1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,080 Welcome to the Why Not Today podcast where we celebrate Kura's determination and the 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,400 power of saying, Why Not Today? 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:13,040 I'm your host, Leslie Cain, and in each episode we dive into inspiring stories of individuals 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,880 who have taken bold steps, face their fears, and embrace the possibility of today. 5 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,600 From entrepreneurs to artists, dreamers to doers, we explore the moments when somebody 6 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,720 said enough waiting, Why Not Today? 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,520 Join me as we uncover the heartwarming, the audacious, and the transformative, whether 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,760 it's pursuing a lifelong passion, overcoming obstacles, or simply choosing joy. 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,160 Our guests share their journeys and inspire us all. 10 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:40,040 I started this podcast in honor of my father, Patrick Cain, who often said, Why Not Today? 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,920 And remember, you're just one decision away from changing your life. 12 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:44,920 And I'm excited. 13 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:50,040 My guest is Freddie Donner, who is somebody I've known for years and connected through 14 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:51,600 networking, through my dad. 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,120 We kind of crisscrossed, ran into you at a party the other day within, you know, we're 16 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:58,520 get it done kind of gals. 17 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:05,600 We had a, by the next night we had an appointment to meet for coffee, met last week. 18 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,880 And then it's such a great conversation about courage. 19 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:11,880 Why Not Today? 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:12,880 And then the one word. 21 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,720 So I reached out to you and we're recording this right before Christmas and life is lots 22 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,920 going on, but we're squeezing this in because I feel like it's so important as people start 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,560 the new year and a year to have some clarity. 24 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,760 So yeah, we're connected in lots of different ways, even lived on the same street for a while. 25 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:33,200 So yeah, crisscrossing, you know, it's those people in your life that just keep popping 26 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,200 in and out. 27 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,200 And you know, it might not be consistent, but it's meant to be. 28 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:42,280 So Freddie Donner, introduce yourself a little bit in a fun fact. 29 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,280 Okay, well, again, thanks Leslie. 30 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:53,520 It's always a joy to be in your presence and on your show and with you on your journey. 31 00:01:53,520 --> 00:02:00,280 So first of all, the name Freddie came from my great uncle Fred that my mother was very 32 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,480 close to and since she didn't have any boys, she named her daughter, Fredrica, but decided 33 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,160 to call me Freddie. 34 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:08,160 Everybody asked me that question. 35 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,160 You know, I was going to ask where they come from. 36 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:12,160 I love it. 37 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,560 Yeah, so as a child, it was brutal. 38 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,040 I was a little girl being the only girl called Freddie in my world. 39 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:24,600 But as an adult, it became quite valuable because everybody remembered my name. 40 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:30,880 And then as I got older, it was even harder because then I couldn't remember their name. 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:37,000 But anyway, I think just being called Freddie, it was part of formed me as the character 42 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:42,240 that I am as a girl with a boy's name. 43 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:47,680 And I have been married for over 40 years now and I have three sons and I have four 44 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,040 grandchildren. 45 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:55,760 Two of my three sons are married and and we're all very close, which I'm incredibly grateful 46 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:56,760 for. 47 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:57,760 That's awesome. 48 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:05,040 The fun fact is I am now in business with my husband as a Christmas tree farm company. 49 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:06,040 Love that. 50 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,680 That's a fun thing. 51 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:14,960 He started it seven years ago and lo and behold, never did I realize exactly the impact that 52 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,680 was going to have on us and this business and that I was going to be part of that business. 53 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,560 So we opened this year for our first time in Firstville, Virginia. 54 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,040 So next year, think about Donner Farms. 55 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,040 Yes. 56 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,400 So let me ask you this. 57 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:30,960 You never thought it'd be a part of your life. 58 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:36,000 Was there a why not say moment when he said, I want to do this or you decide to dive in 59 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,400 or do you remember where you were, what you're doing when this happened? 60 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:46,120 Yeah, well, it was really his decision because we bought the farm to because he grew up on 61 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:47,120 a farm. 62 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:48,120 He wanted a farm. 63 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:53,640 He had a lot of tractors and so we ended up buying a 15 acre parcel of property that had 64 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:54,640 a big barn on it. 65 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,240 No house, just barn and lots of cleared land. 66 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,800 And then he met with the Fairfax County or excuse me, Loudoun County EDA wanted to put 67 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,920 it in farm status and they recommended Christmas trees. 68 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:07,880 So here we are seven years later. 69 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,000 And so he said, why not? 70 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:17,520 And off he went into the Christmas tree business not having had any experience in that. 71 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,600 And so then we got to the point where there was more labor needed. 72 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,880 And I said, well, I can come out and help you mow. 73 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:32,680 And so when you mow, you're driving a zero turn mower, which is quite a big machine. 