:00:24:20 - 00:00:46:14
Jennifer
Welcome to another episode of Behind the Dreamers. I'm your host, Jennifer Loading. And we are talking to the achievers, the creators, the magic makers and the dreamers. These are our friends. These are your friends. And they are living the extraordinary well. Today we are going to be diving into the world of entrepreneurship and innovation with a guest who's made significant waves in product development.

00:00:46:17 - 00:01:06:09
Jennifer
Our focus is on individuals who not only dream big, but also turn those dreams into reality, impacting the market and those around them. So I'm excited to chat with him. You're going to get to hear from him in just a few minutes. But before we do that, we need to do a quick shout out to our sponsor. This episode is brought to you by Walt Miller's Productions.

00:01:06:15 - 00:01:31:20
Jennifer 
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00:01:31:20 - 00:01:53:14
Jennifer
Walt Mills leverages years of skills to give you the spotlight you deserve. Want to learn more about Walt and his work head on over to Walt Mills Productions dot net and let your content shine. All right. So now that we've done that, you're going to meet my dad, my guest today, David Ask. He's a luminary luminary in entrepreneurship and the creative genius behind Stat Garden Plus.

00:01:54:20 - 00:02:26:23
Jennifer
His invention has secured a prestigious spot in over 3000 retail outlets, including giants like Home Depot and Lowe's. Beyond its commercial success, David leads to mastermind groups for the esteemed ISI mastermind, nurturing a community of forward thinkers. He's not just about business. He's also deeply committed in personal growth, overcoming challenges and helping others find their unique purpose. As a lead coach for Dr. Andy Year, its true North Blueprint, he guides individuals to become the most resilient version of themselves.

00:02:27:11 - 00:02:40:01
Jennifer
There's also more to David and business. He is also a talented singer gracing stages nationwide with a voice that has often been compared to Bocelli and Josh Groban. So, David, welcome to the show. I'm so excited to chat with you today.

00:02:41:13 - 00:02:44:00
David Ask
Well, thank you for having me. It's such a treat.

00:02:44:14 - 00:02:48:02
Jennifer
It's gonna be so much fun. Don't you love this? BIOS always have fun is my favorite part of the show.

00:02:48:11 - 00:03:03:12
David Ask
They are. And of course, I hired someone else to write that, you know, just a little bit of a tie up. We all know that, you know, on face value, right? You kind of hit the high points and at the same time, there's a whole lot in between to get there. And, you know, and life is there's never a straight path, is there?

00:03:04:00 - 00:03:21:07
Jennifer
Nope. Nope. And that's why we said the challenge part in there that's the beauty of this show, is that I always feel like we don't really shy away from the the lessons learned in this. You know, I always tell people this show is about what you do, why you do it, what you've learned along the way. Because usually in the learning phase, there's some adversity that had to come about that.

00:03:21:07 - 00:03:27:00
Jennifer
Right. And and we take that and we use it to inspire others. So that's what this whole show is really about.

00:03:27:12 - 00:03:29:11
David Ask
That's great. That's awesome. I love the mission.

00:03:29:19 - 00:03:47:05
Jennifer
Yeah. So let's talk about you. Let's talk about what you've got going on because you've got a lot of things here. I mean, I feel like you're your got your hands in a lot of different areas. But I think the overall thing here is a lot of inspiration and creativity throughout all of this. So I'd love to know a little bit about tell us a little bit about the product, what kind of led to that and.

00:03:47:17 - 00:04:06:20
David Ask
Yeah, yeah, you know, so it's kind of interesting. I remember, you know, like the word entrepreneur. I remember hearing about, you know, people who were entrepreneurs growing up, that kind of thing. And what was weird is, is there was a bit of a mixed reaction, you know, with regards to, you know, people that kind of had that title, as it were.

00:04:06:20 - 00:04:24:19
David Ask
Like some people would kind of roll their eyes and some people would be, you know, a bit more kind of astonished that someone, you know, kind of had different irons in the fire and had multiple revenue streams. And, you know, just the different a different way of operating, because most people I think the statistic actually is, you know, the personality of a true entrepreneur.

00:04:24:19 - 00:04:48:01
David Ask
There's only about 5% of the population that, you know, kind of really, you know, have those personal, you know, characteristics and so on. By the way, I'm sure you're probably familiar with the book The E-Myth and by Gerber. And we just I went through that with a mastermind at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center just for the last eight weeks.

