John Natividad’s Blueprint for Achievement Beyond the Classroom

1 00:00:01,910 --> 00:00:03,740 Dr William T Choctaw: Okay, welcome everybody. 2 00:00:03,740 --> 00:00:07,610 Welcome to the Health and Wealth and Wives podcast with Dr. 3 00:00:07,620 --> 00:00:08,540 William Choctaw. 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:14,910 We have an exciting guest with us today, a friend of mine, someone that I've grown 5 00:00:14,910 --> 00:00:18,690 up with to some extent, John Natividad. 6 00:00:19,655 --> 00:00:22,455 And John's going to share some of his experiences and 7 00:00:22,455 --> 00:00:24,645 some of his words of wisdom. 8 00:00:24,955 --> 00:00:27,375 One of the things that we've learned is that you don't have to 9 00:00:27,394 --> 00:00:30,335 be 80 years old to become wise. 10 00:00:30,355 --> 00:00:31,875 You can become wise at 30. 11 00:00:32,844 --> 00:00:38,915 And John is in his 40s, and so he's, he's, he's learned a lot and has traveled a lot. 12 00:00:39,324 --> 00:00:43,535 And so we're absolutely delighted for him to be with us today. 13 00:00:44,225 --> 00:00:44,824 Good morning, 14 00:00:44,824 --> 00:00:45,135 John: John. 15 00:00:45,964 --> 00:00:46,615 Good morning, Dr. 16 00:00:46,615 --> 00:00:48,355 Choctaw, and good morning to all your listeners. 17 00:00:48,985 --> 00:00:51,435 First and foremost, thank you so much for having me on. 18 00:00:51,565 --> 00:00:55,684 I'm very blessed and honored to be able to speak with you today. 19 00:00:55,684 --> 00:00:57,655 It's always great to talk to you and catch up. 20 00:00:58,424 --> 00:00:59,125 Great, thank 21 00:00:59,135 --> 00:00:59,335 Dr William T Choctaw: you. 22 00:00:59,735 --> 00:01:04,315 So, you know, I, and let me say that I've known John for years. 23 00:01:04,565 --> 00:01:08,075 John and his family are very close to my wife. 24 00:01:08,075 --> 00:01:14,615 And so, John, tell me what you've been doing since high school. 25 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:16,279 Oh, sure thing. 26 00:01:16,279 --> 00:01:20,560 John: So since high school, of course, I went through the, you know, went to 27 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,800 college, but I had a circuitous route. 28 00:01:23,220 --> 00:01:26,880 You know, I think in high school, there were times where I didn't do 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:28,620 as well or I wasn't as effective. 30 00:01:28,689 --> 00:01:30,079 You know, I was a bad student, frankly. 31 00:01:30,459 --> 00:01:32,819 So the one thing, at least, I would say. 32 00:01:33,309 --> 00:01:38,759 Is that I had an opportunity to explore different things at an early age that 33 00:01:38,759 --> 00:01:40,359 not everything was a linear path. 34 00:01:40,929 --> 00:01:44,339 High school for me wasn't a linear path, but eventually I was on the 35 00:01:44,339 --> 00:01:48,839 path, went on to get my undergraduate degree from Cal Poly Pomona close by. 36 00:01:49,449 --> 00:01:53,843 Started yeah, started into consulting working for KPMG in Los 37 00:01:53,843 --> 00:01:57,913 Angeles before moving to New York with the Boutique Consultancy. 38 00:01:58,238 --> 00:01:59,908 And that's where my career really took off. 39 00:02:00,038 --> 00:02:01,888 I started working with much larger clients. 40 00:02:02,453 --> 00:02:04,243 And it was a much leaner organization. 41 00:02:04,853 --> 00:02:06,183 Dr William T Choctaw: That's an accounting firm. 42 00:02:07,003 --> 00:02:07,363 Yeah, it 43 00:02:07,363 --> 00:02:10,473 John: was an accounting firm, but I was doing more data strategy, I would 44 00:02:10,473 --> 00:02:12,533 say, from a very high perspective. 45 00:02:13,083 --> 00:02:15,333 And so the clients were very similar. 46 00:02:15,393 --> 00:02:18,173 Of course, if you're an accounting firm, who's the first person you talk to? 47 00:02:18,173 --> 00:02:19,193 It's your, your auditors. 48 00:02:19,193 --> 00:02:20,053 Hey, I have a problem. 49 00:02:20,463 --> 00:02:22,323 Do you have anyone in your company that can help us? 50 00:02:22,753 --> 00:02:25,833 And so that was certainly, certainly were my career. 51 00:02:26,023 --> 00:02:26,923 Ha has blossomed. 52 00:02:27,103 --> 00:02:28,513 I, I 53 00:02:28,518 --> 00:02:30,073 Dr William T Choctaw: find it interesting that you mentioned 54 00:02:30,073 --> 00:02:34,473 that you didn't take a linear in terms of high school and college. 55 00:02:34,653 --> 00:02:40,243 What, what would you advise students who are not who may be listening now, 56 00:02:40,423 --> 00:02:41,953 who are not taking a linear route? 57 00:02:42,813 --> 00:02:45,813 What, what lessons you, you know, you don't have to go into detail if you 58 00:02:45,813 --> 00:02:49,203 don't want, but just in general, what type what, what did you learn from all 59 00:02:50,633 --> 00:02:51,983 John: I, learned that. 60 00:02:52,408 --> 00:02:57,538 Education happens in many places on many dimensions, you might, you might not be 61 00:02:57,538 --> 00:03:02,738 the best students in a classroom, but there's other avenues for you to really 62 00:03:02,738 --> 00:03:07,288 learn you can learn and whether it's a trade school, whether it's learning from 63 00:03:07,288 --> 00:03:09,828 your mentors, and, you know, there's two. 64 00:03:10,178 --> 00:03:13,388 Two lessons that I've learned that have stuck with me that were 65 00:03:13,388 --> 00:03:16,388 not from teachers at Cal Poly and not from teachers at Kellogg. 66 00:03:16,398 --> 00:03:21,198 I went to Northwestern for my MBA and two of the biggest lessons in my life 67 00:03:21,198 --> 00:03:22,578 that stick with me till this day. 68 00:03:22,978 --> 00:03:26,318 One is from a priest, someone we both know, Father Tony. 69 00:03:26,838 --> 00:03:30,678 So he mentioned to me years ago that relationships matter. 70 00:03:31,848 --> 00:03:36,078 So at any time when, when, when you're, when you're dealt a bad hand 71 00:03:36,078 --> 00:03:39,828 or the chips are down, you can lean on those relationships if you've, if 72 00:03:39,828 --> 00:03:41,288 you've taken the time to build those. 73 00:03:41,783 --> 00:03:42,033 Right. 74 00:03:42,033 --> 00:03:45,663 And I think that to me is one of the key things. 