Blaze Your Own Trail - Life is an Evolution with Brian Bachand

Episode Date: October 11, 2021

About Brian: Brian G. Bachand is a man who is living proof that life is an evolution. His own journey from being a priest to then an executive in New York City, Partner in executive search and now founder of his own company, evolution evolution. His expertise is helping professional leaders and organizations evolve to be courageous and intentional as a Leadership Coach, Evolved Recruitment and Inspirational Speaker. He is based out of Toronto and is proud to be both an American and Canadian citizen. Finally, Brian believes when we ask the question, “What do I desire?” – the truth will intuitively lead us forward. Connect with Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbachand Connect with Jordan: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanjmendoza/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/therealjordanjmendoza/⁠ Clapper: ⁠https://clapper.vip/jordanjmendoza⁠ Join my Facebook Group: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/linkedintrailblazers⁠ Website: ⁠https://www.blazeyourowntrailconsulting.com Installing strategic sales systems & processes will stop the constant revenue rollercoaster you might be facing which is attainable through our 6 Week Blazing Business Revenue Coaching ProgramBook a discovery call with Jordan now to learn more! Are you an entrepreneur?Join my FREE Group Coaching Community where we have live calls, Q&A and more! Our Trailblazer Ecosystem also enables you to network with other entrepreneurs and creator hub eliminates multiple subscriptions and logins creating a one stop shop to take action!Use code: FOUNDING100 for 12 months access FREE and Founding pricing for life! (While Supplies Last)Join now! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you ready to find out how to blaze your own trail? Welcome to the Blaze Her Own Trail podcast with your host, Jordan Mendoza. In this podcast, Jordan interviews people from around the world to find out about their journey to success. If you're looking for valuable content with actionable advice, you've come to the right place. And now your host, Jordan Mendoza. Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Blaze Your Own Trail podcast. My name is Jordan Mendoza. I'm your host, and I've got a very special guest today.

His name is Brian Bichon, and I'm going to have him tell you who he is and what he does today. Jordan, thanks so much for having me today. It's great to be here with you. Thanks so much for coming on the show, my friend. If you can share with the audience just a little bit about who you are and what you're involved in today, and then my favorite part of the show, we're going to get a chance to rewind here in a second. and give them more context in Brian. Absolutely.

And I love that because the only way to best understand who I am and what I do is by looking backwards. But we'll start with the present. I'm the founder of a company called Evolution Evolution. It's not named twice by accident. It's on purpose. The first evolution stands for the natural evolution as humans. So we all go through our DNA, how a pandemic affects all of us. But that second evolution is about the one that we can choose how we want to evolve and how we want to be aligned personally and professionally for the greatest impact.

And that's where I spend my focus one-on-one mentoring, especially professional leaders, new CEOs is kind of a special niche, working with organizations and a lot of public speaking about what does it mean to be an awake, evolved leader today? Love it, love it. Thank you so much for sharing all that. So let's dive right in, man. So, you know, where were you born and raised? And let's, let's give the audience a sense of, you know, how you were in the younger year. So we'll start, you know, elementary up to high school days. Okay, wow. We're going way back, way back. How long is the episode? So I was born and raised in Boston. So that's my home turf. That's where I was born and raised. I'm the youngest of first. five children. But I'm a huge surprise. There's a big age gap between myself in the oldest, 16 years. And so I grew up kind of like an only child and, you know, grew up in a great town, just north of Boston, loved elementary school in particular. I think teachers, all my elementary school teachers, I can still remember all of them by name because they just had a huge impact on me. I just loved the interest they took in me. Education was something that wasn't difficult.

It was something that really made me very happy. I loved being part of that community and was really involved. One of the things that really was different for me growing up is that my father always said that we always had to do something of service as well. So every summer, even though we were having fun with friends and going away, we always had some type of service project we had to be involved in. And that really set the foundation for a lot of things that I decided to do, especially after university. Sure, sure. And I'd love to dive into some of the more memorable projects here in second.

