Strength, Survival, and Surrender: A Fitness Entrepreneur’s Journey with Brock Meadows

Elite performance often focuses on physical strength—but sometimes the greatest strength is spiritual resilience. In this episode of First and Focused, we sit down with Brock Meadows, founder of Power Factory, Project Lean Nation, Dulci Sweets, and multi-location owner of Orangetheory Fitness, to discuss how two near-death experiences reshaped his life and faith.

Brock shares the powerful stories that changed his perspective forever, how those moments deepened his walk with Christ, and why he ultimately pursued entrepreneurship over the corporate path. We explore balancing body and spirit in a performance-driven industry, building businesses with purpose, and even how a fitness expert ended up launching a chocolate company. This conversation is about discipline, calling, and trusting God through unexpected turns.

To check out Dulci Sweets click here: https://dulcisweets.com/

To check out Project Lean Nation click here: https://projectleannation.com/

To connect with Brock Meadows click here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brock-meadows/

Connect with Mark Greaves: https://www.markgreaves.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Where I was, I at least had enough wisdom, maybe, to to go. If I don't make that change now, then I would be stuck where my colleagues, friends were uh at 40 and not happy with life.

SPEAKER_02 0:11

Sometimes your gut instinct, though, is the right thing. You're like, that's what I'm got, that's what I'm meant to do. There's physical save moments in some some of our lives, and for whatever reason, he chooses to do that.

SPEAKER_03 0:20

He goes, the driver of the car. I go, it, it, it, it's me. And he goes, No, you're not. Are you okay? You're not hearing me. Both sides, I was just completely crushed into the floor of the of the car. The hood was on the floor of the car. He goes, There's no way that can be. I go.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Welcome to First and Focused, the podcast where faith meets leadership. I know you're gonna put me on the spot. I don't know what you're gonna ask me to say. I'm Mark Greaves, and in each episode, I sit down with business and industry leaders who put God first in their work and stay focused on building his kingdom through their calling. I could sit here and talk with you all day. Keep up the great work, brother. Lord is using you powerfully. I love you. I love watching what Jesus is doing in your life. Welcome, everybody, to the First and Focus show. I'm your host, Mark Greaves. This is where we bring in leaders from various industries who are putting God first in their work and staying focused on pursuing him through their mission. And today we are joined by Mr. Brock Meadows.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

Hey man, good to be here. This is awesome. I'm excited.

SPEAKER_02 1:21

Yeah, man. I'm I I'm pumped for this interview. Uh some of the stuff that I want to get out on camera today and on this recording is stories that you've told me that are pretty unbelievable to me. Um, but clearly I think God's had you um in this world for a reason, and he's kept you here for a reason a couple of different times. So we're gonna get that out and um just all the different ways that the spirit's moving in and through your work.

SPEAKER_03 1:42

Hold on. It's it's not the normal story by any means, very unconventional.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Yeah, hey, that's that's part of it. That's part of it. Well, here, I'm gonna I got an intro for you. Oh, I don't know. Um you can correct uh any asterisk, any anything I get wrong here, but everybody gets an intro. So Brock Meadows, you're a fitness and nutrition expert with a decades-long career of helping athletes and fitness enthusiasts achieve peak performance. You're the founder of Power Factory, owner of multiple Orange Theory fitness locations, and most recently the co-founder of Dolce Suites, ironically diving headfirst into chocolate business. Uh, which we'll have a couple questions about that. Uh, you've served as a nutrition expert for the Ohio State Buckeyes, been featured in Men's Health magazine, and you have some amazing only God stories that we'll dive into today. You're a husband, a father, and most importantly, a lover and a follower of Jesus Christ. Yeah, no, very good. Anything else I witnessed? I didn't have anything about Project Lean Nation in there.

SPEAKER_03 2:31

Uh that's that's it. I own uh a couple orange theory fitness. Um Cardell Jones, Eric Lichter, uh, my very dear friend is uh we own plus two university. Um so that's elite speed training for athletes in the local area, uh, crossing the continent of old. If anyone's old enough to remember what that used to be, the continent, on Bush Boulevard and off of uh 161. So yeah, a handful of things, yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:53

So new it's uh like nutrition, fitness, performance, that seems like it's been a theme throughout your career. How did that start? I mean, can can you just take us through like a bit of the origin story? Like, how did you decide, like, hey, I I love this and I actually want to do it for a career?

SPEAKER_03 3:07

Well, first, I mean, I've always uh I loved athletics as a big part of my life, huge part of my life, and um you know learned so much from it, as you obviously have too, I'm sure. And from the coaches, uh competition, team. So it was just um I was a leader within the teams that I was on uh most often the case. And uh so I kind of first started just not purposely, I mean I mean not trying to make that happen, it just kind of did uh by what uh how you played on the field and how you prepared and what you did. So um I enjoyed that from the very beginning of of uh you know seeking out the the guy that's uh you know, there's always role players on the team and and encouraging them and working with them. So I guess it was always first there, was that see? But then right out of college, I uh or right before I finished college, I was fortunate to have an internship that I was selected during the for the 96 Olympics in Atlanta. So it was 96, the summer of it, and I go down and do um uh just something that was very uncomfortable for me in a place I didn't know. Uh come from a small town, right? So this was nuts, six lanes of traffic and just everyone in the world's there.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:15

So uh, but an unbelievable experience. And through that, um I uh we try to make it as short as possible. But one of the properties we worked with, we would um it was with Champion and Haynes. So we'd set up retail stores for the Olympics and corporate sponsorship, and you would partner with the landowners. Yeah, so uh one of the um uh multiple landowners in many ventures we had was the largest real estate and property management firm in the southeast. And uh the one of the the president of that company took a liking to me. So in short, he then uh after that was done, courted me and offered me a position in uh 23. And you know, you look like this is pretty awesome. Yeah, and it was it was very I was very grateful for it. But six lanes of traffic, the uh comfy suit, company car. And it just didn't take very long for me to not uh or for to realize this really wasn't what I was meant to do. And uh most of my colleagues at that point were 40.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

So the corpor the corporate world, yeah, that was that was not you weren't you weren't built for the uh the office life, no downtown.

SPEAKER_03 5:15

Yeah, that no, not at all. And and and and the the colleagues that I you know they didn't seem very happy with their life.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:22

And uh again, hey, it each their own, but you asked the question about you know coaching and performance and where it was. It was really having that experience, not knowing how the heck any of this would ever come to happen. And you hear a lot of that with me, and I hope that comes through. Um what was it? Uh Dwight D. D. Eisenhower would say, uh, plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. So kind of a kind of I didn't have it figured out at all. I'm going as you know, I'm learning as I go, but I was so thankful and I do know it was uh God's hand completely. At that time, I wasn't even quite sure what it was, but I through that mark really came clear to me what I didn't want to do and where I was, I at least had enough, I don't know, insight, wisdom maybe to to go. If I don't do it, make that change now, leave, uh you know, um zig when other zag kind of stuff, then I would be stuck where my colleagues, friends were uh at 40 and not happy with life. So I remember going into the office of I was there for 15 months, maybe the 14th month, and before I finished in the 15th, I went into Mr. Williams' office and thanked him for the opportunity. Gosh, this guy gave me a it was a really good opportunity. It's super nothing he did. Yeah, and I didn't I didn't rehearse it. I kind of maybe I thought I kind of did, but I didn't really have a full plan. And he goes, What do you what are you talking about? I go, this just isn't for me. And he's what are you gonna do? And I remidly never forget it. I and I didn't rehearse this, I just go on a coach. It came out just out of me. And um, I literally looked over my shoulder as if like there's no one else in the office. Right. Like, who said that? Because uh I I was just like, wow.

SPEAKER_02 6:56

Sometimes your gut instinct though is the right thing. You're like, that's what I'm got, that's what I'm meant to do.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

So from that day, and I'm not saying it was clear and went perfectly that way, I still have roundabout a lot of curves and ups and downs with it for sure. Yeah, but it was at that moment I'm like, that probably was the most honest thing I've ever said, and I gotta figure out how I'm gonna do that.

SPEAKER_02 7:14

I went to the city. It did. Yeah, that's pretty special. So, real quick, the 96 Olympics, that was the pipe bomb, right? Dude, yes. Were you near that?