00:04:48:01 - 00:05:06:10
David Ask
And it's fascinating, right? You've got in a business, you have what he defines as an entrepreneur. You have a manager that's kind of in the middle, and then you have a technician that's doing the work. And it's fascinating how many people, you know, start up a business and realize that they're sitting in the wrong seat on the bus.

00:05:06:10 - 00:05:27:13
David Ask
And that's kind of my story. You know, back in the day, I, I just I guess, you know, you don't know what you don't know, right? So I, I just figured, hey, I'm going to pick an idea and run with it and I'm going to do everything. And so largely, most of my life was trying to, you know, do a side hustle.

00:05:27:13 - 00:05:50:16
David Ask
So, you know, all these types of different activities and so on, while simultaneously not only working a full time job while I'm trying to get my side hustle going, but then trying to sit in every seat on the bus and operating in massive areas of weakness and feeling, you know, imposter syndrome and stuck and frustrated and and all that kind of thing.

00:05:50:16 - 00:06:13:04
David Ask
And I I'm grateful that I, you know, was turned on to some, you know, new ideas. Right. And and largely that's because I started hanging out with people who just thought differently than I did and reading books and podcasts and everything else that really helped shape the way that I'm operating now. So you ask the question and I'll I'll kind of get to it this way.

00:06:13:21 - 00:06:37:16
David Ask
So what am I doing now? And I'll just kind of back into things. So right now I run a business called Coram Global and yes, I have a a thermostat guard called the Stack Guard, plus it's a stack guard with a combination lock. And of course, what is that? It just goes over thermostat so people don't tamper with your thermostat, which is typically your highest cost every month, especially if you're in a retail or a commercial facility.

00:06:38:06 - 00:06:59:10
David Ask
And anyway, I, I was in facilities management at a large telecom chain for many years. And of course, we used to have guards in all of our stores and call centers, because if you've got more than two people in any facility, everybody's jacking around with the thermostat. I mean, it's it's like this funny joke in our culture. And heck, my mom and dad, they are growing up.

00:06:59:10 - 00:07:03:18
David Ask
That's the only thing they really thought about was, you know, what was the temperature at night? Yeah.

00:07:03:20 - 00:07:07:19
Jennifer
And so that's big conversations in our house.

00:07:07:22 - 00:07:08:15
David Ask
Yeah.

00:07:09:00 - 00:07:10:16
Jennifer
That don't touch the thermostat.

00:07:10:22 - 00:07:33:07
David Ask
Well so what's funny though is, you know, I'm doing facilities management and of course nobody can keep up with that tiny key. So my actually, my brother in law and I came up with this idea it was technically his idea first and then we both kind of ran with it together, but we jumped into the deep end of the pool and just started, you know, trying to understand what does it take to make this product.

00:07:33:22 - 00:07:55:08
David Ask
And, you know, everything from molding to plastics, injection, you know, processes and all those things, you know, prototyping and so on. And we did everything wrong. I mean, except the product, the product turned out great. But, you know, we kind of followed this this idea that if you build it, they will come. And that's just not true. You know, it's very limited thinking.

00:07:55:08 - 00:08:18:09
David Ask
So for four years, we had, you know, 7000 thermostat guards sitting in a garage. And we're trying to get it out there and figure out how to grab attention and all that kind of stuff, which we all know is not easy. So anyway, jump ahead a decade and we've or I ended up buying him out so you know my wife and I, we ended up figuring it out.

00:08:19:04 - 00:08:41:18
David Ask
And during that time, though, I realized a few things about myself. I am a creative. I'm definitely that 5% entrepreneur. I don't like details. I'm not a manager, I'm not a technician. I'm the guy who sits up at the top level. That's, by the way, I love your the title of this podcast As a Dreamer. That's me and and much of my life.

00:08:41:18 - 00:09:07:01
David Ask
I hung out with people who were managers or technicians and I mean, they didn't even have the paradigm of an entrepreneur. Therefore, that was kind of a joke. Well, they somebody who calls himself an entrepreneur, that's just because they don't know how to do anything. And they, you know, they can't stick with anything. And, well, guess what? I have a wide skill set, a wide variety of things that I love doing.

