EXPERIENCE 268 | Eric Goodman - Delivering Dollars and Enthusiasm for Great Causes

I met Eric Goodman at a local nonprofit event a couple years ago when I happened to be seated at his table And I complemented him on an above average performance as a volunteer emcee We shared some fun banter, but during the paddle raise it was more than obvious Which I already suspected that he was a pro and a damn good one We connected after that and during our first long phone call I shared how I sometimes emcee or paddle raise for events But only as a volunteer, you know, so he wouldn't be threatened He challenged me you should charge And learn enough so that you do a great job and deserve to be paid I'll mentor you or teach you and a group of others from Northern Colorado how to do it right if you want at no charge I didn't take him up on it at the time too busy. I told myself But I'm interested in revisiting the idea and inviting others as well So that's the kind of guy Eric is focused on being the best at his craft Encouraging others to fulfill their potential and to live generously He drops a ton of great information to help nonprofits fundraise better And he's a great conversationalist So please enjoy my time together with Eric Goodman from your fundraising team And thank you Eric for being here on the local experience Welcome to the local experience podcast On this show you'll get to know business and community leaders from all around Northern Colorado and beyond Our guests share their stories and through it all you'll be inspired and entertained These conversations are real and raw and no topics are off limits So pop in a breath mint and get ready to meet our latest guest Welcome back to the local experience podcast my guest today is Eric Goodman Eric is the founder and owner of your fundraising team He's also the co-host along with Troy Rank of the hot takes with Goodman and Rank podcast which is a sports focused Denver Area and regional sports show And he's been kind enough to join us For an episode of the local experience podcast Well, I'll tell you welcome to the studio Curred of all the honors. I've ever received in my life This is by far and away the most recent And you have you have booze here for me You you have hot sauce you have cups Not only to drink out of but I can do beer pong with my friends A very cool pair of sunglasses. Would you like to try on the sunglasses? Are they prescription? They are not Yeah, well, I say if they're safe you could wear them the whole show if doesn't match my jacket It looks pretty good No, but it will seem like you've been like smoking weed or something like that if you wear them the whole show Well, I didn't take a hit of yours before we start No, I've been smoking weed but you have not You've been smoking camelites Exactly why you have that gravely Thanks for being here You're welcome Do you recall like I remember it was in an event where you were the fundraising guru at a local nonprofit And after your your quick session of introducing yourself I was like, uh, you're pretty good for you know, is the volunteer role for you you get paid for this? Well, what's interesting is we met a project self-sufficiency A couple of years ago and you had told me that you have fun raised in the past Oh, it's always bragging myself No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, you were not being boastful And I remember saying to you, well, watch what I do if you want to get better Watch what I do and do the complete opposite and you're going to be great So with that I said, you know what? I would really be curious to know What you think of my work because you are someone that does this I am not someone Who wants someone to pump my tires that doesn't do me and that doesn't do smoke up my skirt is correct Somebody pumping your tires blowing smoke up your skirt that doesn't do me any good right I can't get any better with compliments. I can only get better If somebody says something constructively where they're like you might want to consider this I wasn't crazy about that or dude, you sincerely motivated me to double what I was going to invest in this cause Yeah, like I mean, that's the highest compliment right? Yeah, the high I mean, I've been fortunate One of the nicest things somebody can say is after the event is over. I was not planning on donating tonight And you forced me to raise my paddle or somebody will say I was only planning on donating 500 And the way you were talking up there, I did a thousand thanks for cleaning me out Now they say it in a very nice way sure and but they do say it that way, but I take that as a compliment 100% Yeah, I mean what you don't want to do is like the first event that I ever did Octopus octopus octopus We might or may not take that. I was a rookie podcast. I was moved right there I remember the first event that I ever did and it was an unmitigated disaster I was prepared for it, but I was kind of lost up there and it's circled me Said again circled me like you had restarted yourself. Is this a new thing? Or this is 25 years ago. No, I'm talking about in the fundraising business. Yeah, yeah, so this is later in life Oh, yeah, I started as a fundraiser when I was oh got 47. Okay, and I'm 57 now. Okay, so 10 years I'll have fabulous don't I you like started a rebrand or you really cared about the local kind of community stuff and Well, not really I don't give a shit about non-profit. You just want to give your skills. I just want to get some Get used your skills. That's what I've noticed. Yeah. Well, you're Jewish right? Right. Oh, well done Well done I probably shouldn't you know be offended by that However, clearly you're not Jewish because all Jewish comedians are the best and because you are not Jewish That's why you're not funny. I think I'm funny. Well, you're not Jewish. I mean, we're the we're the best comedians out there Jewish, right? Woody Allen and Neil Simon and Mel Brooks and Jerry Seinfeld, right? We own The comedy world as well as I've been literally right So how how I got into this was a friend of mine When I was the when I was the main television sports anchor at Fox 31 That was many many years ago Reggie Rivers who I give a lot of credit to for me doing what I do Reggie played ball for the Broncos. He was a professional football player And he was the weekend guy at Channel 4. Okay, so he and I got to know each other a little bit So when I eventually transitioned into radio I called Reggie and I was gonna ask him to be a guest on the show And I said what are you doing these days and Reggie is the type of guy where everything he touches turns to gold He's very good at what he does. He's very smart And I cannot say enough good things about him with that. I said what are you doing these days? And he said well, I uh, I'm a benefit auctioneer And I said like what do you mean like one of them fast talkers? Yeah, and he goes well, I'm not a I'm not a fast talker But that's what I do and and you and I were talking outside earlier So I'm gonna piggyback on something I said to you. Yeah, when I say to somebody Please let me know if there's something I can do for you. I mean it legitimately I love to help people mentor people At the end of the day when you die When you talk about somebody's soul It's what you do for people It's how you help people that your name lives on and I don't do it for that reason But if I can do something Even a small thing to help make somebody's life better That's a win for me. I don't want anything in return I'm just happy that I could contribute to your happiness. I'm gonna I'm gonna investigate for a potential comparable peak moment um One year. I'm guessing it was probably in the 2017 18 range at the Matthews house annual benefit I was asked to be the paddle raise auctioneer You know, and so it was whatever 100 all the way up to 10,000 or something. We had a couple of plants at the higher levels and stuff Which is a secret you may or may not share. I'm sure you do. I'll share whatever you want but But ultimately the the outcomes of this thing like I was Shouting and the energy was so high and I think we were like you are right now We were like 30% probably octopus octopus. We need to cut that out. I don't think so But we were like 30% above expectations from that paddle raise yeah And the the flow state kind of thing when you're when you can tell that the It's not my energy really. It's the energy of the crowd kind of flowing through the whole crowd That's getting these people that we're gonna raise it for 250 right there up there at 500 and a bunch of the people that we're gonna do it for 500 Or at a thousand, you know, and it's just Vibing the room right. I have to think you've got more than a couple of examples or memories of that kind of thing Of doing a paddle raise? Yeah, or just more than you expect it whatever whether it's a paddle raise or an auction or I God, or do you just have these high expectations and you're always I Critical I Take this really to do everything in my life that I do All I care about is reaching my potential every day. That's what I care about most I don't want to compare myself to somebody else. It's like playing golf. Yeah, I'm playing against myself and I prep as hard as I can that comes from my background in media as well Doing live television doing live sports rate with sports talk radio now doing a podcast The last thing I want to be is unprepared. So you're researching these non-profit organizations Equipping yourself with stories. There's no question at the end of the day I don't want to walk up there and listen mistakes happen Live television happens live radio happens standing up in front of five six hundred people that shit Happens, but don't let it happen because you were not prepared That's on you, bro That's on you So if you take any pride in what you do Be as prepared as you can be set yourself up to win and if something happens You're never going to look back and say I should have done this. I could have done this So I am radically organized Narodically prepared I just and but the other thing is this These nonprofits work six months all year On their biggest fundraising event of the year and what I say to them all the time is this We are running a relay race together You started it you handed the baton to this person you handed the baton to this person There was a lot of work that get got went into it right. Yeah You are handing that baton to me last and you are expecting me to not only sprint across that finish line But to beat the people I'm against right be the people that I'm against metaphorically Buy a lot. Yeah, I am not going to be that guy who drops the baton for you I'm going to be that guy that make sure that I am prepared to crush it. I love Crushing events. I love it when somebody says to me who is hiring me Um, I'm not so sure that they really