SPEAKER_03 7:24

I didn't you mark, you're gonna because we we've talked a little bit. We haven't hold on, I come about to get it out. Yeah, I know. What was going on with that? Uh I my my my my mom and my stepdad come to visit me to course, hey, you're gonna do that, and you've got all these cool hookups now. And the yeah, um it was uh uh called Olympic Village.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:43

And I had access to, I remember Tim McGraw and Faith Hill coming in before it was their big coming together. They just, I guess people weren't even sure they were married, if anyone even remembers that, or were we together. I'm sorry, they weren't married. And uh I'm behind the stage. I mean, so really cool access of all these things. And I'm uh have privilege at the Olympic Village because of what I was doing.

SPEAKER_00 8:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:03

And honest to goodness, I haven't told you this, that they were there that day with me, and we literally were standing, we were just walking around like you would in the Olympic Village with the little fountains and through the floor and all the neat things that they had made there. You know, they walk through the security and do all this and that, and going behind the stage, and there's different merchandising things that they could go. And I took them to. We were on our way out. We walk or walking up to what is the subway system called Marta in Atlanta, walking up the hill to which is you know, half a mile, maybe, not even, and the earth shook. And I the ground underneath it. So I went, what the heck was that? That was 10 minutes, maybe max of a walk. We were just right where the bomb went off.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

Oh my gosh. So, okay, okay, all right, let's just put a little tally mark right here, like in the air. Everybody just like keep a mental note. That's tally mark number one of where Brock uh narrowly evades death. Okay, so we're gonna cover a couple more that are a little more specific. That's I didn't realize you go that close.

SPEAKER_03 9:03

No, I guess. And uh we didn't know what happened. We get on the, you know, we then we arrive and then the TVs and everything on my mom's like, we were we just walked by what we were just there. So it was less than 10, it could have been six, seven minutes, but it was less than 10 minutes, we were just right there.

SPEAKER_02 9:17

Man, God's been watching out for you. Yeah. All right, so this this leads to my next question. So um it the reason I want you to tell these stories is because I know that it's emboldened your faith, but also I sometimes I feel like God, He He obviously saves us, He saves our soul for eternity, but there's physical save moments in some of our lives, and for whatever reason, he chooses to do that. Um, but you've had a couple. So I don't know if you can tell this first one like five minutes or less, no pressure.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

No, right.

SPEAKER_02 9:45

Um but I know there was a car accident that statistically, probably 990 times out of a thousand, uh, that person does not make it out alive. Somehow you walk away. Can you just tell us the story?

SPEAKER_03 9:56

And like Yeah, so it's uh a Thursday night. I um uh it's my senior year in high school. You know, uh have college recruiting that has gone on, campus visits, and uh, you know, it's the best time of your life. Yeah I have dinner, a little spaghetti dinner with uh before the homecoming bonfire, depending on you know, this is 1991, so dating myself, but the the point of the little town and everyone comes, and uh it's a pretty pretty big deal for the little town and what we were doing. So um it's a it's a good time. And uh I left the dinner table, get my car, and I said, I'll see you guys in a little bit, because I had to be there before, obviously, with the team. And uh um I'm coming out of a little drive uh and a little call-de-sac thing, and making a left. I see this grain truck, and um I pull out, I have plenty of time. I go about a it's about a half a mile to make a right to towards going to school. I wasn't that far from the school where I lived, and I'm noticing the rearview mirror here's not slowing down, it appears. There's a car that's gonna turn right, uh, sees my turn signal, so it starts to pull out. There's nowhere I can go, so I I go, oh my gosh. And so I accelerate to into the turn, which is a tight right turn. And uh thankfully you know, I did that pretty well, I guess, because um he would just have flat out ran over me completely, but he then slams into me this big uh grain truck and I use the stop sign. I I I can only what I'm told because it's a flash that's just amazing how when you sit back and think this, and I've had a couple of these, unfortunately, and fortunately came through pretty amazingly well. But um it's one of the few times I don't condone it. Of course, we all wear a seatbelt now, but I wasn't, and had I truly I would I would not be here. Uh but it was one of those rare ones, and the the the car went flying. I somehow come out, and I we have no idea how, and then to a big field, and it's uh the car is literally uh 30 yards away from me, that every bit of that. It traveled a good distance, and I remember just coming to and and we're about a mile, my uh maybe a mile and a half from the state highway uh uh um a patrol center. So there they are quick. And I remember looking up, kind of like a concussion hard hit of a my football that I've experienced, and I'm like, man, what the heck? And then I looked uh up and there's uh a trooper on my shoulder going, uh um, hey, can you tell me where the driver is? And I'm like, I'm sorry. He goes, the driver of the car. I go, it it it's me. And he goes, No, you're not are you okay? You're not hearing me. I'm like, so I remember that going, he wanted to bait, and I go, uh sir, it's me. He goes, There's no way that can be. I go, I don't even know what's happened yet. This is I don't even know where the car is, I don't know where I'm even really at. And so uh that started that. Uh and I he finally goes, runs over there and looks around. He goes, I think you you aren't lying. I go, why would I lie? And uh some the truck's there, and the they've arrested the guy, and because it was pretty obvious what happened. And anyway, I get in the back of the trooper car to kind of do my report because I said you can call off the ambulance, I think I'm fine. But I wasn't, and I start getting this abdominal pain anyway. They fast forward it. I ended up being uh having a lacerated spleen and had internal bleeding. Um, and then I'm from Marion, where I uh you know I'm from, they uh have to life flight me in a helicopter, and uh um I being a dad now it gets emotional about it because I think because I'm like, wow, my two boys.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

Yeah, what your parents must have been thinking at the time, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:12

Because I flew to children's.

SPEAKER_02 13:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:15

20 minutes they tell your parents you have your son has to live. And uh if we don't get him the attention he needs, and they have an hour 10-minute drive. An hour if you're going 100, I guess maybe. I don't know. So that had to be unbelievable unbelievably hard on them. And uh um, I I'm I remember pretty much everything about that, and and and I remember getting there and they can't. Um I remember them coming in, uh, the surgeon and saying that uh through the through the films and the extra you know uh images that they couldn't uh find any bleeding, it had stopped. So they're like in transit, he was not gonna make it, and if we don't get this, and then we can't even find the bleeding, it's gone. So from one image 20 minutes to the next at another hospital, they say you have a last resplint. So it's amazing. Yeah. So I I was an ICU. What was the status of the car? Oh, so I mean that's why did they think it was impossible for Yeah? Thank you for asking that. Because about the seatbelt reference, the the whole hood was every both sides were just completely crushed into the floor of the of the car. The hood was on the floor of the car. So what do you and you walked away from this? Yeah, so I got flipped, it it did off a full and many, apparently, and uh, but I don't know at what point. And that's just what's fascinating because I don't remember, I can't, and I can just have another story to say the same thing, the same exact feeling, Mark, that I was just picked up and put down because there's like no way. Because and then go to the state trooper. The guy sees us all the time. He's like, You it's not you, dude. I'm like, Sir, I swear to you, I'm the only one in the call. He's thinking, there's no way whoever's in that seat is sitting here talking to me right now. Yeah, because the thing is completely crushed, and there's no way you were just picked up and set down, and you don't have a broken bone, your neck isn't you know, broken, your bone, you know, nothing. There's a couple scratches from glass, and um, that's it. I don't have a cut, I don't have a break.

SPEAKER_02 15:09

So this story is unbelievable. So let's just pivot into the next story. Can you well can you give us like the like the one two minutes of like how you transition, you know, out of your career? Because this is before high school, this is before college, right? You were in high school at this point. With the car as the car at high school, yes. Yeah. Then I go to the yeah, and I'm just imagining like as a young boy, as a high school, you know, boy, you don't have a lot of context for you know what just took place in your life. You're probably really thankful to be alive, you're probably thankful that that's over. Yeah, um, but like looking back on it now, I'm sure you probably see it in a whole new perspective. Um take us through the next one. Like, how did you get down to the Caribbean and then what was taking place on this plane? Because, okay, that's that was tally mark number two of where Brock should be dead. Um what's this third story?

