1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: Everybody. It's Bill Cordy with an army of normal folks. 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: And we continue now with part two of our conversation 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: with Bougair Delhi right after these brief messages from our 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: general sponsors. So today everyone, Sky's the Limit is the 5 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: world's leading digital platform for connecting underrepresented entrepreneurs with education, 6 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: mentors and access capital. 7 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 2: The world's largest by some goofy. 8 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: Guy from Oakland that found himself in Morocco by way 9 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: of the Smoky Mountains. Crazy supported since twenty ten, Sky's 10 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: the Limit has supported one hundred thousand entrepreneurs, of which 11 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: more than thirty were served in twenty twenty five alone. 12 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:08,559 Speaker 1: They've launched and grown over seven thousand businesses, generating hundreds 13 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,959 Speaker 1: of millions of revenue and creating many thousands of jobs. 14 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: They've awarded over three quarters of million dollars in startup grants, 15 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: and they've distributed over one hundred thousand dollars in grants 16 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: in just twenty twenty five. It's just incredible. But that's 17 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: really not the end. That's the beginning. I love one 18 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: of the things you said, i'd loved you talk about. 19 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: Most of us don't like hearing that two letter word no, 20 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: but to make Skies the limit the success it is 21 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: today your goofy self decided, I want to hear a 22 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: thousand those explain it. 23 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 3: I think that one of the things I've learned about 24 00:01:53,480 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 3: about entrepreneurship is failure is a necessary component. But if 25 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: you reframe it as learning, then you know everybody can 26 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: get by and learning. Right. But if you say do 27 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 3: you want to fail, people are like, no, I'd rather not, right. 28 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 3: So I think that getting to a thousand no's means 29 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 3: that there's got to be some yesses along the way, right. 30 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 3: But that's what I mean is like the more nos 31 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 3: we have, every nose is shot on goal. That's how 32 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 3: we that's how we think about and talk about it 33 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 3: internally at Sky's Limit. So we're trying to get shots 34 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 3: on goal because you have to connect what you're doing 35 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 3: with with with a market, with a customer. And that's 36 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: what we do in our in our fundraising is we 37 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 3: are strategic and in terms of trying to trying to 38 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: ask the right people, we're not just going willy nilly, 39 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 3: but we are. We are cognizant that a no means 40 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 3: that you got close and along the way we've gotten 41 00:02:57,840 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 3: enough Yes, is to make all the work happen. 42 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: I'm a child of the eighties, and for those children 43 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:09,960 Speaker 1: of the eighties, you will remember names like Carnegie zig Ziggler. 44 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: Back before the digital age and you could find digital 45 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: mentorship or whatever. Those of us who wanted to learn 46 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:23,239 Speaker 1: more and didn't have it available to us would pay 47 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: two hundred bucks and go to a weekend seminar. I mean, 48 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: that's really how you did it back then, and sometimes 49 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: it was more motivational people like zig Ziggler and a 50 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: cast of people. Zig was broke from Yazoo City and 51 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: he actually got to start selling waterless cookware door to door, 52 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: and the lessons he learned along the way he crafted 53 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 1: into narratives that were both funny and inspirational and thoughtful. 54 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: And same with so many of these other folks. 55 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: One of the ones that made the most impact on 56 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: me was a seminar took that it was all about 57 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: the close rate and what you needed to do over 58 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: a certain amount of time was sod spin of the 59 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: dial back when the phone was a dial and you 60 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: tracked how many people you contacted could possibly contact in 61 00:04:19,240 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: a day, and how many yeses you got out of 62 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: that contact, and if you could call one hundred people 63 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: a day, that's five hundred people a week. And if 64 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: you got two yeses a day, that's ten a week. 65 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 1: So you knew that five hundred spins of the dial 66 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: every week would get you ten sales. Yep. And it 67 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: was a numbers game. And at that point you just 68 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 1: pound it. And if you've got the guts and the 69 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: temerity and the entrepreneurship to just pound it five hundred 70 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: times a week, you were going to get ten. That 71 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:56,839 Speaker 1: was the metrics. That's how we came up with it 72 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 1: back then, before smart people and computers and a your 73 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: friends in Oakland figured out how to do it digitally. 74 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: Right. 75 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: That's all you're saying is you want a thousand knows 76 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: because you know there's a close right inside those thousand notes. 