From Rock Bottom to Running the Floor — Sue Lyon’s Story

I’m not going to expect any one of my employees to do something
that I’m not willing to do myself. >> And yeah, I may have seven
meetings that I got to do throughout the day, but I’m going to try and get
out there and I’m going to try and help you and I’m going to try and learn
because there’s something that every single one of them can teach me as well.
>> Welcome to the Know Your Ship podcast presented by e-hub. I’m your
host, Frank Dolce. This is Sue, not Suzie Q. Lion. >> Sue. >>
Lion. And you spell lion with a Y. >> Correct. >> And that is
from Great Britain. >> Sure. >> Right. >> You probably did
more research on my last name than I ever haven’t done in my life. >>
You’ve got to be You have to be related to some royalty in >> I’m sure,
but I don’t Maybe. >> But you that’s not interesting to you? >>
No. No. Like my brother is into this genealogy stuff, right? And he retired
and he’s always going to to that and I’m like, I don’t really care. >>
Not very supportive. >> I mean, go love the things you love, but um I
don’t care. >> Genealogology is not your thing. >> No. >>
Manufacturing. >> That is director of manufacturing at Lacanto. Am I
saying that correctly? >> You are. >> And Lacanto is a monk fruit
sweetener. >> Yes. company. I can’t wait for you to tell me all about
monk fruit sweetener. >> I have a terrible Well, here’s what I tell
people. >> I love sweets. And so, instead of telling people I have a
terrible sweet tooth, I tell people I have an amazing sweet tooth. And so,
I’m hope I’m hoping that after this conversation, I’ll be on this path of
>> Right. Well, come on down. I’ll give you a tour. >> Give you
some products. >> Yeah. >> Have some >> have some good
stuff so you can try it out and see it’s not that bad. >> It It is
definitely an acquired taste. Is it really? >> It really is. To to go
sugar-free is an acquired taste, but then once you do, >> real sugar is
just horrible. >> Really? >> Yeah. Well, I I could see how that
could happen because I used to drink a lot of soda >> and I and then I
stopped because you just read a lot of terrible things, right? >> And
and so now if I have like every once in a while I still have a craving,
especially if I’m driving >> somewhere and I’ll get and then it’s like
I drink a few sips and it’s just no good. >> Right. Right. >> You
lose that you lose that taste for it. I I I’ll have a soda every once in a
while, but I like to have that gap where you’re just when you taste it,
you’re like >> that hits the spot. >> It’s really good. >>
Yeah. When when it doesn’t take my breath away, I’ve been drinking too much
of it. So, put it down for a little bit. >> Right. Okay. Well, we’re
going to talk about Lacanto. We’re going to talk about why it’s called monk
fruit at some point. Do Do you know that story? >> Well, I believe so.
I mean, if not, I can fake it for >> Yeah, let’s fake it. Okay. Yeah,
>> let’s just do that. >> I think monks found it. >> Yeah,
that’s pretty much the story. That’s pretty much it. And then they they
really cared for it. Like they found this and it and it was >> Well,
listen, this is on your LinkedIn page, so you should know this. >> Like
to improve your chi, >> I I should improve my chi. >> You need to
>> You’re not wrong. >> Clearly. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
>> I know that it’s on a big hill. It has to be grown on a on a big
hill and a lot of care goes into it. >> And um >> it is not easy.
>> No, it doesn’t sound like it >> to to get that to have the
stock of monk fruit. >> Yeah, >> it’s very hard to cultivate it.
>> Yeah, it’s very hard. >> But it is very very potent. It’s very
sweet and it’s it really is amazing. >> Before we get into your
backstory, what are the uses? Just give me like a 30,000 foot view. The uses
of monk fruit, it >> it’s really you can put it on anything. You can
use it for any kind of sweetener. You can have it in your cake mixes, your
brownie mixes, uh your coffee, whatever whatever it is you would use sugar
in. >> You can use that monk fruit and in very very small amounts
>> really. And the benefits are >> sugar-free. So, it’s helping
your body. >> Yeah. >> And it really does taste better. >>
It really does. >> Okay. All right. Did you Did you grow up here? I
did. >> You did? >> Where about? >> I went to Olympus High
School. >> You did? >> You were a Titan. >> I was a Titan. >>
Uh, vintage. >> Do you want to give us You’re the >> 87. Ouch.
