บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ A Medevac Pilot’s Code: Jon King on The 4 F’s of Freedom

blade. 00:05:34.807 --> 00:05:37.959 So I do take that as a prideful comment. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:52.555 so got to flight school, ended up getting the Blackhawks and If you've ever imagined being in a competitive industry or a competitive world or class or anything like that, Army aviation blows it away by far. 00:05:52.555 --> 00:06:01.875 You're in a class of classes that these individuals, if they're not making 99.8 on their exams, they're in the bottom of the class kind of deal. 00:06:01.875 --> 00:06:07.555 These, these individuals step up and show up every day to put their best foot forward. 00:06:07.555 --> 00:06:14.331 Um, because it's not easy to get there and they love what they do, but Fast forward, got stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 00:06:14.331 --> 00:06:32.081 uh Originally it was supposed to be slotted with the air assault, which is the place they send most new pilots because you're inexperienced and it's a big learning curve to go to the medevac because of the mission set and the things that are inlaid with that. 00:06:32.081 --> 00:06:41.619 So me being me and 12 years into my career, I argued my way with a couple of lieutenants along the way in the stationing part of it at Campbell. 00:06:41.619 --> 00:06:43.098 to get to the medevac. 00:06:43.098 --> 00:06:51.939 So here I am a bright eyed brand new W1 show up to the unit in 09 and they're coming off one of their hardest deployments yet as a unit. 00:06:52.298 --> 00:06:55.838 And I show up, I'm like, hey, let's do this, ready to learn. 00:06:55.838 --> 00:06:59.178 And they're like, go find a fridge. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:01.259 Like, what? 00:07:01.418 --> 00:07:02.358 Okay. 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:04.639 And that's a warrant thing. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:09.858 As a junior warrant, you get put in charge of the fridge and you wouldn't think, oh, that's not a big deal. 00:07:11.185 --> 00:07:11.845 I'm a pilot. 00:07:11.845 --> 00:07:13.394 Like, why am I going to do a fridge? 00:07:13.394 --> 00:07:15.516 Like, that's dumb. 00:07:15.637 --> 00:07:22.221 Well, it's a simple task with great impact because everybody in the unit comes through there. 00:07:22.221 --> 00:07:31.586 Everybody gets a morale boost out of enjoying the small things that they get in an otherwise potentially, pardon my language, shitty environment. 00:07:31.586 --> 00:07:43.297 So now you're in charge of not just a fridge, you're in charge of logistics, of getting the fridge, filling the fridge, finding the funds to get the fridge. 00:07:43.297 --> 00:07:46.480 So now you're working out financing, financial details. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:50.942 And yeah, it's on a minute scale, but the process doesn't change, right? 00:07:50.942 --> 00:07:54.855 As you amplify and you continue to grow, that process doesn't change. 00:07:54.855 --> 00:08:01.661 So from an early onset, there's seeing your trustworthy to be beside them in the cockpit. 00:08:01.661 --> 00:08:05.372 Yeah, you've passed flight school

and you showed up, but that don't mean you're a pilot yet. 00:08:05.372 --> 00:08:08.334 That just means you've got the skills to be able to learn. 00:08:08.442 --> 00:08:08.752 Right? 00:08:08.752 --> 00:08:30.769 So now you show up to a unit and that's where the real learning begins and those pilots get in and they get with you and they teach you not only the skills that are taught in the book, but how to truly do it, how to do it in an environment that isn't in a book, how to do it when all hell's breaking loose and you need to keep your calm and ensure that you move forward. 00:08:31.209 --> 00:08:34.230 That's where that training comes into play and that learning comes in. 00:08:34.230 --> 00:08:46.018 And now you're taking that small amplification of business, applying it across a multimillion dollar aircraft, and then taking in things as priceless, as peaceful as lives as part of that. 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:51.996 So to say the least, I wanted to be there, and passion's still there for the mission. 00:08:51.996 --> 00:09:00.076 want to jump in on one thing on that, John, there's, there's so much to dissect or try and peel back about everything that you just said so far alone. 00:09:00.596 --> 00:09:02.897 But I, I and I'm grateful for it. 00:09:02.897 --> 00:09:08.356 just think that when people really listen to the story, they can really start to pull back. 00:09:08.356 --> 00:09:14.736 But some of the things I really want to cite or highlight are the idea about first support. 00:09:14.736 --> 00:09:18.797 And what I mean by that is those angels that helped you in your journey, right? 00:09:18.797 --> 00:09:20.188 At, at 18. 00:09:20.188 --> 00:09:35.240 broken down truck, in a no friends, you know, uh local, but being able to be resourceful, stick through having those people come in and just offer that support and then finding creative ways and solutions to work around it. 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:40.164 think anything in life that we don't go it alone. 00:09:40.164 --> 00:09:45.326 Very commonly, there are people that come along the journey with us that help to support us, right? 00:09:45.323 --> 00:09:48.563 one of the things I loved about what you said is the idea of a simple task, right? 00:09:48.563 --> 00:09:50.153 It all started with a fridge. 00:09:50.274 --> 00:09:53.677 You've proven that you can learn. 00:09:53.677 --> 00:09:56.960 You've already been the top of your class. 00:09:57.212 --> 00:10:31.235 competed against and worked with to and scrapped and scraped and fought to get where you are and it didn't come easy and many people I'm sure drop out along the way and you see those bodies go they just can't make it for whatever reason and I wish them the best on their journey but you stuck it out you made it and you got there and then once you finally got there then you start on the bottom again right and then it's and then it's you your main thing is the fridge but it's such an impacting thing and I like the idea of simple that has such a big impact because everybody relies on it. 00:10:31.336 --> 00:10:33.486 And it has an emotional impact. 00:10:33.486 --> 00:10:42.601 has, and ultimately like that can make or break your reputation on the end because everybody knows you. 00:10:44.243 --> 00:10:44.942 Yeah. 00:10:44.942 --> 00:10:55.047 So just taking the responsibility even, and this is part of what I mean by that is taking even the smallest tasks with your best effort. 00:10:55.047 --> 00:11:07.668 doing the small things with discipline, consistency, and your best effort leads to massive growth and really helps to to buoy you along in everything that you do. 00:11:07.668 --> 00:11:18.769 um So so the idea of When you talk about resilience, when you talk about growth, when you talk about potential, when you talk about any of that, the first step is always just showing up. 00:11:18.769 --> 00:11:21.782 From there, you can build the audience. 00:11:23.022 --> 00:11:25.864 Yeah, just showing up, just being there consistently, right? 00:11:25.864 --> 00:11:27.514 And you won't always beat your best. 00:11:27.514 --> 00:11:30.645 I think that's something important to talk about is that you just keep showing up. 00:11:30.645 --> 00:11:33.006 No, you will not ace it every time. 00:11:33.006 --> 00:11:34.207 That's okay. 00:11:34.207 --> 00:11:37.830 Just being there, you're already beaten most, right? 00:11:37.830 --> 00:11:38.303 So. 00:11:38.303 --> 00:11:46.063 like you heard my story for transferring to the army, you know, I submitted my packet and got picked up on the second look, you know, it's a gut check. 00:11:46.063 --> 00:12:04.144 Whenever you submitted what you feel is your absolute best in packet form and you get declined, like, wait a minute, you know, and then, you know, it does make you drive harder and push you harder and let you know, all right, this, is truly something worth going for. 00:12:04.144 --> 00:12:06.139 And so, you know, it? 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:07.981 Are you willing to keep pushing for it? 00:12:07.981 --> 00:12:08.403 Right? 00:12:08.403 --> 00:12:10.004 Are you willing to keep pushing? 00:12:10.105 --> 00:12:19.035 So to the idea of never going it alone and having those angels to support you, so many more, I'm sure. 00:12:19.035 --> 00:12:24.402 Is there anyone that you might cite along your journey that you would consider in your fellowship? 00:12:25.857 --> 00:12:27.389 yeah, there's a few. 00:12:27.389 --> 00:12:44.621 um There's some out there from my time as a medevac pilot doing three deployments to Afghanistan, right around 300 missions total from a stub toe up, bullet holes, landing, jump out, jumping another one, fly off again, aircraft accident. 00:12:44.621 --> 00:12:52.351 um I've had angels that I've never seen through that career and then continued on through my transition. 00:12:52.351 --> 00:12:57.735 One of the ones I mentioned before was my mentor who was my father-in-law for 20 plus years. 00:12:57.735 -->

