5. Family Business and "Best Tips on Success" In the Field Chuck Owens w/ Favazza

Gregory Favazza: 0:01

Welcome to your transformation podcast. I'm your host Greg Favazza

Chuck Owens: 0:13

you grown up differently than I have, but tell you what, Greg, both our paths has taken us to the same place. We're both just trying so hard to become what we want to be 50. I don't even know if I've grown up yet. Hell, I don't know. Nobody's told me yet. I know in my heart. And I know what I want to see, and I know what I want to do. So I just have to make the right decisions and follow my dream. And that's what America is. It's a dream. Other thing I, I think Greg is in transforming, watching people transform is when people are making a bad decision, people will stand up and say, that's wrong. Have you noticed that people today don't want to say. You're wrong or I disagree that you you're very strong. The time that I spent with you have a very strong personality. Most people don't have that. Greg, most people would never do what you're doing by the way. And you sit there and try to look trying to watch people transform. You're a student, you're a student you're constantly trying to learn. So wherever that came from it's good stuff, man,

Gregory Favazza: 1:15

ladies and gentlemen, this is your host, Greg Favazza. And this is your transformation plan. First off, I would like to see and celebrate with you guys. It is national pistachio day. Oh, it's the nut that just keeps on smiling at you. That is our guests is Chuck Owen's sneak peek on Friday. If you've not go ahead and check that out podcast. The peak with myself and my wife. I don't know why I'm still doing that. I haven't asked him yet, but this is what your podcast is about. It's surpassing expectations that we hold in ourselves and going much further in life to exceed and go beyond your latent potential. If you have not subscribed to the show, go ahead. Hit that subscribe. I got great content. That's underway. I'm supposed to be meeting with a Sharman healer this weekend, my experience that I'm going to go through with the healing process. I am quite excited and I will let you guys know and we'll get her on the show and she can go down to the details, the nitty gritty details. We can talk about my personal experience. Oh boy. Deep, dark demons. And. That might have to come out one way or another. It'd be good for us. All right. I hope he owns his own business. It's windows floors into core. This guy is amazing. I had to have him on the show because I never have met. Somebody takes over 200 phone calls a day and that's not even justifying the right numbers. He looks at LA. How every individual should look at life. He is passionate towards his family and his occupation, and he places emphasis on those two before his own self. I believe we can learn a lot from Chuck Owens and that's why he's on this transformation podcast. And he is. For you in your transformation, this is your transformation podcast. Let's dive into this interview with Chuck Owens. He is of founder of windows floors in the core and regional broker for Kansas city, Kansas, Kansas city, Kansas, Kansas city, Missouri, Kansas.

Chuck Owens: 3:27

Well, Chuck, welcome to the show, Greg. Glad to be here. I guess, I guess I'm an, you know, an entrepreneur completely a hundred percent self-employed but doing the same thing now for 22 years, I started with carpet direct a few years back in Colorado and just seemed to fit and I've been doing it ever since recently, I got into the window treatment business and I opened up windows frozen decor, and it's kind of a startup is just kind of getting rolling, but it started to do pretty well. I just take care of people's for covering and window treatment needs and pretty simple. I manage about 130 salespeople. And I spend my day trying to help people, you know, develop people.

Gregory Favazza: 4:04

How do you develop those? 140 plus people.

Chuck Owens: 4:08

No, I don't, I'm not one of those guys that looks for people doing stuff wrong. I look for people doing things, right? You always look for their strengths. Don't focus on their weaknesses. That's how I've tried to live. My life. I've really been self-employed since I was about 18 years old and one way or another, um, never really had a boss since I was a kid. I look at myself as grown up pretty fast and, and I really enjoy it. And I love my country. I love capitalism. I love America. And, uh, I enjoy people. I enjoy. Meeting people and talking to people and helping people, you know, I think that's the secret to what makes America great is that we always reaching out, helping people. And that's what we're, that's what we're here to do.

Gregory Favazza: 4:46

The reason why you are on the show here with us today is for you to share your words of wisdom and the moments that I've spent my time with you. I have learned so much from alive that I thought I learned already much from. And there's still more room for not just me to grow, but anybody to grow. And the fact that I was able to take away so much from you. I feel the rest of the world can do that exact same thing, no matter what place we are in life. There is always room to adapt to a better new wellbeing and pain forward through the law of reciprocity. Chuck, I appreciate you being here with us.

Chuck Owens: 5:30

Thank you for saying that. Well, I can't take the credit for all that because I've been around great people and, and, uh, you know, everybody from my parents and my grandparents, and I've been blessed to be on good leadership. Uh, most of my life. Because of those things, I guess it rubbed off, you know, my thought process has always been, and I learned this from somebody else too. You are, who you associate with, you know, is associated with. And you try to practice what they practice before long. It wears off and you become a product of your environment. And so that's what, uh, that's what I've tried to live my life now by am I perfect? Absolutely not. I made a thousand mistakes. I probably made a bunch today. Just don't know, but you know, in doing so I've been, I have, my life has been blessed so many ways. Um, even, even when I was struggling, it was blessed. Um, the, uh, the growth. Processes much. Um, you go through a way more growth when you're struggling and when things are great, when things are great, that just means that you're getting ready to go through another door that opened up and there's going to be struggles on the other side, but I look forward to those struggles. I can't wait for the next challenge because in doing so you're rewarded in so many ways, not just financial, but in every way in your life. So I think that I can't take credit for. Oh, that's happened to me because I've had great people around me. They've helped me the whole way. So

Gregory Favazza: 6:51

Chuck, how did this life begin as an entrepreneur? Where did it start?

