Holly Jean Jackson: Alright, welcome back to Inspiration Contagion. And I want to start off with who let the dogs out? Who, who, who? Because we have Hounds of Business. Mike, Hounds of Business, the Redneck Connector with us today. my goodness. First of all, before I have him say hello to all of you, he has built an amazing ecosystem and a media network where he helps founders and entrepreneurs, experts, and relationship. Driven brands grow through real relationships, warm introductions, media visibility, and strategic business collaborations, like real collaborations. He's known for his plain spoken honesty as the redneck connector, humor, heart, and no BS strategic thinking. Mike helps good people stop chasing strangers and start building the kind of trust that creates referrals, partnerships. clients, visibility, and long-term opportunity. His work blends community business development, LinkedIn visibility, live streams, podcasting and radio, strategic introductions, and relationship-led growth. My goodness, what a long list. His core belief is simple: business grows at the speed of trust. And with that, Mike, welcome.
Mike Ashabraner: Thank you so much for having me. Hey, and I still get blushy when I hear the Apollo Creed style type interest you just gave me. Thank you so much. I'm seriously honored to be here. I I love helping people making an impact. So I am in good company, my friend. Appreciate you.
Holly Jean Jackson: Love that. Well, I wanna ask you my favorite question and that is what makes Mike an inspirational leader or what would you say is your secret sauce?
Mike Ashabraner: You know, that's a great question. And The Little Engine Who Finally Did. Remember that little book, The Little Engine Who Could? Yeah, well sometimes that takes you forty five plus years, you know. I just couldn't stop. I I was a child of the eighties, long story short, if I ever had one. A child of the eighties, so that was before the internet. Right. You were really confined to what you could see. Right. And I grew up very dirt poor, not the most stable environment. So that's all I saw. But for some reason, I know I'm not alone now in hindsight. I always had this burning desire to be somebody and do something special, right? Build a business. I mean, I can remember as far as as six years old. The the problem with that is is that you put it down because you grow up and people say you're, you know, ridiculous and life and your tapes go off. And then like whack-a-mo, it pops up. And then you whack it back down. I got things to do. Get a job, X, Y, and Z. And that Woo, I know if somebody just heard that, they're gonna stick around to listen because I I don't know. All I do know is I didn't quit. And I heard that before and I hated that. I was like, whatever. That's just what successful people say. you know, to to be on podcasts. But it's true. Holy cow, it's true. Right? That's it. I wanna give people real stuff that I wish someone had given me because I don't want you sti being stuck in the mud, spinning your tires for four decades. So honor.
Holly Jean Jackson: I just can't get the the vision of the whack-a-mole, like the little guy popping his head up, and you're just like whacking it back down.
Mike Ashabraner: Whack.
Holly Jean Jackson: y'all, if you're listening, what whack-a-mole message is coming up for you today that you've been ignoring that instead of whacking it, you could actually harness and run with. I love
Mike Ashabraner: Exactly.
Holly Jean Jackson: that, Mike. So simple. It's children of the 80s. You understand what that means. And if not, look it up. It's gonna be entertaining. Mike, can you tell us? How you define inspiration or what it means for you today in your business with what you've learned.
Mike Ashabraner: I almost wanted to look up Webster's dictionary definition of
Holly Jean Jackson: Haha, we want Mike's definition, not Webster's.
Mike Ashabraner: now I'm going through the PG rated R versions, you know. but you know, inspiration is something, I mean, it's it's one of the many buzzwords nowadays, right? We're just so overwhelmed in the noise and sea of of, you know, feeds and videos and fortune cookie sayings. I think the most thing that stands out when you mention inspiration. Is the difference I've had or the confusion I may have had early days or recent days with motivation and inspiration. And and really what stands out while I ramble this thought out, because that's a great question. I was not prepared for that. but recalling back, because I want people to know the real story, not the polished one. I didn't know, first of all, I didn't know. I was unaware. I think that's where it starts. We You have a business audience and we talk about business things. I have a business dream, plan, purpose, business process. When I look back and and every day I remind myself, I d I most of the time I don't have a business problem. I don't have a motivation problem. I I didn't know that I could define success for myself. I didn't know I could inspire myself. I didn't have the faith and trust it took to say, Hey, you know, that's a good thought. That is a grounded thought. I should run with that thought, right? And back to the wacomo. Right. What inspires someone to build a a book or write a book or to do the thing they've been pushing down, right? For whatever reason and excuse. And for me, it wasn't an internal job at first. It was the example, support, and just seeing that I wasn't full of crap, right? Like I was in a community inadvertently before we became community. So looking around saying, Wow, there's other people, you know, that struggled like God did. I thought I was alone. So first inspiration could either come internal, because I do know some enlightened folks that they kind of figured it out and had the courage, but then they spoke to others, right? Then they found solace in in community, like-minded people. But for me, man, you know, I'm from the school of hard knocks. So I learned slow. I'm very hard-headed. But it was, it was the constant bombardment that God and the universe had just sent my way, and it was my job to to clean off the glasses so I can see it. So inspiration can come from anywhere. I just I don't think it's inspiration. I think it's our inability or willingness to see it. See it for what it is. So I got real redneck philosophical on you, but that's a great question. I didn't want to give a BS answer. like a broken
Holly Jean Jackson: Redneck philosophical. I love that. Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: fortune cookie, but yeah, hopefully I got the point across because i I read books and and videos and all these things, and it it seems like well, if if that doesn't happen exactly for me like it did on that on that kitty meme or whatever you read it on, then it then it won't work. But that's not true. It could be a million different ways. Just be inspired. I I I didn't I I thought opportunity was gonna plop its ass on the couch next to me. It doesn't
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: work that way. So I was inspired when I finally got up, stopped being close minded and
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: went out there and asked good questions. See.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, I think the thing that I take away the most from that is the reminder that we need to stop allowing others or society or capitalism or even religion to define what success means for us as individuals or businesses or families or communities. That needs to be something that you step back and intellectually and spiritually assess for yourself before Creating your goals and the markers and the vision and the mission for your company, your, you know, community, your your book, your whatever that thing is. And it should be it, you we get to make it rooted in what's internally inspiring and motivating for us versus somebody else's agenda, which I think is very important for people to sit with and let simmer. So I think that's what I hear and that ties really well into my next question that builds on that. And that is Mike, how from defining success on your own terms, how have you come to today defining peak performance? And how did you arrive here?
Mike Ashabraner: Wow. Yeah, it's like,
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: ooh, this is fun. I'm usually not challenged. It's like being on Jeopardy. I love it.
Holly Jean Jackson: We don't ask the easy questions.
Mike Ashabraner: No. Can you repeat the question? That's what I say when I want to buffer.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: Y'all notice that? Y'all pick that up.