That hurts. >> That doesn’t hurt. That’s when I went. >> Oh, you
went to Wait, you went to Olympus? >> No, no, it doesn’t. I went to
Culver City High School in Southern California. Okay. I didn’t grow up here.
>> What was Olympus like back then? And do you believe the story about
them finding the rock on the mountain and then they rolled it down and none
of that. >> No, I don’t believe that. Olympus was great. I really did
love high school. You know, people always ask, would you go back? I probably
wouldn’t like go back, but I don’t mind looking at back then. >> Oh,
you know, it’s such a good question about high school because some some
people like their high school experience is their whole life experience. High
school was it? >> I feel very differently about high school. Like I
don’t I don’t know that I could manage that drama. >> Yeah. Again,
>> I I loved high school. I mean, yeah, I I was very active in sports.
I had a lot of friends. I was very popular. Um but I don’t think I’d go back.
Even knowing everything that I know now in my life, I don’t think I would go
back. >> That’s the one thing that might compel me to go back is
everything I know now. Man, what could I have accomplished in high school?
>> Right. >> I don’t know. >> I don’t know. I don’t know
either. Okay. >> Invest in Apple, that’s for sure. >> No kidding.
All these crazy things, >> right? >> Okay. You grew up here.
Brothers, sisters? >> I have one sister and two brothers. >> And
>> I’m the baby. >> You are. Did Were you treated like that?
>> Oh, I’m my mom’s favorite. >> Is that right? >> Yeah.
Everybody knows it. >> Oh, man. Are they still in town? >> Yeah.
Yep. >> The whole family. All yeah, all of us are here. My father
passed away in 1987. >> Um, but yeah, my brothers and my mom are still
here. >> Nice. >> What are some things that you remember about
your childhood? Like what are the what are the memories that you think,
“Oh man, I did this really well or this was really amazing.”
>> Sports. >> All sports. >> All sports. I started when I
was young. Um my sister was really good at sports and so I would see her
doing that and >> yeah, >> of course I had to be I had to try to
be better than her. >> Yeah. >> Um and so I that’s all I remember
from like five on is just sports. Playing catch with my dad out in the front
yard. >> Yeah. >> Going to my sister’s games and just sports.
That’s it. >> Mhm. Did you did were you born with this competitive I
think >> element or did you just like to win? >> I love I love to
win. I still to this day I love to win. >> What’s more important to you
winning or not losing? Like I think I’ll tell you how I’d answer that
question then you can you can tell me. I hate losing more than I like
winning. >> Okay. Like I don’t get as much satisfaction as I out of
winning as I do not just not losing like that drives me bananas. >> I
think it’s more of if I if I feel like I’m really good at something >>
I can’t stand to lose. >> Mhm. >> If I think I’m just okay at
something like golf. If you beat me that’s fine. Golf is just such a hard
sport. >> Why is that? >> I don’t know. >> Why is it? I I
can’t figure it out. >> So hard. like not moving. >> Nothing ever
is on the same day. I can be hitting a driver really well and then my irons
suck or my irons are playing well and I can’t putt and it’s just like I’ve
never had a game where it’s just like >> and I probably never will all
three together. >> You haven’t had that. >> I haven’t had that
yet. So when I’m playing golf I’m just like >> okay you don’t feel so
competitive but when you’re good at something what are the things that you’re
really good at? Well, I’m really good at sports. Well, I used to be. I’m too
old, fat, and out of shape for really. That’s why I moved to golf, so I can
just sit in a cart, chase the little ball around. >> Um, but
professionally, I think I’m really good at like thinking outside of the box
and figuring out ways to to get something to work. >> And how did you
develop that? When did you recognize that you had that ability? You know, I I
think I’ve had it all along. If I look back, it’s just I’ve always been the
one that’s how do I do this faster? How do I do this better? How do I be more
impactful um with this task that they’re giving me? Like they’re saying you
can get it done in 3 days. How do I get it done in a day and a half and do it
better than what they were expecting in those three days? And so it’s always
been that outside of the box think about how can I do this better and faster.
Is that something you were exposed to as a kid in your family growing up or
where? >> Probably probably in sports. I I think everything really
honestly would come back to sports. >> Your athletic experience.