74 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,600 And that was another why not learn how to do this kind of a thing. 75 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:41,320 I was like, you know, I'm sure it just takes a little lesson, which I got. 76 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:42,320 Yeah. 77 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,120 And we can do anything if we learn. 78 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,120 Yeah. 79 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,120 So fun. 80 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,840 Well, I can't wait to come check it out next year. 81 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:49,840 I did go the route. 82 00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:53,920 I never thought I'd ever do this that I have a artificial tree. 83 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:54,920 Yeah. 84 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,640 I never thought I'd do it, but you know what? 85 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:58,640 It is so much easier. 86 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:03,520 And I think I found I was allergic to the needles that a real tree, my hands would itch 87 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:05,840 and I'd be all congested over the holiday. 88 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:06,840 Yeah. 89 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,960 So like one of my sisters I was talking to about the other day, she goes, I will never 90 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:10,960 do that. 91 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:11,960 Well, she's 16 years younger than me. 92 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,360 I'm like, just let's talk in 16 years. 93 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,480 So I can't wait to check it out. 94 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:24,080 So what does courage mean to you, Freddie? 95 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:29,720 Courage means doing it scared. 96 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:34,680 Whatever it is that you want to try or do, even if you're scared to go ahead and do it, 97 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:39,600 like learning to drive a zero turn mower. 98 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:44,720 One year I decided I wanted to take singing lessons. 99 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:51,360 And so I took voice lessons and the requirement was that if you take voice lessons from that 100 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:57,240 particular teacher, you had to do a recital, which meant that I had to get up and sing in 101 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,960 front of a small group of people. 102 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:00,960 Oh, wow. 103 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:07,080 And to make it even worse, she taught me how to sing Phantom of the Opera. 104 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,640 Oh my goodness. 105 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,640 And when she told me I'm going to teach you how to sing this, I said, you're out of your 106 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,640 mind. 107 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:14,680 There's no way I can do that. 108 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,680 And she said, yes, you can. 109 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:17,840 And you will. 110 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:18,920 And I did. 111 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,120 And I was shaking the entire time, but I did it anyway. 112 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,640 How'd you feel when you're done? 113 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:24,640 Amazing. 114 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:25,640 Pretty fabulous. 115 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:26,640 Yeah. 116 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:29,320 I mean, I learned so much about myself just by saying yes. 117 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:30,680 And why not today? 118 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,440 And I think we all need to push ourselves to do those little things and do them scared. 119 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,280 And I always tell people, like when you have that thing that's scary or you don't want 120 00:06:38,280 --> 00:06:42,440 to do, or even if you do it all the time, like just like working out, you know, you 121 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,160 don't want to do it. 122 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,280 Like walking this morning and it's, I don't know how cold it was. 123 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:48,280 Yeah, it's in the team. 124 00:06:48,280 --> 00:06:50,960 You dress it up and you go and you're like, I can always turn around. 125 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,360 But once you start, you feel great. 126 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,440 And I always tell people, like when you put your head on the pillow at night, when you've 127 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:58,560 done that scary thing, how are you going to feel? 128 00:06:58,560 --> 00:06:59,560 Yeah. 129 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:00,560 It's amazing. 130 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,640 And if you didn't, you think about it all, slip and day, long, week, month. 131 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:09,240 I mean, how many things do we have on our to-do list that we put off forever? 132 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,600 We think and put so much more effort into thinking about it. 133 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:13,280 And when you do it, it's like takes no time. 134 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,280 I'm like, okay, that was silly. 135 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:16,280 Yeah. 136 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:17,280 Yeah. 137 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:18,280 Absolutely. 138 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:23,840 So I know you've had an interesting career and coaching and I'm not even sure the beginning 139 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:24,840 of it. 140 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:25,840 Yeah. 141 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,440 But, and as I said, we were talking the other day and we were talking about the one word 142 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,240 which I'm very passionate about. 143 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,280 And I loved your pivot from last year to this year and how you're changing. 144 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,800 So I'm going to let you take it from here. 145 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:42,160 Like, do you have some why not say moments, some courage in your journey that could encourage 146 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,880 people and then let's talk about your one word. 147 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:45,880 Okay. 148 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,320 And evolved in your whole picture. 149 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:56,160 Well, I think probably a pivotal moment was in 1993 for me when I actually got fired from 150 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,840 my job. 151 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,680 And they said, you're just not being a team player. 152 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:09,120 The reality was they, they, the organization was in a little bit of a transition and they 153 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,120 didn't know what to do with me. 154 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,960 I was really employable, I found. 155 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:15,960 Yeah. 156 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,400 So, so I, I took some time to think about what I could do. 157 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,400 And I said, well, I could go get another job because my career at the time was marketing 158 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,760 and business development. 