Holly Jean Jackson: How do you define peak performance and how did you arrive at this definition?
Mike Ashabraner: Okay, that's a great one. Alright, so for for years, decades, right, I heard balance. You you have to live a life of balance, balance, balance. And that aggravated me for so long. And I I didn't realize why. Until I realized every time I take a physical step, I'm off balance. Like every time I d balance is is an is an illusion if we stick to the Webster's dictionary definition. Well I think what most people meant by that, right? Is harmony. So when peak performance, it's like, well, I'm always grinding. A hustle culture is very entrenched right now. And I think there is a time and place. For me personally, David Goggins and that co-camp pulled me out of this depression and got me moving. But at a certain point, harmony. So, yeah, I mean, to me, I wanted to be harmonistic. I'm not just a businessman, right? I can have a million billion dollars and be very unhappy. I've seen that around me. but I'm also not happy being meteor, right? Meteoric doesn't make me happy. you know, so harmony to me, that's where peak performance comes from. I and I just looked around. I I've for example, I had a real hard time taking calculated rest and and naps. And and I didn't understand why. And I avoided systems and things that could ease the tension. Watching you really got me excited. I said, Well, that's how it's done, man. Do what she's
Holly Jean Jackson: Ha ha
Mike Ashabraner: doing. Like, you know, put questions on your calendar link. But but it really did. And I just I said, you know, that's the measure. That's the measure I want to. So peak performance means that I can function. Sometimes I do put more time in. Sometimes I am away from the family. Maybe I can't go to every gathering or guitar practice. But the difference again is I'm not I'm riding the horse. The horse isn't riding me. I'm making it an unconscious decision to do one thing versus another. So peak performance for me isn't busy work like it used to be. It's showing up to places like this on a Monday, right? Fighting allergies and all the other stuff, like you are. Like life happens, right? And showing up and really speaking from the heart and doing our best regardless. So again, it goes back to what you so well said in a firm. I didn't know I could define that. Other someone else might look at what I do and go, that's awful. Well, that's okay. As long as the people I serve go, Hey, this is this is good. I resonate with this. That's that's good for me. So peak performance isn't just a ten thousand, you know, cold emails. It's not just rate of returns. To me, it's again harmony. Am I making impact? Am I getting a text message from someone goes, Holy cow, dude, you changed my life. Thank you for this. Thank you for looking out for me. They those are KPIs for me as well. Because You can't get those in the right fish, you know, you can't fish in the right pond. You can't help the right people who your ideal clients, who share your values, who have a business reason to work together. And when they pull up their thing and say, Hey, Mike, you know, thank you for looking out for me. You can't tell
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: me business ain't coming somewhere around the daggum corner. I mean, look who I'm talking to, right? Like it's like preaching
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: to the choir over here. So that's peak performance, showing
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: up strong and doing less more intentional. And I watched you again. Thank you, Holly, 'cause I said, Wow, this lady automates everything that's not a core heart thing And then you're showing up with heart and it in and intention and I thought, Wow, I should have done that four years ago.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, well, we're all on our own path and our own journey. And I love that you brought up harmony as your definition around peak performance, because for me, harmony is a personal core value. And that means as the business owner and the founder, that if a business partner or a potential client is not a hell yes, it is a hell no because there's nothing more valuable than protecting my own internal peace. the own our own internal harmony within our business, within our team, within our community, and not having those bad apples that really mess things up for a negative testimonial, a bad review, or somebody in our collaboration community that is a taker and not really in abundance. They're in the scarcity space because that breeds more of that negative energy that we're not going for. So harmony is a beautiful definition of peak performance. Now, obviously, before you got to this definition and to where you are today in your business and your community, I'm sure you've had some challenges. Would you be willing to share one of the biggest challenges that you have faced along your journey to peak performance today?
Mike Ashabraner: I would love to. but before I do, it you know, I even told a couple of my closest leaders and friends. I said, if you all think I'll hold the standards high, meet Holly. Like, wow, there you go. Like if you think I fiercely protect the room, I'd like you to meet somebody at the next level. because it doesn't come from ego. It just comes from, you know, is this going to advance the mission? You know, and that doesn't mean you don't have grace. I've seen you exercise it. It just means that you gotta kinda know when to hold them, when to vote right? So Onto the challenges. yeah, there's whoo, there's a million and one.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: But but the one I see the most, that's the one I want to address, right? People they again, over and over, whether it's they're talking about business or whatever, they they feel alone. They hold on to an aspect of guilt and shame. And oftentimes, and I see this one, they they think they have a business problem. They they don't have a business problem. So you ask me about my challenges, because I have a bunch of stories that that people can relate to I hear daily. And I help people solve through my own challenges. But for me, I was very side-blind. First of all, let's be honest. When I took personal responsibility for my life, didn't mean other people were, you know, okay. It doesn't mean it was just or anything. It just meant, like, you know, nobody's coming to save you. Like, I gotta figure this out. Right. And for me, it wasn't for me. It was for my kids and externals. And that's okay. It is for me now. Like it's just as much for me. But I think the thing that shocked me the most. Which ironically was the thing that helped me grow the most, was the people around me. You know, it took me 40 years to feel like I had friends, like I had people around me, like I was understood to a degree. I had value, right? I was doing things and very successful people in the early days before I knew what I was doing, before we had a name, a brand. I was just out there just screwing things up until I figured out something good, right? Like one out of a hundred. And like a lot of entrepreneurs do. but what stuck out was And Chris Williamson really was a great feed. Video that popped up at the right time. He says, when people say you've changed, what they really mean is that you've grown. Because I could not figure out why all of a sudden, in a in a couple months span, people who love me, right? The value that was happening, all these things that were happening just kind of crumbled. Like the house of cards. And and I think that's the key. You know, that could have that traditionally would have just crushed me from the inside. create a spiral, depression, my brain would have like, yeah, see, you suck. We all know what I'm talking about. I'm not the only one that has the monkey mind saying that stuff daily. The difference was is I l I went out there to look for wisdom. I asked trusted people, I said, what the hell is going on with me right now? And the answer is, which I would guess you know well, growth. True growth. Not the read a Brene Brown book at a coffee shop and I'm good to go. Rationale. I'm talking about the nasty stuff that we avoid. Why you think people drink? I'm a recovering alcoholic for nine years, right? You know, it it could be gambling, it could be many things. It's still a maladaptive behavior. So that's what I learned was again, I when I was more for me, I wasn't against others, but the more I became for me, the more I was driven by purpose, the more I was less apologetic about getting things done, the more people who cried in front of me, right, motivating me to do that's what got me out of that hole because. When you try to crawl out of a hole and be somebody and do something special, when you're elevating to the next level, you know, it it doesn't make people bad, but it's often be be aware that some people will pull you down. Not because they're evil people, but because you're reminding them what they could do and they're not ready to do yet. Right? Probably like you was the first decade or two. So it's the same. But it's the same in r romantic relationships, friendships, and business. Just be ready for abrupt changes in your life. And instead of freaking out, go talk to somebody. Go Instead of watching stupid kitty memes and videos, go research that subject and hear from people who can really help guide you and prompt you. And that's what I love about community. I have those people, so I don't have to go looking anywhere, right? but that's it. It's the
