Building a Kingdom Barbershop, Beating Cancer, and Loving Life with Kevin Zeallear

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When I initially got the diagnosis, I'm just like, all right, this sucks, but I think we caught it early enough, we're gonna get through it.
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And then I started hearing the enemy like, oh, this is like your your mom died of this.
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Like this is what this is how you're gonna go.
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You do have that from time to time where you have that tugging on your heart.
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Oh yeah.
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And a lot of times I suppressed it because I'm like, is that really from you, God?
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Like, is that real?
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As I got older, it was like I didn't really know what I believed anymore, especially she got sick when I was in my 20s.
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She had cancer and she ended up passing when I was 22.
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I just really I was really confused because I knew she had such a great faith, and I'm like, all right, God, like, why would you take somebody like that if you're real?
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I just drank for a couple of years, like heavily.
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I'm watching every game at the bars on Sundays, and I'm like, all right, I guess if they win the Super Bowl, I can start going to church on Sundays.
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And your ultimatum if you're feeling the prompting and the tug of the Holy Spirit to mention somebody, something to somebody or like spark a kind of like go.
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Nothing had been like working out well.
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So it was just like, ah, we don't really know which direction to go.
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By the third week that we're fasting, I'm praying with Matt and Julie, and I'm like, I'm actually going to sign the least on this uh barbershop.
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It was something that I thought was like not gonna work out.
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That was like the first time I really felt like God was speaking to me.
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Welcome to First and Focused, the podcast where faith meets leadership.
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I know you're gonna put me on the spot.
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I don't know what you're gonna ask me to say.
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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.
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I could sit here and talk with you all day.
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Keep up the great work, brother.
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Lord is using you powerfully.
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I love you.
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I love watching what Jesus is doing in your life.
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All right.
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Well, welcome to the First and Focus show, everyone.
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This is a show where we interview business leaders from various industries who are putting their faith first and staying focused on the mission of the gospel through their callings.
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And here we are with Mr.
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Kevin Zealer, my good friend.
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And uh, dude, I'm I'm pumped to have you here.
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It's been a long time coming.
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Hey, I'm excited to be here too.
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Yeah, I know uh had you scheduled for last round, but you had a little something come up that uh that was gonna prevent that.
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We're gonna get into that here in a minute.
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I'm I don't want to spoil the listener's surprise, but glad to have you sitting across from me, buddy.
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Hey, thank you.
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It's an honor.
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Yeah, I'm happy to be here.
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Yeah.
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All right.
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If if if this is gonna be as fun at all as what it is when I sit in your barber chair, man, this is gonna be pretty cool.
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Yeah, just two dudes hanging out.
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That's right.
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Yeah, we got a good out we got a good hour on tap for the listeners.
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So let me let me just do your intro real quick and then we're gonna get right into it, right into some of the meat.
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All right, Kevin Zealer, you are the co-founder and owner of 12-7 barbershop, a name inspired by the Bible verse, Luke 12.7, where Jesus states that the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
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Nice.
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When Jesus talks about hair, we gotta use that.
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Yeah.
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Uh you've aimed to bring that verse into your shop, making every client, barber, and vendor feel specifically valued through your leadership.
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You previously owned Classics Barbershop in Grandview, and you began your career at Tech's Barbershop, which is the longest-running business at Ohio State campus.
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Uh, as a recent cancer survivor, you rang the bell culminating a radiation round of treatment just weeks ago, making it through a fight that you didn't see coming at such a young age.
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You're a valued leader within Rock City Church, a frequent volunteer in many capacities, husband to Heather, a father of two amazing daughters, and most importantly, a lover and follower of Jesus Christ.
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Come on.
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There you go.
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We nail it.
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That's a great intro.
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Heck yeah, dude.
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All right, so first question, just to get right into it, is Luke 12.7.
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Um, I'm sure you've come to love that verse because it's just like part of the logo that you see and kind of how you live and breathe within the shop every day.
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But was that something that you ever thought about before opening up 12-7 barbershop?
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And how's that verse inspired you now?
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No, I never thought of it.
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Honestly, when you sent it to me, I was like, dang, dude, this is a little disrespectful sending a bald guy the verse about how many hairs are on your head.
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Um that is funny that you're you know the bald barber.
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Yeah, I was like, he's like, all right, man, that's cool.
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Uh we can talk about how much hair I have, but um no, it's uh it's definitely been super impactful because it embodies uh I think what it means to be a barber, where it's like, you know, a shop is a place where people can come and be seen.
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And that verse, you know, it's talking about how much God knows you and loves you and cares for you down to the number of hairs on your head.
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And I think that's what's important to me is because it doesn't matter if you're a CEO or you know, the a garbage man, uh, I treat everybody the same and I want everyone to be seen.
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So like that verse, when you send it to me at first you're like, hey, what do you think about this verse?
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Like for the name of a shop.
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I'm like, I don't know.
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And then I as I like read into it more and read the chapter, I'm like, this is actually perfect.
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Yeah, this is who I am.
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Yeah, dude.
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I mean, I've always felt that from you.
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Yeah, you know, like whether it's going in in first time we met was at Classics, yeah.
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Um, or even now up and through 12-7.
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I mean, when when people walk in the door, they feel seen.
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Uh I think the reviews speak to that.
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I mean, that verse about how unique people are, down to the hairs on their head, God knows them that specifically.
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Right.
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And you treat them uh that way, and also like everybody's got a unique thing that they're trying to go for, not only with their look, but just circumstances in life.
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Right.
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Yeah.
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It's pretty cool, man.
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Yeah, a lot of a lot of people uh just don't feel seen in life.
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Yeah.
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Um, you know, and whether it's you're a dad and you're busy and you're going through the grind of having little kids and trying to just make it day by day, or you're, you know, you are seen, but you're not seen, you know.
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You could be a big CEO, but like no one like knows anything about you, yeah, personally, you know.
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This isn't on our script, but like you're a barber, you're also kind of like a I don't know, almost like an accidental counselor sometimes.
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I feel like that's not necessarily like in the job description, but you become that.
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Yeah, for some reason, people tell their barber everything.
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Can you tell when somebody walks through the door and they come sit in your chair like oh yeah, they're wearing something that maybe they need to get it out?
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How does that work?
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Yeah, for sure.
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I um I I have some clients that I know have like a lot of like a heaviness to their jobs, and um, you know, if they come in and they're breathing heavy, I just I I won't lead with the conversation.
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I'll let them lead.
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I'll sit, I'll be quiet for a minute, and if they just want to sit there and close their eyes, like we don't have to get into anything.
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If you just need to sit here and decompress, like that's cool.
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And the moment, you know, I'll let you lead the conversation where you want to take it.
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Yeah.
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Um, and that's you know, why I like to have sports on the TV and some music in the background, like things like that, because you don't know what somebody's carrying.
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And a lot of times it's heavy.
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It's like today I went in early before this podcast, yeah.
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My buddy's in town from uh China and uh his grandma passed, you know, and it's like you just don't know when those funeral haircuts are coming or whatever, whatever it is somebody's carrying, you know, it could be anything.
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Yeah.
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Um so I yeah, I try to I try to let people lead with the conversation before I just jump into something.
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Yeah, I'm I'm sure like with the the guys who become regulars, and you got a lot of them.
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I mean, you're you're probably one of the most sought-after barbers in the city.
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I mean, it's pretty hard to get on your books.
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I know guys I've recommended to you, and they're like, I can't book with him, man.
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I can't it's like he's like four weeks out.
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I need a haircut like tomorrow.
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I'm like, well, dude, you gotta you gotta plan ahead.
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But uh I'm sure with like some of your regular clients that you get to know their personalities, you can really easily tell, like, hey, it's something's up here.
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Oh yeah, for sure.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, it's pretty cool.
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You know, whether and you know, and it's a shop full of dudes, so not everybody wants to talk about it uh publicly.
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So, you know, I just kind of feel the vibe and let them take the lead.
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Yeah.
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Well, next question I have is it's it's about the shop and kind of God showing you that yeah, you're taking the right steps.
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There's little breadcrumbs I feel like that he drops us sometimes to oh yeah, just kind of give us the the assurance like yeah, that is a step I'm asking you to take.
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This was one um I'm gonna let you tell the story.
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Yeah, but it was interesting.
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So while you were still at Classics, we were doing some early filming.
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And if anybody doesn't know, I'm I co-founded 12-7 with Kevin.
