1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Hey, everybody, it's Bill Courtney with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Let's get started with part two of our conversation with 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: Cornbread Hustle founder Sherry Garcia on her teenage meth addiction. 4 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: Right after these brief messages from our general sponsors, I 5 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: got to ask you, and it's just my curious nature, 6 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: but I don't understand the problems. My mom was married 7 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:54,319 Speaker 1: and divorced five times. Okay, my four dad shot at 8 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: me down a hallway with a thirty eight caliber pistol. 9 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: My father left when I was young, and I had 10 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: no real relationship with them. I had lots of trauma 11 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: coming up. Unfortunately, I don't have an addictive personality, and 12 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: I didn't go down the drug thing. I'm not saying 13 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: I didn't drink and get drunk do stupid stuff when 14 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: I was younger, because I did. 15 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 2: But I. 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: Keep hearing that you were trying to escape some of 17 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: your realities and all of that. But I don't hear 18 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: what the horrible realities were for you. 19 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: I mean, oh, for me now it sounds trivial, but 20 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 2: it was having a four thirty credit score entering into 21 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: my adult life. It was the fact that I didn't 22 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: even take my SAT test. It was the fact that 23 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: I didn't even know where to start for college, and 24 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,559 Speaker 2: is college even for me? It was the fact that 25 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 2: while all my friends went to college and got their 26 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: lives going, I was literally selling and doing drugs. 27 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: We feel like absolutely. So it was it was self hate, yeah, a. 28 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: Lot of self hate. And really, honestly, it was just 29 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: me not wanting to do the hard work to fix 30 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: my life and meth felt good. It's that simple. 31 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: So the cop basically convinced you that you were going 32 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: to look like a missus potato head by the age 33 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: of thirty, and that was that. But you're still drinking? 34 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, and yeah to me, I felt like alcohol it 35 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 2: was legal and oh, well, like to me. 36 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: And well, I mean, let's be honest, if you're a 37 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: complete methaddict and you're able to put it down and 38 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: then certainly justify, well, I can handle alcohol. 39 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. I definitely didn't handle it too well, but 40 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 2: I did justification. 41 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I get it. Yeah, I'm like, and you're proud 42 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: of yourself. Hey, I kicked Beth, give me a handle 43 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: of vodka. I'm good. 44 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 2: So I ended up. I didn't go straight to of course, 45 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 2: I was getting drunk pretty right away, partying though normal 46 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: young girl going out to clubs, partying, having a good 47 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 2: time the hangovers. I wasn't drinking all day every day 48 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 2: or anything, or drinking any every day at first, I 49 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: wasn't at all. Where What replaced my meth addiction was 50 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: workaholism and seeking validation through success. So I ended up 51 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 2: getting a job in the newsroom. I worked really hard 52 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: to get the job in the newsroom, like really hard. 53 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: I even what kind of job. So I wanted to 54 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: be a reporter, and that's what I was doing. 55 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: You don't have a degree in journalism. 56 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: Exactly, so that's what I was doing in high school. 57 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: That's funny, this is going to be a good story. 58 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: I can't wait this go ahead. 59 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: You have no degree in journal leaned over like a 60 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 2: little teenage girl, ready like you shall put your legs 61 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 2: up behind you. 62 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: You have no degree in journalism, and I don't look 63 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: anything like a teenage girl. You have no degree in journalism, 64 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: and you have basically spent your junior and senior or 65 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: on mes and you want to work in the newsroom. 66 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: And you just told me you got the job in 67 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: the newsroom. How'd that happen. 68 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: I got two jobs in the newsroom, but it took 69 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks. 70 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: Two jobs in one newsroom. 71 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: Two jobs in two separate newsrooms. So I basically I've 72 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 2: always gone the unconventional route as it relates. 73 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: I'm shocked. I'm sure our listeners are like, Wow, that's 74 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: a shock. 75 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: I got to hang out with you if I get 76 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 2: stuck out here. 77 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: I'm coming from a math cheerleader proclaiming she goes the 78 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: non traditional route. There's a there's a news flash for 79 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: our newsroom person. 80 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, breaking news. So anyways, I ended up watching the 81 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: news relentlessly, taking notes. Who's the reporter. I'd go to 82 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 2: Facebook add them, I'd reach out to them, Hey, I'm 83 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: an aspiring news reporter. Can I just shadow you. I 84 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 2: went to an event that Mark Cuban was hosting for 85 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: the media once and I was like, Hi, I'm Sherry, 86 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: I'm trying to be a news reporter. 87 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: You said to Mark Cuban, Yeah, of course you did. 88 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Why not? 89 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: Yeah? And he was like, okay, well, here's a media pass. 90 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: Let's see what you got do. Write some blogs. And 91 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 2: so I literally created like my own little news station world, 92 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 2: and I was making demo reels. I was. I learned 93 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,799 Speaker 2: everything about being a news reporter. I did a twelve 94 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 2: week program where I really applied everything I was learning, 95 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,480 Speaker 2: where they basically it's twelve weeks. They're out of business. 96 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: Now. 97 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 2: They were charging people like ten grand for twelve weeks, 98 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: and you're probably asking, how did you get the twelve grand? 99 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: My aunt co signed a credit card for me. So 100 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: I used a Sally made credit card to pay ten 101 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: grand to do like a twelve week program where I 102 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: learn from news reporters how to write a new story, 103 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: how to do a demo real And so I just 104 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: kept trying and trying and trying and trying. And I 105 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 2: was that girl that was calling every Friday like, hey, 106 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: how's your kids, Sherry? We're not going to hire you? 107 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: Like okay, I finally I was driving all over the place. 