Chuck Owens: 6:59

You know, my parents, my mom and dad. They met in high school, they were high school sweethearts and they graduated in 1966 and they got married that summer on the courthouse steps and a little town in Colorado. And my dad opened up his first business on main street in Florence, Colorado, and he opened up an upholstery shop. And, uh, I came along about three years later. I have, I have, there's a seven. Brothers and sisters and my family. And we grew up on the streets of main street in Florence, as my parents were entrepreneurs, you know, he had a hardware store and a furniture store and a upholstery shop and an appliance store. And because of those things, I grew up watching my parents. I try to carve out a living being self-employed in a small town. Um, there was a lot of good times, but there's also a lot of tough times, you know, um, the seventies and the eighties. During the recession and all kinds of wonderful things happen to, I mean, the Berlin wall got taken down Mr. Ronald Reagan, but anyway, long story short, my dad struggled. Uh, he went from, uh, doing very, very well to one day being a bus driver pick up. Picking the kids up at a bus stop and drop them off at school for the local school system. You know, he was a city council and then he used sat on the board of water board. He sat on the planning board for, um, the Fremont county planning and zoning board. He was a part of the volunteer fireman. Uh, you know, he's so all those watching him and do those things taught me one thing for sure. And that is he, he's one of the hardest working people I've ever met in my life. And number two, he was always dedicated to what he did, not only his, to his family, but also to his community and to his, uh, the people around him. He spent more time helping people than he ever did taking from people. Um, so all those struggles and watching, and I kind of grew up in that and I decided at that point, that's the path I wanted to take, whether it was good or bad, sometimes it wasn't that good. But, um, I decided at that point I just was ready to carve. Um, when the world, I left home at a very young age and at that point, that's what I desired to do. And that's what I've done. Um, you know, one way or the other, and it worked out, um, like I said, I've been through a lot of struggles, but it's definitely made me who I am today.

Gregory Favazza: 9:18

Okay. So you left home at a young age when exactly did you leave.

Chuck Owens: 9:27

Um, I was, uh, I was about, uh, what about four months before my 16th birthday? Um, it, my dad had a falling out and I love my dad by the way. He's in my life today. And he lives about 10 minutes away from me. And he's one of my best friends now. Um, so, but growing up, we struggled, I was the oldest. Um, it's a lot of pressure. My parents were going through a lot of struggles and, um, you know, I learned that she can only have one rooster. There's only a one rooster in the hen house and he wanted to be the boss. And of course he, he, uh, he was the boss. And so, uh, um, whether it was, I think he was. But, uh, he was stern. And so, um, at that point being this, I guess bull-headed as I am, I decided at that point, it was time for me to move on. Um, I regret those decisions sometimes because I missed out on a lot of stuff of my sisters and school and things like that. But I left home. Um, I was blessed in another way. I, I got to move in with my grandparents for a couple of years getting more. Through high school and, uh, um, you know, I, that relationship, uh, has, since then I looked back on that I, I don't. Hold any grudges or animosity of facts, the best thing ever happened to me, you know, it's what exactly what I needed to, to make me a man. Um, you know, I was, I growing up in that environment, I felt like my dad created the whole world for me. Um, it was so much fun. I had such a great childhood and he really was good to me. He taught me to hunt and fish and build motors and cars and racing. And no, we had. But, uh, um, yeah, so I was gone out of the house by the desk. Long story short, I ramble some toners. I was don't don't make

Gregory Favazza: 11:07

it short jock.

Chuck Owens: 11:09

I was, I was gone. I was gone out of the house about a little, a little before my 16th birthday. And. So at that time, I, I moved a whole 11 miles away with my grandparents. Um, my grandpa, Logan is probably one of the dearest, um, people in my life. I miss him so much. He passed away in 2012, but you know, he, uh, he was a, one of the absolute best men I've ever known. Um, not only did he have more integrity in his little finger than most people have in their own words. And he was one of the kindest souls I've ever met, but he just wasn't all around. Just good person, simple man. Um, you know, he, he made a living for his family. He actually worked at a, at a concrete plant as a welder and boy was he a welder? And he could, he could build anything out of metal. And he was married to my grandmother. Um, they were married for, I mean, their whole lives. Um, And he got drafted done right after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Um, it off to Georgia to basic training and ended up in England and was involved in the, um, it's a great push across France. Chuck. Can we pause real

Gregory Favazza: 12:21

quick? I know this is getting really good. What you're telling me, but how does a kid at age 16, right before 16? No, this is really cute. Can we look into this a little bit? Cause I really want to understand how you were feeling, what was going on in your head at that very moment. You decided you had enough and you just went for it.