SPEAKER_03 15:54

Yeah, well, so when I left Mr. Williams' office, I had the plan I had, even though I said coach, the plan I had, there again, back to plans are useless, but plans indispensable, uh plan lightly and prepare thoroughly, kind of thing, was that um I had every bit of intention. The plan was, the script was to go to the Caribbean and the St. Thomas, go as far as you can to get rid of get get away from the concrete jungle. I just was unsettled.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:19

And I do want to say this moment for anyone listening out there and watching that again, I want to encourage you, the the fear of of of the unknown of where you're going, can often be, if you're clear about what you don't want, less fearful than staying where you are. And so that was motivation that all I had and all I knew.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

Your fear was you're looking at these 40-year-old guys thinking, okay, these guys are all looking miserable with life. Uh this isn't what I want. I'm I'm more afraid that I'm gonna go that path. Yes, sir. So I'm just gonna go, I'm gonna go 180 and just see what got completely 180.

SPEAKER_03 16:50

So you're gonna go into territory, you don't know anybody. Yeah, this is nuts. I can't think of the things I put my parents through. If my boys do this, I don't know what I'm gonna lose my mind. Because I'm like, what in the world are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 17:00

You don't want your kids to listen to this show. Do this. None of you are gonna do what I do.

SPEAKER_03 17:04

No, at least and hopefully it's helpful to someone who thinks they're lost and don't know what they're gonna do and they feel they're falling short and just haven't found their way yet. There's a lot of hope. Yeah, because I'm telling you, you go, this is crazy. So I I write a five 55-page business plan. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm seeking venture capitalists, great friends, people that I give you money, believe in you enough, to go. And I my only thing is I'm not going down there to party. I promise. They're like, yeah, right. Okay, whatever. But I'm like, no, I'm not, we're not. I'm gonna make this something. I'm thinking I'm gonna go to the Marriott. We're doing a water sports company. That doesn't go. And we see the air parents of Paris Alien. It is really cool, and it's um truly um uh inflatable flying boat. It is a zodiac rubber dinghy, whatever you want to call it, with an airplane prop, like an A-frame from the Everglades with the 36-foot wingspan, 18, just fixed, 18 feet on each side, and you take on and off from the water, and you're what? And uh my partner was gonna be the pilot. He couldn't pass the test because it's weight sensitive. I'm a bigger guy. I'm like, shoot, so I could just tell you things. You had to be the pilot. I had to become the pilot, and I don't want to become the pilot. So, but we've already invested, use that money. I can't let people down. There's just all this going on. So you're um yeah, and and you're then waiting tables at night, you're flying in the day. We made the in-flight magazine for American Airlines, half a million copies. We were on ESPN because I took the the actual cameraman because it's a big Charlotte Malia hot harbor in St. Thomas, it's quite popular for the wind. So it's not the best place to do what we were doing anyway. Anyway, it's just crazy. And uh so, but they have a huge regatta in the in this uh December uh with the Christmas winds. And uh I uh and planes can't get in and out. So we had a great gig where I took the ESPN cameramen uh into the harbor and they could get shots you could never get before. So there was a lot of successful and cool things, but yeah, pretty crazy and not the plan at all. And I don't know anybody, and and waiting tables, like I said, and doing this. We even had their business license taken from us because you're you're an outsider, you're not local. It's a big deal to them. And what are you doing if you're trying to better yourself? I found Mark, most people go there, as we would expect, I guess, to get away from responsibility, get away from the world and just not build a business, not to build something and get better. Here I am wanting to get better and do something, like, but anyways, the uh so I become a pilot. I'm taking on and off from the water in a sanctuary. We're gonna do another shoot for his cameraman, the CSPN, and it's very weight sensitive, as I mentioned. He's got his camera and his equipment. It's already tough. So when we we have a runway and I'm literally heading towards a, I wouldn't say it's a mountain, but it's a large cliff. You don't want to mess with it. So there's a point of no a point where I've got to make a decision to abort a takeoff because I'm not getting lifts. Am I gonna get above this thing or not? Right. Or, you know, just come bring it back down because we're just it's a pocket of air sometimes. It just you kind of feel it's just keeping you down. So you then yeah, the the um uh kill switches are underneath the seat. There's two of them, you hit them, and now you just come back in the water, and then you gotta just keep that thing pointing straight ahead and you handle it. But the danger of those that plane was only when you're in the water, because the only death associated with it is when it flipped over and you're buckled in and one person drowned. So I didn't wear a seat belt. That's why I say that. Again, this is kind of strange. Yeah, I didn't wear a seatbelt. Um, because if I my fear was I couldn't get the other guy out. It's a two-place ultralight fixed wing. You go up to 2,500 uh feet and you just glide over St. Thomas, St. John, the one of the beautiful water. It was, it's it is beautiful once you're up there. So we're trying to get lift. I can't, I have to go, hey, Dean, we're aboarding, we're aboarding, hold on, because you're just gonna get slapped like a fly into the water 10 feet out. So you'll be fine. But as I get do that, I apparently only hit one of them because it's a quick and you got to hold the handlebar. Now it's an A-frame, Mark. So I want to say this to the people that it is six inches, that that bar, crossbar above your thighs.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

And then a triangle, like you and I couldn't fit through it.

SPEAKER_00 20:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:50

Okay. There are uh you've got to weasel your way in there. Yeah, there's a wing that it are attached to each side of the rubber zodiac. There is no this, there's no jump getting out, there's no going through, there's no going under. I was saying this to paint the picture of uh similar to the car. I have no idea how it happened, but I'm heading towards a rock that's it's low tide. I'm like, shoot. Dean, hold on. We're gonna, I can't this is like a semi-truck. You cannot maneuver this thing, and you have to keep it to the wind. So you're I'm I'm we're gonna hit this rock. And it's gonna be a bump, and let's see what happens. I mean, it's not that it's just protruding out a little bit of the water. And as you're going towards this you know, hill and this, you know, little bit of an island, you're getting shallower and shallower. So you're about uh by the time you get up close to maybe four feet and then three feet, and uh, so we hit, and somehow I get thrown forward. I mean, out of the cockpit, if you will, which it it it's unexplainable.

SPEAKER_02 21:41

Statistically, you're like, what's the physics around this?

SPEAKER_03 21:43

Right, I'd have to snap my leg, it would expend the other way. I would your kneecaps dis displaced, I uh dislocated. Um, so I don't know. So this is another thing I can't tell you. I just end up in front of it, it continues on coming at me. So you're out of the plane at this point. I'm out of the plane in the water, and now at about three. Three feet of water as it's approaching the land. And then a wing, it'll hit because there's no one driving it. It'll hit and then hit the sand bottom and kind of torque. Well, it's coming still over me or at me. And all I hear is, you know, and like, oh man, I wear a helmet, have a life vest, you know, uh communication. Dean's still in that second place all in a seat, and it comes up, and then the the the uh plane just kind of nicely rests on the on the uh so at this point you're thrown from the plane ahead of it, the plane has run over you and you've felt it, yeah, and you've heard a noise. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:35

Um and then you look at the plane's resting there, and you're just standing up in the water.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