can afford you Right or that we might want to have a board member do this So I'm a guy who I like to have little challenges within myself So when somebody hires me and they know and I know They fought the board they fought the executive director not to hire me necessarily. Yeah, yeah, but to hire someone. Yeah My job is to make them look great I want people I swear to God I want people after that event to walk up to the person who hired me and say Man you really found somebody great job and more importantly we should have listened to you That's what I want to hear. I want to hear an apology From people who doubted the person hiring. Yeah, so that's how that that's one of my focuses I want to make sure that I make that person look great. There's a big responsibility to that So if I'm asked to raise X number of dollars 300,000 in a powder raise whatever it is I better make sure if they put in the work that I execute it And I'm going to execute it in a way where I'm going to reach my potential. If I make a mistake, I make a mistake Do you get Like data on past years events and things like that. That's all part of your investigative thing You're like mean data on their events, but they're past events like as you're as you're getting ready to be your first time As somebody's like hired gun Uh, because I assume they pay you right so they're hoping you they make at least 20 grand more so that you can get paid your X number that you get paid. I'll put it to you this way I the first when I have a I want to have a discovery call with somebody somebody wants to Yeah, interview me to be their fundraiser for the night The first question I asked them is Why aren't you bringing back the person you had last year? Yeah, good idea Why not why aren't you bringing back the person you had as it was Kurt bear and we didn't pay him and it wasn't that good Well, he didn't prepare I mean at the end of the day you would hope that somebody does this professionally right you should be better But but I think I would say a Northern Colorado I bet Half of your previous years People didn't get paid at all Maybe is that true. I mean I have no idea. I've never asked that question quite frankly. I don't care whether they were pros or What was you mentioned a board member, you know, and that's you know, Kurt This is the mistake that nonprofits make They think that when they bring somebody up there to do it and there are techniques and we I could spend I was a lot of psychology in there. You could be HD and right you would behave There's a lot of techniques To get money out of the room listen. I look at a live auction Any fuck can sell something in a live auction anybody can a trip to Mexico for five nights for six people Anybody can do that now now in all fairness professional people who do this for a living They will get more than somebody's never done it however you'll sell it six times instead of twice correct So that professional will get more money But the person who's never done this still will get money to right When it comes to a paddle raise How do you get money out of a room when people get nothing in return That's the trick. How do you do that and I've been doing this for over 10 years and I say this proudly I've never done an event where the paddle race has not outraged the live auction not one time A paddle race should I raise a live auction two to one three to one four to one you asked me about a proud moment I'll tell you a proud moment sure I was down in Dallas doing an event didn't have my license But they wanted to hire me to do the battle they wanted to hire the license kind of thing You don't have to be licensed in the state of Colorado. Okay, you have to be licensed in the state of Texas I do events all over the country. Yeah, I mean I just got back from an event man's in New Mexico for an orphanage Clearly you do not need to be License down there you just have to stay far enough away from the cartel to make sure you don't wind up in prison right? Okay, so with that um As far as the not just totally got lost in my truck. We can octopus this You were down in New Mexico in Mexico proper right and we where do you come from Ben We were licensing licensing Texas. Okay, so one of my proudest moments was this I didn't event down in Dallas not licensed to do a live auction Okay, but I can do the paddle raise because I'm not selling anything Okay, that's the difference. Oh, so being an auctioneer is a license-able thing if you're gonna sell some raising a thing and having people are Calling out numbers and having people raise a thing as an an auction. I'm not selling it. You're just selling good good feelings Right, I'm asking people to donate right so yeah, sell good karma. Right. So they brought in a guy like me But he was the guy who he was the guy with the cattle rattle Okay, I'm not a trip to Mexico here with a 395800. I'm not classically trained nor would I ever want to be classically trained But you do need to be classically trained with the cattle rattle to sell cars and cattle because you have to sell probably I don't know 100 cars in an hour you better be able to talk fast That is not a skill I have and that's not a skill that I want so when it comes to a Fundraising gala and I see somebody higher somebody who is classically trained with the cattle rattle I think that's a huge mistake right away right now because they're not good I want to share more information. Well, here's the thing and be slower When you do the cattle rattle you're talking at someone you're not talking to someone And that's a big difference. So this event in Dallas They had 12 live auction items which is way too many for a fundraising gala and we can we can get into that You know if you want to I did the paddle raise He did the live auction. Okay. I raised him And period he had 12 live auction items and I did a paddle raise and I outraged him which should tell you a paddle raise Should always out raise a live auction right even with a ton of good stuff Yes, even even if you have great stuff right it should always out raise it. So real real quick. I'll say this One reason why you should never hire a non-professional But just as importantly you should never hire a professional who doesn't value consulting Because that to me I think I'm good on Mike you've seen me in the past um The secret sauce that I have is consulting you have to set up the non-profit to win before you walk in the How many times have you been to an event curd and you're thinking look at your watch Look at your phone. When are the fuck am I gonna get out of here? This thing is taking forever how long is this registration line correct That stuff needs to be taken care of before the event or you that consultant or is yes, okay Yeah, that stuff's really important So your timeline needs to be tight your mission moment needs to crush it a mission moment As you know comes before you know a paddle raise often the founder Or a guest or someone well that's the client well the client's the right person the founders the wrong person And those are the mistakes that non-profits make especially when you don't have somebody who wants to consult And I would like to think as good as good as good a consultant. I once had founders good a spot though, right? A founder should never ever ever do the mission moment under any circumstances. No, but they have a spot in them in the Event pro absolutely. They're the face of the franchise. Right. That is about raising awareness And then your mission moment your mission moment needs to make people cry right the founders not gonna So the reason why I bring up the founder the executive director the development director whatever it is You want to have somebody Whose life has changed because of that nonprofit executive director can't tell you that story neither can the founder the The Matthews house event was just last weekend and they have four stories of clients and My chief of staff at local think tank lower in was there with a sit along with their husband and she afterwards He was like Kurt how many times did you cry? And I was like well, I Cryed proper twice and I teared up that's good the other two times then they crushed the mission moment totally. Yeah, and I bet the Whoever the fundraiser was probably did pretty well. Well, they didn't have a battle race Oh my god, yes, I'll tell you why that like they were like here's how you couldn't here's the card in the envelope Oh my god see that see that that is so foolish because The paddle race takes no work. It's free money You don't have to do anything you already have the people in the room And then you need the person up there to ask for it with the right technique and how to extract that I'm gonna tell you I thought that was like the event itself was one of the best Oh my god, and there's just it felt like they left At least a hundred thousand dollars on the table. Okay, you asked about stories. I have a wonderful story for you great story I didn't event this was a major nonprofit in Denver and I was referred to this event. So I'm sitting with the development director and she said to me We don't do a paddle race. We do bitter cards And put envelopes in the middle of the table Said I would really recommend doing a paddle race. You're gonna raise a lot more. She goes our crowd Has never done a paddle race and they they're not used to it. They're used to Donor envelopes even better you say I said here's Frankly because you get to sense that I have to look at her like she's out of her tree And she's the development director. I said listen. Here's the problem with donor envelopes Number one people get to donate privately and most people who donate privately will always donate less When you do it publicly you want people to see you're in it 10,000 You're in it 5,000. So even 500 You know, even for those littles She and I are having a little bit of a back and forth and it's not that I was digging in my heels But I'm just trying to convince her like I helped me help you please help me And finally she said to me And I said what you doing the um what you doing the pattern what you doing your donor envelope? Yeah, she goes 30,000 They have 300 people in the room that that with no that's awful. That is pathetic. That is an that is an embarrassing night 30,000 with 30 people that is an an absolute crap night So and I can explain that reason why too because there are metrics behind it So she and our kind of kind of going back and forth and she looks at me And I know I can swear on this podcast But I'm going to save you exactly what she said to me. Okay, and I am not paraphrasing. I'm not scared She looks at me and said find Eric when you fuck this whole thing up. This is all on fucking you I said and I looked at it and I said okay Okay, that's fine because I was referred to the event Night of the event she treats me like I'm