00:09:07:01 - 00:09:30:18
David Ask
I am definitely a creative. I'm working on nine different products right now. I've recorded three records. I've sung on stages all over the world. I had a children's book published about five years ago. I'm working on another children's book right now and what's really wonderful is, is I have an income stream, you know, being in retail that allows me to do a variety of things.

00:09:31:05 - 00:09:46:17
David Ask
So I realized, you know, it it was you got to have something that's winning, right? You know, to kind of cover the bases because if you're wondering how you're going to pay your mortgage every month, forget about personal development and creativity that goes right out the window.

00:09:46:22 - 00:09:47:08
Jennifer
Right.

00:09:48:08 - 00:10:09:04
David Ask
You know, whatever. Dave Ramsey said, money is pretty close to air. You know, try to live without it. Right. And so here's what's fascinating, though, is is, you know, I'm 49 years old and I've just kind of backed into this self-awareness. And in my forties and I realized, you know, that my you know, I didn't know what I didn't know.

00:10:09:04 - 00:10:28:12
David Ask
And I was just thinking all kinds of, you know, things that I thought were true that just weren't and operating in areas of weakness and not finding the right people to help me. And now I feel like I'm kind of living in that slow state where I get to stay in the creative seat and help others do that, for that matter.

00:10:28:12 - 00:10:42:20
David Ask
Because I think that's I'll say it this way. There are things that are true about us, right? But those truest things, those things that top 10%, the things that just really light us up. I like to say the things that give our goose bumps, goose bumps.

00:10:43:04 - 00:10:43:10
Jennifer
Right.

00:10:43:21 - 00:11:06:20
David Ask
I love operating in that space. And part of that is is inspiring, right. Which means breathe life into someone who needs life breathed into them because they were they were where I was ten years ago. And man, I wish I had, you know, several people around me to be like, Hey, David, you're heading in the right direction. You've got this, you know, how can we help you?

00:11:06:20 - 00:11:19:22
David Ask
I believe in you. You know, like I put some wind in my sail, but. And for years, it was. It was a slog because I had not only did I not know what I was doing, I didn't have the people in my camp to help and really just believe in me.

00:11:20:20 - 00:11:50:10
Jennifer
Yeah. It's interesting that you say that. I just had this conversation. You touched on so many things and I can definitely relate to your creative part because I feel like I was going to ask you and you were talking about being around the management management type. Did you feel like you were kind of being stifled? Like you just feel like, yeah, sort of smothered because I just when I'm around creative people, like I'm excited, like you if you called me up right now and said, Jennifer, I have an idea, I'm getting goosebumps thinking about it right now because ideas give me excited.

00:11:50:10 - 00:12:07:17
Jennifer
When people have ideas, I think of solutions. I think we're solving things. We're creating or manifesting. What do I get lit up when I get around people who start trying to organize things and giving me details? And it's not that it's a bad thing because I think we all have strengths in certain areas. Yeah, I just start feeling very heavy.

00:12:07:17 - 00:12:22:15
Jennifer
It gets happening for me and so I can understand it. And I think, yes, you're right. I think there are a lot of people that when we come into this, we start trying to really because as entrepreneurs we really do wear many hats. And that's one of the thing. Know, I want to talk about the many years I was in Mary Kay.

00:12:22:15 - 00:12:41:01
Jennifer
We train on wearing these different hats and Mary Kay, we were the salesperson, the marketer, the CEO. Oh, that we were everything I realized for me, like I had this light bulb moment. One day I tell this story, I was actually on my treadmill in my house at the time, and I was going to train on the Strength Finders book.

00:12:41:01 - 00:12:59:19
Jennifer
And, you know, I think you pick like the top four or five that I was going to have to train on. And I remembered having this light bulb moment where I realized what it was that I had actually loved in the network marketing space and what I actually really hated in the network marketing space. And it was because I was having to do things that I really didn't.

00:12:59:19 - 00:13:15:09
Jennifer
I had to work harder and they weren't things that were natural for me or things that I felt like. I felt like I'm a people person, I'm a seller, I'm the person that's going to get you inspired to cross the finish line, the cheerleader. You start getting me into the weeds with the details and I got to sit down with the paper.