75 00:03:45,763 --> 00:03:50,563 The next lesson I've learned was from someone that was from, I guess you 76 00:03:50,563 --> 00:03:55,328 could say, not, not Not the brightest individual and, and frankly, he was, he 77 00:03:55,328 --> 00:03:58,808 was a member of, of certain nefarious, he was a gang member, I guess, I 78 00:03:58,808 --> 00:04:00,048 could just, without tiptoeing around. 79 00:04:00,608 --> 00:04:04,638 He said to me, everyone has a plan until you get hit in the mouth. 80 00:04:05,228 --> 00:04:08,948 I know that's attributed to Mike Tyson, but as an impressionable young 81 00:04:08,948 --> 00:04:12,398 man, that lesson stuck with me and I will always attribute it to him. 82 00:04:12,828 --> 00:04:15,878 And I think having a diverse education, really, your education 83 00:04:15,878 --> 00:04:17,048 just doesn't happen in the classroom. 84 00:04:17,348 --> 00:04:18,208 It could be from anyone. 85 00:04:18,218 --> 00:04:20,278 It could be from anyone, regardless of their background. 86 00:04:20,758 --> 00:04:23,508 And so that's, I think, key with, especially with the way that the 87 00:04:23,508 --> 00:04:28,318 world's going, that we hear now a lot of operations and firms are 88 00:04:28,418 --> 00:04:31,168 bypassing the need for a degree. 89 00:04:31,628 --> 00:04:31,818 Really? 90 00:04:32,998 --> 00:04:37,278 Yeah, there's if you can show that you have the skill set, you know, whether 91 00:04:37,278 --> 00:04:40,718 it's in technology or whether it's in strategy, if you have a skill set that 92 00:04:40,718 --> 00:04:44,858 can really make up for the lack of a degree and you have that experience. 93 00:04:44,858 --> 00:04:47,338 I think that's you know, an avenue for people. 94 00:04:47,348 --> 00:04:51,508 However, I will say that education is still still key, especially 95 00:04:51,668 --> 00:04:54,318 for your listeners who might be in different parts of the world. 96 00:04:54,708 --> 00:04:54,788 Yeah. 97 00:04:55,258 --> 00:04:57,718 Yeah, to give you a bit of, to give you a bit of additional color 98 00:04:57,758 --> 00:04:59,188 I'm currently based in Tokyo. 99 00:04:59,728 --> 00:05:02,728 The last 10 years of my career, or the last 10 years of my life, frankly, 100 00:05:02,728 --> 00:05:06,668 have been in split between Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore. 101 00:05:07,318 --> 00:05:10,858 And that's where I've learned a lot of, yeah, yeah, I would say 102 00:05:10,858 --> 00:05:12,588 that I've traveled quite a bit. 103 00:05:13,158 --> 00:05:16,154 And it really started from being flexible, right? 104 00:05:16,154 --> 00:05:21,968 I think being flexible and understanding that just like education, your 105 00:05:21,968 --> 00:05:23,578 career is not a linear path either. 106 00:05:24,048 --> 00:05:27,618 Like, if you take advantage of the situation and you have a certain set of 107 00:05:27,618 --> 00:05:30,928 base skill sets that you really believe in, and you know you can deliver with, 108 00:05:31,638 --> 00:05:36,013 being flexible on, okay, can you, can you, can you head over to Tokyo first? 109 00:05:36,543 --> 00:05:38,613 For six days and help a client out. 110 00:05:38,993 --> 00:05:42,733 And then for me, that turned that for me, that turned into six years and a wife. 111 00:05:43,333 --> 00:05:49,003 So I packed, I packed the suitcase, I packed the suitcase. 112 00:05:49,003 --> 00:05:51,663 And the next thing I know I'm there for six years. 113 00:05:51,863 --> 00:05:54,183 And of course I had a lot of different stops in between. 114 00:05:54,603 --> 00:05:58,413 I'd say one of them being Singapore, I think that that to me was a very 115 00:05:58,413 --> 00:06:05,203 big point in my life because while I was in Singapore I had moved in 2019. 116 00:06:05,543 --> 00:06:12,373 Really from the from Hong Kong on the back of the things that were 117 00:06:12,373 --> 00:06:15,303 happening in Hong Kong at the time, there was a lot of capital flight. 118 00:06:15,683 --> 00:06:19,043 I had seen that, okay, this is, I see where the next opportunities 119 00:06:19,043 --> 00:06:19,973 in Asia are going to be. 120 00:06:20,393 --> 00:06:21,393 For me, that was Singapore. 121 00:06:21,393 --> 00:06:22,973 I saw the money was flowing into Singapore. 122 00:06:23,223 --> 00:06:24,283 Let me go ahead and follow that. 123 00:06:24,923 --> 00:06:28,083 The minute I move into Singapore about three months later it's 124 00:06:28,093 --> 00:06:29,993 January, 2020 COVID hits. 125 00:06:31,773 --> 00:06:32,363 Yeah. 126 00:06:32,593 --> 00:06:36,463 And for, for all of you guys are Who are in Asia, you, you would understand, 127 00:06:36,503 --> 00:06:40,483 you understand that the, a lot of the lockdowns in, in Asia were much 128 00:06:40,503 --> 00:06:43,813 more fierce than they were in other parts of the world, like the U. 129 00:06:43,813 --> 00:06:44,233 S. 130 00:06:44,873 --> 00:06:49,713 You know, I had a a 30 square meter apartment, 400 square 131 00:06:49,713 --> 00:06:51,143 foot flat in Singapore. 132 00:06:51,423 --> 00:06:54,833 And for six months, I was there alone by myself. 133 00:06:55,033 --> 00:06:55,873 Really not. 134 00:06:56,753 --> 00:07:00,223 The lockdowns were so serious that you couldn't meet with your friends 135 00:07:00,223 --> 00:07:02,943 or these types of things and as an expat in Singapore, if you leave, 136 00:07:02,943 --> 00:07:04,193 you wouldn't be able to come back. 137 00:07:04,193 --> 00:07:07,593 So I decided to tough it out, where the only person that I would 138 00:07:07,593 --> 00:07:11,083 speak to in person was my Uber delivery driver for six months. 139 00:07:12,463 --> 00:07:16,853 Yeah, I think that gives you a lot of perspective and it 140 00:07:16,853 --> 00:07:19,073 forces you to readjust your. 141 00:07:19,148 --> 00:07:22,358 You know, to kind of readjust your what you want in life. 142 00:07:22,388 --> 00:07:27,028 And that's, that's what led me to, you know, kind of revisit what you 143 00:07:27,028 --> 00:07:31,938 knew me as really just spending a lot of time with family and really trying 144 00:07:31,938 --> 00:07:33,848 to give back and do things that way. 145 00:07:33,848 --> 00:07:40,128 So after COVID, you know, I reassessed I decided, okay, it's, if I, if, if 146 00:07:40,138 --> 00:07:44,243 for some reason I passed away in my apartment, The first person to find 147 00:07:44,243 --> 00:07:47,373 me would have been my assistant, and that was a very sobering thought. 