108 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: Do you have an auditory problem? 109 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: I don't think so well. 110 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 1: I just I mean, clearly you couldn't hear no, So 111 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: you keep calling and asking about their kids, and if 112 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: my kids are fine, we're not hiring you. Look, I 113 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: go back to Golden cor. 114 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 2: I just go back to Golden Koru. Dang it. I 115 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 2: just thought that they'd changed their mind, and they did, 116 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: thank you very much. How because I, well, it was 117 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 2: a accident that I got creative. It was because I 118 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 2: had no gas money and I was driving around and 119 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: hand delivering my resume. So I called a pizza hut 120 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: that was right next to the CBS eleven in Fort 121 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: Worth and I this is back when you could still 122 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 2: fax digitally fact something, And I said, I have a 123 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 2: favor that if I if I ask you to do 124 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: a favor, will you do it? And they're like, okay, 125 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: said if I fax you my resume, will you tape 126 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 2: it on a pizza box. I just need a regular 127 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: cheese pizza because I was like, what if she's what 128 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 2: if she's vegetarian? You know what, Like I don't want 129 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 2: to offend anyone. So a regular cheese pizza and I 130 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 2: put they put my resume face down on the pizza 131 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: and I had them right on the back of it. 132 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 2: If you hire me, I will deliver. And I finally 133 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: got the job. 134 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: Hold it, that's great. That now that is that's that's okay, 135 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: so nice pun and they and they. 136 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: Hired you, Yes they did, so I became. 137 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: Because they like cheese pizza. 138 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: So the guy that hired me swore it was like a. 139 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: Joke, Sherry. Obviously, I didn't hire you because they like 140 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: cheese pizza. 141 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: Well, not because they like cheese pizza, but I knew 142 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 2: the pizza got me in. But he swore up and 143 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: down I was a fit for the job and it 144 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: wasn't the pizza. And I was like, okay, but y'all 145 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 2: called me right after I sent the pizza. 146 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: And told me no for two years. 147 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: Exactly, So, I mean they had already gone through different 148 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: news directors. How long I've been trying to get a 149 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 2: job there. So that's why I kept calling. 150 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 4: So you got a job at the newsroom in the. 151 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 2: Fifth largest market when everyone told me that, Sherry, you 152 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 2: can't even get a job and an entry level podunk 153 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 2: town if you don't have a college degree. Because every 154 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 2: pretty girl in the world wants to be on TV 155 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 2: and be a news reporter. It's a prerequisite just to 156 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: have a college degree. And I was like, let's see, 157 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: not only did I get a job in the fifth 158 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: largest market at CBS eleven as an assignment editor, I 159 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 2: got a job as a producer at KXII in Sherman, Texas, 160 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: the other CBS affiliate. So every single day I drive. 161 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 2: I lived in Frisco, so you are both jobs. I 162 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,839 Speaker 2: worked both jobs seven days away week, four days at 163 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 2: CBS eleven in Fort Worth, in three days at KXII. 164 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: It's a great story, but you're still sucking down the vodka, 165 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: aren't you. 166 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 2: Well I didn't even have Yes, I was, but as 167 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: a party girl like I wasn't. I wasn't. It wasn't 168 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: problematic yet I was a workaholic. Remember I traded meth 169 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: for work. Okay, yeah, that's what kept me from feeling 170 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 2: my feelings the success of being like being able, Oh 171 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 2: my gosh, like it was the perfect job for me 172 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 2: because my life. 173 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: People back home like, how did that meth cheerleader, no 174 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: college girl get that job? 175 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 2: Probably I don't know, I think everyone. When I look 176 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 2: back at my yearbook and all the things people wrote 177 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: to me, they all wrote that I'm going to be 178 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 2: very successful. And because remember I was the girl that 179 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 2: I started a news station in my high school and 180 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 2: became the anchor, the new the sports anchor because I 181 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 2: wanted to news. 182 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: It's just such a it's just such a like this 183 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: double life, the meth girl and then this hyper successful 184 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: girl living this double life. It's it's it's fascinating. So 185 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: you you got the job at the news stations, but 186 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: you're not news anymore. What happened in the new station jobs? 187 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:24,319 Speaker 2: So I got bored. 188 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: I got bored. 189 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: I did I got bored. So at first it was 190 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: perfect for me because it was chaotic. I got to 191 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 2: listen to all the scanners, one hundred and eighty different scanners, 192 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 2: trying to listen for the words DOS which means dead 193 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 2: on scene, listening to everybody's business, what's going on, getting 194 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 2: to look up people's backgrounds, and I was like, I mean, 195 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 2: for a girl that likes the gossip, that was the job, 196 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 2: Like I loved it. I got to launch the chopper 197 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 2: and try to tell people where, like watch the car 198 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: chase and tell the reporters which way to turn. I 199 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 2: was trying to learn how to read a maps go 200 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: which fail. But I was trying, and it was chaotic 201 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 2: and it gave me that thrill, so I didn't need 202 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: meth anymore. I was high on the news, high on news, 203 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: and anybody that works in the news business and. 204 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: You put to sit here and listen you say all 205 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: that and then they hear you say, well, I got bored. 