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So I'm I'm I am not the guy, I don't do a whole heck of a lot, but uh I'm I'm here to support him.
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Uh but we were at Classics and we were doing some filming for some social stuff we were gonna do at launch.
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Yeah, and it just so happened that your barber license was hanging behind you, and there was just an interesting thing that transpired.
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Why don't you just tell us that story?
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Yeah, I think it was Matt.
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I think he was uh filming and um he was just asked, he just said, Hey, how long have you been a barber?
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And I was like, I don't know, 12, 13 years.
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And he's like, that'd be crazy if it was 12 years and seven months.
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And I was like, I'm like, actually, hold on, let me look.
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And sure enough, man, it was like to the day almost of uh him asking that question and us being there.
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It was like 12 years and seven months as a barber.
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Yeah, um, so that was super cool because when you take these steps, man, you never know.
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Like you're you're you're praying through it, you're asking God to show you, and sometimes you know, you're not a hundred percent, but yeah, it was cool to see that.
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Yeah, when you're stepping out in faith and taking a risk, so you think about that.
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What is that?
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Uh 12 times 12 is 144 plus 7, 151.
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So somehow or another on your timeline, God knew 151 months prior to that that that little revelation was going to take place and just be a confirmation for you in your in your faith journey.
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Yeah, yeah, that was super cool.
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Has he ever done anything like that for you in the past?
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Um, I think what so when I was opening uh classics, actually, I was fasting um and my wife wanted to fast uh with Roxy.
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We had just started going to Rox City Church and they did the 21-day fast, and she's like, hey, I think I need to do this fast with the church, and like I love to eat, so I was like, absolutely not.
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Like, there's no way I'm gonna not eat for 21 days.
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And then the closer I got, I'm like, all right, you know, like maybe I'll fast like in the evenings when we're home together to be a supportive husband.
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And then I'm the closer we're getting to it, I'm like, all right, I think I just need to be all in on this thing.
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So I'm like, I don't even know why I'm fasting other than to support my wife.
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And um, so we go to the prayer and fasting night, and uh we're praying with uh the pastors, Matt and Julie, and they're like, hey, what how can we pray for you?
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And uh I'm like, Well, you know, I'm really just here to support her, but like we've kind of been uh contemplating moving to North Carolina or opening a barbershop, and at the time nothing had been like working out well, so it was just like ah, we don't really know which direction to go.
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Um, so we pray about it, and then I get a call the next day.
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Um uh from two friends sent me the same like listing, and I was like, okay, that's weird.
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Maybe I should give this guy a call.
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So call the realtor and I'm like, yeah, I didn't think it was the right spot.
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Um go back the next week, and I'm like, well, actually, I'm about to look at this spot, and um, we're praying through it, and the guy I'm talking to the realtor, and he's like, um, he's like, Well, what do you think about Howard's and Grandview?
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Now that barbershop had just closed, prime location.
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I'm like, I'd sign a lease on that place tomorrow.
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So um by the third week that we're fasting, I'm praying with Matt and Julie, and I'm like, I'm actually going to sign the lease on this uh barbershop.
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So it was just really cool to see God move and like the way he did it, because it was something that I thought was like not gonna work out.
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I thought, you know, and uh it just supernaturally came together in a way that like only God could have made happen.
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And yeah, we signed that lease, and it was uh yeah, it was just pretty incredible.
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That was like the first time I really felt like God was speaking to me.
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It is kind of crazy that that came through a fast because fasting has been like something that you know you and I have done, and it's a it's a spiritual practice that we take seriously from time to time in our life.
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But you went from not knowing if you were even gonna live in Ohio to signing a lease on I mean, it's a that was a prime location.
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That was right on the corner of Fifth and Grandview Avenue, like right in the heart of it.
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Um, and that came together lickety split like that.
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Oh, yeah.
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And you'd never been a business owner before, you never signed a lease on a commercial property before.
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I mean, that was all brand new.
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Yeah, I I think I had like eight grand to my name, and I put every dollar I had to open this shop.
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And like going through what we went through, could you imagine having$8,000 to open up a business?
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Like uh no, it usually doesn't work.
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No, no, it usually does not work that way.
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Like we paid our painters more than yeah, 100%.
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Yeah, so you had to everything had to come together exactly like it was supposed to.
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100%.
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Yeah.
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I mean, it's it's kind of cool when you just look back at the journey in hindsight and see God's fingerprints all over it.
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100%.
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Dude.
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It was super cool.
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All right, so I I want to get into a little bit of the business before we get into back in some of your faith journey, but yeah, um, a lot of people don't know how this is possible.
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And so if folks that are listening to this who aren't barbers or haven't owned barber shops, this is pretty improbable.
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But um, inside of a year, now you've got nine successful barbers in the shop.
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Uh some of them are gonna be six-figure barber club.
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We're like, it's you know they're they're busy.
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And these aren't guys that were seasoned, you know, tenure veterans with huge followings yet.
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A lot of these guys are straight out of barber school, it's their first gig.
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And not only are they doing fantastic, but like everyone's successful.
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You've had almost no basically no turnover, and uh those guys have become a band of brothers in there, like under your leadership, the culture is just thriving.
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So just take me through what you attribute this year one of 12-7.
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What's that success come from?
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Man, only God.
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Um, it has been incredible.
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Um, guys have come in and I'm like, I feel like God has highlighted some guys, and I'm like in the past, would never have hired these guys, whether it was um just like honestly, like I wouldn't hire anyone that didn't have two years experience before.
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Yeah, and I just knew God, like God put this on my heart to like there's no space in the city where people can get right out of school and get some mentorship and start making money right away.
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Um, so I feel like God put that on me, and it's like it's been a reluctant thing for me to take on.
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Yeah, um, but it's been so rewarding.
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Um, but yeah, it's only God.
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Like we got the Google ads dialed in, you know, you're doing great with that.
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Um and just the like it's not hard, like, especially in our industry, there is not a lot of good customer service out there.
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Yeah, and it's like you look at the best, you know, Chick-fil-A, for example, like a Christian business, and it's like you go there and it's like overkill with the customer service, but everybody loves it.
00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:06.480
Yeah, so like one thing I've tried to hammer into everybody's head is like, hey, when someone walks in, like we need to greet them, you know, and it needs to be just like, hey, how are you today?
00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.519
Like, um, so that that's helped out a lot.
00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:17.039
But then, like, you know, these guys they have great personalities, and that's why I attribute God to the success too, because they've he's put together the right team.
00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:21.200
Um, and that's one thing I do is like I when we need to hire somebody, I'm praying.
00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.639
I'm like, God, we need somebody, you know who we need.
00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.720
Um, bring them to me, like uh highlight them for me so I know who to hire.
00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.799
And um, he's done it every step of the way.
00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:48.399
Specifically, I just because the most recent three I can remember the most recent three, you pray, and it's like, all right, it's time, like based on traffic, based on the amount of people that are trying to get in, based on the fact that like Google ads, like, hey, we can't even increase the spend because if we get more clicks during prime time, like there ain't no barbers to cut people.
00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:48.639
Right.
00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.559
Uh so you've been praying for people.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.720
Yeah, and the last three specifically, God's just kind of like teed them up and brought them in.
00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:01.200
And not only it this is from the outside looking in, the cool thing is like you're the subjective point of view, you're in there every day.
00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:01.519
Yeah.
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.000
From the outside observer, when you walk in, they just fit and fold in with the culture.
00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:06.559
Yeah.
00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.039
Yeah.
00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.960
How do you get the vibe to be so positive on a daily basis?
00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.039
I think I think it just starts at the top.
00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:20.000
I'm a very positive person, and I think in the past I've kind of um I've kind of shied that down to like fit in with other people.
00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:31.600
And I think just like like when we opened up, we're like putting our stamp like this is a business that is for the Lord, and you know, we wrote scriptures on the um, I don't even have that on the scripture, but yeah.
00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:40.639
Yeah, like we have scriptures under the walls, like, you know, and it's it's you feel the lightness in that shop, and it's uh feeling unlike any other.
00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:45.200
And um I think a lot of it is just like, you know, I pray for everybody in there.
00:15:45.360 --> 00:15:51.840
I pray um for their not just them to be successful, but like, you know, their mental health.
00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:55.840
I pray for their families, and I think it just makes a huge difference.
00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:58.159
There's a big difference when you're praying for your team.
00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:58.480
Yeah.
00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.919
Like what that does as a leader.
00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:08.240
I the way that you can see them, like the heart that you have to like help them along in life, not just in their in their work and their paycheck, but like literally care about them.