148 00:07:47,373 --> 00:07:48,098 I miss that. 149 00:07:48,098 --> 00:07:48,823 I miss that. 150 00:07:49,383 --> 00:07:49,933 Yeah. 151 00:07:49,933 --> 00:07:52,963 Dr William T Choctaw: Well, you know, I hadn't thought 152 00:07:52,963 --> 00:07:54,073 about the whole COVID thing. 153 00:07:54,093 --> 00:07:58,563 It's interesting that the thing about relationships, every podcast that 154 00:07:58,563 --> 00:08:04,103 I've done, we've done 40 so far, I always end with my lessons learned. 155 00:08:04,453 --> 00:08:06,633 And one of those is what you just mentioned, that 156 00:08:06,703 --> 00:08:08,788 everything is a relationship. 157 00:08:08,788 --> 00:08:13,463 A relationship based on mutual respect, mutual trust, good communication. 158 00:08:13,798 --> 00:08:16,288 And if you have that, then you're in good shape. 159 00:08:16,568 --> 00:08:19,448 And if you don't have that, then you've got some work to do. 160 00:08:19,978 --> 00:08:20,098 Yeah. 161 00:08:21,268 --> 00:08:22,608 John: Yeah, no, absolutely. 162 00:08:22,608 --> 00:08:29,588 And I've had so many of those experiences where I had a relationship, 163 00:08:29,588 --> 00:08:34,138 of course, with a, at the time, a subordinate of mine at my last firm. 164 00:08:34,138 --> 00:08:35,458 We were good friends. 165 00:08:35,728 --> 00:08:39,268 I brought him on to my firm when I was in Asia. 166 00:08:39,898 --> 00:08:42,888 And then, I took some time off after Singapore, and guess 167 00:08:42,888 --> 00:08:44,098 who hired me into his firm? 168 00:08:45,698 --> 00:08:49,068 The guy that I hired, seven years before. 169 00:08:49,558 --> 00:08:53,158 So, it's, it's cyclical, and he, it did work. 170 00:08:53,158 --> 00:08:58,468 And so, it's, those relationships were, it's, it's, it's, 171 00:08:58,478 --> 00:08:59,688 it's a two way relationship. 172 00:08:59,708 --> 00:09:02,808 You put in what you take from it, and, and really genuine empathy. 173 00:09:03,188 --> 00:09:05,618 And understanding it's like, Hey, I want to help you. 174 00:09:05,978 --> 00:09:10,328 My, my goal is for, you know, for, for my, the people that I have these 175 00:09:10,328 --> 00:09:13,948 relationships with to get some sleep at night, you know, we work, we have 176 00:09:13,948 --> 00:09:17,358 a very, we work in a global economy. 177 00:09:17,918 --> 00:09:19,368 Work is being done everywhere. 178 00:09:19,368 --> 00:09:21,658 People are, people are working at all hours of the day. 179 00:09:21,658 --> 00:09:24,358 What I really want to focus on with my friends, it's like, Hey, I just want 180 00:09:24,358 --> 00:09:29,458 to make sure that you guys get what you need for me as a colleague, as a friend. 181 00:09:30,928 --> 00:09:35,188 What comes of it may come, and for me that ended up being hired by my previous 182 00:09:35,188 --> 00:09:37,078 subordinate, which is, which is fantastic. 183 00:09:37,368 --> 00:09:37,948 Oh, that 184 00:09:38,338 --> 00:09:39,328 Dr William T Choctaw: is fantastic. 185 00:09:39,718 --> 00:09:40,078 Yeah. 186 00:09:40,168 --> 00:09:45,018 Going back to your experience in that, that small apartment for six months, how 187 00:09:45,018 --> 00:09:47,008 did you, how did you get through that? 188 00:09:47,078 --> 00:09:50,608 I, I, I, I just, how did that work? 189 00:09:51,978 --> 00:09:57,218 John: So that, that was, that was up I guess logistically, lots of food delivery. 190 00:09:57,268 --> 00:09:59,108 Singapore was very serious about it. 191 00:09:59,883 --> 00:10:00,633 Lockdown. 192 00:10:00,653 --> 00:10:01,993 So I got through it that way. 193 00:10:02,323 --> 00:10:06,583 The other way was really keeping in touch with friends and family digitally, you 194 00:10:06,583 --> 00:10:13,043 know, FaceTimes and Zooms and watching, but watching them get older over FaceTime 195 00:10:13,043 --> 00:10:14,973 was, was kind of heartbreaking for me. 196 00:10:15,423 --> 00:10:19,653 So I, it really helped me get through that time knowing like, okay, at the 197 00:10:19,653 --> 00:10:21,683 end of this, I will be able to see them. 198 00:10:22,343 --> 00:10:25,973 Yeah, and so it's, I would say I would not wish that on anybody, but 199 00:10:26,793 --> 00:10:30,483 I was, I did have a lot of spare time in the hours that I wasn't working. 200 00:10:30,483 --> 00:10:32,993 I picked up, I picked up pottery. 201 00:10:32,993 --> 00:10:34,453 I picked up Python. 202 00:10:35,108 --> 00:10:38,578 You know, I, I started watching cricket cricket is a major sport in 203 00:10:38,588 --> 00:10:40,178 Singapore so I picked up cricket. 204 00:10:40,788 --> 00:10:43,678 And so, you know, I, I tried to make the most out of you know an 205 00:10:43,678 --> 00:10:47,148 ideal situation, you know, just to have extra time and I'm alone. 206 00:10:47,448 --> 00:10:48,928 I was alone at the time I was not married. 207 00:10:49,448 --> 00:10:52,138 So I certainly tried to do as much as I could to keep myself busy. 208 00:10:52,908 --> 00:10:55,158 Dr William T Choctaw: And so you use that time to actually to grow. 209 00:10:57,588 --> 00:10:57,888 Yeah. 210 00:10:58,488 --> 00:10:58,668 John: Yeah. 211 00:10:58,728 --> 00:11:02,438 I think the idea of lifelong learning to me is key. 212 00:11:03,038 --> 00:11:04,938 I like to try to learn something new every day. 213 00:11:05,348 --> 00:11:09,298 You know, whether it's reading a newspaper I still like to read the tactile 214 00:11:09,298 --> 00:11:11,078 newspaper when I can get my hands on it. 215 00:11:11,228 --> 00:11:13,838 You know, I could be a Luddite at times, even though I work in tech. 216 00:11:14,418 --> 00:11:17,498 And so I just try to learn something new every day, whether or I'm 217 00:11:17,498 --> 00:11:20,858 learning from something from the grocery at the grocery, whether it's 218 00:11:21,388 --> 00:11:23,028 from someone or something, right? 219 00:11:23,048 --> 00:11:27,468 So I try to, I try to take the time and I think about that actively. 220 00:11:27,468 --> 00:11:30,318 It's like, okay, have I learned, have I learned something new today? 