00:13:15:10 - 00:13:34:14
Jennifer
Not that I can't do it. I was really great math and science, but you get me into that, I'm going to get bored, I'm going to start getting overwhelmed. So I really think when we as entrepreneurs recognize where our gifts are and we can start really honing in in that area, that's when we get into that part. You're talking about that once we start doing the things we love to do, and for you, that's being creative.

00:13:35:17 - 00:13:44:05
Jennifer
And I can certainly resonate with that because I, like I said, I think it's being creative so much, but I think everybody should learn to find a little bit of creativity in them. I had so much fun in that.

00:13:44:12 - 00:14:04:13
David Ask
Yeah, yeah. Good word. And that. And what's interesting is as your what you're kind of describing is just basic self-awareness. And I, I think that that quite often, you know, most of us are just not we think we are. But, you know, you mentioned, you know, when you're acting in a, you know, the the weeds, as it were, you feel kind of stifled in that kind of thing.

00:14:05:09 - 00:14:26:15
David Ask
Guess what? Here's what's fascinating is how can we tell if we're in, you know, kind of our right zone or sitting in the right seat on the bus? It's a clue. Yeah. I mean, it's that clue. It's how are you feeling? And if I'm constantly feeling that heaviness and like I'm being trapped and all that kind of stuff, so we might need to operate in that space for a little while.

00:14:26:15 - 00:14:37:04
David Ask
But for heaven's sakes, we need to understand this isn't working. And I need to I need to, you know, pivot here eventually to get into the, you know, the flow state, as it were.

00:14:37:16 - 00:14:49:21
Jennifer
Yeah. And you made a point, you know, you have to pay your bills. We know that. And I know exactly what you're talking about. The Dave Ramsey thing. We used to say that, Mary Kay, I mean, like, what are you going to do? How many money rings the breathing? You know? And so we I do think we have to put in our dues.

00:14:49:21 - 00:15:02:00
Jennifer
There are times we do have to do things we don't want to do. Like there are things we studied in school that we absolutely hated. Like for me, history in English. I hated those two subjects. I didn't like them. We had to earn them, right? So I do think we have to do things that we have to do.

00:15:02:00 - 00:15:27:06
Jennifer
But I do think, you know, when you can get into place, if you're in something and you're doing it every day and you're just miserable, that's like I'm saying, that's the time to look and say, how am I feeling in this? Right. And I think this is also a good call out. Maybe if we're talking about companies to the employers to pay attention to their people, because if their people aren't happy in the positions that they're in, this may be a good time to look in, make sure we utilizing them in the best places that they need to be in.

00:15:27:07 - 00:15:30:14
Jennifer
Right? Like, yeah, move them to another place or let them go.

00:15:31:01 - 00:15:57:09
David Ask
Well and we live in a I mean, you mentioned Strengths Finder. I mean we live in a time where dialing in on self-awareness is, is, is pretty easy. You know, one of the one of the other, you know, businesses that I run, I'm writing a book called The Guardians of Grit. And I work really closely with Dr. Andy Garrett on building that self-awareness and understanding what the difference between resiliency and grit are.

00:15:57:09 - 00:16:24:06
David Ask
And it's really important to understand those. But even more so, you know, the idea of how are they established? And for most people, getting up quickly is more about him being, you know, I don't want to be embarrassed in front of people looking at me and accomplishing something. It's more about becoming someone and having a resume, as it were, to kind of explain to the world while I'm finally somebody, or at least I'm not a nobody, right?

00:16:24:08 - 00:16:52:12
David Ask
As opposed to having a really bedrock understanding of who you are and and not searching for fulfillment anymore, operating in the fullness of who you are to experience fulfillment, but not trying to, you know, fabricate something to be you know, to experience it. There's a big difference. And I'm really passionate about that because it's been a huge shift in not only in my life and my marriage and parenting and just how I operate as a a friend.

00:16:53:00 - 00:17:13:09
David Ask
But, man, I tell you what, I remember when I got into Home Depot, I'm as being really vulnerable here. I thought that that was going to solve a problem. You know, like give me some type of an identity. Well, at least I have a product in Home Depot and I can brag about it or something. Or if I was going to go sing somewhere, I'd want to tell somebody about it.

