WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.399 Tell me about your vision and all that you're 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:07.820 doing. My vision is helping develop the leadership 00:00:07.820 --> 00:00:11.359 for the future of this country. So we had an 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:14.140 entire generation of Americans that I work with 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:16.660 every day. So as an emergency physician, I see 00:00:16.660 --> 00:00:20.300 the policy decisions that were made over the 00:00:20.300 --> 00:00:22.980 past several years had a huge impact on this 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.699 generation. So we take this group 18 to 25 years 00:00:25.699 --> 00:00:29.199 old. They were shut out of schools. They were 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.479 shut out of churches. They already had some difficulties 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:34.640 with communication because they spent so much 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.399 of their lives. They've never known the world 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:39.259 without an iPhone or an iPad. And then you take 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:41.000 them and you shut them out completely during 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:43.159 some very critical years in their development. 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:46.079 And as an emergency doctor, I see those results 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.920 now. So anxiety, depression, and unfortunately, 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:52.039 a lot of suicides. And as a military commander, 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:54.399 I work with those individuals as well, and they 00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:57.579 lack resiliency. And just some of the basic leadership 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:01.049 skills. I'm concerned. And so I'm concerned enough 00:01:01.049 --> 00:01:03.630 to write a book. And I wake up every day trying 00:01:03.630 --> 00:01:05.769 to do something to help this generation. And 00:01:05.769 --> 00:01:08.689 that's my call to action for Americans. Be the 00:01:08.689 --> 00:01:11.090 weight behind their spear. Everyone likes to 00:01:11.090 --> 00:01:13.750 complain about them. You know, oh, this younger 00:01:13.750 --> 00:01:16.709 generation. Well, back in my day, you know, that's 00:01:16.709 --> 00:01:19.189 not productive. What can we do about it? How 00:01:19.189 --> 00:01:21.870 are we going to help them? And so this book is 00:01:21.870 --> 00:01:25.400 my prescription to do just that. I'm very passionate 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:27.280 about building up this next generation because 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.819 we need them to be successful. Absolutely. And 00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:33.980 interesting enough is you say the statement back 00:01:33.980 --> 00:01:39.340 in my day. Do you think or the thought that maybe 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:42.180 there's a blinders on how much we have changed, 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.980 you know, in trying to help equip them to make 00:01:45.980 --> 00:01:49.170 better decisions or to be more resilient? There 00:01:49.170 --> 00:01:52.590 is a huge generational divide. And right now, 00:01:52.609 --> 00:01:55.290 America is as divided generationally and politically 00:01:55.290 --> 00:01:58.310 as I've seen in my lifetime. I'm 47 years old. 00:01:58.609 --> 00:02:01.510 So we have to find a way to get through to them. 00:02:01.689 --> 00:02:03.969 It's an entire different learning process for 00:02:03.969 --> 00:02:08.530 them. Their reality and their environment. I 00:02:08.530 --> 00:02:12.610 value social media and I can certainly learn 00:02:12.610 --> 00:02:14.370 from it and you can get some connectedness there. 00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:17.250 not really who i am and it's not something that 00:02:17.250 --> 00:02:19.530 really shaped me as a human being for this generation 00:02:19.530 --> 00:02:22.180 they have never known a world without that So 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:25.400 that perception is their reality. And whether 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:27.560 we understand it or not is completely immaterial. 00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:30.000 We have to find a way to get through to them 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.659 and have to find a way to teach them these basics 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:35.419 of leadership and accountability and taking ownership 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:38.379 in their lives and just basic communication skills, 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:41.219 you know, let alone those soft skills of empathy 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:44.060 and resiliency and all these types of things. 