Ep. 2 - Seek: As a disciple, invest time with God. As a leader, seek God when making decisions.

On this episode, we discuss the importance of daily quiet times and making sound decisions with speaker and author of the best-seller Managing Brand You Ira Blumenthal and his son, Fortune 100 beverage industry senior executive Eric Blumenthal.

Questions and lessons explored in this episode: 

• Where do you find wisdom? Why is wisdom crucial in leadership? 
• Tell us about your daily quiet times. Why is this the most important time of the day? 
• When did you last seek God’s direction? What happened? 
• What happened when you did not seek God’s direction? 
• How do you currently make decisions? How can you begin to use the DBDAE decision-making framework to help you make sound decisions? 
• How will these discipleship and leadership principles help you and others transform the workplace through pursuing Christ? 

Discipled Leader is a show that provides struggling, stuck, or merely surviving Christian Business leaders with a framework to grow their influence through becoming a redemptive (i.e., change for the better), Christlike presence in the workplace, and living a more fulfilling personal and professional life. www.prestonpoore.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:05

Hi, I'm Preston Poore and welcome to the Disciple Leader Podcast. Along with my young, professional co-hosts and adult children, Caroline and Ben, and a special guest, we'll explore a life-changing framework designed to help struggling, stuck, or merely surviving Christian business leaders grow their influence by becoming a redemptive, Christ-like presence in the workplace and living a more fulfilling life. Buckle up and get ready to be transformed. Hi, everybody, it's Preston Poore and welcome to the Disciple Leader Podcast. I'm excited you're here, and I'm joined by my co-hosts, my adult children, Caroline and Ben. Just pumped for today's conversation. Before we get going, though, I just want to set up the chapter like I do in every episode. And so today we're going to talk with a couple special guests, and I'm really excited about them being here. We're going to gain their insights on Disciple Leader's first chapter, Seek, and discuss how to apply your faith in the workplace. Now, Caroline's going to facilitate today's discussion, and then be sure to stick around for Benton's hot seat, where we'll get to know our guests through a series of rapid-fire, humorous questions. Now, each chapter in the Disciple Leader has a dual principle, one on discipleship and another on leadership. And the principle for this chapter is simply this it says, as a disciple, invest time with God. As a leader, seek God when making decisions. And the summary that I wrote for book, this book is really simple. It says this, you cannot grow as a disciple unless you spend time with God. And you will not be effective as a leader unless you allow God to speak into your leadership decisions. The anchor scripture for this chapter, I want to go through this real quick, and this is from 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 16 and 17. It's out of the Amplified Bible. So it's a little bit longer, but I think it really brings this to life. And it says this it says, every scripture is God breathed, given by his inspiration, and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for connection, or I'm sorry, for correction of error, for discipline and obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action, so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. So today we're going to talk about wisdom and decision making. Now I have the honor today of introducing our amazing guest today. Our first guest loves quotes. And after reading his impressive bio, this sums it up. The true measure of a man is how many lives he can jam into one lifetime. Our guest has certainly jammed many lives into his productive, successful life, from college football and lacrosse coach to business executive, from consultant to talk show host, from university professor to public speaker, and from author to philanthropist and more. And that's that's a lot of lives in there. And our second guest is a senior vice president, one of the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage companies, and led the relationship with Chick fil A, among other roles, during his 15-year career. He played basketball at Washington College and has a wonderful family, including his wife, Britney, sons Caden and Bennett, and twin daughters, Anderson and Evelyn. Please help me welcome the father and son duo and my friends, Ira and Eric Blumenthal. Great to be here. Great to be. Thanks for being here. All right. Hey, Carol, I'm going to hand it over to you and let's get rolling.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Awesome. So very glad to be able to interview you both. Uh, two super superhumans, basically, uh setting all those lives into one. Um, also sounds like it takes a lot of wisdom in walking your daily lives as you've chosen to take different paths in all of your different careers, Ira, and uh, you know, in developing your own, Eric. So I'll start by posing the question to both of you. Maybe we'll start with Eric, but how and where do you seek wisdom? What are your resources you draw on?

