Episode 68: Macoupin CEO Program | The Power of Mentors and Coaches with Tommy Campbell

1
00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,400
Welcome to Lead with Hope, the
podcast where we explore the

2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,400
power of hope, leadership, and
resilience in today's world.

3
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,320
I'm Brandy Kelly, and each week
I'll bring you stories,

4
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:17,440
insights, and actionable advice
from leaders and change makers

5
00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:21,720
who are using hope as their
compass to navigate challenges

6
00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,800
and inspire others to create
positive impact.

7
00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,000
Whether you're a seasoned leader
or just beginning your journey,

8
00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,120
this podcast is here to remind
you that no matter the

9
00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,720
obstacles, hope is the fuel that
can drive transformation.

10
00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,200
So let's dive in and discover
how you can lead with hope.

11
00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:49,160
You will not want to miss this
amazing episode with Tommy

12
00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:53,600
Campbell.
Tommy is a 2025 CEO alum and he

13
00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,720
shares stories from ACEO
experience, his experiences in

14
00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,400
football, youth group, and his
work life.

15
00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,440
This episode is packed with
lessons on leadership,

16
00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,560
resilience, and showing up.
This is one you're going to want

17
00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,320
to hear from start to finish, so
let's get started.

18
00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,000
Why don't you tell me a little
bit about your background and

19
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:24,800
about T&D's entertainment?
Yeah, Thanks for having me

20
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:26,280
today, Brandy.
I really appreciate it.

21
00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,800
It's an honor to be on here.
I guess to start with a little

22
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,160
bit about myself, I my name is
Tommy Campbell.

23
00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,440
Obviously, I graduated from
Staunton High School in 2025.

24
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:36,920
So I guess you would say last
school year.

25
00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,880
I lived in Staunton my entire
life.

26
00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,960
I've I'm still living at home,
but I've grown up this spot in

27
00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:46,920
the middle of nowhere where we
kind of got to do everything

28
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,920
ourself.
Like we got a well that we have

29
00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,560
to haul water and stuff for.
So I've been accustomed to work

30
00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,000
my whole life.
And I mean, there's not much

31
00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,040
more background.
I've just always been willing to

32
00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,320
try new stuff and be willing to
do stuff that makes me get on my

33
00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,160
comfort, comfort zone.
The kind of quote Scott Reichman

34
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,759
from last year, one of my
favorite quotes that he said was

35
00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:10,720
don't be afraid to suck at
something new.

36
00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,320
I can say that I'm not afraid to
suck at anything new.

37
00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,920
I love that quote.
Don't be.

38
00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:18,600
Afraid I do too.
To suck at something new.

39
00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:22,480
I'm writing that down, Tommy.
That was my senior quote last

40
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:24,360
year.
That's great.

41
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,960
Now what, what is TN DS
Entertainment?

42
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,760
You mentioned that in our
correspondence and I'm just

43
00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:33,680
curious if you could share a
little bit about that.

44
00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,160
But just a little bit about TN
DS.

45
00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:41,320
So TN DS was a child of the
badge, the badge business

46
00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,400
program for CEO.
So that was the first thing we

47
00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,840
did and what we did for our way
of doing badge business was we

48
00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,280
did a little advertisement plan.
We did three plans.

49
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,800
We had tier one was 25 bucks.
We just do a collage post of

50
00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:59,560
everyone that's around.
So like just shout out, thank

51
00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,680
you for everyone who supports
the CEO program.