159 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,600 My first career was commercial interior design. 160 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:35,040 So marketing and business development in the commercial real estate industry. 161 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:41,040 And I got that why not today kind of thought like, why don't I just try my own business? 162 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:45,040 And I started marketing 101 and ran that for 20 years. 163 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,120 Oh, wow. 164 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:52,680 Before I went back into corporate for a couple of years, and then I had another wall and 165 00:08:52,680 --> 00:08:54,320 I hired a coach. 166 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,200 And I found out that's what I wanted to do was to be a coach. 167 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:06,560 And so I began my coaching practice in 2001 by calling up a former client and just said, 168 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:07,880 I am now coach. 169 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,360 I'd like to come talk to you about what I can do for you. 170 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,520 Oh, wow. 171 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,720 And so again, another moment of courage. 172 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,960 Why not if you don't ask, you might not receive. 173 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,160 So that's how I started my coaching practice. 174 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:24,160 That's encouraging. 175 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:25,160 Yeah. 176 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:26,560 And I've learned a lot. 177 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:29,120 I've failed a lot, but I've also grown a lot. 178 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:34,000 And I do my best to help young coaches get started because it is kind of a scary journey, 179 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,400 especially if you don't come from a BD background. 180 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:44,120 But last year, last year, I had a great year in coaching and in my coaching practice, which 181 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,400 is also part of my ministry. 182 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:56,160 And my word of the year last year was at ease, the symbol with ease after it, because the 183 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,880 year started out very slowly and I was just praying about it and going, okay, Lord, so 184 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,000 you want me to kind of just take a rest this year. 185 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:11,040 And so I didn't have a high volume of work, but I had high quality work. 186 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:17,400 And it was new for me to not be busy all the time. 187 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:25,000 And so I embraced it and I learned to just relax and enjoy this free space between coaching 188 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,000 assignments. 189 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:35,880 And then I started pondering 2025 and I took myself to the library for a day to think. 190 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:37,520 That's all I wanted to do was to think. 191 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:38,520 Wow. 192 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,880 I didn't want to be doing anything or filling out forms or writing a to-do list. 193 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,680 I just wanted to stop and think. 194 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:54,320 And what came to me for my word of the year for 2025 is imagine. 195 00:10:54,320 --> 00:11:02,880 Imagine all of the lives that you could touch by being highly more visible and more deliberate 196 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:07,600 about your coaching and what you have to offer. 197 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:14,720 And the impact that you can have on homes, because a lot of my clients, when they learn 198 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:20,200 about who they are and how they are, they can also change who they are and how they 199 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:21,600 are at home. 200 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:27,040 And that can really make more lives peaceful at home. 201 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,040 So true. 202 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,040 And I love that word. 203 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,000 And I love how you came about it. 204 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:34,920 So let's kind of back up a little bit. 205 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,080 First I want to talk about the ministry you've done. 206 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,480 So you've done some networking around your faith before. 207 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:41,800 And I think that's so powerful. 208 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,840 So talk about that and what you've done. 209 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:44,840 Yeah. 210 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:51,160 I used to run CEO roundtables for Christian business owners where it was a peer setting 211 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:56,960 where other business owners who were also believers came together to solve business problems 212 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,760 based on biblical principles. 213 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:06,320 We would do lessons from the Bible and then say, how are we applying that to our business? 214 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,000 I did that for over 10 years. 215 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,840 And then it just felt like God was calling me to stop. 216 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,840 And so I dissolved that. 217 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,560 But still stay in touch with that community. 218 00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:23,080 It's actually the faith at work community is large in Northern Virginia and getting 219 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:24,880 larger. 220 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:30,640 And it's designed to get people to understand that prayer and work go together. 221 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:33,720 Work is a form of worship. 222 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:41,800 And when you know that your work is aligned with your faith, it feels amazing to be able 223 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:46,640 to get up every day and do what you want to do and what you know God wants you to do. 224 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:47,640 Yeah. 225 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,440 I think we talked about this the other day is with my 30 years with Mary Kay. 226 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,800 Mary Kay's mission and philosophy was God first, family, second and career third. 227 00:12:55,800 --> 00:12:57,600 So I grew up around that. 228 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:03,320 And from working in corporate before to working in that environment was such a difference. 229 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:04,320 Yeah. 230 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:05,320 Yeah. 231 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,840 Having that alignment is so important. 232 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:08,840 Yeah. 233 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:12,760 I can't wait to pursue some of these other things you recommended. 