Chuck Owens: 12:43

So there was quite a falling out. Um, you know, actually my dad didn't want me to leave and he tried to force me to come home. Actually, my, I was arrested for taking my vehicle. The course was a month because I wasn't legally 18. And so since I was Chuck Owens and he was Chuck on. I owned. He owned looking back. It was kind of funny, but it sure wasn't funny then

Gregory Favazza: 13:10

Chuck, is this when you got an emancipated? Um,

Chuck Owens: 13:13

yeah, it was, I was amazed to speak at a very, very young age, you know, and, and, and looking back, you know, believe it or not. I have a great relationship with my parents. And I'm there in my life actually now they live not too, too far from me. So, you know, it's been a benefit to have them close. My dad's struggling health wise. I'm, I'm certainly health wise now, so I can be close to them. So I don't hold any animosity, but it sure was, it was hard for me to get over that for a long time. I, I did hold a lot of that inside, but I've been able to overcome that by, you know, just basically a lot of, a lot of motivational speakers and a lot of. Um, reading and studying and trying to self-improvement, you know, I, uh, I seem to find challenges every day, but it's not how you, uh, it's not the challenge. It's just how you overcome them and how you spend your life to be come the best you can be. I've always lived by.

Gregory Favazza: 14:05

I remember you mentioned me a couple of stories, as far as once you started the transition process on your own, you started working with a gumball machines, is that correct? Yes.

Chuck Owens: 14:18

I, uh, you know, growing up, back to that, everybody had a job. Um, when we got older as a, got into our early teens, my parents didn't want us out running around town. So they opened up the arcade and they named it after my youngest sister, which was named Bobby Jo. So they called it Bobby Jay's family. And in that building, there was pool tables and jukeboxes and, you know, dark boards and video games and a snack bar and all those things. Well, my job and the arcade was to fix the equipment. If it broke at that time, I, I learned the value of a dollar and also saw man, those cars in those machines. A lot of quarters you on those machines. So I started looking for a way to make my own money. What we did is my parents started putting those machines out in campgrounds. And even though I wasn't old enough to drive my dad, let me drive the back roads and I'd run around all those campgrounds and go and collect all the money. And when I saw that, how that worked, I decided the money that I earned to start buying my own equipment. At that time in my life, I, I had a. Public or machines and different places, doctors, offices, and grocery stores, and, uh, did pretty darn well. As I got older, I left after I graduated, I'd left for us in canyon city and, uh, moved to various different places for different reasons. And when I came back in my, I was 20 years old, there was a company buying called new music company. And so I went to work for new music company, um, for about. Six to eight months and then ended up becoming a partner in it. And then I went from having a few bubblegum machines on the street to be in the probably third, largest coin operator in the state of Colorado. So it was, uh, it was quite an adventure. It was so much going on. Um, you know, the music game is I really enjoyed it. You at one time, I was the president of the association, which is the music game operators of America for the state of Colorado. And so I, I was really active in that business and really was aggressive. And, uh, we really grew our business successfully. And again, you know, life kind of changes things. It just, what became more important that time was even though. At times I really felt like I made a mistake, but, uh, also doors open that, uh, um, how to do know this for a fact that you can be successful if you want to be, if you just put your mind to it's, uh, you know, talent and success. It's a four letter words, w O R K. You know, you have to work, you work hard, you can have anything you want. And so

Gregory Favazza: 17:08

why'd you walk away from it though?

Chuck Owens: 17:10

Well, at that time in my life, I, I became a, um, a single that I went through a divorce and I ended up. Taking the responsibility that my two daughters, the two girls. And so they were both very young. And, uh, I don't know if you can imagine trying to fix a jukebox at midnight in a bar when it's broke. So we'll have to do that with a baby, you know? And so the girls were very young, so it was time for me to do something. And so at that point I made a, the money wasn't worth the, uh, not being able to be there for those two kids. And so here's just the decision I made at the time to, to do something different that had better hours. And so you have to find a business. Okay, long story short. No, don't

Gregory Favazza: 18:08

don't, don't make it short. We love all the nitty-gritty details. I know there's a lot of great nitty gritty details inside there.

Chuck Owens: 18:18

Crazy stuff that happened in that, that museum game business though, looking back, I mean, we did dark tournaments all over Las Vegas and you know, we were shooting teams out. At one time. I had about 60 teams, went out to the, the called the world championships in Las Vegas. It was a very successful time. But business with electronic dartboards, you know, today it's not as popular, but back then it was, you know, we had over 150 teams in a county that had less than 30,000 people. It was quite a big group, but, um, looking back, it was, uh, a short was a lot of fun. We got to travel and we made a lot of money and made a lot of people happy, but it did open the doors at that time for me to be able to, uh, learn, to manage people. And it should be able to, to learn, to manage my time, which has, it was, uh, 10 places months, which I really needed to be at that time. My life, I just couldn't be. And that's the other reason I chose to get out of that was because I'd have to focus so much on that business. I would never have time to focus on those kids and they really needed me at the time.

