True Grit with Craig Kautsch

My next guest is Bill Kraftson.  Bill is a well-known apologist and has spent the past several decades helping people discover the meaning of life.  He uses the open forum platform to give room for the questioners of God's existence.  For over 45 years Bill has enjoyed the privilege of facilitating hundreds of large and small group discussions as well as interacting with countless individuals on the ‘life and God' issues that matter most to all of us – questions like if there's a loving God, why would He let bad things happen to good people?  What about the intolerance and hypocrisy of religion?  How well does one have to be to get to heaven?”  He loves the close, personal relationships that frequently emerge from these vigorous, but respectful, intellectual exchanges.  Useful Links and Book Mentions:"Meaning of Marriage" by Tim KellerThe Search For Meaningbkraftson@searchnational.org

How did the car business get whacked by Covid?  My next guest is Jeff Crawford. He cut his teeth in the car business with Hilliard Ford back in 1990 and went from a salesman to the training director, used car manager, new car sales manager for Ford, Buick, and Mazda for a 7yr period.  Then he was the sales manager for 5 Star Ford a year before opening the Camp Bowie Location for RLB in ‘98. He's sold over 5,000 cars over the past 3 decades and I can only imagine what kind of scar tissue that can cause.  He's been our “car guy” for over 20 years and has become a great friend. Jeff, welcome to the show!We have a super great discussion about how “real salesmanship” isn't selling at all.  Enjoy our fun discussion and learn from one of the best salesmen in town.Jeff Crawford Cell: 817-994-5333

Ever make a deal with God? Listen to this wide ranging conversation with Dr. Philip Shero.  He's the president of Mastermind Leadership, a cutting-edge executive coaching, team development, and strategic planning consultancy.Dr. Shero holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, as well as a Masters from TCUHelping others grow as leaders is Dr. Shero's driving force. He brings two decades of leadership development and strategic planning expertise to some of the most well-known medium-sized finance, non-profit, and construction companies in Texas. With a long track record of success in coaching existing and emerging leaders at the CEO, partner, and senior management levels, he has become known as one of the most dynamic and engaged leadership and strategic planning coaches in DFW. His national reputation is growing through his expert leadership training seminars; senior leadership retreat facilitation; strategic planning services; and a full line of job benchmarking products. Over the years he's created a dynamic duo with his wife Laura who is working on her doctorate in Quantitative Behavior from Baylor...Philip has dedicated his life to developing leaders and is firing on all cylinders right here in Cowtown.I hope you enjoy this episode!Useful Links and Book Mentions:"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick LencioniMasterminds Leadership

Ever wonder how to turn your hobby into a passion? My next guest is Todd Tarver.  A motorcycle racer slash mechanic turned entrepreneur.  Todd owns Straight Line Motorsports which he founded almost 20 years ago. Over the years he has grown his company into one of the top 3 largest KTM dealers in the country. He was a professional racer in the 90s and won the famed enduro race from Vegas to Reno in 1998.His friends describe him as a teenager caught in a 40yr old body.  Enjoy our fun conversation about the adventure of owning an extremely successful motorcycle store!Useful Links:Straight Line MotorsportsKTM

My next guest is Dr. Brian Byrd a true entrepreneur who has decided to run for Mayor! He comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and earned a degree at UT in Marketing and International Business. His life changed forever because of a knee injury in college. He was introduced to the medical field through having surgery. The lightbulb went off and he immediately started shadowing physicians while he was still in college.He followed through and opened Texas Family Medicine right out of medical school. Then he launched Texas Hospice in 2007 and sold it in 2013. What Next??He successfully ran for City Council and served for 4 years and is now running for Mayor of Cowtown!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Brian Byrd"Surprised by Oxford" by Carolyn Weber

Ever wonder what your real purpose is? Do you struggle with getting off track and at times move away from what really matters?My next guest is Jeff Sanders. Described as a leader of leaders. He has the unique combination of business acumen and the ability to impact the trajectory of careers of those he leads. Jeff Sanders is the President of Leader Xchange: a nonprofit right here in Fort Worth, that gathers and trains faith-based business leaders to use their profession as a conduit for ministry. Jeff also served as the President of Tarrant NET for 17 years. Tarrant NET is a nonprofit ministry dedicated to unifying churches across all races and denominations in Tarrant County. Jeff is also a start-up expert in the Church world. If you thought building a business was hard...try planting a church with a volunteer army that has limited time and split focus.Listen in while we discuss the real makeup of a successful leader!Useful Links:Leader Xchange"Spiritual Leadership" by Oswald Sanders

