Why should protectors care about building relationships within the EP community with people who could be considered competitors? And what’s wrong with plain old networking?

This week, Elijah is back with another Short Circuit and is joined by good friend and industry personality, Byron Rodgers.

In this episode the two discuss a wide range of industry topics, with a focus on how relationships are the key to longevity in executive protection and as Byron puts it…

“You're going to make mistakes but what’s going to keep you alive? Relationship equity.” 

So, regardless of what stage of your career you’re at, listen in to this week’s show to hear what you could be missing out on by not building more meaningful relationships.

Topics discussed include:

What is the difference between networking and relationship building? Why does it matter?

How protectors can gain abundance within the industry by adopting a less defensive attitude.

What Protectors can do, and what initiatives exist, to improve your industry network.

Tune in for this entertaining and mindset changing discussion.

More about Byron:

Byron Rodgers is a notable private security professional who has grown up in the executive protection industry. He’s the CEO of Bravo Research Group a boutique private security company out of Southern California. The founder of the first international executive protection online career success ecosystem “The League of Executive Protection Specialists.” The host of the Executive Protection Lifestyle podcast which has emerged to be the largest body of free digital content in the executive protection industry. The president of Protector Nation where he works with some of the worlds most elite protectors to educate people of all walks of life on all things protection at the highest levels. He holds a masters of psychology and lives to empower others too unlock their potential and reach professional or life goals through mentorship and real world educational products.

Executive Protection Forum

Executive Protection Lifestyle

More about the Circuit:

The Circuit Magazine is written and produced by volunteers, most of who are operationally active, working full time in the security industry. The magazine is a product of their combined passion and desire to give something back to the industry. By subscribing to the magazine you are helping to keep it going into the future. Find out more >

If you liked this podcast, we have an accompanying weekly newsletter called 'On the Circuit' where we take a deeper dive into the wider industry. Opt in here >

The Circuit team is:

• Elijah Shaw
• Jon Moss
• Shaun West
• Phelim Rowe

Connect with Us: 

Circuit Magazine

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British Bodyguard Association

I know that I'm disruptive and I really, I look at it as an honor

because my end game is to contribute.

What I want to do is get skills to the practitioner on the ground and restore

honor back to our honorable service.

Alright.

So short-circuit a little spin off of the circuit podcasts at which me, Elijah

Shaw, cause I'm never around, I'm going to do my own little mini podcasts.

And I decided that I could something to podcasts.

I could bring my friends up and so.

Today I got a really special guest is a good friend of mine.

he's also a podcast, so this is great because I get to turn the tables on them.

Uh, he's had me on his show quite a few times or whatever.

So now I get to, I get to ask all of the probing questions, but really

what that means is we just going to laugh this whole episode, but I've got

Byron Rodgers who is the CEO of Bravo research group, and also the founder.

And of the executive protection lifestyle and under the executive

protection lifestyle, we've got a lot of different branches, which

is the things that we talked into.

I mean, you've got to a school, you know, you, you, you've got, you've

got a league, which I don't even know if we see it, get to that point yet.

So we've got, we got a few different things, right?

Yeah, man.

I've been busy, busy, busy, but it's an honor to be here, man.

It's always so cool to spend time with you man, digitally or in person.

That's fire.

Thanks for having me.

Boom.

So thank you, bro.

Again, glad to have you on the short circuit.

And I want to just jump right into

it.

But what I want to do is is, is how we've done in the past is I've got three

rapid fire questions they don't require.

Yeah, exactly

bro.

They don't acquire,

ain't even seen these questions.

which was intentional, bro.

Uh, uh, they don't require a whole bunch of thought, but you know,

just tell me like the first thing that comes to mind or whatever.

Um, so the first one is.

What's one thing that you love about the industry.

Oh,

So he wasn't

hard.

You know what I love about EP, man?

Well, geez, man, I'll try and make this quick.

Like I love that I'm a warrior at heart.

You know, I always believe that in every warrior civilization, there's

a special class of individuals that were set aside, given more

training, like the Patreon guard.

Speak to protect the nobility of the time.

So I also think that no greater love than this and a man that would

lay down his life for another.

So ethos for protection is so much deeper than the client I'm with.

It's like, this is who I am.

This is what I do.

And it's given me an excuse to really let that warrior ethos I have from the Marine

Corps, uh, live on in my everyday life.

