Keep Hope Alive Podcast
Keep Hope Alive through the power of knowing who you are as a person and expressing self-love. Life is a journey and with the blank pages we create our story. Keep Hope Alive is about the power of knowledge in today's world. ALL topics are welcomed.
Keep Hope Alive Podcast
Dwayne Morton's Playbook on Resilience and Renewal
Imagine facing a life-altering health misdiagnosis for nearly two decades—this is the reality that Dwayne Morton lived through. In our latest episode, Dwayne, the owner of "Show Up to Win," shares his remarkable story of resilience, transformation, and the power of self-advocacy. From his humble beginnings in Western Kentucky to his unexpected journey in international basketball, Dwayne's life took a dramatic turn when a rare blood cancer diagnosis was overturned, revealing sleep apnea as the true culprit. Hear how this pivotal moment, coupled with surviving a terrifying police shooting incident, became the catalyst for his motivational program aimed at empowering individuals to face adversity head-on.
Dwayne’s personal journey through health challenges underscores the necessity of self-care, gratitude, and adaptability. Delve into his philosophy as he recounts the lessons learned from a chance encounter with a young boy overseas, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's blessings. Discover his daily routine that incorporates gratitude practices, self-care, and movement to maintain a positive mindset. By sharing these strategies, Dwayne inspires listeners to navigate life's unpredictable hurdles with grace and determination, keeping focus on the present and personal goals.
The episode also shines a spotlight on Dwayne's lifestyle brand, "Show Up to Win," which aims to reignite passion in athletes and individuals facing setbacks. With exciting ventures like a new website launch and a shift into speaking engagements, Dwayne continues to build authentic relationships while seeking new platforms to share his message. As we explore his admiration for mentors and the significance of protecting personal energy, listeners are encouraged to evaluate the power of community, consistency, and resilience in their own lives. Come join us for an episode filled with heartfelt stories, practical insights, and an uplifting perspective on overcoming life's challenges.
Brice Harney
Ogden Ventures LLC
CEO of Ogden Ventures LLC
SnappBandZ
Life On Record
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Love & Light - Keep Hope Alive
Hello and welcome to Keep Hope Alive podcast. We have another great show for you and I have Mr Dwayne Morton, owner of Show Up to Win, with us, talking to us today. Welcome, I'm so glad to have you so really quick. Always before I get started on the podcast, d Wayne, I'm going to ask you this wonderful question, okay, so let's say we were out friends, of course, and it was our friend's wedding, and we were walking into the church, right, there was something to sign. What would that thing be that we were signing?
Speaker 2:was something to sign. What would that thing be that we were signing? Well, so if it was when I graph, I had all these people ask me but no, it's for. But seriously, just the uh, just the announcements to the wedding oh, okay, yeah, definitely so.
Speaker 1:A lot of people, um, what did they call it? The guest book? Oh look, oh, look at me, I got stuck. The guest book or the register, it's like usually a book, but Life on Record who's one of my sponsors here? They decided to do no book. They do a vintage rotary phone.
Speaker 1:So when you walk in, you pick up the phone and you can leave a one minute, five minute, 30 minute you know, don't do 30 minutes at a wedding and you can use this for any event but you pick it up and say, hey, congratulations, brett and Michelle, you guys make a beautiful couple. I know you're gonna be happily married for the next hundred years. We're so happy for you on your big day. So what it does is it collects those messages on the phone. Now, right next to that phone, they do have like a sign with a QR code. So if you didn't want to wait to use the phone, you scan it with your phone. You can leave a message either before or after that event happens, and then what they do is burn all these messages either on a 12-inch vinyl record or they have a keepsake speaker. I call it the little boom box that they put it on there and it's a great gift to have because you can listen to it anytime you want. So, whether it's a birthday party, reunion, wedding anniversary I mean, I used one when my son's football team a kid got hurt and everybody called in and left a message of get well, but you get to keep that.
Speaker 1:Now, the prices I don't want to give the price because 2025, I don't know if it went up or lower, but they're reasonable. So I can tell you last year it was a good around $90 for having that phone number. You got to return the phone for a year and you get to leave a message, especially if it was a wedding. You can always leave a message right before. You have to get that number back and say happy anniversary also, and then that gets burned. So it's a really cool concept. But to find out more details about them, you can always go to wwwlifeonrecordcom. All right. So, Dwayne, tell me something we would love to know. Who is Dwayne Morton?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Dwayne Morton is a small town boy from Western, a rural town in Western Kentucky. I tell that to people all the time, like it's just, I still have those types of values, I still have that type of like morals. And so, um, you know, it really started when I was like four years old, you know, playing basketball, and then, you know, I ended up playing international basketball player. Uh, I did not play professionally. I went actually over there on a mission trip and then I signed with agent once I got back, um, but I didn't take the normal path to it. I didn't play my last two years of high school. So, like, opportunity was just there. It definitely did not have the. I did not, definitely, definitely did not take the normal path.
Speaker 2:And then later on, um, at 29,. Um, I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer and that blood cancer they gave me five years initially and then it turned into about 15. And so there was a lot of challenges and things like that. And then, in May of 2022, I was involved in a police shooting as a bystander. I was driving by and a stray bullet hit the truck that I was driving, and so if the bullet would have been an eighth of an inch to the left, it would have killed me. If it had been an eighth of an inch to the right, it would have hit my three-year-old niece that was in the back seat and then. So now we get to the happy time.