Yep. I well I'm I'm on one knee, I come to again again. The very same is very similar. Like I was like, what the heck? Like my bell was rung really bad, right? And I'm like, okay, but then immediately after that feeling, I go, okay, look at the plane, all right. And then I start to feel this burning sensation, tense, salt water, but I don't know. Um what about to tell you? I don't know what has happened. And uh I come, I I stand up in a life vest, as I just share with you, goes kerplunk in the water, just falls right off of me. I then thought, because I look then down, just down, not to my peripheral, and blood. And I'm like, oh my god, that's my arm. I swear I thought that was my arm that just went down, and I'm like, I had to get up, I'll never forget the nerve to go reach over and grab it. Because I didn't want to look because I'm not good with this at all. I'm not let alone what that would be to anybody. But I don't like needles, I don't like blood, I'm not, I'm I'm horrible. My wife, my wife will tell you that. So, but I'm like, okay. Then I look and there's a chunk out of a nice size chunk out of my trap. I'm like, oh geez, that that's that sucks. But okay, all right. Okay, hey Dean. And I make my way, walk up to him. He's just then there. You okay? He goes, Yeah, all good. Because it's not even just sitting upright and nothing. The plane looks not even really but you know, um, damaged. And I go, okay, cool. Can you tell me what is what's wrong with me? I turn to him, my back, and I no exaggeration. I've never seen a person turn this white pale. And Dean did not speak a word, and he didn't speak for almost 36 hours because he called me a day and a half later to apologize that he he froze because of the grotesque image. You're back. He just saw which which I'm like, uh uh, you can't answer me. Uh so I'm just starting to burn more and more. My dad, who came down six months after we established to be my mechanic and all this other stuff, but he was at the takeoff point where you have to hold the boat. He takes a while to come. He's 30 yards at least away on the side that and he goes, Everyone okay? And I go, Yeah, I think so. I mean, Dean's good, plan to look bad. But dad, what about me? Turner him, 30 yards away. He he goes, Oh my God, is what he yells. Yells and runs away, Mark. So I got Dean that didn't tell me anything. My dad who just yells that and runs away, and I'm left going, this has got to be bad. What's wrong? But I felt my arm, it's there. I saw a chunk that he can't see that. So I have no idea what's going on. And everyone's leaving me and no one's telling me. So it's crazy. So fast forward to it, it ended up being um the airplane propeller went through my back, 120 stitches. I laid on a gurney for three hours in uh not so great a care in St. Thomas Hospital. And the thing that would save me was the salt water that stopped the bleeding, or else I would have died. And the airplane propeller just it was 11 inches, just over 11 inches long, laceration, four inches wide and four and a half inches deep. It stopped right before it came out my chest. And again, not a broken bone, didn't hit the artery, no nerve. I can throw a football. I could, and it's just an ugly because they didn't patch me up very well. Um, and no one could believe it that I came back. You got a nice little scar back there. Oh, yeah. So it's a nice, ugly, it's not attractive, but it's it's a cool story now. But I came back home because no one would believe that. And parents like, you gotta come back. There's no way, there's gotta be something more, and they sewed you up, maybe left an instrument in it or something, and uh um to seek just to get a good opinion. And they're like, You're fine. They're like, we can't even believe this. It took a while to heal, of course, a little bit, but it was amazing. And and I just I was pulled out of there, and I I don't understand. And then here's something else to the the the month of the day that I returned from seeking that extra medical attention just to confirm it. We were hit with a hurricane, a category three in St. Thomas that took out the other plane. So there's a lot to that, but this season is like the Lord was telling me, you're you came to do what I needed you to do, to learn what you needed to learn. And you know, there's another advantage of you know how you frame your failures, what might be.

SPEAKER_00 26:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:37

It was the single most pivotal and most important probably point in my life uh of my life to make me help me frame who I'm going to become in the direction I was gonna go. Because life is too short not to be happy and too long not to do it right. And you've got to go and be honest with yourself where you're gonna go, even though it doesn't make sense to many other people, because there's a plan there for you to find who you're supposed to become and where you to do. And in that time, coming back for that just to check and see, because I couldn't believe it, is when I have my very first date and meet my now wife. I hadn't been back to the States in 14 months. So all that like this, and it's just an intersection of a moment that we would never have met because we didn't know it. It's it's even another story.

SPEAKER_02 27:15

And she so what's crazy to me though is um so most people, I'm sure, probably don't know all this backstory. Yeah, I don't tell you. They know you as the business guy, the fitness guy, or just however they've you know come to meet your acquaintance. There's so many people that have very interesting backstories, and that's w how they ended up in life doing the things they do, or having the courage to step out in faith the way that they do. What how old were you when all of this went down? I was 23. Okay, so by the time you're 23, you've already uh been through a car accident with an unexplained survival, whether it was from the accident itself or the spleen. Um you've gone and you've worked, you know, at Olympic Village, you've decided that you didn't want to go the corporate route, which is probably the safe, easy, normal route. You've gone to the Caribbean, learned how to be a pilot, almost gotten killed with being thrown from a plane. So just to set the stage for like who is Brock Meadows? And like what do you think that that taught you most? Because just listing it off now, you couldn't have been afraid to go take on anything else. I I feel like whatever was next for you probably didn't seem like, okay, well, I should A, I shouldn't be here. B, I've already conquered all these other things and decided what I'm not gonna do. Is that what led you into going and starting a business? Like, how did you decide to be an entrepreneur?

SPEAKER_03 28:33

Yeah, I know it did. Um, back to the coaching comment out of my mouth where it wasn't planned because now you know where I was thought I was going and what I was doing to that. Um that definitely set the table because I had clarity of coming back now to seek my um CSCS, uh certified strength conditioning specialist. You have to have a four-year degree to have done that, and um started my strength conditioning um efforts and all rooted in what has been my mission almost from that point forward is a personal mission statement is to help people overcome excuses, break through obstacles, and win more often. But I just couldn't shake that because of that. Look how far what what I've been brought through and can't help but then feel because of that that you have something, you know, a definite assignment for me.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 29:20

And up, and and then I'm was always very much, I mean, I just purpose-driven, but not knowing what that really meant. Um with anything I would do, I'm gonna do it, like Colossians 3.23, but I didn't know Colossians 3.23 at that point. But you're like, whatever you do, do it for the Lord, not for man, and uh and no matter what it is. And uh um I well let me ask you that question real quick.

SPEAKER_02 29:41

Where was your faith through all this? Yeah, so when you were a young man, like were yeah, were you a believer at that point?

SPEAKER_03 29:47

I was I would say that I just had an awareness to it because of my grandmother, my dad's mom, five foot nothing, Beatrice, who made me even go. And she she watched me a lot because my mom um again, everyone has their stuff and scars. And then that that I says something important to say too. I think so many people um and understand, but if you can their past gives too much, they give too much credit uh and value of of the influence their past has on their present and where it's gonna take them in the future.

SPEAKER_00 30:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:18

And uh I I I thankfully had a different frame that uh my dad didn't really showed me a lot of things not not to do, um, and and wasn't around. Uh so uh I just say that to say that I'm thankful for that. Um and um our actions and and what we see and who uh we are lucky and fortunate or whatever to be around. My grandmother was that light of unrelent unrelenting, steadfast faith. My grandfather wasn't, but she was loyal to him. That lady, strongest woman I've ever ever personed, I've ever probably ever seen in my life. Um, she maybe even pick out my own switches when I would do something wrong, right? It's a switch he'd pick it up from the tree, and she's five foot nothing, and I became a pretty good-sized kid. But it just makes me think of how she's you know, that just her and then the church. Tough grandma for the best. Yeah, tough grandma. And but the loving and just didn't have a lot. So I've always she influenced me quite a bit. And then her two daughters, my my dad's sisters, the two boys went one direction, let's just call it, and the two girls went with grandma kind of direction. And they were they were uh more of an influence than they probably ever will know. So I knew of that. I have always felt a presence. I hardly explain it. I don't want to be too weird about it, but it's just always kind of like, okay, yeah. And then my mom and so we attended church on we're Sunday kind of people, uh, and irregular at that. Um when I went to St. Thomas, it's important, and thanks for asking it. When you get removed from the noise, I I made the comment of leaving the concrete jungle.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:46

Six lanes of traffic. My day was being um determined to spend time with people, nothing wrong with them. I don't not judge, I just they weren't my people or what where I wanted to go. They weren't heading the same path, I guess, direction I wanted to go. And um I was at a you know a uh happy hour or a golf course or somewhere else you don't want to be, need to be, should be, and uh entertaining people you don't really want to entertain. So going to St. Thomas and being removed from the noise, I think one of the biggest things, and all of us have this trouble, and it's only getting harder, is how to separate the signal from the noise. Yeah. And what I said to you is the best time of my life was the hardest and worst and scariest. Everything about it was just silly stupid. Um, but it was so valuable is that I'm literally staying in a little apartment. It wasn't an apartment, it was a kind of a um equipment uh storage that the guy that owns the marina let me move out some stuff and make a makeshift rest bathroom with no door, a little kitchenette thing. And my mom sends me an air mattress that uh um that on plywood floor very quickly, um got a hole in it. So every three hours, Mark, I'm waking up with this flat mattress.