SPEAKER_08 4:02

No, great, great question. I think um, you know, for me, it first probably starts with the recognition I don't have the answers. And so, you know, one of the things I loved about chapter one, Preston, is for me, I start with going to God, right? And so that that I find that um if I'm a little out of whack or I'm moving too quickly and I'm missing that important step, uh, there's an issue there. So so for sure, that's that's number one. I think second though, is uh I find a lot of wisdom in others. You know, I'm blessed to have great parents, one of which on the call today, uh, two brothers, best friends, mentors, and coaches, um, part of a few spiritual leadership groups. And so, you know, I try to be super intentional about who I surround myself with uh and who I'm doing life with, right? And so I think that's that's the second piece. And then I'd be remiss to not mention my wife, Brittany. She's got uh great wisdom and accountability, my accountability partner. But I do think it's important that for me, probably the person that knows me best in this world is is on that list. And she is incredibly wise and helps me through a lot. So that's probably how I'd answer that question, Caroline.

SPEAKER_00 5:11

Yeah, that's awesome. So filled with a lot of humility, uh, your answer was. And then I love the point on accountability too, you know, uh surrounding yourself with people that are also wise and seeking wisdom from God. That's so good. I love that you have that in your marriage. Um, so what about you, Ira? Where do you seek wisdom?

SPEAKER_01 5:33

Well, I I just reiterate everything every Eric said. Let's move on to the next question. You know, um, you know, in in the intro, you talked about, excuse me, I'm sorry. You talked about uh my love for quotations. Um great quotation, Mark Twain. When you're through learning, you're through. Um I've always been a firm believer that we were deceived when we were young. Someone told us success is in the hands of the learned, L-E-A-R-N-E-D. Not true. Not true. Success is in the hands of the learning L E A R N I N G. It's a continuous process. So in answering your question, um, I would say the first place I've I've always gone to try to seek wisdom would be folks I I love, folks uh you know, folks I admire and respect. Because I know that, you know, they they they receive my respect, they receive my admiration because of being smart and and being savvy. By the same token, I've worked diligently, probably more recently than in in my past, to listen more and to look more. I think if your eyes are open wide and your ears are open and and your heart is open, then you'll you'll find wisdom. I would also say as well, obviously the scriptures and the word of Jesus Christ. And and and that's not something that that I pursued in my um quest for wisdom up until a few years ago. Never really looked at um God, the scriptures, as a really as a place to give me the the answers. You know, it always was a place for me to go and and ask for help.

SPEAKER_07 7:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:18

So I would say, probably in that order, uh those I love, those I admire, those I respect, uh keep your eyes open, keep your ears open, and and obviously go to the scripture. There's one other thing that I would add, and I'm sure that Eric will probably love to chime in on this. I can't tell you how much I've learned from my 10 grandchildren. I can't tell you how much I've learned, okay, from a four-year-old or a seven-year-old, you know, and it's amazing. There's no baggage, you know, there's no rails, uh, there's no reservation, and they're bone-honest about everything. Face to point the other day, uh, I didn't realize over the weekend when I was babysitting for Eric's kids, I was wearing this t-shirt. You know, a buddy of mine, Alice Cooper, is a friend of mine. I was wearing an Alice Cooper rock shirt. It scares the seven-year-old, by the way. Well, a few days later, young Camden, one of my grandkids, they won the regional championship in Disney Dean, Disney Dean basketball uh baseball rather. Now, I didn't realize that I was wearing the same shirt. Now, I do want you to know that my bride washed that shirt.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Very clean. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

The first thing he said on the on the uh the conference call we were on the Zoom, he goes, Grandpa, Grandpa, you know, uh, you know, Papa, don't you change your shirt? So, you know, but I guess the wisdom, and it's in the Bible too, that they shall, we we shall follow them. The wisdom of my children and my grandchildren certainly are where I seek my knowledge.

SPEAKER_00 8:45

Yeah, that's so good. And he was keeping you accountable, you know, for that shower, for that laundry.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 8:50

At seven years old. You got one built in already, an accountability buddy. That's awesome. Um, so that's good. I love the story of how honest he is with you, even at a young age. I hope that continues for your relationship. Um, you've both talked a little bit about taking a step back, uh, realizing that you need to look outward um or that you need to uh gain some perspective and go back to the Bible. So uh can you just talk to me a little bit about what your kind of introspective time looks like when you're in the Word or you're seeking wisdom or you're journaling? What is that on a day-to-day uh basis for you?