221 00:11:31,768 --> 00:11:36,248 Dr William T Choctaw: And that's really very smart to, to consciously be aware of 222 00:11:36,248 --> 00:11:41,588 where you are mentally and physically and to, and to have, have, have a plan, you 223 00:11:41,588 --> 00:11:47,398 know, to have standards or things that you want to achieve as compared to being 224 00:11:49,438 --> 00:11:53,308 passive, you know, to be more active and to be more involved and to take charge. 225 00:11:54,098 --> 00:11:54,518 Interesting. 226 00:11:55,018 --> 00:11:57,238 Tell me more about the work that you do. 227 00:11:57,498 --> 00:12:05,618 I was fascinated by the terms of Data analytics and and dispute investigations. 228 00:12:05,658 --> 00:12:10,058 Now, I think legal when I do that, but I'm not sure. 229 00:12:10,498 --> 00:12:12,078 I'm not sure what all that means. 230 00:12:12,828 --> 00:12:13,148 John: Sure. 231 00:12:13,148 --> 00:12:13,418 Thanks. 232 00:12:13,418 --> 00:12:14,868 So from a very, from a very high. 233 00:12:14,868 --> 00:12:19,958 You know, as, as a attorney, you would need to understand the 234 00:12:19,988 --> 00:12:21,608 kind of the discovery process. 235 00:12:22,143 --> 00:12:25,823 And you can imagine the discovery process now with the amount of data 236 00:12:25,823 --> 00:12:30,443 that's being generated on a daily basis when we're thinking of items like your 237 00:12:30,473 --> 00:12:35,783 iPhone or your Apple watch that gives GPS locations where, okay, where was 238 00:12:35,783 --> 00:12:37,353 this individual at this time of day? 239 00:12:37,653 --> 00:12:41,853 So there's this real law, huge amounts of data that need to be. 240 00:12:42,568 --> 00:12:45,008 Thought of in lit in litigation. 241 00:12:45,028 --> 00:12:49,038 So as you can imagine, there's not too many lawyers with that background. 242 00:12:49,378 --> 00:12:54,138 And so I found this niche about 10 years, 10 or 15 years ago, early on in my career. 243 00:12:55,138 --> 00:13:00,258 And it's really just around large amounts of data in a dispute between two 244 00:13:00,258 --> 00:13:06,358 parties and investigation by, you know, the Department of Justice or the SEC. 245 00:13:06,908 --> 00:13:12,048 And so this, this Is the problem, not just in the US, but for 246 00:13:12,048 --> 00:13:13,588 American companies abroad as well. 247 00:13:14,058 --> 00:13:17,738 Or any foreign company that's publicly traded in the United States still has to 248 00:13:17,738 --> 00:13:20,348 adhere to the regulations here in the US. 249 00:13:20,798 --> 00:13:24,608 And so as you can see, that's a very, that can be a very portable skill set. 250 00:13:26,523 --> 00:13:28,643 Yeah, so that's me was important. 251 00:13:28,703 --> 00:13:31,003 I would say when I made the decision to move into this, 252 00:13:31,003 --> 00:13:32,313 I understood it was a niche. 253 00:13:32,723 --> 00:13:35,863 I, I, I enjoyed the strategy of things more. 254 00:13:35,953 --> 00:13:38,763 But for me, strategy is different in different countries. 255 00:13:39,153 --> 00:13:41,493 What can get what, what can I leverage? 256 00:13:42,573 --> 00:13:45,303 Into a career that allows me to move to different countries. 257 00:13:45,303 --> 00:13:49,123 And that was really important to me at the time being able to see the world 258 00:13:49,663 --> 00:13:53,723 frankly on someone else's dime but, and being able, but also being able 259 00:13:53,723 --> 00:13:56,313 to help clients in different parts of the world and build relationships 260 00:13:56,393 --> 00:13:58,423 with people that I would not have. 261 00:13:58,828 --> 00:14:01,738 Met if I did not move out of the United States, so 262 00:14:01,738 --> 00:14:03,668 Dr William T Choctaw: there was an element of intentionality. 263 00:14:04,188 --> 00:14:08,208 But with you, you wanted to find that niche and make sure that you 264 00:14:08,468 --> 00:14:12,648 had a skill set that was marketable that that and marketable and 265 00:14:14,558 --> 00:14:15,468 John: yeah, there's. 266 00:14:15,968 --> 00:14:20,758 You know, I can, I can move back and saying early on my career when I started, 267 00:14:20,758 --> 00:14:22,958 I, I knew that I wanted to be in Asia. 268 00:14:22,968 --> 00:14:27,988 I had taken a backpacking trip right before I started working and 269 00:14:27,988 --> 00:14:30,878 I realized, okay, this would be great if I can make it out here. 270 00:14:31,228 --> 00:14:35,058 And if I could work here and, you know, do some good, you know, in my spare time 271 00:14:35,058 --> 00:14:36,968 while also being able to grow my career. 272 00:14:37,598 --> 00:14:39,588 And so what I really thought about is, number one, like you 273 00:14:39,588 --> 00:14:40,638 said, the marketable skills. 274 00:14:41,198 --> 00:14:46,598 But, but number two, once I was at a large, a firm that has that global reach, 275 00:14:46,788 --> 00:14:48,968 I thought, okay, who do I need to talk to? 276 00:14:49,008 --> 00:14:52,688 Who do I need to build relationships with who can help me get to Asia? 277 00:14:54,728 --> 00:14:58,608 And so, you know, just being very deliberate in your plan. 278 00:14:59,958 --> 00:15:02,048 being very deliberate and working towards your plan. 279 00:15:02,048 --> 00:15:06,078 You might not take 10 steps a day, but you might make half a step. 280 00:15:06,078 --> 00:15:08,158 And that's still, that's still progression. 281 00:15:09,108 --> 00:15:09,878 Why do you think 282 00:15:09,878 --> 00:15:13,438 Dr William T Choctaw: that your plan work and others who I'm sure they 283 00:15:13,438 --> 00:15:17,428 may have had similar ideas didn't work, but what, what do you think was 284 00:15:17,428 --> 00:15:23,278 unique about the way you did whatever that allowed you to be successful? 285 00:15:24,348 --> 00:15:27,188 John: I would say the two, two major things. 286 00:15:27,188 --> 00:15:29,398 And really one, it goes back to relationships as well. 287 00:15:29,418 --> 00:15:35,173 One, the person the first, person that I worked with that once I started 288 00:15:35,183 --> 00:15:39,023 looking, making a deliberate effort to, Hey, I want to be based in Asia. 289 00:15:39,023 --> 00:15:39,993 I want to move to Hong Kong. 290 00:15:39,993 --> 00:15:41,163 I want to move to Tokyo. 