234 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,640 And how do you connect with Casey Beach, who is a good friend of mine, did you through 235 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,040 the commercial real estate or through the faith component? 236 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:20,040 Yeah. 237 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:23,000 So Casey and I met at the commercial real estate days. 238 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:31,720 And then when, when I started the Christian business roundtable, he, because he's so well 239 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:37,280 known, I connected with him only to find out, which I didn't realize at the time, just how 240 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,520 involved he is with this faith at work community. 241 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:41,520 Yeah. 242 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:47,440 And so then he put me in touch with a few other people that again, you know, I, we, when, 243 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:53,080 when you're going into a new adventure, you want to surround yourself with people that 244 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:58,960 see what you see, believe what you believe and want to be on that journey with you. 245 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,440 And Casey's one of those guys, you know. 246 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:02,440 And so is a lot. 247 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,720 So are a lot of people like you that are in his world. 248 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:06,720 Yeah. 249 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:07,720 Yeah. 250 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,080 You know how I know middle school, middle school. 251 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:13,080 Oh my gosh. 252 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:19,400 We went to hermit intermediate together and I went, we started high school the year South 253 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,920 Lakes opened and those listening somewhere totally different. 254 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,640 We'd lived in the same town and they finally opened a high school in our town and there 255 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:27,640 was enough room. 256 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,840 Everybody on the lake and side of rest and went to hermit and everybody on the other 257 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,000 side and yes, there is a difference which side you live in rest. 258 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,000 Yeah, that's right. 259 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,000 And debate. 260 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:43,880 But yeah, so they split us up and but you know, we just kept in contact and his dad 261 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,640 and my dad were good friends and see the evolution. 262 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:54,000 So I ran into you at their holiday party and I talked to somebody else is more a little 263 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:59,680 older and more friends with my dad and Mr. Beach and said, yeah, the party's kind of 264 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,200 become more Casey's thing. 265 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,640 It's kind of a fun thing. 266 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,920 But yeah, it's interesting to just see how our world's kind of crisscross. 267 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:07,920 Yeah. 268 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,240 And I mentioned this in a podcast many times that somebody shared with me when you see 269 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,640 all those Godwinks and those crazy coincidences happen. 270 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:18,880 It's really it's when you're living your life in alignment with your values and what 271 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:19,880 you should be doing. 272 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:20,880 Yeah. 273 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,960 And you're they're happening all around, but you're just not aware of it. 274 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:28,000 So you need to keep your eyes open and be aware. 275 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,480 I love your evolution of the word. 276 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,400 So how did you learn about the one word or how long have you been doing it? 277 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:37,360 Because I know I've been doing it for a long time and explain a little bit in your words, 278 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:41,520 what it is and how it relates and how it's right. 279 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:48,880 Well, one of my previous roundtable members gave everybody in the roundtable this little 280 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,840 tiny red book called the one word. 281 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:53,120 Yeah. 282 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,760 And that was probably eight years ago. 283 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,880 And I've been doing it every year. 284 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:09,320 And I do value that exercise again to stop and take your thoughts captive and think about 285 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:15,800 what you're thinking about and think about what is the theme or the thread that you want 286 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:22,240 to pull through the entire year for you wherever you are on your journey. 287 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:27,640 If you're dealing with a health issue, the focus might be all on healing and getting 288 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:29,640 stronger. 289 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:35,880 If you're dealing with a relationship issue, it might be forgiveness. 290 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:37,920 It could be anything. 291 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:46,360 But when we make a decision about what our theme is, you'll see it. 292 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,520 You'll see it more often. 293 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:54,720 Just like if you bought a new car, you'll all of a sudden see that car all over the road. 294 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:55,720 But you didn't see it before. 295 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,200 Our reticular activating system. 296 00:16:58,200 --> 00:16:59,200 That's right. 297 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:00,200 Exactly. 298 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:01,200 Yeah. 299 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,480 And I know in the book it talks about look in. 300 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,200 So pray, think about it. 301 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:07,200 Yeah. 302 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,320 Look up, pray about it and then look out and see where you see it. 303 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:11,320 Yeah. 304 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,360 And I was, when we were together the other day, I told you what my one word was and you suggested 305 00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:19,200 another one and I'm looking at it and I'm seeing it more and I'm like, maybe that's 306 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:20,200 the word. 307 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,040 And I was telling that to a friend of mine and she's like, you always change yours at 308 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,040 least four times. 309 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:27,200 I'm like, yeah, because you've got to have the word that's right for you. 310 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:28,200 Yeah. 311 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,760 And it totally unfolds differently. 