00:13:02.076 I'm also a huge believer in having more than one mentor. 00:13:02.076 --> 00:13:05.629 Because to your point, it doesn't all come from one person. 00:13:05.629 --> 00:13:08.059 And that doesn't necessarily just mean me, right? 00:13:08.059 --> 00:13:09.100 Or one mentor. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.621 And I have a mentor out of Nashville right now. 00:13:11.621 --> 00:13:13.123 He's 21 years old. 00:13:13.123 --> 00:13:15.638 And when I met him, I think he was 18. 00:13:15.871 --> 00:13:20.095 And he might be 20, uh but point being he's like 18 years old. 00:13:20.095 --> 00:13:25.958 And when I reached out and asked him to be a mentor of mine, he's like, John, you got this and you're doing this and you're doing all these things. 00:13:25.958 --> 00:13:30.962 And this was before I retired from the military. 00:13:30.962 --> 00:13:34.054 or not probably halfway after I retired. 00:13:34.054 --> 00:13:39.668 But anyways, I didn't have the things that we're going to talk about with VRBG and Eagle Rising yet, or even the bar. 00:13:39.668 --> 00:13:42.931 It was just me and a day gig and spout not is right. 00:13:42.931 --> 00:13:49.250 But He was, was rattling all this stuff back at me and he's like, why would you want me as a mentor? 00:13:49.250 --> 00:13:55.414 said, well, one, I've watched you from afar and seen how you engage in what you do. 00:13:55.414 --> 00:14:08.971 And I like aligning with people like that, that, truly have in the business world, their guests, their customers, their, their people at the front of the, the, the. 00:14:08.971 --> 00:14:09.962 the piece of it, right? 00:14:09.962 --> 00:14:12.923 It's not the financial part that's driving them to do that. 00:14:12.923 --> 00:14:15.778 The financial part comes because they're consistent. 00:14:15.778 --> 00:14:19.610 They show up and they make their value known, right? 00:14:19.610 --> 00:14:26.826 So that was one of the things seeing him so young and getting accurate and making six figures at 19 years old. 00:14:27.246 --> 00:14:29.298 Yeah, I got shit to learn from you young man. 00:14:29.298 --> 00:14:29.989 I sure do. 00:14:29.989 --> 00:14:34.418 And I'm here for it, You don't know what you don't know. 00:14:34.837 --> 00:14:37.929 And everyone in this world knows something that we don't. 00:14:37.929 --> 00:14:43.662 And we have an opportunity every day with every interaction to learn from that person if we're open and willing. 00:14:43.662 --> 00:14:47.403 And it doesn't matter about age or race or sex. 00:14:47.403 --> 00:14:50.038 What matters is you. 00:14:50.038 --> 00:14:54.370 And are you willing to learn and to grow from what someone else has to share? 00:14:54.370 --> 00:14:59.024 Not everyone will teach you a lesson in a way that's easy to understand. 00:14:59.024 --> 00:15:11.903 Some people will guide you, but sometimes the lessons you have to learn are by watching and learning from others, not emulating similar mistakes or seeing what's working for them and then making it your own, right? 00:15:11.903 --> 00:15:19.519 If that's the path you want to pursue, because no one can be you like you, you're genuine, you're unique. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:29.889 And whatever that strength is, take the best of many others be open to learning constantly and then employ that and make it your own. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.833 I think it's powerful. 00:15:31.833 --> 00:15:37.325 This when you're talking about people in their situations, right? 00:15:37.365 --> 00:15:45.879 And young people are the best ones to start with cause they're young and they haven't gone that far in life, but that doesn't stop to say that you can't learn this piece right now. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.809 Right. 00:15:46.850 --> 00:15:49.351 When you look at your parents, right? 00:15:49.351 --> 00:15:55.794 Your situation using parents in specific, cause we're talking about young people and how they develop. 00:15:56.135 --> 00:16:02.500 People often look at rich and go, ah, He got handed, she got handed, and leave it at that and you fill in the blank. 00:16:02.541 --> 00:16:04.942 Poor, on the other hand, get the opposite. 00:16:04.942 --> 00:16:05.994 Well, they didn't have a chance. 00:16:05.994 --> 00:16:06.563 They were poor. 00:16:06.563 --> 00:16:07.725 They didn't have any opportunity. 00:16:07.725 --> 00:16:11.268 oh I'm going to get flack for this one. 00:16:11.268 --> 00:16:12.999 But I believe they both start evenly. 00:16:12.999 --> 00:16:25.159 And the reason I say that is because if you're poor and you look at what is presented to you in your environment, you do exactly what they've done, you will end up in that exact same way. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.626 If you do the opposite. 00:16:26.626 --> 00:16:32.360 you at least have a 50-50 shot of having a different outcome than they did. 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:35.682 If you're rich, same applies. 00:16:35.822 --> 00:16:38.302 You do what they did, you will remain rich. 00:16:38.302 --> 00:16:43.905 You do the opposite of what they did, and you will lose your money. 00:16:44.106 --> 00:16:44.466 Right? 00:16:44.466 --> 00:16:47.217 So either way, you're still learning. 00:16:47.217 --> 00:16:50.570 You're still picking that right or wrong answer along the path. 00:16:50.570 --> 00:16:56.393 It's up to you to make that decision every day when you show up for your consistent self, as you mentioned. 00:16:56.485 --> 00:16:58.184 that makes the difference. 00:16:58.544 --> 00:17:08.625 And one of the things I throw out there to my kids all the time, aside from you get one, and they always ask me growing up, one's 21, 17, what's that one dad? 00:17:09.285 --> 00:17:10.724 You get one. 00:17:11.065 --> 00:17:22.469 But the other is, it's my four F's, and you can bleep this if you need to, but if it doesn't affect your family, your future, or your finances, don't fucking worry about it. 00:17:22.469 --> 00:17:27.308 focus on you and what's impactful to you and what you

could bring to the world, right? 00:17:27.308 --> 00:17:35.028 And so out of all this stuff, I talked about getting through the army and the missions and then retiring out. 00:17:35.028 --> 00:17:43.048 Well, as part of that, I went through the MSSA program where you had to have a networking fundamentals exam certification, even get into the interview process. 00:17:43.048 --> 00:17:44.328 Well, I didn't have that. 00:17:44.328 --> 00:17:46.818 So I went out and self-taught, got that exam. 00:17:46.818 --> 00:17:52.192 certification, got through the interview process, thought it was going to be a college course, showed up in shorts and flip-flops. 00:17:52.192 --> 00:17:57.547 Well, in reality, it's a transition course in professional settings. 00:17:57.547 --> 00:18:01.881 here everybody else is in suit and ties or button-ups and all this stuff. 00:18:01.881 --> 00:18:12.449 So then fast forward through the course where we're learning technical stuff in the morning and networking fundamentals and resume writing, interview prep, and things like that in the afternoon to... 00:18:12.525 --> 00:18:17.306 Last day, I'm in my full service dress uniform because it also coincided with my retirement date out of the Army. 00:18:17.306 --> 00:18:24.292 So I went full spectrum from hippie that shouldn't have been there to looking fully professional in that sense. 00:18:25.094 --> 00:18:29.684 ultimately, oh, 100%. 