52
00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,600
Second one was $50 and that was
just a little bio personal post

53
00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,200
and then 100 and then $100 was
the real money maker, which was

54
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,680
videos.
And we kind of preface me and we

55
00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,080
just we got to the videos.
I'd be going with the got done

56
00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,560
with the class business because
the class business took a lot of

57
00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,720
her time up after we got done
initially getting the money for

58
00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,560
the badge business.
After the badge or after the

59
00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,840
class business, we were all kind
of stressed out and ready to

60
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,720
just kind of unwind.
So me and Dylan we our first

61
00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,880
video that we did, I guess you'd
say for like pre op T and DS and

62
00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:37,440
then doing it for CEO.
We went to Bill's IGA and

63
00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:38,880
Staunton.
We both kind of looked sure like

64
00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,720
let's have some fun with this.
So if you, I mean if you go look

65
00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,160
at the CEO Facebook page or
anything, they got the our

66
00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,960
videos on there and rest of the
CEO students, but you'll kind of

67
00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:49,600
see the beginnings of TNDS
there.

68
00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:56,120
OK, So what do you do with TNDS?
Well, we advertise local

69
00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,440
businesses around the Coopin and
we're trying to kind of expand

70
00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:05,600
out right now, OK.
And then then the, what really

71
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,000
became T and DS was we were
sitting at Hawthorne one morning

72
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,400
talking with Carrie and all of
them and a couple and Carrie and

73
00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,200
then Macy Wright and a few
others suggested, hey, you guys

74
00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,600
really were good at doing those
videos.

75
00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,240
You should really start the
business.

76
00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:24,560
I kind of look at Don and go.
So we went to his house, played

77
00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,560
darts, wrote up a business plan.
A couple days later we presented

78
00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,800
it.
We got polos and whatnot.

79
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,280
And then T and DS was born.
That's not, that's amazing.

80
00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:37,160
I love that story, Tommy.
It was born right there at

81
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,040
Hawthorne's coffee shop in
Carlinville.

82
00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,560
There's a plug right there for
Hawthorne's to sponsor the Lead

83
00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:43,760
with Hope podcast.
I would.

84
00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,040
Completely agree with that
Brandy.

85
00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,360
So Tommy, what's something
special about you or something

86
00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,440
that brings you joy?
You know, coffee brings me joy,

87
00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,800
that's for sure.
What brings you joy?

88
00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:57,600
Well, I have to say the biggest
thing, which could be

89
00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,440
stereotypical, but being able to
go out and spread Jesus word.

90
00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,880
Being a Christian is a big part
of who I am and I am not afraid

91
00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,680
to admit that.
You can quote me like I said.

92
00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,760
Well, like I was saying, Jesus
is a humongous part of my life.

93
00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,080
He, I mean, for one, he was
there when I first started.

94
00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:18,400
He's always been, he's kind of
just been the well for me, it's

95
00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,200
been the background.
But now that I've gotten older

96
00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,320
and realized how much of an
impact he has, it's become my

97
00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,800
passion and my love to be able
to go out and lead and proclaim

98
00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,960
Christ's name.
I'm not afraid.

99
00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,280
I try to do it in every little
way.

100
00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:33,920
I'm not afraid the criticisms
about it.

101
00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,200
So that's what I find my most
joy is.

102
00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,960
Being able to praise His name
and being able to help people is

103
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,160
the biggest thing for me.
That's beautiful, Tommy, and

104
00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,640
that gives me a lot of of
encouragement.

105
00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,440
You're a young man just starting
out in the world, just a recent

106
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:57,080
graduate from high school, and
you're shining Jesus love into

107
00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,600
the world very brightly.
So that gives me a lot of hope

108
00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,320
and encouragement.
What experiences or lessons have

109
00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,480
had the biggest impact on your
life or your leadership?

110
00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,120
That's a really good question.
I got.

111
00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,600
I got a few good ones.
We'll start with when it comes

112
00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,520
to my faith, that had the
biggest impact for me starting

113
00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,920
out on the path in 2022.
Well, the kind of more like in

114
00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:28,280
2021, my church, I go to Zion
Staunton in Zion Lutheran

115
00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:31,840
Staunton in Staunton.
We haven't had a youth group

116
00:06:31,840 --> 00:06:34,400
there for a long time, but a guy
by the name of Christy Cook,

117
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,600
which huge shout out to Christy
because without her, like her

118
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,720
guidance and whatnot would not
be who I am today.