291 00:15:41,713 --> 00:15:48,093 The first person who I looked towards was the person who I've worked with for 292 00:15:48,153 --> 00:15:50,153 the past 10 years at different firms. 293 00:15:51,113 --> 00:15:54,913 We might do business together, but she, she, she's one of my 294 00:15:54,913 --> 00:15:57,163 mentors and she was really key. 295 00:15:57,843 --> 00:16:01,753 And me being able to show all of that thought and effort beforehand 296 00:16:01,763 --> 00:16:02,543 was like, Hey, you know what? 297 00:16:02,543 --> 00:16:03,403 You're serious about this. 298 00:16:03,403 --> 00:16:07,803 You don't want to just come out and, and kind of you know, just party. 299 00:16:07,823 --> 00:16:09,703 You really want to come out and do some good work. 300 00:16:09,703 --> 00:16:14,903 And so I think that made such a, made such a impression on her that she's been 301 00:16:14,903 --> 00:16:17,823 my mentor since Yeah, so relationships. 302 00:16:17,823 --> 00:16:20,143 I know I keep on harping on that, but it's certainly for me. 303 00:16:20,143 --> 00:16:20,863 That's been it. 304 00:16:21,273 --> 00:16:23,453 And number two is willing to take risks. 305 00:16:25,253 --> 00:16:27,463 Willing to take risks and be uncomfortable. 306 00:16:27,593 --> 00:16:32,853 You know, it's certainly before moving out to before moving out to Hong Kong I 307 00:16:32,853 --> 00:16:35,613 was taking Chinese or Cantonese lessons. 308 00:16:36,133 --> 00:16:37,443 I was taking Mandarin lessons. 309 00:16:37,903 --> 00:16:42,003 But I wasn't only, but six months in, I get a call from a client in Tokyo. 310 00:16:42,003 --> 00:16:43,723 Hey, can you come over for six days? 311 00:16:43,773 --> 00:16:46,053 Next thing I know, I have to learn Japanese. 312 00:16:46,453 --> 00:16:50,793 And of course, that's not a, that's, that's not an the easiest situation. 313 00:16:50,793 --> 00:16:53,853 It's a very volatile moving from one country to another. 314 00:16:54,238 --> 00:16:58,738 Over the course of a month, essentially just on the drop of a you know, just 315 00:16:58,738 --> 00:17:02,208 basically at the drop of a hat, I would say being opportunistic when 316 00:17:02,208 --> 00:17:06,508 you see that opportunity, you smell that opportunity, you see that you 317 00:17:06,508 --> 00:17:09,998 might, you're going to have to put in the work, but at the end of the day, 318 00:17:10,228 --> 00:17:11,868 can, can you do some good work there? 319 00:17:11,868 --> 00:17:12,918 And sure. 320 00:17:12,948 --> 00:17:16,623 And so I think taking risks for me was the And the relationships are the two 321 00:17:16,623 --> 00:17:18,023 of the biggest things that propelled me. 322 00:17:18,933 --> 00:17:20,973 Dr William T Choctaw: I would think that it's certainly to be able to 323 00:17:20,983 --> 00:17:23,523 take those risks and to be able to 324 00:17:27,133 --> 00:17:31,223 open up, requires a certain degree of confidence. 325 00:17:31,443 --> 00:17:33,523 Where does your level of confidence come from? 326 00:17:33,763 --> 00:17:36,723 How did you, you know, because a lot of people want to do those 327 00:17:36,723 --> 00:17:40,643 things that you've done, but they may and probably never will. 328 00:17:40,943 --> 00:17:45,863 Why, what, what, where did you get that that made you think 329 00:17:45,863 --> 00:17:47,073 that you could actually do it? 330 00:17:47,083 --> 00:17:47,923 So you went ahead and 331 00:17:47,923 --> 00:17:48,263 John: did it. 332 00:17:49,378 --> 00:17:53,178 It's, it's, it's, there's no magic answer, but I would say preparation. 333 00:17:54,018 --> 00:17:55,358 I was, I was prepared. 334 00:17:55,768 --> 00:17:57,938 I prepared myself at every step of the way. 335 00:17:57,938 --> 00:18:02,098 I, I, when I, when I chose my university for undergrad, I picked a 336 00:18:02,098 --> 00:18:05,913 university that was very That fit me. 337 00:18:06,083 --> 00:18:09,763 Not because it was a big name, it's because their program was something that 338 00:18:10,063 --> 00:18:12,033 I could see myself being successful in. 339 00:18:12,253 --> 00:18:12,563 Right? 340 00:18:12,863 --> 00:18:14,533 They would give me the tools to succeed. 341 00:18:15,173 --> 00:18:18,843 I was prepared once I started my career because I knew who 342 00:18:18,843 --> 00:18:20,773 the players were on day one. 343 00:18:20,783 --> 00:18:23,193 You know, I did my research, due diligence, whether you're using 344 00:18:23,203 --> 00:18:26,363 LinkedIn, whether you're looking at whatever anyone's published. 345 00:18:26,363 --> 00:18:29,743 And, you know, this is, this is some, something that I tell a lot of you know, 346 00:18:29,743 --> 00:18:33,623 when I speak at schools and these types of things, is know who, know your audience. 347 00:18:34,113 --> 00:18:38,183 You know, LinkedIn, read anything they've ever published, read their 348 00:18:38,183 --> 00:18:39,953 books if you can, if they have. 349 00:18:40,313 --> 00:18:44,823 And that really gives you an idea of the steps you can take next. 350 00:18:44,823 --> 00:18:47,713 And so, that, for me that, it was just the preparation. 351 00:18:47,933 --> 00:18:51,523 Preparation and Yeah, I would love to say that I'm a big gambler but I'm not. 352 00:18:51,533 --> 00:18:54,083 I'm, I need, I need data. 353 00:18:54,173 --> 00:18:58,343 I'm a data guy so I need to ingest as much data as I can to make a decision. 354 00:18:59,203 --> 00:19:02,713 Dr William T Choctaw: And that makes a lot of sense that that you prepared for. 355 00:19:02,773 --> 00:19:04,063 This wasn't an accident. 356 00:19:04,423 --> 00:19:06,093 You, as you said, you did the work. 357 00:19:07,223 --> 00:19:10,303 When you picked out your school, it wasn't just because of the name, 358 00:19:10,303 --> 00:19:14,053 but you knew what you wanted, and you wanted to see and wanted to make 359 00:19:14,053 --> 00:19:18,773 sure that school was compatible and would help you along with your goals. 360 00:19:19,093 --> 00:19:23,413 And, and I think that, that, again, that level of intentionality is, is 361 00:19:23,413 --> 00:19:27,553 a lot of times something that, that we, we don't do as much as we should. 