77 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: And I think there's a lesson there for every single entrepreneur, 78 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: because now you're talking about ten thousands and. 79 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 3: And there's another gray lesson from zig Zigler. God, you 80 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 3: brought him up because he has one of my favorite 81 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 3: you're not made. I can respect his greatness. 82 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 2: You doug about something. 83 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: You went to the you went to an old school 84 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: library and found some zig stuff. 85 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 2: But yeah, go ahead, I Love you. 86 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 3: I said, you can have anything you want in life 87 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 3: if you help enough people get what they want first. 88 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 3: It's true, and that that is that's entrepreneurship because you're 89 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 3: helping other people get what they want, right, that's creating 90 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 3: value for other people. And along the way you capture 91 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 3: a little bit of that, not too much, not too little, 92 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,360 Speaker 3: and that's how you build a business. 93 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: I want to talk to you about your business mentors 94 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: and in a minute, because I think that's cool to 95 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: be able to use your passion abilities to virtually mentor 96 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: and underrepresented entrepreneur, which is a lot like what we're 97 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: talking about in our service clubs. And I think that's 98 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: something a lot of people attending this love podcast and 99 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: those listening to all the country could be. But first, 100 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: what are some of your favorite underdog entrepreneurs The Sky's 101 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: the limit has supported. 102 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 3: Yeah, Tyrone. Tyrone grew up in in foster care in Oakland, California, 103 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 3: and he in foster care, you know, switched to a 104 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 3: lot of homes. He learned about a conflict resolution technique 105 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: and process called restorative justice practices. It's a big group 106 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 3: of learnings and applications and to change his life right. 107 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 3: So he practiced this and and UH he aged out 108 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: of the foster care system and became a barista at 109 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 3: Starbucks and realized that this was not what he wanted 110 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 3: to do with his life. What he really wanted to 111 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 3: do with his life was teach other people about restorative 112 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 3: justice practices and and apply that, you know, you apply 113 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 3: that passion uh to a business. And so he had 114 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 3: nowhere really to start, and but he started with us, 115 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 3: and we helped him figure out how to you know, 116 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 3: we could we couldn't teach him anything about restorative justice practices, 117 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 3: like that was his talent, right, He's like, he knew this, 118 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 3: he had a passion for it, he knew how to teach. 119 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 3: But we can help build a business around that. And 120 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 3: that's that's really the story of Sky's. The limit is 121 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: that there's all this talent out there, doesn't know how 122 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 3: to build a business around it. Well, actually, there there's 123 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 3: a there's that process isn't easy, but it's doable. We 124 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 3: can teach you that and UH and so he and 125 00:07:55,400 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 3: his co founder Tiffany started out small. They got we 126 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 3: helped them get their first contracts uh City of Oakland, 127 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 3: Oakland Unified School District, and and basically started winning more 128 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 3: and more contracts to uh, and we connect them with 129 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: a mentor who was a had owned a consulting company 130 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: and and that that mentor was like, here's how you 131 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 3: win deals, and like here's how you structure RFPs and 132 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 3: and so this is all the support. And of course 133 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 3: they got some some money uh from us, and then 134 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 3: they turned that into a million dollar business and they're 135 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,599 Speaker 3: still alive today. This was over a decade ago, and 136 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 3: and they uh, you know, have employed a lot of 137 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 3: local people and they're still going. And that's I think. 138 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 3: I think it's a beautiful do you got to you 139 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 3: got to chase his passion and create a real job 140 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 3: from it. I mean he's he's making, you know, making 141 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 3: a real, real wage, you know, for himself, but not 142 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 3: even a wage. He's an owner of. 143 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: A company stores like that inspire body. And it's one thing. 144 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I'll just be real candid here, right. My 145 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: dad left home when I was four. My mom was married, 146 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: divorced five times. We didn't grow up with anything. I 147 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: didn't have a front yard to cut until I bought 148 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: my own. I grew in apartments. But if I'm being 149 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: truly raw and honest, about my business and whatever success 150 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: I've been able to enjoy, I at least went to 151 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,079 Speaker 1: school and had friends whose fathers were attorneys and bankers 152 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: and accountants. And although that access wasn't organic to my family, 153 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: I still had friends of friends who knew somebody. 