Gregory Favazza: 19:25

Let's backtrack. Let's go back. Cause you mentioned your grandfather was going off to Normandy. Can we go into that? So yeah,

Chuck Owens: 19:32

my grandpa. Um, Logan had met my grandmother and, uh, they recording. And it was amazing, uh, courtship because he worked for a guy by the name of gay Johnson, which opened up, but lots of there was Johnson travel centers all over the country. I believe all over the country. I mean, I wasn't around in their late thirties, early forties, but he worked for gay John. And those, uh, those were the type of gas stations where you'd pull up and they'd have five guys run outside. One guy checked the tires. One guy checked the oil, washed the windshield. Well, his job in time, he got a promotion and he got to drive an old model T pickup over the top of the pass from Fruita Colorado, all the way over to grand junction. And he would take all the big truck tires over. They recap them and then he drive him back the next day. So that they can put them on the trucks because of course back then it was either bright train in my truck that products and services got moved and he had met my grandmother and little fro to Colorado and their dates would be, she would ride with him over the top of the past and they'd stop on top of the past. And of course, Colorado has beautiful mountains and they would go in and have a picnic lunch. And talk and, and that was their dates. Well, one thing led to another and the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And at that time they had just bought a little lot on third street and through to Colorado. And on that lot, they were going to build a house and they started to build the foundation. And on that piece of property, there was an old chicken coop. So they cleaned the chicken coop out and they actually, uh, put a floor in it and. Windows. And I never saw the, the chicken coop, by the way, these are, the stories were shared with me. And they lived in there, whether it building their house well, after he got drafted, um, she had to move home back to Wichita, Kansas, where her parents were at and she worked for Boeing, help them with the war effort and he headed off to basic training. Um, he got off. Um, the second wave of Normandy and fought across France. And one of the stories he shared with me was his course, he believed in the effort because, you know, it was, it was a bad time in the world and he wanted to do his part. And his job was to repair phone lines on telephone poles to get communications back to France. So as the, uh, and he was in communications, so he helped stretch phone lines to the front line during the battle, trying to take the beach. You know, the army moved across France and defeated the Germans. He would help get communication back up. So he's protected by two snipers and he spent his day on for telephone poles, stretching, touching cable. Uh, well, I've

Gregory Favazza: 22:10

heard about those, uh, those people are that MOS I to say, uh, their lifespans, not that long. Isn't that. Yeah, he

Chuck Owens: 22:17

was, uh, that was very dangerous job. Um, very, uh, as an amazing guy, he, of course he didn't talk much about till later in his life, pretty close to the end of his life. Uh, he shared these stories with me, um, in the, uh, he lived in McKinney, Texas is where he passed away in a, uh, care, care facility down there. And my grandma both. And he shared a lot of this with me in his final days, but he, uh, one thing he did share was he was in France and this taught me a lot in life. And the mail finally caught up to the army, you know, back then, of course we didn't have a male like today. And so he got a letter that was about four months old and, uh, found out that my grandma had the fever and that they didn't know if she was going to make it and also found out he was going to be at. So, uh, my grandma was pregnant with my dad's oldest sister. And at that time he had more, more to fight for than just he wanted to go home, you know, to be with his family. So he made it back and, and, uh, what the life they had. I mean, there, there was such an example for me in my life and the marriage that they had and the friendship they had and the life they had was just amazing. Someday. I'm gonna write a book about them. Literally we're America's sweethearts. They were awesome. Taught me about, you know, um, the thing is per purposes to real

Gregory Favazza: 23:33

quick. Oh, wasn't there a point that your grandfather, he didn't receive those letters that he thought at one point, your grandmother was. Yeah, he,

Chuck Owens: 23:45

the male was didn't catch up to him for like four months and the letter was already two months old. So, um, they made it sound like in the letter, I've never read the letter. I don't think the letter exists anymore. I I'd love to find it. I have a few of his things, but, um, you know, the news was old enough that he really did think that she had, she had passed away and of course he was sad and, but you know, sometimes in life that's he told me, you know, that's what he needed to get. Because some days when he woke up, it wasn't the, you know, the sun wasn't shining the church, burbs weren't chirping. And he didn't know what today, brah cause there was a lot of, you know, there was a war. He was, and he was in the, he was in the heat of battle every day. So he's right there with, uh, with his brother. Chuck,

Gregory Favazza: 24:28

would you say those two or your most influential mentors?

Chuck Owens: 24:33

I would say as far as transforming into a what I would say it was a man who had definitely, you know, my dad, uh, had, so has still does so, so many qualities and he really is a good man. I didn't agree with him all the time. And, uh, there's times I, I I'd say my personality. I definitely relate to my grandfather and just cause I, you know, he was just a very. It's just a good, you know, to be honest, if I could be half of the man, he is, I'd be, I'd be doing really good. Be the change in the world. But you want to be, you know, quit trying to try to be, just be the change in the world that you want to do. This

Gregory Favazza: 25:08

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Chuck Owens: 26:37

every day to be a better person, you know, to do more, to do your part because you're only here for a short time. And, uh, you know, so that's what I've always tried to do is get up every day and try to try to bring joy instead of pain, try to help people instead of hurt them. Anybody can hurt. Anybody, it takes a really big person to help people, you know, if you want to be great to help people. There was a, there was a book written by Jim Collins and it's called good to great. And he talks about in that book, he talks about, uh, you know, transforming a business from a good business to a great business. And I think that goes along with people too. I think everybody has good in them, but to be great means it's a lot of self-sacrifice, it's a lot of struggles, but in the end, You get a lot of blessings, a lot of, a lot of things that you got to live through that made you leave your mark on the world, you know, and I guess that's my, that's what I hope to do, sleep my mark on the world. That it's a better place because I was here. Chuck,

Gregory Favazza: 27:34

I'll be sure to link that into the show notes for our audience to find. Now let's transition off the emotional stuff. And let's talk about how you got into carpet.