There’s nothing wrong with it. I say all the time like there’s lessons that
you learn in the field of competition that you don’t learn anywhere else.
>> And and you get a work ethic. >> Yeah. Like I I was telling
this story to my friend the other day about like I I think I was in high
school and I was with this the coach that really taught me softball from the very
beginning. >> Mhm. >> And we would be outside in the middle of
winter in his driveway shoveling snow off the driveway pitching and his wife
would be at the door and she would get the balls and go throw them in the
microwave and then bring them back out. And this would hap this would happen
every day for two hours pitching in the snow. And it’s just like I wanted to
be good at it. So I didn’t care. Like I’m gonna go be cold. I’m going to go
throw in the cold. >> Mh. >> And that’s just how it was. And if
anybody was better than I was, I worked harder at it because I just couldn’t
stand somebody to be better at something than me. And so I think that still
comes down to to work is like I don’t want somebody to be better at this than
me. And so I go above and beyond. Lose sleep over stuff. >> You do?
>> Oh, absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> You know that’s
unhealthy. >> Yeah. But then I make up for it >> be by how how do
you make up for it? >> Sleeping for three days straight. >> You
go on a work bender and then >> Yeah. >> And then you catch up.
Well, I mean, it’s it’s it’s it’ll be like if work tasks me with something
and I really don’t know about it in the at the first part, I’ll just be
consumed by that. Like, how do I get this to work with what I have right now
without spending any more money? How do I get this to work? >> And so,
I’ll be laying in bed going, what about this or what about this? And so, then
I’m excited that I came up with something. I’m like, I got to get to work so
I can try this out. >> Yeah. >> Um and then if it works out, if
it doesn’t, then I’m like I go home and I I sleep. But I think I I it
consumes me. Consumes me. >> Do Okay, I have a couple questions to
follow up with that. >> Okay. >> One is you so you grew up
playing lots of team sports and you’re a high achiever. >> Um do you
have expectations of yourself that other people on your team don’t match? Do
you find yourself in that situation or or or how do you manage the way that
you the effort that you put into your work and others who may not do the same
and you’re all still part of the same team. >> Oh, it’s frustrating.
It’s so frustrating when when you know you’re out there giving 100%. >>
Mhm. people say 110 and and it’s not possible to give 110%. Right,
mathematically um and then you just see people just sitting around just doing
the least amount to keep their job. It’s very frustrating to me like >>
I don’t expect you to I don’t expect anybody to be as hardworking or
dedicated as I am, but I do expect you to do your job. And um when that
doesn’t happen, I’ll let you know that I’m not very happy with how you’re
doing your job right now. Probably why I’m not the most popular at work
either. >> Are you ma do you manage people at work? >> I do. I I
have the biggest department. >> You do? >> So, okay. So, tell me
tell me about that. Tell me about the challenges of getting your team all
moving in the same direction. uh just like you would on a volleyball or a
softball or a basketball team. Diverse personalities, right? >> Um and
how you help others match your achievement level. >> That’s really
tough because I think the biggest issue that I have right now is a language
barrier. A lot of my employees just speak Spanish >> and I do not speak
Spanish. Um, and so I rely a lot on my on my right-hand guy to do a lot of
the, “Hey, here’s what we’re going to do. This is how we need to do it,
and he needs to translate it to them.” >> But I find that they
respect that I’m out there with them. >> Like, I’m not going to expect
any one of my employees to do something that I’m not willing to do myself.
Mhm. >> And yeah, I may have seven meetings that I got to do throughout
the day, but I’m going to try and get out there and I’m going to try and help
you and I’m going to try and learn because there’s something that every
single one of them can teach me as well. >> I may be able to teach you
how to run this business better, but you can teach me how to be a better
boss, a better person. Um, and so I try and get much out of them as they are
trying to get out of me. >> Yeah. Oh, that’s great. Did you do you have
a do you have a mentor? Do you have people in your life who you look back and
say, “Yeah, I kind of developed this quality working with this
individual or being involved with this particular group.” >> I
think a lot of my openness came from two jobs ago um for Chef Shammy. I
worked I worked there for a while >> and I think that’s the that’s the
company that really opened my head, opened my my vision of it’s more than
just what I can do. Yes, I can give you everything that I have, but if I give
everything I have to everybody and bring them with me, um, then we can take
it to places we never thought we would go. >> Yeah. >> And I
think that that really kind of opened my mind to I don’t know it all even
though. >> Was that a hard lesson? >> Yeah, cuz I still think
like right now I’m like, yeah, I still know it all. >> I know all
>> I know everything. It’s just I forgot for a second. Somebody just
need to change their mind. >> Absolutely. >> Um, so I I Yeah,
it’s that’s the place that opened my my mind and >> I learned a lot
there and I have taken that and my my career has really taken off since then.