a leper you know doesn't want to go anywhere near me They did 30,000 with their donor envelopes I did over a hundred You know what she said to me after the event nothing oh didn't approach me didn't say thank you Well, you know what and though her self-awareness was super strong because she Recognized that it might be a chance she was wrong Well, then how about you a man up or woman up and say it she should have But at least she didn't cock block you because she could have she could have used her capital or maybe she was overruled by the board probably What do you mean? I don't like to hire you like she could have she didn't hire me. Oh the board decided no The major donor of theirs. Oh said to the executive director. You are hiring Eric Goodman. Oh dang And sometimes major donors have that type of pull out dang And so the development director So how long did she stay as to build I have no idea I how long do would you guess I've no idea but I'll tell you what I told my friend who was the donor And when I say donor he he had donated in the past sure over half million major donor sure okay the number one probably for them Yeah, yeah, so I told him after the event. I said I will never do this nonprofit again And they're they're a big one in Denver. I said I cannot work with them I said the level of disrespect that they showed me after that event after I executed. Yeah, but I told them I was going to and they didn't even say thank you or goodbye Like come on. I'm gonna make a confession right now. Yeah, you're not a Catholic At all or anything Jewish. Yeah, you already took a shot at me for being Jewish. I'm going to prove it to you I like when I was like a couple of years old they took me in Well, they did that to me too, but I was maybe hard right away. No, they did right away because that's what we do in America Oh, okay anyway, so the I thought it was your penis reduction was a Catholic thing the confession No, I didn't need that The the the confession yeah if you will is Octopus I lost my train of thought it was right there on the tail of your Thing and the confession is in the accusation If that's the word. Oh, that's the confession now. I remember it was that You know hiring a professional fundraiser yeah for these nonprofits is mostly usually kind of A waste of money. It's not and Well, sometimes it is. Yeah, kind of like it's kind of like hiring a business coach And so right the first time that that theory of mine Maybe there's been other times, but the first time it was clearly proven false right and I was like oh shit. I was wrong Frankly, this is the compliment right the confession and the compliment was was with you I after I saw you actually perform and now I've seen you be up there two more times right at least two times So I think at least three right and it's like no I don't know what this guy gets paid But it's probably more than worth it like there's probably a three to one at least ROI to this organization because they just get a better job You know curt being like just give me a loose script and I'm ready to roll You know, it's really not the best possible outcome There's a lot of technique that's involved in a paddle race to get money out of the room And I'm not going to bore you with the details, but when I talk to nonprofits on a discovery call sure meaning I'm just meeting them for the first time on zoom and person. Yeah, whatever it is and I say this to them all the time When I'm about to say to you is going to sound like a sales pitch. Yeah, but it's not Because I truly believe this a sales pitch can be a little bit of bullshit mixed in That's what I'm saying. This is not a sales bitch. Yeah the Most important higher you have the most important decision you have. Yeah, is the person raising money for your fund razor Okay, that's the most important higher that you have And no somebody listen, we charge a flat fee our company charged a flat fee. Oh really no matter the size The organization doesn't matter. No, it's always going to be the same thing and I treat everybody the same I would never charge somebody percentage because truthfully I would take too much of their money and I would feel really guilty about it I could never imagine Never imagine doing a $300,000 paddle raise and collecting a $30,000 check That to me would be wrong It really really would but if you got a room with it's only got a hundred people, but it deserves To have a bigger crowd, but that's not really your strategy. You're not really well that that's well I wanted to ask about that. I wrote it. Listen if they have a hundred people in the room I'm not responsible for that you're responsible right right and so you don't get involved at all in who gets into the room No, but you want money in the room right right yeah Do you You've probably picked up some things adjacently like how how do good causes Get money in the room. Oh, how do you get money? Yeah, getting money in the room is actually quite simple. Okay, got Night of and in general It's outreach Your development director and your executive director need to be out there all the time like making sure everybody knows what you do Who you are When I was been in 20 hours a week eats out in the community when I was on television. It was said to me very early my career Eric whenever you walk out the front door You are working because you never know who knows you You are always working So I say to people in the nonprofit world when you walk out your front door You want to let everybody know what you do And how important your mission is yeah, and if you get them excited about your mission they might wind up in your crowd If you really want to get money in the room go to other fundraising events that's a target rich environment I'm not suggesting that you are watching that's what I was gonna say. I'm not suggesting that you're poaching This nonprofit for your own. You're just raising awareness. Yeah, that that's it. This is what I do Well, and some people that give to these nonprofits Maybe they're they say okay, this nonprofit the cause is good enough. I'm gonna give $10,000 you do it They could find 10 other nonprofits and give $10,000 a year to those as well, right wouldn't change their Listen financial trajectory. I think you know, I think that if you go to a fundraising event right and You're scoping out the 10,000 the $5,000 donors and you're making a b-line towards them Yeah, that's a little nefarious for me. Yeah, I'm just saying during in a cocktail. What do you do for a living? Oh, I happen to be an executive director for non-profit a I'm a development director for a nonprofit. Oh, tell me about what you do Yeah, at the end of the day, not in the community. Here's the thing. I mean the people if you're working in the nonprofit world I certainly hope and I'm sure you are and almost all are you're passionate about what you do You want people to know that your nonprofit is important. I'm not saying that you say to them. Hey Come on over here. Yeah, I just want to let you know Matthew's house is better than respite care Yeah, I'm our our our event is in charge. I'll sufficiently I heard some stuff about that God no our event is in two weeks and I'm gonna email you It has it this stuff has to come up organically Do you want to organically try the whizkel from seed and spirit distilling? Well, I know for you You're not trying it. You're drinking it again. I'm drinking it again and again, but organically you've never tasted it yet No, I can't allow it so um so this is from seed and spirit distilling our spirit sponsor By the way, that was one hell of a segway Oh, yeah, we we segway that was all the way that was tremendous And oh, yeah, that's great about the funner effect. Okay. I want to tell you about But that was really good you that was that segway was so smooth. I'm guessing this is just as smooth I enjoy a nice shot in a tin cup of of seed and spirit distillings whizkel whizkel is a combination of whiskey and mezcal and you can find it your local liquor store or your groucher's freezer. Yes. Okay, so I might get in my spot Well, don't you don't you don't you what cheers? Cheers. Yeah, I have a shalom sign up there right there Well, what is it with you in the Jewish thing Nothing really so because I feel like this is a sign felled episode you remind me a lot of a schickler fluoride like the the so the The music industry agent guy in Hollywood in 1969 I just listened to the dude from creed and clear water revival. Yeah talk about the industry is to John Fogarty Yeah, yeah on on Joe Rogan. It was a great podcast. Yeah, and so you just have kind of that character You're kind of the Hollywood agent Jewish guy persona like I am yes, and it's nothing to do with your Jewish Rightness per se and I hope I like to think I don't care honestly if you find them Jewish or not But you have like you're wearing the Business like high professionalism get it done Jewish guy Persona like a glove like it fits It's kind of way. Yeah. Yeah, is that a good thing or nothing for your role. Yeah. Oh, yes I'm perfect. I'm passionate. I'm intense hearing in actually intensely focused on being the best at getting What should be more generous people? Yeah to get even more engaged in advancing the Causes yeah, and overcoming the challenges to help everybody. Yeah, be successful in America right and we can do it beyond Like I'm a libertarian, right? We've talked about this. Yes. I think the government sucks at making people happier and wealthier Um, and if we can just open the generosity of regular real people And have them address the challenges of our communities without the government being involved at all No qualifications to let these people do it. I think we're all better. I'm gonna tell you something You're gonna find interesting. I hope I don't choose hope. I hope you like this. I'm sure you don't shoot it Listen if it has liquor and I'm sure I'm gonna like it That's actually quite smooth. It's the first of his kind very good. I'm gonna take some interesting Do you know this effect? There was a Harvard study By an economist. Okay, economist. Am I saying that right? Say it for me so I can say economist economist economist. There was a Harvard study done By an economist That says Those that raise their paddle no joke In a paddle raise at a non-profit fundraising event Makes you more attractive and wealthier Now you'd think I'd be joking when I say this But all you have to do is google it and you'll see it because it's called the halo effect So think about this for sure you actually look prettier if you're Well generous. Well, you become more attractive. Yeah, you become you become a more attractive person When somebody is generous, don't they become more attractive to you? Yeah, I mean that's part of I'm a I'm a Eight in our community even though I'm really a 6.5 but people think I'm a generous