154 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 2: We need to get our arms around. 155 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: There are people growing up in this country right now 156 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: who never make it out of their neighborhood and there's 157 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: nobody in their neighborhood who has professional access. 158 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: To anything, and so the entrepreneur. 159 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: Ability and the American dream for them is at best 160 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: distance and maybe unreachable. And that may be an inconvenient truth, 161 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: and that may step on the toes of the societal 162 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: preconceived notion that you get a free education and this 163 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 1: is American and all you got to do is pull 164 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: yourself up by your Bruce straps and you're going to 165 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: be okay. Because I believe that at one time, and 166 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: then I worked in an inner city and found out 167 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: that is horse for some people. 168 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 2: Yep, we'll be right back. How does your organization fix that? 169 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 3: Honestly, this is why admire what you're doing with this 170 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 3: Army of Normal Folks podcast, because it do you have 171 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 3: the answer it's then the name of your of your podcast. 172 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 3: At least that's what I believe. And let's take this, 173 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 3: let's take this down to Memphis, and hopefully I got 174 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 3: my research right, but I was looking at the eight 175 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 3: hundred initiative that here in Memphis to help scale some 176 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: businesses to become, you know, multimillion dollar businesses, and along 177 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 3: the way, I saw that there are about forty thousand 178 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 3: micro entrepreneurs who are making on average, about thirteen thousand 179 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 3: dollars a year from their business. Now, you can't live 180 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 3: off that, right, but that is represents a tremendous pool 181 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: of entrepreneurial ambition and talent. And what we do at Skyslemon, 182 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 3: why we exist is because there are a lot of 183 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 3: programs to scale a company who's already hit five hundred 184 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: grand in revenue or a million in revenue. There's venture capital, 185 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 3: there's private equity, thanks family offices. You got a lot 186 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: of options. But the value of death for entrepreneurs is 187 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: between zero and two hundred and fifty k. This is 188 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 3: where this is where the dreams die, is where businesses 189 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 3: die and where future jobs are. They're eliminated before they 190 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 3: can even exist because we're not wrapping our arms around 191 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 3: entrepreneurs early enough. We're not making that available. And so 192 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 3: that's that's what Sky's limit, and that's where we are 193 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: very firmly focused. If you get to a million dollars 194 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 3: in revenue with skys limit, amazing, like Tyrone Tiviny did amazing, 195 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 3: But that is not that's rare. That is very rare. 196 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: It's very rare for any business to get to a 197 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,959 Speaker 3: million dollars in revenue, despite what people think. It's like 198 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 3: less than three percent of all businesses break a million 199 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 3: in revenue. Right, so the when we're talking about small business, 200 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 3: we're talking about companies less than a million. But if 201 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 3: you go down and segment that even further, the zero 202 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 3: to two hundred frek is where there are more entrepreneurs 203 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 3: than any other stage of entrepreneurship. And when you don't 204 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 3: have a lot of resources, you don't have a lot 205 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: of time because you need to pay rents, you're working 206 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 3: that full time job, or or or working three part 207 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: time jobs, trying to piece it all together, and you're 208 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 3: trying to start a business. It is an incredibly fragile time, right, 209 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 3: So what you what you need when you're starting a 210 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 3: business at that stage is everything. Sure, you need capital, 211 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 3: uh and and it'd be nice if you didn't have to, 212 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 3: you know, start loan repayments the next month on that capital, 213 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 3: because revenue doesn't just appear like that. And and I 214 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,719 Speaker 3: think most importantly, it starts with understanding because we've all 215 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 3: seen people start businesses, make money and then lose it. 216 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 3: All right, So you you know, you can get a 217 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 3: lot of money. You see it in lottery winners. You know, 218 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 3: people are often lottery lot lottery winners die broke more 219 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 3: often than not. Right, So it's just getting money is 220 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 3: not just the is not the answer, right, it is 221 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:14,319 Speaker 3: part of the answer. But it starts with human relationships 222 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 3: for us, So we start mentoring first, right. We want 223 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: to get people into relationship. And it's entrepreneurs with their peers. 224 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 3: It's entrepreneurs with mentors who maybe have run a business before. 225 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 3: And it's entrepreneurs with advisors who are those subject matter experts. 