,677 --> 00:35:07,728 That you know, and so I think that doesn't necessarily work 714 00:35:07,768 --> 00:35:11,257 for college applications or resumes, but anything person to 715 00:35:11,277 --> 00:35:12,740 person makes a huge difference. 716 00:35:15,170 --> 00:35:16,295 Speaker 2: If I haven't told you lately. 717 00:35:16,295 --> 00:35:21,458 I really like you about the way I'm going to confess something 718 00:35:21,498 --> 00:35:23,889 here, because everybody's going to my staff in particular is 719 00:35:23,909 --> 00:35:27,735 going to get a kick out of what I'm about to say Interns, 720 00:35:27,775 --> 00:35:28,896 everybody that worked for me. 721 00:35:28,896 --> 00:35:31,721 When they get their intern manual and their intern 722 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:34,344 checklist across the top it's got three words. 723 00:35:34,344 --> 00:35:38,793 It says details, details, details. 724 00:35:38,793 --> 00:35:40,217 Because I'm a real details person. 725 00:35:40,217 --> 00:35:53,050 I'm always like take care of the details and to confess and 726 00:35:53,070 --> 00:35:55,476 to show you my humbleness and my vulnerability here, colton, I 727 00:35:55,496 --> 00:35:56,719 want everybody to know that I messed up an email to Colton 728 00:35:56,740 --> 00:35:58,003 when we were setting up this podcast and I'm sitting here 729 00:35:58,023 --> 00:35:59,246 laughing now because he's talking about this and I'm 730 00:35:59,266 --> 00:36:00,489 sitting here going yeah, I'm the one that messed it up. 731 00:36:01,369 --> 00:36:01,931 Speaker 3: We all do. 732 00:36:02,432 --> 00:36:05,119 Speaker 2: I have this thing set up to populate the time, the 733 00:36:05,159 --> 00:36:08,213 date and everything for the podcast, and I was scheduling a 734 00:36:08,253 --> 00:36:10,996 bunch at the same time and, by gosh, it scheduled the wrong one 735 00:36:10,996 --> 00:36:13,878 and Colton caught it and he said now what time am I supposed 736 00:36:13,878 --> 00:36:14,077 to be? 737 00:36:14,077 --> 00:36:16,398 I'm like Alejandro, you big dummy. 738 00:36:16,398 --> 00:36:19,740 You didn't even do your own details, details, details. 739 00:36:19,740 --> 00:36:21,873 Real quick. 740 00:36:21,873 --> 00:36:22,835 I wanted to ask you. 741 00:36:22,835 --> 00:36:24,501 That was gold, by the way. 742 00:36:24,501 --> 00:36:29,632 I just wrote down several notes of what you said. 743 00:36:29,632 --> 00:36:30,195 Focus, details, see me please. 744 00:36:30,195 --> 00:36:32,559 Uh, that's one of the things coach nate hearn talked about 745 00:36:32,639 --> 00:36:35,132 today when he and I were visiting is. 746 00:36:35,132 --> 00:36:38,119 He said people need to hear when they're doing a good job, 747 00:36:38,820 --> 00:36:41,693 because when they hear that they're doing a good job, that 748 00:36:42,155 --> 00:36:44,641 what you're doing is, you're validating that gift that god 749 00:36:44,730 --> 00:36:45,130 gave them. 750 00:36:45,130 --> 00:36:48,039 You're validating that that competitive edge gave them. 751 00:36:48,039 --> 00:36:49,784 You're validating that, that competitive edge that God gave 752 00:36:49,824 --> 00:36:49,945 them. 753 00:36:49,945 --> 00:36:51,971 Um, I got to share this one with you, cause your mom shared 754 00:36:52,010 --> 00:36:53,755 it and I just love this to death . 755 00:36:53,755 --> 00:36:56,422 Uh, you know anybody named Kent Studebaker? 756 00:36:57,829 --> 00:36:58,532 Speaker 3: Yes, I do. 757 00:36:59,793 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 2: I love this quote the Bible is not a rule book, but 758 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:04,842 rather a recipe for happiness. 