But first off, you know, I grew up. My mom had five boys. And when my mom was 40, she calls us and says, I'm pregnant. So I've got a brother that's 20 years younger than me, you know, and it's interesting because I have five. kids myself now and I have a 16 year old and a 10 month old. So so when you said that gap, I was like, yeah, I can relate to that in a couple different ways. So thinking back to these events of service, you know, that's something that your dad instilled in you. Is there one that really sticks out, whether that was, you know, something that you did for a local community or maybe even leaving the U.S.? Was there any projects that you just really remember that, to the this day really resonate. Yeah, I think there was, there was, there's, there's, there's, one summer, I

remember, I think it was my last year in high school. I was a senior and it was the summer between like, um, high school and college that I volunteered and it was to be a tutor for new arrivals, new immigrants, um, and they were from Vietnam. But I remember when I went there, they asked, they actually asked me is to help tutor them in English. But I remember they asked me, would you be willing to tutor for some reason? There were a couple of students that had a very severe stuttering problem. And they were very anxious. They were anxious about learning English, but they were very anxious about the stuttering. And I have to say that was one of the greatest stories. I don't know why they asked me to do that. Maybe it was just kind of the way I kind of presented myself.

They thought it would be a good mix. And that was a tremendous joy. Just. being there helping them. And it was not just about teaching the English and the vocabulary and sentence structure, but it was really about helping their confidence. And that's something that is just I always remember. The second was there was an inner city. It was a Spanish community. And my father had been involved.

He knew one of the founders. And he would also have been a donor to them. And one summer, he just told me, said, Brian, that's where you're going to be, summer. This is going to be really good for you. And I remember I would go like every Tuesday and I would go around in this van with like bags of rice and different things to these, you know, families that had just immigrated from Central America, Latin America. And it really just put into perspective for me, you know, where different people were at. And so that sense of service giving back, especially people who come from new cultures is something that just really, really resonated for me at a

a very young age. That is awesome. Yeah. And, you know, it's interesting when it comes to language. And really, the thing that I've noticed over the years is most people don't speak it. It's because of confidence, right? It's because they don't want to sound stupid or sound like they're saying something wrong. You know, my dad's in his mid-60s.

He's been in the U.S. for over 40 years and he still speaks with broken English, right? He just, and it's because I think a lot of it's because of the environment, you know, in his house. He speaks to my stepmom in Ilucano, like in the, you know, in Tagalog, in the national origin. So even though he's been here, he hasn't effectively used it or had to be put in situations to get more comfortable with it. Is that something that you notice with these folks from Vietnam or even these families from different parts of the world? Is it a confidence thing, would you say? I would say that's a huge part of it. You know, I mean, they come in, first of all, there's just so many emotions.

You know, when you come into a new country, you're trying to find work, you're trying to care for your family. And then when you don't speak the language well, you feel like there's a spotlight on you constantly, you know, that you're not able to communicate and articulate what you want. And that's hard. And I think that's what so many of them struggle with. And for myself, too, having lived overseas, I know how hard that is, you know, trying to navigate and explain something. living in a store or to someone getting misunderstood or having people say, what I don't know, what are you, what are you trying to say? You know, they look at you and that just makes you nervous. So absolutely, the confidence is, I think, the greatest issue that most people who live in a new country face. Absolutely. So, you know, these acts of service, it sounds like they've been super ingrained in you

that you're still doing these things today. Is there anything else from childhood that's that you have that deep of a passion for? Was there any hobbies and sports, any things that you did outside of active service that they're really kind of shaped who you are today? You know, I would say there's probably two things, you know. So I grew up on the North Shore, Boston, just 25 minutes north of the city in a beautiful, beautiful area. And at the end of our streets was a wildlife sanctuary. And I remember as a kid when it would snow, like walking down the street with my cross-country skis. to go skiing through these trails or just hiking through there. So there's a deep sense of nature.

For myself, I love being in a forest. I love trees. I love that. And even though I'm a city guy, like I live right downtown Toronto, moved here from Manhattan. I love that. I still have this deep yearning and appreciation for nature and how important that is.