226 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 3: And for us to fix this broken American dream, it is, 227 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 3: it's gonna take an army of mentors and advisors and 228 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: people in community. And if we were you know, there's 229 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 3: one way to do this where you go city by 230 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 3: city and you try to do that in brick and mortar, 231 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 3: but it is expensive, and it's slow, and it's fragile 232 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 3: because then all of a sudden, you're reliant highly on 233 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 3: on local staff, you lose a key person, and you 234 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 3: lose your community. And so we took the technology approach, 235 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 3: and we have a ton more to do still on it. 236 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 3: But we think as we as we refine this model, 237 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 3: and software development is a living, breathing beast that consumes 238 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 3: money and a lot of time. So that's what we're 239 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 3: But what it is is just a tool. It's a 240 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 3: means to an end, right, and so the platform we 241 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 3: build is a means to an end to creating those 242 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 3: human relationships, to connecting entrepreneurs to education, and to connecting 243 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 3: them to capital. 244 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: Over four thousand business leaders have served as virtual mentors 245 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: for under represented entrepreneurs. 246 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 2: Wiscy's the limit? Four thousand? 247 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 3: That's an old number. 248 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 2: But okay, here we go. You can segue it how 249 00:15:50,960 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 2: you want to. 250 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: I think we've got to get more people off the 251 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: sidelines into the game of service. 252 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 2: Yes, how's that work? 253 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 3: Yes? I think you said it. How do we do it? Uh? 254 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: I think we need to take out the friction involved 255 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 3: in volunteering. I think we might need to rebrand volunteering. 256 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 3: You know, I think that, uh, the decline in in 257 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 3: church attendance, which is you know where I started out 258 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 3: and doing service trips. They they I was brought brought 259 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 3: to me on a platter, right, said, here's here's the trip, 260 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 3: and go build houses and and let's go do that. 261 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 3: And then we have all of our service organizations are 262 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 3: declining and membership as well. Uh so something there's something 263 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 3: there around around selling service and volunteering and helping people 264 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 3: understand the value to them. Uh. And and then and 265 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: then making it easy. Uh, Unfortunately we've gotten I think, uh, 266 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 3: you know, used to things becoming easier. Uh. And and 267 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 3: I think technology can be a part of that solution, 268 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 3: but certainly not sufficient. And and then I think, last, 269 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 3: but not least, I think we need to like your 270 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 3: local service clubs that you're starting out in. This concierge 271 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:15,399 Speaker 3: match that you're talking about. 272 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: You like that, don't you? I do like that that concierge. 273 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: Nice job, Alex, good idea. 274 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 3: So we actually call it concier We have a concierge 275 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 3: match service within Sky's Olympics too. 276 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, cheated, you copied them. 277 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 3: You're in public, so he probably couldn't have found unless 278 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,320 Speaker 3: he's talking to our corporate partner. 279 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 2: That's that's the idea, right, make it easy. 280 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 3: That's it, and make it meaningful. 281 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:40,360 Speaker 2: Right. 282 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: Alex has some data on this, and I'm going to 283 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 1: butcher it, but I think it's important to hear it. 284 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: It's interesting you said church because church attendance, church membership 285 00:17:52,240 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: is down, but so is involvement in nonprofits. I think 286 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: I think the data says that nonprofit engagement is an 287 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: all time low. But here's the irony. Research also suggests 288 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: that seventy percent of people in the United States want 289 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,840 Speaker 1: to serve more and want to be involved in their communities, 290 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: but they all say their own how so when philanthropic 291 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 1: giving is down, when hours of volunteer work are way down, 292 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: yet seventy percent of public says they'd like to do 293 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: more and give more, they just don't know where and how. 294 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: That's the idea behind the chapters. That's the idea behind 295 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: Sky's the limit is if you will give your money 296 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: and your time, We'll set up a system and a 297 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: way for you to do it and make it easy 298 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: on you. If you just get off your and get 299 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: out of your comfort zone and engage. 300 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 3: I think it's going to take money, too, right, I 301 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 3: think you know people are bombarded by marketing constantly. All 302 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 3: you entrepreneurs in the room probably spend a fair amount 303 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 3: of money on marketing at least at some stage in 304 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 3: your business. So you understand that, you know, we've got 305 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 3: to tackle this like like a company would would a 306 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 3: tackle it in my opinion, and it's going to take 307 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 3: marketing spend to really get out the word and compete 308 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 3: with people's attention. 