312 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,920 Like the words can have many definitions. 313 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:34,920 Yeah. 314 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,640 And you start one way like 2020, my word was connect and one of my good friends word was 315 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:40,640 gather. 316 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:41,640 Oh, nice. 317 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,440 You know what happened in 2020. 318 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,000 So we had to learn how to connect and gather in totally different ways. 319 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:48,000 Wow. 320 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Yeah. 321 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,040 Like how we started the year envisioning it definitely was different. 322 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:53,040 Yeah. 323 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:54,040 Yeah. 324 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:55,040 Yeah. 325 00:17:55,040 --> 00:18:00,920 And I really love the way you summarize the word that it starts within and don't rush 326 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:02,920 the process. 327 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:07,000 Give it some thought, give it a day, a week, a month. 328 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,600 There's no hurry. 329 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,880 But when you get it, you'll know that it's the word for the year. 330 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:17,040 It just feels like it fits you like a great piece of clothing. 331 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,000 And then you see it everywhere. 332 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:20,000 Yeah. 333 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,640 So I have done a lot with the one word and we do a painting event every year painting 334 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:24,640 our one word. 335 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:25,640 Oh, really? 336 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,680 In front of us. 337 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,880 And I did two years ago, I did an episode just talking about the one word and beginning 338 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,040 of December because you got to start thinking about it. 339 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,880 Now some people may not get their word till later in January or you could change it middle 340 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:38,880 year. 341 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:42,000 But if you start in the beginning of a year, you got to start thinking about it in the 342 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,240 beginning of December, like thinking about it as soon as you can. 343 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:52,760 Last year I had two people talking about their one word on the podcast that do one. 344 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:57,680 She owns a gym and she teaches about intentions in your word and she actually you can get, 345 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,720 she does a one word event, intention event and you get a bracelet with the word on it. 346 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:02,720 Oh, nice. 347 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,320 That's a great tool. 348 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,480 And she said this person in front of my list, she did it and she said her word a couple 349 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:09,960 of years ago was present. 350 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:14,200 And so she looked at it and like when she was with somebody to be present with them. 351 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:15,200 Yeah. 352 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:16,600 Just sit down and. 353 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,880 And that takes some discipline. 354 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:25,320 It's a choice every time you get in front of someone as to how present you can be, but 355 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:29,240 it's a choice every single day, like what you're thinking, what you're eating, how you're 356 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:38,160 moving and for, I just want to encourage anybody who's listening to this, don't think you don't 357 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,640 have time to do this. 358 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:44,760 When you make the time to do this, you'll realize how much time you have to focus on 359 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:45,760 it. 360 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:46,760 Yeah. 361 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,240 And what do they say that one hour planning is worth so many hours of work. 362 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:51,240 Yeah, exactly. 363 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,200 I figure out where your track is going to be. 364 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:58,240 And I'm one of these people that like the FOMO and me, so I heard your word. 365 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,240 I'm like, Oh, I really like that. 366 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,840 No, I don't think that's mine. 367 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,680 I don't think that's worth sitting because I don't probably don't need to imagine anymore. 368 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:10,120 They are. 369 00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:12,240 I was watching last night. 370 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,000 This is one of my favorite shows of the year, the Kennedy Center Honors. 371 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:16,000 Do you ever watch? 372 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,000 Oh, nice. 373 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,000 Yeah. 374 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:24,680 And they had it and I don't remember what artists they were doing talking about, but 375 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,840 talked about the possibilities and imagined. 376 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,440 The impossible dream that song. 377 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:30,440 Oh, that's great. 378 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:31,440 Yeah. 379 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,120 And that was my favorite song. 380 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:35,760 It's like, you know, anything is possible. 381 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,200 I think that's part of the why not say message. 382 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:42,120 Like we need to think bigger and believe better, bigger and trust. 383 00:20:42,120 --> 00:20:46,840 And if it's something that you're thinking about is keeping you up at night, you just 384 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:47,840 can't let it go. 385 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,640 Or someone says to you, Oh my gosh, you'd be so good at that. 386 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:52,560 Or you do, you do such a good job. 387 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,560 Or how do you do that? 388 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:54,560 You're like, What do you mean? 389 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:55,560 It's so easy. 390 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,000 And then that's a hint like you need to do something. 391 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,480 Live your life for not promise tomorrow. 392 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:00,480 We got to enjoy it. 393 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:01,480 That's right. 394 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:02,480 That's right. 