Logan Kafer shares on mental health, fatherhood, and personal growth for men.

Key Takeaways

– Logan emphasizes the importance of men finding community and vulnerability with other men to combat feelings of inadequacy
– Cultivating desire and engagement in marriage and parenting requires intentional effort and reflection
– Logan advocates for understanding others’ perspectives and extending grace, recognizing everyone’s actions make sense in their own context
– Shifting focus from striving/performance to embracing one’s identity as a beloved son of God is key for personal growth

Topics

Logan’s Background and Family

– Lives in Atlanta with wife of 7 years and two daughters (ages 3 and almost 2)
– Works as a mental health counselor primarily with men, also an adjunct professor
– Formerly worked with Matthew in high school Christian ministry

Common Struggles for Men

– Feeling “not enough” in various areas of life (success, finances, etc.)
– Not being where they expected to be at certain life stages
– Difficulty celebrating accomplishments, always pushing to next milestone
– Impacts relationships, can lead to substance use or other behavioral issues

Advice for Engaging with Family

– Create intentional transitions between work and home life
– Set alarms to pause and reflect on positive qualities of spouse
– Be creative in planning fun activities with kids, even if simple
– Implement “special time” with individual children for focused attention

Book Recommendations

– “The Courage to Be Disliked” – on separating from people-pleasing tendencies
– “Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship” (possibly by Jack Frost) – on identity and worth in Christ

Wisdom to Pass On

– “Everyone makes sense in the context of their own story” – cultivating compassion and understanding for others’ perspectives

Advice to Younger Self

– Recognize God is still at work, even when life looks different than expected
– Don’t lose relationships pursuing status or trying to prove worth
– There are no shortcuts in personal growth

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Logan Kafer shares on mental health, fatherhood, and personal growth for men.

Key Takeaways

– Logan emphasizes the importance of men finding community and vulnerability with other men to combat feelings of inadequacy
– Cultivating desire and engagement in marriage and parenting requires intentional effort and reflection
– Logan advocates for understanding others’ perspectives and extending grace, recognizing everyone’s actions make sense in their own context
– Shifting focus from striving/performance to embracing one’s identity as a beloved son of God is key for personal growth

Topics

Logan’s Background and Family

– Lives in Atlanta with wife of 7 years and two daughters (ages 3 and almost 2)
– Works as a mental health counselor primarily with men, also an adjunct professor
– Formerly worked with Matthew in high school Christian ministry

Common Struggles for Men

– Feeling “not enough” in various areas of life (success, finances, etc.)
– Not being where they expected to be at certain life stages
– Difficulty celebrating accomplishments, always pushing to next milestone
– Impacts relationships, can lead to substance use or other behavioral issues

Advice for Engaging with Family

– Create intentional transitions between work and home life
– Set alarms to pause and reflect on positive qualities of spouse
– Be creative in planning fun activities with kids, even if simple
– Implement “special time” with individual children for focused attention

Book Recommendations

– “The Courage to Be Disliked” – on separating from people-pleasing tendencies
– “Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship” (possibly by Jack Frost) – on identity and worth in Christ

Wisdom to Pass On

– “Everyone makes sense in the context of their own story” – cultivating compassion and understanding for others’ perspectives

Advice to Younger Self

– Recognize God is still at work, even when life looks different than expected
– Don’t lose relationships pursuing status or trying to prove worth
– There are no shortcuts in personal growth

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Attorney Amy Kluesner discusses business exit strategies and legal considerations for small business owners.