Speaker 2:Last year, in March of this year, march of 2024, so almost a year I found out I was completely misdiagnosed with a blood cancer for 18 years and so severe sleep apnea, and so it could have been fixed in a couple of months. And so ever since, for 2024 is a huge healing journey, and that's how I came up with my program show up to win. And so and this is where I've got to come and I'm able to be a have a conversation with you but always, always, I want to thank the listeners Because, honestly, time is so valuable and when people give me their time, I want to give them as much value as possible and let them know how much I appreciate that. So thank you so much to your listeners. Whether they're watching or listening, in Monday, in the morning, the afternoon, evening or night, appreciate your energy, and so just just thank you so much.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. So I do have questions for you too, of course. So how, where do I start? I mean, I'm going to. My brain says, oh my gosh, you almost got hit by a bullet. And that is scary because, you know, when we're driving with little ones, we do anything to protect. So I'm grateful that it missed. But I am just also wondering, because when we go through things that are like life-shaking, like that, it can be like you think about it like oh my gosh, this happened to me.
Speaker 1:I know I was driving down the road to go to San Antonio and there was like this margarita truck in front of me and it was pretty bigger than mine and he's for to the middle lane and I was right next to this barrier and I'm driving but I see this huge wall wood panel just rotating, rotating, coming midstream and it was just like right then. And there, what's your decision? Drive straight into it, go to the right? There's a car I would hit or go to the left and something bad probably would have happened. I drove right into it and my car took a beating. I'm happy it didn't go through the glass windshield. I can tell you that the car got banged up.
Speaker 1:I was off on the far right of the road in the middle of nowhere. I mean, I was next to a cow and I'm like trying to call the police. They're like where are you at? And I'm just like I don't even know my GPS. There's a cow, is there anything else around you? And I looked but there was like a restaurant. It looked like that was abandoned, like ghost town, and I drove to that with the police on the phone and I got out of the car and I'm looking down and under all this gravel was a sign of a restaurant it used to be. And they were like, okay, we, we know where you are. And I was like, oh, thank God, but just, that was so much and I can only imagine. I mean, what are some of the things? Does anything trigger that when the gunshot like location or yeah, so that's a great question.
Speaker 2:I actually went there over the weekend and shot a Facebook Live, and here's the thing is like afterwards I was dealing with survivor's guilt and PTSD, so there was an officer who was tragically killed. I was dealing with survivor's guilt and PTSD, so there was an officer who was tragically killed. I always got to bring that up because I'm also very mindful that other people were a part of this and a part of the story. So what happened was a criminal had a hidden gun in his waistband and shot a police officer. So the police missed the check for weapons, missed the check for weapons and unfortunately it cost an officer a life his day, it cost an officer his life that day.
Speaker 2:But also, um, he was a friend of a lot of my friends. I actually had seen him around on campus, but I, you know, I didn't know him that well, but you know he was one of my friends, best friends I mean. So there was these different levels of it. So I understand the story from the way the people in my hometown do, and so for me was they always thought like I was good because I was alive, because they had actually had to deal with someone who wasn't, and so. But I was dealing with PTSD and survivor's guilt and so, as I told you, I got diagnosed in 2006. They gave me 15 years 2021. I felt like I was already going to be dead.
Speaker 1:2022 is when this police shooting happens and I'm okay, so that's where it was like what's going on and so, um, I'm sorry, I'm just like having a moment, like, did you have to go to counseling or anything for that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I went through talk therapy for two years and I went to and I had actually went through talk therapy before twice and I did really wonderful. But the third time really did not help as much and it wasn't the counselor's problem, the thing, and staying in that victim mentality. The good thing. What really helped me was hypnosis. Some people aren't, you know, they're not qualified to understand what hypnosis does, and I'm not calling you all about it, but what I can tell you is is it took my trauma from like a to like, where it's neutral. I can go talk about it and then I go take a nap so it out.
Speaker 2:So much it gave me. You know, the hypnotist just guided me to the trans, and so it's really a cool thing if you've ever wanted to experience it. But it's something that you should do your own research on, and for me is these different healing modalities. But I also my being open-minded and being like, hey, there's got to be other ways. And then I talked to people who had been through traumatic events and they were like, hey, you should really try this.
Speaker 1:And it does work. I've talked to a couple of people on the show that are hypnotists and they can really put you down. Like, even with the sleep part I've always had trouble sleeping. They put me on Ambien the past five years and that should be a whole podcast in itself, but I got off of that this year and trying a different one that does not make me sleepwalk and do crazy things. So amen on that one.
Speaker 1:But yeah, just listening to the person I interviewed and trying to fall asleep and they put you in that trance and then it also, of course, does help with the healing and talking it out. So it sounds like you were on the right path to help you and be able to close your eyes. That's important because something I learned in life no matter what happens to us, tomorrow's a new day and a little bit goes away as soon as you open your eyes. It's an interesting feeling, but with the stuff that we've gone through, you can say that just a little bit, but it'll always be there and you'll always see it. That's the thing.