SPEAKER_08 9:30

Yeah, no, I'll uh I'll start. And and Carolyn, you know, this is something for me that um it's it's a work in progress. And candidly, like I I'm at the point now where I'm starting to kind of plus it up and add some things in to to really enhance it. But I'll be honest, for a while it was really, you know, I'm sure like most of us are my calendar drives everything, right? And so for me, it was really getting it in the routine of this is how I'm gonna start my day, right? And and so for me, I think the big as I think about my quiet time, the big takeaway that I'd like to share with with you all and and and our listeners is is get it calendar, get it in a in the point where it's you're doing it every day, right? And so for me, I used to be so hard on myself about man, I I'm not memorizing this verse, or I'm not maybe taking it enough away from my time and getting discouraged there versus giving myself the grace to say, you know what, like I'm doing it every day. And then what happens is once you build that habit, you start it's your it's your relationship, right? And it's your routine versus, you know, I think it's great. I love Preston, how you laid out so foundationally like the different things you can be doing, those steps. Um, try those, make it your own, right? What I've found recently is is for for me, writing is really important. And so as I have my quiet time and I'm looking at different scripture, what comes to mind sometimes it's just a word, right? Um, the other thing that I'll mention, I actually have it right here. So this is actually, I didn't know you'd asked this, but this is a a journal that I have that really it has all the it has basically five years every single day, right? So January 1, 2020, 21. So, and I'm just writing little things that come to mind. And when I I'm starting, I'm about two years in, and man, I love looking back and seeing, wow, last year on this day, that's what I was stressed about. Look, look at how little that was, right? So um, I think writing to me has been really huge, but you know, I just I think the biggest, you know, advice I would say is just make just make it happen, get in the routine, and then it will it'll be amazing to see how that prospers for you.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Yeah, so an appointment with God, basically, you know, before you get going on all your other searches.

SPEAKER_08 11:44

I'm not embarrassed to say I had it it pop up on my phone 15 minutes before quiet time for a while. Man, I just got to calendar it, you know, and then it then I don't have to anymore. But that that's what that's that was what it was for me.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Yeah, it's a very real application. I love it. Um, it's a great takeaway. I also love that you talk about writing because in our day and age, we're typing so often, we're looking at screens, you know, we're um talking over the phone right now, and that's what we do from eight to five and beyond. So I find value in being in the business environment and being electronic so often that when I get with pen and paper, um, that's really where I feel disconnected from the world and I can kind of zone in on my prayer life. So that's awesome that we share in that. Um, Ira, you mentioned leaning on the word of God more recently in the last couple of years. What kind of made you realize that that was a primary source or the source for truth and kind of wisdom in your life?

SPEAKER_01 12:41

Well, I think it all starts with confusion first. You know, um I I before I jump into that question, I want to respond to something that I heard Eric say. And you know, I I think that you know, you you uh you you love to close, I'm sure, with what you learned. I've already learned about you know making a point with God. I think that was pretty profound. You know, I I heard something today and I shared it with Eric earlier, um, a business colleague of mine who uh has a consulting practice and he's closed down his office because everything is online. And I said, Well, don't you miss your office? And he said, Today your business is where you are. Well, I I just wanted to respond and then I'll jump into your question. Um I I think religion and church synagogue is where you are. I pray as aggressively in the car as I do in my bed before I go to sleep, you know, and and as aggressively as I would if I was in a chapel. And I I think it it it's it it's everywhere, you know, in terms of that. So in answer in answer to your question, um uh you have on this podcast today one of the most blessed human beings on the planet, maybe the solar system. Maybe the solar system. And a number of years ago, I looked at my my life and I looked at my upbringing, my parents, my relatives, I looked at my my wife of wives, I looked at an incredible, an incredible array of not just gifted and talented children like one on the phone right now, but good people, good solid citizens. And I looked at my grandchildren and I looked at my career and I looked at some of the things that I was blessed to accomplish. And I had a very, very rude awakening. I knew these were gifts, but I didn't know who to thank. I had no relationship. And you know, it's kind of like you go to your front door and there's a beautiful present beautifully wrapped on your front step, but there's no card. So I went on a I went on a journey trying to find out where it came from and overthought it, overthought it, read all the books, you know, hired a guru, went to Jews for Jesus class, okay, went, read the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Executive Summary of the Koran and the Book of Mormon. You name it, I tried it. And the more I thought about it and the more I sought, this is a chapter on Sikh, I was getting no place. And until a very dear friend, a minister buddy of mine once said, You're you're spending all your time focusing on your head. You're not spending any time focusing on your heart. And uh I um was blessed a number of years ago to uh to find the answers and and and and also define where those gifts came from. So I know that was kind of a long-winded response to your question, but uh you know, so it's uh but you know, nobody says you have to find the answers and find God at 10 years old, at 40 years old, or in my case, 31 years old. Uh that was a lie, by the way. Uh so I hope that yesterday. I hope that answered your question. It was it felt good to me.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