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: soft skills that that that mess us up because if you get unwracked by that, it then the business is not gonna be okay. You're not okay. Right? You're not you're you're the foundation,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: you know. I know you probably have something to add to that.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, I love that you're bringing this up. Yeah, yeah. So what what I hear a lot is when we're in a storm and everything feels like it's falling apart, that is usually for you and it's usually right before a massive transformation and a growth opportunity. And it's really life, spirit, God, whatever you want to call it, saying, Hey, you're a little off. The path or your way off the path, things aren't aligned, and it's time to shake things up and wake you up and get you back into alignment or harmony, like we talked about earlier. So if you're going through a storm, oftentimes it's an invitation to fall apart or look at that failure, so-called failure. As something to learn from for the next thing. So if you feel like you're in that season, guess what? You're like right around the corner from something big. And I know I'm in that right now because my goodness, there's a lot of stuff that I'm like, what is going on? and so I'm like, I can't wait to see what's on the other side of this. And by the way, please give me a break because time out. but but yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: It's bingo. That's what I'm saying too, bingo. Well said.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, yeah. And then of course, there's also the other piece that you mentioned are those energy vampires. That's what I like to call them. The people who they're relationships are mirrors for us. And when we surround ourselves with the wrong community where there's not harmony, and these are those bad apples, they cannot celebrate our success with us. In fact, they try to bring you down because they're jealous of your success, or there's such an energetic disalignment or misalignment. That they cannot hear or really see you. And so the only thing they know because their ego is protecting them from change is to bring you down back to their level so that they can stay in your life. And the reality is, is the more you climb the ladder of your own success, not how others define success, you will go through consistent continual seasons of breakups, friendships that end, partnerships that end. family members that you need sp specific boundaries with or they're not in your life anymore. That is the reality of leveling up energetically, spiritually, and with your vision and mission. Not everyone is in the same season of growth or even on the growth train. And those are the people you leave behind. Otherwise they will dampen your light, they will steal your energy, they will bring down your inspiration and your internal motivation. And they're not the right mirrors you need to actually grow and stay on your own path. so I wanna I wanna ask you another deeper question related to that. Mike, tell us when you have left money on the table in your business and what did you do to fix it?
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah, it feels like every day or almost every other day. but no, seriously, it was well, okay. So I'll give this I don't think I've spoken about this ever or maybe in five years. So there you go. So when before I had any clear direction or quite honestly any self-worth and confidence that was that was gonna withstand anything and you know, be real. I remember I remember my first one of my first quote lucky breaks, right? I saw this lady and you could clearly see that she was very, very, very very established, right? Had all the bells and whistles and logos and all of this and you know, I was like, ooh, you know, like I don't see that much every day in my neck of the woods. So anyway, we we came it, you know, we got to know each other and really had interaction and I noticed a lot. And and remember, I was just now starting to trust myself before I even knew I was, right? That I had value, that I could see what others wouldn't see, right? Before I had a resume, before I had success on paper. to this level. Anyway, we got to a meeting and I went out there. I invited six people because she had a lot of folks dropping off. And it was really strange to me. So I said, look, I'm gonna send six people. Worst case, she'll get some business, right? Best case we'll figure out how to get the other three. If she's only closing three, right? So anyway, we did this and I showed up very naive. I was, you know, just now starting to help other people, get some traction. Training wheels were still on, so to speak. And the long story short of it is, yeah. I I told I said, Hey, if you'd like, I'll tell you how what I found that can help you get the other half of the clients. And right there I should have shut up because she said, Well, like she didn't want to hear it. But see, back then I had to say it anyway, right? So I said, I I see, okay, tell me. Not because she wanted to know, but just because she wanted to see curiosity. So after I got done explaining it, holy cow, you talk about a firestorm of madness. I haven't been blasted with that much rage since I can remember And I was very, very fragile, guys. and I remember just thinking, my goodness, what kind of bad guy am I? What was I thinking? I'm so you know, the tapes just went, see, we told you so. And I remember picking up the phone, and this is where community really started subconsciously clicking. I picked up the phone and called a friend of mine who I did help, who I did speak boldly with, and it did, you know, help. And I told her what happened, and she said the most freeing stuff, Holly. She said, Mike, you didn't offend a person, you offended an ego. wow, Eureka.
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: I thought, yeah, no, you didn't offend someone. You offended a giant ego. Because you said that to me and X, Y, and Z and this person, and what did we do? See, that's what I mean. That's the safety net, the anchor, whatever you want to call it. That's the lighthouse to keep your your butt got it when the storm's coming when you can't see what's happening. And it will happen. So I'm not dependent on people, but I'm not stupid enough to think I can man a whole, you know, ginormous ship by myself, right? And that's what I want people to know. It take it and turn it around. Look at all angles. I'm a realist. I don't do the fly in the sky, you know, flying spaghetti monster stuff. But why is there
Holly Jean Jackson: Okay.
Mike Ashabraner: you girls? But why is there a difference? Why is there why are the two not compatible? Why is faith and realism always divided? Realism says this is the way it is. Not the way I want it to be, right? My shortcomings, the situation, whatever matters. But faith says this is how it could be better. And that's the catalyst for growth. And just like you said earlier, when when when the massive storms come, they I always say this turning shit into fertilizer and teaching others to do the same, right? The tsunamis would make me f just freak out. I would get drowned in the waves. Now, surf. Surf. Get knocked off, get back on,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: surf again. I I mean it, I hate I used to hate when people said that. It's true, folks. I I yeah, you
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: know. So either you accept the truth. I mean nobody ar argues gravity, right? If I throw the ink bin, it hits the ground. So it is in the law of happiness, success. They're out there. And they're not elusive. They're available to everyone, right? You just have to be willing to go when your brain and every reason on earth says don't. That's it. Who's who's dropping?
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. My mentor says it a little bit differently than the surf analogy, but she says, Holly, stop fighting the ri river of life. Sit down, enjoy the rapid and see where it's taking you next. And I'm like, my goodness, thanks for the reminder, Yoda.