Chuck Owens: 27:46

One day I was in the music game business, and the next day I was in the carpet business. That's what I did is I, I had some things I had to clean up. Um, just like in any business when you close anything down and along the way I was in the restaurant business, in the bar business, and I've done all kinds of stuff in my life. Um, but I can tell you that this business has been a lot easier because there's a lot more stress. Um, with carpet because the carpet business, it was kind, there was a lot of structure. And when I was in business for myself and then the restaurant business and the bar business and the using gay business, I kind of had to make an up as I go, you know, which was good for me because I learned a lot, but, um, carpet businesses, a lot simpler of a format. So all I did was sell now the position I'm in Kansas city. But in the original broker and not just, I don't sell much anymore. I actually manage people. So I have salespeople, but I do have the largest sales organization in our company out of 19 cities in Kansas city. And I have really good salespeople here. So

Gregory Favazza: 28:48

been there too. And that usually consists of about how many phone calls a day, Chuck. Um,

Chuck Owens: 28:53

I take easily 300 to 350 phone calls a day. I spend about nine to 10 hours of eight cost. And on the phone.

Gregory Favazza: 29:03

It has its Burks.

Chuck Owens: 29:05

It has its perks. Yeah. You get, thank God for unlimited phone call plan. Otherwise I'd be broke.

Gregory Favazza: 29:12

Hey Chuck. So did you have any mentors in your life other than, of course your family, but anybody that made a major. On you during your transition from adolescents until into young adulthood?

Chuck Owens: 29:29

Absolutely. Um, so one gentlemen, when I was in the music game business, a gentlemen that. Uh, by the name of birdie hauled her son and is probably one of the best businessmen I've ever known in my life. He shared so much with me. He spent, I spent a lot of time, um, across the table from him and he taught me a lot of just, just another man of integrity. And, you know, I don't know where Bernie is at today. I haven't seen him for years, but I do know that birdie is, uh, he taught me so much about being a young business. Um, after that, I would say he held a probably highest marks in my life. He was, he was probably the smartest business person I've ever known up to the point that I met Earl crouch from carpet direct. Um, Earl spent a lot of time, um, molding me and helping me. And, um, you know, I've always had a natural sales ability, so it was easy for me to go see. But then he started, he trained me a lot to, uh, um, you know, to negotiate into, he was a great negotiator. He taught me the good negotiation and he taught me how to, uh, just no fear. I mean, the situation has put in. I just, uh, you know, I just knew I could, I could handle it. So a lot of leadership was he, he taught me a lot about leadership. Um, he gave me confidence that no matter what it was I'd I could pull through a lot of life lessons. That was young. I mean, I was, I was one of the top salespeople in the company and broke a lot of records, held those records for, you know, several years. And I was in my early twenties, you know, and then, uh, I, since then, uh, you know, I, I, now I now negotiate all the pricing for a company for all the products and I run our national meetings and our brokers meetings, and I MC all of our events and things like that. And I wouldn't have been able to do that if it wasn't for girls aspiration and his guidance.

Gregory Favazza: 31:24

Did he teach you how to handle angry customers or did that just come natural to you throughout your process?

Chuck Owens: 31:31

And if, uh, you know, that's always, uh, I've always been the guy they send into the calmer way down, just because I think that, I think I learned those skills from my grandma. Um, she was always wise and there's never a reason to, like I said, anybody can hurt anybody, but if it comes to that, then you have to do what you gotta do. That's how we were all taught. Right. But up to that point, usually anger is caused by misunderstanding. Anger is caused by the people that are either have fear or. Some other thing that's inside of them, the anger part. And so I've always been able to just calm people down because I'm good at BS thing. It's because honestly, honestly, and some people would think that, but honestly it's because human, you know, people just need to know how much you care. And they want to know they're sincere and that's true, their forum, and then you'll do it. Whatever's in your power that you can do to help them. Not that you can fix everybody's problems, but, um, you know, it's too bad that, you know, world war II or world war was started by one bullet. It's too bad. They wouldn't have somebody right there to just cool it, but core has don't prevail in certain situations. So that's fine. That's why they send me as my job is to go and calm people down. Um, have nothing to gain by hurting people. I have everything to gain by. So I think that came from my grandma because she was, she was good at it. Or maybe it's just, I dunno, no, Earl Earl was Earl stern. Earl kind of reminds me of president Trump. And now he's just, this is my way or the highway type guy birdie hold, or some reminds me of, uh, uh, uh, He reminds me of somebody is always willing to go in there and try to make things work for both sides. So I think I had those two mentors. I think I had the best of both worlds in our Earl was the stern and, you know, he'd lose a million dollars to prove himself. Right. You know? Um, so maybe that's where it came from. I don't know, Greg, that's a good question. I have to think about that.

Gregory Favazza: 33:34

Was there like a pivotal shift in your mindset when you wanted to be an entrepreneur? Because I remember when you were telling me throughout your process of just starting out, you were going to seminars, you were reading tons and tons of books and just eating it up. What w what was that primary driver behind you that was making you go through all that process to adapt and to becoming a non.