309 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: Lord knows, we're trying. Last question before we go to 310 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: Q and a. 311 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: Devil's advocate here, make sure you know that some of 312 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: these questions are not exactly the way I feel, But 313 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 1: I feel like there are questions that people listening may have, 314 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: and I want to give you an opportunity to possibly 315 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: answer to it. Some might say, if an entrepreneur's idea 316 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:58,400 Speaker 1: is good enough, the market will back it, and if 317 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: an entrepreneur's idea is not good enough or their execution 318 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: of that is, or they'll go broke. And that's capitalism, 319 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,880 Speaker 1: and that's the cream rises to the top, and that's 320 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: how American exceptionalism actually became a thing. So really, we 321 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: don't need a nonprofit like Sky's the Limit, because if 322 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: that is, they're good enough, they'll find their way. 323 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 2: What say you? 324 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,479 Speaker 3: So, I would say probably you've never started a company 325 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 3: with that question, and I would also ask you, like, 326 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,679 Speaker 3: you know, could you have gotten your first job without 327 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 3: going to school? All of these things that wrap around 328 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 3: you that influence your life, the people you learn from, 329 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 3: the books you read, the experiences you have. Does all 330 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 3: that not make you part of who you are? And 331 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 3: is that not where your skills were built from? I mean, 332 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:55,360 Speaker 3: sure there's some innate intelligence, innate talent. Maybe you're better 333 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 3: at one thing than the other. You learn it faster, 334 00:20:57,320 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 3: you learn it slower, But ultimately, the entrepreneurship is about 335 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 3: being you know, it's you can be taught and you 336 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 3: can learn entrepreneurship, and most often you're learning best from 337 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 3: your customer. And I would just give them this person whoever, 338 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 3: who have this person who I don't like, who asked 339 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 3: that question? I would say this, So, if you are 340 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 3: playing darts at the bar, a rich kid has a 341 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 3: bunch of shots at that darboard. He can miss the 342 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 3: whole board and hit the wall and keep shooting because 343 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 3: he has that luxury because he has money, he's got 344 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 3: a support network, he's got a lot. A low income 345 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 3: entrepreneur maybe gets one shot at that board or they're 346 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 3: not even in the bar in the first place. And 347 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,959 Speaker 3: that's what I think is wrong with that mentality, and 348 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 3: it's why we can't just say the American dream is 349 00:21:55,720 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 3: for everybody. It's it's disingenuous at best, and at worst, 350 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: it's putting your head in the sand and ignoring the 351 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 3: challenges that our country faces. 352 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 2: I didn't ask the question because I agree with you. 353 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:10,680 Speaker 2: So there you go. 354 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: So everybody that's both co founder of CEO of Sky's 355 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 1: Limit and Seattle, Washington, and amazing, amazing story, especially how 356 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:25,880 Speaker 1: it started. 357 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 2: I didn't even know all the part about smoking about 358 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:28,119 Speaker 2: and stuff. 359 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: That's hilarious and how you've gotten to where you are, 360 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: and I know there's so much more growth coming. We'll 361 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: be right back. Alex has a microphone. He's going to 362 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: run around like Phil Donahue. And please do speak up 363 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: loudly when you ask your question. 364 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 4: Thanks Bill, And this is Dottie Summery fil Justice summaryfil 365 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 4: associate said with the small MISUS counsel the chamber, so 366 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 4: vo when you look at all these applications, their criteria 367 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 4: that you look at. What is that entrepreneur that budding 368 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:22,200 Speaker 4: entrepreneur not have that we need to begin to cheaps. 369 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,120 Speaker 4: Those are the basics, I think those of us who've 370 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 4: never sat there room with someone who said I want 371 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 4: to start a business, when we start asking questions, what 372 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 4: are those basics that you look for in those applications 373 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 4: that have that spark and says this one can make it. 374 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,479 Speaker 4: This one needs a whole lot of help. Because if 375 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 4: we're going to start that armory of normal people and 376 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 4: sky's will go across the country, you're gonna have to 377 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:45,080 Speaker 4: teach us how to help. 378 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: That's a really, really, really thoughtful question. Not what makes 379 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 1: you accept the ones that you accept, but what are 380 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 1: the ones that you can accept need and let's fill 381 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 1: that need to That's a great question. 