guy on a scale of 50 no in 10 Oh, just checking. Yeah, but in people's minds, I mean, but really was maybe I'm not a 6.5 Maybe a 5.5, but I don't know but think about that for 51 though. I'm doing okay. I mean I'm not bad I've cavities I've cavities older than you the beard covers a lot of my I have I have underwear older than you I don't want to hear how old you are Anyway, continue. No, I actually do not underwear, but cavities. Okay good. Okay with that But think about that for a second that with that halo effect. Yeah Don't you find somebody who's nice and kind and generous attractive 100% right and then by doing that people look you and say Wow, this person is attractive They have financial needs maybe maybe I want to do business with this person. Yeah, it makes you more attractive You're almost like you know, you know thinking about a tribalism kind of thing or whatever it you're you're more It's a sign especially for in the old days at least the women folk Right like now it's probably goes both ways right because there's so many divorces and split families and stuff and so for a female To raise a sign is either a signal of my husband Or me or to both of us a lot of times right like there's a lot of She's a doctor. I'm a Engineer right and therefore and we only have one kid and therefore we have a lot of means to give right Um I so like one of my I don't I'm not jealous of too many things. I feel like I'm pretty content but Like being like a house husband. Yeah And having that kind of Opportunity with is it's compelling to me dreadlocks is another thing that I wish you had I wish I could do I never will Okay, I mean, I don't have the You have more hair on your face than your head for sure But sadly you have more hair on your head than I've mine my head But a well done instead of drug locks on a guy whether he's like a African-American man or even like has some influence or you know Costa Rican or whatever Brazilians right that have the curly action like It's probably a pain in the ass, and it's probably smelly and my wife would be like Your hair stinks again. You need to wash those dreads. Well, listen, right But I still am jealous of that lifestyle of having that hair that you just but I want to get back to something Sorry, you just do jealous. You just devalued yourself calling yourself a house husband Because all you do with your companies help people But I'm not a house, but I'm just jealous of that lifestyle So freedom of it. You would want to be a house husband. Yeah, if like Oh, I could never do that Kim Kardashian wanted to No, not Kim Kardashian. Sorry somebody cool But I'm married and happily married and but you love what you do, right? I do love what I do Do you enjoy waking up in the morning saying I get to work today? Yes. Okay, so I love what I do So there's there's a deal and you're right honestly I don't actually want to be a house husband. No, you don't would you ever want to retire? Not really exactly and neither I want to be able to not have to make money Right for sure, right I that doesn't mean I want to retire I have been fortunate that in all the things that I've done I haven't worked a day in my life. Yeah, seriously. Yeah, I have a get to job not a go-to job I get to go to work every day. I don't got to go to work totally every single day Difficulting a career and a job. I am as lucky as it gets I work hard at what I do and as I said at the beginning of this conversation All I want to do is challenge my potential every day That I'm just fighting with myself not with anybody else. What everyone else is doing around me is noise I got to focus on what I'm doing We're gonna do two things here. Yeah You know that I've been you want another shot too? Well, you got to drive, right? I got to drive the loveland You're a big guy. I'm just leveling how many how many cops hang out on 25 from Four columns to love. Just hit the express lane paid a three dollars. I've been just kidding Um, don't do that. I'll give you another half shot I feel like you're a pretty big guy. You're like pushing right around 200 or something, right? But I have a I have an event tomorrow morning and off the staff and watch the apps games tonight Well, you can stay here in our parking lot for as long as you want I'm glad you want more of the whizkel. It was pretty smooth. Yeah. Oh, if you ice this it would even be smoother I could I could do like a shaker thing No, it's uh No, this this isn't you're not Tom Cruise and cocktail here. You do whatever you do. You know, it's nice. No, it's nice Yeah, no, it's a it's a yeah, new boost. Well, I think you said that you do your podcast for maybe a couple of hours Nor for this to wear off I think we're pulling on all nighter Okay, because I need to wear off all of this stuff sure so can we go about five hours? You can stay Maybe you can stay in this couch. It does look comfortable. I'm now I come. I'm about. I'm a little concerned about my pillow It's so as my as my wife from Scotland would say that's a wee bit small You've heard that before what's that it's a wee bit small right. She doesn't say that to me She she just she just calls me a wee shite I a wee shite. I'm going to pick a fire wee shite So we talked about the Oh, sorry, I already took my shot. We talked about the time machine That's gonna take you back. Yeah to like When you were a weed lad in Ireland No, that's Scotland. Oh, Scotland. Sorry. Um, they're all part of the British Empire. Yes, exactly. Welles So One of the things I bet Ben on is that you would in fact be open to trying my hot sauce the crazy ginger. No, you're not gonna do it Just period. Well, I know what it's gonna do to me, which is what which I'm gonna need to drink water Which is the worst thing to do you've got a whole big water there. We could pick a pause anytime We both know water and hot sauce makes it worse You got a gallon of milk with a with a small cocktail straw. I do not Um, I do have some red wine. I would love it more whiskey. I already know What I Whatever this tastes like I don't want it like to me This is really smooth. Yeah I bet you're gonna well what camera. We'll camp what's the name of it this again. So this is whizz kel And it is uh from seed and spirit just chilling and it's kind of and what's in it So it's basically the the base of a of a mezcal camp mixed and then stored in a barrel with the base of a whiskey So it's whiskey and what whiskey and mezcal. Okay hybrid. What camera should I look into that one probably I don't drink whiskey and mezcal very often, but when I do I drink Whizz kel So I'm only asking to get paid a quarter for that A quarter one what a quarter like 25 cents no not a quarter bag a quarter no a quarter 25 cents I'll give you a quarter bag. No, I don't need a quarter bag. I don't smoke weed right now. No, no, no Okay, I don't smoke weed. I used to but I don't anymore. Okay. No joke Um No, but if this goes viral, I would like that quarter to double to at least if it goes super viral Because you're gonna try this hot sauce. Oh my god. I feel like we are I feel like this is like a combination of Wayne's world and two guys who are stoned. It's like of The between two ferns Yeah, I'm big fan of like I I can't eat it. You can't do it. No, because I know it's gonna burn my mouth But will it burn your insides? We'll make you a better How hot is not that hot? I'm gonna give you like a drop and I here's my promise to you My guess is that you will want one more. I will if I give you a one drop chip one drop. Yep. A one drop chip I'm gonna take like a four drop chip. Is this hotter than a no, it's not an arrow It's oh Habanero is like the third ingredient in it. No, can't do it But it has I'm sound like a big pussy and I understand that one drop one There you two drops. It was a napkin Do you do this with everybody? Yes, it's kind of like a required thing because it's the local experience and you're Oh, I see getting a I find out. Okay, that's what I'm saying if everybody everybody does it if everybody so I mean We just this is the first full case of FDA approved the last five episodes have been with non-FDA approved Sorry everybody FDA approved like you got to do the label has to say Accurately and it has to be but it won't let me see you like it won't kill you It's crazy. Let me get this at Matador Mexican Grill. Let me let me look at the ingredients. Okay, peaches Bell pepper Vinegar ghost pepper Lime juice Habanero wasn't number three it was but it says ghost pepper But Habanero should be the third it is okay, you know what ghost pepper does to people right well, but that's not until number five No, they rank it It's order of volume. It's just like billboards top ten list order of volume. You know what you're not gonna do it No, if everybody else does it everybody does it pretty much and I think everybody does it so everybody does it This is my wager is I think You will say I'm glad I did it I think you will also say I don't want more just to be spiteful. I'm gonna say the opposite. What happens? Can I pour a little out? Yeah You What does it start to kick in No, it's it's not gonna it's not gonna sneak up on you Like if you had a lot of it is it's strong, but you you know what I did actually kind of like it No, I didn't soaked into the actually no actually here's the thing When I was chewing I tried with my tongue to surround it With other races to right I try Because I'm thinking if that stuff and listen, I'm sure This is excellent for those that law right hot sauce. You are a smart monkey So so like so I literally I made myself like a little Tostitos bar and then I didn't chew it. I just swallowed the whole thing What's the thing from Taco Bell where they like folded it to like a multi-fold-fold-fold-fold-fold thing right It's a look impressive right you just like That's why your wife really appreciates you was water the wrong idea. I don't think so no. I think you're gonna Are you happy now like you can taste it obviously I talk about with this or doing this podcast About doing the hot sauce because everybody else did it. I'm not a pussy. Okay. I will do it if everybody else doesn't But you overall you're not like I was actually better than I thought here's the thing here's the thing about hot sauce to me And I always get amused like when I'm with friends and they Try and get hotter wings and hotter wings and hotter wings and eventually hits a point where It's painful and there's no flavor to yeah For sure like to me and this is intended to be well short of that Yeah, you know what here you'll get a kick have you ever gotten the heck I mean everyone's gotten the hiccups Yes, I have a friend that gives hiccups every time he gets a little too much heat. Do you know how to get rid of it For me I pushed down on my butt diaphragm and really focus on that and I've coached a lot of people in that respect