No, I think that's incredible. Like, praise God for your story and just uh the effort you put in, even in finding the truth, you know. Um people take a lot of things at uh first glance. And I think it's incredible the knowledge you've gotten about all of the things you learned, you know. You mentioned the Quran, even you mentioned the Book of Mormon, and now your faith is strength strengthened by understanding um what you do and don't believe in, you know. So that's incredible. Um you also mentioned the fact that you pray aggressively in at church or at church and then also in the car and um in your bedroom. And I think that's also an incredible thing to share just with the audience, that uh the Holy Spirit is moving, right? So when we seek God's word and we're in it daily, um, he's pricked our hearts, you know, he's used his word to invade our days. And so I love that he's reminding you where you are uh to call on him and to talk to him and to build that relationship.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

So yeah, but that was an interesting point though. And I'll be very, you know, truth be told, I spend a lot more time in my car than I do in church. And I spend a lot more time in my bed than I do in church. And since COVID, I've spent my church time, you know, Sunday morning with a bagel and a cup of coffee watching my pastor and watching my church service online.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

But you know, God is everywhere. You know, you know, God doesn't stop at the parking lot at church. I mean, God is everywhere. And I think that to me, prayer is more important when it's everywhere. Everywhere, every time, every place.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

Yeah, so good. Um, so talking with God, having that conversation everywhere all the time. Uh that's really awesome. So um what I love about this chapter is that it is so honest. It gives an example of a time um when my dad, you know, didn't make the best decision. Um, and then he had to seek God's guidance into a subsequent decision and um get his way kind of out of that situation. So is there a time uh that you can remember in your own lives just where you might have heard God's voice and you went a different direction? Or can you share of a time that you did hear God's voice and you chose that path and um and it was peaceful? I just like to hear from your experiences.

SPEAKER_08 18:07

Yeah, I'll defer to the sun. Yeah, I knew you would do that. Um, I love the story of Hunter in this story uh in this chapter. It really resonated with me. I have a very similar story um that you know, thankfully it didn't work out in the way that like I pursued it. But there was a situation for me uh earlier in my career that uh there was an opportunity that was presented to me that um on paper, right? Like when I think of ego and like you know, money, title, all those things, it made a lot of sense. Um every time that I would pray about it, I was it was pretty clear like it was not the right thing, but I would quiet that pretty quickly, right? And I went after it pretty hard and I still pursued it. Um and thankfully it didn't work out because as I look back, it was actually the time Britney and I just had our first son, and uh this would have caught it, would have been a ton of travel. It actually was, you know, it wasn't the right manager. There was just a lot of dynamics that weren't right, but I never I couldn't get, you know, I just didn't allow myself the time to really listen. Um, and I think back on that all the time. There's been situations since that have presented themselves, and I always really get to this spot of like the the the um really the check-in for me is is this God's plan or is this like what is exciting about this? Right. And I try to really pull myself back into that that moment of like, hey, if I would have gotten that job, what would have looked different about my life? I think my career would have been a lot different spot, but more importantly, my my family would have been in a much different spot. I would have missed out on a lot of moments, a lot of firsts. Um and I'm just so grateful for what didn't happen. And uh I think I got a real chance, and and so I won't let that occur again. And so I've been really thoughtful about that um and other opportunities that have come up because I just want to make sure it's it's really in line with with what's important to me. Um, this this also reminds me of um, you know, Hemingway's book, The Sun Also Rises. There's this incredible exchange between two friends. Uh, I believe they're sitting in a bar. One of the friends was pretty wealthy and lost everything. And the one friend asked, says, like, how did your bank like how did you get here? And very profoundly uh the response was gradually, then suddenly. And so I find when I'm not checking in and I'm not in alignment with what I need to be in align with and checking in with God, what what happens to me is I'll I'll end up getting into a season or a situation that feels very sudden. Um, but when I peel back, there's gradual steps and decisions that I had made to get there. And and typically those gradual steps and decisions would either ignore or not checking in. And so that comes to my mind as I as I as I thought about this, but I love the the the real story about Hunter because it was very real in my my kind of situation too. I just didn't end up getting the job, thankfully.