SPEAKER_01 32:59

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

I have an alarm clock radio that I packed in my, and I and I I can't remember if I was intentional. I'm sure I at least thought of it to do so. I hope I did, but I put the paperback Bible. I've got nobody, I know nobody. I am making my way of trying to figure this out, motivated by where I knew I just didn't ever want to be. I don't know where this is gonna be. And with no TV, no, no normal things of noise. If you think about that, how many people can just even sit in quiet? No radio, no TV, no phone, no, no, no, now day, can't be scrolling, can't look at anything. Can you just sit and then be with the Lord?

SPEAKER_02 33:32

Pretty uncommon.

SPEAKER_03 33:33

It is. It's I would encourage someone to test yourself out, see how long you can make it. I bet you don't make it three, four minutes. Most people before they start. Oh, wait a second, I'm getting nudged to reach. You start fidgeting for stuff.

SPEAKER_02 33:42

It's like, yeah, what can I do? So 100%.

SPEAKER_03 33:44

So in that moment, um, is is the is the season where I then would say that I then made the personal decision and really came to Christ, November of 97, around that period of time, and mind you, in steps uh on my own. So that's where I say it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me because I got away from the privilege of, you know, an athlete and playing college and you know, just the stuff that we're so comfortable with.

SPEAKER_00 34:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:07

And uh, you know, to dating, I mean, I didn't even have a date the entire time I was there because I couldn't find anybody that wasn't around weed or just drinking themselves silly.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:15

And I'm like, I got people's money invested in me. I'm not messing around. So I was a little straight and narrow guy, at least to that degree. And then I was like, I can't fail this.

SPEAKER_02 34:23

Well, that doesn't surprise me because uh to be in fitness and nutrition, you gotta be pretty disciplined uh with with what you're willing to do or not do. Yeah, I guess so in order to you know excel in that area for sure. Yeah, all right. I gotta one before we pivot into like what you're doing now. Do you believe in guardian angels? Because I don't know how you can't.

SPEAKER_03 34:39

Yeah, I don't, right. No, I I don't want to sound like because everyone I think has yes, I believe we all do. I really do. And uh um through the experiences I just shared and other things that I have felt and seen in my life, and I don't want to just a sensitivity to the uh Holy Spirit uh with the decisions I have made continually and even recently, that um that's why I'm on fire for anything I do. It's it's uh I'm not the smartest guy, I'm not brilliant by any means, and I but I I I'm gonna keep hand of the plow and uh try to be um obedient to what he's telling me. And if anyone can hear that, the stuff I'm doing and have done, it is all kind of off the wall. How many people have told me, Meadows, you're an idiot? Like, what are you doing? This and it doesn't make sense that it would work in many cases, it really wouldn't. Um, and and it is, which I hope even gives more credence to the fact that you can you can't deny what you're even asking me that it's him. Yeah, it's God. It's his his hand, his plan, because I there's no way you can make this up.

SPEAKER_02 35:36

What's been so coaching? So you did a lot of that. Yeah, so you know, running, you know, I don't know. I don't know what you what you call them, but like you know, gyms and then nutrition companies. I mean, you're there to help better people's lives, you know, and increase you know their performance and what their ability to do. We were talking before the show started about the body. Um how do you take that mindset now? Because the body is a it's a very physical thing, obviously. I mean, it's the thing that we're living in everywhere on earth, but we're also in a we're spirit, you know, we are we have a soul, you know. It there's more to us than that. So how do you bring into like your faith into working in such a physical realm where people's I don't know if it's vanity, what it is, like people want to look good, they want to feel good, they want to be able to do certain things, but obviously there's more to us than just the physical. How do you kind of bridge the gaps or even?

SPEAKER_03 36:23

But I don't think it's that hard. I it's just I don't know. I've always seen it that uh do all you can with all you've been given. And then you know, everyone has their talents and skills, and uh, we all have been given our human body, uh, and again, that it's a temple and a gift. And um, while it's only here for a little bit, we are a physical world, you cannot change it. People are gonna base things on what they see. Yeah, so knowing where you're at right now, knowing how people respond, um, let's face it, if someone's takes care of themselves, there's immediate, at least, um, you know, awareness to it. You get the benefit of the doubt. Yeah, you do. You just do. Um, so yeah, I'm not saying you're doing it for that, but it's the point that it does reflect it most likely accurately that that's someone who's disciplined. They're um they do have um care about their body and uh have a high priority for you know looking good, uh performing to their best ability. Again, back to my personal mission. So whether it's and I always loved when you say that, and I said, I don't know, I'm again I'm not a saint by any means, but if I always hated if anyone like you've been on teams, that you have the manager that maybe just not an athlete but loves a sport, uh, someone who we maybe have a learning disability. Yeah, I would I would lose my mind and anyone would pick on anybody, yeah, and I would I would beat the I would we just don't do that.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

We were the same in that movie.

SPEAKER_03 37:40

Okay, I just cannot stand it. But I ever see a movie and you're like how the guys make fun of it. I'm like, you ever see radio, that movie? Yeah, you just I guess it's hard for me to watch.

SPEAKER_02 37:50

Well it's like, hey, um, if you were gifted with a physical ability and physical talent, you you don't use that to go take it out on somebody who was gifted in different ways, yeah. Um, but specifically ungifted in that way. But yeah, that always that always really ticked me off, too.

SPEAKER_03 38:02

Yeah. So I use that and use that as like, hey, you're talented and gifted, then let's do this to his glory and the best you possibly can. I think of a young man who I've I've had such a great uh I mean opportunity to work with people. And again, the things I said no to that seem to be where the world would tell you to go, and here's and I I zag when they zag an unconventional, and then you're able to impact someone's life and be a small part of it. Like this young man, he just won the Grey Cup for in a can't Canadian uh football league. Trevor Harris. Got to be a strength coach in high school in Little Marion, Ohio. And this guy's work, he's he's he's incredible. Uh um, definitely look him up. He's uh Edmonton uh Eskimos, uh just a champion through and through, about to turn 40, still playing in the league, set records. But again, the small guy, he plays at Edinburgh OPA, three-time All-American, and I get him ready because of my relationship, praise the Lord, with Coach Tressle. I get him an opportunity because he's got his agent and everything else. But little D2, he's not gonna get the opportunity on a big platform of an NFL Combine Day, the big pro days.

SPEAKER_00 39:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:06

Well, because I helped uh, you know, coach and he we had a relationship. I uh and of course Trevor had to be that good, but they would they didn't know him until we connect the dots. They granted him that opportunity. Uh it was 2010, Tim Tebow. Everyone knows that name.

SPEAKER_00 39:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:23

Strong in his physique. Strong. And uh the number of reps he did, Trevor out-repped him by one rep. He was the strongest and quickest quarterback in the 2000 NFL draft and took him from 199 to 219 in seven weeks, shredded his body with the nutrition, and uh put 20 pounds of muscle on in an unprecedented time as a just like, how did you guys that's what I'm talking about that gets me? So you can take the elite, I just have as much excitement and purpose and fun with that as I do then taking somebody who may not even make the team and giving that kid self-confidence, yeah, uh, to not let anyone tell him he's less than.

SPEAKER_02 39:59

Yeah. No, that's really good. I mean, because that's I feel like the the confidence is the right word. Because when you walk around, when you're performing at your peak, whatever that is, even if it's not, you know, to the to the degree of like you know, number one guy at the combine, when you're performing at your best, there's there's a certain just level of like pride that goes with knowing that I'm giving it everything I've got, I've stayed disciplined, I've done the work, and whatever I go leave on the field or whatever I go leave at the at the gym, like that was my best. There's something to be said for that. A lot. And giving people opportunities to do that, you know, it matters. It it spills over in other parts of life. I feel like fitness and nutrition, yeah, while isolated and you could look at it in just like that own little world, it spills over in everything else that we do. It does.

SPEAKER_03 40:40

You said physical, it is, but it's spiritual. Yeah. Uh, because I don't know. Again, think about all the things that we just followed the good word uh that we're to do and take care of it. I don't know how much more time we have for anything else. But if we did that, boy, a lot of good things, a lot of the right things are getting done.