I'm gonna give you a better solution. Okay. I'll listen because I had an epidural recently for my back And or let me rephrase that I was I was hospitalized Because of my back I had I had what was it Um four pensionerves and two herniated discs. Okay, and they gave me I mean it was so bad when I was in the hospital. They gave me tortal Which is what the athletes take so you're feeling okay to go on the field they had to shoot me up with morphine That's how bad it was It was brutal. Is that because you're gonna do hard? No, you need to go touch grass take a hike stuff like that No, I I work out a play golf all that so okay. I've always had sciatica, but the reason why I'm bringing bringing this up is They gave me oxy Oh, and I'd never taken it before. I don't want to be on drugs. I don't I don't want pain killers and things like that Honestly, only in my choosing not by prescription exactly I mean here's the thing if we're being completely honest. I know this is very open podcast If you want to alleviate pain, smoke weed. It's just gonna take your mind off of it I had to smoke weed To alleviate the pain because the your mind is someplace else when you smoke weed and you're not thinking about the pain Oh, interesting because now you switched from weed to oxy. No, no, no, no, okay, but it was so excursiating That I took one now I Took one pill I still have the thing in my house. Oh, you can sell that the street value is pretty good exactly So I went down to local middle school and I'm a fucking bank Fuck yeah, so anyway, and that wasn't even that it's crazy because those little fuckers will paint more the hydro code I didn't make as much, but the oxy was awesome So anyway, so is that true just for listeners were octopus octopus octopus by the way octopus is the is the sign Cut cut cut cut cut. Let's read it. Yeah, yeah, but anyway Sometimes we just leave them in because it's part of the conversation not an actual octopus So when I left the hospital and turn of us are selling drugs to kids. No, no that you we know of of you So anyway, I believe you haven't not yet I mean, thanks. How beneficial do you think it could be How much money can I bet you could make a lot more buddy being a fundraising specialist for non-profit organizations Even with a flat fee, but I don't make any of that my I make well I'd make more money doing the other you think my my wife Sell and drugs to middle school. I think you'd get busted before you actually became successful if my wife sees this and she probably will She's gonna say don't ever have a beer with crazy ginger hot sauce and mezzacal it changes the way it's big right Anyway, so I took the oxy Okay, and I got uncontrollable hiccups And so you're like my friend nette. Well, no, oh the oxy gave you hiccups not the hot sauce. The oxy gave me hiccups So the doctor said if you get hiccups Because of this is what you need to do. Okay You could buy this a target you could buy this a king supers wherever it is a concoction of Of ginger. It's like a shot. Oh, yeah with cayenne. Oh, sure and you shoot that and stops at me really Oh, I make ginger shots regularly in the winter time and it's what it's rid of long-lasting colds or similar right and it's Two lemons there's a recipe for you. I'll feature it two lemons maybe a whole Bulb or a half a bowl of fresh garlic. Right. Maybe a whole Like clove of ginger. Got And then some cayenne pepper a significant amount. Yeah, and then Some liquid. I'd like to use coconut water but regular water is fine and you blend it all up And if you've been sick for three weeks and you just can't shake this cold or whatever bullshit drink that Drink that in like three days. We're good. Really. Yeah, you know what I do I spent a few bucks on it, but it's worth it to me Get somebody come to the house in the big old ivy Well, that works too, but yeah, but old school like yes, this is like Mexican voodoo shit from my neighbor who I'm not a racist, but right, you know that she's from a Hispanic family and it's kind of like There there's a whole heritage. I'm learning of like Mexican naturopaths, right? Like they didn't all have They didn't all have this western medicine like we have, you know, they're like hey put some Ginger and some honey and some red bell pepper and put it in a bandage on your knee if your knee is sore It hasn't been recovering. They just do that right there are plenty of home remedies for a lot of different things And fortunately with chats ebt or whatever else you can find those instantaneously now And some of the rebels shut. Well, here's the thing. This is what I've I've always wondered Before penicillin was discovered How in the world did you get rid of a bacterial infection? Right You were done mostly anti-inflammatory things right to squeeze out right to empower your body to Fight it back, right. I mean, yeah, we've weakened ourselves by these antibacterials well, so I think sometimes with drugs They but it's pharmaceutical companies. Sure. They want to get you hooked, right? It's like the tobacco companies. Oh, it's not addictive with concussions the NFL Playing playing football. It doesn't cause concussions. Why would menace and want to solve cancer Like one right third of their revenues are from treating cancer, right? I don't know Don't you think how do these fucking people sleep at night? Well, they don't know They're invested in treating it's because the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is. No, but when you know something I'm talking about the NFL They knew That CTE is connected to playing football when you are an offensive lineman And you're defensive line and you're banging your heads all the you and you're denying it So you can make more money. How do these people seriously? Sleep at night and you know what going back to the fundraising thing then coming back That's why I don't charge a percentage Because I don't feel good about taking that type of money I won't be able to sleep at night collecting a big check if we have a big night. I don't understand how people can sleep at night Do you get no one centers? It's flat fee. Yes. No one's on whether you crush it or not. Oh, if I crush it It's the same flat fee. Uh-huh. I'll give you something else that you get a kick out of Yeah, here's the dirty little secret Okay, in the fundraising world and you've been to a lot of events, right? I have yeah, you know you hundreds You know, you have those trips to Mexico and they sell them like five times, right? Yeah, yeah. I would say 95% And it's a guess maybe it's 90 but I can promise you it's over 90 Consignment companies you could go buy that. No, I'm serious. Consignment companies give a percentage fee To the auctioneer depending on what they sell. So if it is a 10% commission Let's say it's consigned to 2000 and you sell it for 4000 but you sell it five times You get 10% of the original price 2000 times five you make a thousand I don't accept that And I don't accept it because they are already paying me But here is the line of demarcation once I accept That particular percentage, I just had somebody call me the other day saying they want to give me 15% Let me go to sandbag and everything else so that you make more on the thing, right? No, but yes like theoretically theoretically You're absolutely right, but here's the other thing when you know you are making a profit off Consignment you will recommend to consignment more and honestly the things that raise the most money are the things that you procure on your own So with that when I do work with a consignment company and the woman I work with is a dear friend of mine You know what I do? I donate back to the nonprofit. So for the sake of argument The they're very aware of conflict of interest totally. I got to be able to sleep at night. So the The percentage is 10% so for the sake of argument if it's insigned at 2000 now their consignment price is 1800 How do you not work that way? Seriously, that's just that that's just the way that I am wired. I am far from perfect I'm a lot of things I can be abrasive for sure But I'm conscious I have integrity and you know what you know this as well as anybody Your reputation is everything and once you ruin it once you dip your toe across that line You might as well just dive across and be done with it This episode is sponsored by logo think tank logo think tank provides superior collaboration for business owners We build smart safe places to help business leaders navigate every stage with the business journey And we love what we do and who we do it with our model features gift back minded business veterans And the role of logo facilitators and we're always looking for abundance minded individuals to add to our membership Facilitator team Local community or to feature on this podcast listeners of this podcast who go on to become members of logo think tank Get their sixth month of membership for free. Just mention the logo experience podcast on your application To learn more visit our website at logo think tank.com. That's l-o-c-o think tank.com And we're back. I have four things and we've got like 45 minutes before Ben has to go the the four things are I've got a segment called purpose driven questions yeah sponsored by our podcast sponsor purpose driven wealth management formerly, so when I left When I quit the restaurant idea got a food truck got local think tank on the side I became a thriving financial representative and I got no Clinton jazz person And Clint has become probably the most successful thriving financial person like north of Denver and south of Minneapolis Kind of thing right and so he's a sponsor of a show and runs a great team And we have some purpose driven questions. We also have a time machine. Yeah, we're gonna go back to like five-year-old You know mr. Goodman. Well, I was born in the 60s So yeah, I'll far back you planning we're gonna do like a Like a one story per decade. Okay, time machine trip and then we're gonna do You started asking about local think tank. Yeah, like my real job And I was like, let's just save it for the podcast. Okay, so we're gonna do a flyover of that. Yep And then the final segment. Well, I'll give you one more But the final segment is the local experience the craziest story that you're willing to share with our listeners Okay, your whole lifetime. Oh geez Yeah Right 20 if I knew you're asking this question I would have narrowed it down on my head. Well, was it my email if you had read the email? I did Okay, a while back It was a while ago. We looked this Thank you to purpose driven wealth of thriving for sponsoring our purpose driven question segment At purpose driven wealth they believe financial clarity leads to a life of contentment and purpose Their mission is to help guide clients using a values driven stewardship based approach focused on provision contentment and enjoyment