206 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 2: I did so because I invented a product on my 207 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 2: night shift. So I was working the overnight shift, and 208 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: I had an idea for a tanning bed I wanted 209 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: to invent. I hate those flimsy rafts where you get 210 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: in the pool and the water's halfway up your sides anyway, 211 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 2: and your tanning lotion's coming off. So I wanted to 212 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 2: invent something that keeps you up above the water and 213 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 2: accelerates your tan. So picture a aluminum taco is basically 214 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 2: what I invented. 215 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: An abluminum taco. 216 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's pretty embarrassing this. 217 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: This sounds like it would crisp your skin. 218 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was the point. 219 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: Okay, So yeah, but how did an aluminum taco float 220 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: out of the water. 221 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 2: It was an inflatable. The inside of it was lined 222 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 2: with my lar and the outside of it was lyne. 223 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: What's my lar? 224 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 2: It's like a reflective material. 225 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: Okay, the aluminum taco, Yeah all right, and so but 226 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: the outside but it was had a big enough base 227 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: at the bottom that it floated out of the water. 228 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 2: So you can tan all months of the year, all 229 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 2: summer long, even or all year long, even whenever it's cold. 230 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 2: I remember I did an infomercial as scene on TV 231 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: and everything. 232 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm not laughing at your invention, but I just 233 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 1: can imagine like it being a hot dog in a bun. Dude, Yes, 234 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: and and ended up looking like a hot dog when 235 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: you come out of that thing. 236 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 2: And think like it's so weird. Because now that I've 237 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 2: achieved a different level of success, I look back and 238 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 2: I'm like, how was I not embarrassed? Like meth girl 239 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 2: invents aluminum taco? Like I bet my high school friends 240 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 2: were like. 241 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:10,199 Speaker 1: Just laughing or they just said, yeah, that makes sense. 242 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 2: I don't know what. I guess it's God. I don't 243 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: know what kept me moving forward even though I was 244 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 2: doing outrageous things that. 245 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: I just have to ask you. So you quit the newsroom? 246 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: You back, I got fired? 247 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: Okay, see the story, the plot thickens. You said that 248 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: you were doing the newsroom thing and you got bored 249 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: and you invented the hot dog taco crispy thing. But 250 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: did you get fired because they heard about the aluminum 251 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: taco and thought you were nuts? 252 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: No, they were. Sometimes my bosses would get annoyed because 253 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,319 Speaker 2: I was so passionate about. 254 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: So you can I just interject real quick and tell 255 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 1: you it's your first time. Oh well, you know. Sorry. 256 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: It's like, the story is so easy to follow, and 257 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: there's there's there's tens of thousands of people listening to 258 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,239 Speaker 1: this that are that are trying to follow along, because basically, 259 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: we've got a girl that grew up started with a 260 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: perfect life that we now unfold, a high school cheerleader, 261 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: methodict who got a news job from a pizza box 262 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: and then invented a taco Sorry to trying to string 263 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: that together. So the I am so taken by how 264 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: willing you are to be candid about all of your 265 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: failures thus far, and I find that refreshing. How come 266 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: it's so easy for you to talk about this or 267 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: is it easy for you to talk about this? 268 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: It is easy to talk about my failures. What has 269 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 2: never been easy for me? And maybe it's easy because 270 00:14:55,400 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: I've always amplified my failures to protect my dad, and 271 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 2: so what's not easy for me? And I keep like, 272 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: even sitting here, I'm like, I hope tens of thousands 273 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 2: of people don't listen to this because I just I 274 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 2: just don't want my dad. I love my dad so 275 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 2: much and I don't want to villain like I don't 276 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: want my dad to be a villain in this story. 277 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 2: He was a broken person that had unresolved trauma, that 278 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 2: just didn't know how to cope. 279 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: And you said that, and I think, honestly all no 280 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: kidding at all. They're broken people everywhere, and more than 281 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: there's a large position of people listening to us right 282 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: now that are broken. And to hear a daughter take 283 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: up for her very broken dad is full of redemption 284 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: and grace. So I mean, I wouldn't worry about that. 285 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: I don't think it's so clear you're not throwing your 286 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 1: dad under the bus. But what is also so clear 287 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: is you are so willing to laugh at your past failures, 288 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: which I think is so important because without struggle, there's 289 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: never progress, and you are a living embodiment of that. 290 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: And I still don't know why you got fired from 291 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: the newsroom. 292 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 2: Oh man, you know what, if I were to ever 293 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 2: start drinking again, I'd want to drink with you. 294 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: Oh well, thanks, you know, I really appreciate that, But 295 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: like you just. 296 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 2: Seem like the guy to have a beer with, you know. 297 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I'm a Manhattan guy, so not much beer, 298 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: but yeah, And I guess if I was ever to 299 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: try meth. You'd be a blast to do it with. 300 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: Thank you, yeah, anytime. How'd you get fired from the newsroom? 301 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 2: So that pesky reply all button is what did it? 302 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 2: So it wasn't even a reply all, It was a ford. 303 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 2: So there was a guy that was a great friend 304 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,360 Speaker 2: of mine who, by the way, he told me, there's 305 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 2: no way you're gonna get a job here, Sherry. It's 306 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,880 Speaker 2: the fifth largest market. There's just no way. There's no way, 307 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 2: there's no way. I will never forget walking into that 308 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 2: newsroom and tapping him on the shoulder. I was like hey, 309 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 2: and I showed him my badge and he was like what. 310 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 2: So that same guy ended up moving on and getting 311 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: a job at a much larger network. And it was 312 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 2: the weekend and he emailed me and was like, hey, 313 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:36,640 Speaker 2: do you think the news producers will want this awesome footage? 