Chuck Owens: 34:02

Well, I think it was a desire to be, I I've always wanted, I was always into self-improvement and as always to be, you know, I think some of us are competitive part and me, you know, but at the same time I want, I I've always been, if I'm going to do it, I want to do it right. And, uh, the details do matter. No and sales, they say details kill because sometimes you can over sell and to push people away. But when it comes to planning, details are very important. And so since you're doing seminars, seminars, and training and reading and stuff, you can learn so much from other people. And most of all, you can learn so much from other people's mistakes. You know, I remember, uh, you at one time said, Hey, I wanna learn all about this because you're a student you want to know because you know, you can learn from, we can learn so much from history because. We can go back and never make the same mistake twice, even though as a human beings, we do, you know, it seems like they might make some more right now I'm sure. But what we have to do is we have to spend our time sharpening the saw, you know, um, that's what, uh, Franklin Covey, you know, Mr. Covey says, you got to sharpen the saw every week, Sundays are a planning day. You know, the Christians, we believe that, you know, that's a day of right. Um, there's other cultures, but there's always have to have a day of planning to sharpen the saw. So that's what I was doing. I constantly was sharpening myself still on today. I have so much more to learn any new material that comes out. I spent a lot of time. Thanks to a good friend of mine. I learned about all. I didn't know about that because I still bought 35, $40 audio books and put it in my car and drive down the road, listen to CDs. I could

Gregory Favazza: 35:43

not believe I saw that when you, we can get that off.

Chuck Owens: 35:50

I have hundreds and hundreds of audio books and, uh, and so I learned that's what I've done. That's what I'd rather listen to that. The music, um, cause it inspires me. If I'm getting ready to go do a speech somewhere. Go somewhere to do something for our company. I always pop in something motivational to, to get the motivational juices porn. Like, you know, you have to constantly have that going through your system. And you've got to sharpen the saw every day. You know, you got to track what you've done. You've got to plan for success. You know, you're not born with people. Aren't born salespeople, people become sales. But people become leaders, you know, it's, you get gifts that you're born with, but it's your job to sharpen the saw and smooth out the edges and become what you're really meant to be. And, uh, only, you know, that, you know, only, only we know what we're capable of and we can only expand that if we work to become better. So that's what I do. I've always wanted to be better, you know? Don't no, you know, I'm just a simple guy. I don't have a, I really don't have a college education. Do I regret that? I probably applied to these one about now, for sure. By now I made, I made so many mistakes, but along the way, those mistakes made me who I am. I'll just continue to try tomorrow and I get up just to be better, you know, and help the people around me to become good to, you know, advice is like, uh, uh, advice sometimes. No, you don't want people's advice. But I was also taught to take the good and to keep it and the throw the bat away, you know, you have two people sitting at a table once a Democrat or Republican, all of a sudden have a point of view. Now being me being Republican, I may think I'm right. And that Democrats on the other side, that Democrat, cause I just categorize him as that person. Right. But what if he's right too? So how do we, who's going to be right. And we walk from the table. Do we really have to be right? I really have to have to. I agree to disagree. Cause maybe I don't see your point of view and maybe you don't see mine, but that doesn't mean we're still existing in the same planet and trying to make it better. Now the breaks out tomorrow, of course I'll support my country cause that's, I'm an American, but that doesn't mean I have to go to war over somebody that has a different. That means that, that person's true to their convictions too. I'd much rather spend my time with a man that's true. Their convictions, some of, you know, you can depend on versus somebody that has a different point of view. I disagree with him. So I don't like him. And that's not wisdom. Wisdom is understanding the other person's side and supporting them and their beliefs, even though maybe it doesn't match yours, you know, you don't have to spend time with them. You don't have to. Which certainly don't have to hurt him. You know, like I said, anybody can hurt anybody. So that's been, my that's been what I try to live by. I'm not good at it. Not at all, not at all. You know, I watched the state of the union the other day and I about fell over, you know, I was like, that was the worst. Example of, I mean, unity I've ever seen in my life, I was disappointed in our government, but my job is not to judge them. My job is to decide what I believe in and stand up for that

Gregory Favazza: 39:06

very inspirational. And I believe I heard the laundry going on or was that just me

Chuck Owens: 39:17

anyway? I know I'm getting out of court, sir, guy, but no, no, no. This is what I do believe. I do believe that, you know, thing is, is I think that we have a chance. To make the world a better place for our children. And the reason I believe that is because we are all after the same thing, all of us want a better life. All of us want to find whether it's money or it's, whatever it is. We all want some kind of. Recognize leave our mark behind or help people, whatever it is. I mean, look at all these great people that never had anything gone to your mother, Theresa, and look at the mark that made on the world. You know, all those people know am I believe in my, that guy that believes in rainbows and butterflies. You're kidding me. I love the second amendment. I get up every morning. I'm proud to be an American, but at the same time I

Gregory Favazza: 40:01

can ask if I can ask you how. I probably already know the answer to this question, but how could we get everybody on the same page going after the same goal? When we add more than one side of opposing opinions, how do we, how do we get them? What would you think? Exactly leaders,

Chuck Owens: 40:20

leadership. Yeah. It'll never hell think there's a way in the world that it'll ever be a complete piece because. People are just, let's face it. Look at the people on Iran right now, their supports our government, even when there's something bad. And then 10,000 of them get trampled on during a, during a, uh, um, you know, they're mad because a, a leader that died that was a bad guy and killed thousands of people. And the next day they're back to riding on their government. Again, you can get anybody for a short amount of time believing anything. Rah, rah, rah, get them all fired up. And then after the adrenaline dies. So it's. You know, you feel really good up to the point that it doesn't affect your slow down.