With more than a century of experience thrive and helps individuals and families navigate life and business transitions And prepare for the future while creating space to live generously and give back the meaningful ways To learn more about purpose driven wealth. Please call 970 330 7411 for a complimentary initial consultation And now onto the questions. I want to try that last sentence better. Yep To learn more about purpose driven wealth. Please call 970 330 7411 for a complimentary initial consultation And now onto the purpose driven questions. So let's get started with okay The purpose driven question. Okay, I have a list right here. Wow. Yes, and I'm going to because Because like we've talked about faith a tiny bit. Mm-hmm. You obviously have a very strong internal Brahmeter about what's right? What's wrong? What's just what's not So what's but but you're also not necessarily Like a god Guy and so what is the source then of your internal compass like what is the Like is there a guidebook for if you don't know if God is don't think God is really Do you not think God is real or do you think he's probably not you're kind of I don't know so I'm just gonna have my own source of an internal compass Like while if we're talking about religion in general well not necessarily I think it's really simple But you have a strong ethic about because some people think that they're doing the right thing and you or me would look at what they're doing Be like dude, that's what the moral compass is on right. So what's the source of your moral compass? Do the right thing. It's really simple. Just do the right thing And all you're trying to do is help people that's it You want to do good for other people and do the right thing for yourself. So it's a little bit golden rule ish I guess and Which is Jesus though, so you know you just need to be able to yeah, well Jesus was Jewish So right you need to be able to sleep at night. I sleep really well at night. Yeah, I don't doubt it knowing that I've done the right thing every day I will sacrifice money all day for my integrity All day, I don't care what you offer me I will say here. I'll give you an example. I Somebody saw me an event And they said to me will pay you whatever you want To do our event You know my answer was this is my flat feet. This is what I'm going to do it for He goes, but that's much lower than we'd pay you. So that's fine with me This is what I charge. Yeah, it's it. Okay. It's it's that simple I don't want it to I don't want anyone to feel that I'm taking advantage of them It's not always the money will always your flat feet public like I said public yeah like what is your flat feet? 6,000 6,500 event. It's really yeah, okay. I'm not the highest. I'm not the lowest. Yeah, but I know what yeah But I know what I bring to the table. Yeah, yeah, and as I say to people all the time I'm available to 24 seven and I mean that sincerely And when I say that how many hours of investment Not to like because I have no doubt honestly. I already told you. I think like 20 40 50,000 more I would say is what I've seen you do Then what they would have otherwise done. So it's whatever three to Seven X or something. Yeah, it's not always about the money It's about This is what this is what I feel comfortable charging Okay, yeah, I'm not the highest. I'm not the lowest But I I've said to every single client I've ever worked with every nonprofit you can call me any hour I will always pick I will always pick up the phone. I had somebody call me Text me excuse me at 11 o'clock at night. Yeah, I was in bed half asleep I heard the dang. I looked at it. It was a rencio for a non-profit that I do in Manzanio For an orphanage and I texted them back and I said I I can talk now, but I'm half asleep. Would you like to talk now? Or can we talk tomorrow? But if you need me now, I will walk out of this bed right now I'm always available if it's important to you. It's important to me And so it's probably a 10 to 20-hour commitment on each engagement maybe some mesh Right, but you're also on call and I put no, I put myself on call right right I know what really on yeah, you are really on call But I voluntarily do this because there are a lot of business people who will not answer the phone After six p.m. Yeah, after seven p.m If it if you need something of course, I'm going to be there for you It's important to you and people don't take advantage of that I haven't had anybody ever take advantage of that I offer it because I mean it sincerely you have to work six seven eight months on an event You need something and here for you dig it time machine We should We're going to wow that was that it's the same sound every time it's that the sound effect It's kind of like What is anyway we won't talk about there there's like an old Show from like it's like McIver style. I'm always where I could move himself through time. Yeah, you remember that one I'm there are shows like that. Yeah, yeah, there's a popular one anyway Five years old eight years old like what's your situation in life? Good look I'm curious where you came from. Oh, I grew up in Chicago. Okay, uh, my parents Um Their moral fiber is my moral fiber. Okay. Do the right thing work as hard as you can Maximize your potential never lie and always be accountable. That's what I said to my kids And what were they doing? They weren't doing anything, but I've made no your parents. I mean, oh like what was the lifestyle you grew up in? We were comfortable. We didn't have a ton of extras, but that was okay with me and that's kind of how I Business people my mother was a therapist and my father was the vice president of my mother's father my grandfather Okay textile industry. Oh, interesting. So he worked in that particular my father was up at 5 30 every morning Worker demonstrated exactly that's just kind of how I grew up. How about siblings my sister. She is a six-time politician older younger older She's about three years older than me. Okay, so the greatest and successful politician very okay very in Chicago land No, she is she was because she left she left She was one of the most powerful women in the state of Minnesota. Oh, it's because and I'm so proud of her Can you tag her Lisa Goodman? Hi Lisa Goodman. I hope you listen to this conversation. I am I've always been proud of my sister for what she has done You know when you talk about politicians. What is their number one job? To represent the people that know no, it's to get reelected. Right. Absolutely. That's their number one job My sister's I believe My sister's sole integrity cannot be bought I'm the same exact way. Yeah, so that's a big problem right like the main priority is to get reelected And you'll sell your soul to get it correct. I don't I don't believe she would yeah, and she was there Been plenty of newspaper articles about her my sister is tough. She has integrity. She is honest She's not always well liked and she is okay with that And you know what I'm the same exact way she has been criticized in the media and that's fine with me But my proudest moment of her Was during the George Floyd situation. Okay, okay, and she was right there in me. Oh yeah, she she is a liberal Democrat she left Politics because the ultra ultra ultra ultra left painted her as a conservative which was fucking bullshit Okay, and she is not and she's the furthest thing from that She questions black lives matter momentarily. Well, I don't something. I the time you couldn't even question Whatever they said was cold. Well, I'm not the road. I'm going down with it. Yeah, we don't want to give the politics You said no, no, this is a political thing so When the George Floyd thing happened it was all about defund the police Right, and I think they were like 14 council people And she was like one of the three or four who said that is stupid. Oh And I said good for you Because it is stupid and she is a liberal Democrat and she said that is not the right thing to do And while I've always been proud of her that to me Was the moment when you do the right thing when you do the right thing even though it would be easier Correct to go with everybody else. Yeah, to swim to swim downstream because it's easy upstream when everybody else Right, so to me that that was and that was at the end of her tenure too, right? So I thought good for you Think that because quite frankly if she went the other way she'd still be my sister I'd love her very much, but I would disagree. She would have been wrong No, what did you think about your Uh career and especially since you were like a Big media guy. I was still a media guy. Yeah, I mean, there was a time right like there was a remodeled media guy I mean, there was a time when I spent 20 years, you know, again, I was a fox 31 the main sports anchor there And then before that I was a main television sports anchor in Chicago. You guys are a pair of high performance kids We're okay And so I mean what a blessing that I grew up in Chicago and I got to do I did the pre and post game shows on television For the cubs the white socks the bulls the black hawks and I was their main anchor So what a thrill to be doing shows on the field or ugly field yeah where I used to sit in the bleachers with friends Iconic right it was awesome and then I was their main anchor as well But like you watch altitude and how old are you this time 57 no in those days. Oh Um, I was when I got to Chicago was 30 okay, and before that anchor and CNN So I when they had a sports department okay, it was a big time sports department So I got to Atlanta when I was 27 okay, and then I eventually went to Chicago So for my family it was a big deal, you know, Eric's anchoring on national television They were able to watch so and so forth, but then when I got to Chicago There it was it was so humbling and so Stinking cool where the Chicago sometimes and the tribune are doing write-ups about me coming back home and oh my god that was so Cool, I want to talk about like When that was first time folding like was this like when you were 15 great question I will tell you this one first third of all it that's a great question. I can tell you two stories I am a By nature a fuck you guy. I can't do it. Okay. All I will do is look at you and say okay That's exactly our react. Okay, all right, which is we'll see Let's talk about this in five years How did I get into television? We had a television station believed you're not in my high school It was on cable and we had a class and Our final project was to put together a show about whatever it was and Let's say there were 15 kids in the class and Every person who produced the show which was the project Could ask anybody they wanted to to host the show hmm And I wasn't asked And I really wanted to do good and I was so hurt And really upset and all I thought to myself was Fuck all of you One day