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Well the competitive nature of things in life

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let's talk a little bit about that

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Our guest today is someone who embodies what's possible

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when purpose meets persistence

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Rod McDaniel  grew up here

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in public housing in Nashville

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and today he's the CEO of S3 Recycling Solutions

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a nationally recognized technology recycling company

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with locations in Tennessee

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and as far away as California

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under Rod's leadership S3 has grown more than 3,000%

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landed in the ink 5,000 five times

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he's been named Best Place to work

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and given nearly

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10,000 devices to underserved communities

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Rod has earned honors

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like the entrepreneur of the year from Arnstein Young

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most admired CEO and he currently serves as board chair

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of the Greater Nashville Technology Council

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helping guide the region's technology future

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Rod has spoken on stages across the country

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he's mentored founders

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and poured himself into boards and organizations

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that lift people up especially right here at home

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and these titles though

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they don't they don't tell the whole story

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what you'll hear today

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is a man whose leadership is rooted in faith

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shaped by community

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and focused on creating opportunity for others

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Rod is a friend a great leader

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and he reminds us that success isn't just about scale

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it's about stewardship let's get into it

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so there's an inward look at Nashville

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and what makes Nashville stronger

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and then there's this relative

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Nashville to other communities

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perspective that we hear

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different people bring a facet to that conversation

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when you say what's Nashville strong at

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and when you look outside of Nashville

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what do we envy

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so what is Nashville strong at

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yeah I think it's a

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it's one of so S3 has core values

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one of our core values is community

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I think Nashville is great at community

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think about it just

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just a you know

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I know my story is widely known

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but a kid like me able to do what 

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what I'm doing today

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I don't think you can do that without community

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and so I think we do a great job in the city 

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at 

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welcoming people and then getting them connected 

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and then supporting them through their journey

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so I I think

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I think we do a great job there

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now what we can approve on

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come on I know everybody hates traffic here

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yeah wow

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traffic reaching to the choir yeah

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so I don't know I

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I this probably a little controversial

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but maybe that tone will help

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 hahaha dig

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baby dig ah yeah

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I mean and I'm probably digging right now um

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but yeah I

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I it's not necessarily

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directly related to technology

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but I remember the 

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Mario Cano coming to speak to our board

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and he was talking through how

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that transit plan had um

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upgrades for lights

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and using technology to try to move cars and vehicles

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throughout the city a lot faster

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so I think 

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you know one of the things that

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we can work on is

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transportation in general cause at the end of the day

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like I think about my mom

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in order to make a really good living

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you've got to get

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you've got to be able to get back and forth to work

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and then on the flip side

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you know

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we don't want to spend a whole bunch of time in

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traffic sitting in our cars

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when we can be at spending time with people

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doing community

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I love it I just I'm having

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yeah

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it's right yeah

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I'm sorry so you're the expert

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so I'm not well no

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I'm just thrilled to hear

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somebody in your position of leadership

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and recognizes that our mobility

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our individual mobility

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is a direct relationship to our economic success

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and when we're stuck in traffic

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we're polluting

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we're not leveraging technology

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although I have a theory and the theory might be

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that Nashville's growing so fast

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new people come to Nashville

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and then they sort of look around and listen to us

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locals complain about traffic

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but then they go y'all call this traffic yeah

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and they don't see traffic in Nashville as a problem

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because where they came from

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it was insufferable usually

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and so I'm

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I have a theory that probably isn't very popular

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but I'm gonna explore it real quickly

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what if the time you spend in your car

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everybody in this culture in this community

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got involved in educating themselves

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while they were there rather than entertaining

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rather than listening to something

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that got you riled up about the news

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and divided us we actually said

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this is a competitive advantage in Nashville

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when we're going to work we're employed

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when we're in a car with somebody else

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we're building a community in that

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in that vehicle let's share rides

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let's listen to something

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that invests in ourselves

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and builds our own inner capability

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so we arrive at work in a better Zen state

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we come home

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and maybe we're ready to be a better family man

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or or family member right

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so I wonder if there's a way we can push

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the idea that we can use that time

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trapped in traffic to improve our mind

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traffic university traffic university

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you're speaking my language now

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I love it

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professional development yes sir

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at dead times man

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that's man

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you're speaking my language

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cause you know

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it's it's always hard to find time right right

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and so I so I swim in the mornings

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and I've got this new device that

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Bluetooth does not travel underwater

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and so there's this device that I put on my head