Gregory Favazza: 41:02

It's only a temporary high I can fully understand.

Chuck Owens: 41:05

So

Gregory Favazza: 41:08

opposing sides you mentioned earlier is living by example. How would you relate that into. You were a transformation and, and to you becoming the man you are today, like, did you, did you always live that way? When was that defining moment? When you decided I need to live my life as the person I want to be today. So I can be the person I'm expecting to be in the future. If you

Chuck Owens: 41:33

aren't, you think you are or want to be, you've got to act like you are until you become that person. Every day, you have to strive to be better every day, which means you've got to train yourself to do that. That's why we send our children to school from kindergarten to 12th grade and then offer college after that is because to give them a basic or a foundation. Of education, but along the way, it's to better teachers, aren't teaching them all the other things they need along the way, which is self-improvement how to manage money. All the faces things you don't learn in college. I mean, we have so many smart kids out to that are so dumb at managing money. Cause they don't know what to do with once they get. You know, and so why do we do that? Because the thing is, is our society says that they, that they got what they needed. I think what we have to do, and it starts at parents at home. We have to spend our time teaching our kids to everyday, get up and think they're better. So they become better. Don't give them an excuse, why they're wrong, show them why they're right. Quit, beat them up for the things they do wrong and start telling them about the things they do. Right. I'm more focused on what that kid's doing, right. That I'm what he's doing wrong because doing wrong, he already knows. Karen knows he's wrong, he's wrong because of whatever reason it could be. Cause he he's embarrassed to go to school and the shoes he wears, it could be something as simple as that, that changes his whole mood for that day. Adults let's face it. Most 90% of adults out there are not happy in the job they are in today. For whatever reason it is. Sometimes they just don't even have the courage to walk up and ask for that raise, you know, many people that deserve a raise that never asked for. The boss probably would have given it to them, but they don't know how to communicate. So I believe that's what it is. We have to train our people. America was great and strong because America's great. America is great. Cause we believe we're great. We believe in a greater purpose. That's what I think my opinion is is our people have been. Put into a bunch of robots. Now we just get up homework, homework, homework, homework, homework, you just dig a rut all day long, back and forth. They go down the same road to work, go through the same stoplight. They pull up to the same building. They show up at the same time, they go to lunch at the same place. And we train them to think that way. Cause they're like a bunch of robots we've got to get outside of the box. They got to start expanding and helping and training them to be better people to feel better about themselves. They're probably already great people. I should've said become better people understanding that they're better people. That's my opinion.

Gregory Favazza: 44:13

I like that. Chuck, for the, for those people out there that they actually want to make a change and getting out of that rod. Very exceptional advice that you would recommend to them. And what is some bias? They should ignore

Chuck Owens: 44:33

step out of the box tomorrow, tonight, starting right now, turn the TV off and grab a book, go to the, go to the library that doesn't exist anymore. Cause you gotta go to the library, get something that helps you move on to the next level. Get your belief. You may not have a lot of money, but try to step outside the box, help somebody tomorrow. I'm not into this whole thing about rainbows and butterflies. Like I said, I mean, I, I'm not trying to be a, you know, a not Gandhi. I'm not mother Teresa. And I wish I was because you know what? They're great people, but I do know this. I can make a difference to the people in my own home every day. Um, you don't have to slap that dark upset. Maybe you should try to pet it on the top of the head and give it a treat for doing something right. Like sitting when you tell it to, you know, so I look at, I look at human beings the same way as if you walk out the door and you scream at the guy across the street, cause he's a dumb idiot. Cut you off. The thing is, is what that guy sees in that is immediately he responds, right. Or what if he reacts, there's a response to it, which is I'm so sorry. Or there's a reaction. He flips you the bird, which one do you expect when you scream at somebody? What you deserve is the reaction. Let's hope that he's responds and says, you know what, I'm sorry, Chuck, I didn't mean to catch off. And at that point, maybe the bad day that I woke up with that morning, I'm in a bad mood, all changed because that person had the courage to respond instead of react. So that's what I'm talking about. It starts in the home today. It starts with, you know, I don't think that are, I think all in all 95% of people are good and they want to be. It's a lack of opportunity. And sometimes it's a lack of training. So I think it starts in the home grade. I think we got to go back, look at all the superstars that are born in bad situations. Most of them are athletes. You know, they, all of a sudden they don't have a chance, but they they're really good at basketball or football. But watch what happens to them later in life. What people do they become? What do they do with the money they earn? Are they out? What are they doing with it? Are they doing good things or bad things? You know, now it's their money. They can do whatever they want to with it. But what about the kids that are watching that athlete? Is that athlete a good example for him or bad example for them? So I'm thinking is, is it starts in the home. It starts with us going back and supporting our people and trying to help them become. You know, that's all I hope every day when I get up, I hope I've done the right things for my children and told them, you know what? You can do it. Not that you can't can't is a terrible word. Can, is a great word, as long as they're doing it. Right. And if you're living right, you don't have to worry about being an example, bad example. And have I lived right? Always don't know. Heck no, but I try everyday to live right now. Because it had nothing to gain by hurting you. I have everything to gain by my story. I get to write the book because it's mine correct the book.