So that definitely set a huge foundation for me. And I think the other aspect too, I remember as a kid and maybe you had this too. Like I remember I got my first like brand new bike. It was my first communion when I was like in the second grade. It was a huffy. Like I remember that. And I just always loved biking.

And to this day, I still am an avid bicyclist and just exploring and being outside. So it's funny how things that you do when you're a child or the environment still is something that's so important to me to this day. Yeah. And in Metro Boston, what a great place to have a bike, right? So it was awesome. Going across a longfellow bridge, you know, into the city. And then, I mean, you know, Boston is one of those places that I've come to love really the last six or seven years. In my last role, I traveled there.

You usually once a quarter sometimes even more. And, you know, just the walkability of it. You know, you could stay in Cambridge. You could walk into the financial district or walk all the way to the North Shore. It's just such a great. community to be active, you know? Absolutely. And you see the joggers and the bicyclists and all that.

So you grew up 25 miles north of Boston. So was your family big into local sports? I know Boston is a major sports city, but not just from the hockey or the baseball or the basketball, but, I mean, you've got the Boston Marathon there as well. So can you talk a little bit about how sports impacted your family or if it did living and growing up with such rich culture like that. Yeah. So just to like highlight, you know, Boston is a gem. Sometimes you don't realize it until later in life, you know, where you come from. But I always had a deep appreciation for living there. And it is a gem of a city. It's very, of all the cities in the U.S.

has a very European feel, very walkable, the architecture. So I love that as well. You know, in terms of like sports, we weren't like the diehard family of going to Fenway to see the Red Sox. with the Patriots. We certainly, I certainly knew about all the games that were going on. I would occasionally go to the Redstock once during the summer, go to a Patriots game. But I really remember, and this is jumping ahead, we'll come to this. When I lived in Boston for a number of years downtown, the Boston Marathon used to run right in front of where I used to live. And that was awesome, you know, because, you know, you'd be out there and you'd see these runners, especially those who were in the front leading.

It was just amazing. There was an energy in the city. There was a great, great energy in the city that day. And so, yeah, the Boston Marathon, it's not something I've done. I've aspired to do it. It's still there, but it's something that I, of all the events in Boston sports-wise, that's the one that really kind of grabs my heart most. That's awesome.

Yeah, and it's refreshing to hear too, because more, most people I talk to that are super diehard in sports. So it's good to see another side of the perspective. And yeah, the Boston Marathon, it's just, you know, one of those events that everybody has their eyeballs on. And just to see people going through the narrow streets and, you know, running around, running around that city. And the fact that they could get so many people in there. I know. From a spectator perspective is pretty amazing as well.

It is. It is. So you go through high school and end up. going to school. So share with the audience, where did you go to school? And did you have to kind of dialed in what you wanted to go for or did you or were you someone that kind of figured that out as you were there? You know, it was one of those things. So I grew up in an area, you know, that, you know, it was just automatically you were going to go to university. You know, I mean, it just wasn't a choice that it was just, you know, everyone I went to school with, you know, it was a huge focus through high school.

Where are you going? What SAT course are you in? You know, what all these special. special things. And so for myself, you know, I had really thought about, you know, maybe going to the university in the city, the Boston University, but I ended up attending a university in Ohio of all places. It was a small liberal arts, private university. It was Catholic. And it kind of came my way. And I remember flying out there for a weekend by myself to go take a look at it. And I never felt so welcomed. Like, I think that was the thing that was amazing. Like, you know, when you go to, say, at a university for a weekend, they sometimes put you up in the dorm and everybody was just so welcoming, everywhere I went. I just was like, this is where I want to go. So I did my undergrad in

Ohio. And one of the perks of that, what I really enjoyed is it, although I love Boston, I love New England, it's extremely parochial. Like, it's very focused on their area. And I liked being in a different part of the country with students from all over the U.S. And I also spent half of my junior year in Austria, too, which was really amazing. And that was something that the university provided. So, and that just formed me. That formed me in a very deep way to really, one of the reasons I made the decision for after university for what was next.