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and I can listen to podcast

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so I'll swim for about 45 minutes

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but I also it's my chance to

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to actually listen to a leadership podcast

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I I love you

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if you go through my podcast Leadership Leadership

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Leadership same thing in the car

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if I'm not taking a call

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I will try to find some time to to 

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listen to some type of leadership podcast

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cause to your point whatever we're inputting

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it's gonna actually come out

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and so if you know

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you're listening to something controversial to work

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you're being triggered

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and then you're going to work with that

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with that spirit on you and so yeah

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I I

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I really try for for myself when

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when there's dead times like that

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to make sure I'm doing that professional development

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so you're speaking my language man

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just imagine it if it's a half an hour or 45 minutes

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or an hour to work insufferable as it may be

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wouldn't that be great if we got a couple of hours of

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intellectual property development

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and everybody that's going to work in Nashville

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throughout the entire area

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may just set this new cultural standard

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we're gonna educate ourselves

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while we're stuck in traffic

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and we no longer feel stuck

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so much of what we do is around distraction

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and this is about personal growth

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so how does the Technology Council help

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manifest Traffic University

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let's get this thing going ooh hey

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we've we've got a Mister Transportation here

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here you go we gotta

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we gotta figure out we gotta figure out something man

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got a nap yeah

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well no

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sign me up

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we actually sold that company to a couple of really

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really strong local entrepreneurs

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AI blockchain geniuses I'm feeling like

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I'm excited about the idea that

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good ideas continue to propagate

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and they take on new life from new leadership

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back to your point about leadership

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what what do you think

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Nashville is really enjoying right now

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in terms of a a leadership renaissance as I see it

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what do you see haha

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man a leadership renaissance

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now are you

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are you are you talking specific to government and what

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fair question you're asking me to narrow it 

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I love what's happening with Vanderbilt

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and the innovation cooperation

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that Freddie O'connell has brought to the table

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I think the the

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the the ecosystem of cooperative support organizations

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I think this fabric is getting tighter

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I think there's a renaissance

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I'm seeing it in new leadership

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I'm also seeing really friends of mine

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and ours that are leading these organizations today

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are very open 

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to change yep

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and it feels like the state of Nashville

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this Middle Tennessee area

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is experiencing a renaissance in creative leadership

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yeah so I'd say this

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so I mentioned earlier that I think community is a 

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a strong point but I also think it's a weakness because

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because sometimes in that community

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you build a community

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you sometimes unintentionally shut people out

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but I think what we're seeing and

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and just go back to what I said earlier collaboration I

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I to

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to that innovation alliance that you're speaking

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I'm start I feel like I'm starting to see

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new leaders come in and wanting to collaborate

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instead of building a wall and saying hey no

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this is this is

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this is what we do

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you're seeing organizations

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really work with each other now

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and say hey look

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it's you know

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and ultimately it's better life is done better together

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so why not collaborate so I

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I think that's kind of what

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what I'm seeing

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I think the traffic is a is sort of a side effect of

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of the growth that that transplants are bringing

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and I think it seems like the

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the wave of of people coming in

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they're bringing new ideas and new concepts

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and innovative ideas that maybe aren't as homegrown

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and as a homegrown kid I like the homegrown stuff

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but I do think you're right

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there's a 

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there is an inclusion component that

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that just happens naturally

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when everyone hears from somewhere else

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oh yeah good point yeah

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as a as a native kid I've

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I've watched ideas change and

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and flow 

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tell us a good example of a leader

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you're currently working with

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that's from somewhere else

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that brought some special flair to Nashville

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a leader that I'm working with

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that's from somewhere else

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you know what

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I'd say

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this is probably gonna surprise him for

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for me saying this

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Carl Spurls

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he is he is a leader that I have come to really admire

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 he's got a he's

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he's very technical

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he comes uh

281
00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:31,500
and he's got a servant leadership heart and I think his

282
00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:33,933
um his focus on uh

283
00:11:33,933 --> 00:11:36,233
workforce development has

284
00:11:36,233 --> 00:11:37,433
has really kind of

285
00:11:37,433 --> 00:11:40,233
gotten us to really rethink the way

286
00:11:40,233 --> 00:11:42,933
we have always thought about it um

287
00:11:42,933 --> 00:11:43,966
and I I

288
00:11:43,966 --> 00:11:45,566
I think um

289
00:11:46,433 --> 00:11:47,766
yeah they came from I

290
00:11:47,766 --> 00:11:49,466
I believe New York um

291
00:11:49,866 --> 00:11:50,966
it it's just it's

292
00:11:50,966 --> 00:11:53,066
it's always going back to the inclusive part

293
00:11:53,066 --> 00:11:55,200
I think it's always good to have

294
00:11:55,533 --> 00:11:56,633
someone from the outside

295
00:11:56,633 --> 00:11:58,533
kind of coming in and shaking it up a little bit