759 00:37:04,842 --> 00:37:13,293 Yeah, that's pretty good quote. 760 00:37:13,293 --> 00:37:15,237 By the way, yeah, that's my grandfather, so I know. 761 00:37:15,318 --> 00:37:17,302 Speaker 3: I just thought I'd share that with you because I 762 00:37:17,322 --> 00:37:21,019 think that was such a great quote yeah, I think it's a, I 763 00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:24,489 think it's a recipe for true joy , um, because and I believe 764 00:37:24,530 --> 00:37:27,458 that's what he meant but happiness can be fleeting and 765 00:37:27,699 --> 00:37:30,556 it's good to revel and enjoy happiness and the simple 766 00:37:30,597 --> 00:37:35,128 pleasures, but true joy is founded purpose and, uh, you 767 00:37:35,168 --> 00:37:40,139 cannot find a lasting purpose unless you are faithful and you 768 00:37:40,159 --> 00:37:41,382 have a relationship with jesus. 769 00:37:41,382 --> 00:37:44,416 So, um, I I 100 agree. 770 00:37:44,416 --> 00:37:47,342 I think the deeper you dive into the bible, the less it 771 00:37:47,382 --> 00:37:51,481 seems like a rule book and things to follow, um, but saying 772 00:37:51,481 --> 00:37:53,949 , look, these are not things for you to do to get into heaven, 773 00:37:54,431 --> 00:37:56,496 but this is how you can bring heaven to earth, this is how you 774 00:37:56,496 --> 00:38:00,753 can have kingdom in your life and have joy. 775 00:38:00,753 --> 00:38:03,639 And so, when, when these things go wrong this is not me 776 00:38:03,699 --> 00:38:07,945 punishing you, this is you reaping the consequences of your 777 00:38:07,945 --> 00:38:08,769 own poor actions. 778 00:38:08,769 --> 00:38:11,155 And when you do these things right, you'll see. 779 00:38:11,155 --> 00:38:14,373 You'll see the blessing that it cut that comes with it, because 780 00:38:14,373 --> 00:38:17,146 it's not god striking you down, saying, oh, you messed up, okay 781 00:38:17,146 --> 00:38:17,909 , here's your punishment. 782 00:38:17,909 --> 00:38:21,402 It's god saying, look, I've given you everything you need 783 00:38:22,003 --> 00:38:24,572 and you do these things right and you'll see the way it works 784 00:38:24,713 --> 00:38:24,813 out. 785 00:38:24,813 --> 00:38:27,911 Um, and most of the time, that's just going to be. 786 00:38:27,911 --> 00:38:30,442 It's going to be in your head, it's going to be in your heart. 787 00:38:31,304 --> 00:38:34,757 Um, the biggest stresses and the biggest joys that we have have 788 00:38:34,797 --> 00:38:39,773 very little to do with our physical surroundings, but 789 00:38:39,813 --> 00:38:42,822 really our relationships, uh, our relationship with the lord 790 00:38:43,465 --> 00:38:44,929 and our relationship with ourselves. 791 00:38:44,929 --> 00:38:48,034 We can really be at peace with ourselves and we know who we are 792 00:38:48,034 --> 00:38:49,577 and what God thinks of us. 793 00:38:49,577 --> 00:38:54,190 And I've found great peace and solace in that and, just the 794 00:38:54,231 --> 00:38:56,817 last year, really understanding just how much God loves and 795 00:38:56,856 --> 00:39:02,454 cares for us and that it's not so linear that it's if A then B, 796 00:39:02,454 --> 00:39:08,384 if C then D, but I love you unconditionally, no matter what, 797 00:39:08,384 --> 00:39:09,806 for who you are. 798 00:39:09,806 --> 00:39:12,755 And then, because you know that and because you know you've 799 00:39:12,775 --> 00:39:17,177 been forgiven, then I choose to walk in a way that glorifies God 800 00:39:17,177 --> 00:39:20,086 and is saying look, I'm just so glad that you've given me the 801 00:39:20,208 --> 00:39:23,353 opportunity to do this that I've messed up time and time again 802 00:39:23,373 --> 00:39:26,496 and I still have the opportunity to do good and to honor and 803 00:39:26,518 --> 00:39:27,057 glorify you. 804 00:39:27,057 --> 00:39:31,764 I want to do that rather than a fearful saying I'm going to do 805 00:39:31,784 --> 00:39:33,711 these things because if I don't then I'll go to hell. 806 00:39:34,393 --> 00:39:35,335 Right, it's. 807 00:39:35,335 --> 00:39:37,219 It's definitely relationship driven. 