395 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,720 And your father was such a great example of that. 396 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,840 And that's my next question. 397 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:07,840 Let's talk about my dad. 398 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:08,840 How did you know him? 399 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:09,840 What was connection? 400 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:14,640 Do you remember your first encounter with Patrick Kane, which he was memorable? 401 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:15,640 Yeah. 402 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:16,640 Yeah. 403 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,480 So I think we met at Reston Chamber of Commerce and somehow we ended up sitting next to each 404 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:26,360 other at one of the outskirt tables, like, you know, not in the center of the room, but 405 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:28,240 on the edge of the room. 406 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,280 And it was some awards dinner. 407 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:36,240 And I somehow got, I somehow won something. 408 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:41,680 And so I walked up and got it and came back and we started a conversation. 409 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,920 And at the time he was wheelchair bound. 410 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,080 So it was after a stroke. 411 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:48,080 Yeah. 412 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,000 So he needed help moving around. 413 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,920 And I was like, well, who do you want to see? 414 00:21:51,920 --> 00:21:55,440 I'll take you around and, you know, help you get around the room. 415 00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:01,880 And then somehow we, we struck up a friendship and I used to stop by and sit with him at 416 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:07,640 his office and listen to him about how he imagined Reston. 417 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:15,920 And it was so fun to be in his presence and hear his side of the story as a planner, as 418 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:23,600 an urban planner, what he saw, what he realized and what else he thought was possible. 419 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:29,080 And it was just so joyful to be able to have that precious time with him. 420 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:34,360 And I think maybe we probably had five or 10 visits before he passed, but it was, it 421 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:38,000 was such a fun time just to be in his presence. 422 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,920 He definitely made people sing. 423 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,680 And the kid growing up, I did not appreciate it. 424 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,280 And I'm looking back, I definitely do in some of the conversations I've had with people 425 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:49,280 since he's passed away. 426 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:51,360 That he did, he made you think, he asked you questions. 427 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:52,360 Yeah. 428 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:53,920 He made you imagine and think bigger. 429 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:58,760 And it's often, you know, living in Reston, which I've been here since I was two. 430 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,880 And Reston, I think is a year older than me. 431 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,960 People are always asking me like, what do you think of it change is so much so different? 432 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:10,200 Like, you know, my dad was a planner and that was part of the plan. 433 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,080 And it grew up around me and grew up with me. 434 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:14,080 Yeah. 435 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:19,480 So, and it's kind of a funny story is after he had a stroke, he was pretty much unconscious 436 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,840 for months and in the hospital. 437 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,160 And he would talk about the Metro coming to Reston and how there'd be commercial and 438 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,720 retail all combined and residential. 439 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,320 And they're like, oh yeah, he's still not here. 440 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:40,440 And like, no, you know, when worked with downtown Herndon and things that he talked about 30 441 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,000 years ago are happening now. 442 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:43,000 Right. 443 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,000 It's really incredible. 444 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:45,000 Yeah. 445 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:46,000 He gives me chills just thinking about it. 446 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,000 Not bigger. 447 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,440 And his imagination was unbelievable. 448 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,320 So I definitely got some of that. 449 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:52,320 Yeah. 450 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:59,160 And I was going to say other ways to connect things that you said, obviously knew my dad. 451 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:03,120 But I think I mentioned the other day that he had a cousin at Christmas tree farm in Seattle 452 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:07,240 and he'd go help work the Christmas tree farm at Christmas and literally brought trees home 453 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:08,240 on an airplane. 454 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,240 It's crazy. 455 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:10,240 I can't imagine. 456 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:16,240 And then as kids, my parents bought property with other people off Route seven. 457 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:21,320 There was a street going towards Lee's bestirling area. 458 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,040 Utica, I think street or something. 459 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:28,640 I don't remember the act, but we had a tree farm there and it was just and and we'd go 460 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,800 cut wood for our fireplace. 461 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:31,800 Yeah. 462 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:32,800 Yeah. 463 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,200 And then talking about one of the things he always said is asked, you know, you never 464 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:37,920 know what somebody's going to say. 465 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,720 But if you don't ask, the answer is no. 466 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:47,120 Well, I always say that if you really want to become memorable, you have to be interesting 467 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:50,520 and interested in the people in front of you. 468 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:51,520 Yep. 469 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:55,320 And, you know, there's so many topics we can talk about other than what's popular on 470 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,560 Netflix or, you know, what the weather is like. 471 00:24:58,560 --> 00:24:59,560 I mean, the weather. 472 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:00,560 Okay. 473 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,560 Let's talk about it for three minutes and then move on. 474 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:04,560 Because there's so many other topics. 