296
00:11:58,533 --> 00:11:59,766
and saying hey look

297
00:11:59,900 --> 00:12:01,166
what about this what about that

298
00:12:01,166 --> 00:12:02,566
asking the right questions

299
00:12:02,866 --> 00:12:05,066
so that we can all arrive at the place

300
00:12:05,066 --> 00:12:07,733
we really wanna be and Carl's a great example

301
00:12:07,733 --> 00:12:10,633
CEO of Alliance Bernstein um

302
00:12:11,366 --> 00:12:13,800
another transplant is Alliance Bernstein

303
00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:16,433
so I'm gonna ask a different question

304
00:12:16,433 --> 00:12:17,966
but sort of the same question

305
00:12:18,233 --> 00:12:19,700
the companies that are coming to town

306
00:12:19,700 --> 00:12:21,366
the people that are that are moving in

307
00:12:21,366 --> 00:12:23,033
you know that we're also largely uh

308
00:12:23,033 --> 00:12:24,133
landing large uh

309
00:12:24,133 --> 00:12:27,833
organizations from other parts in and outs coming in

310
00:12:27,833 --> 00:12:30,266
Alliance Bernstein I think a Shereon

311
00:12:30,266 --> 00:12:32,033
there's there's all these companies that

312
00:12:32,033 --> 00:12:36,033
that Nashville is now a destination to be uh

313
00:12:36,100 --> 00:12:37,700
what are the companies bringing

314
00:12:37,700 --> 00:12:38,666
what do you see the

315
00:12:38,666 --> 00:12:41,433
the organizations bringing in that same vein

316
00:12:41,666 --> 00:12:42,033
you know I

317
00:12:42,033 --> 00:12:44,100
I've been really surprised and I think

318
00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:45,866
you know we talked about Alliance Bernstein

319
00:12:45,866 --> 00:12:48,233
I think they've done an amazing job at uh

320
00:12:48,233 --> 00:12:50,733
incorporating themselves into the organization uh

321
00:12:50,733 --> 00:12:51,533
to the city

322
00:12:52,066 --> 00:12:54,566
from a philanthropic standpoint

323
00:12:54,566 --> 00:12:56,000
and like just getting involved

324
00:12:56,233 --> 00:12:57,033
um

325
00:12:57,666 --> 00:12:59,133
I I am actually

326
00:12:59,133 --> 00:13:02,166
I have been more surprised at the organizations

327
00:13:02,166 --> 00:13:03,700
that have come in and actually

328
00:13:03,700 --> 00:13:06,066
just embedded themselves into the community

329
00:13:06,266 --> 00:13:07,633
um you know

330
00:13:07,633 --> 00:13:10,366
you hear just a bunch of stories about uh

331
00:13:10,433 --> 00:13:11,466
sometimes uh

332
00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:14,166
the business community not uh

333
00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:15,066
getting uh

334
00:13:15,066 --> 00:13:16,366
much involved in the community

335
00:13:16,366 --> 00:13:17,433
but I'm seeing

336
00:13:17,433 --> 00:13:19,566
I feel like I'm seeing the opposite of that

337
00:13:19,666 --> 00:13:20,533
uh they're wanting

338
00:13:20,533 --> 00:13:23,366
at the end of the day their employees live here

339
00:13:23,366 --> 00:13:25,633
they're wanting to make this place a better place

340
00:13:25,633 --> 00:13:26,533
and they they're

341
00:13:26,533 --> 00:13:28,700
they're really investing in it

342
00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:30,266
and then getting involved with a

343
00:13:30,266 --> 00:13:33,200
non profit organizations that fit their mission

344
00:13:33,233 --> 00:13:34,500
yeah you know I

345
00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:37,466
I hear people talk about quality of life