And it's kept

Okay.

desk job.

And right now you've got a desk that's a few.

I got you.

Okay.

So, so basically saying this is Sparta,

Yeah, exactly.

Exactly, man.

This is the new spotter right up in here.

What's the professor, right?

I get it.

I get it.

Okay.

So the second question is, is almost the inverse of that, but you know, it

is, you know, if, you know, if I gave you a magic wand and you could wave it

and change one thing about the industry that, you know, I don't even wanna say,

Hey, that you dislike or gear that you, that you wish change could come to.

What do you think that would be

Man.

There's a few that I got like three in my head already.

now?

You get one, bro.

You get one.

Out, uh, you know, I would have to there's two major ones, but I'll

go with the one that really causes me the most pain, which is, you know, it

can be in, in Christian West, said it best as can be the most unfair industry.

Um, at least that I've ever known in terms of I've seen good dudes in this game, get

sent home over things that clients just, yo, does this do it smell like mechanic?

Uh, no, sir.

He smells like a mechanic.

Get 'em out of here.

Make sure he doesn't bleed on the carpet on the way out.

Like it can just be cutthroat, like, uh, no, sir.

Well, I think someone did that guy forced seat over, get them out of here.

You know what I'm saying?

He'll never be on the jet again and you're like, whoa.

You know, like it can be.

Boom done, you know, curtains and I seen good dudes that I would go to war with

shoulder to shoulder with, you know, not make it because the things that I,

I personally know we could have worked through, you know, that's huge for me,

cause I'm all about my guys, you know?

And I guess the other parts of that too, is also a challenge

explaining to them, you know, you know, Hey man, it's, it's not really you,

but still you're getting on his plate.

I got to buy you this ticket.

Oh, you

know?

We got to leave you on the tarmac.

Yeah.

No, that's a real one, bro.

I could see

that.

Okay.

So now I'm getting really switch gears on you.

Okay.

All right.

So I need you to name one person past.

Okay.

Living or dead that you would have liked to, or want

to provide protective services.

So

Wow.

somebody you wish you would have, like, you know, if I

was born in this era or something.

Yeah.

man.

I got three in my head right now.

you get one bro.

I oh man.

I can't just, okay.

So it would be, I mean, it would be between if I was going to make a decision

because I have three archetypes that I really, really love and I think it

would probably be boom, I'd be going between, uh, my modem Musashi and Julius.

Ooh, or maybe even Jesus, that'd be gangster

Wow.

Okay.

Okay.

in my head know, but yeah, with the warrior ethos, man, I

mean the things you can learn shadow in my modem Musashi and the letting him

get in his, you know, like, like, and I mean, yeah, that'd be just one of those.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

I might edit out two of them like put the little, the little bleep or

I over-deliver man, it's a side effect, you know?

I got about you.

Just, you just got to just keep pushing the

Yeah.

Right.

All right.

So, so, know, here, I really want to kind of get into the meat and potatoes.

And one of the we do in a short circuit is we try and drill down on the topic.

Um,

And, and what I want to talk to you about relationships in EP, and

reason I want to talk to you about it, because I think you do kind of a masterful

job in, in kind of managing relationships and, you know, you know, dealing with this

group here and dealing with this group here and bringing these groups together.

So, I guess I'll first, I'll start off by saying like, you know, you know, why

is forging a stripping relationships between protectors important?

Yeah, man.

It's the cheat code, man.

It is because

Um,

be got.

So what I talk about when I talk about the hidden artist,

success in executive protection dynamics of executive protection.

I believe that's the.

My first detail.

Uh, we started with 13 guys.

We drilled it down to two dudes were traveling the country.

60 some countries, countries in one year was insane.

Did that for seven years, know, started with 13 dudes.

I saw 30, some dudes come through and audition for this position.

Uh, as one other guy to work next to me in Cali.

every time one of these dudes would show up, they'd be like this dudes,

you know, retired law enforcement, Navy seal, secret service.

Like these dudes are bigger and badder than me.

They're dudes.

I wanted to be, but I started to realize.

Well, I thought they were going to take my spot every time.

Like every single time I was like, that's it I'm 21.

I just got a wrinkle on the Google.

Am I right?

So, but I started to realize that there's so much to be said, there's an

allergy to why I ended up staying there.

There's an art form.

Do I end up seeing their crystallized?