Speaker 2:It's just tragic, so yeah, so the beauty part of it was was after I was healthy, so I was ready to go. I mean, that was. The other thing is like I was like a little wind-up toy wind up a toy and just hold it. And you just hold it. Hold it and it's like it's ready to go and you can feel the power of it. That's the way I was, you know, for 18 years. I had all these ideas and opportunities and I was just like ready to like, hey, okay, um, let me, let me be healthy and you know that's a whole other story. It was when I, you know, found out. Yeah, I just want to explain like it was just like, okay, I'm healed to a point and now you know I can go on and go through. But also I knew I still had to heal even more, even past hypnosis.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly I agree with that statement. Exactly I agree with that statement Now you also mentioned. I'm just kind of going all over the place because you've been through so much and I want to hopefully ask the right questions so our listeners can understand and hear where this is going. And you know, through health journey you had a rare misdiagnosis and it seems like sometimes that happens to people and it's just like whoa and I know for me.
Speaker 1:I've been through a lot of health issues and they're still at this time trying to find out what they're going to do and it's just craziness. So I'm a sitting duck and I'm going to say this If you're on like a market plan or whatever and it's an HMO and they're taking their time to get you here and there, but when they say you need an emergency procedure we got to see what it is but they're playing I hate to say playing they're just playing with the insurance and this and that and we're not getting answers, then that rare thing can grow and we don't know what it is. As soon as you were finding out this, I mean, can you tell our listeners what you experienced before it became? I guess saying something needs to be really checked out. There's something wrong. I mean, what were you going through? How did it take those steps into finding out?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's a great question. So I had actually just ran two miles the day before. I'd actually played basketball two miles the day before. I'd actually played basketball the night before too. That's the other thing I was going and I couldn't get up three flights of stairs. I got about halfway up and I was like I'm gassed, what is going on? I didn't play that hard, I was doing all these other things, and that was the thing I was like I knew something was wrong. I waited at the staircase for I don't know. It felt like 20 minutes, and I was. I was very fortunate because I got to work early, and so I finally ended up going up the three flights of stairs.
Speaker 2:I got to call a doctor, like something, something isn't right, cause I also know my body, and then I was like something isn't right and so, um, we probably about a week, week and a half, and the first one was like oh yeah, you're okay. And then the next one was like man, you're really dehydrated. Why are you dehydrated? A gallon of water a day, there's no way I'm dehydrated, and so I'm going to send you to a. At first it was just a blood doctor, and then, when I arrived, it was an oncologist, and so I was originally diagnosed with a blood disease and I was told that the blood disease turns into blood cancer.
Speaker 2:My symptoms were very aggressive and there wasn't very many people that. So that's the other thing. It's actually very more. It's much more common right now. Um, because they're diagnosing more people, and I don't know why that's the case, but I was told there was like 200,000 cases globally. Oh, wow, right, so it was very rare.
Speaker 2:It also was something that people didn't really know. In international medicine they do different symptoms. So all I had lucky for me, I didn't have to take any pharmaceuticals, I didn't have to do chemo, which is amazing because it would have killed me. It would have killed me, and now that we know that I was misdiagnosed and so all I had to do was phlebotomies or bloodletting. So I mean, I, truly I and you know I've been through some miracles, or you know, in my life, and here's the thing whether it's big or small, god, there's still miracles of God. Most important thing is to come out. It was like I've always, I feel divinely protected, and the reason I feel divinely protected is because there's all these things where I should have already not been here, and so that's why I advocate for my purpose so strongly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I hear you on that, so I can see that in you and I feel like God is saying to you you're not over yet. You have so much to share with the world and your experience. So that makes us like warriors and we just stomp through the health challenges and any other challenges that get thrown our way. So that's really important. So, yeah, definitely, I'm glad and it's slowed down right. Is it like in a remission spot right now?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, no, no, no. So misdiagnosis means they got it wrong, Like they completely got it wrong. So like I just have severe sleep apnea and I just found that out, like in last year? Yeah, no. So like all I have to do is wear a mask? Yeah, no, but I did have it where, um, in the sleep center thing, I was asleep for a minute and I was awake for an hour, like so that doesn't work. So my body didn't go to REM in basically 20 years, and so that's that was. The problem was my body never had a chance to repair itself. It never got rest.
Speaker 1:Oh man, that stinks when my body doesn't do that well, I grew up with epilepsy, so I go right into a seizure if I don't have eight or even six hours. So if people hear me say the dogs woke me up, it's like, yeah, that was a huge problem for me because I have to pay attention to my day now and make sure I take a little afternoon nap. But oh, my goodness, OK, now I want to know a little bit more on you own and started up. Show up to win, and that seems like a very fun venture. So tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 2:So Show Up to Win is something. So I've been doing this for 20 years, like at least 20. And then I offed it for 20 years and so I built this program when I needed it, when I was sick. That was would relight my athletic fire to be like, hey, let's fight. So the first five years was like I was inspired. I was like, hey, I'm gonna reverse this. But after five years I was like this isn't done. Different programs, like I was vegetarian, I stopped drinking soda, I all these different changes that were supposed to make me healthy, but I wasn't getting the results.
Speaker 2:And so what Show Up to Win is? It's about overcoming adversity in unlikely and untimely circumstances. For me, I'm an expert. I've done it twice, but also I know what it means, and actually I can share something with the listeners. It's called Dwayne's daily plan of attack. I believe I was able to overcome.