346
00:13:37,466 --> 00:13:39,033
so you're a native I mean

347
00:13:39,033 --> 00:13:41,633
there aren't very many native Nashvillians

348
00:13:41,633 --> 00:13:44,166
so we blue blue blood

349
00:13:44,166 --> 00:13:46,466
I'm a native as well and you're a native and I

350
00:13:46,466 --> 00:13:47,666
my wife is a native we're

351
00:13:47,666 --> 00:13:49,733
we're we're a unicorn as a couple

352
00:13:49,733 --> 00:13:50,866
this is fantastic

353
00:13:50,866 --> 00:13:53,166
this is Noah's Ark here of the natives

354
00:13:53,733 --> 00:13:54,633
but what what

355
00:13:54,633 --> 00:13:56,566
I've been here for 25 years

356
00:13:56,766 --> 00:14:00,566
so I feel like I came in as a corporate transplant

357
00:14:00,566 --> 00:14:03,366
and then sold the company

358
00:14:03,366 --> 00:14:04,866
and you couldn't peel me out of here

359
00:14:04,866 --> 00:14:07,133
I'm gonna create something new in Nashville

360
00:14:07,133 --> 00:14:08,166
and I'm not leaving

361
00:14:09,500 --> 00:14:13,266
I I've been driving around the rural areas of Nashville

362
00:14:13,266 --> 00:14:15,266
lately it's been a thing that I've just

363
00:14:15,266 --> 00:14:17,066
I had a chance to go out and explore

364
00:14:17,066 --> 00:14:19,866
more of of Nashville and slow down a little bit

365
00:14:20,066 --> 00:14:22,433
and I what I've noticed is that

366
00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:25,966
man it's a beautiful countryside

367
00:14:25,966 --> 00:14:27,433
it is a beautiful area

368
00:14:27,433 --> 00:14:30,566
every single direction that you go in Nashville

369
00:14:30,566 --> 00:14:32,333
doesn't matter which direction

370
00:14:32,366 --> 00:14:35,200
it's beautiful here and um

371
00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,333
I guess quality of life

372
00:14:38,666 --> 00:14:41,866
has a lot to do with what you do with your little plot

373
00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:43,733
what you do with your your

374
00:14:43,733 --> 00:14:45,966
your seeds that you're planting in your company

375
00:14:45,966 --> 00:14:48,333
and in your community and I just

376
00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:51,233
I've consistently over 25 years

377
00:14:51,233 --> 00:14:53,900
seen nothing but better and better and better

378
00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:57,433
and better and better quality of life in Nashville

379
00:14:57,633 --> 00:14:58,933
I would agree and that

380
00:14:58,933 --> 00:15:00,800
that actually segways into a

381
00:15:00,933 --> 00:15:04,166
into a good question and maybe our last one for Rod

382
00:15:04,533 --> 00:15:06,233
someone asked me the other day

383
00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:08,300
Greater National Technology Council

384
00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:11,066
that g when did we change that

385
00:15:11,233 --> 00:15:12,700
and I think it's been that way for

386
00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:13,733
I don't know 10 years

387
00:15:13,733 --> 00:15:16,166
that it's been the Greater National Technology Council

388
00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:18,866
can you talk a little bit and really about

389
00:15:18,866 --> 00:15:22,333
you know picture driving through um Goodlettsville

390
00:15:22,333 --> 00:15:23,300
Tennessee Hendersonville

391
00:15:23,300 --> 00:15:25,333
Tennessee Fairview

392
00:15:25,933 --> 00:15:28,666
why is Greater Nashville Technology Council

393
00:15:28,666 --> 00:15:30,366
why is that G so important

394
00:15:30,533 --> 00:15:31,700
yeah the G

395
00:15:31,700 --> 00:15:33,166
the G is extremely important and

396
00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:34,133
and it's and it's a

397
00:15:34,133 --> 00:15:36,633
you know what's funny we've been dropping it a lot

398
00:15:36,666 --> 00:15:38,833
you think about it we've always said just the NTC

399
00:15:39,033 --> 00:15:41,633
but the G is very important and I um

400
00:15:41,766 --> 00:15:43,433
I was telling Mark the uh

401
00:15:44,566 --> 00:15:46,566
some time ago and I just like hey

402
00:15:46,866 --> 00:15:48,066
my new my new

403
00:15:48,066 --> 00:15:51,466
my new theme is ain't nothing but a G thing hahaha

404
00:15:52,733 --> 00:15:54,133
we gotta add the G back in

405
00:15:54,133 --> 00:15:55,766
ain't nothing but a g thing baby

406
00:15:55,766 --> 00:15:57,200
we are the G men hahaha

407
00:15:57,366 --> 00:15:59,900
but to your point my business

408
00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:02,566
a tech tech business is based in Springfield