When rebuilt my books in Florida started from being a bounce, started from being a

bouncer and Kelly built my career, right.

Went to Florida, took what I learned in Cali reapplied.

It built my career up in Florida.

Again, came back to Kelly, did it all over again.

And what I learned was.

Social dynamics and building relationships.

Business is the commerce of relationships.

Everything that comes in and out of your life and your, and your

business, especially is relationships.

The money you can make in this industry is the fruit that comes from your

relationships, but never choose the money over the relationship because all of

that comes from that relationship equity.

You're able to have your ability to influence this is a

relationship, a relational game.

The ability to influence.

And one of the huge things I try to teach my teams and I teach at my school

is how to influence an environment of cooperation over competition on

the detail and with all of the other auxiliary staff members in the game,

got to be thinking we just, the dudes, and it's just us against the world and

it's not, it needs to be all of the.

Working together to get a superior product to our principals and clients.

Right.

know, that's why I call my company.

The element of security is a periodic table.

These clients are sitting here and experienced, right.

We're just one element on the chart.

You know what I'm saying?

I'm tracking.

you know, so, so the, the relational aspect of this game, I seem to.

Uh, I'm not the biggest, I'm not the strongest.

I'm not the best.

I ain't the sexiest, you know, I mean, I didn't even really get my six packs.

Like I, you know, but I've been able to really win I have focused on the

relationship aspect and the influence and the cultural equity you can have

with your principals and clients and artillery, staff members in environment.

And those fears of relationships.

I talk about when I talk about social dynamics and you'll,

you're gonna make mistakes.

going to keep you alive.

Relationship equity.

Sure right.

their principals and clients comfortable with you, equity.

You know what I'm saying?

what's going to make it so that nanny doesn't, uh, give you the dagger when

the client or principal walked, when the Pete walks in the house and was like,

yo, about this Byron cat, you know what?

I made a wrong turn today.

She's going to be like either he's a jerk.

And he thinks he's top flight security of the world, or she's going to be like,

you know, He may have made a mistake, but Byron, I think he's a really good guy.

He's, he's the right guy for the job.

He's probably kicking himself right now, you know, but, but I think you should

definitely, you know, give him a chance to let him grow into the position.

Um, I find that relationship equity and being able to forge relationships even.

And my P even amongst other EAP, uh, companies in my area, I find a lot of

value in having those relationships because we share dudes, we share info.

I just got bit, cause I didn't know who somebody was.

And I talked to my guy afterwards and he's like, yo, that guy and

you know, go ahead and meditate.

You got some,

No, no, but no, because that's actually where you ended

at was, was where I wanted to go

yeah.

was, you know, I think because I think the majority of, of, of

listens to the show are in the profession or would like to get into the profession.

And I think everybody gets the, or, or can see the logic of in, Hey, we do.

Establish a relationship with the protectee staff, you know, uh, you

know, w with the C suite with the other, with the assistant, the other

people that are making the decisions.

But I think historically amongst protectors were kind of a, you know,

kind of a doggy dog kind of world.

like Highlander

know what I mean, Highlander?

Yeah.

We talked about this.

They out there could only be one.

that job's going to live forever.

This is what I mean, like, you know, it's w whereas where competitive

in theory, because we think that's the only way we're going to get this client,

only way we're going to keep this client.

so I, you know, I need to have this tactical advantage, and that means that

I have to keep everything close to my

right.

or, or I, I can assist, or I can't help you out.

Or I, you know, I can't problem solve with you because.

It might take something away

I'm off my plate.

And so again, the thing that I want to give you kudos for

is that I think you've done a really great job at navigating that space.

you know, what's the secret, you know, how have you found

You really want the secret y'all I'm finna give you

the secret sauce, you know, the

beautiful baby, not these types of tricks about this stuff.

And it's, you know, it's like when Jesus would be like, let him move

as ears to hear, let him hear.

He's like, basically I'm a Dumble put you on game, but

some of y'all ain't going to be to, yeah, exactly.

Some of y'all just, ain't going to be able to accept it.

I mean, or understand it, you know, like people.

Here based on where they're at in their development and all these

internal gears, inner psychic world, like mental metabolism stuff.

Right.

So really it's an abundance mindset, man.

That's really what it is.

So when I am linking up with other companies, it's always like,

yo, how can we help each other?

Like.

Let's make sure that we supporting each other.