382 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 3: So let's flip all of on its head. We're not 383 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 3: accepting or or denying anyone, right we what we are 384 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 3: is a place for you to practice entrepreneurship. Right, so 385 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 3: we are trying to be the right support from the 386 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 3: right people at the right time in your entrepreneurial journey. 387 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:23,360 Speaker 3: Each person comes with different skills, different resources, different connections, 388 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 3: and so what what? 389 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: Uh? 390 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,120 Speaker 3: So, that's the first thing is don't try to judge. 391 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 3: You know, the US government would say, you know, we 392 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 3: have score. If you've heard a score, it's a business 393 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 3: mentoring program and that's our answer to this, to this problem. 394 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 3: And there's a congressional appropriation which I would love to 395 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 3: snag and plow it in disguised limit at some day 396 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 3: that score gets and score does this they get, they 397 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 3: judge you right away. They say, oh, that's not gonna work. 398 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 3: I mean, how many entrepreneurs have I mean Elon Musk 399 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 3: heard that, Oh it's not going to work. Where's he now? 400 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: So? 401 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,480 Speaker 3: I mean, who are we to say that is or 402 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 3: is not going to work? I think that's I think 403 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 3: taking the judgment out is one thing. And if you've 404 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 3: ever been part of just stalt mythology type of group 405 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:24,160 Speaker 3: like Entrepreneurs Organization EO or YPO Young President's Organization, they 406 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 3: talk about it as as an experience share, share your 407 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 3: experiences instead of give advice, right, because that experience share 408 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 3: is an authentic connection. First and foremost, it's going to 409 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 3: help your relationship with another entrepreneur. And secondly, there's so 410 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 3: much that the entrepreneur is able to learn that's good 411 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 3: for their timing, their perspective, their their insights, and now 412 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 3: to like that's the second piece. The third piece I 413 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 3: would say is getting your first customer as fast as 414 00:25:57,200 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 3: you can is everything. You got to get to revenue 415 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,479 Speaker 3: because revenue makes it real and your customer is your 416 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 3: best teacher in our opinion. So get that customer, and 417 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 3: in the pursuit of trying to get a customer, you 418 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 3: will refine and adapt your product or your service to 419 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 3: find a market. And then you need to figure out 420 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,919 Speaker 3: if you can if you have a healthy margin on 421 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 3: that sale. Right, you need a you need a healthy 422 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 3: gross margin, and you need to make sure that that's 423 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,440 Speaker 3: a rep You can build a replicable, repeatable system so 424 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,239 Speaker 3: that this one sale becomes ten a week, and then 425 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 3: you can build a business off of that. 426 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 5: Hi, I'm Lindsay Reagan. Thank you guys so much for 427 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 5: having this. This was kind of a boondoggle that I 428 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 5: took while I'm seeking out what to do next, and 429 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 5: I wanted to ask you, how are you seeing AI 430 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 5: play into faster success, faster return on ROI are you 431 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 5: leaning into that with your tech leaning relationship. I was 432 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 5: so thrilled to hear about that. 433 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 3: Yes, great question, so I will I was say first 434 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 3: and foremost that I think that technology is part of 435 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 3: the solution along with people. My co founder Nick and 436 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 3: I wrote a book called Building Businesses Together, and in 437 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:15,479 Speaker 3: it it's basically guides for how entrepreneurs and people who 438 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 3: support them can they ask the right questions first and foremost. 439 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 3: And so what AI doesn't do is ask you the 440 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 3: right questions necessarily, So that's still a big that's a trap. 441 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: I'll start with the trap of AI because it doesn't 442 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 3: know what you don't know, and it's not necessarily good 443 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 3: at making you think about the right questions. So we 444 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 3: wrote our book in twenty twenty four. It's a ten 445 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 3: years of learning of helping thousands of entrepreneurs launch a business. 446 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 3: And we wrote it with a keen eye on AI, 447 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 3: and we said, how do we write something that's not 448 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:55,399 Speaker 3: obsolete next month? And it was real right, And we 449 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:59,400 Speaker 3: did not use AI to write that book, although sometimes 450 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 3: I think we should have. It is an incredibly powerful tool. 451 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 3: It's incredibly powerful. I wish that I could have had 452 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 3: somebody do my social media, do my marketing plan, like 453 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 3: I mean, there are so many things that you can 454 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 3: get if you use AI correctly for a solo low 455 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 3: income entrepreneur, I mean, spend twenty bucks a month on 456 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 3: that for sure. So what we're trying to do is 457 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 3: build it in disguise limits platform, and we have. We 458 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,760 Speaker 3: launched it in December and we have Accentrics funded a 459 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 3: whole Well, we're calling co founder AI, which is essentially 460 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 3: your buddy to help you launch your business and you know, 461 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 3: won't cheat on you and won't leave you when you're 462 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 3: you know, like like maybe another real co founder might, 463 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 3: and is there to help you build the company. So 464 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 3: I think a lot of there are a lot of things, 465 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 3: but at the end of the day, AI is not 466 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:02,520 Speaker 3: making purchasing decisions like people's do that. So you see, 467 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 3: it's only a tool. You know, It's just like a calculator. 