362 00:19:27,553 --> 00:19:31,253 We sort of wait for that magic moment, and indeed you create 363 00:19:31,253 --> 00:19:32,633 the magic in your own life. 364 00:19:35,113 --> 00:19:36,773 John: Yeah, that's that's certainly the case. 365 00:19:36,773 --> 00:19:41,203 It's when you see that opportunity sees that you really only if you let it pass 366 00:19:41,203 --> 00:19:46,293 you by, you know, and we've we've all done this where you see an opportunity and you. 367 00:19:46,653 --> 00:19:49,973 You're thinking about it months and years later, what if I did this, 368 00:19:50,313 --> 00:19:53,803 did this differently, you know, I think my goal is really by being 369 00:19:53,803 --> 00:19:56,013 prepared is that I won't have it. 370 00:19:56,043 --> 00:19:58,283 I'll have I can minimize my regrets later on. 371 00:19:58,613 --> 00:19:59,393 Dr William T Choctaw: Right, right. 372 00:19:59,503 --> 00:20:01,283 That's that's perfect. 373 00:20:01,633 --> 00:20:02,093 Absolutely. 374 00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:06,383 As you travel around the world. 375 00:20:06,403 --> 00:20:09,033 Well, let's let's just say in Japan and Tokyo. 376 00:20:09,638 --> 00:20:13,818 But what have you learned as some of the major differences between 377 00:20:14,138 --> 00:20:15,938 Tokyo and, say, California? 378 00:20:17,168 --> 00:20:20,728 John: So I'd say the culture is drastically different. 379 00:20:20,728 --> 00:20:26,348 I would say that you know, it's, the work culture is it's, it's less of a 380 00:20:26,348 --> 00:20:31,118 meritocracy, like it is here in the United States, and more of seniority. 381 00:20:31,478 --> 00:20:36,248 And so having to understand that and coming in as the, coming 382 00:20:36,248 --> 00:20:37,528 in as the guy from America. 383 00:20:37,953 --> 00:20:40,303 Or as that, you know, kind of like that expat from the U. 384 00:20:40,303 --> 00:20:44,373 S., I, I had to understand, like, I'm not here to reinvent the wheel, I'm just 385 00:20:44,373 --> 00:20:46,283 here to make sure that it's less noisy. 386 00:20:46,833 --> 00:20:51,193 Right, and it's, and under, having a good understanding, coming from California, 387 00:20:51,193 --> 00:20:55,313 where we're really blessed with huge diversity I had grown up with Japanese 388 00:20:55,363 --> 00:20:58,093 friends, and I had grown up with Chinese friends, I've grown up with European 389 00:20:58,093 --> 00:21:02,863 friends, and so, when I made it out to, you know, all the stops that I've made 390 00:21:02,863 --> 00:21:08,813 it to, I wasn't surprised because I spent time around my friend's parents. 391 00:21:08,813 --> 00:21:11,763 I spent time around you know, first generation immigrants. 392 00:21:11,773 --> 00:21:14,833 So when I got back to, when I got back to Asia, it was, I 393 00:21:14,833 --> 00:21:16,683 wasn't surprised by anything. 394 00:21:17,323 --> 00:21:23,233 And I was really cognizant of Respecting the values, the cultural 395 00:21:23,233 --> 00:21:28,023 values, but understanding where I can add, where I could add my value. 396 00:21:28,333 --> 00:21:30,093 Dr William T Choctaw: Right, right, where you would fit. 397 00:21:31,093 --> 00:21:32,163 Where I would fit in. 398 00:21:32,413 --> 00:21:33,783 Right, you did your homework. 399 00:21:34,643 --> 00:21:35,643 I did my homework. 400 00:21:35,993 --> 00:21:41,233 Your experience and that, and that's, that is so important because I think what 401 00:21:41,453 --> 00:21:47,568 it does is it sets one's expectations appropriate, at an appropriate level. 402 00:21:47,948 --> 00:21:52,648 And it allows you the opportunity to reach those expectations by having a plan. 403 00:21:52,658 --> 00:21:53,478 You had a plan. 404 00:21:54,368 --> 00:21:54,668 Yeah. 405 00:21:54,668 --> 00:21:54,908 And, 406 00:21:55,268 --> 00:21:58,598 John: but, but at the same time, and this worthy getting, getting punched 407 00:21:58,598 --> 00:22:01,768 in the mouth, everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth, right? 408 00:22:01,768 --> 00:22:03,128 Until you get punched in the mouth. 409 00:22:03,128 --> 00:22:04,168 Until you get punched in the mouth. 410 00:22:04,338 --> 00:22:07,528 And you will get punched in the mouth no matter how prepared you 411 00:22:07,528 --> 00:22:10,208 are, no matter how brilliant you are. 412 00:22:10,743 --> 00:22:14,183 You will get punched in the mouth and recovering for that, from that is key. 413 00:22:14,303 --> 00:22:18,863 And I would say that's actually one of the differences I've seen in the U. 414 00:22:18,863 --> 00:22:19,153 S. 415 00:22:19,183 --> 00:22:21,483 versus, you know, parts of Asia. 416 00:22:21,863 --> 00:22:23,693 I can say, we're in the U. 417 00:22:23,693 --> 00:22:29,743 S., we have the SATs in various parts of Asia. 418 00:22:30,428 --> 00:22:33,548 There's the, the, the university entrance exams. 419 00:22:34,268 --> 00:22:35,098 If in the U. 420 00:22:35,098 --> 00:22:35,438 S. 421 00:22:35,448 --> 00:22:38,938 you don't get perfect scores or the scores that you want in your SATs, you 422 00:22:38,938 --> 00:22:43,118 can go to a community college and you can transfer into the school of your dreams. 423 00:22:43,538 --> 00:22:47,428 In Asia, if you, you have a one shot at that, you have one shot. 424 00:22:47,578 --> 00:22:50,288 If you don't make it in, there's fewer avenues. 425 00:22:50,778 --> 00:22:54,158 From from educational standpoint to then get into your dream school. 426 00:22:54,688 --> 00:22:56,848 And so I would say that's the biggest difference where in the U. 427 00:22:56,848 --> 00:22:57,048 S. 428 00:22:57,068 --> 00:22:59,958 we second chances are easier to come by. 429 00:23:00,418 --> 00:23:04,078 So that's, that's one of the bigger differences I've seen, but at the same 430 00:23:04,078 --> 00:23:09,258 time, you know, if you're prepared, you know, there's no, it's no fault 431 00:23:09,268 --> 00:23:10,638 of anyone else's except yourself. 432 00:23:10,758 --> 00:23:12,308 And so I would say just. 433 00:23:12,748 --> 00:23:14,038 That's how I live it. 434 00:23:14,198 --> 00:23:18,008 If I, if I know that I'm going to run into something bad, I know that it was 435 00:23:18,698 --> 00:23:20,838 my fault because I wasn't prepared. 436 00:23:21,168 --> 00:23:22,538 I like to think about it that way. 437 00:23:22,558 --> 00:23:22,848 Right. 