Speaker 2:So one story that I've got to tell is when I was overseas, I met this little boy who he was five years old at the time he had not eaten in three days. He ate rocks, so his belly didn't hurt. So for me it was one of those life experiences that had such a tremendous impact. It actually gave me my foundation of gratitude, or my core of gratitude, whichever way you want to look at it, and so whenever I go through these challenges, I always thought other people have it worse. Our nightmares are other people's dreams, and so through that, I was able to push through these challenges, but what it did was it gave me my value of gratitude. Wake up and think about, you know, the whole entire part of being diagnosed like hey, I want to die. I was like, hey, I've got to come up with something to keep me charged up, at least in the morning. So the very first thing I do every day is I thank God. My very first step is gratitude, ok, and so, however, whoever is listening spiritual, religious, not you find something that you're gratitude that you're grateful for.
Speaker 2:So number two is self-care. So every day, it's like I was telling you before you know, right now I'm having a stretch because of my legs, and so I had two bad knee surgeries. Like I've had, not too bad. I've had two bad knees and I've had knee surgery on both. So I've always take time in my bed just to make sure my body is prepared for the day. So I stretch and so, however, that is for you, whether it's reading a book, reading a passage, whatever self-care. So the number two step I do is self-care. Number three step is movement, and movement is just moving. Just a Number three step is movement, and movement is just moving just a little bit of the day, if it's just to go use the bathroom or get a glass of OJ, just move. These small, consistent steps will make these big, huge impact later on.
Speaker 2:So for me, I tell people all the time I have a runner's mentality approach. I am looking forward. As soon as I get out of bed I'm putting my left foot down and my right foot and, like I said, I have bad knees. I just want to make sure that they're good. But think about it, I go throughout the rest of the day, left foot, right foot, just like I'm running, okay.
Speaker 2:Also, I can't look at the past. If I can't like so I can, I can glance at it, but I can't just focus on the past. You can't get anywhere. So it's slow. No one wants to go slow through life, but and so if you're, if you're focused on the past, you're also going to be depressed. Okay. Also, the other part of it is is, if I'm focused on the future, i'm'm going to be anxious, but also I'm going to go off misdirection. And so that's the thing is is you can't just sit there and focus on your destination. You can know it's there, but you really have to stay in the presence, like the present is the gift.
Speaker 2:And so I tell people all the time, like when I run, I'm not looking far, I'm looking you know very close proximity of me. And so then we have the number four step, and so it's adaptability. So the number four step is adaptability. And so adaptability is is like life is going to bring you challenges, like it always brings you challenges, and also life is going to like punch you in the face, kick you in the stomach, and in my case I felt like I got stomped out too by like a whole bunch of people. And so the reason that you want to be adaptable is like all these hits are going to happen. We just want to swerve and miss the pothole. So maybe not take a direct hit, maybe take a smaller hit, and then, who knows, we might be able to swerve enough and miss the whole pothole. But life is going to bring you challenges. You're going to get that unexpected bill, you're going to lose the job You're going to. You know you're, you and your best friends are going to squabble. There's just that's. That's life. And so life, life happens, and so it's the same way, um, also with the.
Speaker 2:The adjustability is. It's like your car. If your car is out of alignment, you're not going to be able to go straight. And so when you're, when things aren't going your way, that means something in your life is out of alignment. And so you just got to go figure out hey, what, what am I wanting, and why is it not working out for me? And so that's, that's what I do every day, and it also keeps me very grounded. And so when I'm talking to people like you and other people and they're like oh, you're so great, like, I keep myself grounded. I have people in place to keep me grounded, and so it keeps me in alignment.
Speaker 1:I made a big change, like in my work, and then I'll share this with the guests too. Jeez, I cannot believe this happened to me. So I made that choice because it was a choice. And then, moving on from there, I remember I had a doctor's appointment after I had to clean out my office, but I got turned around. So I had to make a U-turn and it's stupid me, but I'm going to get over it. I turned in between the school and to the right. I had to go back around, but I did not realize I was in a school zone and I was like uh-oh, and all of a sudden there's flashing zone. And I was like uh-oh, and all of a sudden there's flashing lights. And I'm like, seriously, oh my gosh, I made a wrong turn. I had to go do this with the old job. I just wanted to cry. I don't know how to cry. I have something called PVA.
Speaker 2:So hold on, hold on a second. So I teach mindset. So here's the thing we don't want to call ourselves stupid, we have to stay like right. So everything we say, like we have to be very mindful because words have so much power.
Speaker 1:So when people ask me all the time like talking about my past, that's but it was a stupid thing to do. I'm from jersey. I'm gonna say a stupid thing.
Speaker 2:I know this area and yeah, no, but I'm just letting you know they are so powerful. So we just have to be very mindful of how we say things, because it has way more effect than just like the little little bit. So I have a friend. He struggled with just loving himself, like just loving himself, and so he would always put him down and like whenever he's around me, I'm like no, we're not doing that. Like yeah, you're my friend, you're, you're someone that I care about and I love, and so I've always like so there's so many people that I do this to all the time. But when you, when you get locked in, like how I am and I'm laser focused, there's these things that you just have to like tell people that you actually like to help them on their way, and what happens is is they're out of alignment, and what happens is is there may be just a little bit off, and what happens is they're really becoming more aware of their words.