Gregory Favazza: 47:45

I liked that Chuck, I really do. What about some bad advice to ignore

Chuck Owens: 47:52

bad advice to ignore? Um, I think that a bad advice ignore is, and every time I turn on a. Uh, radio and I hear somebody is, uh, um, campaign, uh, getting off on a cause it's election year. So I guess that's where I'm headed. And I hear somebody ripping the opponent apart. You know, don't do this, don't do that. It's because people take what they just heard and they store that in their brain. And next thing you know, they start believing the same way. The first story they tell when they get to work is whatever they hear. I don't like that guy. I can't believe he did this and this and this. And then somebody walks in and says, oh no, he's a great guy. Oh, their opinion changes or a bunch of sheep, you know? So I think you have to educate yourself and make the right choice. Spend more time listening than. Spend more time understanding before you throw something out to the person besides you. Cause you can be that conversation could change that person's life. Now, if everybody thought that way, we'd all be Einsteins, right? They don't, people love drama. Let's face it. We love drama. We love the fight we want to be in the fight. It's adrenaline, it's a high that's. So people do drugs. No cause it's a high they're really excited right now, but they wake up the next morning with a bad hangover, you know, and they feel terrible for two days. I'll never do that again, but guess what? Next week? And they do it again. Why? Because they're trying to escape because they're just not happy. I think what they have to do, good advice would be this to stand up for what you believe in, be true to your convictions and spend your time improving yourself and helping the others around. God didn't make us to be stupid. It doesn't mean you can't be rich. Just take your money and use it for what's good, you know, support your face. And invest right? Spend your time helping people that are hurting people. That's my opinion, Greg. I got off course there, but you asked me a simple question. I had to go into that. This is a politics. I'm not trying to get all political. Sorry.

Gregory Favazza: 49:52

No, Chuck you're good. You had me right into a trance. I, you caught me off guard. Um, how can I, how can our viewers get in touch with you if they wanted to find out any more information about you in what you do and if they want. Uh, how would they be able to get in touch with you?

Chuck Owens: 50:11

Chuck oh eight six, nine@icloud.com. Okay.

Gregory Favazza: 50:15

I'll be sure to, I'll be, I'll be sure to link that in the show notes. What was that one again? Chuck

Chuck Owens: 50:20

Chuck 0 8 6 9, icloud.com. Okay.

Gregory Favazza: 50:24

If I can have one more question for you looking back, how were you able to trust your own prophecies and the approaches of overcoming short-term setbacks? That led and remained that led you to remain focus on your long-term

Chuck Owens: 50:39

goals. Again, I don't want to get all religious here, but you know, to be honest with you, I think. Just by the grace of God bunny, because I certainly don't belong. I don't, I don't deserve to still be here by any means. I think by the grace of God, I was able to pull through and somebody told me one time, your life is yours by design. So, you know, you design your life. So go make it happen. So you get to make all the choices, all the decisions, we're all entrepreneurs. Cause every day we get up, whether it's money or running a business or what it is, get up and you get to make those choices. And for some reason, my, my goofiness, uh, just been blessed. I don't deserve it. I know I don't, but I do know this, that I, I want to give back to those I love and care about because I mean, I really feel like that's what I'm here for. I feel like that, uh, I've been blessed in so many ways and I just want to share not money. Not those things. I'm talking about kindness. Being there to help people and trying to do my best. Can I, I'm not mother Teresa. I'm not running around trying to, to, to preach to people. I just think that that's, we gotta do, has got to stand up for what we believe in and you know what, there's a side of me where I believe I'm right. We'll stand up for what I believe. But I also respect that the other side, I I'm a true, I mean, I'm a true Patriot. I love my country. You know, sometimes we have to be willing to listen. So I've tried to live a good life and I've tried to do what's right. Even though I screw up all the time, I don't know, Greg, I don't know why I'm still here. I just know. I'm glad I am because I've had a, it's been a great ride and I've really been blessed in so many. Times. I haven't had a lot of money in times. I haven't had a lot of things, but I always had the people around me that were most important. That's enough for me at times. I'm just like anybody else. I like stuff and things, but the same time, if I have that, um, I'm pretty dang happy. My grandpa, my grandma and my folks and my family, my brothers, my brother, and my sisters that people are close to me. That's that's my one. Thank you, Greg. Thanks for your time.

Gregory Favazza: 52:47

Thank you, Joe. Chuck Owens, everybody. Thank you for all the who has listened. And if you have not subscribed, hit the subscribe button, I'm going to keep telling you hit it. You know why? If the subscribe button standby, and to find out how many missed calls Chuck missed out on for the last 25 minutes to the hour. I mean, your phone's ringing off the hook as we speak. Probably how many Ms. Calls do you have right now?

Chuck Owens: 53:15

Yeah. As soon as I could go for one crazy crazy business, this is your

Gregory Favazza: 53:22

transformation podcast.