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:45.479 There's so much that needs to be done. We have 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.759 to find a way. Failure is not an option. We all 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:51.719 need them to be successful. Yes, and it's crazy 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:54.860 because I think about it even as a parent. It's 00:02:54.860 --> 00:02:57.560 even just more challenging because like you said, 00:02:57.699 --> 00:03:00.919 they did not grow up without these items or these 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:05.219 different technology, things that could keep 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:08.659 them more connected to the world in a not so 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:12.000 good way and sometimes in a good way. So a question 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:14.819 for you, if every American took one small action 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:18.250 to strengthen leadership, what would it be? Just 00:03:18.250 --> 00:03:21.250 get involved and give to your community. That 00:03:21.250 --> 00:03:23.669 means something different to everyone. Not everyone 00:03:23.669 --> 00:03:25.990 can coach Little League T -ball. They don't have 00:03:25.990 --> 00:03:27.789 the patience for it. I did that. It was brutal. 00:03:28.030 --> 00:03:32.330 I coached soccer. Volunteer in your church. Volunteer 00:03:32.330 --> 00:03:34.770 in your schools. Go to your local animal shelter 00:03:34.770 --> 00:03:37.110 and help out with some animals that can be an 00:03:37.110 --> 00:03:39.729 emotional support animal for somebody else. But 00:03:39.729 --> 00:03:42.530 everybody has something to give. What you do 00:03:42.530 --> 00:03:46.080 every single day really matters. And that helps 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:48.599 build the future of our country. So you're literally 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:50.939 contributing to our national security, whether 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:53.259 you realize it or not. It all starts off with 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:56.199 your community right here with the people around 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:58.939 you, coaches, families, teachers, volunteers. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:01.819 All of that is critical. That's what sets America 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:04.139 apart. And that's what people need to focus on. 00:04:05.959 --> 00:04:09.099 I'm just blown away by what you said just to 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.800 do in the community, which seems so easy and 00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:14.680 simple. And I never thought on that level. I'm 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:18.139 thinking on a higher level of like get involved 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:21.300 in, you know, voting and all that. But you said 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:24.899 things that are easy to do, in my opinion. If 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:28.180 you go to church, just be involved. Children 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:31.420 be involved. And I never really thought about. 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:35.660 That is a way of helping. And I love that. I 00:04:35.660 --> 00:04:38.060 truly love that because I'm thinking go big or 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:41.600 go home. But if you're already there, then be 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:44.100 there, be present rather than being on your telephone 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.180 or anything else, become involved. And with that, 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:52.480 share with us how how that would impact on a 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:56.319 level of where you are, because I believe, you 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.379 know, just being a volunteer at church or volunteering 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:02.430 is. children's sports or anything is so easy 00:05:02.430 --> 00:05:05.769 because I think that way, how will it impact? 00:05:06.430 --> 00:05:09.370 So if you put it in even the most simple of terms, 00:05:09.430 --> 00:05:12.209 that's a community leaders, business leaders, 00:05:12.269 --> 00:05:15.029 say you own a business, whether you have kids 00:05:15.029 --> 00:05:18.930 or not, this is still your problem because these 00:05:18.930 --> 00:05:21.189 kids are all coming out into our community. They're 00:05:21.189 --> 00:05:23.769 looking for jobs out of high school, out of college. 00:05:23.850 --> 00:05:26.329 And when they lack some of these very basic communication 00:05:26.329 --> 00:05:31.139 skills and resiliency skills. we all suffer and 00:05:31.139 --> 00:05:33.879 if you look at time is money if you invest your 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:36.920 time now into this you know when they're younger 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:39.699 and you coach and you volunteer and you get involved 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:41.920 in churches and schools and you help develop 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.500 them now so when they come to you they're they're 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:48.040 ready to go right now i don't think when i talk 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:49.939 with business leaders and having been a business 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:53.259 leader myself and business owner they're clearly 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:56.220 not ready and there's a lot of work to do and 00:05:56.220 --> 00:05:58.959 so the earlier you get involved because this 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.980 this is going to be your problem one way or another 00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:05.100 so please get involved now it when it comes to 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:07.600 the book what's the most surprising insight you 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:11.079 discovered while writing the book for me when 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:13.420 i really sit back and i reflect on all the people 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:16.319 that have been the weight behind my my spear 00:06:16.990 --> 00:06:20.610 So when I, my, my teachers and my wrestling coaches, 00:06:20.670 --> 00:06:24.810 and I grew up in a very rural, small town, son 00:06:24.810 --> 00:06:27.290 of a railroader. My grandfather was a railroader. 