00:18:30.326 --> 00:18:34.489 And so when I get out that, uh I ended up landing with a small company in Huntsville. 00:18:34.489 --> 00:18:38.740 And when I say small, I was their first employee under their company name doing army acquisitions. 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:45.722 And as you heard in my background at this point, I had tons of experience doing army acquisitions, but they had an open spot. 00:18:45.722 --> 00:18:46.903 They took a chance on me. 00:18:46.903 --> 00:18:59.045 uh From there, I ended up switching over from doing a program integrator role to foreign military sales and did that for three and a half years under their same umbrella and same customer helped grow that from three. 00:18:59.045 --> 00:19:05.450 two people, three people to around nine, anywhere from three to five, or from our small company at any given time. 00:19:05.450 --> 00:19:09.673 And then ultimately got the opportunity to cross over to Microsoft four years ago. 00:19:09.673 --> 00:19:23.152 And then Microsoft's what allowed me to start doing the other things like the bar and grill really is where that kind of sparked out of was I was given an opportunity to bring my creation to life from that perspective. 00:19:23.152 --> 00:19:27.961 But after all the tragedy that I spoke of earlier with the loss of my. 00:19:27.961 --> 00:19:34.763 father-in-law earlier in the year, that year, and my brother, my uncle, and then the non-service members. 00:19:36.246 --> 00:19:46.510 After the non-service members being the safety officer for that company prior, you you look at

things and you always question like, what could have done, been done differently, if anything. 00:19:46.510 --> 00:19:51.034 And, you know, it's one of those where I have no ties. 00:19:51.034 --> 00:19:56.717 have no looks into anything as far as any investigations go or anything like that. 00:19:56.717 --> 00:19:57.517 But. 00:19:57.636 --> 00:20:02.457 The analogy I give is you have two cars on the interstate. 00:20:02.537 --> 00:20:06.096 The first car has like a 21, 22 year old in there. 00:20:06.096 --> 00:20:10.876 And then the other car has a 15 year old in the driver's seat who's got their permit. 00:20:10.876 --> 00:20:17.797 The 16 year olds in the passenger seat and a 21 year old in the back seat telling the 15 year old and the 16 year old how to drive. 00:20:18.317 --> 00:20:19.136 Everything's legal. 00:20:19.136 --> 00:20:21.057 Everything's fine in that scenario. 00:20:21.057 --> 00:20:27.909 But now we're going to put on a single lane interstate, barriers either side for a 10 mile stretch while it's raining one headlight out. 00:20:27.909 --> 00:20:32.949 raining, curves along the way, I want them to do 90 to 95 step foot and a foot and a half apart. 00:20:32.949 --> 00:20:34.653 I want nothing bad to happen. 00:20:36.229 --> 00:20:37.388 Is it possible? 00:20:37.388 --> 00:20:38.449 Absolutely. 00:20:39.189 --> 00:20:42.108 Is it likely that something back that's going to happen? 00:20:42.108 --> 00:20:42.848 Absolutely. 00:20:42.848 --> 00:20:45.449 And when it happens, is it going to be absolutely catastrophic? 00:20:45.449 --> 00:20:46.509 Absolutely. 00:20:47.348 --> 00:20:54.608 But therein lies not the problem, but the start of figuring out a solution in my brain. 00:20:54.608 --> 00:21:03.363 And when I looked at that, it boils down to the experience that's available to do these missions and bring the knowledge, right? 00:21:03.363 --> 00:21:07.855 So specifically in the military, you've got two options for keeping that knowledge and experience. 00:21:07.855 --> 00:21:10.836 have stop loss or recall. 00:21:10.836 --> 00:21:13.737 Well, stop loss is going to keep the experience in. 00:21:13.737 --> 00:21:15.597 Recall is going to bring it back. 00:21:15.678 --> 00:21:21.480 But in neither one of those scenarios, are you going to have individuals that really want to be there? 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:30.304 Because if you're stop loss and you're stopping them from getting out of somewhere they don't want to be anymore, and if you're calling them back, they had already left and went their own direction, right? 00:21:32.133 --> 00:21:35.192 My brain, solution is mentorship. 00:21:35.712 --> 00:21:55.173 Bring in mentors that have been in those roles that are experienced in those roles that are certified, qualified, wherever the magic needs to happen to have it happen, but bring them in at every level of leadership from the commanders, the first sergeants, the platoon sergeants, the brand new pilots, everybody have access to that mentor at that level. 00:21:55.173 --> 00:22:09.624 now when direction gets given out and that commander needs to be able to highlight across his or her reach, they now have another voice that's a third party entity that's echoing that and echoing that experience. 00:22:09.624 --> 00:22:14.268 then the next level that came out of that thought was, how do I do it better? 00:22:14.268 --> 00:22:17.068 How do I bring it faster, more efficient? 00:22:17.068 --> 00:22:26.535 So the idea came to, and this is Jon King's big dream, pair and partner with the right people to basically have individuals like myself. 00:22:26.535 --> 00:22:31.128 Granted, I'm a little far removed, so I don't really fit, but people that are just getting out. 00:22:31.128 --> 00:22:34.451 that get out in good standings and everything like that. 00:22:34.451 --> 00:22:36.192 The example being pilots. 00:22:36.233 --> 00:22:40.137 They either want to volunteer back time or potentially make a little extra money on the side. 00:22:40.137 --> 00:22:56.527 They can sign up for the program where they'll sit like I am right now, throw on a VR headset and be able to fly a mission with a new or even experienced pilot at Fort Campbell, Kentucky over the reservation or anywhere else in the world and share that knowledge back. 00:22:56.527 --> 00:23:03.501 for pennies on the dollar of what it would take to put me in as a contractor in the seat flying in a true aircraft. 00:23:03.501 --> 00:23:25.576 So now they're able to share that knowledge and experience back to these units at any given time of day because the young pilot can go sit down in the room that they allocate, throw the VR headset on, and if it's two in the afternoon, just schedule the time with the mentor and we'll have a pool of mentors to choose from that have their slots available. 00:23:26.530 --> 00:23:30.403 That's the big dream of bringing that knowledge and experience back. 00:23:30.403 --> 00:23:53.199 And the beautiful thing is that it applies to everything else from, believe it or not, doctors, lawyers, electricians, anything that's got an ageable date or a physical, untangible, able to do any more careers where I kind of think it falls into because it allows you to transfer that knowledge while still being a part of it, even though you're not physically doing it anymore uh in that sense. 00:23:53.358 --> 00:24:08.525 And so out of that, me being me, I started the company and then I looked and said, well, I've already done 80 % of what it takes to get certified through the SBA as a service disabled veteran on a small business and get registered in sam.gov and get my done number. 00:24:08.525 --> 00:24:09.965 So I went ahead and did that. 00:24:09.965 --> 00:24:16.431 Even though I have not doing anything with it, uh I can do contracts with the government as a service disabled veteran on a small business. 00:24:16.431 --> 00:24:29.238 So where right now what I throw out there is anybody that's looking to truly