Ever wonder how people write and publish a book?My next guest is Emily Stroud who wears a lot of hats as a mom of two kids, businesswoman, and entrepreneur. She graduated from Texas A&M University and got her MBA from TCU. She’s Fully licensed with FINRA, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) a Member of the Association of Investment Management and Cambridge Investment Research.Emily is a published author and wrote a book called “Faithful Finance” and followed that up with a TV show on Pure Flix Streaming called Faithful Finance Live. She has two decades of experience with helping people make smart choices about money. She knows that money can be one of the great causes of stress in life—but that it doesn’t have to be that way. Finances, in fact, can be a great source of joy, security, and hope. She launched Stroud Financial Management to be the vehicle to change financial lives!Listen in while I deconstruct her incredible journey and pull out useful strategies applicable to us all!Useful Links:Faithful Finance"Faithful Finance" by Emily Stroud

Want to know how to build a tribe?My next guest is Lee Hargrave. A Former Rocket Scientist and founder and owner of Fort Worth's premier health and fitness facility, EnduraLAB. Through experience, multiple degrees, and certifications, Lee has taken an analytical approach to take the guesswork out of better health and fitness. Lee created EnduraLAB in 2011 and has taken it from a community running group to a world-class 7,000 square-foot training facility. Lee’s unwavering commitment to growth and development has led to an extensive educational background with degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, and Masters in Business Administration from Indiana University. He has taken his analytical and inquisitive nature and applied it to the programming, biomechanical analysis, and coaching of athletes. Today, Lee continues to push his fitness to the limits and surrounds himself with leaders in all facets of fitness. This has allowed him to do what he loves: guiding athletes to understand and increase the top end of their genetic potential. He is a hardworking visionary that will stop at nothing to make EnduraLAB the best of the best.Listen in while we discuss tribe building, fitness, diet, and good sleep hygiene. Lee is a mad scientist!Useful Links:EnduraLAB

“I lost 4 million dollars last week” A jaw dropping answer to one of my questions! Tony Ford was an awesome interview. A true leader of leaders! He has been described as a personal Warren Buffet, Dalai Lama, Bobby Fischer and Vince Lombardi all wrapped into one guy.One of his clients said “He is the single greatest human asset we have in our corner.”Tony Ford’s passion for over 30yrs has been helping Fort Worth businesses succeed and this has inspired him to create one-of-a-kind solutions to accelerate their growth. Success Fort Worth is the most recent addition to this long list of “Fort Worth Focused” initiatives. He’s owned a wide variety of companies over the past 40 years.Tune in to hear me tease out some of the lessons learned along the way!Useful Links:Success Fort Worth

My next guest is John Askew, one of my hero’s!He’s built over 600 custom homes and knows what it’s like to take some punches along the way. I’ve never seen such fortitude in a businessman...He’s battled cancer (his wife had it at the same time), going broke, heart attacks, and more. He’s in the arena like no other. Tune in to this episode. This man will inspire you!John was voted the Best Builder in Tarrant County by the Fort Worth Star Telegram Reader’s Choice in 2013, 17 and was voted Best Builder in Fort Worth by the Fort Worth Magazine readers in 2015. He was also a finalist for the Entrepreneur of Excellence. He was also awarded First Place in 9 of the 13 categories in the 2008 Kaleidoscope of Homes in Fort Worth. He presently employs 19 people and builds between 25 & 30 custom homes a year ranging in price from $500,000 to $3,000,000. Besides building custom homes, the company has also built several commercial buildings in the Parker County area for medical and general office use. John built my house back in early 2001 (when I was 29yrs old) and has been a friend of mine ever since….I hope you enjoy the show!John Askew Custom Homes

We are all aging...want to stay a supple leopard? My next guest is D. Brian Mulhall. Owner and founder of Active Spine and Sport Therapy. A clinic centered on the rapid treatment of musculoskeletal aches/pains while teaching patients about their condition and how to treat themselves to reduce their need for future care. Pretty much every local elite athlete uses his clinic to get “fixed.” Dr. Mullhall has more letters behind his name than any other doc I know. Listen in while we talk about the body and his unusual philosophy about how to keep people healthy. He will likely change your mind on a few things along the way.Enjoy!Useful Links:Active Spine & Sport Therapy