00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:08.559
Yeah.
00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:11.039
And honestly, I think they know, I think they that's felt.
00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.519
Yeah.
00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:19.919
And that's like the one of the biggest things I think, and not to knock on any other barbershop owners, but I just genuinely love people and I want to see them succeed.
00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:25.600
Yeah, and that's what gets me the most excited is when I can see a barber come in and they don't even know how to cut hair.
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:34.080
Yeah, they're scared to talk to people, and it's like, hey, this guy is making you know a hundred grand a year now because of mentorship that I provided.
00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:34.320
Yeah.
00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:39.600
And it's like it's incredible to see the transformation in people, and that's truly like my favorite part.
00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.879
I'm wanting that for people.
00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.200
Yeah.
00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:42.159
Let me ask you this question.
00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.120
What was it like in there?
00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:45.840
Because I I I saw one of the posts that you had this week.
00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:46.559
It was so cool.
00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:51.039
I mean, in there, you're spray painting ceilings, you got your kids in there sweeping up.
00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:55.919
Um, I think your family was in there with you because I remember when you shot pictures to me of you writing Bible verses on the studs.
00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.480
Yeah, that whole shop is encased with the truth.
00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:58.879
Right.
00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:01.679
Um, so if anybody's in there and they're like, man, why does it feel different here?
00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.679
It's because you got the truth surrounding you.
00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:06.400
Like you can't you ain't escaping it when you walk in those walls.
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:09.119
What was that like going through that with your family?
00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.200
And like, how's that relationship been with Heather, you know, taking this leap of faith?
00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:19.680
Man, uh, I got the most respect for her in the world because she has been the most supportive wife I could ever ask for.
00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:24.559
Because it's like, hey, uh, we're gonna spend every dollar we've saved up and open up this shop.
00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:32.240
Oh, as soon as we started seeing fruit from this barber shop, hey, babe, uh, God's called me to open up another shop and leave this one that's like finally making some money.
00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:32.559
Yeah.
00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:36.319
Um, so like she's just like been so supportive.
00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:41.920
And um she it's it's her faith that I think does that for her too.
00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.160
Cause like, yeah, she wants, you know, to make more money and you know, live a better life.
00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:51.519
But like she knows that the uh spiritual fruit is greater than um the worldly fruit.
00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:54.640
So yeah, it's it's been really cool with my kids too.
00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.960
Cause but Phoebe's got this complex, dude.
00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:57.440
She's so funny.
00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.279
She's like, Mommy, are you the boss at your work?
00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:01.599
Because she's like, I'm gonna tell your boss on you, Dad.
00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.240
And I'm like, I'm like, hey, I'm the owner.
00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.000
Like, I'm not, there's no other boss.
00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:07.039
She's like, wait, what?
00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.480
You can't tell anybody on me.
00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:09.119
Right.
00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:14.160
So she's just like obsessed with this of like asking everybody, like, hey, are you the boss at your work?
00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.359
Hey, are you the boss at your work?
00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:19.599
And I'm just like, All right, you gotta chill with this bossy stuff because it doesn't really matter.
00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.640
Like, that's what you haven't told her yet is that that Heather is the boss.
00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:30.000
You're like, yeah, actually, like I'm the boss at work, but like I I kind of got to get permission from mommy if I'm gonna keep going, going out on a limb doing some of this stuff.
00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.039
Yeah, she knows.
00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.160
She knows for sure.
00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.440
Because she that's what she tells me.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.640
She's the mom's the boss.
00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.160
Like, yeah, you're right.
00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:40.640
All right, so I want to talk a little bit about the best rate award because uh you guys just won that.
00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:57.039
So for 2026, and it's just on pure reviews and customer feedback, but number one in Worthington, what's it like to plant a flag in a city and then after a year, already, I mean, with hundreds of five-star reviews, I feel like fan favorite, especially among like the local high school kids.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.079
I mean, everybody's pouring in there.
00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:00.559
Like, what's it feel like to be number one in the area you planted?
00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:05.119
Man, it's really cool because um, you know, you know, I said I love mentoring people.
00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:10.640
I see my barbers mentoring these high schoolers and these middle schoolers, and there was no space for them.
00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:18.079
The only other two shops in the area, they're cutting mostly gray hair and they're doing like walk-ins only, you know, it's just a different than what we offer.
00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:23.920
You know, we got a shop when you walk in, they're like, oh, this is like TikTok worthy, you know, like this is a cool looking place.
00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:36.000
So, like, that's been that's been uh awesome to see that parents are like they want to bring their kids in, you know, and it's like it's really cool to just be a part of that community and um people embracing it.
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.839
Yeah, there's a specific story.
00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:47.279
I don't know, I I think you know it to tell it, uh but just to give an example of maybe what it feels like when you go to a shop that uh has Christ at the center.
00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:53.359
Um Miles, one of the one of the barbers, there was a recent, you know, woman who lost, I think her husband, right?
00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.559
Yeah, and she has two sons.
00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.039
Yep.
00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.079
Um, you know that story.
00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:56.640
Oh, yeah.
00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:56.799
Yeah.
00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:02.000
Why don't you go through that as an example of how you can share the love and light of Jesus really in anything you do, even being a barber?
00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.400
Right.
00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:02.640
Yeah.
00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:06.559
So this was completely and you know, completely unprompted from me.
00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.319
This was just him being a good person.
00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:15.519
He said, Man, she told me she lost her husband, and she was thanking us for being a good example of what uh good men look like to her boys.
00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:20.079
And he's like, it just something sat like it did something to my spirit that night.
00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:25.519
And I told her, I said, Hey, as long as these kids are in high school, like I'm cutting them for free.
00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.000
Like, you do not have to worry about paying for your haircuts.
00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:42.160
And it's like two haircuts, you know, every couple weeks, but it's like, man, the heart behind him to do that is like that's why I talk about God bringing us the right people because I'm like so grateful that like God brought somebody who's like wants to be that guy too, you know.
00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:48.240
Because I've I've worked with a lot of barbers, and it's like not everyone has that same heart, you know, to serve people.
00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:50.960
Well, I mean, I got two kids, so I know what that's like.
00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:58.640
And you go in, like my kids they they love the guys that cut their hair, they want to get pictures with them after their cuts, they put their arms around them.
00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:06.640
I mean, it's it's just like it's an interesting vibe that can that happens, and I do feel like parents because most of the barbers that are in your shop are in their 20s.
00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:06.960
Yeah.
00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.559
Right, and you're not particularly old.
00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.920
Yeah, you're not 40 yet.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.400
What are you?
00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:11.039
35.
00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.920
35, yeah.
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.359
So you're still you're still a puppy.
00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:18.640
Yeah, I still feel like I'm working with a bunch of kids sometimes, but um they're 10-year gap will do a lot.
00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.359
Yeah, but they you know, they put wind beneath my sails, man.
00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:28.640
Like they still got that that um that that just hunger, you know.
00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:40.160
Yeah, but as a parent of two young boys myself, there's not a lot of places where you can go where there's someone that's older that they look up to, but not like as old as me, where they think I'm an old man.
00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:40.559
Yeah.
00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:43.599
And so like they think that somebody in their twenties is cool.
00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.079
Oh, yeah.
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.440
And they still got the style that they want, and they can cut the hair like they like it, and all of that.
00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:52.240
But uh, how many places can you bring your kid where there's somebody they look up to like that that you know is also gonna be a good influence?
00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:59.759
Ask the right questions, you know, just be clean, give cool advice, like just all those types of things that you guys are fostering in the shop.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:09.359
I can see why parents in Worthington and the surrounding area are like, all right, yeah, that's that's a place for I can drop my kid off there and know that they're gonna come out not only looking good, but they're gonna have something that lifted him up.
00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.160
Yeah, for sure.
00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:18.160
It's really cool too, because like these guys are so young, like they were doing these the styles that all like every middle school and high schooler wants the same haircut.
00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:22.559
And it's like these guys were better at that haircut than I was because that's all they've been doing, you know.
00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.759
So it was very true.
00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:24.880
Yeah, it was really nice.
00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:37.200
All right, we're gonna take a little bit of a left turn here, but um well, before I get into this, I want to talk a little bit about your faith because my entire time knowing you as a friend, uh your faith has been very strong, very deep.
00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:38.880
Um, you take it seriously.
00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.839
Uh it seems like you you've been all in ever since I've known you.
00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:43.279
It's has it always been that way?