Speaker 2:So one word I don't like to use is trying. It's really when you're like torquing on a jar. So if I'm opening up a jar and I'm trying to open it, that is more the definition. It is not when I attempt to do something. So like I'm attempting to shoot a basketball, I'm not trying. And those are two really big words. Your mind really understands the definition of them, and so that's the thing I just wanted to let the listeners really understand that when you become mindful of your words, you'll understand and you'll be more positive. Your energy is going to change Amazing and awesome feelings in the world.
Speaker 2:When you say like I'll say trying, and I'm like no, no, no, I mean attempting. Like I'll say can't, cause I'm like talking about the passport, and I'm like, well, no, I don't use that word, but that's the thing is is like our words have so much power. We just have to watch them. And so, like you know that yesterday, anytime that we belittle ourself or doubt ourself, that's our energy, that's our tank that goes down right. And so we like, whether you're from jersey or wherever, like it's the same, yeah, it doesn't matter where we're from I know, I know, but it's a little bit of perfectionist.
Speaker 1:It's something I should have remembered. But I I'm going to say right now good call. Yes, I agree. Sorry, listeners had a moment.
Speaker 2:So you were asking the other question about, like, how I got through the diagnosis. I believe, if I'm correctly, it's just I wanted to move every day, but also like I had a very strong mindset. For me, I've always was an entrepreneur at heart. My parents owned a business the whole time, so we were self-employed since I was four years old. So I knew there was different aspects of life that I wanted to figure out and, unfortunately for me, I felt like the time was running down, because I'm an athlete, so that's what happens when the clock starts running down. So I was like trying to figure out, but also I was getting all these great opportunities. So just to share with you and your listeners Jim Rohn's MentorTree. So my friend was mentored by Jim Rohn, like it doesn't get any better than that, like he is the personal development, and so that's the thing is. So I had a very strong mindset.
Speaker 2:I got into network marketing. There's, there's, there's some you know, bad juju with with people with network marketing, right. But so here's the thing I didn't have an able body. So my mindset was go find more able bodies, right. But here's the other thing is my friends who would say I had a not a great mindset at that time, didn't understand that I was trying to leave a legacy for them, not me. I knew I was going to die, right. So I was looking for a future, even though I didn't have a future. And I'm going to repeat that again I was looking for a future and I didn't have a future.
Speaker 2:Like, there's, there's levels to this thing, and that's what I told people. I tell people all the time is like, even when you felt like I was, I was down and out, you're, it's a. I actually posted this today on Facebook. But when you're looking for a thief and you just watch the main doors and the main exit, the main exit and entries, and the thief runs off through tunnels and off of the rooftops with, with, with your, with your treasure, whose whose responsibility is that? It's you, it's, it's really you, because you're you're. Your mindset is so focused on these two things You're not being open-minded to figure out the rest, and that's what I was doing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely, Definitely. So definitely. I got to stop right there really quick Okay.
Speaker 1:So, talking about all this motivational stuff and everything. So I do have another sponsor for Keep Hope Alive. They're called Snap Bands. If you guys can see this black bracelet, it says hope on it. And what's really cool about these bracelets? They have the elastic band right behind it. So you take your finger and just let it hit. So you take your finger and just let it hit. Now what this does? These bracelets help with anxiety, depression I always say PTSD because I have medical PTSD but just giving you that good vibe, I've heard that it also helps with sleep patterns too, and I guess back in the day people would use something else with elastic, If you know what I'm talking about. This is cool.
Speaker 1:The bracelets all have different mantra words hope. We added faith, which is really cool. So if you went to Snapband's code finder and was buying one, you would put K-H-A for keep hope alive and it would give you the word hope. And they come all in different colors, which is really cool. But this will send a signal to the brain to kind of redirect. And with each mantra word, no matter what it is peace, love, hope, faith you kind of say that mantra word and go for me, like medical, for example. I'm really hoping and praying that my checkup goes really well, and I pray whoever has to find a vein, because I'm hard stick gets me the first time. So, but definitely that's my mantra. I've had this on for, let's say, I think it's been two years now, and I love it. I don't take it off at all.
Speaker 1:They are well known out there Facebook. You'll see these on Instagram right away. There's so many good reviews on them. It's very important. I love this concept. Reviews on them. It's very important. I love this concept. And then, on top of that, if you go to visit their website, they're going to show you all the different things, or proceeds to go to different organizations that help with behavioral anxiety, depression, things. So, proceeds, go to that as well. And I'm going to spell this website out. It's a little bit different, but if you go to wwwsnapbands, which is S-N-A-P-P-B-A-N-D-Zcom, you'll be able to find all that information. So go check them out, Love them. So it's great. But, um, other than that, I do have a couple more questions for you. So, um, let's, I want to go back to show up to win. I want to dive in. So is this a training to people? Um, what age ranges and how can they find more information about this?
Speaker 2:So show up to win is a lifestyle brand. For me is like it's it's going to be bigger. So show up to win is going to be a lifestyle brand. It's going to be similar to like live strong. So show up to win is, like I said, it's about showing up with intention not, you know, showing up with a purpose, but also so I I kind of went into it and then I went off into the morning routine part.