you mother fuckers are gonna be watching me That was my motivation You will all be watching you don't want me now fine In 10 years you're all gonna be watching me while all of you are doing something else Not even in the business and guess what I did this happened when I was 17 when I was in high school. Yeah, I started college when I was 17 10 years later. I landed at CNN 10 years later now you now you're watching me and then I went to Chicago My hometown And you were like mr superstar. No, no, no, no, no, I didn't look at myself that way Well, but that but that to me was a person a little bit though at the time No, no, I never looked at myself as anything great. I just to me it was the motivation You told me I couldn't do it. You didn't think I was good enough One day you will see that I am because you didn't think I was back then That was that was my motivation, but once I got to Chicago That fuck you ended completely because I accomplished what I wanted you're driven by the giveback now What's up? You're driven by the giveback now. Yeah, like you want to bless others in some way and whatever and You still got this chip on your shoulder somehow you can't maintain that to want to Kickass the best you can well at the role In TV I Intellivation I had a chip on my shoulder, but once I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish that vanished Because I accomplished what I wanted to what you think of me now. I don't care. Yeah, but it was I was gonna show you Now I did well what you told me but you still have this Perspective where you want to be the best you you can be best. I can be right competitive matter to other not competitive with somebody else But but the truth is when I get hired by a nonprofit to do an event I do want to know what they did the year before right you better believe it Because I want to crush what you did. I want to crush your record It's not a knock on who you are as a person what I what I think to myself is the consulting that I do How I handle myself on Mike the techniques that I have oh you better believe I want to crush what you did Because that's my internal motivation. It's not a personal thing When we're talking about the thing in high school that was personal to me. Yeah, this is not personal I think I would like to have another three hour podcast with you next time and do some more exploration Um, I wanted to take the time to share because you were curious and I think it was genuine Yeah, what the local think tank I guess And you know what I want to know Because and I said this to you when I first got here before we went on this. Yeah, I mean this one I say this all the time if I have the ability this is the this is the line. I'm gonna give you Tell me what I can do to help There may be some things and here's the thing when we we got cut off on the store I don't know how we veered off of but that's cool. I was telling you how I got involved as a fundraiser. Yeah Yes, let's go back there. So but but this is going to be tethered to what we are talking about now When I say to somebody Hey, if there's anything I could do let me know, but I mean it. I'm a follow-through guy. I'm a connector Yeah, just like you guys just like you are So when I said to Reggie yes, when he was telling me he was a benefit auctioneer. Yeah, I said to him Hey, listen, that sounds fun. If there's anything I can do just let me know And you know what he said to me paused and he goes I think you'd be good at this Let's say this was a Tuesday. He goes. Let's get together on Thursday And that's how I started in this career because I said the line if there's anything I can do yeah to help you out Just let me know. Yeah, Reggie now has a booming very successful fundraising business. He does he does And I'm so happy for him I was one of his I was a second hire you were a disciple of sorts. There's no question. He mentioned me. Yeah Now he and I I learned a lot from him a lot of his techniques. I still use but I might but I have other stuff he teaches is wrong No, no, but I have my own techniques that I have developed over time as well But I am sitting here because you and I met through a fundraising event Because I said the line if there's anything you need from me. I'm gonna help please let me know. Yeah So with your what you do the local think tank Tell me about it and tell me if if I have the ability from that perspective what can I do to help you? Well, I think that the start of it is how can I help? I was a banker Mm-hmm worked with a lot of business owners. Yep And I saw that a lot of them um, we're lonely You know like your executive directors sometimes the development directors do better. So if you're lonely That means so wait you're trying to connect to your pimp. Well pimp. Yeah, sorry. It's a selective pimp So anyway long story short is When I decided to leave banking to try to start a locally sourced international fusion everybody welcome restaurant Yeah, I wanted to actually be around other people that were actually running businesses. Yeah And so I started local think tank really as a way to help me be around these people that were more experienced Actually running businesses and I would bring to the sauce my banking 15 years of experience Yeah, and that was kind of the ask of your needs share of your buttons Everybody shares what they're really good at You know, that's part of this podcast. Yeah, you're like the best at non-profit fundraising up met And so I want to come and share some more. I'm only about you. I think you told me I was the first person you ever met. So thanks for the kind of the first good one But you know people coming and sharing with each other some of what makes Them able to be successful. Yeah, and then just people rub off at each other So in its core local think tank is a peer advisory organization our members meet a half day once a month and I Find high achieving business veterans that would like to not be totally retired and just golf all the time and travel But also shepherd a group of up to 12 members Into growing their business Whether it's through developing their sales team or their relationship with their frontline or yeah Their customers or whatever their big challenges are we trying to address some kind of head on You know, I just kind of take turns being at the the microphone So it's like a board meeting means a support group right and our members kind of get that encouragement to be Not everybody's as self-motivated as you are to be kind of the best Version of their self. Yeah a little bit of positive peer pressure for a lot of people can really make a significant benefit well What you do is cool and as I said you outside during our break For me to be a part of Because as you know, I live 90 minutes from here right getting together in person would be a little difficult Yeah, but with that but you can come and tell a bunch of people how to do sales better. Oh, I already think about psychology Listen when I when I owned a radio show I handled all the sales for 15 years. Sure with no sales experience. I never took a business class and I was terrible at math I just kind of learned on my own How to do it So to me being a part of something like that honestly, I don't need to benefit for me Be cool if I did But that's not the motivation if I can make if I can help other people and share any knowledge that I have That is rewarding enough if something comes back and well, I know somebody not profit. I can refer you to their event That'd be awesome, but that's not my motivation. Yeah my motivation is somebody need something Give me call Give me call. I'm more than happy now. I'll give you all the time you need We have that heart. Yeah, same thing. So I'll consider you a friend We we're friends for a while we have the local experience. Yeah, is the the craziest story that you're willing to share Yeah in this uh in this forum. Oh, geez Oh, and first can we talk? You're you're you said you are married. Yeah, and you want to talk about that? My wife. Yeah, it's amazing. You have kids two and two girls. Yeah, you want my one daughter my biological daughter Mia. She's 17 So Mia my other daughter through my wife Mandy She is um she's 19 getting ready to turn 20 um Bless to be girl dad my wife This is these were the vows my wife and I said to each other at our wedding. Okay We don't need to be with each other. Yeah, we want to And that's the type of marriage you want to be in I can honestly tell you that there is nothing she's a double negative There is nothing that I don't respect about her. Yeah, she is a phenomenal We're so fine. I've said that to people like I've mentored a lot of you a minute stuff And I'm like what you really want is you you want a woman it doesn't need you but does want you She is one of the vice versa. She is one of the most she is one of the foremost change leaders For major corporations. Oh well in the country She when she worked at HP when HP had the Samsung acquisition. Yeah, she led it. She was in South Korea She's a big banger when HP became HPE she led that transition So I've so much respect for her as a professional But as a person she's amazing She is just Amazing how long together for you to we've been together for eight years. Well, and I mean, I don't need to get into the details Um, but I will to to to to a small step So when my wife and I met Madison was living with Mandy that's her daughter. Yeah, and then Mia with me She lived in our vata. I lived in Centennial 45 minutes from each other. Okay, yeah We both agreed that we did not want to pull one of our daughters out of their school system Okay, we sacrificed our own marriage For the benefit of our girls plus our exposes were in the area as well And we don't want to move our daughters. Yeah, one of them away from their father or mother So we stayed where we were at We were together For we've been together going on eight years now We just started living together last August Oh, well because of our girls Yeah, so we went through over seven years Not being in the same house and it was difficult I was gonna say do the girls know each other. Oh, yeah. Oh, absolutely They get along really well. Yeah, but we wanted to make sure because Mia's graduating rap oh She's getting ready to go to Kansas and so Mandy moved in to now our place Um, back in August so we've been living in the same house for less than a year. So your south side then Yeah, so right there like see for 70 just for what it's worth. I'm way I way rather be in our father Well, I'd rather be where I'm at. I'm glad I'm glad that worked out She is also a competitive horse rider. She owns three horses. So that is her major passion. Cool. She competes She is from Scotland So she has the whole accent thing going. Oh cool. Which to me. I don't hear the accent anymore. Yeah, but it's kind of cool I suppose I'm from Scotland. How