314 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: It was footage for something and I was like, sure, 315 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 2: that'd be great. Well, he had, for whatever reason, replaced 316 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 2: the subject line, even though we had a text thread 317 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 2: going back and forth of how I felt about my coworkers, 318 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: and I thought I was like, haha, I'm giving them 319 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: all this awesome footage. But what I accidentally did was 320 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: for the entire newsroom, including like the GM and the 321 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 2: news director, a whole thread of I mean, basically, I'll 322 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 2: tell you exactly what the email said if you want. 323 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 4: Yeah, no, yeah, but you do. 324 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 2: It said everyone here sucks big balls. 325 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: And you sent that to the entire newsroom. 326 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 2: I did. The recall button does not work, by the way, 327 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 2: I frantically tried to recall it when I had a 328 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 2: colleague come up to me and said, what did you 329 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 2: just do? So that sucked literally big balls, and but 330 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: I worked the next day. They had me come into 331 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 2: and work the next day in everywhere, well because you. 332 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: Told them they sucked big balls, and they wanted to 333 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: fire you in person. Well, no, it works, or ball 334 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 1: you up in your taco and burn you. 335 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 2: Hey, it wasn't invented yet. Oh but I it was invented. 336 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 2: I was waiting for the inventory to come in from China. 337 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 2: But I was like, man, everyone, I. 338 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: Can imagine right now a garage full of boxes of 339 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: these things that you're trying to figure out how to sell. 340 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 2: Yes, I have a picture of me standing in front 341 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 2: of all of them, and I sold every single last 342 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 2: one of them. 343 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:14,240 Speaker 1: First of all, I was kidding I can't believe that's 344 00:19:14,280 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: really the truth. I do believe you sold all of them. Yes, 345 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: I bet you didn't make a dime, but go ahead, 346 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: you got that right. 347 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: That's that's failure. My next failure about. 348 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: Failure is the uh. 349 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,399 Speaker 2: And it was only nonprofitable because I didn't understand profit 350 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 2: margins and retail versusholesale by the way, So it was 351 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 2: ignorance was why it wasn't profitable. Not the desire of 352 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 2: my customers wanting my product. Learn Yes. Anyways, the next 353 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 2: day was the twenty and eleven MAVs Championship. So I 354 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 2: came to work and I wasn't fired. And I worked 355 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 2: and I was treated great. Everyone treated me great, and 356 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 2: I was like, ha, I guess I'm going to get 357 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 2: some respect around here. You know. I just couldn't believe it. 358 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:05,639 Speaker 2: I was like wow. And then at the end of 359 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 2: my shift, because it was a Sunday, at the end 360 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 2: of my shift, she was like, I need you to 361 00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 2: come in tomorrow so we can have a discussion about 362 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 2: that email. And I was like, okay, on my day off, 363 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 2: but fine. So I drove in and then they said, 364 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 2: you know, we're going to fire you. And I was 365 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 2: like well, why didn't you fire me yesterday? And they're like, 366 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 2: it was the MAVs Championship on a Sunday, we needed you. 367 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: I was like, thanks, Oh my gosh, yeah, So how old? 368 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: And I do have a picture of me on my 369 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 2: last day of where you could probably find it on 370 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: my Facebook. I'm holding up a peace sign like in front, 371 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 2: like holding up his shirt or something like celebrating the 372 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,360 Speaker 2: MAVs winning because that was my last day in the newsroom. 373 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:49,119 Speaker 1: How old were you? 374 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 2: So twenty eleven? I don't know, uh ago, it seems 375 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 2: like ages ago. I'm thirty six now. 376 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: Okay, so you were twenty five something like that. 377 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 2: So so about ten it was ten years ago. 378 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: So you get canned. 379 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 2: You and the next day, a whole month early. I 380 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 2: couldn't believe it, a truck backs up beep beep beep 381 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,240 Speaker 2: with all of the inventory. And I posted a picture 382 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 2: the next day with a thumbs up in front of 383 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: all my inventory. And to this day, my colleagues from 384 00:21:25,880 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 2: CBS they're like, are you sure you didn't do that 385 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 2: on purpose to just like leave with an attitude. I'm like, dude, 386 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 2: I would have done something less humiliating. 387 00:21:37,920 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. So I'm trying to understand that 388 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: the transfer from the newsroom to the floating tacos to 389 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: what you do. 390 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 2: Now, Okay, so floating tacos ended up. So you're right. 391 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 2: I did not make a dime. That was tough. 392 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: I have to. I have to let you know that 393 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: the minute you told me the idea, I assumed you 394 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: didn't make anybody. 395 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did not, because it cost me thirty dollars 396 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: to manufacture and I was selling them for ninety nine 397 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 2: ninety five. But what I didn't realize is that all 398 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 2: my customers would actually be like Leslie's pools or like retail. 399 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: And I guess I just was young and dumb and 400 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 2: didn't realize the whole Like they want it for half 401 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 2: the price of what it will retail. 402 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, they want to make money. 403 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I thought that was rude. But yeah so 404 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:58,199 Speaker 2: that yep, okay, yeah, so yeah I wasn't. But I 405 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 2: did make money if I So that's why trying to 406 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 2: like literally go door to door and I even remember 407 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 2: getting a I made. I made so many stupid decisions 408 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: and it was all for pride. Again. I was trying 409 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 2: to seek validation through success and prove to everyone, especially 410 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 2: from high school, like I'm not a loser anymore. Look, 411 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 2: and so I. 412 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: Really do get that. I think I know what would 413 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: have made it go. What had you included one free 414 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 1: jar of peanut butter syrup with every. 