438 00:23:22,898 --> 00:23:25,158 And so those are, you know, looking at that, those are 439 00:23:25,168 --> 00:23:26,388 some of the bigger differences. 440 00:23:26,808 --> 00:23:31,428 Aside from the public transportation, which I miss dearly, I, I 441 00:23:31,428 --> 00:23:32,808 am not a fan of driving. 442 00:23:33,468 --> 00:23:37,858 so I like my hour on the bus or the train where I can read a book. 443 00:23:37,888 --> 00:23:40,178 I can read, you know, I can listen to your podcast. 444 00:23:40,228 --> 00:23:43,398 I can do something, you know, productive rather than being in a car 445 00:23:43,398 --> 00:23:47,458 for an hour to go 20 kilometers or 10 miles and thinking, okay, this is. 446 00:23:47,923 --> 00:23:48,523 This is awful. 447 00:23:50,693 --> 00:23:52,133 Dr William T Choctaw: That is fascinating. 448 00:23:52,383 --> 00:23:57,683 You know, going back to the whole, I like your analogy about getting punched 449 00:23:57,683 --> 00:24:03,883 in the way I think about that is I tell myself that I need to stay relentless, 450 00:24:04,743 --> 00:24:08,523 that bad things are going to happen in terms of me not getting what I want, 451 00:24:09,553 --> 00:24:13,463 certainly not getting it when I want but if it's important, if it's my 452 00:24:13,463 --> 00:24:15,563 goal, then I need to stay relentless. 453 00:24:15,563 --> 00:24:20,593 And I tell myself no matter what happens, I'm, I'm, I'm moving in that direction. 454 00:24:21,278 --> 00:24:24,998 So it's, I think it's sort of anticipated again that you may get 455 00:24:24,998 --> 00:24:26,998 punched in the mouth, but that's okay. 456 00:24:27,198 --> 00:24:30,948 You know, you learn from that and you, you adapt and you move 457 00:24:30,968 --> 00:24:31,328 John: forward. 458 00:24:32,968 --> 00:24:34,838 You know, to echo your thoughts, Dr. 459 00:24:34,838 --> 00:24:38,028 Choctaw, I think it's really learning from your mistakes. 460 00:24:38,798 --> 00:24:41,378 And that's, you know, that lesson I hope we all learn at an 461 00:24:41,398 --> 00:24:45,038 early age, and it's something, something that will never change. 462 00:24:45,038 --> 00:24:47,478 If you can learn from your mistakes, you will make progression. 463 00:24:47,548 --> 00:24:50,318 One step, you know, two steps forward, one step back, hey, 464 00:24:50,318 --> 00:24:51,788 that's still one step forward. 465 00:24:51,818 --> 00:24:52,718 So I'll take that. 466 00:24:53,238 --> 00:24:54,078 Dr William T Choctaw: Exactly. 467 00:24:54,158 --> 00:24:54,818 Exactly. 468 00:24:55,218 --> 00:24:59,018 And I think another part of that is just being grateful for how you're blessed. 469 00:24:59,038 --> 00:25:02,558 You mentioned earlier about you know, advice that Father Tony had 470 00:25:02,568 --> 00:25:05,083 given you, that God is sort of Yeah. 471 00:25:05,273 --> 00:25:11,003 Taking care of us and and has a plan also for us and even if our plan doesn't 472 00:25:11,003 --> 00:25:17,763 always work out our plan may not be the only plan that's where there's Yeah, 473 00:25:17,763 --> 00:25:21,193 John: no and that's you know, that's that helps me get through the day just 474 00:25:21,193 --> 00:25:27,413 understanding that you know, there's there's We're all on this journey, and 475 00:25:27,413 --> 00:25:31,233 there's going to be off ramps, there's going to be on ramps, but at the end 476 00:25:31,233 --> 00:25:34,533 of the day, you know, our goal is the same, and the goal is to really live 477 00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:36,813 a fulfilled and healthy life, right? 478 00:25:36,813 --> 00:25:39,933 And I think there's so many ways to do that, it's not linear, 479 00:25:39,963 --> 00:25:42,743 there's not just one path, it can happen in a lot of different ways. 480 00:25:43,093 --> 00:25:46,193 When I think about this, when I thought of my career choices, and 481 00:25:46,193 --> 00:25:50,543 seeing you as a podcaster these days, I, I'm just surprised how you talk. 482 00:25:51,763 --> 00:25:56,383 Well, I'm just surprised to see and to see your transformation over the 483 00:25:56,383 --> 00:26:01,303 years, having, you know, as the at your different stages and seeing that, 484 00:26:01,803 --> 00:26:05,383 you know, for, for me in my head, it's like 10 or 15 years ago, I never 485 00:26:05,383 --> 00:26:06,993 thought that podcasting could be a. 486 00:26:07,403 --> 00:26:11,303 A career choice for many people where I see I have friends around me now who are 487 00:26:11,533 --> 00:26:16,243 doing the same thing and really doing good work and reaching out to a large group of 488 00:26:16,243 --> 00:26:18,473 people and, you know, doing great things. 489 00:26:18,473 --> 00:26:21,123 And who could have thought about this 10, 15 years ago? 490 00:26:21,163 --> 00:26:21,473 Right? 491 00:26:21,473 --> 00:26:27,603 And so the world is constantly changing and we just have to be prepared for it. 492 00:26:27,603 --> 00:26:32,573 If we're prepared or as prepared as we can be, those punches to the mouth won't 493 00:26:32,573 --> 00:26:34,123 be as painful and you'll get up much 494 00:26:34,123 --> 00:26:34,633 Dr William T Choctaw: faster. 495 00:26:34,983 --> 00:26:36,343 Exactly, exactly. 496 00:26:36,573 --> 00:26:39,323 I, you know, and just to add some historical perspective, I 497 00:26:39,323 --> 00:26:40,763 first met John when he was in. 498 00:26:41,243 --> 00:26:43,863 Probably in high school, junior high and high school. 499 00:26:44,173 --> 00:26:51,223 And John basically was the individual in our community who helped my wife and I in 500 00:26:51,223 --> 00:26:54,203 our home to upgrade our computer system. 501 00:26:54,503 --> 00:26:57,153 And so if you could imagine this, this 10 year old. 502 00:26:57,518 --> 00:27:02,598 a computer genius, in our opinion, coming in and saying, you know, Dr. 503 00:27:02,598 --> 00:27:06,188 Choctaw, I'm sorry, but I can't fix this computer. 504 00:27:06,968 --> 00:27:12,098 You need to, you need to change it, that they no longer make the parts. 505 00:27:12,708 --> 00:27:15,258 You need to just make a decision to upgrade. 506 00:27:15,548 --> 00:27:20,758 So he taught us, my wife and I many, many, over many, many years about 507 00:27:20,768 --> 00:27:25,218 improving our technology, how to take advantage of the appropriate technology. 