00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:47.279
Give me kind of your faith journey growing up and when you came to the Lord.
00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:51.279
Um, so growing up, I grew up in a church.
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:57.599
It was like a small church that met at the high school that uh went to, and it was um probably just a handful of kids.
00:22:57.680 --> 00:23:04.319
And you know, I got into my teenage years and wanted to be a teenager, I would party and stuff and really stopped going.
00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:11.680
My mom always went, she had a really strong faith, and um, you know, she continued to pray for us and um we would go when she asked.
00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:21.839
Um, but I as I got older, it was like um I didn't really know what I believed anymore, especially she got sick when I was in my 20s.
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:27.279
Um, she had cancer and she ended up passing uh when she was 22, or when I was 22.
00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:32.319
And um I just really I was really confused because I knew she had such a great faith.
00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:36.559
And I'm like, all right, God, like why would you take somebody like that if you're real?
00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:48.000
And um I just yeah, I just drank for a couple of years, like heavily got hammered on the weekends and just like pushed it to the side and really didn't think about it.
00:23:48.160 --> 00:24:06.160
And then um fast forward a few years, um actually my wife, we had broken up at the time when um we were together in high school, and then we were broken up before my mom got sick, and then when my mom got sick, she was like there for me the whole way, and that's when I was like, all right, this is somebody I think I can marry.
00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:13.920
And um, she once we got married, you know, fast forward a few years, she had come to the end of herself.
00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:20.160
She was um anxious, depressed, um, really like crippling anxiety.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:28.319
So her grandma was in town, and she we had gotten a flyer for Rock City, and she was like, Hey, I'm gonna go, because she knew her grandma was into her faith.
00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:30.880
She said, Hey, I'm when grandma comes to town, I'm gonna go to church with her.
00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.759
I'm like, all right, cool.
00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:34.559
Like, I'm not into that, but like you should go for sure.
00:24:34.720 --> 00:24:36.799
And uh I was like, if it helps, it helps.
00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:43.200
And she goes and she's like, first message is like, God doesn't want you lukewarm, like you gotta be all in.
00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.359
So she was like, all in day one.
00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:52.000
Joined a small, like met a good friend, joined a small group, was serving um everything right away.
00:24:52.160 --> 00:24:56.559
And I'm like, all right, that's cool, but I'm not going like this, you know.
00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:06.240
And it just I growing up in church, like I remember seeing those families where like you would just see the dad every once in a while, yeah, or the husband, and I'm just like, I don't want to be that guy.
00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.200
You know, we're freshly married.
00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.559
I'm like, I'm trying to be a good husband.
00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.519
Like that was my motivation.
00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.759
Even before faith, though, that you knew that was a priority.
00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:12.720
Oh, yeah, for sure.
00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.119
Like, uh, it was like we were just married, we're young.
00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:23.359
I'm like, being a good husband's important to me because I I, you know, my dad's been divorced four times, and not to knock him, I just didn't think I was ever gonna get married.
00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:25.200
I just met the right one early.
00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.920
And um, so it was important to me to be a good husband.
00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.559
I'm like, all right, well, let's do this right.
00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:34.160
So she's going to church by herself, and I don't know what I believe.
00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:40.000
I'm going and watching all the Eagles games at the Eagles bar and uh on Sundays, and um, it's funny.
00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.920
I'm like, all right, God, you know, they're on a run.
00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.559
This is when they win their, they won the first Super Bowl with Doug Peterson.
00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:53.759
And I'm I'm uh every I'm uh watching every game at the bars on Sundays, and I'm like, all right, I guess if they win the Super Bowl, I can start going to church on Sundays.
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:56.000
And that was your ultimatum.
00:25:58.400 --> 00:25:58.720
Yeah, right.
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:00.079
It's like a light bargain with God.
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:08.079
Like, I'm not saying God made them win the Super Bowl because I wanted them to, but like when it happened, I'm like, oh shoot, maybe, you know, maybe you gotta go.
00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.279
Yeah, now I gotta go.
00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.000
I said it.
00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:18.960
So the first service I go to, uh, we're sitting there, and Pastor Chad just like, like, God spoke to me through him in the craziest way.
00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.960
He's like, hey, I don't know who this is for.
00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.960
And I don't know, I don't remember him ever doing this again.
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:31.039
He's like, I don't know who this is for, but God's telling me that um you're mad over the loss of a loved one, and he just wants you to know that you're home.
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:35.519
And like instantly just started weeping, like just felt it in my soul.
00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.079
And I was like, All right, God, like I'm here, you know.
00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:46.960
Like, I'll like you, I feel like God pulled me out of it into uh relationship with him again, and so that's really where it started.
00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:49.519
And we started serving together, going to church.
00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:54.880
We met some of our best friends um serving there, and have really just been all in ever since.
00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:58.319
Dude, have you have you told Pastor Chad, like, hey, do you remember saying that?
00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.160
Because he definitely knows about it.
00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:06.720
Um, I they did a story on me in one of the um I forget which book it was, like year eight or year seven.
00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:06.880
Yeah.
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:14.319
And they did an interview, and that was like what I talked about, and that so yeah, it is crazy when the spirit speaks through somebody else.
00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.680
Because it happens a lot.
00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:18.480
Yeah, it's common how he gets a hold of us.
00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:22.079
But every now and then when you feel the prompting, it's like I'm supposed to say this.
00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:24.160
Like somebody this is just supposed to happen.
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:27.920
It probably happens more for pastors uh than it does for you and me, potentially.
00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.640
But right uh, you do have that from time to time where you have that tugging on your heart.
00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.119
Oh, yeah.
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:36.160
And a lot of times I suppress it because I'm like, is that really from you, God?
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.119
Like, is that real?
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:43.359
Well, man, how many opportunities were missed because he wanted to speak through me to get somebody else's attention?
00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:43.839
Right.
00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.519
Because that's a that's case in point.
00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:59.200
I mean, so not only is it a really cool story the way God got a hold of your heart, but also it's just a reminder for all of us like don't be afraid if you're feeling the prompting and the tug of the Holy Spirit to mention somebody something to somebody or like spark a conversation, like go for it.
00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:03.279
Yeah, because that very well could be the exact thing that they're waiting for, right?
00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.720
That's gonna light up their life.
00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.920
Yeah, you never know.
00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.319
Yeah.
00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.680
Pretty sweet though, man.
00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.000
Yeah.
00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:11.279
So yeah, you didn't so you didn't grow up heavily in faith.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:14.079
Um you said your mom died of cancer.
00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:14.640
Yep.
00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:20.480
Okay, so that had to hit home recently for you because you just recently uh went through your own cancer battle.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.039
Yeah.
00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:23.119
Why don't you tell us a little bit about that?
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:30.960
Yeah, when I uh I definitely have a mentality of like why not me instead of why me, um, when things go wrong in life.
00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:37.440
And like in the sense of like I'm not better than anybody else, why should this person be sick and I don't get sick or whatever?
00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:42.559
Like, not that I deserve it, but I just have that mentality that like anything can happen to anybody.
00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:49.920
Um, so when I initially got the diagnosis, I'm just like, all right, this sucks, but I think we caught it early enough, we're gonna get through it.
00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:51.359
Like, it's no big deal.
00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:56.720
And then I started hearing the enemy like, oh, this is like your your mom died of this.
00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.720
Like, this is what this is how you're gonna go.
00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.720
And I'm I'm not afraid to die.
00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:09.200
For me, it's like, okay, God, like it, I don't think my work's done, and I I don't want my kids to grow up without a father, um, and my wife to not have her husband.
00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.440
So I'm like, I need to be here for them.
00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.559
Um, that's so that was my biggest thing, and I'm just praying through it.
00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:22.640
Like, probably the least anxious any cancer diagnosis like has ever been is uh me.
00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:27.599
My wife was just like we would go and I'd do my blood pressure, and it would be one point off from like perfect.
00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.519
And my wife's like, What the heck?
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:31.759
Like you're like you're you're cool as a cucumber.
00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:39.279
Yeah, your blood pressure is like almost perfect, and you're in here getting your blood drawn because you have cancer, like so.
00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:41.440
Um I just trusted God through it.
00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:48.079
I never felt like God, like I prayed a lot through it, I fasted through it, and I just never felt like this was it.
00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.839
You know, I felt like God is.
00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:52.640
I'd wish you would have gone through it pre-Jesus.
00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:54.640
What would that have done to you years ago?