468 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 3: Somebody said, oh, I'm not going to use that to 469 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 3: do this equation, you know. I mean we kind of 470 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 3: look at them crazy today. I mean, that's what I say. 471 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 3: That's that's how I think about AI. It's just it's 472 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 3: just a really good calculator. 473 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:28,719 Speaker 1: Anybody else next, Okay, so before everybody gets up, please 474 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: give three more minutes or four more minutes of your 475 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: attention to I don't know what do we call this person? 476 00:29:39,040 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: The co president, the club president of the budding first 477 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: one of six inaugural chapters of an Army of Normal Folks. 478 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 2: Tell everybody about what we're doing. Please stand up and 479 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 2: tell everybody. But also a former guest. 480 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 6: Hey, everybody, my name is Lydia Rosenkrantz, and I do 481 00:30:03,640 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 6: have the distinct honor y'all. I am so excited about 482 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 6: the opportunity to be the club president for the Army 483 00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 6: of Normal Folks Memphis. So, as Bill mentioned, like, seventy 484 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 6: percent of people want to be involved and they don't 485 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:23,840 Speaker 6: know how. And so our goal with our club is 486 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 6: to build a community that redefines civic engagement for the 487 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 6: twenty first century. And the way that we're going to 488 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 6: do that is we are going to make it fun. 489 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 3: Okay. 490 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 6: Number one, we want to make it so much fun. 491 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 6: And two we want to make it intergenerational, so bring 492 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 6: your kids, bring your parents. 493 00:30:40,720 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 3: And three we do want to make it easy. Right. 494 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 6: So we're doing that through Army activations where we have 495 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 6: service projects already set up. 496 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 3: Just come as you are and serve. 497 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 6: We're doing it through the service contierge and Actually, I'm 498 00:30:55,680 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 6: spending my snow weekend building out some of those opportun 499 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,840 Speaker 6: unities to serve where you can. You can use your 500 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 6: passions and your skills and serve exactly. 501 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 3: Where you want to. It can be hard to figure out. 502 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 6: We have like what twelve thousand nonprofits in Memphis or something, 503 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 6: figure out where the opportunities are, and so we want 504 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,600 Speaker 6: to make that easy for you. So our kickoff meeting 505 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 6: is actually March the first. That's a Sunday, and we're 506 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 6: going to do it at four o'clock in the afternoon, 507 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 6: so usually a pretty dead time for most of us, 508 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 6: and we're going to be at grind City Brewing. So 509 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 6: March the first, at four o'clock, come as you are. 510 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,840 Speaker 6: There are no barriers to entry. You can come and 511 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:39,720 Speaker 6: go as you please. We, as I said, we're gonna 512 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 6: make this fun. We're gonna make it easy, we're gonna 513 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 6: make it about service, and it's going to be a 514 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 6: community and we as an army of normal folks, can 515 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 6: absolutely change Memphis. So I hope that you will join us. 516 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,440 Speaker 3: Thank you Bill for the opportunity. 517 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and y'all, I know first meetings like that can 518 00:31:59,240 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: be uncomfortable, you know, it's a bunch of weird people 519 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: you don't know, and you're all gonna get around and 520 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,719 Speaker 1: hold hands and circle up do something nice. It's not 521 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,479 Speaker 1: going to be that. It's about serving our community. And 522 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: it's one thing to tune in and listen to a podcast, 523 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 1: But here's how an army and normal folks started. There 524 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 1: are viaducts and sit in roads in our town right 525 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,520 Speaker 1: now that when you drive home today from work or 526 00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: leave here, you hope you don't have a flat tire. 527 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: It's one place you like, Lord, have mercy, do not 528 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: have a flat tire down here, because you worried if 529 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,280 Speaker 1: you've got to pull off the viaduct or buy that 530 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: street and get out of your car and spend forty 531 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: five minutes outside. At very least somebody's gonna cost you 532 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: for some money, but very worse, you might get mugged. 