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: but also I do want to touch on the ego thing and then we're gonna do a wrap-up because we're coming to the end of the interview here. But I'm rereading a book called The Rock Warrior Way, and it's about climbing and dealing with the mental aspect of fear and the ego that gets in the way of climbing performance. And I just reread the first chapter three times, which is about awareness. And it just talks about all of the energy sinkers that we have related to the ego, the whole need to perform when you're in front of people socially on a route, the whole need to compare ourselves to the past version of ourselves. To the people around us. And so this is a beautiful metaphor to business. If you're comparing yourself to others, you're comparing an older version of yourself to your current version of yourself, or you're feeling the need to perform, your ego is triggered and you're in the ego. And this is where that imposter syndrome, that scarcity mindset comes in. So the more as business owners we can identify. When we are experiencing our ego or somebody else on a sales call in our community that we're supporting, a friend, a family member is their ego is burying its head, you can take it less personally. And then you can also help them more by asking permission to help them, not providing it without asking permission first. And for those of you who are empaths out there, that asking piece is really important. Put your life vest on first, put your mask on first, make sure your ego is in check before you have that conversation. And then if you feel intuitively that you're ready and they're ready, ask permission first and you'll have a much better and more balanced conversation. Mike, this has been amazing. We could do this for days and for hours. Mike is an amazing guy. He's been in our community for a while as a collaboration magic partner. I'm gonna ask you two more rapid fire questions. You ready? What's the best one piece of advice you would share with others today?
Mike Ashabraner: Get to know yourself. And if you don't know yourself, hey, that's your d that's where to start. Not business plans, not everything. Define it. Who do I want to be? Right? That's it. And it goes back to what you said real quick: that I. Here's the question. Who is the who is it talking to? All those negative thoughts that are dominating us, the ego, everything else. When someone does something we don't like, the question to ask is who the hell is that talking to? That's the real you. So you the real you. Right, needs to sit down and start getting what turns me on, what turns me off, what do I like, what do I not like, what is serving me, what is not. Woo, yeah, buckle up for that one. But that's it. Get real with yourself. That's why when you meet somebody who's so peaceful and it's so weird, when you meet somebody like that, that's what that is. That's a that's a lifelong evolution of of of hell. They went through hell, folks, to get to that point. And so it is. Anyone could do it. If you're alive, you could do it. And don't wait till you feel like it. You you'll never feel it. Just do it anyway. Do it right now. That just that's my advice.
Holly Jean Jackson: I love that. That's beautiful advice. Yeah. And the thing too is before I get to the last question here, somebody may appear peaceful on the exterior and even energetically they're peaceful, but they could be in the middle of a storm. personally, I went through that last week and everybody's like, you're so together, you're so strong, you're so peaceful. In reality, I was holding it together for what we were experiencing with our family in an emergency. And then I fell apart in my sacred container with my sacred community when it was the time to do that. But also for those of you who are like me and feel like you can't fall apart, reminder you can at any point, at any time, even if you think it's inappropriate, put down that lifesaver or that warrior, whatever swords that you have in your head and and be real. Like Mike said, get to know yourself. And understand that better. Mike, tell our listeners today what's the legacy that you wish to leave behind?
Mike Ashabraner: two hundred year legacy. I have no time to waste. When I'm forty five, so you know, I I'm making up for lost time so to speak. But it it is. It it's you know, the vision and what can actually happen may be vast, right? The fire department, they want no house fires. Is that gonna happen? Probably not. But they work every day, right? And they put out when they happen. That's what it is. J just the place in a world where, you know, folks are somewhere along the way. They have the people, resources and support to get it done. That they have what they instead of told, no, you're not good enough, this system doesn't work for you, that thing, that they have another way. That's why I love coming on here and working with you. It's not about me, right? It it's about the wrong person in the wrong place. So if we can help somebody, maybe they need inspiration, maybe they need a friend. I did that the other day. I said, listen, this lady just needs a friend. I don't know if this person ever had someone who just loved them for them. Right? Always want somebody wanting some. really famous, right? And I said, hey, I said, you can smell for dog do all day long. You ain't gonna find
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: a test. I did. And guess what? Months later, they just have two people who just want to be there for them who didn't reach out when it wasn't appropriate. So that's my that's my legacy. If I can get the foundation built and have some building that's producing meaningful, impactful things and I can have my redneck face on a on a oil painting somewhere or my great granddaughters out there leading the charge. Yeah, that would be absolutely insane. But on the flip side, I want people to know this. Reach for the stars. Worst case, you grab a tree branch, right? So the people the naysayer, what if you don't reach it?
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: You know what? I'm a still a hell of a lot better man. I made an impact I'll never see. So stop it. Go for the biggest you can want to go for because you you that's the way you get this far ahead. That's stop listening. Yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, Mike. that really resonates with me. I'm gonna see how how how I can express this clearly to folks. Life is so short and so precious, and you never know how much time you have. So reach for the stars every day, every moment. I think many folks in our community know that we had a family member in the hospital last week and it was really scary. He was septic for four days, and everything the doctors tried wasn't working. It was really scary. obviously, this is my brother, I'm really close to him. And it was such a reminder of what matters and what doesn't, and being so grateful that I have a business where I can just cancel everything for a week and just be there. for my family and with my family, but also a reminder of the importance of community and the people around you. The people that we had to shift appointments around for, whether there were clients or partners or like our interview, I think this is like the third time we've had this scheduled. And I was like, I'm so sorry, I cannot make this up. but just the fact that we have that harmony in our community and the support and like the number of people that reached out to us to just pray. for me, for my family, for my brother, was overwhelming. But it's just such a great reminder that community matters and who you surround yourself matters. And also, you guys, you never know what's gonna happen. So please, please make this life the very best you can. So and with that, thank you, Mike, for being part of our community.
Mike Ashabraner: thank you. I mean I give a lot of grades 'cause I need a lot. I mean, let's let's be honest. But it it is. You know, I didn't think, well, how come she ble look, that's the that's the beauty of putting values and friendship that forms and then you happen to have a business overlap. I love that. Whoever said you can't be mixed friendship and business, man, I don't know, take it somewhere else. Because that's why I built the business. Working with somebody you don't like, putting up with crap you don't want to put up with, that's called the job. And a lot of us don't want to do it. So I I appreciate you because I didn't feel blown off. I said, This lady's got a lot going on. I can relate to that, right? And well,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: you know, hey, maybe maybe that delay was actually a good thing. That's what I mean. Let go of of the outcome. That's my biggest last minute advice. Let go of the outcome. Do your best to hell with the outcome. That served me. Yeah. I mean, I have a goal,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: but if I don't hit the goal, my whole life doesn't disintegrate. I'm not finished, right? I learned. And yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. Yeah. And it's it's about the journey and it's about who goes on the journey with you and what you learn. So with that.
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah, you can sell jelly beans and I'll be happy, so close me out. I I wouldn't care.