SPEAKER_00 40:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:55

So yeah, what you feed your um how you feed and fuel the machine dictates how you're going to you know wake up in the morning, the mood you're gonna have, the uh eagerness or uh attitude or optimism to go and do things that would challenge you is gonna be dictated by what how you feel in the 100% and in the physical body of which to do it, uh, to feel that you can have the strength, have the confidence, and and having something to be said about uh pushing through the hard. Yeah, I mean, working out is against the resistance, yeah, it's against heavy weight. And how am I gonna get better? It's progressive overload of I can't stay in the same weight doing the same thing. So it's I think that's where I just it mold to me that goes. That's me. That's that I just makes sense to me. And that's every leadership discipline, in my opinion. It it it correlates and crosses over, and it speaks to anybody and where our world is at and where our our our health issues are. I just would like to try to do as best I can to introduce more people to believing that they can do better, and there is a level of speaking of the world and its health, the number one way I could think of to help it would be to start a chocolate company.

SPEAKER_02 41:55

Yes. So give it an 'cause the the things you're doing next. So when we met and you brought the verse from Dolce Sweets as your company, and it's got the Bible verse right there. I know your it's goodness meant to be shared is your guys' like tagline. Um can you just take us through that? How in the world does a guy who's obsessed with fitness and nutrition start a chocolate company? And then, but more importantly, what are you guys using it for? Like what's the what's the point? What's the soul of this company?

SPEAKER_03 42:19

Yeah, so it is again, it's another I'm glad everything we've said up to this point, this goes along with it. It's um out in left field. It makes no sense to the logical mind. Um, my good friend uh and business partner, Mike McFarn, and I had done business uh together um for maybe a decade even up to this point. And it was uh just after, you know, while at the end of you know, COVID and stuff going on. So a lot of craziness that really affected my gyms, and I and I was quite honestly angry uh and frustrated, as he was. So we were always looking, well, what else were we gonna do together? And we thought maybe real estate and the basic thing. One day he says, uh, as we're talking on the phone, I'll never forget it, uh, Mark, because my wife, Nicole, is in the sun room, and I'm on the phone, like pacing like I always do. And and uh he says, Chocolate. And I'm like, wait a second. What? Just let me stop you there. He goes, What? I go, you just chocolate. That's it. He goes, that's what? And uh Mike and I, just to be clear, have never anything to do with chocolate. Uh, Mike is the most creative and uh talented man that I've ever met. They do good with his hands, can build anything, can make anything. And he said, Done some baking and he does homemade ice cream. I'm yeah, so I say that to not take anything away from what we're doing now because I'm telling you, it's it's amazing what the him and Stephanie Brockway, our our key uh staff member, and then uh the team is doing to make great chocolate. But as you said, when I said chocolate, that's it. And he goes, What do you mean that's it? I chocolate, because of other things I'd done in the past, and like fitness, it's a uh it's it's something that most people are interested in at some level. They wish they could do more of it or want to start in some direction. So my point was kind of like I my correlation of my mind anyway, where the Holy Spirit was talking to me was chocolate. Most people like it. Yeah, it's an easy thing to introduce. Um and people are open to receiving it.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:04

And so where we I immediately went, I said, dude, the chocolate is the surface level entry point, non-invasive. How we package it and the purpose behind it is the mission that we want to deliver. And while you can get chocolate anywhere from endless places, most people or most places don't put their faith stamp and forward centered on it. So the very first box that we designed, it's it was all the initial thought, and again, plans, and it always changes, and God has bigger ones than we do. And it's evolving, adapting. It's what entrepreneurs do. But this is still a staple because it was the center point that it was I wanted a gift recipient as a leader, uh, as a friend, as a husband. You know, people, you none of us got where we are without a great deal of people helping us that love us, that have cared for us, that you know, have had the tough conversations with us. So there's ways you want to you want to say thank you. And let's be honest, I mean, I wasn't very good at it. And a lot of people are, you know, they bring stress and it slows you down. And then I always had this picture, then it came to me like even at Christmas when everyone was expecting it. You you get in a room in your boardroom, you're like, okay, what are we gonna send? And oh my gosh, it's now December 1st. We're late.

SPEAKER_02 45:10

This this is every boardroom I've ever been in. Like, what do we get for the guys for Christmas? What do we get for the team? What do we get for the leaders? What do we get for the, yeah, what do you send to your clients?

SPEAKER_03 45:17

Like, and could we stop sending calendars? Yeah, you know, so anyway, so it's just like let's design that. And then so James 117 was immediately on our mind. This stuff came so quick, it only could be from God. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. There you go. It comes from God. So we that was it. I'm like, that's the gift. And then I'm standing, I'm sitting there, or I just dropped my son off at a basketball uh thing, and it's snow starting to come down. And I'm kind of the marketing guy a little bit, as we at least the roles that Mike and I play, he makes the chocolate. You wouldn't want me to do that. But um, I'll do the branding and messaging. And it just came so Brock's been eating nothing but protein bars for his whole life. Let's let him make the chocolate. Yeah, right. Uh but it was uh I go, goodness created to be shared. That's the slogan. Because it's Dolce Sweets, which Mike named, which means sweet and beautiful in uh Latin. Yeah. And he's like, my goodness created to be shared, capital G, capital C, and then James 117 is the underpinning of it. And then the box, when you open it as a gift recipient, the very first in big bold and the lip is you are worthy. So while the chocolate is the vessel, yeah, make no mistake, yes. Um tastes good. Yeah, it does good connection and community is the purpose and the mission behind it. And the way it is packaged, it's extraordinary chocolate, right? Like you said, but purposeful message with uh intentional packaging that will always deliver whether the person knows Jesus Christ or not, is it or it's a reminder, there's something to it, and that's everything we're we have done with anything we do. We immediately I immediately came up with our four core values. It's God, family, country, community. I write a weekly message that that uh highlights one of those four for the last almost four years.

SPEAKER_02 46:52

And I know you understand that that's not easy. No, the longevity and uh in any kind of thing that you're gonna put your mind to like that is like if I'm gonna stick with something, if I'm gonna start it, it's gonna have to be worth be sticking to. Yes. Four years is a long time to stick to something.

SPEAKER_03 47:05

It is, and then it but to see its critical mass is starting to happen because I have we have, I mean, it's it's it's just a hard. It's from scratch long. So it is complete um yeah uh you know, obedience to say, Lord, okay, we're gonna do this. It's costing us money, right? And now we're heading into uh we we purchased a hundred-year-old building that used to be the head, the world headquarters for a latex balloon company. It's now going to be a Willy Wonka style, experiential, fantastical, whimsical uh chocolate factory, where again, to the moment our whole mission and hopefully it comes to fruition, probably in phases, but God knows, only he knows that from the moment walking in from the parking lot, you're gonna know there's something special. Yes, chocolate's fun, joyful, brings a smile. But we have when this pack is the way we are doing it, and and and everything about it. Well, we even say we're not your typical ordinary everyday chocolate company, uh, to the slogans we just talked about. It's uh people are responding really well, and it's a lot of fun. And then you just said something very important. Whatever I've chosen to do without even knowing sometimes what it was, but I've definitely been intentional with saying yes when it's a sacred mission. Yeah, I I think the world needs to understand, I think the best of us need to know it because the world's tough, it's um a lot of monotony. Um we're uh told to do it based on emotion and it's feeling good, and it's in the moment. Um that we the world doesn't need more numb men or people, it means more awake on fire. 100%. So don't lose the awe in every smoke.

SPEAKER_02 48:31

Because I what I think is not it, it's ironic and it's kind of funny that God used somebody that's been in nutrition and fitness their whole life to and now this chocolate company is where like his mission is being carried forward through you. It's just kind of funny how sometimes he he uses things that you wouldn't expect to go advance his cause. I just think it's so cool. But whether it's making chocolate, which sounds like just like a simple everyday thing, um I mean doing mortgages, doing real estate, uh having a law firm, uh we have guys that run fitness companies that are part of our foundation, people that are in nanotechnology, it's all over the place, right? Yeah, every spoke, the motive and the mission behind the work that you do, because we we live in a physical world, we live here in reality, and there's work that needs to be done, and there's things that need to be you know done in order to make everything go around. But the reason why you do it, and then the message that you carry through your work, that's what's really important because people can reach for Jesus all over the place, as simple as opening up a box of chocolate. I mean, it's I mean, it's pretty cool. I mean, I think it's cool. No, thank you. You might think it's everyday ordinary stuff, but like I this is the kind of stuff that fires me up.

SPEAKER_03 49:38

No, that's why we say we're it's on the back of our shirts and then and some of our products, not your uh typical ordinary everyday chocolate company.