00:17:14:08 - 00:17:43:09
David Ask
And, you know, it didn't solve any problems. Not one and one. I realized that my, you know, my truest authenticity. Right? We get the word authenticity from the word author that, you know, the way that God put me together is absolutely fantastic. And one, I just operate in my natural state. You know, most of the time I feel natural, I feel genuine, I feel, you know, courageous and clear and free.

00:17:43:09 - 00:18:05:00
David Ask
And as opposed to just trying to generate something all the time and having to be on and doing becoming a human doing and not a human being. It's it's just exhausting. Yeah. And so that's something as I'm getting older, right? I'm 49 years old and I'm I feel like I am on much more of a kind of a legacy path with regards to my mission and my purpose in life.

00:18:05:05 - 00:18:20:08
David Ask
Not that I don't like creating products and doing things like that, but way more passionate about helping people establish that. True North, you know, plumb line in their own life that bedrock and then helping others around them do the same thing.

00:18:20:16 - 00:18:52:23
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David Ask
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00:19:24:14 - 00:19:40:00
Jennifer
That's fine. I think that gets into the part where we start talking about the wisdom stuff because I'm in my early fifties and I and I just had this conversation, it's like I did an episode with a girl on my starter girl's podcast and she's like a two time TEDx speaker. Really neat deals and a lot of her work's been praised.

00:19:40:00 - 00:19:59:17
Jennifer
I like Cornell and some of these universities, and she talks a lot about showing up. And she actually on that episode I just released it, she talked about what it means to show up. But the premise that we were talking about is that when we show up authentically and present how we have this impact on others or those around us.

00:19:59:17 - 00:20:16:03
Jennifer
And so I think, you know, when I listen to you talk, I think it comes from that place of I think for so long we're groomed to have success. And we and our success is driven by those achievements. Right. Whether it be something in our work, whatever. For me, I'm a runner. And and also, you know, I did a lot of stuff.

00:20:16:06 - 00:20:36:18
Jennifer
I did a lot of cool things, in my case, a company record. But I realized it's been probably the last few years that it's like it's like you said, it sort of has shifted where it's more about me being authentic and true to myself and showing up right for the right people. Right. And it's in a lot of different areas of my life.

00:20:36:18 - 00:20:51:17
Jennifer
It makes an impact in the work that you do, the relationships, personal relationships that you kids, your marriage, all of those different things. But I think it's not something that you just wake up and have happen. So when we talk to these people, right, like we tell them, you know, they look at us and they go, what are they talking about?

00:20:51:18 - 00:21:08:12
Jennifer
It's just like old people jargon, like what is this? Right. Because I think it develops over time. Our priorities start to shift a little bit and we start looking at the world differently and our place in it. And I think that's what's so great is because then we can try to show that to other people through the work that we do.

00:21:08:12 - 00:21:11:16
Jennifer
And in the, you know, in the community and the things that we create. And, you.

00:21:11:16 - 00:21:30:06
David Ask
Know, it's funny, I think I think there's a lot of truth there. Like it's, you know, time and just becoming a more mature person helps give perspective on things. It was fascinating when I started working with Dr. Andy. You know, I'll be honest, I thought that words like identity and authenticity and, you know, stuff like that was just a bit woo hoo.

00:21:30:06 - 00:21:51:05
David Ask
Right. And and or will we or whatever they say. And I but here's what's interesting is, is when you have someone ask you the right questions, it doesn't matter how old you are, you can actually dial in on some of that stuff very quickly. And you know, like for instance, the word identity in our culture, it's been just totally misunderstood and hijacked.

00:21:51:16 - 00:22:17:00
David Ask
And so so when you you understand, you know, how am I woven together different from the person next to me, you know, like, like our kids, right? They come out of the gate incredibly hard wired. You can tell someone's little essence when they're just months old or even weeks for that matter. Right. And they're not thinking about being authentic right up until they're like seven or eight years old, until the world slaps them around a little bit and then they start questioning everything.

00:22:17:05 - 00:22:25:18
David Ask
But when you're three or four or five and six, you're just doing your deal. All right? But as adults, we start feeling that pain and pressure, and then we start questioning everything.

00:22:26:03 - 00:22:26:13
Jennifer
Right.

00:22:27:02 - 00:22:54:01
David Ask
When you again, when you start identifying your authenticity, why what did what did the good king, you know, weave in me? And I identify those things that's different from you. You know, for instance, that's that's my identity. I've I've identified what do I believe most of all in this life? You know, we talk about core values. What does my core happen to value more than anything else in this entire world?