When I get that gig, I got a call for a gig with like 50,

50 dudes earlier this year.

And you know, you don't mean, man, I'm a hammer.

I'm going to figure it out.

I'll build a parachute on the way down.

Right.

But there's this moment where I'm like, yo, I'm going to need all my

dogs and all my other PPO is that I know, you know, during the, during,

um, COVID during the riots, man, we're, we're getting slammed workout.

I couldn't even, I could, I had to give work away, you know, but I was so

blessed that I had other PPO in the area.

I can like, yo, you got a few guys, you got anybody.

And I was able to band together when we're vetting guys, I hit up a few

of the other peoples in the area.

So there's a lot and we respect each other instead of fight each other.

So inviting.

Of competition over cooperation.

Our environments have higher attrition environments of cooperation

over competition or environments where we can thrive more easily.

You go watch the discovery channel.

Everyone talks about survivor fitness, you know, that's cool.

And we all hard, right.

But if you watch the discovery channel tonight and, uh, my man, my man, uh,

Darwin, this was another theory you spoke about, which was, you know,

You watch the pack of Gazelles.

The lion is looking for its elimination of the weakest survival of the pack, right?

So me and the other PPO is out here in Southern California.

We stay in our lanes.

I hear that this dudes work for that company.

I respect that.

I always respect that.

You know, they hear the same thing.

So I have more protection for my guys out there in the field.

There's less companies trying to steal them.

And then at the same time, we're, cross-reference in all kinds of stuff.

We respect each other's content.

Yeah, I'm saying it too.

It actually creates a lot more stability.

It is just seriously the results you get from an abundance mindset

rather than a mindset of scarcity.

So, so, well, I mean, that was, that was a lot to unpack

and I think that was great, bro.

No.

I just thought we were going to be cracking jokes this whole time.

But, uh, but, but you know, you're just saying there's a simple fix of

this, which is just changed your way of

Yes, that's it?

Yeah.

And it's, counter-intuitive, it's a little counterintuitive because

at face value, you're like, all right, we're in competition.

It's like, nah, man, let's get to know each other.

Let's find out what are your property lines?

You know what I mean?

Like, what are the, where, where do you exist?

You know?

And, and if I get a client or something big happens in their space or something

like that, I can hit my doodle being like, You know, I've been respecting you.

You're respecting me.

This opens the door for us to have a much higher quality dialogue.

How you dealing with this man?

I got a client that wants me to do the same type of stuff

you've been doing, you know, and

Right, right,

to take food off their plate and, and vice versa.

So they're like, yo, this is this, these are my cheat codes.

right.

it's been really valuable.

Nah, I get that, bro.

And you know, you and I we've had conversations, many conversations

offline, you know, about similar.

Uh, and, and I know it's been successful for you.

You know, th th there's there's there's, there's tangible proof is quantifiable

proof that it's been successful for you.

So when, so when someone goes, it can't be done or how's he doing it, you just

told them how you're doing it, you know, but here's the other piece too, as well.

And, and we haven't talked about this before, so, you know, you

don't have to agree with this.

I, I think that, you know, everyone uses this term.

Oh yeah.

And, and, but I think that networking and building relationships

aren't necessarily the same thing.

You agree with this?

Okay.

All right.

All right.

We'll get, we haven't talked about this before, but what's your

thoughts?

man.

So really to go more transparent under that last principle, the gentlemen, all

the other PPO is in the environment.

They're guys that I have a deeper relationship with.

They

Hmm.

they understand my ethos.

You understand what honor.

You know,

Mm.

we're not just business relationships.

Now I can meet another PPO and we can build a relationship like this, these

are guys that I shoot with and train with that are on the same trajectory as me.

He just happens to be in the same space very often.

Right.

Um, you know, networking is like, Hey, we met at an event and we

have each other's phone numbers.

We said we could be assets to each other.

Sure.

a professional reciprocal relationship probably at some time.

You know what I'm saying?

Now, actually building related.

Mind you I'm always going for the relationship though.

Right.

know, obviously I keep my inner circle really small, but,

um, real value comes from relationship equity, which is really trust, you

know, so the networking is superficial until I can really establish trust.

And once the trust starts to happen, this is when doors start opening for you and

more doors in your mental very often.

that's sort of, networking is kind of the introduction

and then a vetting process has to

Yes.

And then you build that

Right.

