Tell me about your vision and all that you're
doing. My vision is helping develop the leadership
for the future of this country. So we had an
entire generation of Americans that I work with
every day. So as an emergency physician, I see
the policy decisions that were made over the
past several years had a huge impact on this
generation. So we take this group 18 to 25 years
old. They were shut out of schools. They were
shut out of churches. They already had some difficulties
with communication because they spent so much
of their lives. They've never known the world
without an iPhone or an iPad. And then you take
them and you shut them out completely during
some very critical years in their development.
And as an emergency doctor, I see those results
now. So anxiety, depression, and unfortunately,
a lot of suicides. And as a military commander,
I work with those individuals as well, and they
lack resiliency. And just some of the basic leadership
skills. I'm concerned. And so I'm concerned enough
to write a book. And I wake up every day trying
to do something to help this generation. And
that's my call to action for Americans. Be the
weight behind their spear. Everyone likes to
complain about them. You know, oh, this younger
generation. Well, back in my day, you know, that's
not productive. What can we do about it? How
are we going to help them? And so this book is
my prescription to do just that. I'm very passionate
about building up this next generation because
we need them to be successful. Absolutely. And
interesting enough is you say the statement back
in my day. Do you think or the thought that maybe
there's a blinders on how much we have changed,
you know, in trying to help equip them to make
better decisions or to be more resilient? There
is a huge generational divide. And right now,
America is as divided generationally and politically
as I've seen in my lifetime. I'm 47 years old.
So we have to find a way to get through to them.
It's an entire different learning process for
them. Their reality and their environment. I
value social media and I can certainly learn
from it and you can get some connectedness there.
not really who i am and it's not something that
really shaped me as a human being for this generation
they have never known a world without that So
that perception is their reality. And whether
we understand it or not is completely immaterial.
We have to find a way to get through to them
and have to find a way to teach them these basics
of leadership and accountability and taking ownership
in their lives and just basic communication skills,
you know, let alone those soft skills of empathy
and resiliency and all these types of things.
There's so much that needs to be done. We have
to find a way. Failure is not an option. We all
need them to be successful. Yes, and it's crazy
because I think about it even as a parent. It's
even just more challenging because like you said,
they did not grow up without these items or these
different technology, things that could keep
them more connected to the world in a not so
good way and sometimes in a good way. So a question
for you, if every American took one small action
to strengthen leadership, what would it be? Just
get involved and give to your community. That
means something different to everyone. Not everyone
can coach Little League T -ball. They don't have
the patience for it. I did that. It was brutal.
I coached soccer. Volunteer in your church. Volunteer
in your schools. Go to your local animal shelter
and help out with some animals that can be an
emotional support animal for somebody else. But
everybody has something to give. What you do
every single day really matters. And that helps
build the future of our country. So you're literally
contributing to our national security, whether
you realize it or not. It all starts off with
your community right here with the people around
you, coaches, families, teachers, volunteers.
All of that is critical. That's what sets America
apart. And that's what people need to focus on.
I'm just blown away by what you said just to
do in the community, which seems so easy and
simple. And I never thought on that level. I'm
thinking on a higher level of like get involved
in, you know, voting and all that. But you said
things that are easy to do, in my opinion. If
you go to church, just be involved. Children
be involved. And I never really thought about.
That is a way of helping. And I love that. I
truly love that because I'm thinking go big or
go home. But if you're already there, then be
there, be present rather than being on your telephone
or anything else, become involved. And with that,
share with us how how that would impact on a
level of where you are, because I believe, you
know, just being a volunteer at church or volunteering
is. children's sports or anything is so easy
because I think that way, how will it impact?
So if you put it in even the most simple of terms,
that's a community leaders, business leaders,
say you own a business, whether you have kids
or not, this is still your problem because these
kids are all coming out into our community. They're
looking for jobs out of high school, out of college.
And when they lack some of these very basic communication
skills and resiliency skills. we all suffer and
if you look at time is money if you invest your
time now into this you know when they're younger
and you coach and you volunteer and you get involved
in churches and schools and you help develop
them now so when they come to you they're they're
ready to go right now i don't think when i talk
with business leaders and having been a business
leader myself and business owner they're clearly
not ready and there's a lot of work to do and
so the earlier you get involved because this
this is going to be your problem one way or another
so please get involved now it when it comes to
the book what's the most surprising insight you
discovered while writing the book for me when
i really sit back and i reflect on all the people
that have been the weight behind my my spear
So when I, my, my teachers and my wrestling coaches,
and I grew up in a very rural, small town, son
of a railroader. My grandfather was a railroader.
My great grandfather was a railroader and just
the people that have. Made me who I am. I just
am so thankful. I'm so blessed. I thought that
was all going to end in 2007. And you watch your
life flash in front of your eyes. And so you
come home and you're just a different person.
My focus is different. Nobody cares how big your
house is. Nobody cares how much money you make.
And nobody cares what kind of car you drive.
None of that really matters. So it's about people.
It's about what you can contribute for our future.
And for me, I've got three children. I'm doing
my best. My wife and I, my wife Elsa, we're certainly
not perfect, but just be involved. Yeah. And
it's to a point for myself now, I leave my phone
everywhere. Church. parks. You know what? If
I'm with my children and my family, I'm just
being present. And I think that right now I have
so much control over just being present, watching
your surroundings and enjoying that time and
that moment with your family. So it's definitely,
that's where it starts for myself and most people
that do have families. And I truly appreciate
it. I don't want to take too much of your time,
but I always have one favorite question. please
what are the greatest joys of what you do for
me you know saving a life in the emergency department
so you always got to separate that into professionally
and then like me personally so when you save
a life that's You work so hard and it's not,
you know, you hear about some of these physicians
with God complexes, right? That's just ridiculous.
God is working through my hands. I have studied
my tail off to put myself in a position where
someone comes to me. I can save a life if God
will help me save that life. Sometimes I can't
save everybody and he's taking them somewhere
else. And that's really hard to deal with as
a physician when you work so hard, you just,
you can't save everybody. But every life you
save really. It feels really good. It helps validate
me and strengthens my faith. And then as personally,
my children and my family, just seeing them grow
up and be successful. And, you know, they make
some mistakes and they learn from those mistakes.
Just watching them grow. My children, I have
a 14 -year -old son and twin 12 -year -olds,
boy -girl twins. You know, if there's any parents
of multiples out there, that's the greatest joy
by a long shot. And that's our future. 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.