Key Takeaways

– Exit planning should start early, with clear goals and end vision in mind
– Patient, humble approach and having documents/financials in order smooths exit process
– Customer relationships and recurring revenue are key drivers of business value
– Legal counsel early on can prevent costly issues later, even for small businesses

Topics

Amy Kluesner’s Background

– Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg for 13 years
– Specializes in mergers & acquisitions, especially for healthcare companies
– Has handled hundreds of deals ranging from $200k to $1B+
– Now focuses on helping small business owners with legal needs

Exit Timeline and Process

– Typical timeline: 5-10 years from business start to exit
– Process involves finding buyer (financial or strategic), valuation, due diligence
– Patient, humble approach needed as process can be emotional for sellers
– Having clear post-exit plans helps motivation during challenging parts

Increasing Business Value for Exit

– Recurring customer relationships are most valuable asset
– Strong reputation and loyal customer base attractive to buyers
– Clear financials and organized documents streamline due diligence
– Aligned team/management important as buyers may want them to stay on

Legal Considerations

– Partnership/operating agreements critical, even for small businesses
– Buy-sell agreements protect against partner death/exit scenarios
– Basic agreements for 2-partner LLC typically under $5k
– Legal counsel provides peace of mind and risk mitigation

Billion Dollar Deal Insights

– More complex but core process similar to smaller deals
– May involve anti-trust filings if reducing market competition
– Public company deals require additional shareholder disclosures

Next Steps

– Consider engaging legal counsel early to establish key agreements
– Focus on building recurring customer relationships to increase value
– Develop clear post-exit vision to stay motivated during exit process
– Be patient and humble, leveraging expertise of advisors during exit

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Attorney Amy Kluesner discusses business exit strategies and legal considerations for small business owners.

Key Takeaways

– Exit planning should start early, with clear goals and end vision in mind
– Patient, humble approach and having documents/financials in order smooths exit process
– Customer relationships and recurring revenue are key drivers of business value
– Legal counsel early on can prevent costly issues later, even for small businesses

Topics

Amy Kluesner’s Background

– Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg for 13 years
– Specializes in mergers & acquisitions, especially for healthcare companies
– Has handled hundreds of deals ranging from $200k to $1B+
– Now focuses on helping small business owners with legal needs

Exit Timeline and Process

– Typical timeline: 5-10 years from business start to exit
– Process involves finding buyer (financial or strategic), valuation, due diligence
– Patient, humble approach needed as process can be emotional for sellers
– Having clear post-exit plans helps motivation during challenging parts

Increasing Business Value for Exit

– Recurring customer relationships are most valuable asset
– Strong reputation and loyal customer base attractive to buyers
– Clear financials and organized documents streamline due diligence
– Aligned team/management important as buyers may want them to stay on

Legal Considerations

– Partnership/operating agreements critical, even for small businesses
– Buy-sell agreements protect against partner death/exit scenarios
– Basic agreements for 2-partner LLC typically under $5k
– Legal counsel provides peace of mind and risk mitigation

Billion Dollar Deal Insights

– More complex but core process similar to smaller deals
– May involve anti-trust filings if reducing market competition
– Public company deals require additional shareholder disclosures

Next Steps

– Consider engaging legal counsel early to establish key agreements
– Focus on building recurring customer relationships to increase value
– Develop clear post-exit vision to stay motivated during exit process
– Be patient and humble, leveraging expertise of advisors during exit

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Attorney Amy Kluesner discusses business exit strategies and legal considerations for small business owners.

Key Takeaways

– Exit planning should start early, with clear goals and end vision in mind
– Patient, humble approach and having documents/financials in order smooths exit process
– Customer relationships and recurring revenue are key drivers of business value
– Legal counsel early on can prevent costly issues later, even for small businesses

Topics

Amy Kluesner’s Background

– Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg for 13 years
– Specializes in mergers & acquisitions, especially for healthcare companies
– Has handled hundreds of deals ranging from $200k to $1B+
– Now focuses on helping small business owners with legal needs

Exit Timeline and Process

– Typical timeline: 5-10 years from business start to exit
– Process involves finding buyer (financial or strategic), valuation, due diligence
– Patient, humble approach needed as process can be emotional for sellers
– Having clear post-exit plans helps motivation during challenging parts

Increasing Business Value for Exit

– Recurring customer relationships are most valuable asset
– Strong reputation and loyal customer base attractive to buyers
– Clear financials and organized documents streamline due diligence
– Aligned team/management important as buyers may want them to stay on

Legal Considerations

– Partnership/operating agreements critical, even for small businesses
– Buy-sell agreements protect against partner death/exit scenarios
– Basic agreements for 2-partner LLC typically under $5k
– Legal counsel provides peace of mind and risk mitigation

Billion Dollar Deal Insights

– More complex but core process similar to smaller deals
– May involve anti-trust filings if reducing market competition
– Public company deals require additional shareholder disclosures

Next Steps

– Consider engaging legal counsel early to establish key agreements
– Focus on building recurring customer relationships to increase value
– Develop clear post-exit vision to stay motivated during exit process
– Be patient and humble, leveraging expertise of advisors during exit

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Attorney Amy Kluesner discusses business exit strategies and legal considerations for small business owners.