Speaker 2:But so show up to win is for people to help overcome adversity and unlikely, untimely circumstances, and so I'm looking for people who are athletes or ex-athletes that have lost that inner fire. So have you know, lost their job, had a diagnosis, been divorced, just they found out that, like their passion project didn't work, like just things like that. Some of these are like really big, like impactful moments, and so for me, as I always tell people, I'm not looking for minimum people I don't want you to like if I say, hey, do 10 setups. Like I don't want you to just do 10. Like I want people who have the mindset to do like 30. That's the way I have. I want the results so bad that I tell people I'm willing to do what other people are unwilling to do, and so I want those types of people because that's the people that will get results, want results, but when they get results, they're going to get on top of a mountain and be like I got these results. I can't believe it and it's a great way to celebrate and so I work also. Show up to win is also where I also teach mental performance with elite athletes. So I work with elite athletes every day. I have one of the top 200, 250 Gatorade high school player right now that I work with 250 Gatorade high school player right now that I work with. And so I'm also like my when I was younger, I want to be a sports psychologist.
Speaker 2:What I realized was I didn't have to have the sports psychology degree to do what I already knew what to do. The other part is, with show up to win is there's a course where I'm going to teach the community how I did things and but they're going to be able to give me their issues and we're able to work through them together. So what I did was I created a program because I couldn't find it, but I knew to keep me consistent, I need a community. So I built a community. Same thing. I knew the community needed to have me consistent to be a real community, and so that's the thing is like. So it's a wonderful thing that I'm building. It should be launching anytime open by Sunday, monday, um.
Speaker 2:But I first started it it was going to be first of the year and I was like it just wasn't ready. Like I want to at least I believe in it doesn't have to be perfect, but like I just there was things that were. It was like oh, I want to get this thing, oh, I want to add this thing, and so there was some different things I wanted to add to get it, you know, before it got up and running. And so, of course, like when you find things that aren't perfect, but what I do is is I give you a bunch of plays and then what we do at the end of the course is we create the playbook that works for you. If you don't like a play, we don't have to run it, Like there's no reason to run a play that you don't want to run. So that's the thing is, I have tons of self-help books.
Speaker 2:If we follow all the self-help books word for word and do exactly what the author is, we're going to get those results. But what usually happens? We'll read one. We're like I don't really like this, okay, so I'm not going to do it. So you don't get those results, so same thing. I have this adjustability already built in and I'm like, hey, all this stuff works. All you gotta do is just like take what you want, what works for you, and go on, and so you create your own role, your own playbook yeah, I like that analogy too.
Speaker 1:It's not perfect yet, but you'll say I'm going to just extend it another three months, four months. But even with my podcast, I didn't want to have that weight Field of dreams. They're building it, watch it grow. That's what I'm doing with Keep Hope Alive, and each day I put it in my brain that I am going to educate myself and keep doing what I do to improve and bring on new, different topics and stuff. And you know, run with the ball, that's how I put it. Like, my son is in football nonstop, so I'm watching him practice and the plays and it's over and over.
Speaker 1:So you build it, you grow it, you learn from it, you add on, and it is mindset too, which is amazing. Always have the positive vibe. Don't bring it down to a lower vibe, because you're going to accomplish great things with whatever you set out to do. So, but definitely Now if people want to come and find you a website, any social media, and then I'm going to ask, hey, what are you doing in the future? Do you have any new projects you're working on too?
Speaker 2:So I'm always working on a lot of projects. I have tons and tons of projects and some of them I could talk about. Some of them I can't. So one of the biggest things so like, if they're looking for me, it's the best place to find me right now is the Facebook and if you look up Show Up To Win with the number two, I'm on Instagram and on threads. Honestly, I like threads a lot. I just really started getting over there but I just like being able to sit there and type up something. Just be words.
Speaker 2:My Instagram I've built other people's Instagram. I haven't really worked on mine because 2024 was a healing journey for me. So my Instagram actually my little niece's not my, she's my oldest niece, she's 14 years old and during COVID she started my Instagram and I didn't even know I had Instagram. Somebody just was like hey, you have Instagram. I was like I do and it has a picture of my niece, like a little selfie, so just to let people know. That's the reason that's there. But I'm building my socials right now. My website you're going to have the show up to wincom with the number two, but also dwaynemortoncom is going to be the thing where I'll be getting booked out for like speaking engagements and everything will be linked up in dwaynemortoncom, so I really think that's the one to go to. And then I have a couple of things that I like to tell people. So I do have a sponsor and it's actually to help launch a nonprofit that I'm working on.
Speaker 2:But this is with part of what most people don't understand is, when you're dealing with things for 18 years, you have financial struggles, and so I did. So I work with a company. It's a debt consolidation company, and they don't have that one size fits all approach. They're actually a mom and pop situation. So they're actually going to make sure that you get the best deal, even if they don't get the business. So that's a beautiful part, a beauty, the beautiful part about having just really good relationships with people and business people, and so I just want to let people know that's out there and you'll find. You can find that information on the website of dwaynemortoncom and you can see the different things that you know I'm affiliated with.
Speaker 2:But that's probably one of my more kind of not, it's part of the story, but people don't know the story yet, and so that's going to be more in the book where I can say, hey, there's a lot of challenges with the, with financial, you know, with medical debt, all these things because what would happen is I would get a really good job. Like just to give you an idea, I got this job being a loan originator for mortgages, and so that test is like very similar to the bar. It's a very difficult test. I passed it and I was like, oh, like I was just excited because I was like, hey, I can do all these projects and unfortunately I only lasted a year because my body just gave out and so just to let you guys know, like it was never meant to be.