119
00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:46,320
She helped me really like kind
of breakdown and hone my my

120
00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,240
faith and be able to use it as a
positive light.

121
00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,880
But.
The people in your life, the

122
00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:57,000
people in your life, that's what
makes all the difference and

123
00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,800
it's so encouraging whenever you
can connect with somebody in a

124
00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,680
youth group and they can have
that big influence on you.

125
00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,760
Right now I'm reading a book,
Tommy, it's called Lead Like

126
00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,640
Jesus.
I highly recommend it.

127
00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:16,160
Highly recommend.
It talks about our heart, our

128
00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:22,680
head, our hands, and our habits
and how we can put the mission

129
00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,760
to love God, love people, serve
all into action, and use Jesus

130
00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:32,840
as the role model for our life
and our leadership.

131
00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,640
And it sounds like that's what
Christy did in your life, too.

132
00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,880
Yeah, not just Christy, but I I
would not be who I am without my

133
00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,840
mom and dad pushing me.
And always with mom and dad, I I

134
00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,920
would not be real.
I mean, for one, I wouldn't be

135
00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:51,760
around without them, but I
wouldn't be able to have the

136
00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,640
mindset that I do without their
guidance and then willing to

137
00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,800
like wanting to push me instead
of just kind of shelter me.

138
00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,480
They are always like, go try it,
let's see what happens.

139
00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:05,760
I'm so thankful for that.
Yeah, and God knows it.

140
00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,960
It's such a perfect plan.
He knows the parents that we

141
00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,600
need and he gives us the perfect
parents that we need.

142
00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:17,240
And I will tell you, Tommy, my,
my father passed away in

143
00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:22,040
September and he had fought a
long courageous battle with

144
00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,040
Parkinson's.
But knowing that he's in heaven

145
00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,840
now with my mother, it gives me
so much peace.

146
00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:34,480
And just reflecting back on his
life and his legacy, I'm just so

147
00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,159
grateful that God gave me the
parents that he gave me.

148
00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:42,440
And I'm sure your parents are
butt and bust and proud of their

149
00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:46,400
son.
They are, and I don't really

150
00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,920
like bragging about myself with
that kind of stuff, 'cause I,

151
00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,280
I'm ultimately, it's not my
doing, it's God's doing.

152
00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,560
I'm just a vessel.
That's, that's the way I look at

153
00:08:55,560 --> 00:08:57,640
it.
That's why I try not to be Mr.

154
00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,560
Barrel Chest and showing off
everything.

155
00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:00,480
Yeah.
But.

156
00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,160
And also I'm sorry for your loss
as well.

157
00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,160
Thank you.
Harmi, thank you.

158
00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,360
But like I said, there's hope
there.

159
00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,000
There's hope because there's
heaven, and I will see him again

160
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:17,040
one day.
When you were working in the CEO

161
00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,200
program, you guys did a badge
business.

162
00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:23,120
You did a lot of business
visits, things like that.

163
00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,760
What stands out to you about
your experiences in the CEO

164
00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,320
program?
That's a really good question

165
00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:32,600
and I, I, I hope this is a good
answer.

166
00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:37,760
But for me, the biggest thing
that I took from CEO was when we

167
00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,040
got the mentors, I had Ken
Doyle, which another humongous

168
00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,480
shout out to Ken.
He really helped me understand

169
00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,920
how to be business minded, how
to think, like think how to use

170
00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,240
your money.
And the biggest thing is he

171
00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,160
helped me realize how big
connections are.

172
00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,880
That's the biggest thing I
pulled from CEO is having

173
00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,160
connections in networking is key
in life, period.

174
00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:02,360
Yeah. 100% agree with you there,
Tommy.

175
00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,440
Now, we all have defining
moments in our life too.

176
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,560
And you've talked about some
really big ones.

177
00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:10,360
You know, you've talked a lot, a
lot about faith in your youth

178
00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,040
group, your mom and your dad,
your mentors.