My next guest is a local entrepreneurial enigma...no one is quite sure what he does and he kinda likes it that way. I’ve been friends with Walt Lawrence for 20 years and have always been amazed and slightly mystified by his approach to business. He graduated from the University of Texas in 92 with an English Literature Degree. He spent seven years dedicated to the Retail Commercial Real Estate business, culminating in becoming President of Woodmont's Brokerage Division by age 27...he cold-called The Mills Corporation in the mid-90s and convinced them to come to Texas, which resulted in exclusively representing them for both Grapevine Mills here and Katy Mills Mall in Houston, as well as representing Bass Pro Shops adjacent to each location.He’s had over $1B in real estate transactions to date.Resigned from Woodmont in December of 1999 to pursue his self described "A-D-D" Business Plan of numerous other ventures, which has resulted in ~20 Different entrepreneurial endeavors over the past 21 tears in a wide range of industries.Walt’s most recent venture, Clear Sky Partners, is a small business accelerator that forms close partnerships with uniquely differentiated organizations and atypically talented people striving to solve big business problems so they can more rapidly and efficiently expand into their target markets with proper execution.Walt has been married to Stephanie for 24yrs and has 3 kids...the oldest just turned 21…I honestly haven’t been this excited about a podcast interview in a while!Useful Links and Book Mentions:MediumAntifragile WikipediaAntifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Ever wonder what the meaning of emotional intelligence really is? My next guest is Dr. John Townsend has written over 30 books on the topic. He has sold over 10 million copies, including the New York Times bestselling Boundaries series. John is a nationally-known leadership consultant, author, and psychologist. John founded and operates the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling, and the Townsend Leadership Program. Both of which I’ve been deeply involved in. Dr. Townsend travels extensively for corporate consulting, speaking events, and to help develop leaders, their teams, and their families. John has a weekly video call-in program, Dr. Townsend Live.“If you don’t work on your insides...I promise it will sabotage you!” - John TownsendListen in while we unpack some really cool ideas that will help you connect your head with your heart!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Dr. TownsendBooks by Dr. TownsendAuthors Chip and Dan Heath

Imagine being newly married, strapped with school debt in a new town where you know less than 5 people. This week’s guest is Dr. John Kelley. Owner and founder of Kelley Orthodontics. Dr. Kelley attended Baylor University and received his Doctorate in Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. He and his wife Allision moved to FW in 1999 and founded Live Thankfully which is a not for profit that’s had a huge impact on our local community.Hop in and listen to his out-of-the-box approach to business!P.S. John and I have spent 100s of hours training together in the dark on bicycles…(he’s an athletic beast!)Useful Links and Book Mentions:Kelley OrthodonticsThe Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Thank you so much for listening to the True Grit Podcast and reading these posts this year! The feedback has been great and it’s been a neat way to keep in touch in 2020. Please keep the emails/texts/calls coming! I love hearing from each of you :)If you’re like me, you are super relieved 2020 is over. It has launched some businesses into the stratosphere and has crippled others (strangely binary). I’ve been writing down some of my takeaways from the last 12 months to make sure I’m metabolizing what I’ve learned. What a freaking rollercoaster!Recording the podcast every week has been a no-joke endeavor. A little more involved than I expected but the upside has been worth it. Spreading the wisdom of these salty entrepreneurs and celebrating the grit and fortitude it took for them to succeed has helped a lot of up-and-comers. I’m always surprised by what I learn and love hearing about YOUR lightbulb moments (MY FAVORITE part of doing this.)The final episode of 2020 is a few highlights from my interviews and a little update on what I’ve been up to personally. I can’t wait to see what YOU pull off in 2021! Go Team!

How do you weather the storm? When things move up and down and are volatile what steps do you take to recover? How do you pivot? How do you thrive? My next guest is Andrew Sage, founder of Broad Wing Aviation. A local company that buys and sells airplane parts all over the world. Broadwing Aviation was formed in 2002 and produces around 40mm in annual revenue and employs 34 people. But recently due to the covid mess has reduced his staff to 16 which we will cover a bit later. Broadwing Aviation creates greater efficiencies in aftermarket parts procurement by serving as an extension of the customers’ supply chains and purchasing departments.The founders of Broadwing Aviation have no shortage of shared experiences in the commercial and military aerospace markets. Andrew met his partners Mark Anderson and Michael Mills at a new start-up aftermarket parts company in the late 1990s. It is here they developed and refined the individual skills that would lead them to the genesis of Broadwing Aviation.It didn’t take long for them to notice a trend: Parts supply companies operated by telling customers what they need instead of listening to customers’ needs. The result was a gradual decline in the level of customer service. This was not acceptable. They knew they could establish and grow a company providing a far superior customer experience….and so Broadwing Aviation was born!Andrew has two kids and has been married to his wife Amy for almost 25 years!Enjoy this broad-ranging conversation with founder Andrew Sage!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Broadwing AviationShōgun by James Clavell