Speaker 2:That's the thing. When things are out of alignment, things happen and, as you can tell, like I'm not a lone originator, I'm working in, you know, with athletics and mindset, where I wanted to be at and work at, since I was like, since I pretty much came home from overseas. So that's the thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I hear you. So that is amazing. I definitely I hear you, so that is amazing. I'm definitely. I think I jumped on your website and I jumped off. I had to go back. See, I'm very honest and truthful, but, yeah, definitely so social. That was funny. My son is really keen into it. Mom, you're going to be on TikTok. I don't want TikTok. You need to be on it. And now, I love TikTok. I haven't jumped into threads yet. There are Blue Sky, I signed up for, and Mondron I hope I'm saying that right was another one I just signed up for. I think as soon as TikTok kind of had that day where it went down and everybody was, ah, it led me to see these new things that were coming up for social media and I was like, oh, that's different, but I'm starting to build that up too as well. So, and flying high for 2025, that's what we need to do, definitely so, but I know a lot of.
Speaker 2:So what tiktok is is like I just got a new phone and so I can't download the app. Like I have the app on the old phone but I don't have it on the new phone, and so it's like does it not allow you or no?
Speaker 1:like they stop the download.
Speaker 2:So whenever, whenever, so I I can use on my old phone. So and that's actually something I've been I feel like a lot of my people are going to be over on tiktok, so I'm actually like pivoting there I just want to make sure I get everything built perfectly.
Speaker 2:Not perfectly, I just want to make sure I get everything built correctly for for for the launch, like right now we're just in pre-launch and and so um, the show up to win, let me cause I don't know when we're going to drop this, so show up to wininfo. With the number two there's a contact information sheet, like you know. Put your contact information and so I tell people. If you put your phone number, you'll probably get a phone call from me and I'll just ask like, hey, how can I help you? But that's so. You'll be notified when the site goes live and which, like I said, should be just hopefully here in two or three days.
Speaker 1:So two to three days. We're going to check this, so there is no way I could have seen it. So, all right now, we know so. But that's always exciting to have the new website launching and everything, and that's just perfect. So it sounds like you're headed in the right direction with all these new ventures, and I do want to follow up and see how things went for you by December or even into the new year of, oh wow, 2026. Isn't that going to be fun?
Speaker 1:I may reach out and be like hey, I'm bringing you back on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely isn't that gonna be fun, I may reach out and be like hey, I'm bringing you back on. Yeah, absolutely, I already got someone that already had me, has me coming back. Um, like in three months. They were like, and I was like you're gonna be so amazed. They're already in three months.
Speaker 2:Like because I can already tell you, like the first of january, like this is really where the ball started, because and just in january I recorded 25 podcasts. So, like I'm, I'm doing the thing and it eventually I'll be a podcast host like yourself. But all these different, all these different things and opportunities are like coming fast, but also, like when you learn and you understand the law of attraction and how to manifest things, move fast and it's a good thing.
Speaker 1:And what is that? The five secrets to success, napoleon hill, was that that book, I'm thinking? I don't even know if that's the right title. Five key, oh, but I remember reading something by napoleon hill that helped me a long time ago and it's just great napoleon hill has some great books.
Speaker 2:So I do have one more thing, Sorry.
Speaker 1:I forgot about this.
Speaker 2:This is actually something that I so one of my mentors. She's going to be in a movie with Dr Joe Vitale sometime in February. So her name is Victoria Rader. She's one of my favorite mentors. She's a really good friend, but what they have is an app it's called empower me, and so it uses biometrics to give you, like, what you want. There's a really good friend, but what they have is an app it's called empower me, and so it uses biometrics to give you like what you want. There's a global initiative to get a million users on this app and right now I believe they're at like 200 000 and this this has been like maybe two or three months that they've they've initiative. Um, so just to give you some uh context, I actually went to the site of the, the location of the shooting, and shot a video testimonial for them. That is one day here very soon, is going to be used for a global press release.
Speaker 2:So just to let you know it was like I, I wanted to help them out so much that I was willing to go to a place that most people wouldn't want to go to, and so, but you know, I love her. She's an amazing, amazing human being. But, like there, there's so many healing modalities that we just don't know about. But the convenience of it being on your phone, it scans you and it gives you what you need, and so there's a free version of it. And then there's a I want to say it's a year subscription for like 20 bucks. Like it's absolutely worth it, it's worth every penny, but I use it every day, and so there's these mini meditations and stuff.
Speaker 1:And so I just want to tell you like I always like talk about her and I hadn't, so I just wanted to say thing. It's one thing as a podcast, you know, having this, I love it. There's different outsources to find guests and everything's good. But I started thinking, you know why, just online, there's so many different things around where I live that I would still want to do, you know, a podcast with them.
Speaker 1:And I know there was a lady, she does video gaming and I did a podcast on her and I absolutely love it because she's here in town and I was like I'll pop in how you doing and stuff, but I have yet to try her stuff. And I'm like I'll pop in how you doing and stuff, but I have yet to try her stuff. And I'm going to now, as I mentioned earlier, having epilepsy was really hard and I had to get those. I think it's like blue Ray vision things in my new glasses, because every time I was at the computer too long, or if I went to the casino and I won money, but unfortunately winning money caused a seizure and it's just that flickering and I hated it. So I got these new glasses. I guess I got to go try them out. But I want to try her business out because it was really cool, but definitely other than that, okay so we got all yours, yours.