00:22:54:13 - 00:23:16:04
David Ask
And you start getting that language down right. What impact do I want to have? What gives me goose bumps? What just infuriates me that's going to be different from the person next to me. You know, my strengths, my virtues, what type of impact? Literally, like that dent in the universe thing, what type of impact? If David Ask shows up and punches something right with my body, with my essence, what is that shape?

00:23:16:14 - 00:23:16:17
Jennifer
Right.

00:23:16:20 - 00:23:41:06
David Ask
And it's different than someone else's. And it's fascinating. You know, when we start establishing all of those things, you know, we identify we're literally just identifying those things. Well, then we show up in a way that is more true to our nature. And when we follow the clues, right? I just feel better in my own skin and I'm not handing the keys to everybody around me or everything around me to tell me who I am.

00:23:41:19 - 00:24:00:00
David Ask
And it's it's amazing the shift that happens. And you you start feeling more comfortable in your own skin. You remove the question mark that's kind of inside of you. And by the way, when people don't want to remove that question mark of course they feel it, but everybody else does as well.

00:24:00:07 - 00:24:19:08
Jennifer
Right? Right. Yeah, it's hard. That was a very good explanation. Thank you for all that because it is hard to articulate that to people. But I think, you know, in listening to all of that in a very beginning, I want to go back to you said somebody asking the right question, and I think that goes back to finding your people.

00:24:19:08 - 00:24:39:20
Jennifer
Right, like finding who can ask the good questions. Because, you know, Neil, I if I when I'm working with clients, that's the one thing that I can tell people. It's like, who who are the people that you're around? Who who is your circle? Like, who are your people that you're engaging with every day because we don't know the impact of that until we know the impact of that.

00:24:39:20 - 00:24:52:01
Jennifer
Those of us that have had great mentors like, you know, I would say I was I was lucky enough that in the space that I was in, I had mentors for 22 years. That's probably the best thing, if I could tell you anything that I took away from it. And then I learned a lot of great skills. I learned how to sell and coach and do all those things.

00:24:52:08 - 00:25:10:11
Jennifer
But I think the biggest thing that I realized coming outside of that and I just had this conversation yesterday with my husband, I said, I sort of miss like I network now. I do a lot of networking. I know a lot of people in Dallas, but I purposely go out and I network because I need a community. I need a CEO, I need people because for those 22 years I had that it was a given.

00:25:10:11 - 00:25:28:16
Jennifer
It was in my it was woven in our company culture and we had it. And when I came out of that, I realized how many entrepreneurs don't have that? Like they don't even know the value of that right until they get in and they realize how important it is. So I think the right people asking you questions, it doesn't matter what age, like you said, the right people, it could be somebody.

00:25:28:16 - 00:25:46:04
Jennifer
Yeah, it's just finding those people that can ask you those good questions and it's great. It's back to who do we put in our circle that's going to inspire us to think critically, to grow, to expand our horizons and step out of our comfort zone a little because those people are going to ask you good questions.

00:25:47:03 - 00:26:06:09
David Ask
You know, it's so great. Did you ever did you ever see that movie Meet the Parents or Meet the Fockers? Yes. Yes. You know, and they took they talk about the circle of trust, you know. Yeah, well, of course, it's kind of this this joke. But here's what's fascinating, right? As as parents, how do we know that that circle of influence is a lot more like gravity?

00:26:06:20 - 00:26:31:20
David Ask
Because as parents, we instinctively, instinctively do not want our kids caught up in the wrong crowd, because we know full well I'm talking a visceral, oh, no, please don't hang out with those kids. And I again, it is what it is. But guess what? As adults, for some stupid reason, we've thrown that out the window and we just kind of slide into life and just let it happen.

00:26:32:04 - 00:26:53:07
David Ask
And I'm not saying that you can't be with people that might need your help, but if that circle of trust, if you're actually asking questions, how do I do this? How would you navigate this? What are you you know, my wife and I are kind of struggling here. What would you do? You better be darn just careful. You know who you're asking those questions to.