Which comes from experience just like confidence.

You know what I'm saying?

It's like, oh, you're arrogant.

No, no, no.

I have experiences with myself that validate my capabilities and that's

right.

If I was guessing it'd be and that's trust in

a relationship, you know?

So that's kinda how I approach it, but I'm always going for, for relationship.

And because of that.

I think some people get a little bit lost on why they can't skip a step.

Hmm.

You know, Hey, I met Byron at an event.

Yeah,

I gave him my card.

How, how, yeah, how come he hasn't called me for this

yeah.

Like, you know, I networked with them, you know what I mean?

I passed out too many cards, you

Yes.

So, so, they, they missed that part,

Oh yeah.

know, You could have a whole bunch of numbers in your iPhone

Yeah, followers on Instagram, Instagram, but LinkedIn,

you can follow everybody on LinkedIn.

They could have followed you back, you know?

Yeah.

But, but if you need to call up that firepower, star power, you know, Hey,

I need a hard vehicle and, you know, uh, uh, Guatemala, you know, whatever

that piece is, those are relationships.

Yes.

Yeah.

Uh, and, and relationships are going to have

you go the extra mile for someone,

Yup.

uh, or vice versa.

Yes.

someone being a network is wonderful, but, but again, there's

stages and there's a process here.

I give you an example.

Yeah,

Um, you know, one of the things that you've done again, kudos to

you for this is that you created this

yeah.

protectors symposium

sir.

at, you know, so you did a symposium.

What do you want?

3.0 right

We just dropped 4.0, we're building five point.

Oh right now.

Positive.

Right.

So

Yeah,

but but

no worries.

but part of, of, of, of, of, this, this entity here are

the speakers that you bring to it

Yeah.

You're talking about relationships now.

That's exactly what you're talking about, right?

That's where I'm getting, that's what I'm getting at here.

You know

Yes.

And you know, you know, not to say these guys are

speaking for free or anything, like.

Those are not.

they're, they're answering your call.

Yes.

Yes.

reason they're saying I can carve this time out of my schedule for a

Right.

And that reason I would attribute and you can tell me if I'm

wrong is because of the strength of the relationships you've developed.

Yes, it's I think it's too full.

I think the other thing to this that I think is really important

is networking is tactical.

Um, and relationship building needs to be.

It's tactically genuine.

You really can, uh, be tactical when it comes, when you're, when you're.

Cause I don't have time to necessarily be like, yo dog,

we're going to get a bite to eat.

You know what I'm saying?

I, it breaks my heart.

Like, people be hit me up, like, let's go get coffee.

I'm like right now I got 70 text messages right now at this moment.

People, you know what I mean?

So, it it's exactly what you're talking about for a guy.

Who's a brand guy who's built a brand, you know, some of these

brands, like, you know, Tony, some real-world tactics, he's got the

most sponsors in the tactical space.

Dude's got millions of brands are monsters.

And then for them to give me the time of day, Um, and answer my call and

then co-mingled their brand with mine.

This is really huge.

And a lot of that I believe comes from like when we have our butts

sniffing content, like when we get on the phone and we started talking

with each other and getting a feel for each other, we'll usually have like

an hour long conversation feeling each other out, but also, and, or we've

met at an event we've met out in the field and that's where kind of the

genuine and shake started happening.

And we seen each other out there move and everything.

So there's a fusion between.

Your reputation and your street credit and your brand will proceed.

You.

This is very important.

And then when you meet that with in-person being as advertised and in conversation,

that feeling we're dudes values align, and they're like, yo, we can, we can do work.

This is where it's like the magical combination.

You know what I'm saying?

And then they see something that you're building or doing in the

space that they're like, I want to be a part of, or I respect.

Then it's very easy to get that type of access and to work with, with

powerful people in my experience

No, I liked that.

I got it.

I got it.

I got it.

Okay.

So, so we're at.

The symposium of the protective symposium, 4.0, done.

5.0, you got cooking.

You ain't told me about that yet.

You got, you got that cooking in a pot or whatever.

Uh, but also, you know, in December

Oh, yeah,

you've got the executive protection.

right

And that's happening in Vegas.

And so, so again, that there's something else that's, that's bubbling that I

think I would attribute to, I know the roster, I don't know the roster

closely, but I would attribute that to again, relationships.

hundred percent, 100%.

okay.