508 00:27:25,218 --> 00:27:26,778 It made our lives much simpler. 509 00:27:27,048 --> 00:27:30,508 So when he looks at me as a podcaster, he's got to say, 510 00:27:30,518 --> 00:27:32,308 you know, that really is a guy. 511 00:27:35,568 --> 00:27:37,578 It's, it's amazing. 512 00:27:38,388 --> 00:27:42,028 This guy and then make him a podcast at 76. 513 00:27:42,028 --> 00:27:42,778 Oh my lord. 514 00:27:43,218 --> 00:27:48,088 That's just that's just not supposed to happen and so and we we talk about you 515 00:27:48,088 --> 00:27:53,938 constantly lorraine and i'm about how you helped us And and that's why we take such 516 00:27:53,978 --> 00:27:59,148 pride In what you have done, you know, we look at you as one of our children. 517 00:27:59,158 --> 00:28:04,683 I know you're the son of hanshi and and and But, but we, we, we, 518 00:28:04,683 --> 00:28:08,493 we feel blessed that, that, that you've been a part of our life. 519 00:28:08,503 --> 00:28:13,213 Thanks, thanks to your parents for, for loaning you to us to help us out. 520 00:28:13,453 --> 00:28:15,283 And then to see you do so well. 521 00:28:15,323 --> 00:28:20,473 And, and, and, and the whole idea of not being linear, I think is just brilliant. 522 00:28:20,743 --> 00:28:23,423 Because I think that's where a lot of people get stuck. 523 00:28:23,853 --> 00:28:24,973 Young and old. 524 00:28:25,023 --> 00:28:27,533 I think a lot of times we older people said, no, no, no, you got 525 00:28:27,533 --> 00:28:30,973 to go this straight line and one to two to three to four to five. 526 00:28:31,403 --> 00:28:34,743 And some people said, no, I go one to three to five. 527 00:28:35,243 --> 00:28:37,113 You know, I go every other number. 528 00:28:37,373 --> 00:28:41,813 And I think just recognizing that there is a diversity of approach. 529 00:28:42,183 --> 00:28:43,823 And you're exemplary of that. 530 00:28:43,873 --> 00:28:45,653 And, and, and how that could 531 00:28:45,653 --> 00:28:45,943 John: work. 532 00:28:47,078 --> 00:28:50,618 Well, thank you for the kind words that it's certainly I've I've been 533 00:28:50,618 --> 00:28:53,948 blessed to have you in my life as well as I remember our trips to Mexico 534 00:28:55,048 --> 00:29:01,978 for the mission and learning that there's more more to life than that. 535 00:29:02,413 --> 00:29:08,003 Chase of whatever you want to take some time off and and I remember this was when 536 00:29:08,003 --> 00:29:12,683 you were you've had your you had your multiple practices, your civil service. 537 00:29:12,913 --> 00:29:13,973 Yeah, it's still on the weekend. 538 00:29:13,983 --> 00:29:17,603 We had an opportunity to go to Mexico and bring, you know, help the 539 00:29:17,673 --> 00:29:19,383 help the folks there and it just. 540 00:29:20,293 --> 00:29:24,233 Making the most of your time, if you can do it, why couldn't I do it, right? 541 00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:25,983 And that was lessons that you taught me at a young 542 00:29:25,983 --> 00:29:26,273 Dr William T Choctaw: age. 543 00:29:26,733 --> 00:29:27,503 Oh, thank you. 544 00:29:27,763 --> 00:29:32,673 And I always remember what the what the mother used to tell us 545 00:29:32,673 --> 00:29:35,453 when we would go to Mexico to help. 546 00:29:35,483 --> 00:29:39,383 She would say, you know, you come here you know, thinking that you, 547 00:29:39,383 --> 00:29:41,433 you, you come here to help us. 548 00:29:42,108 --> 00:29:47,278 But you actually come here for us to help you, and I, I never forgot that 549 00:29:47,278 --> 00:29:52,088 because all of us, whenever we would leave, we were all exhilarated and we 550 00:29:52,108 --> 00:29:57,058 felt good and that even though we were giving, we were also receiving, and 551 00:29:57,058 --> 00:30:00,278 we were probably receiving much more than, than, than we gave, and I never 552 00:30:00,278 --> 00:30:05,138 forgot that that life is about being of service to others, that that servitude 553 00:30:05,588 --> 00:30:10,463 is extremely important because, in effect, that reflexly makes us better. 554 00:30:10,943 --> 00:30:13,383 and happier and more whole and everything. 555 00:30:13,993 --> 00:30:17,663 Well, I, I want to be respectful of your time and I, I'm just 556 00:30:17,663 --> 00:30:22,013 extraordinarily grateful that, that, that you've come to talk with us. 557 00:30:22,223 --> 00:30:26,193 In any words of wisdom that you would like to leave with our audience? 558 00:30:26,633 --> 00:30:28,373 Especially the young people in our audience. 559 00:30:29,543 --> 00:30:30,213 John: Sure thing. 560 00:30:30,273 --> 00:30:31,553 Just be prepared. 561 00:30:32,473 --> 00:30:34,043 Be prepared for the next day. 562 00:30:34,433 --> 00:30:35,663 Do put in the work today. 563 00:30:36,743 --> 00:30:38,353 And they'll be better tomorrows. 564 00:30:38,353 --> 00:30:39,273 I'll promise you that. 565 00:30:39,283 --> 00:30:40,773 We've been through, we've seen so much. 566 00:30:41,463 --> 00:30:45,493 I know how it is to be very, very down, but I also know how it is where, hey, 567 00:30:45,493 --> 00:30:49,943 you know what, even when I'm down, try to get that energy, put it into work 568 00:30:49,943 --> 00:30:51,303 today, and tomorrow will be better. 569 00:30:51,303 --> 00:30:54,273 And, you know, I've faced that, and I think that's key. 570 00:30:55,083 --> 00:30:55,273 Keep 571 00:30:55,273 --> 00:30:55,723 Dr William T Choctaw: on getting up. 572 00:30:56,903 --> 00:30:57,493 Absolutely. 573 00:30:57,913 --> 00:30:59,403 I completely agree with that. 574 00:30:59,433 --> 00:31:04,713 And again, thank you, John, so much for meeting with us today 575 00:31:04,903 --> 00:31:06,853 and sharing your words of wisdom. 576 00:31:07,293 --> 00:31:08,703 Keep doing what you're doing. 577 00:31:08,713 --> 00:31:12,143 You know, I think, you know, God has a plan and you're a part of it. 578 00:31:12,983 --> 00:31:16,583 And I think your work and your life is exemplary. 579 00:31:17,463 --> 00:31:21,293 aNd so with that we're going to let you go and say, God bless. 580 00:31:22,203 --> 00:31:22,413 Thank you. 581 00:31:22,413 --> 00:31:24,213 Take care.