415 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 2: Purchase, That's what would have done. 416 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 1: It, would have made it work. 417 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 2: That would have done it. 418 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,959 Speaker 1: God, I could have scrubbed that one of the taco 419 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: and you could have just sun bathed in that. 420 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 2: Or or you don't even have to get a real tan, 421 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 2: just rub this crap on you and you'll look tan. 422 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:46,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. I pretty much think that's kind of a ven 423 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,160 Speaker 1: diagram of all your bad ideas at once right there. 424 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:55,239 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, okay, so you sold them. You didn't make 425 00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: much money. 426 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 2: That you got out of the money I was doing, 427 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 2: so what made me. I'm not going to go back 428 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 2: in time just to prove you wrong, but I do 429 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:07,719 Speaker 2: feel like if I would have kept at it with 430 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 2: just like anything else, determination would have made it. I 431 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,639 Speaker 2: would have made it. But I was like, this sucks. 432 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 2: It's not making money. And I found where I was 433 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 2: making a lot more money was pr because being in 434 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: the newsroom, I got really good at trying to get 435 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:27,160 Speaker 2: my friends on the news without my news director, knowing 436 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 2: that they were my friends, and I didn't realize that 437 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 2: that's essentially just PR convincing the news stations. Why a 438 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 2: business network beyond the news. 439 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, so clearly you have that bent because the hire 440 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: me and I will deliver on a delivered pizza Dot's clutch. Yeah. Yeah, 441 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: so you got that right. 442 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. And so there was. 443 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: Also only twenty five You're just a kid, yeah. 444 00:24:55,520 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 2: I was. So there's this guy that I always sent 445 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: us ideas he was a PR guy. I reached out 446 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,119 Speaker 2: to him and I was like, I need money. I 447 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 2: think I can be a PR person and he was like, 448 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 2: WHOA A lot of people think they can be a 449 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 2: PR person and it doesn't always translate. And I was like, 450 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 2: just let me take a crack at it. Give me 451 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 2: a list of all your clients. I think I can 452 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: get them on the news twenty bucks an hour, and 453 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 2: he was like, well, how many hours do you want 454 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,960 Speaker 2: to work. I was like forty, and so he was 455 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 2: like okay. I came back a few days later. I 456 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 2: think at the time he had like thirty clients and 457 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 2: I was like okay, And I had a check mark 458 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 2: next to each one that I had in the works 459 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 2: of getting on the news and making a story for 460 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 2: and almost all of them I had something in the works. 461 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,320 Speaker 2: I didn't know that that was good. I just was. 462 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: I was what you were supposed to sk I. 463 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 2: Was disappointed in myself for not having them all on TV. 464 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 2: And so it was within that year I was making 465 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 2: six figures and vice president of that PR firm. 466 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:56,040 Speaker 1: Amazing. 467 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:56,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. 468 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: So, and why'd you get fired from there? 469 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 2: I didn't get fired. 470 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: Oh, okay, that's good. First time he left that. 471 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,439 Speaker 2: Actually, the newsroom was the first time I ever got 472 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 2: fired from any job. 473 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: You didn't get fired from putting meth in the master 474 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: patatoes at gold Corral. Nope, that tells you something about 475 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: Golden Corral. So anyway, you left there, though. 476 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 2: I did, and looking back, like a good little entrepreneurial lesson. 477 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 2: He was an amazing boss and I could have. I 478 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 2: worked from home. I had my own schedule. The job 479 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 2: was for me. 480 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: It was easy, pr right at scores coming up? 481 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:37,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, pr is very easy for me, but it was 482 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 2: my pride. I wanted to be an all in, one 483 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 2: hundred percent entrepreneur, so I wasn't going. 484 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 1: To try to be you want to do it for you? 485 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 2: Well, I wasn't going I didn't want to be an entrepreneur. 486 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:50,679 Speaker 2: I didn't want to work a job and try to 487 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 2: I'm an addict, I was. I wanted to be zero. 488 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 2: All in, looking back, I could have and he was 489 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 2: such a great guy. He's still a great guy. We 490 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 2: still talk. He would have allowed me to build the 491 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,440 Speaker 2: company I'm trying to build while producing results for his company. 492 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 2: But it was my pride. So I started volunteering with 493 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:10,440 Speaker 2: the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. 494 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: Okay, there we go. Now we're getting toward Cornbrad a hustle. Yes, 495 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 1: explain that program. So that existed before you? Yeah, that 496 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: was program. 497 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 2: So what I hadn't ended up actually through it was 498 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:28,680 Speaker 2: a client through the PR firm. I was interviewing him 499 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,200 Speaker 2: and prepping him for a news interview, and I had 500 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: somehow I hadn't told anyone about the meth stuff yet. 501 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 2: I didn't tell anybody at all. And I told him 502 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 2: a little bit about my story and he was like, 503 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,199 Speaker 2: I think you'd really like the prison Entrepreneurship program. And 504 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,000 Speaker 2: I was like, wait, hold up, prison entrepreneurship are you 505 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 2: kidding me? 506 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,960 Speaker 1: Yeah? When I first heard that, I was like, prison 507 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:58,359 Speaker 1: Entrepreneurship program. I mean first blush that just teaches them 508 00:27:58,520 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 1: how to make a better drug dealing operation when they 509 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 1: get out of prison, or take. 510 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: Your drug dealing skills and put it to the next level, 511 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 2: put it towards entrepreneurship. I'm telling you, do you not 512 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:16,200 Speaker 2: hire any former drug dealers? I don't know they're great eloyees. 