Since since Chef Shami, I feel like my career has really taken off because I
found that niche. >> I found what I was really really good at. >>
Um, all the other jobs in my life I was good at. Mhm. >> Um, but I
wasn’t where I needed to be. >> And then I found them and it just I
just exploded. I just like this is where I’m supposed to be. >> Was
there was there in someone there who helped you along that or helped you find
that or did you just were you just in the right circumstance? You found alignment.
>> I think it was I think it was a little bit of a combination platter
on that. I think it was the right place at the right time, but it was also
the right people at the right time. M >> I had made some really big
mistakes in my life prior to that >> where people could have judged me,
people could have shut me out, they could have not given me a chance,
>> but they they open their arms and they’re like, “Let’s go.
Let’s do this.” And so being surrounded by great people and a great
opportunity just really propelled me to to just really shine in my life.
>> Yeah. And so do you feel like you now offer the same to those you’re
you’re working with? >> I try to. Yeah. >> Um I’m always telling
all of my employees. I’m like >> I am training you to take my place.
>> Mhm. >> Like I am an open book. >> If you see something
I like, ask me about it. I’ll tell you anything about it. If you have
questions of why I’m doing it, let’s sit down. Let’s talk about it. Um if you
don’t like something I’m doing, let’s talk about it. like I am an open book
to any of my employees. Um because I do I I really feel like I’m training my
replacement as I hope my boss feels the same way is that he’s training his
replacement. Um but so yeah, I think that that’s just how it has to go.
>> Yeah. And you’ve found that uh acting that way, managing that way,
when you’re not just giving yourself, but giving yourself to the benefit of
people around you. Um I guess I have a couple questions about that. One is
has that led to noticeably better productivity or happiness at work for
everybody? >> Absolutely. And how and and just for like how do you feel
personally about that? Do you feel like you’ve grown? Like you’ve become a
better person, like you’re a better worker and >> Yeah. Absolutely.
Isn’t that interesting? >> Absolutely. When my employees get success, I
take that as a win for me as well. So when I have somebody that gets a safety
award, like I find success in that, too, because hey, I’ve made safety a
priority in my department >> and now they’ve been noticed for that. I
take that as a win >> and and then we grow from that. >> Yeah.
>> So yeah, I take I take more pride in their victories than mine.
>> And I think that’s really the thing that’s changed in my life is
that it always used to be about me. >> Selfish. It’s such a difficult
selfish person. It’s so difficult to to get over that, especially if you’re a
high achiever, especially if you like clearly you’re driven and this has been
a you know something throughout your life and with your athletics background
like it’s like win win win. >> No matter what. Yeah. >> Yeah. >>
All of those things. So, what a nice transformation. I mean, or or evolution.
Maybe not transformation, evolution. >> It it honestly is. It’s
life-changing. It really is when you know I again my whole life just very
selfish. >> I I want to do it. I want to do it now. I want to do it my
way. I want this. Like it was I was just very selfish. And I think still in
my in some of my life I am still that way. I’m still selfish. Like I don’t
want somebody in my house. I don’t want somebody taking all of the things
that I’ve really worked for. I don’t want somebody coming in and taking that.
Like it’s just so I’m selfish in that way, right? But I’m not like it was all
it was completely life-changing when I wasn’t selfish. Um, and it has made my
life tenfold. >> That’s amazing. >> My life is is something that
I am so proud of now where if you would have if we would have had this
conversation even 10 years ago, >> yeah, >> it would not have
been it wouldn’t have been that. >> You would have walked out after
this podcast and I’d been like, Solomon, >> yikes, >> delete.
Delete. Delete. Delete. >> She’s tough. Yeah. Not that you’re not
tough. I’m tough in a good way, >> right? >> Yeah. >> But
it’s it’s um Yeah. It’s just different. And it’s all it all circles around to
who you have in your life with you. >> Tell me about that. >> If
you have toxic people in your life, you’re going to have >> Oh, man.