That's awesome. And I'd love for you to share a little bit about, you know, favorite experience while being in Austria. And then what did that spur to come next? Yeah. So Austria, so just imagine this. The university in Ohio, they bought this 14th century. It was a Carthusian monastery.

I mean, it's incredible. But the foothills of the Alps, about 90 minutes from Vienna. And it was like a storybook, you know, village that, you know, you drove down and there was this rent a little brook. There were like different stores, cafe. phase and the Alps just starting. And that's where we studied. And one of the gifts of being there was the sense of travel, you know, and also the sense of connecting with your friend. There were like 120 students. And there's just this sense of community. And I loved that. And, you know,

it was a Catholic university. And they had, even in Austria, they had a Catholic kind of chaplaincy. So they offered Mass, you know, on Sundays and different things. And I remember I got involved being one of the readers. And, you know, and it was really, it was really nice. Like, I really liked being part of that. And so that was special. But I think my favorite memory of Austria was by myself, not all the travels I did and all the kind of crazy things with friends.

It was a Sunday morning. I got up very early. It had snowed like crazy. And I remember going for those. long walk through the village and just it was a silence and the mountains were all covered and the brook was just going at full steam you know with all the water and there was just something pristine to this day when people say think about a happy place i always remember that beautiful moment it was just incredible that's amazing and it sounds kind of almost picturesque of you being a kid and

walking with your skis through the streets of suburbs of Boston, right? So it's kind of, you know, your happy place is almost two of the same places, right? Being a kid in that environment and being that environment in another beautiful country. So awesome, man. Thanks for sharing that story. And so what happened next? What happened after school? What did you decide to do?

Yeah. So, you know, after that, that was my junior year, I went back from my senior year. And I continue to be involved with kind of the Catholic chaplaincy. at the university and helping out and still having fun with friends. And then little by little, that sense of service, that sense of I loved helping people, like when I was a child, you know, doing different things. It kind of kept growing. And there were a couple of people that said things to be like, wow, have you ever thought

about being a priest? You know, we've ever thought about dedicating your life, you know, to doing something. And it was kind of jarring, but at the same time, it was really interesting. And there was a sense of like spirituality and a sense of service. I remember my senior year, there was a posting in like at the Catholic chaplaincy saying, if you've ever thought about maybe a religious life, there's going to be a retreat in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania, which was like 45 minutes away from the university. So I went.

And there were students there from like Carnegie Mellon, other universities. And it was a weekend of just kind of looking at. and answering that question, is this something you might want to consider? And I knew at the end of that weekend, I was like, I really want to kind of pursue this. And so I applied to the seminary in Boston. And so upon graduation, I continued, you know, there were months of interviews. And I entered the seminary to start you to become a priest the following September. Wow. So, you know, thinking back to five years prior to that, was that even, was that even something in your purview. Did you think that, you know, five years ago, I might, you know, apply to actually

go to seminary and become a priest. Is that something you had thought of them? Yeah, it certainly wasn't the plan, you know, and definitely not the plan that I would be back in Boston, going to the archdiocese of Boston, and decided to be a priest. I mean, you know, it just, yeah, it just, it happened. But everything came together very peacefully. It really did. It came together very peacefully. And I, without a doubt, knew that was the right decision for me at that time in my life. All right. So you're in a brand new, brand new space, right?

Brand new venture. But I think there's a lot of commonalities, right? The goal is to serve, right? Just to be of service to people to listen, to be a good listener, right? All these things that you seem to have strengths in. So, yeah, why not take that dive and see how it works out, right?

So how did that venture end up going? And you became a priest, I'm assuming, and how long were you a priest? And what are some of the most memorable things about that experience? Because I'm sure there has to be tons of them. We'll just grab a couple for the audience. Yeah, exactly. So there's a lot. So just I'll give a little nugget of each of those just to give a little flavor there.

So seminary was a five-year process. And, you know, it's a graduate program. So, you know, I get my master's at the end of that. And it was really great. I mean, it's intense. It's an intense formation. Every year, you know, there's academic rigor. There's all kinds of formation and seminars.