00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.079
Oh yeah, I don't know.
00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:57.359
It would have wrecked me.
00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.000
Yeah.
00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:01.119
Especially with you know, the the family history.
00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:12.160
You know, once that created I was cool as a cucumber until until uh I like I started thinking about that, and I'm like, oh shoot, like maybe this is just you know, genetics, like dang.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:14.880
But God, you know, God He takes you through that.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:16.400
Yeah, what'd you learn about life?
00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:21.680
Because I I I think I've gone over this maybe even on this show, but I I just think it's an interesting stat.
00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:24.319
There's been studies done on lottery winners.
00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:28.480
Yeah, and five years post-winning the lottery, they always say it's the worst thing that ever happened to them.
00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:28.880
Right.
00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.000
But everybody wants to win the lottery, everybody wants the windfall.
00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:34.400
They've done same studies with cancer survivors, yeah.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:42.960
In five years or even just a couple years post-surviving cancer, um, they say it's the best thing that ever happened to them, but nobody wants to get cancer.
00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.359
Right.
00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.799
It's just really interesting.
00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.079
What what's your take?
00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:50.240
I know it's it's quick, is that you haven't had years to reflect on it, but what's your take on?
00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:57.119
I think initially it's like um get busy living if you are alive or get busy dying.
00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:10.960
Um, because I like this whole time, for example, like the day I did my draw where they found the markers that I have cancer, I did a uh testosterone draw because I'm like, I'm feeling like I'm tired all the time and just all the things with low testosterone.
00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.039
And then it turns out I had very low testosterone.
00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:18.079
So I'm like emailing my doctor back, like, hey, when can I get in to get some like replacement there?
00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:20.079
He's like, We got bigger fish to fry, dude.
00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:21.599
Like you have cancer.
00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:24.160
Like, I need some testosterone, dude.
00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:27.119
I'm sick of feeling tired and like unmotivated.
00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:27.440
Yeah.
00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:34.799
So, like, like this whole time, I'm just like, look, I'm ready to be back to who I was in my 20s and getting after it.
00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:39.119
And I just thought like I was tired and all that because of um having kids.
00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:41.200
Like we had our first kid during COVID.
00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:46.720
Like, so like I was just sick, I'm just sick of feeling like crap, and I'm just just like ready to get after it.
00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:51.680
And this whole thing of like going to the doctor and getting checked, like I probably lived with cancer for over a year.
00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:54.799
Oh before I know you did, yeah, before I even got checked.
00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.200
Because we talked about some stuff before like a year ago.
00:31:57.359 --> 00:31:58.240
I was like, oh man.
00:31:58.400 --> 00:31:58.960
Yeah, yeah.
00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:05.279
And then just like you know how it is, get around to getting in with your primary care and then getting your ultrasound, like all that stuff.
00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:11.519
So um, yeah, I my whole thing this year was like, all right, I need to um get healthy this year.
00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:15.200
And then I was like, all right, well, go into the doctor is probably on the top of that list.
00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:17.440
So I go to the doctor and it's like, oh yeah, you got cancer.
00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.319
So I'm like, all right.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.039
Yeah, for sure.
00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:25.279
And that's like, I'm just ready to like put it behind me and get after it.
00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.000
Yeah, man.
00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:29.440
So you you went that whole time with low tea and cancer.
00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:34.319
Imagine what you're capable of when you uh cancer free and you got some tea back in you.
00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.519
The world's not ready.
00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:38.160
The world is not ready for what Kevin could become here.
00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.519
Man, that's pretty crazy.
00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:45.759
Yeah, I mean, so what did you learn about um the marriage vow for sicker for poorer?
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:50.960
I feel like a lot of times people say that, and uh not for sicker or poorer, sickness and in health.
00:32:51.119 --> 00:32:51.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.319
What am I talking about?
00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:54.240
I'm blending, I'm blending vows here.
00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:04.480
But everybody always assumes that it's gonna be health, but then when sickness strikes, it's like, I how did your marriage bond uh form through this?
00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:07.839
The uh the reverence I have for my wife now is insane.
00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:21.119
Um, like once you have kids, you know, you look at your wife different, and I'm like, you see the beauty from your kids, especially I like two girls, so like, and they're beautiful, and I just like see their beauty in her through her.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:29.039
And um, but now like the way she was able to hold me down, and she was at every she didn't need to go to the radiation.
00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:34.160
I went for 20 minutes and went back to work, but she made sure she was there every time taking me.
00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:46.640
Um, she was doing dinner every night, cleaning up, putting the girls to bed, like while I'm just zonked from the radiation, I'm sleeping on the couch, you know, as soon as I got off work.
00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:53.680
So the way she was able to just like, you know, she was a single mom during that whole uh process.
00:33:53.920 --> 00:34:00.559
And yeah, I just got so much respect, reverence, and it brought I it's definitely brought us closer.
00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:11.119
We've been through a lot together, and just the way that I look at her now is just like I knew you were like I it's funny because I'm always like, man, she saved my life three times.
00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:18.639
This was the third, because she's the one who pushed me to go um go to the doctor when she's like, Hey, no, you need to go get this checked out.
00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:22.000
Yeah, and just and I'm like, I'm sure it's fine, like it's nothing.
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:28.880
And then yeah, sure enough, it was like she pushed me to go to it and then like through it, just carried the family.
00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:29.760
Dude, yeah.
00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:36.719
I mean, it's strong women, especially uh, you know, with guys who are I mean, you work hard, yeah, at home a lot.
00:34:36.800 --> 00:34:39.119
I mean, like, because you're you're out there and you're getting it.
00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:42.719
Um, having a strong wife behind you is really kind of like what makes the whole thing possible.
00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:45.519
Dude, there's no uh I've talked about this with some friends.
00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:51.760
It's like every great man has a great wife behind him, and without them, like you can only go so far.
00:34:52.159 --> 00:35:00.480
It's hard I from my my perspective, it's hard to be a committed leader and also have a family if you don't have a great wife behind you.
00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:07.199
Because if you if you're a guy out there and you're trying to be a leader for others, that takes a lot of energy, takes a lot of time, takes a lot of proximity.
00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:09.360
Um, you can't just do all that from a distance.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:09.760
Right.
00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:19.119
So if you don't have somebody who's got your home life locked down that you can also count on to lead in different ways, good luck leading in the primary way that you've chosen through your vocation.
00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.440
Right.
00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:21.119
Probably just not gonna happen very well.
00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:21.519
Yeah.
00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.119
Or the marriage won't last very long.
00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:23.519
Yeah.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:25.280
So I love what you guys got going on.
00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.320
Yeah, she's the best.
00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:31.119
I kind of asked God for a better um life partner, and I'm just super grateful for her.
00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:31.519
Yeah.
00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:31.920
All right.
00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:38.000
So speaking of leadership, I think that you're a great primary example of leading by example itself.
00:35:38.719 --> 00:35:48.400
So the way that you go about your business in the shop, um, and just the way that you handle your and conduct yourself in your personal life is something where if I was working for you, I'd be like, all right, that's that's a guy I want to emulate.
00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.639
Who did you like learn from?
00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:58.480
Like when you were growing in your skills, not just as a barber, but also just in leadership, like who are some of the primary ways that you're like, all right, yeah, that's who I model.
00:35:58.800 --> 00:36:00.719
Man, I honestly gotta say, it's my mom.
00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:03.920
When uh when we were kids, she was a single mother growing up.
00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.920
Um, uh my my dad's great.
00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:09.119
Uh he was just an every other weekend dad when I was a kid.
00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:16.239
And um, she would work, you know, she had three kids by herself, and she would work 60 hour weeks.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:25.280
She was a manager at Lowe's, she just worked her way up, you know, no college degree, worked hard, worked her way up, and she was 12 hour days, man, five to five or six to six.
00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:33.519
And she would come home, cook dinner every night for three knuckleheads, and you know, it was just super full of love and joy.
00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:38.320
And um, through all that, as I've gotten older, I would I respected it more.
00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:43.199
Because I remember when I was young, I would like be acting up, and my older brother would just be like, What are you doing, dude?
00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:46.639
Mom don't have time for this, like uh straighten up.
00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:48.880
Yeah, and I'm like, Oh, yeah, you're right, you're right.
00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:58.639
So, like, honestly, man, my mom, like, she worked so hard and she put and like it does something even my stepdad would say, like, man, you guys, like you, she's he would tell my mom, like, your kids have a really great work ethic.
00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.519
Like, it's insane.