513 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 1: I have hired many formally incarcerated people, and some are 514 00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: and I can think of three right now that are 515 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 1: long term great employees. Which is one of the reasons 516 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: why I was so interested in your story, because I 517 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: too have people to work for me that have been 518 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: in jail, and a number of them for a number 519 00:28:39,760 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: of them for things like DUI's and drugs and things 520 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 1: like that, but also some violent, very violent manslaughter, and 521 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 1: I have had. I have been so amazed by their 522 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: appreciation for an opportunity to just be treated like a 523 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: normal person, improve themselves after they've paid their debt to 524 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 1: their society, And which is why I was so drawn 525 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: to your story. But we're getting ahead of ourselves because 526 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: people don't even understand what you do yet, So we're 527 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 1: going to unpack that. You there was this prison entrepreneur what's. 528 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 2: It called Prison Entrepreneurship program, Prison entrepreneurship program, and you 529 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,479 Speaker 2: had a pr client that suggested that it might be 530 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 2: something I'm interested in me and you. 531 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: Did it originally as a volunteers. Oh yeah, that's it, volunteers. 532 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 2: So in my mind I was like, holy cow, like 533 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 2: because I knew I should be in prison with all 534 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 2: the activity. 535 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,239 Speaker 1: Which is so important for people to understand. Why we 536 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: unpacked all of that at the beginning of this conversation 537 00:29:55,040 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: is that all of that gave you a reality for this, 538 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: and I knew, I mean, you've been arrested in everything, 539 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:05,800 Speaker 1: but you never really served time in prison, but you 540 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: felt like you had earned prison. You just avoided it. 541 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 3: A lot of grace of God, I guess, yeah, a 542 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 3: lot of grace. So where are we, oh, prison entrepreneurship program. 543 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 2: So I felt like I knew these people would be resilient, 544 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:29,560 Speaker 2: like you told me, you're like cherry, You're unconventional, like 545 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:34,040 Speaker 2: non traditional route, like you're you're wild. I knew that 546 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 2: these people. Unfortunately I had the wrong mindset back then, 547 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:42,720 Speaker 2: and I talk about this all the time. I thought 548 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 2: they'll be just like me, They'll seek validation and not 549 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 2: quit as long as they're winning, I'm going to show 550 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,640 Speaker 2: them how to win. That was my goal. 551 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 1: That's interesting, But that's assuming they're all addicts, right. 552 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 2: If you I don't want to blanket anybody, because I 553 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 2: do hire a lot of people. We hired one thousand 554 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 2: people in the last year. But I will say that 555 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,960 Speaker 2: if you've done prison time, it's most likely you have 556 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 2: unresolved trauma, and it's most likely that you were going 557 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 2: to want to feel like you belong to something that's 558 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 2: helping you feel successful. 559 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: That makes complete sense. Yeah, So tell me about the 560 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:28,360 Speaker 1: first person you helped. So I go into that as 561 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: a volunteer. 562 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, So as a volunteer, I'm in there. And so 563 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 2: I reached out to PEP, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, like hey, 564 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 2: I know how to do pr That's how I ended 565 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: up on the Steve Harvey Show. 566 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: What did you go from one to fifty? You didn't 567 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: tell me about the Steve Harvey Show. We hadn't talked 568 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 1: about the Steve Harvey Show. 569 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 2: Well we're talking about it now. 570 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:54,680 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, okay, let's hear about the Steve Harvey That 571 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:56,080 Speaker 1: was the feud. 572 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 2: It wasn't family feud. I would have lost. 573 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: Can you imagine your family when you were in high 574 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,840 Speaker 1: school on the family feud, No, the meth thing. God, 575 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 1: can you imagine how funny that would have been. 576 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be funny, it'd be horrible. 577 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 1: It would have been horrible. 578 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it'd be funny. 579 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: Now Steve Harvey would had fun with it. 580 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 2: True. 581 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 4: We'll be right back. So how'd you end up on 582 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 4: the Steve Harvey Show? 583 00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 2: So that's when I decided to share my story for 584 00:32:42,040 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 2: the first time about meth. I never shared it, but 585 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 2: I was inspired through volunteering with the prison Entrepreneurship Program. 586 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 2: I was still working for the PR firm, but. 587 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: That didn't explain how we've gone on the Steve Harvey Show. 588 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,720 Speaker 1: There's a lot of people volunteering at the entrepreneurial thing 589 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: in prison. 590 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,160 Speaker 2: Something I ended up talking to some casting lady. I 591 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 2: can't remember how it happened, but I shared my story 592 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:08,200 Speaker 2: and she ended up convincing me that Steve Harvey shows 593 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 2: a good platform to put it out there. 594 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: He's hilarious. Yeah, he's also much deeper than people give him. 595 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 1: Criss I think he's they think he's all a comedian, 596 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:19,959 Speaker 1: but he's. 597 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 2: He's a godly man for sure. 598 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: He is. He's a good man, and he's really good 599 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 1: with his family. So who's the first guy you helped, Sherry? 600 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 2: His name was Bennie, And so I had been volunteering 601 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 2: for a couple of years because it takes time for 602 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 2: them to get out of prison, right, So a couple 603 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 2: of years later people started getting out of prison, and 604 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 2: I was at the transition house. The PEP transition house 605 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 2: is that. 606 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: Like people get out. It's a house. 607 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,320 Speaker 2: It's a halfway house. It's just a more kind term 608 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 2: to say transition house. So we're in the transition house 609 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 2: and he's like, man. 610 00:33:58,240 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 1: He Bennie, Bennie. 