Speaker 2:I have a pair right here. I have a pair of these blue blocker glasses. Yeah, absolutely so. Whenever you're working on a computer, you're doing a lot of stuff on phone. You should definitely have these protect your eyes, but it also protects your energy too, so that's really good yes, protecting energy is very important, so definitely.
Speaker 1:Um, what was I going to say? Um, there was one more question threads. I know you mentioned that. I haven't journeyed on that. Is it just like instagram?
Speaker 2:it's like instagram, but like they there's not videos it's not. It's it's more similar to twitter I, but it's it's so new that like people are really compassionate and really like are helping each other on it so I'm enjoying it. It's a. It's a great. It's a great new platform, but it's more about what you type and not what you just post exactly.
Speaker 1:So that is one venture I'll look into because you know, for all the shows that I've done for Keep Hope, I give a soundbite, which is nice. So it's kind of like saying this is, the teaser is 60 seconds long of why you should go to the video and watch, and I love doing those, and so it really brings up those numbers and helps people with the awareness of what's going on and who. I am.
Speaker 2:I just love it. I just love the fact that, like the people have, it's where wordsmith are at. You know, it's not where I don't I forgot what the character like limit is, but it's a lot Like you can actually really put stuff in. But it's not where people are just selling either, in which I don't. Sales is different to me. I feel sales a service. So a lot of people when you look at sales as just service, then you had your it's a different level, but there there was a lot of different pitching on there and, yeah, a lot of people would just call it out and be like hey, like all I see is your advertisement like this isn't what threads is about.
Speaker 2:It's more about like yeah talking about different things and like so I, I enjoy it. Um, so you know, you gave me another really good hint to what I need to do is like so I, I love video games. I haven't touched my PS five since like July, but I want to get over to Twitch Cause. I know that they have some things where it's very similar to a podcast, where people would kind of come in. But that's you know, that's the beauty part of it. And so the other thing is is like I monetize. Before I was already five podcasts in Like I haven't even started hosting.
Speaker 2:I'm just guessing I'm already, you know, monetized. There's so many people that have done a lot of things. They're 500 podcasts in and they haven't monetized. So the whole point is is this like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:The whole point is is like, if you, if you're looking for a way and you like look at it outside of the box rather than inside the box, things will like come to you a lot uh, a lot quicker, um, and a lot more. Usually simpler not maybe not as not easy. I don't really like the word easy, I like the word more simple exactly, I agree.
Speaker 1:I agree, my goodness. Yeah, you brought a lot of knowledge to me too. So this has been a good chat. I love it so, but it looks like we are winding down, and definitely so. As the future, as you mentioned, new things are coming Maybe. I will definitely want to see once all this branches out and everything, to get back with you and talking about goals. I know I may. I'm going to say may because I've been so stubborn.
Speaker 1:I do want to write a book. I want to write actually two books, and I want that process to start going into me and saying this is what I want to do. This is I'm 47 now. Let's get it done by 50. So I have that out there in the world. But there's different ways. And then you get some people who I don't know how to write a book, and then there's other people I will help you do it and I always thought those were called ghostwriters and I was like, joe, I want help you do it. And I always thought those were called ghostwriters and I was like, yeah, I want to take that venture.
Speaker 2:So there's definitely some help in the self-publishing part, and then there's publishers that will help you too. So for me, I was really looking at the self-publishing part and then I found out that my friends own a publishing company, so it was like I'll probably want to go with them. That's the thing. Is is like cause you want to always try to do business with your friends as much as you can. The other part is it's, it's really this, this is what I'll leave on is really, I tell people all the time you have to begin and then the next two steps and you can flip, flop whichever one I know which one I prefer. But you can plan and get a mentor, or you can get a mentor and then have them help you create the plan. But the first step you have to do is begin. You have to be like okay, I want to do this, and then seek out that leadership or seek out that time where you're like writing down those things.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and that's what's really important. So yeah, just a whirlwind of 2025. I've set my goals and I new pens because I like typing on Word, but when I see it written out on paper I don't know why it gives me that motivation to actually accomplish it and get it done faster. But I want to thank you so much for coming on Keep Hope Alive podcast today and everything, and it's been really fun learning who you are, dwayne, and I can't wait to see all your accomplishments. But really quick to all the listeners for Keep Hope Alive podcast, you can find us at wwwkeephopealivepodcastcom. If you wanted to leave a message on the website, there is a little spot it says leave message or we're still going through Life on Records phone number at 833-780-HOPE, which is 4673. And you can leave a message for us. You can even leave a message for Dwayne and I will send that right over to him as well if you need any questions answered or anything like that. So, other than that, wherever you find your podcast, you will be able to find us. If you would like to be a guest, there is a guest intake form that you can fill out as well. But I appreciate you guys and, looking into 2025,.
Speaker 1:I'm happy to announce that there is a new host that is here with me. Her name is Allie and she'll be starting pretty soon. So if you ever get messages, who do you want to interview you? You got a choice. You got Nadine or you got Allie now, but she's great. She graduated from Baylor with journalism background and stuff and she's just. She reminds me of Susan Sarandon. It's amazing so, and has that personality type which is gonna go a long way. So, but other than that, thank you once again and until next time. Guys, love and light, thank you.
