Tell me about your vision. Hey. Hi, Harry. It's
great to be here. So, Harry, vision for me very
much is to be the best version of me. And I believe
that I've been put on this earth to help people.
And some people I've helped, and I know there's
so many more that I will. And I know in some
of the dark times, like things that I'd like
to say were puzzles or challenges. I know they
were given to me for a reason. And my own transformation
where I've released over 120 pounds, I know that
everything is possible when you set your mind
to it and come from a place of serving and helping
people. And that's the vision of my life, to
serve, to help. Tell me more about that. What
is becoming the best version of? yourself look
like to you, Brad? Well, for example, is always
being a person of kindness and helping people
and inspiring people. I know with my own fitness
journey, releasing that weight, I know I've inspired
other people to start on their own journey. And
I want to help people. And every day, if I can
help people in whatever aspect they are. If I
can brighten somebody's day, I do that. I like
to keep things light and speak with people and
joke and also inspire people. And that gives
me so much energy. For example, yesterday I was
getting gas at the gas station and a gentleman
said, gee, I sure would like to win that $1 ,000
free gas. I said, what's your name? So I took
his name, his first name and last name and put
it in. I said, I'm sure you'll win. I hope you
win. So I want to give and help people. That's
awesome. Where did this, I mean, I don't know
if asking this is the right question, but how
did this all get started and where did this come
from where you wanted to become the best version
of yourself? It's been really a journey for the
last number of years. I think it really started
in 1995, 1996. I was in a community college course
and I was given two books, Think and Grow Rich
and How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Two amazing books. And those books set me on
a path of personal development and self -improvement
ever since then. And I think even more so, even
more so in the last few years, there's been more
of a transformation of who I am and what I believe
is possible. Because I believe my core thing
is to shatter limiting beliefs of what's possible.
And I very much believe in mindset being a muscle.
So I continuously improve on educating my mind.
And so the core of it really started back in
those early days with those two amazing books
that just set me on that pathway, that journey
of of uh self -improvement and and it's evolved
even more it's blossomed very much so so um what
would you say brett um that doing that gives
you it it gives me energy energy and and drive
and motivation um when i recognized by It certainly
has evolved. When I've been developing that,
I realized that a lot of times we have different
anxieties of what we want to do in our life and
serving our clients and things like that. But
what I've really recognized in the last two years
was we have to treat ourselves like we're our
own best customers. And when you do that, when
you think of that analogy, when you get on the
airplane, People say, the stewardess will say,
put the oxygen mask on first. So I've really
learned to put the oxygen mask on first for myself
in my own life so that I have the ability and
the energy to serve others. And for example,
I'll get out and go for a hike for an hour and
a half where I may not have done that before
in the middle of the day because it's one of
the best things I can do for myself and my family.
Helps me so much. Wow, that's awesome. What would
you say that applying being better, being the
best version of yourselves has done for others
when it compares to people around you and the
people you serve? What it does is you realize
that We're all together. We've all been put on
this earth for a reason. And I know this is going
to sound like a silly analogy, but Shrek, they
said ogres have layers. Well, we do have layers.
And every time we're peeling back that onion
to find another layer of who we are and who we're
capable of. So when I share some of this with
other people, they realize, yeah, we are special
people, every single one of us. And we have that
layer of that potential of who we can become,
who we're intended to be. And I know right now,
every day, I'm peeling that layer of becoming
that version of me, who I am. because i'm that
more self -discovery and i i share that and i
know i inspire people but i also learn from other
people who inspire me because i i've countless
people that inspire me so that's awesome thank
you for sharing that yeah um if um i think this
is a little little different um but going along
the lines of being the best version of yourself
And what is success to you? Let's say 10, 15,
20, 30 years down the road, you're looking back
at the things you've done and the person you've
become, not what you've achieved, but what you've
become. What would feel like success to you,
Brett? Success for me would be having what I've
already been blessed to have, which is my beautiful
wife and my children. They're my blessings. Every
day, I aim to love my wife even more and my children.