611 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 2: He's like, I got to get a job. I remember 612 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 2: he used to make me laugh so hard. You would 613 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:08,120 Speaker 2: have fun hanging out with people on their first day 614 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 2: out of prison. So I remember driving and him being 615 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 2: like sticking his head out the window, about to throw 616 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,080 Speaker 2: up because think about the motion sickness of somebody who's 617 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 2: been in prison for twenty years, right, and him trying 618 00:34:19,680 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 2: sushi for the first time, not knowing what google is. 619 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: Hold it time out. You're telling me a guy gets 620 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:27,280 Speaker 1: out of prison and you take them for sushi. 621 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 2: I did. 622 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 1: That's so weird. All right, So anyway, would you please 623 00:34:32,480 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: tell me you helped you? 624 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 2: I did? Okay, you want to know my favorite thing 625 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:37,760 Speaker 2: that I. 626 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: I mean, did you make them take his shoes off 627 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 1: and sit Indian style on the little pillow and all that? 628 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 1: I hate sushi. You can't stand it. If I ever 629 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,520 Speaker 1: go to prison and you are a producer over her 630 00:34:50,560 --> 00:34:53,640 Speaker 1: Alex picks me up, do not take me to get sushi. 631 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:55,400 Speaker 1: It's ridiculous. 632 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:58,879 Speaker 2: But that was the whole funny thing about it. Can 633 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 2: you imagine how funny it is a person coming out 634 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:05,800 Speaker 2: of prison and looking at sushi and trying to use topsticks. 635 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,160 Speaker 1: After he almost got nauseous on the rod home. No, 636 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 1: I can't imagine any of this. I can't. 637 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,959 Speaker 2: It wasn't after the nauseous, Okay, we I. 638 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:17,240 Speaker 1: Think it was a sushi that made nauseous because sushi sucks. 639 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:21,920 Speaker 1: I hate sushi. So you still had and told me 640 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 1: how you helped him. So far you've told me how 641 00:35:23,719 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 1: you've made him nauseous and got him sushi. 642 00:35:26,680 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, we did. We Look, I had a lot of 643 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 2: fun with these guys and girls. There's a lot Like 644 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,520 Speaker 2: you asked me, how do you laugh at yourself and 645 00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,919 Speaker 2: talk about your failures. That's how like community. We have fun. 646 00:35:40,040 --> 00:35:44,439 Speaker 2: We don't see everything as like a grind. And there's 647 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,439 Speaker 2: a lot of laughter. So, which, by the way, one 648 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 2: of the guys who I'm very good friends with right now, 649 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,800 Speaker 2: I couldn't help myself. It was a it was a prank. 650 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 2: He thought the wasabi was avocado. 651 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:02,640 Speaker 1: How much did he eat it once? 652 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 2: Oh my god. So he goes, oh, and I hope 653 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 2: I'm going to tell him to listen to this, just 654 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 2: so he knows that I'm telling the story. He pointed 655 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 2: out my plate and he was like, you're not going 656 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:14,839 Speaker 2: to eat your guacamole. And I felt the horns come 657 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:19,399 Speaker 2: out from my forehead. I was like, what you like guacamole? 658 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:21,840 Speaker 2: He was like, yeah, what are you talking about? Of 659 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:24,560 Speaker 2: course I like guacamole. And I was like, prove it, 660 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 2: eat that whole glove. 661 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:32,359 Speaker 1: So I was in Chicago about twenty five years on 662 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:37,200 Speaker 1: a seal strip and it was an international trade show 663 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:42,680 Speaker 1: and there were these two Italian guys. One spoke decent English, 664 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: those others spoke almost nothing, and they'd been on an 665 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:48,319 Speaker 1: all night flight to get Chicago. And we met him 666 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: in the lobby in the hotel lobby bar, and we 667 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,520 Speaker 1: were sitting there having a beer and some nuts or 668 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:56,760 Speaker 1: a drink or whatever, and the Dian that didn't speak 669 00:36:56,880 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 1: very good English at all, was sick. I mean, his 670 00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 1: nose was running, his eyes were running, he was sneezing. 671 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 1: I felt so sorry for the guy. And it was 672 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 1: a nice lobby, and it had one of the like 673 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:11,480 Speaker 1: a store over the side of the lobby where you 674 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 1: can go get you know, cokes and you know, tile 675 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:20,320 Speaker 1: and all and all that. And he wanted some nasal spray, 676 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,279 Speaker 1: so he went over to the to the to the 677 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,680 Speaker 1: commissary to get some nasal spray. He came back to 678 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 1: our little table, which was kind of a couch and 679 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:31,759 Speaker 1: two chairs and this nice lobby and we're drinking and 680 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 1: he unwraps it. I don't pay much attention to him. 681 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 1: He sticks that thing in his nostril and holds his 682 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:40,239 Speaker 1: finger with his other nostril and squeezes and sucks it up, 683 00:37:40,360 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 1: and you know, because it's nasal spray. And there was 684 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: about a three second delay. And Italians are dark complexed guys, 685 00:37:48,520 --> 00:37:52,120 Speaker 1: and in about four seconds he was as red as 686 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: someone who got stuck in one of your tacos. And 687 00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:59,319 Speaker 1: his started sweating and he started shaking and everything, and 688 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: I grabbed it and it was banaka. Do you know 689 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:07,400 Speaker 1: what banaka is that you put on your tongue dot 690 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,400 Speaker 1: He sucked half a bottle of banaka up one of 691 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 1: his nostrils. Because we had an Italian not speaking English, 692 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:16,279 Speaker 1: tried to buy something the story in it, and he 693 00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:18,359 Speaker 1: sucked the whole thing of banaka. I thought, he's gonna 694 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:19,600 Speaker 1: have a cornery right in front. 695 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 2: Of my brother. Accidentally brushed his teeth with the icy 696 00:38:22,280 --> 00:38:27,239 Speaker 2: hot once, thinking of his teeth face he was was. 697 00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:29,480 Speaker 2: It was when we were younger, and he was watching 698 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:33,719 Speaker 2: the TV with his mouth open, trying to trying to 699 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,239 Speaker 2: cool down his teeth. It was the funniest thing. 700 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:44,160 Speaker 1: So, just to be clear, you hazed a returning citizen 701 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 1: from jail by making him, do you take everybody tea? 702 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:49,800 Speaker 1: You're gonna sushi? 703 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 2: Listen, you're gonna get me canceled. 704 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm not gonna get you canceled. You're gonna get 705 00:38:55,239 --> 00:39:00,439 Speaker 1: yourself canceled. Because that's hazing. So to be fair the back, 706 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: what did you do for Benny? 