179
00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:20,280
But adversity strikes us all.
We all deal with hard spots.

180
00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,640
And if you haven't yet, hold on
because it's coming.

181
00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:28,760
It's not if, it's when, Oh yeah.
Are there any challenges that

182
00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:35,200
you have maybe overcome and you
can give the listeners some tips

183
00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,560
or some strategies regarding how
you overcame that challenge?

184
00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,080
I do have one and it's one that,
I mean, if I was going to kind

185
00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,280
of either talk about it later or
talk about after I talked about

186
00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:50,280
the youth gathering, but we'll
get to that anyway in 2020.

187
00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,360
I mean, it was a bad year for
everyone, but for us, that was

188
00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,400
when my mother was diagnosed for
cervical cancer.

189
00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:01,000
And along with that, while she
was like, like she's cancer free

190
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,080
now, got it cut out, She's all
good.

191
00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:08,240
But that same year, my father
also shattered his leg and both

192
00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,760
my parents were down.
I was the only one able to

193
00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,280
operate this entire little, I'll
call it little homestead or what

194
00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,000
what it's a we're, we live in
our, in the country.

195
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,560
We have, like I said, we got
water, we got a hall, we got a

196
00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:23,640
furnace that I have to cut wood
for, which is why I also start a

197
00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:27,680
firewood business that I have to
cut wood for, to have heat for

198
00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:32,320
everything.
And we got bunch like how many 7

199
00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,840
animals or so that we have to
take care of.

200
00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,920
So when that happened, I was
left, I was left this humongous

201
00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:45,960
platter of stuff I had to do.
And the biggest, the biggest

202
00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,880
moment that kind of helped me
don't go to who I am was one day

203
00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:53,040
I was out cutting wood and
there's a log that was frozen to

204
00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,040
the ground 'cause it like
freshly iced over.

205
00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:58,560
So it was a big old sheath.
It was not working.

206
00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:01,320
And I just, I just lost it right
then and there.

207
00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,880
And right then that's when I
really felt God was like, hey,

208
00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,720
you'll get through this.
And well, he did.

209
00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,640
I instead of like being what was
me, I looked, OK, how can I

210
00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,080
better myself?
That's where I, what I really

211
00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,920
learned from that was and that's
the lens I look at any challenge

212
00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,520
like anyone that I go through
now is how can I be better from

213
00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:24,240
this?
God's here with me, but how can

214
00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,120
I grow stronger and better from
this instead of laying down and

215
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:28,960
accepting defeat?
Because that's not how I

216
00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,440
operate.
Yeah, and that's a beautiful

217
00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,560
reframe, Tommy, because how old
were you when that all happened

218
00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:39,600
in 2020?
It was 13 going on 14.

219
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,800
Yeah, You were young and you
were handling a man's load of

220
00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,680
responsibility at that young
age.

221
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:52,600
And to be able to reframe those
challenges into opportunities to

222
00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,160
grow.
There's a lot of adults in their

223
00:12:55,160 --> 00:13:00,320
30s, forties, 50s, man, even
probably 60s that they can't

224
00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,960
reframe it like that.
They can't see the potential in

225
00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:10,160
that growth, and I see that that
adversity LED you to be the

226
00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,840
young man that you are today.
With how many businesses?

227
00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:16,840
2 currently.
Two businesses.

228
00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,320
That's awesome, Tommy, that is
awesome.

229
00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,720
So are there any passion
projects or anything that you

230
00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,400
are working on that you want to
talk about?

231
00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,760
There is right now what right
now, like I'm actually after

232
00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:33,560
this, I got to go get a load
ready Big T's firewood.

233
00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:39,880
I started it back in 2020, 23,
two years ago now.

234
00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,720
And there was a good friend of
ours that we've known for years.

235
00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,320
He helped me because that's when
I turned 16, got my license,

236
00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,200
started selling firewood because
I know how to do it.