Key Takeaways

– Exit planning should start early, with clear goals and end vision in mind
– Patient, humble approach and having documents/financials in order smooths exit process
– Customer relationships and recurring revenue are key drivers of business value
– Legal counsel early on can prevent costly issues later, even for small businesses

Topics

Amy Kluesner’s Background

– Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg for 13 years
– Specializes in mergers & acquisitions, especially for healthcare companies
– Has handled hundreds of deals ranging from $200k to $1B+
– Now focuses on helping small business owners with legal needs

Exit Timeline and Process

– Typical timeline: 5-10 years from business start to exit
– Process involves finding buyer (financial or strategic), valuation, due diligence
– Patient, humble approach needed as process can be emotional for sellers
– Having clear post-exit plans helps motivation during challenging parts

Increasing Business Value for Exit

– Recurring customer relationships are most valuable asset
– Strong reputation and loyal customer base attractive to buyers
– Clear financials and organized documents streamline due diligence
– Aligned team/management important as buyers may want them to stay on

Legal Considerations

– Partnership/operating agreements critical, even for small businesses
– Buy-sell agreements protect against partner death/exit scenarios
– Basic agreements for 2-partner LLC typically under $5k
– Legal counsel provides peace of mind and risk mitigation

Billion Dollar Deal Insights

– More complex but core process similar to smaller deals
– May involve anti-trust filings if reducing market competition
– Public company deals require additional shareholder disclosures

Next Steps

– Consider engaging legal counsel early to establish key agreements
– Focus on building recurring customer relationships to increase value
– Develop clear post-exit vision to stay motivated during exit process
– Be patient and humble, leveraging expertise of advisors during exit

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Scott Deming discusses his business experiences and insights for entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways

– Scott transitioned from owning an advertising agency to becoming a full-time speaker/trainer after realizing the importance of company culture and brand experience
– Consistency across all aspects of a business is crucial for creating a strong brand and customer experience
– Work-life balance and prioritizing family time is essential, even when building a successful business
– Seeking mentors and learning from others’ experiences is invaluable for business growth

Topics

Scott’s Career Background

– Owned a national advertising and marketing firm for 20 years, growing to nearly 100 employees
– Transitioned to full-time speaking, training, and authoring 20+ years ago
– Realized the importance of company culture and brand experience beyond just advertising

Transitioning from Agency to Speaking Career

– Started training clients on creating brand experiences that exceeded advertising promises
– Gradually shifted focus from agency work to training/speaking over 4-5 years
– Leveraged existing production resources to create promotional materials for speaking business
– Took about 3 years to gain significant traction in the speaking business

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

– Ensure 6-12 months of living expenses saved before starting a business
– Seek out mentors and advisors with relevant experience
– Don’t try to do everything yourself – get expert help for areas outside your expertise
– Be prepared for tough decisions and financial challenges in the early years

Common Issues in Organizations

– Inconsistency across departments and lack of unified purpose
– Employees not understanding how they impact the customer experience
– Leadership failing to effectively communicate vision and values

Building Strong Company Culture

– Acknowledge and recognize employee efforts consistently
– Treat employees like they make a difference, and they will
– Ensure leadership “walks the talk” in living out company values
– Get employees to understand and buy into the company’s purpose

Work-Life Balance

– Scott regrets not prioritizing family time more while building his agency
– Advice to “suck up” time with kids, as they grow up quickly
– Importance of not dismissing children’s experiences as insignificant

Book Recommendations

– Atomic Habits by James Clear
– The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
– Good to Great by Jim Collins
– Engaged by Scott Deming

David Jones shares his inspiring journey of overcoming what most would call insurmountable odds to get to his daughter’s wedding during Hurricane Helene.