>> You’re going to be toxic yourself. >> Isn’t I know. But don’t
doesn’t everybody say that? And then you still It’s like what is it? It’s the
you’re a combination of the five people you hang around with the most or
something like that. So surround yourself with good people. So tell me about
the good people you’ve surrounded yourself with. >> Oh just my my mom
is probably my hero. >> She an athlete. Did we say did we talk about
this? >> Not if we were to talk about where we got our athletic
ability. >> What are you doing? >> And and if she hears this she
will give me a lecture. She’s like, “I was really good when I was in I
was really good at this and this.” I’m like, “Were you?”
>> Cuz where where did she grow up? >> Uh all over. Really? She
was I think she was born in Idaho, moved to Maryland, moved here, did this
military kid? >> No. >> I think my grandpa was like a salesman,
like a traveling salesman type of guy. >> And so they were all over,
but she’s like, “Oh yeah, you definitely get your athletic ability from
me.” And I’m like, “I’ve shot hoops with you.” >> I
don’t know. I love you. I mean, there’s lots of things you do well. >>
Yeah, I loved you, but I’m I’m not sure about that. So, >> nice. Well,
okay. So, mom, >> sorry, mom. Love you. >> Yes, we all do. Yeah.
So, athleticism. Not mom, but she’s one of your pillars. >> Oh, she
never missed a game. >> Oh, >> but she was the good parent. Like,
she was the kind that >> Wait, what? Tell I want you to tell me about
that. Who was the Was your dad the bad parent? >> Oh, no. My dad never
went to games. My dad? No, he never came to any of my games. >> Oh,
>> but she was the good parent in the fact of like you never knew she
was there. >> She wasn’t that parent that is yelling at their at the
ref or the ump or whatever it is. She’s just up there supporting me, >>
make a basket, get a hit or whatever. She’s way to go. >> Yes. >>
But never that negative >> nothing >> really. >> You know,
silent as a church mouse. >> What did she say to you after games?
>> Good job. That was it. >> That was really Yeah, it wasn’t.
>> She wasn’t like, you know, nope. >> I noticed. >> No,
never. Never once in my life has after any game has she ever said, you know,
you could have done better. You your elbow was out and this I be like,
>> how do you shoot like that talking about, you know? No, she never
said anything. She was never she was never that parent, but she was that
parent that was at every single game >> and traveled with me and became
the scorekeeper at our high school so that she never missed a gay game, you
know, and and actually she was just like last year admitted into the Salt
Lake Hall of Fame for softball because she was a scorekeeper for >> she
got admitted for being scorekeeper of the what? >> The Utah Softball
Hall of Fame last year. Oh my gosh. >> Congratulations. >> Yeah,
that was great. >> That’s amazing. >> Yeah. My sister and I are
actually getting inducted this year. >> Was she a softball player?
>> And you were as well for high school. >> Yep. >> Wait,
you played two years at UV? UBCC. >> UBCC. >> And then I think it
changed like the year after I left. >> Gotcha. >> And it’s had
like three different names now. >> I’m not sure. It’s UVSC now, right?
>> Yeah. It’s I don’t It’s a four-year college now. >> Yes. Yeah.
Correct. >> Yeah. Okay. So, what uh what I’m picturing your mom and I’m
I think I have a picture of you. >> I would love for you. Tell me that
picture. Tell me. >> I don’t It doesn’t seem like it matches up very
well. >> I have a picture of her. I’ll show it to you. This and you so
missed that. >> Yeah. I So, okay. So, tell me how you like what were
the traits if you look at Okay. So, I look at myself sometimes and I do crazy
things and I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I’m just like my dad.” >>
Like, those are the traits. What traits did you take from your mom? Like,
>> she doesn’t sound like she was the ultra competitive, selfish.
>> She’s She’s super competitive. Don’t Don’t Okay, don’t get that
mixed up. Super competitive. >> Um, I would probably say that. >>
Mhm. >> Uh, probably a little bit of anger. >> She has some rage
issues. She She has had some, >> but we all. >> I thought she was
Wait, is she not British? >> She’s not British. No, >> she is she
like Irish cuz they have some serious rage issues. What’s her maiden name?