237
00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,160
It's pretty fun to do.
Last year I was kind of like

238
00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,760
dwindling because I was like,
oh, I have football going on.

239
00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,880
I got all this going on and I
was like, yeah.

240
00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,200
But now that I'm kind of free to
do whatever I want, I'm trying

241
00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,600
to get another truck.
Maybe start blow.

242
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:04,920
Like not blowing money but
getting more stuff ready to go.

243
00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,040
Like being a little more
streamlined and maybe get to a

244
00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,040
point where this side hobby
makes me quite a bit of money.

245
00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,800
Yeah, that's awesome.
And then another one is so I

246
00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:17,200
mentioned youth groups.
So I did it for three years.

247
00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,120
I'll just kind of preference.
Like what really started me on

248
00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,640
the journey is I went to
Houston, TX in 2022 and it was

249
00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:25,120
called, it's called the National
Youth Gathering.

250
00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:31,280
It's a week long like convention
with like 20,000 other kids and

251
00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,760
adults my about my age or older
that all gather there that

252
00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,480
praise Jesus.
Like when we were there, we were

253
00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,480
at the Astro Stadium.
We got the whole stadium filled

254
00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,600
up.
And that's what like if you ever

255
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,040
heard the term mountaintop
experience, that's what was for

256
00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,480
me, really helped me go to the
trajection I am today because

257
00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,800
it's like, Oh well, he's here.
Let's do let's do something

258
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,040
about it.
Let's not sit down and helped me

259
00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,840
drive to become a big leader in
youth group and tried my best at

260
00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:04,560
which that has led me today
where our youth director Christy

261
00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,200
stepped down.
She got a new opportunity in

262
00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,720
Collinsville which grateful that
she got the new opportunity to

263
00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,320
go spread her life somewhere
else.

264
00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,240
I have I'm trying to take I'm in
the process of taking up the

265
00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,360
mental the new youth leader
right now, that's a.

266
00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,600
Passion project.
Thank you.

267
00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:25,160
That's awesome.
And then I think two more and

268
00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,800
we'll move on is so I went to a
thing called youth lead for the

269
00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:30,760
last three years.
It's like a little, it's a

270
00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:34,840
leadership program that is a
weekend long program where you

271
00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,040
get into small groups, talk
about how you can be a leader in

272
00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,800
price and just so much more.
It I'm just scratching the

273
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,200
surface of it because I don't
want to get too much detail, but

274
00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,120
it's it's great.
It could make a lot of a lot of

275
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:46,560
connections, a lot of
networking.

276
00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:49,760
I've met a lot of people that
I've still in quite contact with

277
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,320
from around the country from
there.

278
00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:56,280
That's awesome, and I love that
you started growing yourself in

279
00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,360
the CEO program, but you haven't
stopped there.

280
00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:04,520
You graduated and now you are
seeking out other ways to grow,

281
00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:08,320
not just as a leader, but as a
human being in your faith.

282
00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,120
And Tommy, throughout this
entire interview, I have heard

283
00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,720
you say that your values are at
least in part faith, family, and

284
00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,680
that work ethic and it shows.
And when you lead in your

285
00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,880
values, I believe you can
accomplish anything you set your

286
00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:31,160
mind to with God's help.
I completely agree, but last

287
00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,640
year what so they have So the
way youthly works is every three

288
00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,320
years this big gathering occurs.
Like this year we went down to

289
00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:39,360
New Orleans.
Great trip, great food.

290
00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:41,840
I recommend going.
Maybe don't go to Bourbon Street

291
00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:48,920
if you're too young.
We bit crazy, but went down

292
00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,560
there.
There was kind of like a send

293
00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,120
off with all the old, like not
old, but like the old.

294
00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,560
The people that I went to youth
group with kind of just

295
00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,400
graduating this kind of little
send off and the passing of the

296
00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,720
torch for me because I'm trying
to take up youth group.