00:06:27.329 --> 00:06:30.129 My great grandfather was a railroader and just 00:06:30.129 --> 00:06:33.490 the people that have. Made me who I am. I just 00:06:33.490 --> 00:06:36.509 am so thankful. I'm so blessed. I thought that 00:06:36.509 --> 00:06:40.250 was all going to end in 2007. And you watch your 00:06:40.250 --> 00:06:42.230 life flash in front of your eyes. And so you 00:06:42.230 --> 00:06:44.509 come home and you're just a different person. 00:06:44.670 --> 00:06:48.410 My focus is different. Nobody cares how big your 00:06:48.410 --> 00:06:50.970 house is. Nobody cares how much money you make. 00:06:50.990 --> 00:06:53.290 And nobody cares what kind of car you drive. 00:06:53.589 --> 00:06:57.290 None of that really matters. So it's about people. 00:06:57.490 --> 00:07:00.050 It's about what you can contribute for our future. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.019 And for me, I've got three children. I'm doing 00:07:03.019 --> 00:07:05.860 my best. My wife and I, my wife Elsa, we're certainly 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:09.899 not perfect, but just be involved. Yeah. And 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:15.399 it's to a point for myself now, I leave my phone 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:19.220 everywhere. Church. parks. You know what? If 00:07:19.220 --> 00:07:21.800 I'm with my children and my family, I'm just 00:07:21.800 --> 00:07:24.720 being present. And I think that right now I have 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.680 so much control over just being present, watching 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:31.740 your surroundings and enjoying that time and 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:34.279 that moment with your family. So it's definitely, 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:38.519 that's where it starts for myself and most people 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:41.560 that do have families. And I truly appreciate 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:43.439 it. I don't want to take too much of your time, 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:47.089 but I always have one favorite question. please 00:07:47.089 --> 00:07:52.129 what are the greatest joys of what you do for 00:07:52.129 --> 00:07:54.449 me you know saving a life in the emergency department 00:07:54.449 --> 00:07:57.089 so you always got to separate that into professionally 00:07:57.089 --> 00:08:00.769 and then like me personally so when you save 00:08:00.769 --> 00:08:05.000 a life that's You work so hard and it's not, 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:07.500 you know, you hear about some of these physicians 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:09.839 with God complexes, right? That's just ridiculous. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.540 God is working through my hands. I have studied 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:15.379 my tail off to put myself in a position where 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:19.740 someone comes to me. I can save a life if God 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.660 will help me save that life. Sometimes I can't 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:23.779 save everybody and he's taking them somewhere 00:08:23.779 --> 00:08:26.060 else. And that's really hard to deal with as 00:08:26.060 --> 00:08:27.899 a physician when you work so hard, you just, 00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:30.199 you can't save everybody. But every life you 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:33.950 save really. It feels really good. It helps validate 00:08:33.950 --> 00:08:37.870 me and strengthens my faith. And then as personally, 00:08:38.110 --> 00:08:40.789 my children and my family, just seeing them grow 00:08:40.789 --> 00:08:43.370 up and be successful. And, you know, they make 00:08:43.370 --> 00:08:45.110 some mistakes and they learn from those mistakes. 00:08:45.549 --> 00:08:48.750 Just watching them grow. My children, I have 00:08:48.750 --> 00:08:51.549 a 14 -year -old son and twin 12 -year -olds, 00:08:51.549 --> 00:08:54.490 boy -girl twins. You know, if there's any parents 00:08:54.490 --> 00:08:57.389 of multiples out there, that's the greatest joy 00:08:57.389 --> 00:09:00.289 by a long shot. And that's our future. Thank 00:09:00.289 --> 00:09:02.250 you for being here today. I'm really happy that 00:09:02.250 --> 00:09:04.269 you tuned in to Vision Pros Live. I'm looking 00:09:04.269 --> 00:09:07.529 forward to seeing your reactions as these episodes 00:09:07.529 --> 00:09:09.330 continue to move forward. This is going to get 00:09:09.330 --> 00:09:11.950 more and more fun. We'll have more and more engagement 00:09:11.950 --> 00:09:14.029 as well. We'll invite people to participate in 00:09:14.029 --> 00:09:16.210 the show. And thank you for giving us your time 00:09:16.210 --> 00:09:18.509 and attention. Have an excellent time building 00:09:18.509 --> 00:09:20.830 out your vision and becoming a vision pro yourself.