808 00:39:37,219 --> 00:39:40,034 Like I said, the man who's been forgiven the most, is the most 809 00:39:40,094 --> 00:39:42,362 grateful and will do the most in return. 810 00:39:42,362 --> 00:39:46,318 Um, and that's, I believe, how we're supposed to live our lives 811 00:39:46,318 --> 00:39:49,150 and act and see ourselves as humans. 812 00:39:49,150 --> 00:39:51,454 You know, paul renames us. 813 00:39:51,454 --> 00:39:54,981 Instead of sinners, we're now saints, knowing full well we are 814 00:39:54,981 --> 00:39:56,932 sinners, but we don't carry that title. 815 00:39:57,233 --> 00:39:59,179 Speaker 2: We carry the title of saint because that's who God 816 00:39:59,260 --> 00:40:02,735 says we are well, I just think it's another example of the 817 00:40:02,775 --> 00:40:05,159 difference between negativity and positivity. 818 00:40:05,159 --> 00:40:07,985 What's going to attract more people? 819 00:40:08,789 --> 00:40:10,014 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're both infectious. 820 00:40:10,496 --> 00:40:13,436 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, but the positive one is the one that 821 00:40:13,436 --> 00:40:14,358 attracts more people. 822 00:40:15,170 --> 00:40:17,572 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, have you read. 823 00:40:17,914 --> 00:40:20,610 Speaker 2: By the way, just sitting here listening, have you 824 00:40:20,610 --> 00:40:23,557 read John Gordon's One Truth? 825 00:40:23,557 --> 00:40:25,362 I've not. 826 00:40:25,550 --> 00:40:30,065 Speaker 3: I've read very few, um, faith-based books and I'm 827 00:40:30,568 --> 00:40:31,773 kind of starting my journey. 828 00:40:31,773 --> 00:40:34,121 I've started with dr frank turek. 829 00:40:34,121 --> 00:40:35,547 I don't have enough faith to be an atheist. 830 00:40:35,547 --> 00:40:36,952 It's an apologetics book. 831 00:40:36,952 --> 00:40:38,755 He's an apologist, uh. 832 00:40:38,755 --> 00:40:44,050 And then I'm reading cs lewis mere christianity and then, yeah 833 00:40:44,050 --> 00:40:47,092 , I love it, I love sis, she's, I love. 834 00:40:47,092 --> 00:40:50,175 I'm going to continue reading through his classics and then 835 00:40:50,215 --> 00:40:50,795 move from there. 836 00:40:50,795 --> 00:40:51,617 I have not. 837 00:40:51,617 --> 00:40:58,981 I'm really fascinated with CS Lewis and now NT Wright, just 838 00:40:59,021 --> 00:41:00,983 recently Tom Wright and Dr Frank Turek. 839 00:41:00,983 --> 00:41:02,204 He's on YouTube, so that's how I found him. 840 00:41:02,204 --> 00:41:05,867 He's on YouTube, so that's how I found him, and so he kind of 841 00:41:05,887 --> 00:41:13,112 relates to my generation in that way by being on social media 842 00:41:13,132 --> 00:41:13,434 more actively. 843 00:41:13,434 --> 00:41:14,617 But those are the guys that I've read. 844 00:41:14,617 --> 00:41:16,043 And then I'll be honest my mom has read a lot and I have read 845 00:41:16,063 --> 00:41:16,847 very little outside of that. 846 00:41:16,867 --> 00:41:17,228 Speaker 2: So I want to. 847 00:41:17,228 --> 00:41:19,273 Of course I was late to the John Gordon bus. 848 00:41:19,273 --> 00:41:20,795 They we had him. 849 00:41:20,795 --> 00:41:23,059 He was the keynote speaker at our convention this last year 850 00:41:23,902 --> 00:41:27,648 and he and I were talking and I had to apologize to him. 851 00:41:27,648 --> 00:41:30,014 So, john, if you're watching this, I'm apologizing again. 