297
00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,880
But I got elected to Youth
League because it every there's

298
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,400
a team every year that has a
three-year term and I got

299
00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,599
elected to it.
I'm representing the central

300
00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:12,599
region of the United States
right now and starting to

301
00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:17,920
prepare for the in March is when
Youth League starts, something

302
00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,240
very passionate about.
And then another thing is I'm

303
00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:24,480
very passionate about.
I'll go into football, all of

304
00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,960
it.
So you understand why I'm why I

305
00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:28,720
am.
I'm coaching now.

306
00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:34,120
I started playing football for
Staunton in 3rd grade and I

307
00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,440
ended last year.
So I played for about 10 years

308
00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,160
and I wouldn't change a thing of
it because football really

309
00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:44,000
taught me OK, how to pick
yourself up, dust yourself on

310
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,360
and get back to it.
And then something I tell my 5th

311
00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,080
graders would like told my 5th
graders and going to be 6th

312
00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,920
graders, I tell them next play,
move on.

313
00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,840
Don't worry about what happened
last time, move on.

314
00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:59,080
Yeah, let it.
Go and then, especially in high

315
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,640
school, I have nothing I like.
I'm going to plug another

316
00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,840
mentor, coach Austin Shirfey.
Without him, I would not be so

317
00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,680
headstrong and be willing to
step up and leave because he

318
00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,000
gave me that opportunity.
He let me, well, he helped me

319
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:16,160
realize that I can be.
I can be myself and it'll work.

320
00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:19,080
I was elected team captain for
two years in a row, which was

321
00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:24,240
awesome, and without Shirpy's
help, I would not be who I am

322
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,040
today.
I, I really wouldn't without

323
00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,680
football, without Shirpy,
without Jesus, without Christ,

324
00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,480
without my parents, I would not
be who I am today.

325
00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,560
So if you shout out to all of
them, I'm extremely thankful for

326
00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:37,080
all what they've done for me.
And in the Bible, in Jeremiah

327
00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:43,120
2911, it's one of my favorite
verses, it says that he has a

328
00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:47,680
plan for our life, a plan to
prosper us, not to harm us, to

329
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:52,280
give us hope in a future.
And your life shows that, Tommy,

330
00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,960
it really does.
So I'm wondering what's giving

331
00:18:54,960 --> 00:19:01,040
you hope in our world right now?
Little things, honestly, Brandy,

332
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:05,440
just seeing right now that my
little cousin who I asked if she

333
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,160
want to come to a youth group of
her starting to love it.

334
00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,800
Just just just one.
Just seeing one kid, seeing one

335
00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,440
person that I'm affecting with
how I'm doing things gives me

336
00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,520
hope.
And then one of my my favorite,

337
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,280
it's a basic verse, but it's a
good, it's a basic verse for a

338
00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,320
reason.
Philippians 413.

339
00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,600
I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.

340
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,080
It's my favorite, one of my
favorite verses of all time

341
00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:32,080
because for me it really
summarizes, you know, what God

342
00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:36,120
does.
Tommy, this conversation was, I

343
00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:40,720
knew it was going to be good,
but it is an unexpected blessing

344
00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,800
to me today because I had no
idea of your faith.

345
00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,760
I didn't know about this part of
you.

346
00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:53,000
I knew that when you were in the
CEO program, you had a really

347
00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,120
fun story that I'm hoping that
you will end on today and share

348
00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:00,480
with the listeners because you
have a lot of charisma, you have

349
00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:04,040
a lot of personality, and you
bring humor into into the

350
00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:07,240
situation, which I think we need
more of right now in our world.

351
00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:11,800
So can you think of your most
funny?

352
00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:16,760
Story from the CEO program and
we'll end on that story.

353
00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,800
Oh, all right then I'll talk
about class business, which goes

354
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:24,880
back into how T&D started, why
me and Dylan are so goofy when

355
00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,960
our videos.
But the day of like we tried

356
00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,560
having it.
So what it was is like we tried

357
00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,360
having a 5K and a fall festival
in the same day.