707 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 2: So Benny, he was very discouraged with his job search, 708 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 2: and he said I'm just gonna go get a job 709 00:39:12,640 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 2: as a dishwasher. And I was like, well, why do 710 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 2: you sound so upset about it? He was like, because 711 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 2: I got to take what I can get, and I'm 712 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:20,319 Speaker 2: a felon and it's all that I'll be able to get. 713 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 2: And I said, well, what's your dream, Like, what's your 714 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 2: dream job? What would you like if you could do 715 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,279 Speaker 2: anything right now and you didn't have a felony, what 716 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:30,399 Speaker 2: would you do? And he was like, Sherry, remember when 717 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:32,719 Speaker 2: we were driving, when I had my head out the 718 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:36,640 Speaker 2: window about to puke, I saw all those murals in 719 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,560 Speaker 2: deep elum. He said, I can do that. I'm a 720 00:39:40,560 --> 00:39:42,719 Speaker 2: great artist. And I said, let me see some of 721 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:46,279 Speaker 2: your work. And his work was amazing with nothing. He 722 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 2: taught himself how to draw in prison. And so I 723 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 2: was like, all right, so who's to say you can't 724 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:54,640 Speaker 2: have that job? He was like, because I'm a felon. 725 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,719 Speaker 2: I said, I don't know. I got So this is 726 00:39:57,719 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 2: where the dots connect, because and you say, why do 727 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:06,600 Speaker 2: you talk so candidly about your failures? Because I got 728 00:40:06,600 --> 00:40:09,359 Speaker 2: that job in the newsroom, I knew that there's no 729 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,839 Speaker 2: barrier that can hold anybody back from anything. As long 730 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:13,359 Speaker 2: as you really put your mind to it. 731 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 1: So you learned that for sure. 732 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, So I said, let's just first of all, I 733 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 2: got to show him what Google was and how it works. 734 00:40:22,160 --> 00:40:25,800 Speaker 2: So we went to Google and I typed in Dallas 735 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:29,160 Speaker 2: Mural Painting Company and I called the number on the 736 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,279 Speaker 2: first one that popped up, and I was like, Hey, 737 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,279 Speaker 2: my name's Sherry. I'm volunteering with an organization. And I 738 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:38,719 Speaker 2: didn't say which one yet, and I said, I have 739 00:40:38,760 --> 00:40:42,359 Speaker 2: a guy here who's really interested in working for you, 740 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 2: and I see some of your work on your website. 741 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:51,240 Speaker 2: His drawings are just as good man, not maybe even better. 742 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,239 Speaker 2: Like he's a good guy. He's going to be an 743 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:57,080 Speaker 2: asset to your team, and if you have an open position, 744 00:40:57,160 --> 00:40:59,359 Speaker 2: he's willing to work for just ten dollars an hour 745 00:40:59,719 --> 00:41:01,680 Speaker 2: because the job he was going to take was only 746 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:04,640 Speaker 2: eight dollars an hour as a dishwasher. And so Bennie 747 00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:09,120 Speaker 2: was thrilled to even have the ideas he wants to do. 748 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:12,839 Speaker 2: And because I remembered what helped me get off meth 749 00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:17,120 Speaker 2: was sharing on social media all my achievements. Again, remember 750 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:19,839 Speaker 2: that wasn't the right way, because we're going to talk 751 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,120 Speaker 2: about some more of my failures on not getting to 752 00:41:22,160 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 2: the root cause and seeking all the validation. But because 753 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:27,839 Speaker 2: I knew it worked for me, I thought maybe this 754 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:32,520 Speaker 2: will work for him. And so the guy was like, well, yeah, 755 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,000 Speaker 2: so what's the catch. And I was like, well, he 756 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 2: just got out of prison after serving twenty years for 757 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:41,359 Speaker 2: a violent crime. But he's a really great guy, and 758 00:41:42,200 --> 00:41:45,319 Speaker 2: if you're interested in interviewing him, I'll meet you at 759 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:47,440 Speaker 2: a Starbucks. I still have the picture of him sitting 760 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:50,759 Speaker 2: at the Starbucks being interviewed. And if you don't hire him, 761 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:54,040 Speaker 2: no harm, no foul. Maybe you have a good story 762 00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:56,719 Speaker 2: to tell somebody. But all come there so you don't 763 00:41:56,800 --> 00:41:59,840 Speaker 2: have to be afraid. And so I sat there, he 764 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:02,080 Speaker 2: interviewed him. Benny got the job on the spot. 765 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,759 Speaker 1: And what Benny bring, like his artwork with him and shows. 766 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:09,520 Speaker 2: Us Yeah right, yep, and he got the job, and 767 00:42:09,719 --> 00:42:12,760 Speaker 2: what I thought happened ended up happening. Benny was posting 768 00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:15,279 Speaker 2: on Facebook all of his work and how proud he 769 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:17,799 Speaker 2: was of it. He was doing the kids murals in 770 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:22,000 Speaker 2: the hallways at churches. It's really cool at churches, Yep, 771 00:42:22,280 --> 00:42:24,319 Speaker 2: he was. He was doing all the paintings in the 772 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:27,520 Speaker 2: churches for the murals and just. 773 00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:29,840 Speaker 1: Out of curiosity, is he a faithful got to m 774 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: Yes he is, and that's something. 775 00:42:32,280 --> 00:42:35,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, fast forward to today, he earned six figures. He's 776 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:40,040 Speaker 2: doing amazing and he did start his own mural painting company. 777 00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:42,280 Speaker 2: And that was my goal, was to help people reverse 778 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:46,600 Speaker 2: engineer what their dream is, but do it through entrepreneurship 779 00:42:47,360 --> 00:42:50,880 Speaker 2: and learn while you're getting paid and get on your feet. 780 00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 1: Sure, if that was the only story we were going 781 00:42:53,920 --> 00:42:55,960 Speaker 1: to talk about, all of your failures would have been 782 00:42:55,960 --> 00:42:59,600 Speaker 1: worth it. Because my guess is if Benny had gone 783 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:03,680 Speaker 1: to wash dishes, a mundane thing he hated. Now, there's 784 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:05,920 Speaker 1: nothing wrong with washing dishes. If you like working in 785 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:08,040 Speaker 1: kitchens and around food, it's a great place to start 786 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:10,360 Speaker 1: work your wait in the kitchen. But that wasn't his passion. 787 00:43:10,719 --> 00:43:15,200 Speaker 1: If he'd ha gone to do that, can you see 788 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:19,560 Speaker 1: a pathway for him to have had a fulfilling life 789 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:24,839 Speaker 1: or I mean, that's where sud division comes from, is 790 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:31,200 Speaker 1: that very thing? And instead this guy is a tax paying, 791 00:43:31,239 --> 00:43:35,640 Speaker 1: productive member of society that has started his own company. 792 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:40,560 Speaker 1: And that all came from just a normal person who 793 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:42,799 Speaker 1: had her own failure seeing a place where she could 794 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:46,280 Speaker 1: help and saying hey, I can do it. Yeah, well 795 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:49,400 Speaker 1: that's worth all the failures to get you to that point. 796 00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:54,960 Speaker 1: Just that point is a phenomenal success. 797 00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:57,279 Speaker 2: So now you see why I can talk about them 798 00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:02,840 Speaker 2: so easily because my failure literally have made other people's 799 00:44:02,880 --> 00:44:03,760 Speaker 2: lives better. 800 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:14,040 Speaker 1: Wow, my failures literally make other people's lives better. I 801 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:17,680 Speaker 1: cannot think of a more poignant quote to illustrate what 802 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:23,480 Speaker 1: servant leadership is really about. That's powerful. And if you're 803 00:44:23,480 --> 00:44:27,319 Speaker 1: not finished getting inspired by Sherry's story, join us for 804 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:31,160 Speaker 1: Part three. It's available right now and I hope to 805 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:31,719 Speaker 1: see you there.