Curious about how to market to your customers? Want to know the strategies to build a great culture in your company? My next guest is the head honcho and namesake of Schaefer Advertising, Ken leads client relationships and manages strategic planning and brand development. His over two decades of marketing experience began at Procter and Gamble, and he later moved on to the agency side at Ogilvy & MatherSchaefer Advertising employs 40 people and just this year celebrated their 25th year in business. Ken has built the agency on an immovable foundation of core values, which are centered around the company’s mission to “Make Life Better.” Ken is a relentless strategist and has focused his teams on building solutions that provide real, measurable results. His company is recognized as an award-winning marketing partner within the healthcare, real estate, and destination and entertainment industries. Under his leadership, Schaefer Advertising has seen steady growth year over year, and nearly 150% revenue growth over the last three years. It has won the award of top places to work in Fort Worth 2x so he has a good understanding of what Culture is all about. Ken is a leader of leaders, a savvy business guy, a culture warrior, and a family man who has been married to his wife Lori for 26years and has twin boys who are seniors at TCU…I’ve been looking forward to this interview and I’m excited to give you a peek behind the curtain of his business and marketing mind!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Schaefer AdvertisingAuthor Malcolm Gladwell

If the faith doesn’t work on Monday morning the faith doesn’t work at all. My next guest, Dr. Ted Kitchens, who has been my spiritual director for over 20 years. He’s taken the complicated and mysterious Bible and given it life by distilling the useful elements and giving them handles for me to hold onto.He led the church from a handful of members to around 12k members so he knows a thing or two about scaling an organization. Ted was the senior pastor of Christ Chapel for more than 35 years, tenaciously preaching the Bible with Monday-morning relevanceHe has a master's degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary, where he later returned for his Ph.D. Listen in while I draw out some helpful principles that you can apply to your life and business. You’re going to appreciate his leadership style.Useful Links and Book Mentions:Christ Chapel Bible ChurchGood to Great in God's Eyes by Chip IngramThe Supremacy of Christ by Ajith Fernando

Do you have a strong personality that is often misunderstood? Do you want to understand how to be more present in your work and home life?This week’s guest is Lori Atkins, MD an OBGYN. She was one of those little girls that always wanted to be a doctor. She left home at 15 and went to college on a wing and a prayer. She earned her undergraduate degree at Baylor University and her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She did a residency at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. One of her nurses, Jen Villegas describes her as “a brilliant surgeon...far and away the best surgeon I work with. She has unbelievable intuition. It’s almost like she knows what’s going to happen before it actually happens.”What’s rare about Lori is she’s much more than just a doctor. She’s a business owner. She entered private practice in 1996, and since graduating residency has built THREE successful practices and helped to nurture and promote the career of her partners as they have joined her. She has been a mentor to many during her busy career and knows a thing or two about growing a business.Fitness and a healthy lifestyle have always been important to Lori and have been a priority in her life. She began teaching yoga in 2007. She is a 1200 hour certified Baptiste Yoga instructor. She is married and a mother of 2!Listen in while I deconstruct what it takes to make a difference in the lives of those around you. Useful Links:FĒNOM Women's Care

Do you ever avoid conflict? The truth is, there is a price to pay! This week’s guest is Matthew McDonald who is a conflict expert...more specifically a guy that knows how to keep the peace! Prior to founding Peacekeeper Works LLC, Matthew practiced law for 25+ years handling litigation of all kinds including employment, insurance, and business-related matters. As we all know...the costs of conflict are real–attorneys fees, litigation expenses, employee turnover, and broken relationships. Unresolved conflict is corrosive. It consumes time, energy, and resources better spent elsewhere. Yet conflict is universal….and the good news is Matthew has a dynamic perspective on all of it!He’s a father of 4 boys with one in heaven and has been married to his wife Alicia for 34 yrsListen in while I deconstruct the nuances of conflict and tease out some strategies we can apply to our businesses.Useful Links and Book Mentions:Getting to Yes by Roger FisherPeacekeeper Works

Want to know why entrepreneurs get stuck? Get some useful pearls of wisdom from this week’s guest, Randy Gideon! Randy is the founding principal of Gideon Toal. For the past 30 years, he’s had a broad-ranging mission to provide project oversight for architecture, management, master planning, and interior design projects. His cluster of companies have employed 100s people and are involved in projects that add up to between 2-300million annually. He’s an award-winning architect and was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. He has served on the board of several prominent civic organizations including Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Streams and Valleys, Inc. and was President of the Texas Society of Architects. He’s been married to his wife Beth for 27 years and has been an inspiration and mentor to me over the years.Useful Links:Gideon Toal Management ServicesBad Blood by John CarreyouThe Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli

She was fired from her job and promptly started a female-led biotech company that was launched by winning 50k in a pitch contest. My next guest is Elyse Dickerson who is CEO and Co-Founder of Eosera, a biotech company committed to developing innovative products that address underserved healthcare needs. Among Eosera’s numerous industry awards, Elyse herself has won many accolades for her leadership and service. Most recently, in 2019, Drug Store News named Elyse the Top Women in Health, Wellness, and Beauty. D CEO awarded Elyse with the honor of being on the 2019 Dallas 500 list and named her Most Admired CEO, and Fort Worth Business Press presented Elyse with the title of the Great Women of Texas. Fort Worth Magazine named Elyse Fort Worthian to Watch, and FW Inc named her Top 400 Most Influential People. Elyse is also a polished public speaker and gives inspiring presentations to large groups around the world. In addition, Elyse authors many articles related to business, including being a Forbes contributor. Elyse has over two decades of experience leading teams in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. She managed portfolios with annual revenues of $1.7 Billion and drives product innovation and the commercialization of numerous technologies across the globe.Prior to co-founding Eosera, Elyse spent over a decade at Alcon, where, as Global Director, she set the near and long-term global strategic vision for the Anti-Infective, Otic, Dry Eye, and Ocular Nutrition franchises. At Alcon, Elyse launched new products globally and consistently grew sales year over year. Elyse holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from the Cox School of Business at SMU. Listen in while I deconstruct the incredible journey of fortitude and determination. Learn about the tools she used to build her company despite the uphill battle.Useful Links and Book Mentions:EoseraTrailblazer by Marc BenioffDelivering Happiness by Tony HsiehHow Remarkable Women Lead by Joanna Barsh

Ever heard of a businesstry? Me neither...Imagine creating a not-for-profit that doesn’t depend on donations! This episode will teach you some very useful ideas that will open your eyes to new ways of making a difference in the world.This week’s guest is Stan Dobbs who has a rare combination of an entrepreneurial spirit and a heart to advance the cause of Christ through what he calls the Gospel Shot Clock. Stan has founded several awesome businesstries such as Apartment Life and his more recent venture the Lionheart Children’s Academy. He’s beaten back a terminal cancer diagnosis and has completed an Ironman! Stan and I became fast friends and had a dynamic conversation that spanned a wide range of meaningful topics that will help you grow your business and increase your joy!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Apartment LifeLionheart AcademyAuthor John Polkinghorne

Attention all Wonder Women! You’re gonna love this interview! My next guest is Penny Johnson who is the CEO of Hugeley Hospital and the SW region of Advent Health. She oversees a 500mm budget and 3,000 employees which includes over 300 doctors. WOAH! The Adventist Health System is comprised of 44 hospital campuses including the 234k/sf 6 story campus just South of town. So Penny knows a thing or two about culture and leadership. Listen in while I tease out some awesome nuggets about leadership and hospital finance. She is a great example of how you can be a mom and wife AND lead a gigantic organization.Useful Links and Book Mentions:Hugeley HospitalThe Smartest Guys in the Room by Bethany McLeanLegally Blonde by Amanda Brown

Listen in while I tease out some useful strategies to live your best life and scale your business. This week’s guest is John Pergande. John has quite a resume starting out delivering papers in Green Bay to Graduating from Yale in 1985 where he was on the rowing team. He moved on to get his MBA from Northwestern University in ‘91 (the year I graduated from high school) He cut his teeth trading on the NYFE and the Chicago Futures Exchange then bought his first company in his mid-thirties and promptly sold it for a healthy profit. He used the cash to launch his current business InsureZone which provides a cornucopia of services to insurance agents and brokers. He has grown InsureZone to over 45k users over the past 20 years. John has been married for 30 years and has raised and launched 3 boys…Buckle up and enjoy this cool wide-ranging conversation with John Pergande!Useful Links and Book Mentions:InsureZoneBoys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Do you hate procrastination as much as I do? Self-hypnosis is the quickest way to get out of your own way. Thanks to Chris Thompson I’m getting amazing results by folding hypnosis techniques into my daily meditation practice. Chris is an entrepreneur, professional hypnotist, and hypnosis trainer. Although formally educated in engineering and finance, Chris left the corporate world to work alongside his best friend and hypnosis mentor, Mike Mandel, as the co-founder and co-trainer of Mike Mandel Hypnosis. Chris is widely recognized as one of the top business minds in the field of hypnosis. MMH has over 10k clients and is the fastest-growing Hypnosis training company in the world! I’ve been a non-stop student of their work since the beginning of this year and I wanted to introduce you to some new ideas about how to grow personally and professionally through some out of box techniques. Techniques that I’ve been using to intensify some of my better qualities and overcome some less than awesome behaviors that I want to get rid of. Enjoy our interview as we explore the possibilities of hypnosis.Useful Links and Book Mentions:Mike Mandel HypnosisConnect with Chris on Facebook!Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