SPEAKER_00 21:18

So yeah. Well, I think your quote from that book is uh phenomenal. And it kind of ties back to the discipled leader and saying that the unexamined decision isn't worth making. Um, flip side of that is that the examined decision is worth making. And what you spoke to a little bit um was kind of your priorities, was your family. You had to realize what was really going to matter 10 years down the road. So um this chapter does outline a decision making framework, you know, defining your situation, kind of um imagining future outcomes. Can you just speak a little bit about how you kind of define or you use a framework in your own uh daily decision making?

SPEAKER_08 22:00

Yeah, do you want me to go or you want to go first, that you know, you want to just build on me?

SPEAKER_01 22:06

I'm I'm uh I'm real thrilled and proud of your answers, Eric. I I I'm saying that on on air where it's you know it can be uh, you know, I'm I'm not crazy about your beard, but I'd love your answers.

SPEAKER_08 22:18

Yeah, love it. No, so listen, I love the framework that was was called out. I think for me, I try to make decisions from a place of I'm pretty analytical, right? So there's an analytical component to me. Um I'm highly collaborative. Um, and so I typically try to get input and connect with people and try to make sure that that there's uh ownership and and get the best thinking. Um, and also really empathetic, right? So I try to think about what's going to occur across the value chain of people that this decision is going to impact. What I love about the framework though, that I really don't do a great job in is really that final E, right? Like, figure, like, let's take a peek at what happened because we make so many decisions as leaders, uh, as people, right? We miss that after action review. So that examine the results piece. And I love the kind of twist on the Socrates quote. And you you just mentioned it, Caroline. The unexamined decision isn't worth making. Um, it just speaks to me because I can do a better job of, hey, that was a good decision. Going back and taking a peek, like, okay, why was that a good decision? Right. And and trying to make sure I'm learning from that and getting better. So the the framework was great, but I love the final E, the examin piece that I think we just get so um mired in the next thing that, hey, it was a good decision at work, or even if it's a bad decision, we definitely don't want to go back to a known up to a failure, right? So um, really, really good.

SPEAKER_00 23:53

That's awesome. Um, I appreciate that last piece of the framework as well, uh, especially when it comes to experimentation at work, you know, when you're dreaming up projects for the future, next quarter, whatever that may be with customers, I think it's really important to understand what you did and then piece together what worked with new ideas to move forward. So um extremely applicable in the work setting as well. Um, Ira, in all of your time leading others, how would you say you teach people to make decisions? How do you help them through a decision-making framework?

SPEAKER_01 24:28

Um great question. Before I do, I do have to make one statement. I've been wanting to, I've been wanting to read this one line from Preston from your book. Preston, I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay? I don't like the way you treat me. You're condescending. Okay, now I'll move on. That that story is such a great sort of story. You know, but you know, it's interesting. Um, and I'm gonna answer your question, I promise. I'll go around the block, I'm sure. But you know what you what that line talked about early on in the book is about the difference between brand identity and brand image. Brand identity is what we believe we stand for, what we work to stand for, what we convince the world sees us as. Brand image is how they see us. And it's real interesting, you know, uh in leadership, you know, we go along thinking I'm charismatic, you know, I'm empathetic, I'm sympathetic, I'm I'm wise, until all of a sudden someone turns around and either gives us a mirror or they tell us what they really think. And oh, by the way, they know it may not necessarily be right. So you asked the question about leadership, and and I'm gonna go back to an old classmate of mine in high school. You may have heard of him, his name is Socrates. I think I was older than him. I was a sophomore, he was a freshman. But do you know what the uh Carolina, do you know what the Socratic method is?

SPEAKER_00 25:53

Sadly, I do not.