get in that realm and want a partner uh that's fairly laid back and just down to see what's out there, give me a shout for that. 00:24:29.238 --> 00:24:37.000 But it also branched out into these other things from Real Apparel Company where after all the tragedy, I just started had to get back to being creative again. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.961 So that one's for me. 00:24:38.961 --> 00:24:40.101 I do creative design. 00:24:40.101 --> 00:24:45.423 I put my stuff out there on things I think it'll be cool on from shirts, puzzles, cups, whatever. 00:24:46.123 --> 00:24:50.525 And then from there, again, pushing that envelope of what can I do more? 00:24:50.525 --> 00:24:52.025 How can I help more? 00:24:52.116 --> 00:25:03.198 I went to somebody that I trusted in the business world oh and asked their opinion on the next thought that I'll give you, but I'll give you the tagline for real apparel company first. 00:25:03.198 --> 00:25:06.171 It's because who doesn't love a nice rack? 00:25:06.290 --> 00:25:10.455 And I was designing a deer shirt whenever I came up with it. 00:25:10.455 --> 00:25:15.500 And my neighbor had just showed me his pool rack tattoo because he's a big pool player on his arm. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.361 So. 00:25:16.520 --> 00:25:17.701 it fit really well. 00:25:17.701 --> 00:25:26.705 And then obviously the other connotations from your clothes rack, the other great racks that are out there that people enjoy, I felt it fit, you know, in my sense of humor. 00:25:26.807 --> 00:25:31.910 So she's like, John, I told her the idea and I'll tell you here in a second, but she's like, I love it. 00:25:31.910 --> 00:25:36.082 Hate the tagline and don't really feel like it fits to what you're trying to achieve with this. 00:25:36.082 --> 00:25:37.772 And I said, all right, fair enough. 00:25:37.792 --> 00:25:51.578 So then out of that PMP design was born and it stands for where pride meets professionalism and that taking in the account, I'm still prideful, but I can also be professional in what I put together. 00:25:51.578 --> 00:25:59.040 And so what I do there is I work with and partner with small businesses, boosters, nonprofits, and one-offs. 00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:03.721 And the basis is I build them in an e-commerce store under our collections. 00:26:03.721 --> 00:26:11.044 And they get a custom write-up, basically handle all their product selection and all the things that you could imagine. 00:26:11.605 --> 00:26:15.446 But the beautiful part is And what I like to say is it does three things. 00:26:15.446 --> 00:26:20.869 It saves them money, makes them money and gives them their time back, which is the most valuable for anybody out there. 00:26:20.869 --> 00:26:30.676 And when you're in those areas that I mentioned, the small business, the booster, the nonprofits, you're always looking to raise funds to do your next thing. 00:26:30.676 --> 00:26:39.663 Whether it's go to your next ball game or your next travel ball or your next event that you're trying to put on or you're putting on a podcast like this, know, buy a new equipment. 00:26:39.663 --> 00:26:43.281 All of it takes money, time, effort or energy in some form. 00:26:43.604 --> 00:26:54.932 I know you've touched on a few of these points, but I would ask, uh is there a moment, we call this the darkest hour, maybe moment that was hardest for you to try and overcome. 00:26:55.353 --> 00:26:58.355 How did you and what lessons did you learn along the way? 00:26:59.681 --> 00:27:06.980 Well, most folks have heard of the 22 and I'm blessed to be here. 00:27:07.161 --> 00:27:10.520 And that's solely because of one of the angels that I haven't mentioned. 00:27:10.520 --> 00:27:14.121 I've mentioned her throughout if you've been paying attention, but my wife. 00:27:14.701 --> 00:27:27.752 After not so long night or a great night of too much drinking and too many pain pills to offset the pain in my back and other things, just wasn't... 00:27:27.752 --> 00:27:29.914 Wasn't going well, let's just put it that way. 00:27:29.914 --> 00:27:37.332 um Something happened, the trigger didn't pull the way it should have, and I'm still here today because of her. 00:27:37.332 --> 00:27:38.883 that's my... 00:27:43.646 --> 00:27:56.366 I've been on bridges after deployments in the middle of the small town where I got my bar of grill and most people don't even know this, but I've dropped down to my knees in a ball of tears for no reason. 00:27:57.067 --> 00:27:58.489 Couldn't tell you why. 00:27:58.509 --> 00:28:07.436 I walked into or tried to walk into beer gardens uh and had to turn around and walk out and not be able to enjoy festivities and things like that. 00:28:07.436 --> 00:28:23.874 So when I hit that moment and we came out of that the other side, And after calling services to have somebody to talk to in those moments and getting told, just make call, call, call and make an appointment next Monday. 00:28:24.605 --> 00:28:26.395 I don't need an appointment next Monday. 00:28:26.395 --> 00:28:28.278 I just need somebody to talk to right now. 00:28:28.278 --> 00:28:33.102 And so for me, my phone is always on uh because of that. 00:28:33.102 --> 00:28:38.165 And that was truly my, I can't, I can't even say it was my darkest hour. 00:28:38.165 --> 00:28:42.388 Cause at the end of the day, it was my brightest hour to remind me of. 00:28:42.752 --> 00:28:47.813 all the positive shit that's out there that I've been through, that I've done. 00:28:48.232 --> 00:28:51.792 When you talk about the Medivac mission, there's a reason I did it. 00:28:51.792 --> 00:28:55.972 Yeah, because I'm a hero and I'm an asshole and I'm proud for. 00:28:56.492 --> 00:28:58.813 That's part of it, right? 00:28:59.012 --> 00:29:06.833 But the other part is knowing that there's people that came home that otherwise wouldn't. 00:29:06.833 --> 00:29:11.833 That there's people that continue to go out on the battlefield because they remember one thing. 00:29:13.131

--> 00:29:16.241 there will always be somebody there to bring them home. 00:29:17.521 --> 00:29:20.423 That's why I did the Medevac. 00:29:20.423 --> 00:29:30.026 That's why I'm me too, you know, between the upbringing that we didn't even talk about to that and the things that went along with that. 00:29:30.026 --> 00:29:41.909 And know, when you've got a daughter at home and you pick up a child and you're expecting to pick up grown men, that's an eye-opener for you and something that never leaves your thoughts. 00:29:41.909 --> 00:29:45.669 uh you know, smells that never leave. 00:29:45.848 --> 00:29:57.769 That all comes into play every day for minute seconds to conversations like this that kind of bring them that direction. 00:29:57.929 --> 00:30:12.856 at the end of the day, it boils down to, I've said it before, you said it, consistency, always getting up, always showing up and knowing that, yes, there's brighter sides out there and yeah. 00:30:12.959 --> 00:30:20.172 right now is bleak, you know, oh and there's been pasts at the same time. 00:30:20.172 --> 00:30:23.413 If you focus on negative, that's all you'll ever see. 00:30:23.633 --> 00:30:31.957 If you stop focusing solely on the negative and you start looking past it around it, you start seeing that brighter world that's actually out there. 00:30:31.957 --> 00:30:37.588 You know, when you take that blanket down and even look around and that's easier said than done. 00:30:37.588 --> 00:30:44.894 Trust me, I've become more and more of a hermit than I'd like to admit since especially since losing my day gig. 00:30:45.513 --> 00:31:02.721 But how I continue to push myself is present myself out there and talk to great folks like you and bring in not just my story or what I do, but really, hopefully even a slight inspiration to them to know that it's going to be okay. 00:31:03.902 --> 00:31:06.403 Life's too fucking short to not have some fun. 00:31:06.403 --> 00:31:14.787 And I know you had mentioned about uh a few nuggets of gold and things like that that I carried with me. 00:31:14.907 --> 00:31:23.998 So one is I carry it on my arm and you may or may not ever be able to see it, but it says if we all do a little, it lightens the load for all. 00:31:23.998 --> 00:31:24.413 lost you. 00:31:24.413 --> 00:31:35.265 I don't Jon I think I love the way that you said that in that moment, that darkest hour, couldn't, you're not even sure you can call it that because it might've been the brightest hour, right? 00:31:35.265 --> 00:31:41.719 And I just think about, there is so much value in that statement that from those moments, right? 00:31:41.719 --> 00:31:56.127 From that darkest hour, from those deepest, hardest, emotional pieces that we have to go through, whatever it is for you, whatever your darkest hour is, when you realize that in that moment, that that is an opportunity to try and find value. 00:31:56.127 --> 00:31:56.788 What is it? 00:31:56.788 --> 00:32:02.240 And if it's hard to find, keep digging because there will be something there that you can draw strength from. 