As a well-off middle-aged white guy, I often find myself at a loss. A little stuck as it relates to the racial tension in the world. In this week’s episode, I get to ask some awkward questions to an expert on the subject. Dante Williams is the Founder of CommUnity Frontline a non-profit who serves the black community and brings awareness to many of our racial issues.As a youth growing up in Fort Worth, Dante and his family lived all over the city.Because he was the son of a single teen mom, he and his family experienced many of the same hardships that others in our overlooked communities deal with today. Although his mother worked hard to provide and instill core values in her children, tough times came still. From the loss of a sister, at birth and witnessing the hit and run accident, that ultimately took the life of his younger brother. These and other events fueled his passion for ensuring that the community knows that there are men that are willing to enter into and help alleviate the things our communities suffer from.Listen in as Dante and I have an open and honest discussion about race, leadership, religion, and our varied views of Black Lives Matter.Note: Dante is a successful entrepreneur and the proud Owner of DIG Contracting DIG Contracting is a general contractor and owner representative specializing in commercial construction for over 15 years.Useful Links and Book Mentions:Manhood Restored by Eric MasonDIG ContractingCommUnity Frontline

We all need a therapist... If you don’t have one you’ll probably be fine...but you will be slower. Slower to grow, slower to understand, slower to succeed. This week’s guest is Lee Long. He’s been the main catalyst to my growth in the past 5 years. I’ve spent hundreds of hours with this man and it has changed my life. We touch on a wide variety of topics including business, marriage, depression, and endurance running. You’ll get the inside scoop on why 3rd party help has expedited all things valuable in my life.With over twenty years of clinical experience, Lee has worked with many adults, couples, adolescents, and families. His experiences range from working with adolescents in juvenile detention programs, Counseling Director of a residential treatment program, psychiatric hospitals, and private practice.Lee works with individuals who deal with addictions, mental health issues, relational struggles within the family, and more. He helps families re-establish relationships and married couples rekindle their love and commitment.Lee is a Licensed Professional Counselor and supervisor in the state of Texas. He is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Analysis Systems of Psychotherapy (CBASP), an evidence-based approach, developed by Dr. James McCullough, to treat chronic depression. He is also intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Lee is currently completing his doctorate in counseling with an emphasis in traumatology. His dissertation involves Cognitive Behavioral Analysis Systems of Psychotherapy and why it is effective.He’s an avid runner and has run 8 marathons and a couple of ultras and actually did a 50k on a Woodway treadmill.Useful Links:Restoration CounselingThe Meaning of Marriage by Tim KellerParenting With Love And Logic by Foster Cline

GSD stands for “Get Shit Done”. It’s one of my favorite aspects about my next guest. He recently ran over 400 5k’s in a row and lost 50 lbs. He’s a cyclist, real estate investor, aircraft mechanic, prior military, race car builder and overall community builder! Eric Daniels has reinvented himself before my very eyes. I’ve become great friends with him in the past few years and even spent a week with him hiking almost 100 miles on the Appalachian Trail last summer. He started his career in FW as an engineer at Lockheed Martin leading a team of other engineers in designing the leading edge of the F-35. One of the most hi-tech jets in the world. But then He found himself at a crossroads in his life and decided to set aside the scientific calculator and join the crazy world of Real Estate. In just a few short years he has figured out how to become an elite level realtor and still be a great dad and husband. Eric has an incredible mind and I was able to uncover what makes him tick. Useful Links and Book Mentions:Infinite Game by Simon SinekThe Go Giver by Bob Burg