409
00:16:02,566 --> 00:16:04,233
yeah g

410
00:16:04,566 --> 00:16:05,633
that's a g right

411
00:16:05,633 --> 00:16:06,733
uh we are

412
00:16:06,733 --> 00:16:08,600
I mean we're seeing uh

413
00:16:08,633 --> 00:16:10,366
tens of thousands of devices

414
00:16:10,366 --> 00:16:11,733
that go through our facility

415
00:16:11,733 --> 00:16:13,566
on a monthly monthly basis

416
00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:17,600
uh and we are a part of the greater Nashville area

417
00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,533
and so I I think going back to the inclusive part

418
00:16:21,533 --> 00:16:25,600
we've got we've got some work to do to make sure um

419
00:16:25,933 --> 00:16:29,466
the G's are included because it

420
00:16:29,500 --> 00:16:32,766
there are a lot of organizations in these rural areas

421
00:16:33,500 --> 00:16:36,200
that have technology that

422
00:16:36,333 --> 00:16:38,600
that are looking to improve technology

423
00:16:38,733 --> 00:16:40,466
that we need to include in

424
00:16:40,466 --> 00:16:42,933
and so I like I said

425
00:16:42,933 --> 00:16:44,266
ain't nothing but a G thing baby

426
00:16:44,266 --> 00:16:45,966
ain't nothing but a G thing

427
00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:48,566
thanks for making it so great around here Rod

428
00:16:48,566 --> 00:16:50,533
your contributions have been tremendous

429
00:16:50,733 --> 00:16:51,433
well thank you

430
00:16:51,433 --> 00:16:52,766
thank you thank you

431
00:16:52,766 --> 00:16:54,733
you guys as well following

432
00:16:54,733 --> 00:16:56,233
following behind some greats

433
00:16:57,866 --> 00:16:59,133
2 2 exit tears

434
00:16:59,133 --> 00:17:01,066
that's where that's where I'm trying to get

435
00:17:02,466 --> 00:17:03,900
well we can help you with that

436
00:17:03,900 --> 00:17:07,066
yeah and at the same time um

437
00:17:07,766 --> 00:17:08,833
that is probably

438
00:17:08,833 --> 00:17:11,300
a thing that is also important about Nashville

439
00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:14,266
is that the people who exit don't leave yeah

440
00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:17,633
they stay and continue to reinvest

441
00:17:17,633 --> 00:17:18,066
I I

442
00:17:18,066 --> 00:17:19,066
I've heard uh

443
00:17:19,366 --> 00:17:21,066
complaints over the years about

444
00:17:21,066 --> 00:17:25,100
not having the big exits and the big Silicon Valley

445
00:17:25,100 --> 00:17:26,966
compared to what Nashville has

446
00:17:26,966 --> 00:17:31,533
great citizens who do manage to create great companies

447
00:17:31,733 --> 00:17:33,333
and contribute to the community

448
00:17:33,333 --> 00:17:37,233
and then at the same time stay and reinvest in

449
00:17:37,233 --> 00:17:40,700
in so many ways I think philanthropically there's a

450
00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:41,933
a tremendous uh

451
00:17:41,933 --> 00:17:45,233
philanthropic community here yeah

452
00:17:45,233 --> 00:17:46,666
doesn't get enough attention

453
00:17:47,533 --> 00:17:49,033
the the culture of

454
00:17:49,033 --> 00:17:51,966
of help that Nashville brings to the table when

455
00:17:51,966 --> 00:17:55,600
when we've talked to leaders and they um

456
00:17:55,666 --> 00:17:56,633
they give feedback we

457
00:17:56,633 --> 00:17:58,766
we ask them what's different about Nashville

458
00:17:59,100 --> 00:18:00,133
that's always a great question

459
00:18:00,133 --> 00:18:01,133
what's different about Nashville

460
00:18:01,133 --> 00:18:02,800
what's what's our secret sauce

461
00:18:02,866 --> 00:18:06,633
and almost always there's a conversation around um

462
00:18:07,133 --> 00:18:08,333
two things one

463
00:18:08,333 --> 00:18:09,466
we're a networking town

464
00:18:09,466 --> 00:18:12,433
so you're always one degree away from someone

465
00:18:12,633 --> 00:18:15,100
but the more important part that I've seen is

466
00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:18,066
and there's a willingness to make introductions

467
00:18:18,266 --> 00:18:19,833
cause without the second part

468
00:18:19,833 --> 00:18:22,833
the first part kind of doesn't matter except for you