358
00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,440
Weather was not on our side.
We only had like 6 runners and

359
00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,440
you know, things were not
looking too good.

360
00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:47,640
We had about 180 dozen Krispy
Kreme doughnuts to do so before

361
00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,160
and we were going to do like a
hot dogging, hot dogging

362
00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,640
competition, which is why I had
a hot dog costume.

363
00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,640
And then we had we were like
advertising the pet park because

364
00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,560
it was like a pet festival.
So I got a hold of our school's

365
00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:02,840
bulldog mascot costume so we
could advertise that no one was

366
00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,360
showing up.
And then me and Dylan were like

367
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:07,600
kind of looking at each other
because him and I are both like,

368
00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,880
OK, let's do something right now
instead of like kind of wait and

369
00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,000
be logical with.
We like to attack, not really

370
00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,840
defend or anything like that.
So we walk out there.

371
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,280
Well, first he's like, Tommy,
put on the hot dog costume, give

372
00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,840
me the bulldog costume.
Like, OK, what are we going to

373
00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:28,600
do, head out there?
We start dancing like strippers

374
00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,240
the whole time.
We sold 180 dozen dozen Donuts

375
00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:35,240
within like an hour or two from
us.

376
00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:39,560
Just being so stupid.
That's great.

377
00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,360
That is great.
And I will tell you, I had Macy

378
00:21:42,360 --> 00:21:45,560
on the she shares a little bit
about this story whenever I talk

379
00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,160
to her as well.
So it is one for the history

380
00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,760
books for sure.
So thanks for sharing.

381
00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,880
Yeah.
So as listeners are listening to

382
00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:00,480
us talk and you Share your
story, share about the CEO

383
00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,200
program, if somebody wants to
get into touch with you, would

384
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:06,680
you be open to that?
And if so, how can they connect

385
00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,120
with you?
I would be more than willing to

386
00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:13,320
help like if someone wants to
talk to me please do and I'll

387
00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:17,800
just give just phone numbers.
Normally how I do it just text

388
00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,000
or call me.
Normally text if you call me,

389
00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,760
we'll see if I answer.
I normally do because I it's

390
00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:33,520
normally customers that call me
but my number is 217 556-9181.

391
00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,400
OK, Tommy, and I'll add Tommy's
number in the show notes.

392
00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:42,160
If you want to get in touch with
Tommy to talk about CEO program,

393
00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:48,400
TS Firewood or T and DS
Entertainment, call Tommy.

394
00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,720
You won't regret it.
Tommy, thanks for being on the

395
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:52,200
show.
Thanks.

396
00:22:53,240 --> 00:23:01,080
For having me Brandy all.
Right, thank you so much for

397
00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,880
tuning into today's episode of
Lead with Hope, where we believe

398
00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,680
that leadership rooted in
habits, optimistic mindset,

399
00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:12,080
purpose, and excellence can
truly change the world.

400
00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,400
I'd love to ask you for a small
favor that makes a big impact.

401
00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,320
Help me spread hope.
Share this episode with a friend

402
00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,240
or a colleague who could use a
little encouragement today.

403
00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,160
And if this conversation
inspired you, please take a

404
00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:30,560
moment to head over and give the
show a five star rating.

405
00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,960
It helps others find us and
keeps the message of hope

406
00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,560
growing strong.
I'm also excited to share

407
00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,040
something new with you, the Hope
Fueled Kickstart.

408
00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:45,760
This is a powerful short term
one-on-one coaching experience

409
00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:50,400
designed to help leaders like
you reclaim your vision, reset

410
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,400
your mindset, and reignite your
purpose so you can lead with

411
00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,760
hope again.
To learn more about the

412
00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,960
Kickstart program, just click
the link in the show notes.

413
00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,440
Until next time, remember the
world needs your leadership and

414
00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,920
change starts with you.
Fuel your life with hope,

415
00:24:08,320 --> 00:24:11,640
embrace your purpose, and shine
your light for others.