Ever wonder what it takes to pull off an event like the Cowtown Marathon? An event that has 25k participants, 4500 volunteers, and unpredictable weather (with only 4 full-time staff) Check out this week’s episode of the True Grit Podcast and find out how the Cowtown has become one of America’s Favorite Marathon events.I had a super enlightening interview with Heidi Swartz, the Executive Director of The Cowtown Marathon. With Heidi’s direction, the event has nearly tripled in size since 2004, with over 25,000 participants and seven races taking place the last weekend in February. In 2006, she created The Cowtown Marathon's associated non-profit organization, C.A.L.F. (Children's Activities for Life and Fitness), which in the past 11 years has provided over 40,000 pairs of running shoes to disadvantaged children along with greatly reduced entry fees for The Cowtown Kids 5K Run.By bringing fitness awareness and running enthusiasm to local schools, Swartz – a runner, herself – is invested in making the City of Fort Worth a healthier place to live. Swartz was awarded the Great Women of Texas award in 2016. She served on the original committee that formed "FitWorth," the Mayor of Fort Worth's healthy living initiative, and remained on the board serving as secretary. She serves on the Marketing Advisory Board for Visit Fort Worth, the Board of Directors for the Fort Worth Sports Commission, and serves as Secretary for the National Trade Organization, Running USA. Heidi Swartz is also a successful and in-demand speaker and consultant for other race events, acting as an expert in race management and producing multiple events throughout the year.Useful Links:Cowtown Marathon

This week’s guest is Robert Pollock. Robert is a personality expert and is a consultant to over 70 CEOs across the country. Robert’s client mix ranges from real estate moguls, oil tycoons, and the biggest tech brands in the world.This means he has a super unique perspective of what goes on behind the curtains in a wide variety of companies and industries. We have a really enlightening broad-ranging conversation about leadership, persona, and how to take the guesswork out of teamwork. You’re gonna love this one!Useful Links and Book Mentions:Culture IndexBooks by Robert Pollock"Traction" by Gino Wickman"Rocket Fuel" by Gino Wickman and Mark Winters

Ever wonder how the brain works? It can be so confusing because it’s usually described by a brain scientist...not a teacher.This week’s guest is Staci Danford. Staci is an educational neuroscientist with a master’s degree in Mind Brain Education. She has spread her knowledge on the TEDx Talk stage and has 25 years of teaching and communication experience. She was voted as one of Fort Worth’s Top 10 Teachers by Fort Worth Magazine. Her greatest desire is to encourage people to use their BRAINS to create the CHEMICALS of happiness so that together we can change the world.Useful Links and Book Mentions:The Noticer by Andy AndwersThe Big Leap by Gay HendricksAtomic Habits by James ClearTEDx Talk with Staci DanfordConnect with Staci on Instagram!

Get some timeless wisdom from a man who has seen behind the financial curtain of a wide variety of companies. This episode is loaded with nuggets to help you grow your business and be a better leader.Joe Taylor founded the largest privately held CPA and financial services firms in Tarrant County. Joe grew up in a household with 6 brothers and sisters and still wears hand-me-downs to this day. He married at the age of 20 and has been with Lynice for over 40 years. He has been squarely in my personal advisory board for at least a decade and has watched my companies almost go out of business multiple times and if it weren’t for Joe I’d probably be financially stressed out and a cart boy at the local country club. (no offense to my son)...Enjoy Episode 9 of the True Grit Podcast!

If you think commercial real estate seems complicated you’ll enjoy learning how simple it actually is. Bruce Conti is the quintessential old school industrial real estate pro who owns over 2million sqft of warehouse space! He brought his first building in 1996. He started out at TCU thinking he wanted to be a social worker but promptly pivoted when he saw most the pretty girls were interested in higher income brackets. It’s crazy what we do to get the attention of the girls! Bruce has a heartwarming story of creativity and innovation. So Hold tight while we explore his philosophies and strategies he used to build his commercial real estate portfolio.Book Mentions:How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

Learn some of the key elements and principles on how to grow a company from virtually bankrupt to 16 Billion. 16,000,000,000… That’s NINE zeros, boys and girls. John Pinkerton is one of the wealthiest guys I know and he’s actually “normal.” Get some practical Monday morning perspective on how to grow your own business on this week’s episode of True Grit.John is one of my mentors and friends. He grew up right here in FW and was a track star who held a hurdles record for over a decade! Ran track at U of H then transferred to TCU where he got a finance degree then got his MBA at UT. He’s been in the oil business since 81. He’s been married longer than most millennials have been alive! Listen in to find out some of the strategies he used to build one of the biggest companies in DFW.Book Mentions:Half Time by Bob Buford