00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:04.159
I don't really see that with a lot of kids, and um, it's because of her, yeah.
00:37:04.320 --> 00:37:06.400
You know, she had to do what she had to do, and she did it.
00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.199
That's pretty awesome.
00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:09.360
So I just have all the respect in the world.
00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:12.159
Um you still think about her a lot?
00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.039
Oh, yeah.
00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:14.079
Oh yeah.
00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.760
I had a really cool experience.
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:16.400
It sucks.
00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:26.960
Uh, the experience we had, me and my wife miscarried on our first uh attempt to have a kid, and I had a dream that my mom was holding the baby, like at the time of that miscarriage.
00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:39.440
And in the dream itself, I and I at the time I didn't know what it means because I have never read anything on like near-death experiences or anything like that, but I couldn't see her face, and it's this bright white, and like it was like she was in her glory.
00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:41.760
What was that on the baby's face or your mom's?
00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:52.559
I couldn't see my mom's face, and I uh but I knew she was holding a baby, and I knew it was her, and it was just so bright and white, and I could just tell she was just full of joy, like holding this baby.
00:37:52.719 --> 00:38:04.880
And then I read that um that book, um Imagine Heaven, and he's like in those books, uh John Burke talks about like um people that have near death experiences, like it's exactly like that.
00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:13.440
And he's like, There's people who have jobs in heaven, and like people experience that, and there's like nurseries, and I'm like, Oh yeah, that's like she loved kids, man.
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:22.000
And as that's like one of the things that like was the hardest when I had a kid, yeah, uh, when I got married, like all those things that I know she would have loved to be a part of.
00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:28.639
Um, it's hard, but I know she'll be a part of it in eternity, and that's something that has strengthened my faith as I've walked.
00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:30.559
Dude, well, I mean, what a cool story.
00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:36.159
Yeah, and at the time, you weren't following the Lord when you had this dream, or um, we were, yeah, we were.
00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:38.239
Yeah, I mean, so how cool is it?
00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.280
Dreams are important.
00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:39.760
Oh, yeah.
00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:43.360
I just reread uh you know, good portion of Matthew this week.
00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:48.559
I mean, the first like three, four chapters, it's like riddled with people paying a lot of attention to their dreams.
00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:53.360
Oh, yeah, and God guiding them and showing them things through their subconscious and through their dreams.
00:38:53.599 --> 00:38:53.920
Right.
00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:55.440
I mean, he does that.
00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:55.920
Yeah.
00:38:56.079 --> 00:39:00.719
Now, when you woke up from that dream, the the fact that you a remember it means it must have been pretty powerful.
00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:02.239
Did you tell Heather at the time?
00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:07.440
Oh, yeah, I was all excited because it was like the first time I experienced my mom from after her death.
00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:11.039
Yeah, and I'm all excited, like, babe, I just had this dream that mom was holding the baby, and da-da-da.
00:39:11.119 --> 00:39:17.119
And she's like, had you known about the miscarriage yet when you told her no, and Heather was her initial reaction was like, Oh crap.
00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:21.039
Like, she she knew something wasn't right, yeah, from that moment.
00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:23.519
And uh yeah, we went to the doctor that day.
00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:40.960
Her favorite song uh was like playing on the radio in the waiting area, and just like it would it's like it it sucked that we had to walk through that, but seeing um God's fingerprint on that, like and being there with us through that was like really cool.
00:39:41.199 --> 00:39:42.559
What a powerful dream, man.
00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:43.039
Yeah.
00:39:43.360 --> 00:39:47.199
All right, so we've gotten deep into Faith Walk.
00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:55.360
Obviously, you've been battle tested, uh, whether it's you know physically, uh, whether it's endurance and opening up businesses, because that has not been easy.
00:39:55.760 --> 00:40:10.320
Uh, when you look back at the last like you know year or two of your life opening 12-7, going through a longer build-out process, more expensive, more energy, more time than you probably could have imagined.
00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:10.719
Yeah.
00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:21.440
And then having cancer, onboarding nine barbers who are thriving, which is is unbelievable that it's taking place, but obviously it takes a lot of work.
00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:25.280
Um last couple years.
00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:41.519
You know, I think it's um it's not like as when you're when you're owning a business and you're operating um in leadership, like it's not a matter of if trouble is gonna come, it's when.
00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:47.039
And um just being being prepared for that and taking it as it comes and trusting God through it all.
00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:51.039
Um, because that's all the enemy can only throw if he's trying to knock us off our tracks.
00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:57.039
Like he can just throw curveballs, but you know, got you God can still orchestrate the whole thing.
00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:59.280
Yeah, he can turn any evil for good.
00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:02.639
So that's really just been what I've leaned on.
00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:02.880
Yeah.
00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:07.280
Because it has been like, I mean, it's it was way more than you expected for sure.
00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:09.199
Way more than I expected for sure.
00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:18.079
And um, it's been a journey, but the fruit from it, like, you know, we had that, we had a message from one of the barbers' um moms.
00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:23.599
Yeah, like you are like she she sent us that message saying, You guys are an answered prayer.
00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:29.679
We've been praying that our son is surrounded by godly men for so long, and then you guys come along, and that was very early, yeah.
00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:33.920
And that was like a first hire that I was like, I don't know if we should hire this guy.
00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:38.480
Like, he it was a lot of red flags, but um absolutely love James.
00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:41.280
Like he is one of the purest hearts, good dude.
00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:43.039
I saw myself in him a lot too.
00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:44.400
Yeah, it's like part of it.
00:41:44.559 --> 00:41:49.440
Um, but yeah, he's he I was sitting down with him yesterday and he's like, This is my monthly appreciation.
00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:52.079
Uh Kev, thank you so much for uh letting me work here.
00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:52.719
I love you.
00:41:52.800 --> 00:41:59.360
Like I was looking back on some of my social media of the life I was living a year or two ago, yeah, and he's like, I'm completely different.
00:41:59.599 --> 00:42:02.159
And I was and he's grateful for it, and he wanted it.
00:42:02.320 --> 00:42:04.559
So that to me was like, I love to see that.
00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:05.199
And you can tell.
00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:06.960
And he's a fan favorite at the shop, dude.
00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:08.719
He's killing it, he's crushing it.
00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:09.039
Yeah.
00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:11.199
Um, I got a picture of now.
00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:13.760
This is gonna be funny, but I got a picture of my 12-year-old and James.
00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:16.159
Grayson's taller than James now.
00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:19.039
But uh, it's it's up on social right now.
00:42:19.280 --> 00:42:22.079
It's it's cool to see how far some of these guys have come.
00:42:22.239 --> 00:42:32.159
It's it's actually a testament to how inside every single one of us, God has given us specific purposes and talents and skills, and those are just waiting to come out.
00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:38.400
And sometimes it just needs the right environment and the right leader to call it out to go realize your full potential.
00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:38.639
Yeah.
00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:53.039
Because I mean, James's case in point, he he wasn't maximizing his full potential in the old life that he was living, but now under your leadership and in that new environment, surrounded by the right people, his potential is shining, and who knows where it goes from here.
00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:55.599
But everybody has that inside them as a gift from God.
00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:57.360
Yeah, you're just calling it out.
00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:57.760
Right.
00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.960
Yeah, pretty sweet.
00:42:59.199 --> 00:43:01.760
I think it just comes from like me actually loving people.
00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:02.239
Yeah.
00:43:02.400 --> 00:43:14.639
You know, a lot of people say that, but like, you know, are you gonna hire that kid that's fresh out of jail or that, you know, is you know, hitting red flags that you're like, uh, or you know, do you actually care about their soul?
00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:19.840
Yeah, or do you care about, you know, someone who's just talented and gonna come in here and be a good barber?
00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:35.679
Like, you know, it's when a lot of times people's character, um it's their character is not indicative of their past results or their outcomes because some of those are so environmental, yeah, that you put anybody into certain situations and a lot of times the same actions will take place.
00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:36.159
Yeah.
00:43:36.400 --> 00:43:38.320
You know, it's that's just it's just the truth.
00:43:38.639 --> 00:43:40.719
Like we're not all we're not good.
00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:44.400
You know, deep down inside, all of us are capable of doing bad stuff.
00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:44.719
Yeah.
00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:48.320
Um, and given the right set of circumstances, we probably would do them.
00:43:48.639 --> 00:43:55.440
Yeah, and that's like I would I could have been in the same situation as him, but it's by God's grace that you know I never did get in trouble.