You also have different work, pastoral work that you do every year. And so, like, my first year, I was stationed at the women's state prison, you know, working with prisoners there and teaching. And then, you know, I did hospice work. And it was just, every year became more affirmed. that this was the right decision to go. So I was ordained. I was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Boston and I served four years west of Boston and a beautiful like New England parish. And because I was young, I think they sent me to a parish that had a lot of activity. And I think, you know,

what I really remember is that I was, I've often said this, I was like a priest in Vegas. Like, I did weddings, like it was nonstop. Like it was tons of weddings and, you know, that, and it was great. Like that sense of being part of the community. Like, you know, that sense, like I said, in Austria, like you're really connected with the people. And that was beautiful. And then one Thursday night, I received a phone call asking if I could come in to the headquarters of the archdioces the next day to speak about a new opportunity. And so I went in and there was a new cardinal that had come to Boston to heads every, the whole. archdiocese and the cardinals are also connected with the Vatican as well. They're the highest

ranking. And I was told that the new cardinals selected me to be his new private secretary. That would translate into kind of business turns as like chief of staff. So literally overnight, my life changed that I went to go live with him, travel all over the archdiocese. I was his master of ceremonies, organizer. When he flew to Rome to meet with the Pope, I was there. When he went to special meetings and diplomatic events, I was present. Definitely, I would say, the biggest highlight and really memorable moment was when John Paul II died, we were there for that funeral. And the night before, there was a private reception for just the U.S. Cardinals with the president of the United States and all the former presidents who came.

And I was there. So it was just 20 of us in this room. And I remember speaking with, you know, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. and, you know, Condoleezza Rice and all these different individuals. And it was just an amazing opportunity and gift to be there. And to be of service. I was being of service of the Cardinal to help him. And what he had to do, especially to bring healing and restitution. That was why he was brought into the archdioces. And it was really special and sacred. to be of service to him. But that's also when I started to look at what might be next for me. Wow. So, I mean, what an amazing experience to be able to participate in a lot of those events. And, you know, to be in that room, did you feel a little bit like the most famous selfie with Ellen? Did you want to do, did you want to get that selfie with all those, you and the other 19 people? I mean, it had to be very surreal, right?

I mean, you're sitting there with such rich history and you're like, can I make this a TikTok? You don't know, I don't know if TikTok was, was out at that point. But did you have any of those thoughts? Like, because, I mean, that had to just just the presence and the connection and being able to have these intimate conversations with people that have, you know, led our country. that had to have been mind blown. So what would you say is your favorite conversation that you had during that time in that? So just to say, it was totally surreal, you know? So I mean, just to give a little context.

So we arrive in Rome. We flew overnight. We get through the next morning. And we're and we stayed in the Vatican. We're in our respective rooms. And all of a sudden, I'm just unpacking like half asleep. And I get this knock at the door. And it's the cardinal.

And he hanging. me this like beautiful envelope. I remember the stationary. Like it was, and he said, this is from the presidents of the United States. We're invited to a private reception tonight at the ambassador's house. So make arrangements. So I was the magic man, right? Like I had to like, you know, find how we're going to get there and everything. So we pull up to the the ambassador's residence in Italy. And we went into this like gorgeous library room. And I remember it was just, I mean, it was kind of empty. There were just a few people. And all of a sudden, you know, the Cardinal starts speaking to a couple people. And I look over it in Laura Bush, the wife of George Bush, he was president

at the time, was over at this table where they were like shrimp and like little like snacks. And she was just over there getting a few things. And I just walked over to her. Like I just walked over to her and introduced myself. Thank you so much for being there. And all of a sudden, who came around the corner of what was George Bush Sr. And he came over and he like gave a kiss to Lori. He's like, oh, good to see you. And she said, oh, you know George Bush. I'm like, well, I don't, but I do now that you just met him in.

And she was lovely. But I think the moment that was amazing and it was surreal was in the midst of that like couple of hours, I checked in with the Cardinal just to just say, you know, how was everything? And he said, I haven't spoken to Bill Clinton yet. And so I said, okay. So he said, if you, you know, see him, maybe you can remember, or, you know. So I said, I'll go, I'll go find him.