>> Jones. I really narrowed it down. >> That’s so That’s so
generic. I mean, >> no, just Jones. That’s it. >> All right.
Well, okay. She’s She’s kind of a rager. >> She’s not a rager. >>
I kind of want to paint that picture. you she gets mad, you know she’s mad.
Like that’s that’s you know she’s mad. She doesn’t hide it. You get the
silent treatment, you know she’s mad type of thing. >> So I would
definitely say I got some of those things from her. >> Um but I also
got a big heart from her. >> She’s probably got the biggest heart
>> ever. >> Are you are you kind like on where are you on like an
emotional >> scale? Like are you >> It depends on what it is.
>> Yeah. >> If it’s my mom, I’m a 10. >> Oh yeah. >>
Hard 10. >> Mhm. >> But I’m also protective. Like you say
something to my mom that I don’t like. >> Yeah. >> We’re going to
have big issues. Yeah. We’re going to have some really big issues. >>
There’s people like that in your life. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So
that’s mom. >> Yeah. Nicest lady. Everybody loves her. Like everybody
loves her. >> Yeah. >> Probably more than me. It’s probably why
people like me. >> You get the benefit of the doubt because your mom.
>> Yes. 100%. Yeah. We’ll put up with Sue because we get to see
Barbara. >> Sue can come because Barbara will be >> That’s great.
Okay. So, mom’s one of your pillars. Who Who else? >> Um, my best
friend Dusty again. Best friends for gosh, I’m 56. So, probably a good 35
years we had been best friends. >> Did you grow up together? Did you go
to >> No, we met each other playing softball >> and our
personalities just clicked. >> Okay. So, have you met each other
playing softball in college or >> like right after college? >>
So, in like a wreck. >> So, yeah. So, I was probably 22, 23. >>
Yeah. >> Yeah. And just instant best friends. And I haven’t been able
to get rid of her since. >> She’s kind of like a virus. >> Yeah.
>> A good one. She What position does she play? Are you playing slow
pitch or are you playing playing fast pitch at this point? >> Slow.
>> Yeah. >> Once I got out of college. It’s >> so fun. It’s
>> slow pitch. >> Okay. So, what position did she play? >>
She would play right field, second base, >> wherever you really needed
her. She was kind one of those utility players. Yeah. >> She was a good
bat >> and and so people would sometimes just bring her cuz she would
have a good stick and just put her wherever we >> one of those.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. I used to play with a guy name Mike Dandos was
his name. Could do everything. And that was he could do that too. Like he
could hit wherever you need. Like I don’t know how they did that. I was just
up there like swinging out of my shoes knock it somewhere. But there were
those guys. Okay. So she fits in that multi- she multi-talented. >>
Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Why is she one of your pillars?
Um, never judged even like she she’s been with me through the dark dark dark
dark times. >> Are we okay? So, you have mentioned this now at least
twice. >> The dark times. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Are are
we going to talk about the dark times? >> We can if you’d like.
>> Yeah, I think we should. >> Okay. >> Okay. But you first
tell me about >> Do I hear other people in my head? >> Did you
say dusty? >> Dusty. Yes. >> Yeah, you do hear other people in
your head. It’s because we we put this sign out here and then people just
disregard it. >> You know, it’s like podcast recording in session and
then they’re walking by and they’re >> so you you might hear some
people. Okay, so let’s get back to Dusty. >> Okay, let’s get back to >>
She’s a pillar because never judged. >> Never. Never. I mean, she’d
look at me and be like, “What the heck were you thinking? Are you
stupid?” it and I’d be like at that second. Yes. >> Was that
feedback that was >> 100% >> that you needed at that? >>
Well, I probably needed it, but I didn’t listen to it. >> You know,
>> yeah. >> Um, it was she’s always been one of those that’s just
brutally honest. Like, are you kidding? You’re stupid right now. Why are you
doing this? I’m like, well, it’s >> We all need a Dusty. >> Yeah,
we all need a Dusty. Um, so yeah, it’s just And she’s just fun. >> It’s
just really fun. Like I can’t believe we haven’t killed each other and some of
the crazy things that we do. Like we just do crazy things together and she’s
just fun. >> Yeah, >> she’s just fun. But she’s a good one to
have in your corner. >> Who else? Anyone else you can think of?