852 00:41:30,014 --> 00:41:35,751 He's written, I think, 17 number one bestsellers, but his 853 00:41:35,853 --> 00:41:39,420 latest book he and I were talking about it and I think you 854 00:41:39,420 --> 00:41:42,373 would really enjoy it it's called One Truth and what he's 855 00:41:42,434 --> 00:41:46,822 talking about is how, when we get away from the truth that's 856 00:41:46,882 --> 00:41:51,717 when we typically start to have problems we lose our discernment 857 00:41:51,717 --> 00:41:51,717 . 858 00:41:51,717 --> 00:41:54,702 And if we could just stay centered into what we know is 859 00:41:54,762 --> 00:41:58,657 true, then everything kind of takes care of itself. 860 00:41:58,657 --> 00:42:01,871 And anyway, I just thought of you when you said that, so I 861 00:42:01,911 --> 00:42:03,074 wanted to share that with you. 862 00:42:03,775 --> 00:42:04,697 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it does. 863 00:42:04,697 --> 00:42:06,581 I mean we act on the truth. 864 00:42:06,581 --> 00:42:08,793 We'll see the way the world's supposed to be around us and 865 00:42:09,134 --> 00:42:10,577 we'll also recognize what's not right. 866 00:42:10,577 --> 00:42:14,416 When you bring light to a situation, you show those 867 00:42:14,697 --> 00:42:15,438 imperfections. 868 00:42:15,438 --> 00:42:17,510 You can see the things that are wrong, but you also see the 869 00:42:17,550 --> 00:42:19,976 things that are right and it helps you address that. 870 00:42:19,976 --> 00:42:23,253 So it may be scary to bring light to a situation. 871 00:42:23,253 --> 00:42:26,485 Hey, the perfections but it's necessary. 872 00:42:26,887 --> 00:42:28,454 Speaker 2: We have that discussion sometime with the 873 00:42:28,474 --> 00:42:28,936 young people. 874 00:42:28,936 --> 00:42:33,697 I always tell them the truth is confrontational, yeah, but it 875 00:42:33,737 --> 00:42:37,188 doesn't have to be mean right, you know what you know what I'm 876 00:42:37,228 --> 00:42:37,469 saying. 877 00:42:37,489 --> 00:42:40,077 It doesn't have to be mean, but it still can be the truth. 878 00:42:40,077 --> 00:42:44,771 Um, okay, the other thing that I want to compliment you on one 879 00:42:44,791 --> 00:42:47,038 of my big deals everybody that knows me on social media knows 880 00:42:47,077 --> 00:42:51,733 me by my handle is Live your Brand, because I'm a big 881 00:42:51,793 --> 00:42:53,018 believer in living your brand. 882 00:42:53,018 --> 00:42:56,697 I'm a big believer in what you share, what you post, what you 883 00:42:56,717 --> 00:42:59,302 comment on, all the things that we do, all the touch points that 884 00:42:59,302 --> 00:42:59,782 we have. 885 00:42:59,782 --> 00:43:04,494 They become your brand by the way, and so when I was doing my 886 00:43:04,554 --> 00:43:06,896 search on you that's one of the things I wanted to compliment 887 00:43:06,936 --> 00:43:10,201 you on is it's very clear that you're living your brand. 888 00:43:10,201 --> 00:43:14,105 Thank you, and I think that's a good thing, because consistency 889 00:43:14,105 --> 00:43:15,106 creates credibility. 890 00:43:15,106 --> 00:43:21,273 So the more consistent we are, the more credibility that we 891 00:43:21,293 --> 00:43:21,715 create for our brands. 892 00:43:21,715 --> 00:43:23,559 So when we live our brand, obviously and consistency 893 00:43:23,579 --> 00:43:29,621 creates credibility Then if I talk to you, I'm apt to trust 894 00:43:29,681 --> 00:43:30,242 what you say. 895 00:43:30,242 --> 00:43:33,617 More right, because you've been consistent. 