So again, for those who, who aren't as familiar, what's the executive team.

So the AP forum is going to be a one day event.

It's going to be fast.

Uh, and we are going to jam a whole bunch of value into one day for you.

We've got, I think it's seven amazing speakers coming to you that day.

your very own, you Elijah Shaw is going to be one of them.

And I, you know, I'm excited.

I can't wait to hear this.

So you got six amazing speakers and then

Yeah.

So, so, um, and what I'm really excited about is the fact that many of these

speakers, um, they haven't been, they're not on the speaking circuit.

Like you may never get to hear, you know, Caleb Gilbert speak.

You may never get to hear, uh, Jackie Davis speak, you know, the top female,

uh, EPA agent over there in the UK.

Yeah.

Like you may never get to hear any of these people ever again speak and, and

bring their knowledge to the game nor have you probably ever heard them speak.

Right.

So I'm ultra excited about it and we're using, you know, cause I know some of

the shots, you know, I hear some of the shots out there that are like, yo.

What makes it different than, you know, the close protection conference.

And I got to make it clear that we are just trying to add to the value that an

EPA agent can get while they're in town for the close protection conference.

So we're in our own way, trying to contribute to what everyone can get.

We're not trying to compete or anything like that.

This is just a one day pop-up event where you can get an extremely

high amount of value, um, to add to what you're either do.

There or if you just have one day, cause I know I didn't come for a while.

Cause I only had one day to the other conference.

I was like, well, I'll go shoot and then I'll roll out.

Or if you don't want to shoot, we've got an awesome option for you.

And then there's some technological things we're doing to, uh, kind

of really make it a different experience than your just butts in

seats for, for eight hours as well.

But the way you're going to say something on the seat, on the seat,

No, no, no.

Only just because I thought that was important.

I'm glad you actually spoke on that because that weekend is also, uh, uh,

the ISP B cost protection conference.

And so it's existing in that

Yes.

might have like, Hey, I have to choose between one or the

Right.

you know, you know what, he just talked about not

Exactly.

kind of, so I, I, so I'm glad

Yes.

on that because you know, you'll, you'll be

at, you have a presence at.

At the glucose protection

conference.

Right.

I'll be right out

Okay.

I have a table out there in

Mm

in the, in the foyer, you guys all see me there hanging, man.

I can't wait to meet all you guys and shake hands and you know, it's

you see the field, they see the guys who've been out and doing the work, um,

that's dope.

the mission here is to make sure you guys can

maximize the value you get.

Uh, if you're coming into the close protection conference and.

The conference begins at 6:00 PM.

Our event ends at 5:00 PM on Wednesday.

So you it's just an add on a value add, you know?

Um,

That's great.

yeah, much respect to those who've come before us and I've done

some pretty awesome things, you know,

Nice.

Nice.

I think that's great.

You said that and I'll make sure that I include a link

Yeah, man.

both conferences.

I'll make sure I put them in the show notes.

Outstanding.

Um, and, and maybe that's a good way to, to kind of

wrap up this conversation here.

You know, when I was talking about like, oh, sometimes people have

questions in their mind, et cetera,

Yes.

you know, everyone's got an opinion,

right.

And, and, and it, and it definitely going to have an opinion about

a protector who's forwarding.

Oh yeah.

And, you know, and trust me, I, I, yeah, yeah, right.

Yeah.

I get that.

You get that, you know what I mean?

If you know, if you're front and center with your brand and you know, that's the

marketing strategy that you have, you know, you open yourself up to opinions,

you open yourself up to criticism.

What my, what my question is, how much does that factor into your moves?

The ones that you make, and it potentially particularly your longterm.

Right.

my moves are anchors.

We only ask that we ask the tough questions on this show.

Yeah, no, I love it, man.

I love it.

No, my moves are anchored to my values, you know, and, I've kind of always been

a guy who, uh, kind of goes by my own.

just always found so much more.

In life every time I've been like, all right, you know, father, I think this is

the way, you know, he's like, go this way.

I'm like, but everybody's going that way.

And then I go that other way, you know?

Um, and my values, really, man, I want to make huge contributions to

this game, you know, and I know I get a lot of, sometimes I get some flack

for it, but then when I have a student or a listener or an EAP practitioner,

that's like, yo, I wanted to get in a game and I found your YouTube channel.

And literally like I'm here because of.