00:43:55.679 --> 00:43:56.159
Yeah, you know.
00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:56.960
That's true.
00:43:57.039 --> 00:43:57.199
Yeah.
00:43:57.440 --> 00:43:57.599
All right.
00:43:57.679 --> 00:44:04.559
So when you look at the future now, so we've kind A lot of the past, but like when you look out ahead at the road of life, what are you most excited about?
00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:05.920
What do you see coming?
00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:14.960
Um, I just I've really found and I found this at the last shop too, um, that I owned, and it was kind of like this is gonna be cool with 12.7.
00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:17.760
Is uh I just really love watching people grow.
00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:25.519
And I've really found there's um there's a void in the city um there for barber schools.
00:44:25.679 --> 00:44:30.239
There's only two here, and they don't they don't see people where they are, they don't love them.
00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:32.719
They don't, you know, it's it's a machine.
00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:36.639
They're just trying to get the money from you and get you to pass your test and move on.
00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:44.400
Um, so you know, I don't know if I'll ever open a shop or a school, but it's something that I've had a lot of people bring up to me.
00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:48.159
So I'm like, okay, God, is this like something you're trying to take take me towards?
00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:48.559
Yeah.
00:44:48.719 --> 00:44:55.760
Um, but I definitely want to just keep growing the business and keep having impact on people and setting people up for the best position possible.
00:44:55.920 --> 00:44:56.079
Yeah.
00:44:56.239 --> 00:45:03.039
Um, you know, whether that's um a different style of shop where people can come right out of school and do more volume.
00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:05.280
But I mean, honestly, what we're doing's working great.
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:07.199
So um, yeah, we'll see.
00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:13.760
We'll just I I I definitely see growth in 12.7 and just like continuing to give back.
00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:15.360
Um, we have an event.
00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:18.079
I'm not even able to go because I'm going on vacation this weekend.
00:45:18.239 --> 00:45:29.599
But um, three barbers at our shop, three other barbers that I know like through social media have um joined up and they're going down to cut the homeless people's hair in short north at the Dream Center this weekend, and I'm not even there.
00:45:29.679 --> 00:45:33.199
You know, it's like so cool to see like that, you know.
00:45:33.280 --> 00:45:36.320
Uh you would think that oh, if the owner's going, maybe I'll go.
00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:38.880
But like I'm not going and they're like, Yeah, sign me up.
00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:39.599
I would love to.
00:45:39.840 --> 00:45:40.639
It's pretty special.
00:45:40.719 --> 00:45:40.880
Yeah.
00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:48.400
To have a team that's willing to do that is very, very special because there's no pay, there's no glory, um, it's tough work.
00:45:48.559 --> 00:45:48.719
Yeah.
00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:49.920
Cutting the homeless.
00:45:50.079 --> 00:45:50.320
Right.
00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:52.320
You know, so it's a little different.
00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:57.039
Um, but just seeing people and loving on people through with the skill that they've acquired.
00:45:57.199 --> 00:45:57.440
Yeah.
00:45:57.599 --> 00:45:59.679
Uh and being willing to share their time and energy to do it.
00:45:59.760 --> 00:46:01.199
That's it's a rare team that does that.
00:46:01.360 --> 00:46:01.599
Yeah.
00:46:01.679 --> 00:46:03.760
And they're and it's it's so cool.
00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:06.639
And there's another event that me and Miles are uh signed up for.
00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:12.000
It's uh for with Spirit Withiner, and they uh serve single moms, and that's something that's dear to me.
00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:19.360
It was raised by a single mom, and uh they you know wash their cars, give them school supplies, backpacks, all those things, and we're gonna cut their kids' hair.
00:46:19.440 --> 00:46:23.039
And um, it's just cool because I want to continue to do those type of things.
00:46:23.119 --> 00:46:24.559
It's like we got to give back where we can.
00:46:24.719 --> 00:46:25.360
Heck yeah, man.
00:46:25.519 --> 00:46:28.960
And uh it's awesome that we have a group of guys that are willing to do it too.
00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:29.280
Yeah.
00:46:29.440 --> 00:46:32.159
So just keep going, whatever door God opens, you know.
00:46:32.400 --> 00:46:36.559
Well, I asked this question um to every guest and just let it rip.
00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:38.639
Um now that you're in it and you're doing it.
00:46:39.199 --> 00:46:44.079
There there is no limit to who can run their business with Christ at the center.
00:46:44.239 --> 00:46:47.679
There's no blockage from praying over your team.
00:46:47.840 --> 00:46:52.639
There's just no, there's there's nobody holding you back from being generous with proceeds from your business.
00:46:52.960 --> 00:46:53.920
It's available.
00:46:54.000 --> 00:47:00.880
Yeah, um, and I feel like there's a lot of Christian business owners and and leaders who want to do some of those things, but then they're just too timid to take steps.
00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:09.920
What do you say to is an encouragement to the business owner or leader within a company right now that's like, all right, yeah, I would love to do something like that, but I'm a little nervous.
00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:11.119
What do you say to that person?
00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:18.559
Man, you gotta you gotta just say yes to the Holy Spirit because it's um the fruit you get from it is so much more fulfilling.
00:47:18.719 --> 00:47:21.119
Um, I I remember we had this talk not too long ago.
00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:29.360
I was like, man, like before I opened we opened 12.7 together, I had contemplated quitting my job for, and I've been doing it for like 14 years, you know.
00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:32.320
It was like every year it was a couple times I'm like, dude, I want to quit.
00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:41.760
But now that you know God's in the center and that's the culture that we have, um I've not hasn't came across my mind once.
00:47:41.920 --> 00:47:45.280
And it's like I I love where I'm at and I love what I'm doing.
00:47:45.519 --> 00:47:48.239
And am I making as much as I was before?
00:47:48.400 --> 00:47:50.639
No, I'll probably get there soon.
00:47:50.880 --> 00:47:55.440
But um it's the spiritual fruit that is so life-giving.
00:47:55.599 --> 00:47:56.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:47:56.480 --> 00:48:10.880
When you look around just at the people that you have influence on, and now the direction that you're having influence on them with, yeah, I feel like that's different because you can always kind of bring, you know, a fun vibe or you can, you know, put a positive spin on things when there's nothing stopping you.
00:48:11.039 --> 00:48:11.199
Right.
00:48:11.360 --> 00:48:15.679
Um but being able to unleash the power of the Holy Spirit to a whole different level.
00:48:15.920 --> 00:48:27.280
Yeah, and it's like, you know, not every single person there is necessarily walking with the Lord like I am, but you know, they're getting that influence and they'll know where to go when when if they need to turn to them.
00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:27.679
Yeah.
00:48:28.239 --> 00:48:35.519
What do you say to the employee of a business who doesn't have decision-making authority and they're like, hey, how do I integrate my faith?
00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:37.199
What are some ways that I can do that?
00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:38.480
What do you say to that person?
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:42.239
I think uh it just it starts with your personal integrity.
00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:51.119
Um, because even when I had a shop that wasn't Christian and where I was before, um I was still, you know, who I am.
00:48:51.280 --> 00:48:55.360
I still love people well, I still um serve people well.
00:48:55.519 --> 00:49:04.480
And I think I think it's one of those just like you gotta like you don't need to be the leader to do that, you don't need to be the business owner to just be a good person and love people.
00:49:04.719 --> 00:49:05.760
Yeah, that's true.
00:49:06.079 --> 00:49:07.440
Especially in the service industry.
00:49:07.599 --> 00:49:09.280
Like that's what you're there to do.
00:49:09.440 --> 00:49:10.320
You're there to serve people.
00:49:10.559 --> 00:49:10.800
100%.
00:49:11.360 --> 00:49:12.400
People forget that.
00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:15.599
The barber world is an interesting world too.
00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:18.400
Because uh, you and I have talked about it.
00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:22.400
There's certain worlds where some seem like maybe a little bit darker than others.
00:49:22.480 --> 00:49:24.000
I don't know, I don't know why that is.
00:49:24.480 --> 00:49:25.519
Any perspective on that?
00:49:25.760 --> 00:49:36.800
Yeah, the barber barber game is funny, man, because uh before I want to say before we opened this shop, dude, I I probably knew one other Christian barber like that was serious about their faith.
00:49:36.960 --> 00:49:41.519
And now we got, you know, we got a handful of guys at our shop that are real serious about their faith.
00:49:41.760 --> 00:49:51.360
And um, but it's just the industry that it feeds ego, it feeds um selfishness, and there's a lot of that in the industry.