SPEAKER_00 49:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 49:44

And that's what you mean. In a good way, not your typical ordinary everyday in a good way, chocolate company. Uh, because yeah, there's the uh the greater mission here. And uh yes, it's small batch, it's it's fresh, it's it's unbelievably good tasting, but the gifting part is where we're really I I feel that it's it the Lord wants to take it because we have companies that are starting to do it and catch on with us. What's the other the other side?

SPEAKER_02 50:04

So you're you're starting up the new nutrition company.

SPEAKER_03 50:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 50:07

What's it called again? Project Lean Nation. Okay. So those people probably wouldn't be interested in buying chocolate. What so take us through what that is and how you plan to use that.

SPEAKER_03 50:16

Well, you know what? That's you just said it. I mean, um, and I want to uh you know commend you that I'm sure you get it asked all the time. How do you have so much in the tank? How are you always energized? It's for the the purpose, the mission of it. If it was just Well, you are every time I every time I meet you, you are too. We are too. But I but it seems I'm just saying that we were trying to do our part, and and and I appreciate you so much for doing it that letting um you know the younger you know entrepreneurs know that that's actually what you can do and and and and uh probably should do. Yeah, and your life's gonna be more fulfilling and and and uh you're uh going to see amazing things come from it. So um, you know, rather than getting caught up in the spreadsheets and the ROIs and this and that of the traditional um you know KPIs and all this, that, that uh that gives me the juice, that gives us the life, that gives us the the you know the on fire for it. So the nutrition of Project Lean Nation, this is so unique um uh in how it's being done that it it drew me in as well. One, I've had the biggest impact in my life, even more than to fitness with nutrition, because everybody has to eat.

SPEAKER_00 51:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:19

And others get intimidated with the fitness side, and we know this there's a smaller percentage of the population that'll even care about doing or care about fitness, and there's even a smaller percentage of those that will stick with it to care enough about it to keep doing it like it needs to be done. So you're on again, off again, roller coaster. Fitness is hard. I mean, to do it as a business and to really, because it's just you're dealing with people and and and then you know the the the lack of commitment sometimes and getting off the rails and all the stuff that happens. But you know what? You're gonna have to eat. And the good news is that 80% of the results, truly, it's a statistic thrown out, but it really is every bit of that uh is comes from what you eat. You know, if you don't want to work out to a high intense level, you just walk your dog. Wonderful. Do something to move the body, but make sure you're starting to make better choices with what you how you you know feed and fuel your body. Yeah, if you do that, you're gonna see amazing things. And then I know once you start to feel better about it, then that confidence comes, starts creeping in. If you have someone in your corner, you gotta go. Now I'm gonna go. I think we have it backwards, and I'm saying that so I know enough of that. It's like even every single person I've been uh been um in a high level of leaders, um, because people ask me again, it's it's I have not here without the amazing relationships, the network. Well, I rock, how do you know this guy? How do you know that guy? I helped him feel better. Yeah, they're like, what? So I say this to have fun. When I say this to people, I go, who do you think the most important coach is on any, you know, take a big college of football program? Everyone will say the head coach. They just think. I'm like, I not bad guess, but it's actually the strength coach. And I'm saying that because the strength coach is the guy that's in the field with them at 5 30 in the morning. He's sees him every day. He's the hard, he's in the hard, he's with the hard, he's getting them pushed past the hard. Yeah, so you're in the trenches. So nutrition, it was this project lineation, it's designed to service, it's not transactional, it's totally relational. It is built um to service a 15-mile drive radius. And um, it comes with it's a complete nutrition operating system, meaning there's far more than beyond the meals. The meals are fantastic. It is the easy button, it takes out the guesswork, there's no stress, there's no uh prep. It's um uh macro balanced, chef prepared, dietitian-approved meals. And that industry is just getting, you know, everyone's flooded, it's growing like crazy. But what makes it different is the human part here with an actual coach who cares, knows, and can help you in any way that you want to whatever level you want. That doesn't cost anything more to do it. So, in this 1500 foot uh um footprint, there's a community table, Mark. So it truly is called that. So it's for that purpose to have a conversation. So just like the chocolate, where it's easy entry point, nutrition is an easy entry point. I've been doing this for 27 years. That when you start talking about nutrition, what have you been doing? What's worked for you? What was the hard, hard thing for you? What did you like? What did you not like? What is your day like? What's the stress level? You know, that a lot more depth comes from that. And you learn even more than maybe I want to know sometimes. Yeah from them, it becomes very personal. And I guess that's where God's created me. It's it's where I thrive and uh apparently have some gift to people to say, Hey, I think this guy cares about me.

SPEAKER_02 54:10

And you look at me in the eye and we're like, hey, I can help you get where you want to go. Let's make a plan. That's a lot better than like uh I kind of don't know like Weight Watchers or something, like counting your points on an app or something like that. It's just less personal, it doesn't feel the same.

SPEAKER_03 54:22

Or the meal is dropped on your your your doorstep. 100%. Right. So yeah, so anyway, it's not easy. It's it's not gonna be uh yeah, blow up and it's uh and again, I'm not even doing it for uh I mean you always hope the business covers itself and makes something, but it this is really truly about uh you know serving our community, number one, and helping people stop uh accepting less than, yeah, and giving them like a way to be consistent because it's just real food that fits real life that comes with people that can help you get where you want to go. And uh it it just it it really works. And the other part is uh this company is faith-based because on the label of every meal is Hebrews 12.11. Yeah. So that itself, when you bring the meal to them, you show them an example, they're gonna say, What, you know, well, I'll learn and see. Are they a person of faith? Do they want to know more? They even or or don't even know anything about it. What's Hebrews 1211? It's uh um uh every uh uh no discipline is pleasing at the time, um but painful. Uh however, in due time, uh it it reaps a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are trained by it.

SPEAKER_02 55:25

See, that's what's so cool, is watching you talk about these two businesses. It's it's clear that like obviously it's hard work. It's hard work being an entrepreneur and doing anything, but this is like energy giving to you, like it's energy sustaining because it's work you really care about, it's people's lives you're impacting, and then ultimately it's you know God that you're honoring through it. And I mean that's that's priceless. It is you're I feel like there's there can be energy draining work if you don't have those kind of motivations and mission behind you. But yours are eternal. I mean, obviously you're you're you're in the physical space and you're here right now, you're providing a service to your clients and a good through you know, obviously the food that you serve. Yep. But it's totally different. Your mission is is totally different. No, uh, what would you say to like the entrepreneur who maybe is wants to do that but is on the fence, like maybe is like nervous or afraid to do that uh where they're looking at their line of work, whatever product or service that they offer, and like, hey, how could I develop a mission that would do something like this? And they're hearing you talk, and they're like, Oh, that sounds pretty simple, I can do it, but then all of a sudden there's that fear, there's that doubt that creeps in. What would you say to that person?

SPEAKER_03 56:33

First thing is I I kind of like what I share with my story, know who you are, who's you are, um before the what, get the with the get the who kind of thing done. Uh what do I want to be? You know, who do I want to be? How do I uh want to be um known?

SPEAKER_00 56:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:46

Um I always think of that. What is that? Um Maya, I think it's credit for it, whoever says it, uh Maya Angible or something. Oh my Angelou, yeah. Angelou, that's it. About like people are not gonna remember what you said. They probably won't remember what you did, but they're gonna remember how you made them feel. Yeah. Um, so I I just uh you know, how do you want to be, you know, what what impact do you want to make? Again, life is too short not to be happy and too long not to do it right. And I also think this, I thought this is a keeper for me. And then one of the my second and one that I use a lot in that question is do not I do not be uh don't be uh little your faith to start, or don't let the fear of the finish be little your faith to start. That's what I would say.