cool is that in my past guests is the The harvest when King Charles is at his Gotland place. Yes. She plays harp for right anyway. I digress. It's okay So you're more famous than her probably. Yeah, so you might be I'm not famous. I'm you know what I am I'm just some dude. I mean, I'm being I'm not being modest I am just some Jewish kid from the New Jersey cargo. That's all I am. I am nothing And I mean that sincerely. No, I hardly how so thank you. How somebody wants to view me. That is their prerogative How I view myself is yeah, I am just some kid I'm some smart-ass kid from the North Shore Chicago who Is accountable? Doesn't lie and wants to maximize their potential to prove himself a little bit. No, I don't have to prove myself anymore No, well, no, I'm not proven but as I told you about the whole thing in high school. Yeah, that was a fuck That was a fuck you thing, but I was 30 when that happened 27 years later being 57. I don't feel have to prove anything. Yeah, because I've reinvented myself So many different times, you know Headspace is awesome that I want to maximize my own potential. Yeah until I'm Done. Yeah, and I don't want to retire. I mean, I refer to the fundraising business as my retirement business Why would I want to stop doing it? It's too stinking fun Why would I want to stop doing it? And then all my years immediate 35 years now that I've this podcast and I own that podcast as well Sure, we haven't even talked about that. That's okay. And that that's totally fun. Why don't I want to stop doing that? Yeah, I don't work. Don't disagree. I mean, I work, but I don't work as my last time I've been camping though I should camp all the time. I know, but but Mandy doesn't like to camp Not yet, but she has the last time I close to it the last time I camped with my daughter And that was probably about seven eight years ago and we were in a pouring range. It was bad It was like I'm on soon and we had to we had to get out of there Get that out of there and we drove home probably about an hour and then the next day we drove back to collect all of our stuff It was that bad It's a good last time and I have done plenty of camping plenty of hiking when I still in Atlanta So the Appalachian Trail goes into Georgia And I remember going with friends of mine and is this your local experience by the way Meaning what because that's the crazy experience that we're gonna have to No, I could I could tell you a million stories Seriously, I wish I had time to think of one great. I want to top five Craziest experience that you have one I can't tell One I can't tell on this show, but I'll tell you off the show. It's got cartels and stuff No, it has nothing to do with that. Okay. Oh gosh crazy. Crazy story local experience. That's the Here's the funny thing. I have stories for everything and being on the spot here doing something like Spiring maybe you have something like that. I'll tell you a cool story. Okay. Take a cool story. I'm ready So At least it was for me So when I was working in Topeka, Kansas on television. I was the weekend sports anchor. Okay, if you remember back And I think it was a 92 93 It was the massive floods in Kansas Massive floods interesting. Okay, so I've been a sportscaster for over 35 years. Yeah, so I was out at That was close to when the Kansas City the Royals and the Cardinals were playing in the play that was 85. Oh, that was that That was 85 shit. That was one of my earliest sports memories. This is 90 fuckers rolled up on Vince Coleman broke his ankle that bullshit This is I digress now. This is I mean, I just thought of a story, but I could promise you this not even top 10 But to me, this was cool. Okay, so of all the things that I've done in the media The one of the coolest things I've ever done was in news. Okay, so it was the major flood. So I Can't remember might have been the missive river coming through major. I mean When I when I continue the story, you'll know what I'm talking about So Fort Riley is in Kansas, but it was west of Topeka, but there was a military base near Topeka So I was filming it in a shooting video. Okay, and I was out there with another sports guy Ken Dudsick And there was we were not doing sports at that time because of the floods. Sure So all assets reconfigured to flood coverage. So Bob Dull was there. Okay, former senator. Yeah, we have count And a congressman from Kansas and they were getting ready to go up into in a black Hawk helicopter to survey the damage And we asked could we go up with you okay with a camera to survey it When we got up there it was a horizon line of water and all you saw down were pitched roofs Just peeking out So to be able to go up in a black Hawk helicopter With Bob Dull, right guy branch president Um, and a congressman and it was just four of us To me At that time being 23 years old That was unbelievable and I can promise you that might not even be a top 20 story I could tell you But it just happened to pop into my head But that was a really cool experience and if all the sports things covering super balls and world series and NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals The rider cup by the way is the greatest greatest event you could ever go How many How many famous people Yeah, like publicly famous people have you been Within two feet of like you were talking to them in some past oh my god. I mean thousands Anytime you walk into a locker room. I mean, right, you know looking at my every other team Yeah, I mean looking my career. I covered Peyton Manning Joe Montana and Jim Kelly right so I was Clearly near them. I'll tell you a funny story about Peyton Manning So he and I were just talking in the locker room Do you remember it? I hope you do because if you don't then the story isn't it's gonna be as good Do you remember on saturday night live when they did the whole Peyton Manning thing when you throw in the ball at kids? Yes a little bit so I was telling him that one of my kids thought that was hilarious Which is he and I talking to the locker room and with Peyton Manning you don't get a really any one-on-one time Because he's always on the podium But I wanted to tell him how funny one of my kids thought it was And he said to me Eric Because he was with the cults at the time. Yeah, he said you would not believe what happened on Monday morning The cult switchboard lit up And people were saying Peyton Manning is he really like this? Is he really an asshole? Is he is he really doing this to other kids? Clearly they didn't realize who saturday night fucking live. It's a parody But the cults organization was taken hits from people who thought that was actually real So they responded such a fashion probably then they said they're like you gotta make a public apology No, he didn't do that. Oh, that's good. But it was a smooth. It's like dude. I was that alive. I mean what kind of knucklehead What kind of knucklehead are you that you believe on saturday night live? They're doing a smooth and Peyton Manning the United Way But he told me the the switchboard completely lit up. Yes And so again, that's not a top 50 story. I told you that because he knew you would understand because you understand the industry You've been around it. No, I he told me this because I told him One of my kids thought it was hilarious I just said hey, pay me want to let you know one of my kids thought that thing was hilarious on the United Way I showed him now remember oh dude. You don't even want to know right because remember my my kids are You know 17 19 whatever it is that was done well years before no Broncos. Yeah, I mean they they were yeah It was done years before so the whole point of that is They never saw it live The two girls never saw it live for right, but they saw it on YouTube. Oh you always could have went viral Well, yeah, but this was this was years and years later. I showed it to them on YouTube. Okay, because it was so funny So it happened years prior they didn't see it on saturday night live, but you saw him right after it happened I saw it when it actually aired on saturday night live, but he was with the cults So it was viral first and then came back around so it happened when he was with the cults I wasn't covering the cults at the time He became the quarterback of the Broncos sure at the time Saw him in the locker room and he and I walked up to him to say I show this to one of my kids on YouTube And they thought it was hilarious And then he told me the story about the cults switchboard lighting up like a Christmas tree after the tibal miracle That was that was probably One of the craziest I was doing sports talk radio. Yeah, which was the perfect thing. This was the thing about tibal It was so divided Either tim tibal is a great quarterback or you hate Christians There's one to you hate Christians. You don't like tim tibal because he's Christian That's why I was I was more like He can run and he got super lucky He wasn't a great quarter a couple of times. Listen. Oh, he's terrible. Right. Yeah, he couldn't he was missing people by so much Right past him, but if you look at here You know how many you say you're familiar. I know. Yeah, that was kind of that was kind of the mentality Being Jewish I do not know the New Testament But I do know when athletes put under their eyes and the with the black you know the song whatever 316 yeah, how many yards did Tim Timo throw four in that game About 60 more than that last past about 316 yards on the button. Okay, they're it's like those It's like the Lincoln Kennedy debates if you look at the numbers. They almost make you believe in God When you saw that should stack up Well, that's a hole. That's a whole different Do I believe there is a spirit out there? Do I have faith? I always get from the NFL like I set it up to be 16 yards It was so interesting that there are a lot of parallels Right just like the Lincoln Kennedy debate Lincoln out of secretary named Johnson and Kennedy had a secretary named Johnson and you know Lincoln died in Ford's theater and Kennedy died in the Ford and at one point in his life Lincoln was in Monroe, Maryland and Kennedy was in Maryland, Monroe I only wish we could talk about AI yeah and the Iran conflict That's not today's episode Not today's episode you and I can have plenty of those conversations on the phone It's been my pleasure My pleasure and enjoy I'm sorry that you have to share the crazy ginger but no let Mandy yes, your wife let it taste to she definitely doesn't see what you think ah she's a red head trust me She goes out she goes out in the sun without like you know Lead blankets. She will burn right okay, and she doesn't like the opposite She's not doing that potatoes and sour kind of person. Yeah, yeah Well, God bless you and I hope that we can have you back here again. I would love it. All right. All right. Godspeed Erica. Thank you