475 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,400 Were you standing me at, were you with me at the party when that gentleman walked up? 476 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,720 I think you were because he thought you were married. 477 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:12,840 Somebody thought you were married to him. 478 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:17,680 He was standing there and he asked, he introduced himself like, what do you do for fun? 479 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:19,960 Was a great question. 480 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:21,440 That's a great question. 481 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:22,440 Yeah. 482 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,080 I don't know if you heard the rest of that story. 483 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:27,280 The reason he asked that is he said a couple of years ago, he was an ICU and didn't think 484 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,760 he was going to live and he had to call his daughters to say goodbye. 485 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:30,760 Wow. 486 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,640 And realize how precious life was. 487 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:35,040 And so ask him, what you do. 488 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,760 Which, you know, being in the Northern Virginia area, that's everybody asked that question. 489 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:44,120 And the, the quest, the answer when people are like, how are you, everybody usually answers, 490 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:46,040 well they used to answer busy. 491 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:47,040 Yes. 492 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:48,840 Now I think it's more overwhelmed. 493 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:49,840 Yeah. 494 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:50,840 Yeah. 495 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:51,840 And so how can we take time? 496 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,240 Like I love how I'm to the library for the day. 497 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:55,240 Yeah. 498 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:56,240 Yeah. 499 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,120 For me sometimes it's getting in a car. 500 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:00,120 Mm hmm. 501 00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:07,280 And just by myself getting in the car, even listening to stuff for podcasts or even music, 502 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,120 but my brain starts to move. 503 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:10,120 Yeah. 504 00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:16,040 And just, well, I do, I do know we have access to be pumping information into our brain all 505 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:17,040 day long. 506 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:18,040 Yeah. 507 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:25,240 And I think overwhelm is caused by feeling like you have to absorb it all. 508 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:31,840 And we get clear on what it is our purposes in life, we can begin to make choices about 509 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,160 what doesn't fit. 510 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:41,320 What and, and not to say that, I mean, I've been volunteering my entire career, but I'm 511 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:48,200 taking a volunteer diet because I want to focus on my coaching practice. 512 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:54,560 And then, you know, what's appropriate for the farm and what, what, what's possible there. 513 00:26:54,560 --> 00:27:01,120 Which means that my volunteer hours need to be just set aside for this season of life. 514 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:04,520 And I'll get back to it, but we have to make choices. 515 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:07,560 You never know where you're volunteering as you're working. 516 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:08,560 Yes. 517 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:09,560 Right. 518 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,200 You know, and what is volunteering but helping other people and giving back. 519 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:14,200 Yeah. 520 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,640 We can help other people and give back by doing what we do every day. 521 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:22,080 And you know, yeah, I always wear a starfish necklace often. 522 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:23,480 And did we talk about the starfish story? 523 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:24,480 No, we didn't. 524 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:26,000 Oh, yes, yes, yes, we did. 525 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:27,000 Yes. 526 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:28,000 Yeah. 527 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,640 So, you know, you never know who that one person you're going to make a difference. 528 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:31,140 He's watching you. 529 00:27:31,140 --> 00:27:34,640 You have no idea who's paying attention, especially with social media. 530 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:41,480 And the one thing that I will continue to volunteer is, is helping young professional women who 531 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,080 need a mentor. 532 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:47,200 There's not, I didn't have one when I was in commercial real estate. 533 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:49,280 I was like flying solo. 534 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:50,920 There weren't many women. 535 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:54,560 I didn't have really anybody to help set the guiding path for me. 536 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,640 So I want to be that for others. 537 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:57,640 Yeah. 538 00:27:57,640 --> 00:27:58,640 And I think we need that. 539 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,240 I think owning a business and figuring out what you're doing. 540 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,240 It's lonely. 541 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:03,240 Yeah. 542 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,200 I mentioned I had coffee with somebody the other day that started franchising. 543 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:07,520 She was almost in tears. 544 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:08,520 Yeah. 545 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:11,320 And said how lonely, nobody ever told her how lonely it was. 546 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:14,760 And she was going to be in an event with me the other day and couldn't come because somebody 547 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:15,760 called in six. 548 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:20,000 So she had to cover and she said, I texted her to say, are you okay? 549 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,080 And she said she was just pretty much having a meltdown. 550 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:24,520 I'm like, do you need anything? 551 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,360 And I ran into her again the other day and she was telling another friend that story. 552 00:28:27,360 --> 00:28:28,360 She goes, Leslie cares. 553 00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:29,600 I'm like, yes, I care. 554 00:28:29,600 --> 00:28:30,600 Yeah. 555 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:31,600 Yeah. 556 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:36,840 And we need to be in community with each other to help each other on those spots, even 557 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:40,240 if it's just a five minute conversation, right? 