SPEAKER_00 57:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 57:26

So um again, having a courage, a confidence, an obedience, a trust. Uh I don't know the answers. And and like I said, you you you prepare thoroughly, but plan lightly. I um, you know, stay close as you can and hold on um um to him. Uh like I would say with Dolce, it's so far out left field. I really say I'm not even in the car, we're in the trunk. Um, and uh I'm not sure how it's all gonna happen. But now being a dad too, Mark, it just I thought it was an intense dude. But I would say if a young entrepreneur, if you don't have a family yet, or you're just starting, um, or you're going to have a family, you want that, to start thinking now about what you want that to look like. Um because so many people, I think the world tells us what we're where we're supposed to go and we're supposed to pursue. And this is what everyone has to decide for themselves. What do you want it to look like? Um, I don't want to, it's yes, I there's a lot of things going on in my life, and there's a handful of businesses, and you might be thinking, well, how do you do all that? Again, uh the purpose-driven work, number one, two, great partners that are aligned and have the same shared, you know, uh, don't lose the on fire. Um, okay, so there's that always that's gonna, yeah, because it's hard work, it's gonna be long hours. I don't know whether this four-hour uh workday works at all for anybody. I've never seen that. You know, I don't see that, you know, and so uh, and I just I want my boys, uh, you know, I I I want to be the best model I possibly can. I'm sure they've greatly flawed and make a lot of mistakes, but I just want them to see that you don't compromise uh what you feel you're called to do, the assignment you've been given, the gifts and skills and talents you have, and align that with the values that you believe, again, those are your top priorities, those are the non-negotiables. I don't think people even have that down. I don't think they take the quiet time to figure out what are those three, four, five, whatever it is, then they don't do the guardrails that are the ways to protect it.

SPEAKER_00 59:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:12

Um, and then you know, then you can go into the environment. You you're building the room you're living in, and while a strong man can, you know, start to, you know, can for a little while resist it, it's eventually gonna win over that room and gonna shape you. So be careful where you're at and where you're headed.

SPEAKER_00 59:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:25

So I I just being again confident, not even having the answers of what it's gonna look like, but knowing that I know enough that I don't want to be here, I don't want to do it this way. So it's only the carrot and the stick kind of thing. I'm like, I don't know what the carrot, but I don't want I don't want to be here. I don't want to be doing this. I don't want to look back and and have these regrets that I didn't uh you know, uh empty the tank when my time is over.

SPEAKER_02 59:45

That's the answer right there. I feel like it's for the many who are out there who want to pursue something more, but the fear is just you started your story with it. You were too afraid to stay where you were at. It's looking at the situation that you're in, wanting to do something that's maybe more purpose-driven, maybe wanted to do something that's that's God honoring, but being a little bit too scared. Man, when you get to the end of your life, you're gonna look back and probably regret that moment. And you're gonna wish you would have stepped out and done something that was more significant. So the fear of just staying there, I would have more fear of the regret of my future looking back, thinking I are now I'm out of time and I didn't go for it, versus the fear of like stepping out and what may be potential. You're living proof right here that it's it's gonna be okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:28

Yeah, it's gonna be, and you know what, and that goes, man, it's so again I said it earlier, my dad taught me a lot of not what to do. Unbelievable talented man.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:36

And I just think, wow, what man, did you miss a lot? I think, dad.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:42

Um, so thank you for making that the case. And then applying that to because I mark when I I know we'll wrap up, but it's just the to your wife, your spouse.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:51

Um, it's a uh we didn't even get it.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:53

We're gonna have to do a segment number two. Yeah, because that's amazing. You've got so many different avenues. We didn't hit on your time at OSU at all. There's a story. Uh we didn't hit on your marriage, which had always been a very good one. Uh you love you love your wife, but like yeah, the whole way you met, you touched on it. There's a story there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:10

Um, how old are your kids now? 17. Kenley just turned 17 and Brexton's 13.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:14

Either that I'm gonna follow in your footsteps?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:15

Yeah, you know, so the Project Lean Nation, adults you, we make the chocolate in Ashland. That's where the store is. So I live in central Ohio, so I honestly won't be there all the time. Yeah, but Project Lean Nation, our first store, is gonna be uh uh in Powell, in Powell, Dublin, so eight minutes, ten minutes from our home. And that was the motivation. My wife wanted, it was her decision. Do you want to do this? So this one was another thing, and um she wanted to, and that's a great I thought as a compliment to be like if she wants to work with me. Yeah, um, but then Camden showing that young man is special. Uh there's so much to talk about there. But yeah, he was born four pounds, eight ounces. Um, surprise to us at that point, born blind in his right eye. I spent the first week of his life in the neonatal, and that kid is just a warrior, fighter. And his heart for Christ, it makes me challenges me every day. And what I just said about Project Lead Nation, Camden loved to work out. He is an animal and he makes dad, we go on, we go on. So I wait for him to come home from school and uh when he's not in season. And he just loves it. So I he has he's either gonna be a pastor or a coach. He just lights up and and does that same thing that I uh said to you that I was doing early on that I no one told me about, I just did it. And I just kind of felt that way, like looking out for the underdog and then uh making everyone else rise up, you know, no shortcuts. Let's do the work and enjoy the the hard that it is because we know we're gonna get back. It's just Camden. And it's no attribute to us. I I mean maybe modeling the hopefully some good things, but he has just got it and he wants to spend time with people, he just wants to nurture and he's so uh compassionate. So a 17-year-old, he'll blow you away. His heart for Christ again is just out of this world and he wants to deliver hope. So he's like, Dad, I can't wait to have these nutrition consultations and help people how I can.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:00

And uh so it'll yeah, that's it's so cool to watch like you know, your son's getting older and like really take shape. Yeah, like this is what like who they're really like forming to be, like that, because he's you know pretty close. I mean, he's a young man, but like close to turning the corner and like being on his own and like doing his thing. It's kind of you get to have your your stamp on that. Yes, that's pretty sweet.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:19

And to think that 17, yeah, it was when I my story kind of started today. And I'm thinking, man, he's there. Yeah. And all the pain and and and hardship I went through that I've just shared a little bit of. I do not wish that on him at all. Of course, protect him everything you can. But you know what? He'll have his own hard. Yes, yes. He already did when he was born, man. It's been in it. Yeah, and it's just yeah, it's yeah, how hard we want to try to protect things. So um, I think that's entrepreneur. Hey, you gotta let it rip. Yeah, they hope the parachute does open. It will, maybe not fully sometimes, and you're gonna hit the rocks on the way down. But are you gonna do anything else? Yeah, I mean, what else are you gonna do?

SPEAKER_02 1:03:55

It's true. I love it, man. Well, thank you for being here. So, how can uh how can people go get chocolate at Dolce and how can they um do Project Lean Nation?

SPEAKER_03 1:04:04

Yeah, well DolceSuites.com is D-U-L-C-I, then sweets.com. Um, we do have that community to become a part of the community, get the weekly message is one thing I would say because I'm not a social media guy. We do have some out of our presence with uh some of our um staff, but I'm mostly on LinkedIn or only on LinkedIn pretty much personally.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:21

And then uh Project Lean Nation, we're just launching the uh pre-launch right now and uh hopefully open up uh first week of May uh as this comes out again with it by the uh Target on Sawmill Parkway as it's uh POW going into Dublin. And uh we can go to um uh just look up uh Project Lean Nation and choose that site, and you can see the founding member offer that's there that's only now available until we open it, which is a forever lifetime offer. So uh to get 20 bucks off their box of meals and and all the good stuff there. So Project Lean Nation, you can just check that out uh slash dublin.com and then Dolce Suites. I'd uh love to have people check.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:58

I uh can a dolce Dorsey's Dolce Sweets because I've had the chocolate. Uh we use it for our business, and uh we're gonna be using it for our foundation event coming up. Uh it's good stuff. I'm excited about that. And the customizable stuff that you guys can do is really neat, and that's not normal. So yeah, and the and the the speed that you guys can crank it out is also pretty impressive. Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:16

Thank you. It's full service concierge, uh, and we're uh workable with people's ideas, which yeah, exactly what you said because of what we just said we want what we stand for. Yeah. So it wants to say if that's important to you, then we'll try to make a way to make it work because we know what, especially the work you're doing uh in your company right out front, and uh, and uh we're uh people are making great decisions in their life, and it's a big moment. And then to have a gift like that, uh you know, it's just great to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:38

We'll get all the links and everything in the show notes for everybody. But yeah, thank you for coming, brother. Yeah, thanks for having me. I really appreciate it. All right, well, we're over and out. If you guys want access to uh additional shows and resources, you can get them at markgreaves.com or wherever you get your podcast. Brock, thanks for being here. Thank you very much, man. Pleasure