Key Takeaways

– David Jones walked 17 miles through hurricane destruction to attend his daughter’s wedding, demonstrating extraordinary determination and love
– The story resonated globally, particularly with 3 groups: women with good father relationships, those lacking father figures, and supportive men
– David emphasizes the importance of purpose + passion driving performance, and having tiered aligned goals when facing challenges
– The experience reinforced David’s faith and belief that God is closer in our daily lives than we often realize

Topics

David’s Family Background

– Father of 3 daughters and 1 bonus daughter from second marriage
– 2 grandchildren
– Third-generation engineer; oldest daughter is fourth-generation engineer
– Annual family tradition of gathering in Indiana for Memorial Day weekend and Indy 500

Hurricane Helene Wedding Journey

– David’s daughter Elizabeth’s wedding scheduled for Sept 28 in Johnson City, TN
– Hurricane Helene hit the day before, blocking roads and destroying bridges
– David walked 17 miles through debris, mud, and destruction
– Crawled under fallen trees, avoided dangerous situations with heavy equipment
– Received rides from a state trooper and former coworker for final 10 miles
– Arrived at the church on time, kept ordeal secret from bride until reception

Lessons Learned and Reflections

– Realized God’s constant presence throughout the journey
– Never felt alone or panicked, except in two brief moments of urgency
– Story went viral globally, resonating with different groups for various reasons
– Reinforced the importance of showing up for family and putting love into action
– Demonstrated the power of having tiered, aligned goals when facing challenges

David’s Advice for Parents

– Put words into action to prove love
– Have purpose + passion to drive performance
– Set multiple levels of aligned goals when raising children
– Maintain integrity by doing everything possible to keep commitments

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

Scott Deming discusses his business experiences and insights for entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways

– Scott transitioned from owning an advertising agency to becoming a full-time speaker/trainer after realizing the importance of company culture and brand experience
– Consistency across all aspects of a business is crucial for creating a strong brand and customer experience
– Work-life balance and prioritizing family time is essential, even when building a successful business
– Seeking mentors and learning from others’ experiences is invaluable for business growth

Topics

Scott’s Career Background

– Owned a national advertising and marketing firm for 20 years, growing to nearly 100 employees
– Transitioned to full-time speaking, training, and authoring 20+ years ago
– Realized the importance of company culture and brand experience beyond just advertising

Transitioning from Agency to Speaking Career

– Started training clients on creating brand experiences that exceeded advertising promises
– Gradually shifted focus from agency work to training/speaking over 4-5 years
– Leveraged existing production resources to create promotional materials for speaking business
– Took about 3 years to gain significant traction in the speaking business

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

– Ensure 6-12 months of living expenses saved before starting a business
– Seek out mentors and advisors with relevant experience
– Don’t try to do everything yourself – get expert help for areas outside your expertise
– Be prepared for tough decisions and financial challenges in the early years

Common Issues in Organizations

– Inconsistency across departments and lack of unified purpose
– Employees not understanding how they impact the customer experience
– Leadership failing to effectively communicate vision and values

Building Strong Company Culture

– Acknowledge and recognize employee efforts consistently
– Treat employees like they make a difference, and they will
– Ensure leadership “walks the talk” in living out company values
– Get employees to understand and buy into the company’s purpose

Work-Life Balance

– Scott regrets not prioritizing family time more while building his agency
– Advice to “suck up” time with kids, as they grow up quickly
– Importance of not dismissing children’s experiences as insignificant

Book Recommendations

– Atomic Habits by James Clear
– The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
– Good to Great by Jim Collins
– Engaged by Scott Deming

You can subscribe to the podcast at https://matthewefird.com.

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

David Jones shares his inspiring journey of overcoming what most would call insurmountable odds to get to his daughter’s wedding during Hurricane Helene.