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:05.731 There will be something there that you can grow from and rise from. 00:32:05.912 --> 00:32:32.281 And if you are strong enough or if you have the ability or if you're lucky enough to be able to find that value, to find that goal, to find the piece that helps you to grow, not only would you become stronger because of it, inherently by virtue of your associations, you will share some of that value, that inspiration to other people. 00:32:32.281 --> 00:32:38.867 And one comment made in the right place could make an absolute pivotal difference in someone's life. 00:32:38.867 --> 00:32:40.769 could literally save their life. 00:32:41.609 --> 00:32:43.191 And I think that's incredibly important. 00:32:44.386 --> 00:32:45.227 That is a fact. 00:32:45.227 --> 00:32:57.715 um And I love the way that you do tie it around the gold because it is rare, is pure, and it is great value to so many whenever it is. 00:32:57.715 --> 00:32:59.761 uh Embraced. 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:04.180 And the concept being that it doesn't have to be that hard. 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:33.587 You know, we as humans make it a lot harder than it has to be just through an unknown bias of our own selves to driven through other elements that put a thing in our head that isn't really there when you open your eyes and ears and start talking to people, whether they're through the internet in true form and fashion where it's an open forum to discuss and learn from each other, or it's your neighbors more ideally, you know? 00:33:33.587 --> 00:33:42.415 And one of the things we do here where I live is I got a little piece of property and we have probably seven or eight families on our road that all get together. 00:33:42.415 --> 00:33:54.135 uh throughout the week at different times and different elements uh and all communicate, you know, have the family style dinners and the things like that, because truly that's where your impact lies. 00:33:54.135 --> 00:34:01.432 When you look at it in a personal family setting, that's where it's going to impact. 00:34:01.432 --> 00:34:20.414 Now, when you're talking about things like this and doing your show and getting our voices heard, yes, what I see there is we're taking that family piece and that community piece that we're already embracing and loving and doing ourselves and sharing that knowledge and experience of how to get it with other people. 00:34:20.414 --> 00:34:27.715 And to me, that's a force multiplier and amplifier of a beautiful thing that's already happening ah from that. 00:34:27.715 --> 00:34:33.418 right, so we've been talking about community and things like that throughout this whole thing. 00:34:33.418 --> 00:34:37.050 And when you mentioned about a gold nugget, here it is, right? 00:34:37.050 --> 00:34:55.442 As a business owner, in a brick and mortar world, rolling into a small city, revamping a place that's

been a few different things over the years and bringing my style, my brand and my tribute to my father-in-law Goose's Bar and Grill there. 00:34:55.442 --> 00:34:57.523 It is a business. 00:34:57.523 --> 00:34:59.905 There is a lot of competition to it. 00:35:00.144 --> 00:35:07.331 But the way that I approach business and I approach community and I approach people is this. 00:35:07.331 --> 00:35:10.440 uh visual representation. 00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:20.880 So everybody can imagine a table in the middle of the room with big thing of food laid out, plates ready, the chairs around it. 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:25.860 There's seven or eight of us in the room and there's a clock on the wall. 00:35:26.139 --> 00:35:29.159 Right now the clock's just sitting there, it's stagnant. 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:38.280 All I'm gonna tell you and all the information you know right now is you haven't eaten in three or four weeks, you're starving. 00:35:39.043 --> 00:35:42.384 When the clock goes off, you get to eat. 00:35:43.503 --> 00:35:45.384 So now the clock goes off. 00:35:45.384 --> 00:35:49.744 And as you can imagine, those seven or eight people, you don't know what they've heard. 00:35:49.744 --> 00:35:52.864 You just know what you've been told and the scenario you're in. 00:35:53.344 --> 00:35:56.483 So everybody starts bum-rushing the table, so you. 00:35:56.483 --> 00:36:01.523 So now food, as you can imagine, goes on the floor, on the table, on the chairs. 00:36:01.523 --> 00:36:02.804 Some people eat really well. 00:36:02.804 --> 00:36:04.804 Some people don't eat as well. 00:36:05.003 --> 00:36:11.117 And everybody can kind of visualize that and agree that that's likely a scenario that would happen more often than not. 00:36:12.077 --> 00:36:14.257 So here's where the beauty comes in. 00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:21.121 We're going to backtrack just a touch and right before the clock goes off, I'm going to give you a little bit more information. 00:36:21.762 --> 00:36:24.682 That information is everything else still stands. 00:36:24.682 --> 00:36:26.103 You still haven't eaten. 00:36:26.103 --> 00:36:26.864 The clock goes off. 00:36:26.864 --> 00:36:27.983 You get to eat. 00:36:28.605 --> 00:36:31.445 The extra information is you like potatoes. 00:36:31.445 --> 00:36:32.786 I like green beans. 00:36:32.786 --> 00:36:34.047 Sally likes steak. 00:36:34.047 --> 00:36:35.907 Jim likes whatever. 00:36:35.947 --> 00:36:40.974 And there's enough for you to eat your fill of what you want. 00:36:41.394 --> 00:36:44.867 Now, again, you don't know what anybody else has been told. 00:36:44.867 --> 00:36:46.789 That's the only other information you get. 00:36:46.789 --> 00:36:50.972 So now the clock starts and nobody starts running. 00:36:51.704 --> 00:36:54.264 You walk up to the table, you all eat. 00:36:55.427 --> 00:36:58.829 Everybody can agree that they got their fill. 00:36:59.010 --> 00:37:11.827 And now this is where I ask you to turn away from the table, close your eyes, and then As you imagine yourself turning back to the table, want you to open your eyes and describe what you see. 00:37:15.032 --> 00:37:17.512 What do you see when you look back at the table now, Justin? 00:37:20.333 --> 00:37:26.096 Well, I'm imagining there's several empty dishes, specifically that steak is gone because I grubbed it. 00:37:26.096 --> 00:37:26.916 It was delicious. 00:37:26.916 --> 00:37:36.778 uh But it's definitely not like when you were painting the picture earlier, I imagine Lord of the Rings where the dwarves are eating and food's flying everywhere. 00:37:36.778 --> 00:37:48.722 And so ah in that case, in the secondary example, I think that while you were still possibly ravenous and I believe that the table itself may be still a mess, I think it's much more manageable and there's probably still food on the table. 00:37:50.052 --> 00:37:51.612 So here's the deal, right? 00:37:51.672 --> 00:38:01.831 With it not being bum rushed and people knowing that they're going to get their fill and eat as much as they want of their item, there is no food on the floor, on the chairs, or on the table. 00:38:01.831 --> 00:38:03.623 It's still left on the plate. 00:38:03.664 --> 00:38:07.005 So now everybody's gotten their fill as much as they could possibly want. 00:38:07.005 --> 00:38:12.952 We still have food on the plates that now we can encourage and invite others in to eat with us. 00:38:12.952 --> 00:38:16.074 And the ones that don't quite have enough, well guess what? 00:38:16.074 --> 00:38:18.530 We still have remainder to be able to offset that. 00:38:18.530 --> 00:38:23.804 And the ones that have more than they can eat, well, they can still have as much as they want. 00:38:23.804 --> 00:38:35.469 And the tidbit of information that ties into this that I didn't tell you, and if you were catching it, I never said there was any more food than there was in the original scenario. 00:38:35.492 --> 00:38:48.510 It's all that slight mindset change, what drove the different outcome that resulted in everybody getting their fill and additional folks that may or may not be able to get their fill right then, be able to get their fill. 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:51.318 And from there, we're able to grow our organization. 00:38:51.318 --> 00:38:52.521 We're able to grow our business. 00:38:52.521 --> 00:38:53.744 We're able to grow our community. 00:38:53.744 --> 00:38:57.693 We're able to grow our world and do it in a positive manner. 00:38:58.360 --> 00:39:01.713 think about that fact you mentioned like you haven't eaten like three to four weeks, right? 00:39:01.713 --> 00:39:02.954 People like. 00:39:02.954 --> 00:39:19.253 emaciated and just like, you know, ravenous and, uh, I, know, I just think about sometimes in those moments, like people when you are put in a position like that, like, uh, you know, what, what comes out, right? 00:39:19.253 --> 00:39:19.472 Yeah. 00:39:19.472 --> 00:39:21.083 It's a good indication of what you're