Everybody’s always interested in the business that grows overnight… This is a story of a long string of good decisions and fortitude. Learn how to make a difference and some money at the same time. My next guest is Scott Dennett.Scott founded Dennett Construction almost 25 years ago… He started out with $300, a pregnant wife, mortgage, and two car payments and grew both his companies to almost 80 employees with revenues deep into the 8 figure range.Some of Dennett Construction’s most notable projects include One Safe Place (Over 80,000 sqft), a 60-acre development called Champion Circle, and St Phillips Catholic Church. Scott has 2 kids and a wife of 25 years. He races motorcycles and bicycles and is a seasoned boxer with fast hands… (Trust me, I know what it feels like to get punched by Scott!).Book Mentions: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

If you’ve ever wondered how to build your business and stay married you’ll thoroughly enjoy this conversation. Beau Glenn has an interesting story. A story of transition from hard-driving real estate environment to marriage counselor and then to teaching fathers and sons how to connect. Graduated from Texas Tech in 80 with a finance degree. He’s been married for 35 years and has 4 children. He was also mentored by Herb Weitzman who helped set the stage for him to become a partner with Trammel Crow in the early 90s. Beau was on a fast track to becoming the next commercial real estate mogul and decided to become a marriage mentor for Family Life instead. This launched him into his life’s passion (Pure Adventure). You will love the heart of this man. Listen in while I tease out some timeless wisdom to apply to our most important relationships.Book Mentions:The ONE Thing by Gary KellerThe Motive by Patrick LencioniThe Ideal Team Player by Patrick LencioniDeath by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni

Victoria Wise is an energetic entrepreneur, and the first “Power Woman” I’ve had the opportunity to interview. She was named one of the “400 Most Influential People” in Fort Worth (2 years in a row!) and received the Legacy of Women Award by SafeHaven in 2018. She’s built and sold a multi-million dollar online jewelry auction site, and is now the founder and creator of the locally-famous “Tanglewood Moms”. She even got Zuckerberg’s attention when Facebook asked her to join the inaugural Small and Medium Business Council. Her more recent project has led her to launch one of Fort Worth’s favorite magazines Madeworthy! It’s an incredible publication filled with stories about our community and more importantly the people who are making a significant impact. Most recently, she co-founded a racial reconciliation group for women called Heart Work.Book Mentions:Tribes by Seth GodinGood to Great by Jim CollinsBuilt to Last by Jim CollinsSteve Jobs by Walter IsaacsonWhite Fragility by Robin DiAngeloHow to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Isaac Manning got his masters from MIT in Architecture and joined forces with Ross Perot Jr. and Mike Berry (Hillwood.) Isaac was involved in the birth of Alliance Airport, the nation's fastest-growing industrial complex. Alliance Airport is the world’s first industrial-only airport that has produced $84 billion in total direct investment for Alliance, TX since inception….and would likely not exist if it weren’t for the visionaries of Hillwood. They also were the brains and vision behind the:Victory ProjectAA CenterUSAF Memorial in VA What you will find most fascinating was his bold move to leave Hillwood and go off on his own!In 2002 Isaac founded Trinity Works and has been making a huge contribution to our city ever since! Projects like (Edwards Ranch/Clear Fork) With almost 30 years of development experience, I’ll give you a useful behind-the-scenes look at what it took to become such a dynamic entrepreneur and still be an awesome husband and dad of 4 boys. Mentions:Every Good Endeavor by Timothy KellerThe Second Mountain by David BrooksNot Impossible Project

This week’s True Grit Podcast is with Tom Brown, an avid member of Indigo Yoga and owner of Town Talk Foods. With around 100 employees, he gives some incredible insights on how to maintain a “can-do” culture. Listen as we cover all sorts of interesting facets of what makes him a successful leader, and find out why Town Talk has a cult-like following of treasure hunters from all walks of life.Book Mentions:All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthyThe Crossing by Cormac McCarthyCities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthyBusiness Resources:Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. WintersTraction by Gino WickmanEntrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)

Meet Fort Worth Chef Jon Bonnell (Founder of Bonnell's Restaurant Group)... He’s had 3 invitations to cook at the James Beard house, been on the Today Show, CBS Early Show, Good Morning America, and the Food Network’s BBQ with Bobby Flay. Bonnell has also been featured on ESPN’s College Gameday, and just received the Walter Kaufman Lifetime Achievement Award for the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation in the fall of 2019.Learn more about how he's been leading his company through the COVID-19 pandemic, and hear his compelling backstory as a leader. Book Mentions:Born to Run by Christopher McDougallJon Bonnell's Fine Texas CuisineJon Bonnell's Texas FavoritesJon Bonnell's Fine Coastal Cuisine