558 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,360 It can really lift you out of the delt rooms. 559 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:43,360 Yeah. 560 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:47,320 And then going back to that ask, like if you need help with something ask, reach out. 561 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:50,520 And again, they could say no, but what if they said yes? 562 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,920 So what is that one thing that will inspire you? 563 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:59,840 And that goes back to your word courage Leslie, because sometimes we're not courageous enough 564 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:02,120 to ask for what we need. 565 00:29:02,120 --> 00:29:08,000 And so, yeah, just get the courage to ask everybody about what it is, who do you know, 566 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,360 who do you know, like how can, how can, how can we be connectors for each other? 567 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:14,360 Right. 568 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:15,360 Exactly. 569 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:16,360 Ask who you're looking for. 570 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:20,080 And the one person I would love to interview in my podcast, and I've mentioned many times 571 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:21,240 is Daniel Pink. 572 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:22,240 Oh, yes. 573 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:23,240 I love his stuff. 574 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:24,240 Yeah. 575 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:29,400 He started a book called about regrets, or he wrote a book about the time I started 576 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,080 the podcast or I read it. 577 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,800 And he started an initiative with the Washington Post called why not? 578 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:36,240 I don't know if you've seen that. 579 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:37,240 Oh, no, I haven't. 580 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,960 A lot of people are like, you need to reach out to him. 581 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,800 So I did the other day, I sent him an email and didn't hear back, but I'm going to keep 582 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:44,800 asking. 583 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:52,320 Well, ironically enough, when he wrote his first book drive, I got to be on a call with 584 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:59,520 him and I got to talk to him about the educational system and how it has not redesigned to model 585 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:00,800 what he's talking about. 586 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:06,280 Well, one of his first question for why not was why not pay teachers $100,000 a year? 587 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,280 Yeah, that's a great question. 588 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:09,280 Really? 589 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:12,240 Wouldn't that, wouldn't that transform the educational system? 590 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:13,240 Yeah. 591 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:14,240 Yeah. 592 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:15,240 I think so. 593 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:20,080 All right, we can talk forever, but how would you inspire somebody else, whether to say 594 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:24,520 why not today or for their work, finding their word or just to be creative? 595 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:30,400 Well, I would say, think about what you think about. 596 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,280 Notice what you think about. 597 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:35,280 Man, take your thoughts captive. 598 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:44,080 If your thoughts are motivating you, inspiring you, or if they come to life, then, and you 599 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,320 like it, keep it. 600 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:50,760 But if your thoughts and your words come to life and it's not in service to the people 601 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,360 that you love, throw it away. 602 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:54,360 Get rid of it. 603 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,280 Replace it with something else. 604 00:30:56,280 --> 00:31:00,840 Take your thoughts captive because what we think about, we create. 605 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:01,840 Oh, true. 606 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:02,840 Amen. 607 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,000 So, so many good tidbits. 608 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:06,000 So thank you. 609 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,000 And I will share all your contact information in the show notes. 610 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,960 And as people are listening to this, share your one word. 611 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:13,440 What do you do with it? 612 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:14,960 How has it evolved? 613 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,760 And then, or if you had a word last year, how, how did that change your life? 614 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:22,600 And obviously this could, somebody could be listening this 30 years from now. 615 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:23,600 Who knows? 616 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:24,800 But hopefully we'll make a difference. 617 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,400 So thank you, Freddie, for your insight and your stories. 618 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:34,840 And I can't wait to, I can't wait to imagine what happens in the new year for you. 619 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:37,040 Well, thanks for letting me be on your show, Leslie. 620 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,720 I'm wishing you the best luck. 621 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:40,080 Yeah, thank you. 622 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:43,200 And thank you, everybody, for joining us on this inspiring journey. 623 00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:47,000 Where every day is an opportunity to take action, chase your dreams and make a difference. 624 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:48,400 So why not today? 625 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:51,720 You can subscribe, share and keep pushing forward. 626 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:53,800 Share more information about this podcast. 627 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:58,600 You can find everything you want about Why Not Today at the whynottaypodcast.com, wherever 628 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,520 you want to see or watch your favorite podcasts. 629 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,800 And we're actually on YouTube as well. 630 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:09,640 And I really want to spread the Why Not Today message with Why Not Today merch. 631 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:11,080 So we've got T-shirts and cups. 632 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:13,760 And let's share that message and encourage other people to be courageous. 633 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:15,800 So thanks again, Freddie. 634 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:16,800 Okay. 635 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:17,800 Why Not Today? 636 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:22,440 I just need to figure out how to turn this recording off. 637 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:42,120 Hi, everybody.