00:26:53:19 - 00:27:09:20
David Ask
And quite often, by the way, it's not your peers. I my my son Parker's in his first year in college, and and he, you know, he came home one one weekend and he said, Dad, he goes, I just got so many great friends, and, you know, we're helping each other do this. And, you know, I'm asking these guys advice for this and that.

00:27:09:20 - 00:27:32:20
David Ask
And in general, I'm like, man, what a what a great time to have some, you know, a good band of brothers. Right. But you know what? I cautioned him and I said, Parker, I said, They're 18 years old, just like you. They've not lived enough life to give you really wise counsel. So I said I said I would encourage you, not only me, because, you know, the door is open here.

00:27:33:12 - 00:27:58:00
David Ask
Find some other guys whose lives you admire and you think they're winning and and and ask them, say, hey, would you be a mentor to me? And it's amazing how many generous and good and kind people are like you're darn right I will. And it almost makes them level up at that point because they're they're being you know, when somebody says, I want to emulate the way you operate, are you kidding me?

00:27:58:00 - 00:28:18:20
David Ask
I mean, what an honor. And at the same time, there's a little bit of fear involved. Like, I don't want to screw up and wreck this kid. And but as adults, man, we're so cavalier about, you know, those decisions. And I guarantee you, you will in every single way become like the top five people you spend most time with now.

00:28:19:05 - 00:28:34:13
Jennifer
Good. David. Yeah, I know. I agree with you on all of that. As good. So you're singing, you're getting to do some cool stuff. Yeah, that's I think that's really fun. And you do have a great voice. I have looked at your work, so I congratulate you on that convention it ass.

00:28:34:19 - 00:28:53:18
David Ask
We did a concert last night actually. Did you? Yeah. So my, my daughter is actually taking a violin tour with her violin school to Germany and Austria in July. And she said, Hey, Dad, why don't we do some house concerts to raise money, you know, for the trip? Because it's a it's a pretty big trip. And, you know, we're all going.

00:28:54:10 - 00:29:15:21
David Ask
And so anyway, we've done a few of those. We've got a few more on the calendar. And so it's fun to do, you know, just smaller, little gigs like that. And at the same time, you know, Kate and I have been able to stand on some stages together that have like like I'm looking at a non-disclosure agreement here that we can't even talk about, like it's so I'm super, but you know what I mean?

00:29:15:21 - 00:29:29:19
David Ask
It's like I'm so grateful that I get to stand in somebody's living room and give them goosebumps. And then we get to, you know, go stand on a kind of, you know, a little bit more of a fun stage, as it were, and do that type of thing as well. So it's such a fun outlet for both of us.

00:29:29:19 - 00:29:32:00
Jennifer
How long have you how long have you been singing then?

00:29:32:22 - 00:29:42:11
David Ask
Well, it's funny, somebody asked that last night, and I my mom was a music teacher, and I felt like, no, we were pretty much forced to sing when we were little. It was like even.

00:29:42:11 - 00:29:42:20
Jennifer
Doing it for a.

00:29:42:20 - 00:29:52:19
David Ask
While. Get in the car or go into the nursing home and you know you're going to sing for everybody. And but really, I started taking it seriously probably when I was maybe 15, 16.

00:29:53:05 - 00:30:09:07
Jennifer
Okay. Well, you know, you're great. And I think that's awesome. And my daughter's in Germany right now. She's okay. You guys are having she is loving that that area over there. I told her, go stop in Austria. She's not far from there right now. But yeah, you went on a three week save your money. That's my middle child.

00:30:09:13 - 00:30:19:15
Jennifer
Yeah, I went on a three sigma money up, went on a three weeks. So she's in her second week now. Excursion up started out in Dublin, so she was there for the parade, the second largest day parade.

00:30:19:17 - 00:30:21:02
David Ask
Oh, wonderful.

00:30:21:02 - 00:30:25:02
Jennifer
So, yeah, she's trying to see you guys and she's love. And I'm sure you guys work for her long time.

00:30:25:02 - 00:30:36:19
David Ask
They're pretty excited. Yeah, well, we've done with. Well, Kate's. Yeah. Kate School. They've done Hawaii. We went to Italy two years ago and this year is Germany and Austria.

00:30:37:08 - 00:30:57:00
Jennifer
It's awesome. Good for you. You're doing amazing things. I love it. I love the air. You know, I tell you, this show is all about living extraordinary. And I think the extraordinary you know, one of the consensus that I hear from all the entrepreneurs when I ask them the question of what is success and how do we define extraordinary, it always comes back to kind of the same things that's doing, the things we love to do.