And that's the ultimate success. But also at
the same time, being able to give back and be
an active member of my community and the world
to help others in their own journey. Because
I know if anything that I've shared with anybody
today, with any of the things I've shared has
helped somebody, that gives me energy. And so
if I'm able to say, hey, one day, just because
I smiled at somebody and they may have been having
a rotten day, if I had all those countless little
moments I can look back at, or for example, I
do scouting, I'm involved in scouting. If I know
I've impacted youth and volunteer in different
groups that I'm in, that's success for me. Making
an impact on the people that I get to touch every
day. Wow. I can feel that you don't just say
it. You believe those things in your heart as
well. Yeah, I do. Thank you for sharing that.
There's two sides to the sick equation. I think
there's a doing side and there's a being side.
I think you and me both know that any growth
is hard to do without being a good leader. the
one who is willing to learn and grow through
the pains. So according to you, Brad, what is
the definition of a great leader? That's a good
question, and I hope I do it justice. For me,
a leader is somebody that can set by example
and inspire people, mentor people, show. The
people that lead by example inspire people to
do great things and recognize their potential.
So if I lead by example, if I say, hey, you really
should consider going to the gym or putting yourself
first, I often share, you know, you can take
10 minutes three times a day and go for a walk.
And so if I do that and actually practice what
I say. and lead by example, then that's a great
leader. And also humble and not full of themselves
and realize, hey, I really believe in that analogy
of the glass is half full. I have a cup that
needs to be filled even more of what I need to
learn because I learn from every single person
I speak to. Everybody can. can be impacted from
each other and learn. And so if I can lead by
example, that to me is the greatest example of
a leader. Kindness. That's awesome. Thank you
for sharing that. I think I very, very agree.
There's so many people and leaders I look up
to. But if any of them didn't do the things that
uh they're asking people to do i don't think
they'll be as impactful as um you think they
would be yeah when when when jesus came and he
does um he was the person who did all the things
and he was also a follower before before he was
a leader yeah he said come follow me uh and you
know you have to be somebody that can lead for
to inspire somebody to lead like to follow so
yeah exactly yeah that's that's that's a very
impactful story i think and he he he because
of his his leadership he inspired so many people
and and he's continued to do so still this day
yeah yeah what what tips would you have brett
um for leaders today i think that there is a
difference between being someone but like what
tips would you give from your uh to help leaders
today? Recognize that, number one, we all have
problems, but I would like to reframe that to
say that when we have problems, treat them as
puzzles because puzzles can be solved. The other
thing is it's okay to have setbacks because those
are learning experiences and that will allow
you to grow. But most importantly is don't be
afraid to show people who you are. Be the best
version of you. Sometimes we put this wall to
hide who we really are. But I really believe
that we need, as a leader, show who you are.
Show that compassion, that empathy that sometimes
we hide. It's okay to show that so that you can
lead by example. Continuously invest in yourself
in lifelong learning, whether that's through
personal development, your spiritual side, and
professionally. Everybody should consider investing
in themselves because it's the best resource
that you can do. And, but most importantly, inspire
and invest in your people. Yes. Invest in your
people. I think that's a very, very powerful
statement. I don't think ever on the show, no
one has actually said that. Invest in your people,
not just invest in yourself, but invest in your
people. How do you invest in your people, Brett?
Well, I liked, okay, so first of all, if I said
I was perfect at that, I'm not, but I'm working
on it. And so one of the key things I've done
recently, I made this decision is I started meeting
with my team. And a lot of times we meet with
our team and we ask what I wanted to know what
their goals were. But I said, I don't want just
I don't just want your professional goals. I
want your personal goals. I want to understand
what my team wants and how to help them. So and
I've encouraged them to write goals because I'm
very much a believer that if you write down goals,
you'll get there. And personally, if I can inspire
them to. Do some of the things I do in my life
like, hey, volunteer where you can. And then
invest in your skills because we very much in
today's society, we have to be lifelong learners.
So I've constantly encouraged my team and my
family to continuously invest in themselves and
what you feed your mind. Feeding it with professional
things that inspire you. thought leaders that
have come before us. There's so much wisdom.
And we live in the best time, Harry, where there's
been so much thought leaders before us and continue
to be around us. We have the great privilege
of living in today with the internet. So there's
unlimited resources to tap into. Thank you for
being here today. I'm really happy that you tuned
in to Vision Pros Live. I'm looking forward to
seeing your reactions as these episodes continue
to move forward. This is going to get more and
more fun. We'll have more and more engagement
as well. We'll invite people to participate in
the show. And thank you for giving us your time
and attention. Have an excellent time building
out your vision and becoming a vision pro yourself.