Holly Jean Jackson: I love it, Mike. Well, with that to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. And you should definitely check out Mike's community. If you're feeling alone, you're feeling isolated, you want connections, you want those relationships. He's amazing. His tribe is truly amazing. And if you found this inspiring and somebody else needs to hear something from the message that we shared today, please share that with others. Thank you so much. Alright, Mike.
Mike Ashabraner: Thank you so much for having me. Hey, and I still get blushy when I hear the Apollo Creed style type interest you just gave me. Thank you so much. I'm seriously honored to be here. I I love helping people making an impact. So I am in good company, my friend. Appreciate you.
Holly Jean Jackson: Love that. Well, I wanna ask you my favorite question and that is what makes Mike an inspirational leader or what would you say is your secret sauce?
Mike Ashabraner: You know, that's a great question. And The Little Engine Who Finally Did. Remember that little book, The Little Engine Who Could? Yeah, well sometimes that takes you forty five plus years, you know. I just couldn't stop. I I was a child of the eighties, long story short, if I ever had one. A child of the eighties, so that was before the internet. Right. You were really confined to what you could see. Right. And I grew up very dirt poor, not the most stable environment. So that's all I saw. But for some reason, I know I'm not alone now in hindsight. I always had this burning desire to be somebody and do something special, right? Build a business. I mean, I can remember as far as as six years old. The the problem with that is is that you put it down because you grow up and people say you're, you know, ridiculous and life and your tapes go off. And then like whack-a-mo, it pops up. And then you whack it back down. I got things to do. Get a job, X, Y, and Z. And that Woo, I know if somebody just heard that, they're gonna stick around to listen because I I don't know. All I do know is I didn't quit. And I heard that before and I hated that. I was like, whatever. That's just what successful people say. you know, to to be on podcasts. But it's true. Holy cow, it's true. Right? That's it. I wanna give people real stuff that I wish someone had given me because I don't want you sti being stuck in the mud, spinning your tires for four decades. So honor.
Holly Jean Jackson: I just can't get the the vision of the whack-a-mole, like the little guy popping his head up, and you're just like whacking it back down.
Mike Ashabraner: Whack.
Holly Jean Jackson: y'all, if you're listening, what whack-a-mole message is coming up for you today that you've been ignoring that instead of whacking it, you could actually harness and run with. I love
Mike Ashabraner: Exactly.
Holly Jean Jackson: that, Mike. So simple. It's children of the 80s. You understand what that means. And if not, look it up. It's gonna be entertaining. Mike, can you tell us? How you define inspiration or what it means for you today in your business with what you've learned.
Mike Ashabraner: I almost wanted to look up Webster's dictionary definition of
Holly Jean Jackson: Haha, we want Mike's definition, not Webster's.
Mike Ashabraner: now I'm going through the PG rated R versions, you know. but you know, inspiration is something, I mean, it's it's one of the many buzzwords nowadays, right? We're just so overwhelmed in the noise and sea of of, you know, feeds and videos and fortune cookie sayings. I think the most thing that stands out when you mention inspiration. Is the difference I've had or the confusion I may have had early days or recent days with motivation and inspiration. And and really what stands out while I ramble this thought out, because that's a great question. I was not prepared for that. but recalling back, because I want people to know the real story, not the polished one. I didn't know, first of all, I didn't know. I was unaware. I think that's where it starts. We You have a business audience and we talk about business things. I have a business dream, plan, purpose, business process. When I look back and and every day I remind myself, I d I most of the time I don't have a business problem. I don't have a motivation problem. I I didn't know that I could define success for myself. I didn't know I could inspire myself. I didn't have the faith and trust it took to say, Hey, you know, that's a good thought. That is a grounded thought. I should run with that thought, right? And back to the wacomo. Right. What inspires someone to build a a book or write a book or to do the thing they've been pushing down, right? For whatever reason and excuse. And for me, it wasn't an internal job at first. It was the example, support, and just seeing that I wasn't full of crap, right? Like I was in a community inadvertently before we became community. So looking around saying, Wow, there's other people, you know, that struggled like God did. I thought I was alone. So first inspiration could either come internal, because I do know some enlightened folks that they kind of figured it out and had the courage, but then they spoke to others, right? Then they found solace in in community, like-minded people. But for me, man, you know, I'm from the school of hard knocks. So I learned slow. I'm very hard-headed. But it was, it was the constant bombardment that God and the universe had just sent my way, and it was my job to to clean off the glasses so I can see it. So inspiration can come from anywhere. I just I don't think it's inspiration. I think it's our inability or willingness to see it. See it for what it is. So I got real redneck philosophical on you, but that's a great question. I didn't want to give a BS answer. like a broken
Holly Jean Jackson: Redneck philosophical. I love that. Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: fortune cookie, but yeah, hopefully I got the point across because i I read books and and videos and all these things, and it it seems like well, if if that doesn't happen exactly for me like it did on that on that kitty meme or whatever you read it on, then it then it won't work. But that's not true. It could be a million different ways. Just be inspired. I I I didn't I I thought opportunity was gonna plop its ass on the couch next to me. It doesn't
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: work that way. So I was inspired when I finally got up, stopped being close minded and
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: went out there and asked good questions. See.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, I think the thing that I take away the most from that is the reminder that we need to stop allowing others or society or capitalism or even religion to define what success means for us as individuals or businesses or families or communities. That needs to be something that you step back and intellectually and spiritually assess for yourself before Creating your goals and the markers and the vision and the mission for your company, your, you know, community, your your book, your whatever that thing is. And it should be it, you we get to make it rooted in what's internally inspiring and motivating for us versus somebody else's agenda, which I think is very important for people to sit with and let simmer. So I think that's what I hear and that ties really well into my next question that builds on that. And that is Mike, how from defining success on your own terms, how have you come to today defining peak performance? And how did you arrive here?
Mike Ashabraner: Wow. Yeah, it's like,
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: ooh, this is fun. I'm usually not challenged. It's like being on Jeopardy. I love it.
Holly Jean Jackson: We don't ask the easy questions.
Mike Ashabraner: No. Can you repeat the question? That's what I say when I want to buffer.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: Y'all notice that? Y'all pick that up.
Holly Jean Jackson: How do you define peak performance and how did you arrive at this definition?