00:30:57:13 - 00:30:59:21
Jennifer
And it always comes back to authenticity.

00:30:59:21 - 00:31:21:00
David Ask
I think it's so important. And I would say, you know, especially if there's someone a bit younger in your twenties and so on, please don't compare yourself to someone in their forties. You know, figure out what your definition of success is. Now I'm talking today, you might not have tomorrow figure out what what success looks like just today.

00:31:21:12 - 00:31:35:14
David Ask
You know, you got to have some dreams and that but and do your deal. Walk your path, help others walk their path, but enjoy yours and don't don't suffer, you know, with the sin of comparison as it work, because it will just suck the life out of you.

00:31:36:02 - 00:31:58:15
Jennifer
Know, it's hard to do with social media. I know. I feel like we've all in there, but I think when you write, I think you touched on so many points. Like, I didn't really like I even have to ask you because you answered so many of my questions and what we had, you know, I think it was good because I really think that when we get past that whole I think it's freeing when you just get to that place where you don't care so much and you're just like, you know, this is who I am.

00:31:58:15 - 00:32:12:10
Jennifer
I kind of sort of adopt the idea that you're taking leave. You don't like it, you know? I see like with my show, I was telling someone this morning, like, these are my shows. I do what I want to do. I'm the one paying the bills on the shows. I'm working the content and I'm the one doing all the producing and putting it out.

00:32:12:10 - 00:32:30:12
Jennifer
It's my show. This is how I roll. And you know, the people that like it show up and they like it and the ones that don't, that's okay too. They can find the ones they like. And so I think when you get to that place where you accept who you are and all these things, you talk about your strengths, your weaknesses, and you realize, hey, you know, I'm okay talking about this thing that I'm not really good at.

00:32:30:12 - 00:32:39:19
Jennifer
Maybe I need somebody help me with that. They're really good in this area and I really want to shine in that area. I think when you get to those places, it's just great. And so I think in any place which you said.

00:32:39:19 - 00:32:55:10
David Ask
It absolutely well said. And yeah, you just in in in in kind of discovering those things and nailing them down. It's like show yourself a ton of grace. It's like, you know, you're not again, you're not trying to earn earn something here. Like just be really kind to yourself.

00:32:55:23 - 00:33:14:10
Jennifer
Be kind to other people, too. Yeah. Yeah. To listen. All right, David. Well, this has been awesome. Congratulations on your success and all the things you got coming up with singing in the books and the records and all the things you got going on. If our audience want to get in touch with you, maybe they want to learn, you know, keep up with you, learn more about you, follow your music, whatever.

00:33:14:10 - 00:33:20:13
Jennifer
By the way, you check out of singing because it is really good. It is. Thanks. Let's say they want to come find you, David. Where do we want to send them?

00:33:21:00 - 00:33:34:04
David Ask
You know, just go to my website. David Ask.com. David Ask.com and I mean links to my other businesses are on there as well, if you're curious. But yeah, if I can do anything to, to help, no strings attached, just let me know and I'll do my best.

00:33:34:16 - 00:33:51:18
Jennifer
And we'll make sure to when my editor he just good you get off we say get the bells and whistles on there we'll get the links on the link on there so they know where to find you and that. Yeah. We'll get it over to you. I'm excited. Some fun. I've enjoyed chatting with you. Thanks for your wisdom and like I say, congratulations on all your upcoming success.

00:33:51:18 - 00:33:52:23
Jennifer
Whatever all that is.

00:33:53:10 - 00:33:55:09
David Ask
Thank you. Very kind. Thanks for having me.

00:33:55:09 - 00:34:12:23
Jennifer
Absolutely. Listeners, we appreciate you. Thank you for tuning in. And of course, if you enjoy the show head on over or give us a review on Apple, you can check us out on YouTube, hit that, subscribe button so we can keep sharing all these incredible stories with these amazing people. And as I always say, the web, the extraordinary you must start.

00:34:12:23 - 00:34:40:08
Jennifer
I was going to say something else, but in order to start, you got to make a decision. So you guys take care, be safe, be kind to one another. And we will see you next time.