made of. 00:39:21.083 --> 00:39:26.657 And, and, but being in that moment, like, you we, do revert, uh, it's interesting. 00:39:26.657 --> 00:39:27.478 You made me reflect right now. 00:39:27.478 --> 00:39:36.170 I didn't think this would be the quote that came to mind, but about the, about, um, we, we fall to the level of our systems and right. 00:39:36.170 --> 00:39:37.940 So you can be motivated, disciplined. 00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:43.054 You can do all these things, but like the idea, that consistency that comes down to, fall to the level of our systems. 00:39:43.054 --> 00:39:54.875 So even if on a day when you are, you know, you're not feeling your best and you don't want to get out of bed, you don't want to go to the gym, you don't want to do the work, whatever it is, you get up and you do it anyway, from that aspect of that consistency. 00:39:54.875 --> 00:40:03.871 And by operating with that, that system, like you just stick to what you know, uh, think the, there's a huge benefit that comes from that. 00:40:03.871 --> 00:40:06.101 me thinking that what you're making your flight on. 00:40:06.101 --> 00:40:12.278 ah I love the idea when you boil it all down, really, is that there's more than enough for us. 00:40:12.278 --> 00:40:20.643 And if we can communicate with clear information, we all make better choices. 00:40:22.291 --> 00:40:24.333 And there's more than enough for everybody. 00:40:25.056 --> 00:40:27.619 Hmm. 00:40:27.802 --> 00:40:28.358 I love that. 00:40:28.358 --> 00:40:30.740 if that's not a reverse of a gold nugget, I don't know what it is. 00:40:30.740 --> 00:40:33.253 Cause when you think about gold, it's very rare. 00:40:33.253 --> 00:40:34.773 It's finite. 00:40:34.954 --> 00:40:35.914 It's not. 00:40:35.914 --> 00:40:37.677 And that's what makes it valuable. 00:40:37.677 --> 00:40:44.822 But in this instance, it truly is opening up the flip side of that to open the doors and understand there's plenty for everybody. 00:40:44.983 --> 00:40:52.608 We just have to approach it in a different way and understand that we're only here for a finite amount of time. 00:40:52.608 --> 00:40:55.570 So why the hell are we here to make other people miserable? 00:40:55.570 --> 00:40:56.972 Like that doesn't make no sense to me. 00:40:56.972 --> 00:40:59.717 eh not too... 00:41:00.923 --> 00:41:01.432 No. 00:41:01.432 --> 00:41:11.351 there's levels to everything, but at the end of the day, mean, it don't have to be as hard as it is for ah folks, uh but yeah. 00:41:11.351 --> 00:41:14.773 that a big part of everything in life is uh perspective. 00:41:14.773 --> 00:41:18.474 And I think that it doesn't have to be as hard as people oftentimes make it in their own mind. 00:41:18.474 --> 00:41:23.557 And I think if you put and reframe things, you can literally paint your own picture. 00:41:23.557 --> 00:41:26.518 You can create your own reality, literally in your mind. 00:41:27.387 --> 00:41:28.197 Absolutely. 00:41:28.197 --> 00:41:32.181 I

got one more thing for you before I forget uh if you'll oblige me. 00:41:32.181 --> 00:41:37.365 So this one is one of my most memorable missions. 00:41:37.365 --> 00:41:43.530 This is actually a Polish Army medal that I was awarded along with the crew that I was with. 00:41:43.751 --> 00:41:55.780 And then, I know this is completely random, but a couple of the Special Forces coins that they had presented to me and the crew uh as part of the mission. 00:41:56.137 --> 00:42:12.956 But we were out and we were supporting at a forward operating base and supporting the Polish as part of it and got the call to go out on a medevac and had to loiter for a little while waiting on approval because we didn't have coverage and they were under fire and all the things. 00:42:13.217 --> 00:42:14.996 So finally got approval. 00:42:15.036 --> 00:42:22.760 We get ready to go in and if you can imagine out west is pretty flat and then there's the plateaus that are out there. 00:42:22.760 --> 00:42:26.780 something similar in style to that with one end sloping kind of down. 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:32.280 And there's houses and greenery all around the base of it and then houses around the edge at the top. 00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:37.181 So when we're coming in, we're going to the middle of the top of it, because that's where the GPS pointed us. 00:42:37.181 --> 00:42:41.240 And as we're coming down, we're not seeing a patient like we normally would or anything like that. 00:42:41.240 --> 00:42:43.681 So as we're coming down, the dust starts kicking up. 00:42:43.681 --> 00:42:49.440 So we end up doing a go around to see if we can find where the patients move to now at this point. 00:42:49.701 --> 00:42:54.179 So as we're making a loop, we drop back down the low side and then pop back up the other. 00:42:54.179 --> 00:43:07.469 as we're swinging around, see uh one, I can't remember if it was a crew chief or the medic called out that they saw the patient and they were pinned like they were ducked down beside a mud hut building on the corner edge. 00:43:07.469 --> 00:43:13.034 So as I'm gonna try to do this reverse here, the Blackhawk has the two wheels in the front and one in the back. 00:43:13.034 --> 00:43:18.409 So as we approach, we had to come in with two wheels on the dirt and the tail floating. 00:43:18.409 --> 00:43:21.266 Ended up putting the disc about a foot. 00:43:21.266 --> 00:43:29.871 two foot off the building there to get as much coverage and as close as we could to them because there was a reason they weren't going out there, right? 00:43:29.871 --> 00:43:33.021 So taking that into account, we try and make it as simple as possible. 00:43:33.021 --> 00:43:35.543 Normally you go load at a waist level. 00:43:35.543 --> 00:43:45.005 Well, due to the angle that we're sitting at and everything, they had to load them at like above their head and got him loaded in and we take off and get back to the base. 00:43:45.086 --> 00:43:50.833 we're all hanging out and doing our thing, watching movies, eating, whatever it was a couple hours later. 00:43:50.833 --> 00:43:58.315 I get called to the front and this gentleman standing there and he looked short compared to the two giants beside him. 00:43:59.235 --> 00:44:02.483 And, he's like, you fly or something like that. 00:44:02.483 --> 00:44:03.173 And said, yes, sir. 00:44:03.173 --> 00:44:05.496 And he said, you big boss. 00:44:05.637 --> 00:44:07.085 I just started kind of laughing. 00:44:07.085 --> 00:44:09.458 I what did you expect to that one? 00:44:09.458 --> 00:44:09.967 But okay. 00:44:09.967 --> 00:44:17.340 So, uh, he kind of snaps and I'll leave the story right there as, as that part. 00:44:18.001 --> 00:44:26.411 and anyways, Fast forward through the story, they actually had been pinned down for four or five hours from RPG and small arms firing. 00:44:26.411 --> 00:44:28.150 It was a small SF group. 00:44:28.150 --> 00:44:31.952 So when we came in, the enemy stopped firing. 00:44:31.952 --> 00:44:34.032 And then as we left, they stopped firing. 00:44:34.032 --> 00:44:41.574 So the unit used that opportunity when we took off to take the loss of fire coming at them to escape out. 00:44:41.574 --> 00:44:46.817 So he brought us a gift that I passed on to the Air Force folks to... 00:44:46.817 --> 00:44:51.927 uh go enjoy with some other individuals uh of the Polish sort. 00:44:51.927 --> 00:44:56.139 And we continue to do our mission and support them. 00:44:56.139 --> 00:45:03.311 And then fast forward, we ended up getting awarded the Polish Army Medal out of the whole deal and uh presented some of the coins and stuff like that. 00:45:03.311 --> 00:45:05.974 So it was pretty cool to have had them. 00:45:05.974 --> 00:45:13.869 that, John, I think about the fact that uh you got medals, you got accolades, you got some Dragon's Gold, right? 00:45:13.869 --> 00:45:17.492 Some things that you can look back on and appreciate later. 00:45:17.492 --> 00:45:32.902 But hearing that memory of being able to hear and see that man come to you and say thank you and to recognize your valor and what you and the team did to get them out of there. 00:45:33.922 --> 00:45:35.563 ripples that come from that. 00:45:35.644 --> 00:45:41.030 There's nothing on paper, but in your mind and in the memory, that's something that will live with you forever. 00:45:41.030 --> 00:45:51.001 ah And I just think that that's really, it's beautiful how often the real gold in our journey uh isn't material. 00:45:53.913 --> 00:46:01.132 Now, the one thing that I've continued to learn in life is money is nothing more than a tool. 00:46:01.532 --> 00:46:05.012 And at the end of the day, you've heard people say it before. 00:46:05.012 --> 00:46:08.092 People with money use it to buy their time. 00:46:08.213 --> 00:46:11.753 People without money use their time to get money. 00:46:13.351 --> 00:46:30.463 So it's one of those I, yeah, and for me, I'm all about figuring out the win-win for everybody