>> Um I have another really good friend, Holly. Um that I worked with
her at Chef Shammy and I think she’s one that really kind of helped me shape
my life to where she is right now. >> So >> yeah. Is she still
there? No, we sold they sold um Chef Shami to Better Butter is what it’s
called now. Um and uh she was the CFO there and she was one of the first ones
to go after the buyout. >> Gotcha. And you’re still in touch with her.
What does she do? >> Every day. >> Every day. >> Every
morning we have our we have our best friend call every single morning.
>> Oh man. >> Except for the weekends. >> How Yeah.
>> How did that develop? I it used to be when we worked together at
Shammy, she would call me on her ride home. She’s just like, I’m just bored.
So, so it just turned into she would just call me on her ride home. And then,
you know, she got let go and and we still talked every day and it’s just
morphed into every morning between 7:30 and 8. >> You get it? >>
She she calls me and I talk to her on her drive to work. >> Really?
>> Yeah. >> And >> every day >> is Okay. So, is is
that like a burden? >> Absolutely. Or is it >> It’s a burden. It
makes me angry when she misses a day or she’s late. >> Oh, >>
like just today I called her. I’m like, “It’s 9:30.” >> What?
>> This school, this out of school stuff is not for me. >> Like,
I am lodging a complaint right now. >> Absolutely. >> I’m My
timer, my Holly timer is set to 7:30 to 8 and you not calling me till 9:30?
I’m not okay with >> What’s wrong with Holly? Do I need a Would you?
>> Yeah. >> I’ll give you her number. >> I’m giving her the
stink eye. Do it, >> Holly. Jeez. Okay. Well, look, we’re going to have
to go. >> Oh, >> we’re going to go to the dark side. >>
Yeah, we’re going to you. It’s just because you t you mentioned it and so now
it’s part of it’s part of who you are. Like I >> It really is part of
who I am 100%. So, we’ve we’ve met now for what, half an hour, and you seem
like so well put together and thoughtful and insightful and >> but
you’ve mentioned now this dark period. >> Now, is it okay? So, let me
>> wasn’t pretty. >> It wasn’t pretty. >> Is it a period in
your life? >> Mhm. >> Okay. Do you want to talk about it? Do you
want to tell us about it? It it was it was a period of life that lasted a lot
longer, but I I became addicted to drugs in in college. Um >> Oh,
>> being the the best one out there, you don’t miss games. >> No,
>> you just don’t. >> No. >> And and uh so we did whatever
we had to do to make sure that I was playing in those games. And it continued
out of college. Um and it was just the thing to do. like if you had a pain,
you just took some pills for it, >> right? >> And then I was at a
job that probably was the worst job I’ve ever had in my life and met somebody
that taught me some things about those drugs that took it to a to the dark
side of addiction. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> So,
>> and are we talking about mostly painkillers? >> Yes. >>
Gotcha. >> Yes. Well, I mean, we kind of grew up in an era where those
things were I mean, it’s still today people have those issues, but for some
reason it felt like >> back then it was like one is I don’t know that
people took it as like giving painkillers as seriously as they do now. Like I
just don’t think they knew enough or whatever was happening. >> But it
was that like was that >> you are going to play >> I’m gonna play
>> and here’s how you can play. >> Yep. Yeah. >> We’ll give
you this pill, we’ll give you this shot, we’ll give you whatever that is.
>> Yeah. >> And then it was so it it it was still I was a
functioning addict at that time. I still kept on kept a job, still paid my
bills, had my own stuff, did all that kind of stuff. >> Yeah. >>
My father passed away >> and it was not it was not the most enjoyable
time with my family. Mhm. >> Um he had a a new wife that kind of wanted
to black out his old life, you know, the life with my mom and things like
that. And I wasn’t having it. >> And I remember going out to my car
afterwards and I had some pills there and I threw a handful down. I’m like,
“Huh, this also numbs emotional pain.” So that’s great. So, not
only when I have this pain in my ankle, now when I’m feeling emotionally sad
or emotionally hurt, I don’t have to have that either. And so, I would
probably say from the age of 30 to 40, I was just numb. No emotions, no I didn’t
care. >> So, you just didn’t care. you were just regularly taking and
>> and then I learned other ways to do drugs and that’s when Yeah. But
>> and those are the are those the dark days? >> Yeah, th