533 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 2: You're like, don't have a flat tire here. 534 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: But then as you pass by and you look over 535 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: that viaduct and you safely pass it, or you go 536 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:02,160 Speaker 1: by that street, you look down at and you think, man, 537 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:06,160 Speaker 1: somebody had to do something about that. One day when 538 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: you see that abject despair and that poverty and that disenfranchisement. 539 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 2: And what the politics and the race have done to 540 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 2: the people. 541 00:33:15,640 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: Who live in those areas that are disaffected, that are underrepresented, 542 00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 1: that despite their great idea, cannot become entrepreneurs. And you think, man, 543 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 1: somebody had to do something about that one day. And 544 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 1: our question is who is somebody? The government has proven 545 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: woefully inadequate to your point, maybe you need to kick 546 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: that rearview mirror about fifteen degrees and left and find 547 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 1: out who somebody is. 548 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 2: It's you, it's us. 549 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 1: The only people that are going to do something about 550 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: that proverbial that one day is us. So my argument is, 551 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 1: it's not the government, it's not some biggins, n CEOs, 552 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: it's not. 553 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 2: Anything. 554 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:19,280 Speaker 1: It's an army of normal folks, just black, white, Christian, Jewish, Agnostic, Muslim, gay, straight. 555 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:21,400 Speaker 1: I don't care how you vote, I don't care what 556 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: you look like, I don't care who you love, and 557 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: I don't care how you worship. If you can do 558 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: something to serve someone in your community that isn't as 559 00:34:29,680 --> 00:34:32,480 Speaker 1: blessed as you, then I can celebrate you and you 560 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:35,080 Speaker 1: can do the same for me. So an army of 561 00:34:35,120 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 1: normal folks has the power to fill need and to 562 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,960 Speaker 1: break down these artificial barriers that these people in New 563 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: York and LA keep putting in front of us with 564 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: the narratives and social media and the national media. We've 565 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 1: got to break them down. An army of normal folks 566 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: serving our communities and serving one another. That's who ought 567 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:01,760 Speaker 1: to fix that one day, And that's what these clubs 568 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: and chapters are about. 569 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:09,279 Speaker 2: You're not doing anything sitting here but being entertained. The 570 00:35:09,320 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 2: work is when you leave here. So I hope you 571 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 2: will listen to the show. I hope you will be 572 00:35:16,360 --> 00:35:17,800 Speaker 2: inspired by our guests. 573 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:22,120 Speaker 1: I hope you will take up what they have done, 574 00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:26,399 Speaker 1: like great people like Bo and what BO does. Maybe 575 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,919 Speaker 1: you're not passionate about, but with three hundred shows out there, 576 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 1: there is invariably someone who is doing something, some work 577 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 1: that meets your skill set, your discipline, and your passion. 578 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,240 Speaker 1: And all you got to do is listen to the show. 579 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: And it's a roadmap to success. And if we had 580 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,799 Speaker 1: an army of normal folks, millions of people inside these 581 00:35:47,840 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: clubs across all these cities, with all this help making 582 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 1: it easy joining together to be that who is going 583 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:59,440 Speaker 1: to do something about that one day, maybe this division 584 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: that continues to tear us apart, goes away, and maybe 585 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:06,360 Speaker 1: those most disadvantaged among us get to step up and 586 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:10,439 Speaker 1: join the ranks of the taxpayers and the folks who 587 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: contribute to society and make our world a better place. 588 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:18,399 Speaker 1: That's what our men normal folks is about. That's our 589 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 1: call to you. I appreciate the cause, but guys like 590 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:26,319 Speaker 1: me and bo we'd much rather have the action. So 591 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,319 Speaker 1: I hope you think about that as we sign off. 592 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 2: Bow. Thanks for coming to see. 593 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:30,359 Speaker 3: To join us. 594 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:32,439 Speaker 2: I appreciate it. Thanks for joining us. 595 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 1: Everybody, and thank you for joining us this week. 596 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 2: If Bogar Delhi has inspired you in general, or better. 597 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: Yet, to take action by becoming a virtual mentor with 598 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:54,239 Speaker 1: Guy's the Limit, signing up as a mentee, getting your 599 00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:59,280 Speaker 1: company or city involved with them, or something else entirely, 600 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: please let me know. 601 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:02,160 Speaker 2: I'd love to hear about it. 602 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: You can write me anytime at Bill at normal folks 603 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:09,880 Speaker 1: dot us and I will respond. If you enjoyed this episode, 604 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: please share it with friends, share it on social, subscribe 605 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,279 Speaker 1: to the podcast, rate it, review it, join the army 606 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:20,319 Speaker 1: at normal Folks dot us. Any and all of these 607 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:23,480 Speaker 1: things that will help us grow an army of normal folks. 608 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:27,279 Speaker 2: I'm Bill Courtney until next time, do it you can