Key Takeaways

– David Jones walked 17 miles through hurricane destruction to attend his daughter’s wedding, demonstrating extraordinary determination and love
– The story resonated globally, particularly with 3 groups: women with good father relationships, those lacking father figures, and supportive men
– David emphasizes the importance of purpose + passion driving performance, and having tiered aligned goals when facing challenges
– The experience reinforced David’s faith and belief that God is closer in our daily lives than we often realize

Topics

David’s Family Background

– Father of 3 daughters and 1 bonus daughter from second marriage
– 2 grandchildren
– Third-generation engineer; oldest daughter is fourth-generation engineer
– Annual family tradition of gathering in Indiana for Memorial Day weekend and Indy 500

Hurricane Helene Wedding Journey

– David’s daughter Elizabeth’s wedding scheduled for Sept 28 in Johnson City, TN
– Hurricane Helene hit the day before, blocking roads and destroying bridges
– David walked 17 miles through debris, mud, and destruction
– Crawled under fallen trees, avoided dangerous situations with heavy equipment
– Received rides from a state trooper and former coworker for final 10 miles
– Arrived at the church on time, kept ordeal secret from bride until reception

Lessons Learned and Reflections

– Realized God’s constant presence throughout the journey
– Never felt alone or panicked, except in two brief moments of urgency
– Story went viral globally, resonating with different groups for various reasons
– Reinforced the importance of showing up for family and putting love into action
– Demonstrated the power of having tiered, aligned goals when facing challenges

David’s Advice for Parents

– Put words into action to prove love
– Have purpose + passion to drive performance
– Set multiple levels of aligned goals when raising children
– Maintain integrity by doing everything possible to keep commitments

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com

David Jones shares his inspiring journey of overcoming what most would call insurmountable odds to get to his daughter’s wedding during Hurricane Helene.

Key Takeaways

– David Jones walked 17 miles through hurricane destruction to attend his daughter’s wedding, demonstrating extraordinary determination and love
– The story resonated globally, particularly with 3 groups: women with good father relationships, those lacking father figures, and supportive men
– David emphasizes the importance of purpose + passion driving performance, and having tiered aligned goals when facing challenges
– The experience reinforced David’s faith and belief that God is closer in our daily lives than we often realize

Topics

David’s Family Background

– Father of 3 daughters and 1 bonus daughter from second marriage
– 2 grandchildren
– Third-generation engineer; oldest daughter is fourth-generation engineer
– Annual family tradition of gathering in Indiana for Memorial Day weekend and Indy 500

Hurricane Helene Wedding Journey

– David’s daughter Elizabeth’s wedding scheduled for Sept 28 in Johnson City, TN
– Hurricane Helene hit the day before, blocking roads and destroying bridges
– David walked 17 miles through debris, mud, and destruction
– Crawled under fallen trees, avoided dangerous situations with heavy equipment
– Received rides from a state trooper and former coworker for final 10 miles
– Arrived at the church on time, kept ordeal secret from bride until reception

Lessons Learned and Reflections

– Realized God’s constant presence throughout the journey
– Never felt alone or panicked, except in two brief moments of urgency
– Story went viral globally, resonating with different groups for various reasons
– Reinforced the importance of showing up for family and putting love into action
– Demonstrated the power of having tiered, aligned goals when facing challenges

David’s Advice for Parents

– Put words into action to prove love
– Have purpose + passion to drive performance
– Set multiple levels of aligned goals when raising children
– Maintain integrity by doing everything possible to keep commitments

Are you a seasonal business owner who’s struggling to make ends meet during the winter months? Do you hate losing great staff when the weather turns cold because you don’t have enough work to keep them employed year-round?
You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Would you consider yourself a corporate refugee or portfolio investor looking to get into business ownership in the emerging market of outdoor lighting? Would you be interested in an award-winning system focused on permanent holiday lights, landscape lighting, and temporary Christmas lights? Did you know that you can do outdoor lighting all year long? You could be a perfect fit for a Lighting Pros Franchise location! Learn more about Lighting Pros Franchise here: https://lightingprosfranchise.com

Interested in having Matthew speak at your upcoming Event? Go here: https://matthewefird.com