469
00:18:22,933 --> 00:18:25,933
but there is a willingness we are here to help

470
00:18:25,933 --> 00:18:30,033
and so I I love that we are that community

471
00:18:30,133 --> 00:18:32,100
and I love those examples of where

472
00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:35,666
not only is it about the connections and your network

473
00:18:35,733 --> 00:18:37,966
but it's about the willingness of that network

474
00:18:37,966 --> 00:18:40,533
that this town seems to have very uniquely

475
00:18:40,833 --> 00:18:44,966
that I'll also introduce you to that one connection

476
00:18:44,966 --> 00:18:48,766
I'm willing to help you and that is such a

477
00:18:48,766 --> 00:18:53,400
a Nashville thing and I hope we always keep that so

478
00:18:53,433 --> 00:18:57,133
what's what's one thing we can do to always keep that

479
00:18:57,466 --> 00:18:58,266
huh

480
00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:00,133
well I mean

481
00:19:00,133 --> 00:19:02,033
it reminds me of company culture

482
00:19:02,433 --> 00:19:03,233
um

483
00:19:03,733 --> 00:19:06,300
you know I think that

484
00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:08,433
that that's a hard one because the mayor

485
00:19:08,433 --> 00:19:09,133
you know uh

486
00:19:09,133 --> 00:19:11,233
uh policymakers change

487
00:19:11,233 --> 00:19:12,366
those type of things change

488
00:19:12,366 --> 00:19:16,066
but they're typically usually um

489
00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:19,833
I'll call the anchors in business around here uh

490
00:19:19,833 --> 00:19:21,166
that kind of set the tone

491
00:19:21,366 --> 00:19:25,133
and I just like business CEO sets a tone for culture

492
00:19:25,133 --> 00:19:27,466
and I think the anchor leaders uh

493
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:30,066
in town like HCA um

494
00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:32,466
like like any of the major corporations

495
00:19:32,833 --> 00:19:35,700
HCA is a a great giver of the community

496
00:19:35,700 --> 00:19:36,266
and I think it

497
00:19:36,266 --> 00:19:39,466
when you've got organizations that set that tone

498
00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:42,233
that that's really the culture of the city

499
00:19:42,233 --> 00:19:46,100
and so I I'm really proud of Nashville for uh

500
00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:47,466
for keeping that culture but I

501
00:19:47,466 --> 00:19:48,166
I think if we

502
00:19:48,166 --> 00:19:50,200
as long as we can keep those organizations

503
00:19:50,766 --> 00:19:52,433
if they can stay grounded the way they

504
00:19:52,433 --> 00:19:53,766
they have been over the years

505
00:19:53,766 --> 00:19:55,366
and HCA as I

506
00:19:55,366 --> 00:19:56,166
as I mentioned is

507
00:19:56,166 --> 00:19:58,166
is one that does a really good job

508
00:19:58,266 --> 00:20:00,433
I think it's hard for other organizations

509
00:20:00,433 --> 00:20:03,800
to come in town and not be a part of that culture

510
00:20:04,033 --> 00:20:05,500
it's just it's just who we are

511
00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:07,433
you get ostracized if you don't yep

512
00:20:07,433 --> 00:20:08,333
you really yep

513
00:20:08,333 --> 00:20:08,900
yeah well

514
00:20:08,900 --> 00:20:09,866
you just don't fit I

515
00:20:09,866 --> 00:20:12,166
I suppose might be what what yeah

516
00:20:12,733 --> 00:20:17,333
I had an observation as a technology company owner and

517
00:20:17,666 --> 00:20:18,466
uh

518
00:20:19,266 --> 00:20:24,500
I think Nashville has a widely understood core fabric

519
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:27,266
underlying brand of Music City yep

520
00:20:27,333 --> 00:20:30,666
and maybe on top of that is the healthcare city

521
00:20:30,666 --> 00:20:31,466
etcetera

522
00:20:31,966 --> 00:20:35,066
but I went in my own experiences with my employees

523
00:20:35,066 --> 00:20:36,933
as I started to try to learn what

524
00:20:36,933 --> 00:20:40,033
what is making them more successful in

525
00:20:40,033 --> 00:20:41,233
in my organization

526
00:20:41,233 --> 00:20:43,666
what makes them help each other be successful

527
00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:46,866
and I noticed uh that spirit of collaboration