to allow them to spend more time with their family and their friends uh as much as possible and still achieve our goals overall, know? 00:46:31.364 --> 00:46:31.818 So. 00:46:31.818 --> 00:46:33.068 are just, they're so much better. 00:46:33.068 --> 00:46:33.840 There's so much cleaner. 00:46:33.840 --> 00:46:34.869 Everybody walks away. 00:46:34.869 --> 00:46:37.981 You don't have to get everything, but everyone walks away feeling satisfied, right? 00:46:37.981 --> 00:46:42.432 You walk away feeling satisfied and you help to bring joy. 00:46:42.432 --> 00:46:49.166 share, uh you feel better about the experience when you can create win-win scenarios, right? 00:46:49.436 --> 00:47:08.460 So John, we talk about the legacy and I think about, uh the Hall of Heroes, a massive statue of Jon King, and a plaque inscribed with anything that you would want it to say to future generations. 00:47:08.621 --> 00:47:09.742 What would it say? 00:47:12.371 --> 00:47:13.860 Be there for each other. 00:47:18.739 --> 00:47:22.820 I wasn't going to say that when I was going to say my 4S, but I think that one fits a little better. 00:47:23.967 --> 00:47:24.887 I love it. 00:47:24.887 --> 00:47:26.547 Things happen for a reason. 00:47:26.547 --> 00:47:28.967 And you said that one, it resonates, man. 00:47:28.967 --> 00:47:29.626 I love it. 00:47:29.626 --> 00:47:36.306 I love the idea that at that point too, I've never really expounded on this, but I will hear at the end of it, like that's a statue. 00:47:36.306 --> 00:47:39.246 That's something that you're telling people that are reading it. 00:47:39.246 --> 00:47:41.567 Reality is you're not there to read it anymore. 00:47:41.567 --> 00:47:42.527 The people there are. 00:47:42.527 --> 00:47:44.306 And when they read that, be there for each other. 00:47:44.306 --> 00:47:47.286 That's so powerful in the moment right there. 00:47:47.286 --> 00:47:52.206 Like that can, that can hit no matter who's reading it. 00:47:52.206 --> 00:47:55.585 Um, It's things powerful. 00:47:55.585 --> 00:47:57.112 I really like it a lot. 00:48:01.693 --> 00:48:05.130 Alright, so the next quest. 00:48:05.130 --> 00:48:07.195 What's next for Jon King? 00:48:09.170 --> 00:48:13.362 Doing more for others in reality of it all. 00:48:13.922 --> 00:48:16.664 I've been very blessed with my retirement and my disability. 00:48:16.664 --> 00:48:28.309 Obviously the loss of the day gig kind of is a kick in kick in the uh junk as they would say as far as hurdles to get over to ensure the success of the bar and grill. 00:48:28.309 --> 00:48:30.179 But that's going to happen. 00:48:30.179 --> 00:48:36.032 I tell people all the time I've fall down and I fail, but I don't quit. 00:48:37.389 --> 00:48:51.454 And the concept there is once the bar is making money and paying for itself, then I'm able to put my focus into what I truly love and what I'm passionate about, which is Eagle Rising Foundation and what we do there. 00:48:51.548 --> 00:48:58.057 And on that one, I found that one, like I said, right along the same time as Better Reach Back Group. 00:48:58.199 --> 00:49:00.869 But it's more than just one thing. 00:49:00.869 --> 00:49:03.144 I do community events where... 00:49:03.144 --> 00:49:06.326 ah I do a haunted trail on my property every year in October. 00:49:06.326 --> 00:49:12.407 So far, I'm proud to say that we've raised right around $20,000 for the local baseball team as part of that. 00:49:12.887 --> 00:49:20.070 opened it up to other organizations last year and the year before um to anybody that wants to come out and work the event. 00:49:20.070 --> 00:49:22.110 They can come out with their organization. 00:49:22.110 --> 00:49:24.210 We open it up, we all promote it. 00:49:24.210 --> 00:49:25.831 So it gets cross shared. 00:49:25.831 --> 00:49:30.612 And then any money raised that night goes to that organization, a hundred percent in, a hundred percent out. 00:49:30.612 --> 00:49:40.186 um The other parts that I've done is I sponsored a three quarter size Vietnam Memorial wall to Talladega International Motor Sports Hall of Fame. 00:49:40.186 --> 00:49:42.947 That's a nonprofit there right outside of the racetrack. 00:49:42.947 --> 00:49:48.552 A couple of races ago to represent 70,000 plus names of the fallen since Vietnam. 00:49:48.552 --> 00:50:00.360 uh Some great experiences have come from that or great memories have come from that, not just from the event itself and being able to represent, but I was on a reality show. 00:50:00.360 --> 00:50:12.393 uh West Bergman's the blocks back in June, July timeframe, season 18 of that, uh, and it's an entrepreneur workshop and reality series competition. 00:50:12.632 --> 00:50:24.032 And one of my judges on there, we were talking and she had mentioned about having a friend, um, family member that had passed away, you know, um, in service of the country. 00:50:24.032 --> 00:50:32.353 And so I had a video of me painting the wall and, and all the additional, um, plaques that were set out that day. 00:50:32.353 --> 00:50:44.141 And so I went back that night and I watched the video and I found the time frame zoomed in and found the name, screenshotted it and went back to her the next day. 00:50:44.141 --> 00:50:50.335 uh it's one of my things where you hear the phrase gone, but not forgotten. 00:50:50.335 --> 00:51:00.052 you know, I've got it on a belt buckle from a Vietnam veteran that it was his and he blessed me to carry it on. 00:51:00.052 --> 00:51:02.365 oh I truly believe that. 00:51:02.365 --> 00:51:07.429 And so I took and I showed her her friend's name and I said, gone, but not forgotten. 00:51:07.429 --> 00:51:14.335 And I've been able to do that a couple of times just from that event of people that I meet along the way that they'll bring up something like that. 00:51:14.335 --> 00:51:22.139 I'm able to quick find and showcase that they're there and to celebrate them again, even for that small moment. 00:51:22.139 -->

00:51:26.123 ah incredibly powerful and beautiful. 00:51:26.324 --> 00:51:34.748 how much you talk about wanting to do things for people, John, and I hear that that's something that literally that they will remember forever. 00:51:34.748 --> 00:51:36.909 That's a memory they will look back on. 00:51:37.309 --> 00:51:40.971 And when you say gone from not forgotten, gone, but not forgotten. 00:51:40.971 --> 00:51:50.224 ah The sacrifice that is made in the service to protecting our freedom. 00:51:50.983 --> 00:51:53.923 is something that should never be taken lightly. 00:51:53.923 --> 00:52:04.748 And I think so commonly, people do not recognize the gravity of the choice that people make to enlist in the service. 00:52:04.748 --> 00:52:07.929 ultimately, what the ultimate cost could be is their life. 00:52:08.271 --> 00:52:13.213 And so I want to say thank you, John, for your service. 00:52:14.253 --> 00:52:15.293 Thank you. 00:52:17.266 --> 00:52:21.398 That's the best response I've heard uh when people say that. 00:52:21.398 --> 00:52:26.280 oh Somebody once said, I heard somebody say that you're worth it. 00:52:26.280 --> 00:52:30.331 And I said, that's the most beautiful response I could ever think of because it's so true. 00:52:30.331 --> 00:52:34.802 it's, know, many people go into the service for many different reasons. 