SPEAKER_01 25:54

Okay, so this is I'm into I'm interviewing the podcaster, right? So switching the role. There are no rules. Socrates never lectured, he only questioned. He only questioned. And by questioning, he got himself to the education that he needed. I have found, and and you know, uh I've made a lot of mistakes and don't do them all right, but I have found that in the most successful areas as a leader, asking questions will normally get those you want to lead to come your way. And let me give you a very, very simple example. Simple example. We'll talk about baseball, since got a bunch of grandkids that are playing baseball. Okay, I remember years ago when I was coaching youth baseball, and whether you're a baseball fan or not, if there's a runner at first base, right, and there's a ground ball hit to the shortstop, the logical play is to throw the runner out at second base. We call that getting the lead runner. Okay. Well, invariably, if you coach youth baseball, there'll be a runner at first base, a ground ball will be hit to the shortstop, and he'll throw the ball to first base. Now, he may get the out, but it's the wrong play. Now, in the world of little league coaching, if you've been around little league coaching as long as I have, the coaches will scream, What are you doing, Johnny? I told you a million times. You know, all right?

SPEAKER_00 27:14

Really heated. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 27:15

Really heated. But I just read this article about Socrates. This is years and years ago. And it talked about Socrates led by asking questions. And I won't use the name Clayton Schmidt, because I don't want to incriminate my shortstop. But my shortstop, ground ball hit to my shortstop, runner at first, threw the runner out at first base. Wrong. Now, as a coach, how do I lead? How do I teach? How do I hopefully inspire? So I use Socrates and I turned to my shortstop and I asked the question, Clay, if you had a chance to do that play again, what would you do next time? And he said, Coach, I'd throw the runner out of second base. So I guess my my my answer to your question is I believe by asking questions, asking questions, we can take whoever we want to lead and move, you know, is this the right thing to do? Or are there alternatives for this strategy? Or what went wrong or what went right? So I I think my answer to your question, did I get the prizes? Is that a winning answer, by the way?

SPEAKER_00 28:15

Ding ding ding, 100 points for Ira. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_08 28:18

You're starting to see what dinner was like for me growing up.

SPEAKER_00 28:23

So fun. And you're learning lots about Socrates at a young age, I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 28:27

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yes. Well, you know, you you do have to have to know that Eric and his brothers, um, they number my stories. You know, I'll start telling a story or use a parable or something, and they'll, okay, here comes number 17 again.

SPEAKER_00 28:40

That's incredible. You guys, you guys are gonna have to write a book someday of all the all the principles.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

Yeah, we both have a lot of free time.

SPEAKER_00 28:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

You realize son Eric had two little, two little boys and decided they were gonna have a third child. And I called them up after the visit to the doctor, the you know, to find out about the baby. And my daughter-in-law, beautiful, beautiful, wonderful Britney, said, Oh, the babies are doing fine. I said, the what? She said, Dad, the babies. I said, the what? Oh, yeah, we're having twins. So Eric doesn't do anything small. He went from two to four. And by the way, if you want to really enjoy yourself, real experience, go to Eric's house at 5 p.m. and you will reenact Katrina. Not great.

SPEAKER_00 29:25

Massive storm. Oh, I'm sure it's totally peaceful. Eric has it all together.

SPEAKER_01 29:29

Yeah, that's why Eric is so happy to be on this call.

SPEAKER_00 29:33

That's awesome. Um, well, I've so enjoyed this uh this conversation. Um, how do you really think these principles, the things we've talked about today, the framework, uh, make an impact in your workplace um through your pursuit of Christ?

SPEAKER_08 29:50

Liz, I yeah, I'll jump in. I think um I think the decision making framework that I mentioned, especially, especially that last E is huge for me. I think it is a it's an unlock to get better, right? Um, I think decision making is so key uh in in all of our lives, right? Like we're all one decision away from a completely different life. I think that's something my dad said a lot to me. Um and so that E is really, really important, taking a look back. So that's one thing I just wanted to reiterate that. You know, also too, I think about um there's a lot of very practical principles, you know, as as Preston laid out, you know, quiet time and some some techniques there. But you know, I love the statement that was highlighted. Um, uh God isn't not in need of more people who know the Bible, He desires followers who apply what the Bible says to their everyday lives. And and that was highlighted in this chapter. And it goes back to what we talked about earlier about that quiet time and that that connecting. Um it's amazing how much more it's despite what's going on in my life, how much more calm and confident I am when I have that routine and I have that that connection. And so um again, just really, really good reinforcement for me about the importance of that routine and that time uh with him.