528
00:20:46,866 --> 00:20:48,066
which we're talking about yeah

529
00:20:48,066 --> 00:20:51,833
but they were all musicians um

530
00:20:51,833 --> 00:20:54,266
my database guy was a musician

531
00:20:54,266 --> 00:20:56,466
my customer service guy was a musician

532
00:20:56,466 --> 00:20:58,900
my gal running the warehouse was a musician

533
00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,566
and they did this thing during the day in the company

534
00:21:02,366 --> 00:21:02,733
and then

535
00:21:02,733 --> 00:21:04,633
as I started to get involved in the music business

536
00:21:04,633 --> 00:21:09,633
myself I experienced what is collaboration

537
00:21:09,766 --> 00:21:11,966
you're the lead guitarist you're the drummer

538
00:21:11,966 --> 00:21:12,866
we're riffing

539
00:21:13,033 --> 00:21:15,866
everybody is contributing and taking and receiving

540
00:21:15,866 --> 00:21:18,033
and offering and improving

541
00:21:18,133 --> 00:21:20,300
and they're collaborating in real time

542
00:21:20,300 --> 00:21:21,466
like that's the thing

543
00:21:21,466 --> 00:21:24,366
that's what you do as a musician is collaborate

544
00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:25,900
and I noticed that

545
00:21:25,900 --> 00:21:28,466
some of the greatest people that I have worked with

546
00:21:28,466 --> 00:21:29,133
were like

547
00:21:29,133 --> 00:21:30,866
secret closet air guitar

548
00:21:30,866 --> 00:21:32,866
for sure talented musicians

549
00:21:32,866 --> 00:21:34,433
and it became a pattern to me

550
00:21:34,466 --> 00:21:35,700
I think that that that

551
00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:39,066
the part of the fabric that is making Nashville special

552
00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:41,733
is the thing that we don't think about

553
00:21:41,733 --> 00:21:44,966
which is the why how we collaborate

554
00:21:45,533 --> 00:21:47,833
how we collaborate with each other

555
00:21:47,833 --> 00:21:49,700
and we're all good at collaborating with each other

556
00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,666
and then at night time we go play

557
00:21:51,766 --> 00:21:55,233
you know at some secret song circle thing

558
00:21:55,233 --> 00:21:56,833
it's just a I'm wondering

559
00:21:56,833 --> 00:21:57,666
do you experience that

560
00:21:57,666 --> 00:21:59,033
when you look at your employee base

561
00:21:59,033 --> 00:22:00,033
do you and your and your

562
00:22:00,033 --> 00:22:01,566
and the people that you work with

563
00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:04,433
do you see a pattern that they're in one form or

564
00:22:04,433 --> 00:22:07,466
or another an artist or a musician underlying that

565
00:22:08,633 --> 00:22:10,300
now that you have pointed out

566
00:22:10,300 --> 00:22:11,400
yes haha

567
00:22:11,733 --> 00:22:13,366
I've never thought of it but yeah

568
00:22:13,366 --> 00:22:14,833
like uh uh

569
00:22:16,066 --> 00:22:20,666
I think that is a and we encourage it at work um

570
00:22:20,666 --> 00:22:22,900
so as an example one of our account managers

571
00:22:22,900 --> 00:22:24,466
um he is a

572
00:22:24,966 --> 00:22:27,166
he was a drummer actually

573
00:22:27,166 --> 00:22:28,433
he no longer works with us now

574
00:22:28,433 --> 00:22:29,666
but um

575
00:22:30,033 --> 00:22:32,066
tell the story I have a video

576
00:22:32,066 --> 00:22:35,633
it was posted maybe about 2 years ago of him and um

577
00:22:36,666 --> 00:22:37,766
as a part of what we do

578
00:22:37,766 --> 00:22:39,833
we try to support you externally

579
00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,166
and so the entire team showed up

580
00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:43,833
uh to his uh

581
00:22:44,066 --> 00:22:47,333
he he performed downtown and we showed up and he

582
00:22:47,333 --> 00:22:48,833
he didn't know we we didn't tell

583
00:22:48,833 --> 00:22:50,266
he had told us about it but we

584
00:22:50,266 --> 00:22:52,433
we didn't tell him that we were gonna show up

585
00:22:52,433 --> 00:22:54,500
wow and we got it on video uh

586
00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:57,333
his response of seeing us um

587
00:22:57,333 --> 00:22:59,833
and I think that just goes back to

588
00:22:59,833 --> 00:23:02,466
just encouraging people to still follow

589
00:23:02,466 --> 00:23:04,500
you know follow your passions uh

590
00:23:04,500 --> 00:23:05,500
outside of work cause I mean

591
00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,533
at the end of the day work is work is work is one thing