So all of us and I find, he's on the other end of the room. And he was speaking with someone. When he finished, I went up to him, introduced myself. And I said, the cardinal would like to speak with you. So I bring him over and I introduced them. And I'm thinking, I was so young. I'm like, who am I to be introducing the president, the cardinal? And it was, I was very calm, but I remember when we left and we drove out of the gate,

I remember turning the Cardinal. And I was just like, we were so calm. I was like, did this really just happen? Like, this was just wild, you know? And thankfully, I didn't have to worry about the selfies. They had people photographers there that they were taking pictures. And they sent, actually George Bush, the president, sent them to us after like, so it was very nice. It was an incredible gift.

of those moments in life that only happened once and it was really special. Well, that's awesome, man. Yeah, it's awesome that you could have those experiences, but, you know, the stories, right? And I'm sure it really put into perspective how much we all are really alike as humans, right? Absolutely. And with that, you know, 20 people of, you know, people from that walk of life. And then you just realize, like, hey, their food falls on the floor, you know. They get stuff on their face, you know.

And so were they pretty, were they all very relatable and down the earth? They were so kind. All of them were so kind. Like they were just, there was, I have to say it was an intimate evening. They were just very kind. They said, of course we had to be here. This was very important to all of us. They all shared stories about what they had met John Paul II.

And they were. They were very real. I mean, it was just, it was very relaxed. It was very relaxed, especially, I think that's, twilight seeing Laura Bush at the side table, just picking up food. You know what I mean? And they were just very natural. And they all kind of went over there on the road. And it was like being at someone's home. Like, yeah. And someone said, just go help yourself. They did. That's awesome. Very cool. And so, you know, after those highlight experiences, how much longer did you, you know, work in that

important role with the Cardinal after that? And then what was, what were your next steps after leaving, you know, your, your calling in that area of life. Yeah, no, great question, Jordan. And so really what happened, you know, I'm a firm believer, wherever we are in life, whatever circumstances we have have been given or brought into, they're always there to teach us something. And they always lead to what's next. And that opportunity to work for the Cardinal was an amazing gift because I knew most likely I was being groomed for more things, you know, in that world. But I also came to realize, It's not the world I wanted to be in. I also knew that I wanted to be able to freely love another person.

I wasn't going to be able to do that if I stayed as a priest. I also knew that I could make an impact in the world using my gifts outside of the church. And so I knew the next step was to try and test that a little bit. I'm a firm believer, you know, you just don't quit. It's like for anyone who's listing in a job that like, okay, yeah, I became a lawyer. or I was an engineer and it's been good and I'm effective at it, but I feel I want to do something else. And I went through a process to kind of test that. You know, I spoke to a couple of very good people. I really respected over several months. And I came to a very peaceful decision that I wanted

to resign and move forward. And so I shared that with the Cardinal who's very supportive. And I left and I moved to New York City to start an entirely new life as an executive in the world of philanthropy. in Manhattan. And it's been an, it was the amazing, amazing decision. And it fit me like a glove. You know, for anyone who is listening in New York City or people who have been there, there's an energy that is just so palpable. And I knew that's where I wanted to spend my time. And that was the next step for me in my life. Awesome. Awesome. Yeah. It's so I think what you said is so important. and, you know, encouraging people not just to go quit, right? Like, it's important to explore.

It's important to test. It's important to become a practitioner at those things before you make that, you know, that leap. Absolutely. And it's not to say that people can't just make it and not have success. But I can tell you this from my personal experience, becoming a practitioner and putting those reps is much more highly important than just kind of going out and trying to wing it, really, really. Totally. Absolutely. And you know, you have to remember too. I mean, I give in, you know, think about it, you know, five years in seminary. It was eight years as a priest. And now it's like, okay, what are the transferable skills? How do I, what is the area that I want to go into? How is that going to work? So it took time. It really took time to look at that and to evaluate it. And it's not just a career change that I had to make. It was an identity change as well. And, you know, you know, you had not only had been a priest, but it was a big part of your identity. Now you're going in a different direction.