00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:56.480
And you know, back in my day before uh social media, it was like a lot of gatekeeping.
00:49:56.559 --> 00:50:06.639
Like you could you would go into a barber shop and it was so competitive, the older barbers wouldn't help you because they didn't want you to steal their clients, and it was that's just the nature of that industry.
00:50:06.800 --> 00:50:12.159
It's full of egos, and it's it just drives me crazy because I'm not that type of person at all.
00:50:12.320 --> 00:50:15.760
Like, I want I want anyone with me to be successful, you know.
00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:21.199
So like it's always been contrary, and I think that's a lot of the friction I had back in the day.
00:50:21.440 --> 00:50:23.440
Um, but yeah, it's just weird.
00:50:23.599 --> 00:50:24.639
It it's weird.
00:50:24.880 --> 00:50:32.159
People feel cool because they're giving everybody cuts and they're the man and they're making money, and it's like they feel like they're the coolest dude ever.
00:50:32.239 --> 00:50:35.440
And it's like, dude, God doesn't care about that, God cares about your heart.
00:50:35.599 --> 00:50:36.000
Yeah, man.
00:50:36.159 --> 00:50:40.159
You know, I mean it's it that's that transcends, I feel like, a lot of industries.
00:50:40.320 --> 00:50:40.880
Oh, yeah.
00:50:41.199 --> 00:50:45.840
But what you just said that I think is really, really neat, is because you don't operate that way.
00:50:46.079 --> 00:50:47.840
People in the shop don't operate that way.
00:50:47.920 --> 00:50:48.159
Yeah.
00:50:48.320 --> 00:50:50.159
Because I've noticed guys picking each other up.
00:50:50.320 --> 00:50:52.159
It's like, hey, unexpectedly sick.
00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:57.440
Instead of just canceling all their appointments for the day, they're texting all the other guys, like, hey, who has openings for these folks?
00:50:57.599 --> 00:51:00.159
I'm gonna make the suggestion that I can rebook them with you.
00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:00.639
Right.
00:51:01.039 --> 00:51:11.840
If if I was worried about, oh man, make let's say that I'm a barber and I had to do that and they like that other barber better, now they start booking with them, there goes like some consistent income that I was earning that now is transferred to another person.
00:51:11.920 --> 00:51:15.840
If I was worried about that all the time, things would go a little bit differently.
00:51:15.920 --> 00:51:27.920
But I think that's uh case in point of like why the shop feels like it does and why your leadership is working, and the customers feel it because the service, like the customer service and taking care of the client is number one.
00:51:28.079 --> 00:51:30.480
Oh, yeah, not I'm number one.
00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:30.880
Right.
00:51:31.119 --> 00:51:34.079
So it's kind of a cool, it's a it's a cool thing that you've established there.
00:51:34.239 --> 00:51:35.840
Yeah, it's part of our one of our values.
00:51:35.920 --> 00:51:37.119
It's like we are here to serve.
00:51:37.199 --> 00:51:48.639
Yeah, and it's like so many people, whether it's the barbershop or you know, anywhere else that's in the service industry, people get caught up thinking like, you know, you're they're they're helping you out.
00:51:48.719 --> 00:51:55.840
And it's like, dude, there's a million other barbers out there, there's a million other restaurants out there, there's a million other, you know, mechanics or whatever.
00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:59.920
Like, um, yeah, people just forget it and I don't I don't get it.
00:52:00.239 --> 00:52:02.159
Stay focused on on what really is important.
00:52:02.320 --> 00:52:02.480
Right.
00:52:03.119 --> 00:52:07.440
Well, um you're the best bald barber, I think, in the whole city.
00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:14.559
And for anybody that's listening right now, just because Kevin doesn't have hair, he did have hair at one time, so he's uh long, long time ago.
00:52:14.800 --> 00:52:19.760
I think uh I was that guy in high school where all my friends are like, dude, why are you holding on to it?
00:52:19.840 --> 00:52:21.199
And I'm like, I'm in high school.
00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:23.039
Like, I shouldn't have to shave my head bald.
00:52:23.360 --> 00:52:24.880
Did you have the horseshoe back then?
00:52:25.119 --> 00:52:26.880
No, didn't have a horseshoe.
00:52:27.039 --> 00:52:38.719
Um when I was in barber school, I had a very weak hairline, it was uh receding, and you know, people are experimenting with their hair with cutting hair, and that line just kept getting pushed back further and further and further.
00:52:38.880 --> 00:52:40.320
And that I saw a picture one time.
00:52:40.400 --> 00:52:44.079
I was at a Clippers game, and the picture of me, you couldn't even see my hairline.
00:52:44.320 --> 00:52:46.480
It was so far back, and I was like, Yeah, it's time.
00:52:46.639 --> 00:52:50.000
You're like, dude, yeah, I gotta unfortunately I'm I'm heading that direction too.
00:52:50.079 --> 00:52:51.280
But no, no.
00:52:51.440 --> 00:52:54.559
Your hairline was abnormally low when you were younger.
00:52:54.639 --> 00:52:56.079
I see the pictures from back in the day.
00:52:56.320 --> 00:52:56.800
It was weird.
00:52:56.880 --> 00:52:59.039
And your hairline was way lower than it should have been.
00:52:59.119 --> 00:53:01.519
Now it just is where a normal hairline is.
00:53:01.679 --> 00:53:04.239
At Ohio State, some of my teammates used to tell me I had the reverse hairline.
00:53:04.400 --> 00:53:06.400
And you're like, dude, it's like creeping up on your eyebrows.
00:53:06.480 --> 00:53:07.519
Like, you gotta figure that out.
00:53:07.679 --> 00:53:09.519
But it it's it is a little higher now.
00:53:09.599 --> 00:53:11.440
But you're you're taking good care of me.
00:53:11.599 --> 00:53:12.480
So I'm not worried.
00:53:12.559 --> 00:53:14.639
If I ever uh need to let it go, I know you're gonna tell me.
00:53:14.719 --> 00:53:15.760
So you'll be honest with me.
00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:17.519
And worse comes the worst, you can go to Turkey.
00:53:17.760 --> 00:53:18.559
Yeah, that's true.
00:53:18.719 --> 00:53:19.280
Yeah, that's true.
00:53:19.440 --> 00:53:22.320
Yeah, cheap, cheap little implants uh surgery there.
00:53:22.639 --> 00:53:28.400
Well, brother, um tell us how people can find you, like where to book and uh and how to get in touch.
00:53:28.639 --> 00:53:31.519
Go to uh 127barbershop.com.
00:53:31.599 --> 00:53:38.800
Uh we are in Worthington, Ohio, 903 High Street, right off of 270, um, in between uh 161.
00:53:39.199 --> 00:53:42.079
And uh yeah, we we would love to serve you.
00:53:42.159 --> 00:53:49.280
Yeah, it's uh it's a beautiful shop, it's a a crew full of guys that I couldn't have asked God to bring a better group together.
00:53:49.440 --> 00:53:53.519
We also have a female, no, no discrimination, but uh she does men's hair.
00:53:53.760 --> 00:53:56.480
Um, and it's it's yeah, it's a cool group.
00:53:56.639 --> 00:53:59.760
People are young, but like that doesn't take away their talent.
00:53:59.840 --> 00:54:00.639
They're very talented.
00:54:00.800 --> 00:54:01.199
Absolutely.
00:54:01.360 --> 00:54:03.039
And uh it's been a blessing for sure.
00:54:03.360 --> 00:54:04.159
We'd love to have you.
00:54:04.400 --> 00:54:05.519
Well, thanks for being here.
00:54:06.159 --> 00:54:10.960
I always love having conversations with you in general, so now everybody got a sneak peek at uh what we get to do every week.
00:54:11.119 --> 00:54:11.840
Oh, yeah, man.
00:54:11.920 --> 00:54:12.639
It's always fun.
00:54:12.880 --> 00:54:14.480
So yeah, I appreciate you.
00:54:14.639 --> 00:54:15.440
Um as always.
00:54:15.679 --> 00:54:15.840
Thank you.
00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:16.880
So love you, man.
00:54:17.039 --> 00:54:25.039
Uh, if you want more resources, books, newsletter, uh, access to more podcasts and and prior guests, you can get it at markreaves.com, but we're over and up.
00:54:25.599 --> 00:54:26.400
Thanks, Mark.
00:54:26.559 --> 00:54:27.119
Yep.