592
00:23:08,633 --> 00:23:09,700
um you know it

593
00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:11,266
it does provide uh

594
00:23:11,266 --> 00:23:14,633
a it gives you a living to provide for your family

595
00:23:14,866 --> 00:23:17,600
but you know don't lose yourself and uh

596
00:23:17,966 --> 00:23:19,966
and and not have fun and and

597
00:23:19,966 --> 00:23:21,466
and make a life for yourself

598
00:23:21,766 --> 00:23:22,866
so I I

599
00:23:22,866 --> 00:23:24,233
I think that's uh

600
00:23:24,233 --> 00:23:25,766
I think that's extremely important

601
00:23:25,766 --> 00:23:26,866
I mean even for myself

602
00:23:26,866 --> 00:23:29,066
I've I've had to go through that stage of myself

603
00:23:29,066 --> 00:23:30,566
where I was just busy busy

604
00:23:30,566 --> 00:23:31,566
busy business business

605
00:23:31,566 --> 00:23:33,433
business and I stopped and was like

606
00:23:33,433 --> 00:23:34,966
you know what uh

607
00:23:35,233 --> 00:23:38,033
I'm gonna do something outside of this uh

608
00:23:38,066 --> 00:23:41,433
I can add another facet to myself like kickball

609
00:23:41,433 --> 00:23:44,100
like I play kickball we were league champions last uh

610
00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:45,766
last the this past season

611
00:23:45,833 --> 00:23:46,300
that's at

612
00:23:46,300 --> 00:23:49,066
that has been fun every Monday go out and play kickball

613
00:23:49,333 --> 00:23:51,566
um I officiate football

614
00:23:51,566 --> 00:23:54,633
so it's a not necessarily from a music standpoint

615
00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:57,733
but right we've got quite a few musicians on

616
00:23:57,733 --> 00:23:59,333
on staff that uh

617
00:23:59,333 --> 00:24:01,133
that that do that

618
00:24:01,133 --> 00:24:03,866
but I think just your passions outside of work

619
00:24:03,866 --> 00:24:05,166
in general right

620
00:24:05,166 --> 00:24:07,766
and you just described team sports

621
00:24:08,766 --> 00:24:09,366
I don't know I

622
00:24:09,366 --> 00:24:11,500
I want to have a a formal survey someday

623
00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:13,000
where we try to figure out

624
00:24:13,233 --> 00:24:17,033
what percentage of our employees are musicians

625
00:24:17,033 --> 00:24:18,466
and how does that translate

626
00:24:18,466 --> 00:24:19,966
into a competitive advantage

627
00:24:19,966 --> 00:24:21,466
I love that as a topic and I

628
00:24:21,466 --> 00:24:24,133
and I've now that I'm thinking through it I

629
00:24:24,133 --> 00:24:26,333
I can't unsee it it is a uh

630
00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:29,900
it's it's every I t departments are 60% yeah

631
00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:31,933
they're math math is music right

632
00:24:31,933 --> 00:24:34,533
uh music is liquid architecture

633
00:24:34,533 --> 00:24:36,466
and architecture is frozen music

634
00:24:36,900 --> 00:24:41,033
maybe that's it the happy people make happy companies

635
00:24:41,166 --> 00:24:42,366
and music

636
00:24:42,866 --> 00:24:45,100
I dare you to listen to the music and not be happy

637
00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:45,900
hmm

638
00:24:46,533 --> 00:24:49,366
that's where we call on our closing uh

639
00:24:50,766 --> 00:24:52,000
theme song right

640
00:24:55,766 --> 00:24:57,466
Rod thank you so much for joining us

641
00:24:57,466 --> 00:24:58,566
we appreciate your time

642
00:24:58,566 --> 00:25:01,666
and you sharing your story and some of your insights

643
00:25:01,666 --> 00:25:03,233
and this has been a great discussion

644
00:25:03,233 --> 00:25:04,466
yeah really appreciate it

645
00:25:04,466 --> 00:25:06,233
I'm gonna have to go get one of those underwater

646
00:25:06,233 --> 00:25:08,066
earbud things oh yeah yeah

647
00:25:08,066 --> 00:25:10,166
when you swim in one day Zygo Zygo

648
00:25:10,166 --> 00:25:11,933
Zygo's the name it's pretty cool