SPEAKER_03 31:15

Do you feel like one person in your personal life and another in professional life? Are you driven by your faith and yet you feel like that you can't bring it to your workplace? Does this disconnect make you feel like that you're not honoring God and everything that he's called you to do? Do you feel like that you're merely surviving day-to-day at work without purpose or meaning? Do you want to grow your influence and positively shape your work environment, but you're not sure how? Hi, I'm Preston Poor, author of Disciple Leader, inspiration from a Fortune 500 executive for transforming your workplace by pursuing Christ. You know, honestly, it took me a long time to figure out that it's not about changing your leadership style. Well, learning to be a better leader certainly is necessary, and many excellent books have been written to that end. Changing your style will not change who you are. Listen to this. Who you are needs to change before what you do changes. Becoming who you're meant to be as a Christian leader does not begin with focusing on leadership. Your calling toward better leadership is a calling toward deeper discipleship. My new book, Disciple Leader, provides struggling, stagnant, or merely surviving Christian business leaders with a framework to grow their influence through becoming a redemptive, Christ-like presence in the workplace and living a more fulfilling, personal, professional life. Through the book's 10 Dual Discipleship and Leadership Principles, Stories and Application, you'll experience personal and professional transformation. For example, you'll change from struggling to live out your faith in the workplace to being empowered to positively shape your environment. You'll move from a stagnant, stale, dormant faith to one that's growing, active, and fulfilling. You'll shift from merely surviving day to day to thriving and living a life of purpose and meaning. If you're struggling to live out your faith in the workplace, worry that you're missing the opportunity to make a positive difference, or fear that you're living an unfulfilled life, it all stops here. Visit my website, PrestonPore.com, and order your copy of Disciple Leader Today and begin to experience personal and professional transformation.

SPEAKER_04 33:15

Okay, so Eric and I are we're getting here towards the end of the show. Um we have now a little segment that I like to call the hot seat. It's where we ask a few fun and easy questions just for ourselves and the listeners to get to know you a little bit better. Uh so are you guys ready? Let's do it. Sure.

SPEAKER_05 33:31

All right, let's go. Eric, texting or calling?

SPEAKER_06 33:34

Texting.

SPEAKER_05 33:35

Ira, what's your favorite day of the week? Friday. Eric, what's your favorite city in the U.S. besides the one you live in right now?

SPEAKER_06 33:48

Scottsdale, Arizona.

SPEAKER_05 33:50

All right. Ira, what was the nickname that your parents used to call you?

SPEAKER_01 33:56

I think it was dummy, but actually. No, it was as crazy as it may sound. I was nicknamed Butch. Don't I don't can't tell you how or why, but you know. I haven't been called that for 73 years, so we don't need to make a trend.

SPEAKER_04 34:11

I love it.

SPEAKER_05 34:12

All right, Eric, what was this the last song you listened to?

SPEAKER_06 34:19

Oh man.

SPEAKER_08 34:20

Um, listen, this is not great, but we ready. It was my son's walk-up song, and we were like blaring it on the way to baseball practice. That's not a great one, but it's true. That's actually true.

SPEAKER_04 34:29

No, that's great. That's great. Got a little hype in the world.

SPEAKER_08 34:32

Yeah, exactly. That's what it was.

SPEAKER_04 34:34

All right. Ira, would you rather be able to speak every language in the world, or would you rather be able to speak to animals?

SPEAKER_01 34:42

I would rather be able to speak to animals.

SPEAKER_04 34:45

That's a question I have to ask why.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

Well, first of all, they're they're more rational than people. I've been around this planet for seven decades. You know, I I don't the more I can I just came back from Wyoming where I I fed a bison. I I I walked I watched a grizzly bear. I saw elk. They have a sense of humanity that unfortunately we don't have. So yeah, it's animals clearly. Forget about other languages.

SPEAKER_04 35:12

Okay, I love that. Eric, what's your favorite holiday?

SPEAKER_05 35:14

Christmas. Ira, how long does it take you to get ready?

SPEAKER_02 35:20

35 minutes.

SPEAKER_05 35:22

That's a good average time. Uh Eric, on a scale of one to ten, how good of a driver are you?

SPEAKER_06 35:29

Seven and a half.

SPEAKER_05 35:32

Okay. Ira, fill in the blank. Taylor Swift is a waste of my time.

