Lineage Ride 2019
“Honoring Our Past, Protecting Our Future”
This summer I will travel the American Northwest on a 2-week mission with a team lead by U.S. Navy SEALs, and comprised of Federal Agents, and patriotic American citizens. Though we will see some of the most beautiful scenery that our nation has to offer, and meet amazing people along the way, we will be working to support a cause greater than ourselves.
Our mission is two-fold:
1- Honoring Our Past: We are taking this opportunity to honor someone in our line (lineage) that contributed to who we are today.
2- Protecting Our Future: Our Nation’s children are being targeted. “Someone should do something”, that someone is you. Able Nation is a 501(c)3 that provides the most efficient training and safety equipment to schools, churches, and civic groups nationwide.
I've chosen to honor Phil Childrey, a bold and impactful man early in my professional career. Phil was a no BS kind of guy, with no filler words ever so present in today's world... often there was an abundance of silence. In the world of sales, he was extremely affective. Looking back to the early 2000's, Phil was promoted to be my manager and scheduled a regional meetin'. Now up til then, my only real exposure to this mystery of a man was in a social hour when he walked up and grabbed my drink order and said thanks while walking away, he was never afraid to establish/challenge boundaries. So needless to say I was eager for this first sit down, which ended up being the start to a very special relationship. You see, I expected what I saw on the outside... but what he gave us was much different. He started the meetin' with a few ground rules:
1- I want each of you to own a house within 2 years (4 of 5 were in early 20's and didn't own, we all bought within 2 years)
2- And I want us to win region of the year (We did win region of the year)
Wait, what... thats it?! Where's the bold intimidation we were all expecting, or the rah-rah pitch to hit our sales goal. It never came. Instead he led by example, and the following were some of the many things he taught us:
- There's letter of the law and spirit of the law, and they may look different at times
- Find something in common with an individual in 5 seconds in their space, and be interested in them
- Invest in myself now, tomorrow is lost time
- Say what you mean... and pause more
- LAPR everything (Listen to a person-Acknowledge them-Probe for more information-Respond in a meaningful way), and he led by example
I will be riding a BMW 1200 for this ride, the first and last time I was on one prior to this year was with Phil, in south Texas in pouring down rain heading to San Antonio... won't say how fast! It was a great memory, one of many. We lost Phil while doing something he loved, and something he loved to share... riding. There were many firsts with this man that are staples in my life today. I shot my first AR, my first red dot optic, my first 1911... and that was before lunch at a "sales meetin'". I'm honored to have had him in my life, and lucky to have had his influence early in my adulthood. He was one of a kind, and there is no doubt our creator at the pearl gates was greeted with a slightly tilted head, an adjustment to the glasses... and a brief pause before embracing. Cheers my friend, until we meet again!
Please prayfully consider donating to a cause that enables confidence through Shepherd development in School and Church communities. Able Nation has taken the first steps in providing hands-on training, emergency medical supplies, and validated security products nation-wide. Please join me in supporting their reach. Your financial donation of any amount could help save a life. Together we can make a difference. Thank you.
For more information contact info@able-nation.org
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