00:52:34.802 --> 00:52:37.753 You you heard my story of why I I needed more structure. 00:52:37.753 --> 00:52:45.126 And at that point, my brain was like, if I do this for 20 years, I retire at 38 and have a guaranteed house payment, sign me up. 00:52:45.126 --> 00:52:45.585 Hmm. 00:52:45.585 --> 00:53:01.335 you factor in the other stuff that elevates through your careers and you start building that camaraderie and that team, no matter whether it's service of the Air Force or service of the Army, know, people carry across no matter what through your journey. 00:53:01.335 --> 00:53:09.710 And you have that tie in that bond that I wouldn't have had had I chose any other profession or career as part of that. 00:53:09.708 --> 00:53:10.568 Cool. 00:53:11.137 --> 00:53:20.606 Is there anything that you might cite as a tool or weapon, a book or resource, a course, something that you learned from that helped you on your journey? 00:53:21.282 --> 00:53:23.463 Um, I'm going throw my favorite poem out there. 00:53:23.463 --> 00:53:50.849 I've heard it since I was a kid and it's if, and for anybody that's read it, it's fairly long, but the boils down to if you can work through and, and hold your head high and keep your calm when others are losing their head and still continue to work through, you'll always be a man and understanding that man is just a verb statement and whatever the English proper, you know, what I'm getting at point being. 00:53:51.639 --> 00:53:52.298 You'll be there. 00:53:52.298 --> 00:53:53.309 You'll be there as a human. 00:53:53.309 --> 00:53:57.362 You'll be there as a good individual and, and everything like that. 00:53:57.362 --> 00:54:05.646 If you're talking technology wise for being able to do more things, be more efficient and impactful for others in your day. 00:54:05.646 --> 00:54:16.032 You know, I leverage technology every day, all day from chat, GBT to co-pilot to open AI assistance and Dolly and many other things. 00:54:16.032 --> 00:54:20.481 And what I strive to do there is just what I said before. 00:54:20.481 --> 00:54:28.757 get time back so that I can go enjoy my experience in my life with my family, friends, and those like you that I get to meet. 00:54:28.878 --> 00:54:34.543 And it's not because I'm out there grinding the dollars, because I love meeting new people. 00:54:34.543 --> 00:54:36.592 I love being able to make more impact. 00:54:36.592 --> 00:54:41.148 I love being able to share my story and hope that somebody does get something out of it. 00:54:41.148 --> 00:54:45.652 And somebody comes along and is like, man, that dude's, he's nuts. 00:54:45.652 --> 00:54:49.922 But two, he's got a nugget or two in there that is worth listening to. 00:54:49.922 --> 00:54:55.786 ah But at the end of the day, if it helps them get up the next day, that's truly what matters. 00:54:55.795 --> 00:54:56.606 brother, that's it. 00:54:56.606 --> 00:55:03.382 uh Literally, your words, one story, your story could be the one that hits one person in just such a fashion, right? 00:55:03.382 --> 00:55:05.653 Just the way that they relate to you. 00:55:05.653 --> 00:55:11.219 And that's one of the things I get so excited about sharing so many different people's stories is everyone comes from a different walk of life. 00:55:11.219 --> 00:55:17.063 Everyone has had different experiences, but they all boil down to the idea of that same thing. 00:55:17.063 --> 00:55:18.144 No, it's not easy. 00:55:18.144 --> 00:55:19.547 Yes, you got to keep going. 00:55:19.547 --> 00:55:22.699 If you keep going, you'll win and be nice along the way. 00:55:23.065 --> 00:55:25.206 The recipe is not that great. 00:55:25.706 --> 00:55:26.965 Not that hard. 00:55:27.907 --> 00:55:29.487 Yeah, be a good human. 00:55:29.487 --> 00:55:31.728 Yeah, it's funny but true. 00:55:31.728 --> 00:55:33.969 Yeah. 00:55:33.969 --> 00:55:35.650 And when it is hard, it's worth it. 00:55:35.650 --> 00:55:37.050 That's when it's right. 00:55:37.050 --> 00:55:40.652 It's hard to do sometimes, but being kind is always. 00:55:40.652 --> 00:55:49.364 I don't always have to be right, but I always have to do the right Alright brother, got one more question and this is my favorite one to ask. 00:55:49.605 --> 00:55:54.898 If you could be any mythical creature, what would you be and why? 00:55:56.706 --> 00:56:01.007 So I'm really gonna throw you a loop on this one and ask if I can take my shirt off first. 00:56:02.847 --> 00:56:05.391 You're the first guest to ask me that question. 00:56:05.391 --> 00:56:06.271 Sure. 00:56:09.059 --> 00:56:13.001 So I'm a big fan of Phoenix's to answer your question.

00:56:13.001 --> 00:56:23.668 And so I actually have started a tattoo of a Phoenix where it's a black and gray with a full color Phoenix pulling away from itself. 00:56:23.668 --> 00:56:31.474 uh And just a re iteration of the story of the Phoenix and show it in my way. 00:56:31.474 --> 00:56:35.097 And the reason I love the Phoenix is because of what it stands for. 00:56:35.097 --> 00:56:38.918 It's a regeneration of something from ashes. 00:56:39.469 --> 00:56:43.391 We don't necessarily know what it was before because in true form it's ashes, right? 00:56:43.391 --> 00:56:44.722 It has no form. 00:56:44.722 --> 00:56:50.807 But what we see afterwards is something beautiful and glorious that is there for all to see. 00:56:50.807 --> 00:56:59.916 And I can't fathom that anybody would look at a Phoenix that's truly drawn in the way that I visualize a Phoenix and go, man, that's awful. 00:56:59.916 --> 00:57:03.838 know, like I've got an awful Phoenix tattoo on my back. 00:57:03.838 --> 00:57:08.364 That's a tribal version that looks nothing like this beautiful thing that's coming together here. 00:57:08.364 --> 00:57:14.295 Trust me, so I've got the spectrum of them, but that's the one that I would choose so hard. 00:57:14.295 --> 00:57:15.144 Hmm. 00:57:15.246 --> 00:57:16.405 I love that. 00:57:16.987 --> 00:57:22.179 And I even think it's interesting and unique and cool that right. 00:57:22.179 --> 00:57:23.860 You have one on your back. 00:57:23.860 --> 00:57:25.110 It's tribal. 00:57:25.251 --> 00:57:26.451 It doesn't. 00:57:26.512 --> 00:57:30.483 And while I haven't seen it, I'm just thinking it's still there. 00:57:30.483 --> 00:57:32.215 It still has the symbology. 00:57:32.215 --> 00:57:33.916 It's still important to you. 00:57:33.916 --> 00:57:35.797 There's a reason that you got it. 00:57:35.797 --> 00:57:38.657 And so that memory and that idea is still there. 00:57:39.059 --> 00:57:43.594 And now you've got this new Phoenix that has this evolution, this growth. 00:57:43.594 --> 00:57:43.925 right? 00:57:43.925 --> 00:57:46.166 This beauty that comes from it. 00:57:46.166 --> 00:57:54.610 And so I think it just falls perfectly in line with the entire idea of the Phoenix is that it's it's that rebuilding. 00:57:54.610 --> 00:57:55.411 It's growing. 00:57:55.411 --> 00:57:56.481 It's soaring. 00:57:56.481 --> 00:57:57.001 It's learning. 00:57:57.001 --> 00:57:58.012 It's experiencing. 00:57:58.012 --> 00:58:02.704 It's burning down and then coming back again stronger, more beautiful, more resilient. 00:58:02.704 --> 00:58:03.005 Right. 00:58:03.005 --> 00:58:10.860 And that um I just think that the reference in my mind when I hear you say that, I think it's really cool. 00:58:10.860 --> 00:58:13.641 And thank you for sharing it. 00:58:14.371 --> 00:58:19.315 So I'm gonna throw this one out there just cause I can see it above my head. 00:58:19.315 --> 00:58:25.643 The colorful thing that you see up there is my wife's favorite animal. 00:58:25.643 --> 00:58:33.411 And because you're talking about mythical creatures, it'll align with this in the fact that she loves the chubby unicorns. 00:58:36.851 --> 00:58:38.172 That's great. 00:58:38.612 --> 00:58:40.626 That was a bonus, by the way, for anyone listening. 00:58:40.626 --> 00:58:43.804 That was the uh bonus mythical creature. 00:58:43.804 --> 00:58:45.202 I love it. 00:58:45.804 --> 00:58:46.965 So good. 00:58:47.728 --> 00:58:48.021 man. 00:58:48.021 --> 00:58:53.143 Phoenix, so that was drawn by my mother and I keep it on my office wall. 00:58:53.768 --> 00:58:56.324 yeah, I love that. 00:58:56.668 --> 00:59:08.211 My friends, thank you for joining us once again on our quest to inspire, educate, and empower you to turn your dreams into reality, one mindset shift at a time. 00:59:08.652 --> 00:59:09.934 We'll see you next time.