SPEAKER_04 35:44

Some people might agree with you, some also might disagree.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

I'd like to change that answer. Taylor Swift is clearly not Bob Dylan.

SPEAKER_04 35:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 35:54

That's that's also fair. Eric, at what age do you want to retire?

SPEAKER_06 36:06

I just I don't want to retire, actually.

SPEAKER_08 36:08

I don't want to stop, yeah. I I don't want to. I got nothing, man. I'm sorry, I don't want to retire.

SPEAKER_04 36:14

That's fine. Hey, that's your answer. That's good. Uh Ira, superpowers here. Would you rather have invisibility or super strength?

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Oh, invisibility, without a doubt. Why? Oh, can you imagine the places I could go?

SPEAKER_04 36:29

You could go everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 36:32

And the trouble that I could cause. Just leave it at that.

SPEAKER_04 36:36

All right, we'll leave it at that. Eric, last question here. Is it wrong for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers?

SPEAKER_08 36:44

It's it's there's nothing that's been more right than that.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

Okay. Love it. All right, awesome, Ben. Thank you. And thank you, Ira and Eric, for being such good sports through our hot seat. That was fun to listen to those. Hey, before we close, I want to ask you both just one quick takeaway. We've heard some great things through our conversation today, but start with you, Eric. Just one quick takeaway from reading the chapter um and what your thoughts are in today's conversation.

SPEAKER_08 37:10

Yeah, so uh I'll start with a quote because I want to steal, I want to like drop Mike moment on a quote that I think is is better than any of the quotes my dad has shared. And that quote is um success is when the people that know you the most or know you the best love you the most. And for me, um I go back to the quiet time, Preston, that that you really you you talked about the importance, but you laid out some really good tips on how to maximize that. And for me to be the best person, it's that that daily routine, starting my day each day that way is is just so critical to being the person that I want to be and and want to show up for throughout my day. And so I would say that would be the big takeaway for me.

SPEAKER_03 37:58

That's maybe the word I would use as well. Getting into a habit of that uh and doing that with the Lord. So thank you, Eric. And then Ira, closing thoughts. What's one takeaway for you on our conversation andor the chapter today?

SPEAKER_01 38:09

Yeah, before I give you that, I I had to respond to my son Eric and his statement about my quote. But there's a there's an old favorite quote of mine that I'd like to share with you, my son. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never harm me. Okay, um two things. Uh one is hopefully profound and one is profoundly personal. The first the first is through through listening to the dialogue and reading reading your book and and uh going through this this wonderful podcast, and I appreciate the opportunity. I need to spend more time seeking wisdom from God than I do from others, or I do from reading, or whatever the case may be. I I do that now, but that's an area I can certainly improve. You know, that that's number one, and that was learning. The other one is profoundly personal. You have no idea what a joy it is to be on this podcast with my son. What a joy it is, what a joy it is to hear. And I I've I've known this all along, but to hear how wise he is. And there is a biblical quotation about seek the wisdom of the children, you know, by the hand and by the heart, we'll follow them. So uh another learning or a relearning was just being on this call and listening to my brilliant son, uh, which I who I have a lot of love and respect for. So this has really been a good experience. And I'll tell you what you need to do. Another podcast, but just do the rapid fire stuff. That was fun.

SPEAKER_03 39:41

That's fun, wasn't it? Thank you. Thank you for your vulnerability and your transparency around that. And uh, you know, I think back uh to my when I watched Eric early in his career, and again, I mentioned this before we got on the podcast, but just that modeling. And uh it's fun because that's when I've got my daughter and my son doing this with me as well, and to listen to their wisdom, uh being young millennial professionals and all that is just it's just so moving and touching at the heart and uh so good to see God moving in their lives. So I'm with you on that. So I appreciate that. Thank you. Very good. Hey, Eric, thanks so much. Thanks for being on this episode, and uh look forward to connecting with you soon. Take care. Well, that's all for today's episode, and thanks for listening. Join us again next time when we explore another life-changing principle from Disciple Leader. And be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or other streaming platforms so you'll never miss an episode. Plus, if you don't have a copy of Disciple Leader, stop by my website at PrestonPort.com and order yours today. I'll end with this transformed lives, transformed cultures. I encourage you to allow God to work in you and through you to change your world.