Mike Ashabraner: Okay, that's a great one. Alright, so for for years, decades, right, I heard balance. You you have to live a life of balance, balance, balance. And that aggravated me for so long. And I I didn't realize why. Until I realized every time I take a physical step, I'm off balance. Like every time I d balance is is an is an illusion if we stick to the Webster's dictionary definition. Well I think what most people meant by that, right? Is harmony. So when peak performance, it's like, well, I'm always grinding. A hustle culture is very entrenched right now. And I think there is a time and place. For me personally, David Goggins and that co-camp pulled me out of this depression and got me moving. But at a certain point, harmony. So, yeah, I mean, to me, I wanted to be harmonistic. I'm not just a businessman, right? I can have a million billion dollars and be very unhappy. I've seen that around me. but I'm also not happy being meteor, right? Meteoric doesn't make me happy. you know, so harmony to me, that's where peak performance comes from. I and I just looked around. I I've for example, I had a real hard time taking calculated rest and and naps. And and I didn't understand why. And I avoided systems and things that could ease the tension. Watching you really got me excited. I said, Well, that's how it's done, man. Do what she's
Holly Jean Jackson: Ha ha
Mike Ashabraner: doing. Like, you know, put questions on your calendar link. But but it really did. And I just I said, you know, that's the measure. That's the measure I want to. So peak performance means that I can function. Sometimes I do put more time in. Sometimes I am away from the family. Maybe I can't go to every gathering or guitar practice. But the difference again is I'm not I'm riding the horse. The horse isn't riding me. I'm making it an unconscious decision to do one thing versus another. So peak performance for me isn't busy work like it used to be. It's showing up to places like this on a Monday, right? Fighting allergies and all the other stuff, like you are. Like life happens, right? And showing up and really speaking from the heart and doing our best regardless. So again, it goes back to what you so well said in a firm. I didn't know I could define that. Other someone else might look at what I do and go, that's awful. Well, that's okay. As long as the people I serve go, Hey, this is this is good. I resonate with this. That's that's good for me. So peak performance isn't just a ten thousand, you know, cold emails. It's not just rate of returns. To me, it's again harmony. Am I making impact? Am I getting a text message from someone goes, Holy cow, dude, you changed my life. Thank you for this. Thank you for looking out for me. They those are KPIs for me as well. Because You can't get those in the right fish, you know, you can't fish in the right pond. You can't help the right people who your ideal clients, who share your values, who have a business reason to work together. And when they pull up their thing and say, Hey, Mike, you know, thank you for looking out for me. You can't tell
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: me business ain't coming somewhere around the daggum corner. I mean, look who I'm talking to, right? Like it's like preaching
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: to the choir over here. So that's peak performance, showing
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: up strong and doing less more intentional. And I watched you again. Thank you, Holly, 'cause I said, Wow, this lady automates everything that's not a core heart thing And then you're showing up with heart and it in and intention and I thought, Wow, I should have done that four years ago.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, well, we're all on our own path and our own journey. And I love that you brought up harmony as your definition around peak performance, because for me, harmony is a personal core value. And that means as the business owner and the founder, that if a business partner or a potential client is not a hell yes, it is a hell no because there's nothing more valuable than protecting my own internal peace. the own our own internal harmony within our business, within our team, within our community, and not having those bad apples that really mess things up for a negative testimonial, a bad review, or somebody in our collaboration community that is a taker and not really in abundance. They're in the scarcity space because that breeds more of that negative energy that we're not going for. So harmony is a beautiful definition of peak performance. Now, obviously, before you got to this definition and to where you are today in your business and your community, I'm sure you've had some challenges. Would you be willing to share one of the biggest challenges that you have faced along your journey to peak performance today?
Mike Ashabraner: I would love to. but before I do, it you know, I even told a couple of my closest leaders and friends. I said, if you all think I'll hold the standards high, meet Holly. Like, wow, there you go. Like if you think I fiercely protect the room, I'd like you to meet somebody at the next level. because it doesn't come from ego. It just comes from, you know, is this going to advance the mission? You know, and that doesn't mean you don't have grace. I've seen you exercise it. It just means that you gotta kinda know when to hold them, when to vote right? So Onto the challenges. yeah, there's whoo, there's a million and one.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: But but the one I see the most, that's the one I want to address, right? People they again, over and over, whether it's they're talking about business or whatever, they they feel alone. They hold on to an aspect of guilt and shame. And oftentimes, and I see this one, they they think they have a business problem. They they don't have a business problem. So you ask me about my challenges, because I have a bunch of stories that that people can relate to I hear daily. And I help people solve through my own challenges. But for me, I was very side-blind. First of all, let's be honest. When I took personal responsibility for my life, didn't mean other people were, you know, okay. It doesn't mean it was just or anything. It just meant, like, you know, nobody's coming to save you. Like, I gotta figure this out. Right. And for me, it wasn't for me. It was for my kids and externals. And that's okay. It is for me now. Like it's just as much for me. But I think the thing that shocked me the most. Which ironically was the thing that helped me grow the most, was the people around me. You know, it took me 40 years to feel like I had friends, like I had people around me, like I was understood to a degree. I had value, right? I was doing things and very successful people in the early days before I knew what I was doing, before we had a name, a brand. I was just out there just screwing things up until I figured out something good, right? Like one out of a hundred. And like a lot of entrepreneurs do. but what stuck out was And Chris Williamson really was a great feed. Video that popped up at the right time. He says, when people say you've changed, what they really mean is that you've grown. Because I could not figure out why all of a sudden, in a in a couple months span, people who love me, right? The value that was happening, all these things that were happening just kind of crumbled. Like the house of cards. And and I think that's the key. You know, that could have that traditionally would have just crushed me from the inside. create a spiral, depression, my brain would have like, yeah, see, you suck. We all know what I'm talking about. I'm not the only one that has the monkey mind saying that stuff daily. The difference was is I l I went out there to look for wisdom. I asked trusted people, I said, what the hell is going on with me right now? And the answer is, which I would guess you know well, growth. True growth. Not the read a Brene Brown book at a coffee shop and I'm good to go. Rationale. I'm talking about the nasty stuff that we avoid. Why you think people drink? I'm a recovering alcoholic for nine years, right? You know, it it could be gambling, it could be many things. It's still a maladaptive behavior. So that's what I learned was again, I when I was more for me, I wasn't against others, but the more I became for me, the more I was driven by purpose, the more I was less apologetic about getting things done, the more people who cried in front of me, right, motivating me to do that's what got me out of that hole because. When you try to crawl out of a hole and be somebody and do something special, when you're elevating to the next level, you know, it it doesn't make people bad, but it's often be be aware that some people will pull you down. Not because they're evil people, but because you're reminding them what they could do and they're not ready to do yet. Right? Probably like you was the first decade or two. So it's the same. But it's the same in r romantic relationships, friendships, and business. Just be ready for abrupt changes in your life. And instead of freaking out, go talk to somebody. Go Instead of watching stupid kitty memes and videos, go research that subject and hear from people who can really help guide you and prompt you. And that's what I love about community. I have those people, so I don't have to go looking anywhere, right? but that's it. It's the