896 00:43:33,617 --> 00:43:37,083 So I just wanted to compliment you on living your brand. 897 00:43:37,329 --> 00:43:39,193 Speaker 3: So thank you, I appreciate it. 898 00:43:40,878 --> 00:43:42,882 Speaker 2: We might have to come back and do a part two, because 899 00:43:42,882 --> 00:43:45,012 I think there's several other things you and I could just take 900 00:43:45,012 --> 00:43:45,934 off and talk about. 901 00:43:45,934 --> 00:43:48,599 But we need we do need to wrap up today. 902 00:43:48,599 --> 00:43:52,005 But before we wrap up, every yes gets a fun question. 903 00:43:52,005 --> 00:43:52,871 Okay. 904 00:43:52,871 --> 00:43:57,740 So here's your fun question Colton Kyle, what's the best 905 00:43:57,800 --> 00:43:59,123 concert you've ever been to? 906 00:44:00,612 --> 00:44:01,735 Speaker 3: okay, that is a. 907 00:44:01,735 --> 00:44:02,817 That is a good question. 908 00:44:02,817 --> 00:44:05,742 Unfortunately, I've not been to many. 909 00:44:05,742 --> 00:44:07,646 I think I can remember two. 910 00:44:07,646 --> 00:44:09,429 I may have been to three. 911 00:44:11,233 --> 00:44:13,278 I went to a mercy me concert. 912 00:44:13,278 --> 00:44:17,369 It was my first concert and I was probably 10, so I don't 913 00:44:17,389 --> 00:44:18,411 remember it all that well. 914 00:44:18,411 --> 00:44:23,507 Um, and then I went to a really small, really small concert. 915 00:44:23,507 --> 00:44:27,920 I mean there were maybe 50 of us um in the crowd and my 916 00:44:27,980 --> 00:44:29,954 friends found this band that they really liked. 917 00:44:29,954 --> 00:44:30,757 They were a lot smaller. 918 00:44:30,757 --> 00:44:33,851 It's called harbor as the english spelling, so 919 00:44:34,512 --> 00:44:35,893 h-a-r-b-o-u-r. 920 00:44:35,893 --> 00:44:36,855 Um. 921 00:44:36,855 --> 00:44:42,463 They're just kind of like indie , uh, indie pop punk, kind of um 922 00:44:42,463 --> 00:44:46,918 , and so, like that, I got a shirt for merch and I I found 923 00:44:46,958 --> 00:44:48,731 all the band members and got them to sign it because there 924 00:44:48,751 --> 00:44:51,117 were not very many of us, right, um. 925 00:44:51,117 --> 00:44:53,451 So that was probably the best concert that I've been to. 926 00:44:53,451 --> 00:44:57,719 And my girlfriend loves concerts, so she's been to like 927 00:44:57,980 --> 00:44:58,822 niall horan. 928 00:44:58,822 --> 00:45:03,371 Uh, she would love to go to cody jinx um, of course I'm 929 00:45:03,411 --> 00:45:06,594 forgetting now, but Morgan Wallen. 930 00:45:06,594 --> 00:45:10,097 So she's been to some really fun ones. 931 00:45:10,097 --> 00:45:12,079 And I love music. 932 00:45:12,079 --> 00:45:14,340 I listen to it all the time, but concerts are a little 933 00:45:14,380 --> 00:45:16,963 overwhelming for me, so I just listen at my house. 934 00:45:17,623 --> 00:45:19,045 Speaker 2: It's okay, that's good stuff. 935 00:45:19,045 --> 00:45:20,606 I'm curious about yours. 936 00:45:20,606 --> 00:45:22,467 Oh, don't get me started. 937 00:45:22,467 --> 00:45:26,961 I'm a big live music person. 938 00:45:26,961 --> 00:45:30,592 I'm a diehard Jimmy Buffett buffett fan. 939 00:45:30,592 --> 00:45:30,952 Yeah, that's good. 940 00:45:30,952 --> 00:45:32,177 I'm a diehard, uh, bruce springsteen. 941 00:45:32,177 --> 00:45:34,702 Don't agree with either of their politics, just it's their 942 00:45:34,730 --> 00:45:36,114 music, their talent that I like. 943 00:45:36,114 --> 00:45:40,648 Yeah, but yeah, I just love live music and uh, but if you 944 00:45:40,688 --> 00:45:44,715 were to get a hold of my playlist, you would be, you 945 00:45:44,936 --> 00:45:45,297 would wow. 946 00:45:45,297 --> 00:45:50,344 He's got everything from Christian to Tejano to a big 947 00:45:50,429 --> 00:45:55,260 band sound like Sinatra, uh, all the way that country music, 948 00:45:55,800 --> 00:46:00,675 classic rock I've got the whole spectrum and Mercy Me's in there 949 00:46:00,675 --> 00:46:01,317 , obviously. 