Like I heard, like I hear this multiple times a week and I'm like,

is really what it's all about.

You know?

And I've, I've been given the grace and kind of a perfect situation that

really fosters that with my clients and those different things that I deal with

and principles and things I deal with.

other thing is too, you know, I always make sure to protect the

values of security, security, like nobody knows who my clients are

Hm.

Hmm.

in, in, in the civilian world, you'll never see me with a client.

Anything personal or anything like that.

What I want to do is get skills to the practitioner on the ground and restore

honor back to our honorable service.

And so if I'm getting scrutinized, I really appreciate it.

I love it.

You know, my mind is very fluid.

Um, I have, I'm one of those guys with too many ideas.

And so I have to like, I have to like, make sure I just focus on one thing.

Like if you see me making a move, like someone's like, I can't

believe Byron did this homie.

This person hating on me is in the middle of like an eight move combo.

Like I grew up in the agent, mortal Kombat.

I'm like, this is you're in like a 16 mil Tomball right now.

And you waiting on this one right here.

I'm going to be over here in intense, over there.

Right.

So, uh, I know that I'm disruptive and I really, I look at it as an honor

because my end game is to contribute.

I'm not good enough to be cool enough to get all this attention.

Your gift makes room for you.

And so, and the King's court.

So my goal has always been.

Let my contributions ultimately speak for themselves, man.

And it's such a beautiful way to live.

When, when you start hearing people say, man, you changed my life and

contribute to my career and, and feed my family and stuff like that.

Yeah.

I, I really liked that.

I think that's, uh, like your answer was, was, was, was very well thought out.

And can tell that this is something you've thought

Yeah.

This is a deliberate, deliberate play.

But, uh, but, but here, you know, let me add to this too.

You're really going to see the value of that five years

from now 10 years from now.

You know what I mean?

Those same guys,

Yeah.

you know, those same guys,

Yeah,

like when you, when you hear or see the moves that they've made.

And then like, you can look back at, back at it like, oh shit.

I remember when you started

yeah.

Wow.

some overnight success, but yeah, when you get these, you

Wow.

five, 10 years in the

Yeah.

and you see the corporations that they're at and again,

you and I, we speak offline quite a

Yeah.

talk about things

Wow.

you know, um, I, uh, Your accomplishments speak for themselves.

But one thing I can definitely add to that is got perspective I saw what

I felt it again.

When you said that, I was like, oh, I was like, you've been down this path.

He's showing me something.

you know, know, you know what we're talking about

Yeah.

talking to this about this when it was my

space, you know what I mean?

It did, it did, it was that it was Facebook.

And then we got to the other thing.

So

Yeah,

is, is that throughout that time, I've watched people

change, grow, develop, you know, and I've watched guys who came into the

business extremely green or extremely hesitant or unsure themselves.

And I

Yeah.

grow and prosper and now they're made their mark and reaching

back in and starting that cycle again.

So again, it's really good to be.

Like fruit.

Yeah,

You know what I mean?

know, outside of, you know, monetary, cause I'm sure people just think, oh,

he's in this for the money, whatever.

There's a, there's all.

All right.

Trust me, bro.

But, but you know, but, but the, the real return on that event,

yeah,

It's going to come down the road, bro.

So I'm, uh, I'm, I'm happy to continue watching this journey, bro.

I will see you in a couple of weeks cause I will connect with you.

Um, yeah.

At, at the AP form or whatever, we'll get a chance to kick it back.

Maybe even afterwards or

something, you know, I'm not spending any money on the slot machines, but I'll

be there.

do that.

Either.

Nah, bro.

be playing them games,

It tell you I don't like losing.

So let me tell you so.

machines flying across a lobbyist.

Exactly.

Right.

All of a sudden I'm getting walked about it.

They're like, wait a minute.

I trained this guy.

Why is he checking me out

for

than the licensed

those

content?

Right?

Anyway.

Hey man.

Thanks for making the time.

I know you got a lot going on in your plate this week and stuff.

So thanks for making the time.

glad we got to chop it up.

Uh, and again, see you.

Yo always an honor brother and a good time,

thoughtful, thoughtful questions.

I was even blessed, especially by what you just said.

I was like, man, that's something I'll be sitting in bed thinking about tonight.

You know, it's being the fruit of that stuff.

Great conversation.

I'm so glad that we were able to have this brother.

Heck yeah,

We'll talk