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: soft skills that that that mess us up because if you get unwracked by that, it then the business is not gonna be okay. You're not okay. Right? You're not you're you're the foundation,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: you know. I know you probably have something to add to that.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, I love that you're bringing this up. Yeah, yeah. So what what I hear a lot is when we're in a storm and everything feels like it's falling apart, that is usually for you and it's usually right before a massive transformation and a growth opportunity. And it's really life, spirit, God, whatever you want to call it, saying, Hey, you're a little off. The path or your way off the path, things aren't aligned, and it's time to shake things up and wake you up and get you back into alignment or harmony, like we talked about earlier. So if you're going through a storm, oftentimes it's an invitation to fall apart or look at that failure, so-called failure. As something to learn from for the next thing. So if you feel like you're in that season, guess what? You're like right around the corner from something big. And I know I'm in that right now because my goodness, there's a lot of stuff that I'm like, what is going on? and so I'm like, I can't wait to see what's on the other side of this. And by the way, please give me a break because time out. but but yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: It's bingo. That's what I'm saying too, bingo. Well said.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, yeah. And then of course, there's also the other piece that you mentioned are those energy vampires. That's what I like to call them. The people who they're relationships are mirrors for us. And when we surround ourselves with the wrong community where there's not harmony, and these are those bad apples, they cannot celebrate our success with us. In fact, they try to bring you down because they're jealous of your success, or there's such an energetic disalignment or misalignment. That they cannot hear or really see you. And so the only thing they know because their ego is protecting them from change is to bring you down back to their level so that they can stay in your life. And the reality is, is the more you climb the ladder of your own success, not how others define success, you will go through consistent continual seasons of breakups, friendships that end, partnerships that end. family members that you need sp specific boundaries with or they're not in your life anymore. That is the reality of leveling up energetically, spiritually, and with your vision and mission. Not everyone is in the same season of growth or even on the growth train. And those are the people you leave behind. Otherwise they will dampen your light, they will steal your energy, they will bring down your inspiration and your internal motivation. And they're not the right mirrors you need to actually grow and stay on your own path. so I wanna I wanna ask you another deeper question related to that. Mike, tell us when you have left money on the table in your business and what did you do to fix it?
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah, it feels like every day or almost every other day. but no, seriously, it was well, okay. So I'll give this I don't think I've spoken about this ever or maybe in five years. So there you go. So when before I had any clear direction or quite honestly any self-worth and confidence that was that was gonna withstand anything and you know, be real. I remember I remember my first one of my first quote lucky breaks, right? I saw this lady and you could clearly see that she was very, very, very very established, right? Had all the bells and whistles and logos and all of this and you know, I was like, ooh, you know, like I don't see that much every day in my neck of the woods. So anyway, we we came it, you know, we got to know each other and really had interaction and I noticed a lot. And and remember, I was just now starting to trust myself before I even knew I was, right? That I had value, that I could see what others wouldn't see, right? Before I had a resume, before I had success on paper. to this level. Anyway, we got to a meeting and I went out there. I invited six people because she had a lot of folks dropping off. And it was really strange to me. So I said, look, I'm gonna send six people. Worst case, she'll get some business, right? Best case we'll figure out how to get the other three. If she's only closing three, right? So anyway, we did this and I showed up very naive. I was, you know, just now starting to help other people, get some traction. Training wheels were still on, so to speak. And the long story short of it is, yeah. I I told I said, Hey, if you'd like, I'll tell you how what I found that can help you get the other half of the clients. And right there I should have shut up because she said, Well, like she didn't want to hear it. But see, back then I had to say it anyway, right? So I said, I I see, okay, tell me. Not because she wanted to know, but just because she wanted to see curiosity. So after I got done explaining it, holy cow, you talk about a firestorm of madness. I haven't been blasted with that much rage since I can remember And I was very, very fragile, guys. and I remember just thinking, my goodness, what kind of bad guy am I? What was I thinking? I'm so you know, the tapes just went, see, we told you so. And I remember picking up the phone, and this is where community really started subconsciously clicking. I picked up the phone and called a friend of mine who I did help, who I did speak boldly with, and it did, you know, help. And I told her what happened, and she said the most freeing stuff, Holly. She said, Mike, you didn't offend a person, you offended an ego. wow, Eureka.
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: I thought, yeah, no, you didn't offend someone. You offended a giant ego. Because you said that to me and X, Y, and Z and this person, and what did we do? See, that's what I mean. That's the safety net, the anchor, whatever you want to call it. That's the lighthouse to keep your your butt got it when the storm's coming when you can't see what's happening. And it will happen. So I'm not dependent on people, but I'm not stupid enough to think I can man a whole, you know, ginormous ship by myself, right? And that's what I want people to know. It take it and turn it around. Look at all angles. I'm a realist. I don't do the fly in the sky, you know, flying spaghetti monster stuff. But why is there
Holly Jean Jackson: Okay.
Mike Ashabraner: you girls? But why is there a difference? Why is there why are the two not compatible? Why is faith and realism always divided? Realism says this is the way it is. Not the way I want it to be, right? My shortcomings, the situation, whatever matters. But faith says this is how it could be better. And that's the catalyst for growth. And just like you said earlier, when when when the massive storms come, they I always say this turning shit into fertilizer and teaching others to do the same, right? The tsunamis would make me f just freak out. I would get drowned in the waves. Now, surf. Surf. Get knocked off, get back on,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: surf again. I I mean it, I hate I used to hate when people said that. It's true, folks. I I yeah, you
Holly Jean Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Mike Ashabraner: know. So either you accept the truth. I mean nobody ar argues gravity, right? If I throw the ink bin, it hits the ground. So it is in the law of happiness, success. They're out there. And they're not elusive. They're available to everyone, right? You just have to be willing to go when your brain and every reason on earth says don't. That's it. Who's who's dropping?
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. My mentor says it a little bit differently than the surf analogy, but she says, Holly, stop fighting the ri river of life. Sit down, enjoy the rapid and see where it's taking you next. And I'm like, my goodness, thanks for the reminder, Yoda.