950 00:46:01,317 --> 00:46:02,518 So yeah. 951 00:46:02,940 --> 00:46:07,253 Yeah, thank you for asking, though, uh listen, I just want 952 00:46:07,273 --> 00:46:10,981 to tell you again how much I appreciate you sharing some of 953 00:46:11,021 --> 00:46:12,164 your time with us today. 954 00:46:12,164 --> 00:46:18,679 I know I'm not the only one to say this, but really proud of 955 00:46:18,739 --> 00:46:24,094 you, and I hope you keep up the good work and you keep being a 956 00:46:24,155 --> 00:46:29,079 positive influence on the folks around you and share your wisdom 957 00:46:29,079 --> 00:46:31,963 so that people can be discerning and keep sharing 958 00:46:32,023 --> 00:46:36,126 seeds of greatness where people can grow into oak trees of 959 00:46:36,186 --> 00:46:36,646 success. 960 00:46:36,646 --> 00:46:38,112 Thank, you. 961 00:46:38,431 --> 00:46:39,333 Speaker 3: I really appreciate that. 962 00:46:39,333 --> 00:46:41,739 I'm honored to have the opportunity to speak to you. 963 00:46:41,739 --> 00:46:43,163 I've really enjoyed our conversation. 964 00:46:43,849 --> 00:46:44,532 Speaker 2: We're going to keep going. 965 00:46:44,532 --> 00:46:45,393 We're going to keep talking. 966 00:46:45,393 --> 00:46:49,240 Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking time out of 967 00:46:49,240 --> 00:46:51,023 your schedule again to join us today. 968 00:46:51,023 --> 00:46:53,838 We appreciate you sharing some of your time with us. 969 00:46:53,838 --> 00:46:57,670 Remember, you know, if agriculture has taught us 970 00:46:57,710 --> 00:46:58,574 anything, it's taught us. 971 00:46:58,574 --> 00:47:00,442 If you want to know what the future is, grow it. 972 00:47:00,442 --> 00:47:02,911 It requires a little work. 973 00:47:02,911 --> 00:47:06,059 You got to plant the right things and, and then you got to 974 00:47:06,099 --> 00:47:09,434 harvest it and feed, feed others , feed yourself and feed others, 975 00:47:09,434 --> 00:47:14,932 and just doing that just makes our world a better place, and we 976 00:47:14,932 --> 00:47:19,085 appreciate you coming by today and joining Colton, and you know 977 00:47:19,085 --> 00:47:22,297 again, have 10 friends older than you, 10 friends younger 978 00:47:22,317 --> 00:47:22,719 than you. 979 00:47:22,719 --> 00:47:25,530 Ladies and gentlemen, you just got to see a little bit about 980 00:47:25,550 --> 00:47:26,112 where we're headed. 981 00:47:26,112 --> 00:47:29,878 So, colton, thank you so much for sharing Everybody else, 982 00:47:29,898 --> 00:47:33,632 thank you for joining us, and we will see you down the road 983 00:47:33,672 --> 00:47:34,516 until we meet again. 984 00:47:34,516 --> 00:47:36,099 Go out and do something great for somebody. 985 00:47:36,099 --> 00:47:37,952 You'll feel good about it and, guess what? 986 00:47:37,952 --> 00:47:40,079 Everybody's going to benefit from it. 987 00:47:40,079 --> 00:47:40,940 Thank you so much. 988 00:47:45,771 --> 00:47:47,757 Speaker 1: We hope you've enjoyed this episode of the 989 00:47:47,797 --> 00:47:49,362 Growing Our Future podcast. 990 00:47:49,362 --> 00:47:53,704 This show is sponsored by the Texas FFA Foundation, whose 991 00:47:53,804 --> 00:47:56,795 mission is to strengthen agricultural science education 992 00:47:57,197 --> 00:48:00,086 so students can develop their potential for personal growth, 993 00:48:00,449 --> 00:48:03,639 career success and leadership in a global marketplace. 994 00:48:03,639 --> 00:48:06,016 Learn more at mytexasffaorg.