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: but also I do want to touch on the ego thing and then we're gonna do a wrap-up because we're coming to the end of the interview here. But I'm rereading a book called The Rock Warrior Way, and it's about climbing and dealing with the mental aspect of fear and the ego that gets in the way of climbing performance. And I just reread the first chapter three times, which is about awareness. And it just talks about all of the energy sinkers that we have related to the ego, the whole need to perform when you're in front of people socially on a route, the whole need to compare ourselves to the past version of ourselves. To the people around us. And so this is a beautiful metaphor to business. If you're comparing yourself to others, you're comparing an older version of yourself to your current version of yourself, or you're feeling the need to perform, your ego is triggered and you're in the ego. And this is where that imposter syndrome, that scarcity mindset comes in. So the more as business owners we can identify. When we are experiencing our ego or somebody else on a sales call in our community that we're supporting, a friend, a family member is their ego is burying its head, you can take it less personally. And then you can also help them more by asking permission to help them, not providing it without asking permission first. And for those of you who are empaths out there, that asking piece is really important. Put your life vest on first, put your mask on first, make sure your ego is in check before you have that conversation. And then if you feel intuitively that you're ready and they're ready, ask permission first and you'll have a much better and more balanced conversation. Mike, this has been amazing. We could do this for days and for hours. Mike is an amazing guy. He's been in our community for a while as a collaboration magic partner. I'm gonna ask you two more rapid fire questions. You ready? What's the best one piece of advice you would share with others today?
Mike Ashabraner: Get to know yourself. And if you don't know yourself, hey, that's your d that's where to start. Not business plans, not everything. Define it. Who do I want to be? Right? That's it. And it goes back to what you said real quick: that I. Here's the question. Who is the who is it talking to? All those negative thoughts that are dominating us, the ego, everything else. When someone does something we don't like, the question to ask is who the hell is that talking to? That's the real you. So you the real you. Right, needs to sit down and start getting what turns me on, what turns me off, what do I like, what do I not like, what is serving me, what is not. Woo, yeah, buckle up for that one. But that's it. Get real with yourself. That's why when you meet somebody who's so peaceful and it's so weird, when you meet somebody like that, that's what that is. That's a that's a lifelong evolution of of of hell. They went through hell, folks, to get to that point. And so it is. Anyone could do it. If you're alive, you could do it. And don't wait till you feel like it. You you'll never feel it. Just do it anyway. Do it right now. That just that's my advice.
Holly Jean Jackson: I love that. That's beautiful advice. Yeah. And the thing too is before I get to the last question here, somebody may appear peaceful on the exterior and even energetically they're peaceful, but they could be in the middle of a storm. personally, I went through that last week and everybody's like, you're so together, you're so strong, you're so peaceful. In reality, I was holding it together for what we were experiencing with our family in an emergency. And then I fell apart in my sacred container with my sacred community when it was the time to do that. But also for those of you who are like me and feel like you can't fall apart, reminder you can at any point, at any time, even if you think it's inappropriate, put down that lifesaver or that warrior, whatever swords that you have in your head and and be real. Like Mike said, get to know yourself. And understand that better. Mike, tell our listeners today what's the legacy that you wish to leave behind?
Mike Ashabraner: two hundred year legacy. I have no time to waste. When I'm forty five, so you know, I I'm making up for lost time so to speak. But it it is. It it's you know, the vision and what can actually happen may be vast, right? The fire department, they want no house fires. Is that gonna happen? Probably not. But they work every day, right? And they put out when they happen. That's what it is. J just the place in a world where, you know, folks are somewhere along the way. They have the people, resources and support to get it done. That they have what they instead of told, no, you're not good enough, this system doesn't work for you, that thing, that they have another way. That's why I love coming on here and working with you. It's not about me, right? It it's about the wrong person in the wrong place. So if we can help somebody, maybe they need inspiration, maybe they need a friend. I did that the other day. I said, listen, this lady just needs a friend. I don't know if this person ever had someone who just loved them for them. Right? Always want somebody wanting some. really famous, right? And I said, hey, I said, you can smell for dog do all day long. You ain't gonna find
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: a test. I did. And guess what? Months later, they just have two people who just want to be there for them who didn't reach out when it wasn't appropriate. So that's my that's my legacy. If I can get the foundation built and have some building that's producing meaningful, impactful things and I can have my redneck face on a on a oil painting somewhere or my great granddaughters out there leading the charge. Yeah, that would be absolutely insane. But on the flip side, I want people to know this. Reach for the stars. Worst case, you grab a tree branch, right? So the people the naysayer, what if you don't reach it?
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: You know what? I'm a still a hell of a lot better man. I made an impact I'll never see. So stop it. Go for the biggest you can want to go for because you you that's the way you get this far ahead. That's stop listening. Yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah, Mike. that really resonates with me. I'm gonna see how how how I can express this clearly to folks. Life is so short and so precious, and you never know how much time you have. So reach for the stars every day, every moment. I think many folks in our community know that we had a family member in the hospital last week and it was really scary. He was septic for four days, and everything the doctors tried wasn't working. It was really scary. obviously, this is my brother, I'm really close to him. And it was such a reminder of what matters and what doesn't, and being so grateful that I have a business where I can just cancel everything for a week and just be there. for my family and with my family, but also a reminder of the importance of community and the people around you. The people that we had to shift appointments around for, whether there were clients or partners or like our interview, I think this is like the third time we've had this scheduled. And I was like, I'm so sorry, I cannot make this up. but just the fact that we have that harmony in our community and the support and like the number of people that reached out to us to just pray. for me, for my family, for my brother, was overwhelming. But it's just such a great reminder that community matters and who you surround yourself matters. And also, you guys, you never know what's gonna happen. So please, please make this life the very best you can. So and with that, thank you, Mike, for being part of our community.
Mike Ashabraner: thank you. I mean I give a lot of grades 'cause I need a lot. I mean, let's let's be honest. But it it is. You know, I didn't think, well, how come she ble look, that's the that's the beauty of putting values and friendship that forms and then you happen to have a business overlap. I love that. Whoever said you can't be mixed friendship and business, man, I don't know, take it somewhere else. Because that's why I built the business. Working with somebody you don't like, putting up with crap you don't want to put up with, that's called the job. And a lot of us don't want to do it. So I I appreciate you because I didn't feel blown off. I said, This lady's got a lot going on. I can relate to that, right? And well,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: you know, hey, maybe maybe that delay was actually a good thing. That's what I mean. Let go of of the outcome. That's my biggest last minute advice. Let go of the outcome. Do your best to hell with the outcome. That served me. Yeah. I mean, I have a goal,
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. Yeah.
Mike Ashabraner: but if I don't hit the goal, my whole life doesn't disintegrate. I'm not finished, right? I learned. And yeah.
Holly Jean Jackson: Yeah. Yeah. And it's it's about the journey and it's about who goes on the journey with you and what you learn. So with that.
Mike Ashabraner: Yeah, you can sell jelly beans and I'll be happy, so close me out. I I wouldn't care.
Holly Jean Jackson: I love it, Mike. Well, with that to our listeners, thank you for tuning in. And you should definitely check out Mike's community. If you're feeling alone, you're feeling isolated, you want connections, you want those relationships. He's amazing. His tribe is truly amazing. And if you found this inspiring and somebody else needs to hear something from the message that we shared today, please share that with others. Thank you so much. Alright, Mike.