So, you know, you had to work through that. Also, and I'm sure maybe you can relate to this to Jordan or the viewers' other's expectations. I had, I was really held hostage in some ways. Like, what are people going to think? What's my family going to think? What are others going to think? How am I going to be perceived? And, you know, you have to work through those layers, too, because once you do,

then there's a sense of freedom to really embrace what you desire to do next. 100%. Yeah. So what did you end up doing? I know you'd mentioned you went into more philanthropy in Manhattan. So can you share a little bit about that experience, you know, what type of work you were up to? And then how long were you in that space? Yeah, sure. So I went to New York City and, you know, I was looking at a couple different areas. And I always remember this day, I was in Boston. in. I was on my laptop. And I was looking. I was actually on the phone with someone. And it was, you know, I was just kind of listening and at the same time scrolling, looking at jobs on like,

I don't know if it was indeed or something. And this job came up. And it was with the American Cancer Society in New York City. It was a director level. And they wanted someone that could build high-end relationships for like, you know, revenue, growth, et cetera. And I'm not kidding you, Jordan. I read it. And intuitively, I said, that's my. job and I'm going to get it. And so I applied online and then I kind of just kept researching. I connected with the hiring manager, had the interview, went to New York, and that's the job I got. And nine months later, I was promoted to be the director for corporate in New York City for a whole new team. So I was dealing with all the major like Fortune 100 companies. And then I went on to

become executive director at NYU Medical, you know, raising millions for medical research and technology. And I loved it because it was relationship-based. You know, it's, you know, that, yeah, when you have a revenue goal, you know, it drives you, obviously, because you have, you have to get those zeros in. But it was relationship-based about having people invest in something that can have a very significant ROI on so many levels. And it just fit me. And I loved it. And I think having been a priest, it served me so well because I was able to connect well and not get caught up and sometimes on the drama that goes on in the business world and relationships and this and that that I could kind of see through things

and just really get to the heart of the matter and move things forward. And so, yeah, it was amazing. And being in New York, it was just fabulous. That's awesome. And it really makes sense of why you would excel and you look back to your, track record, like you said, being a priest, that's about relationships, right? They have to trust that you're not going to take, you know, their info and go blab it to every, you know, people are confiding in you. And then you, you, you are the chief of staff to

the cardinal. So you probably have very classified information and you're meeting very important people. And you have to be very integrist base, but also heart centered at the same path. You know, so a lot of those skill sets, those traits that you have, you know, to me, it was a perfect roadmap for you to be in these other roles because, you know, you're doing sales, of course, right? But sales is all about building relationships, not transactions, right? When you're transactional, you get transactional results. When you build relationships, you get sustainable results. Absolutely. So well articulated and summarized.

Like you just, you nailed it. And that's, that's exactly what it was. It took me time looking back, that I see it? I'm like, yeah, of course it aligned. You know, first of all, it just fit with my personality, with my expertise and background. But it really was about those relationships. And that really is what resulted in, you know, significant revenue growth, especially in 2008 in New York City when the economy collapsed when I was there.

And I was able to bring in significant revenue. and a whole new stream because of relationships. And so that was significant. And I think you brought something up earlier. You mentioned that you got a new team, right? A new team of nine. So what would you say for the audience? And I've taught classes on this.

I would love to really, here's your perspective. What are the one or two or three top ingredients to build a high-performing team? So first of all, I think one of the things that's really important, and maybe not everyone will agree, but I think it's very important. One thing is this, I've always managed teams, you know, the last team I managed was about 30 people. And I've always made it, this is kind of been my mindset. Always be friendly, always be present, always be authentic. But remember, you're not a friend. And I think that's really important when you're building a team because oftentimes people

kind of blur those lines that when you're, you know, being super, you think you're a friend, when issues do come up, it's not addressed. Or if someone gets promoted and there's an issue there, you know, there can be slights. So always be friendly, be fully authentic, but realize that you're there on a certain mission and you had to be friendly. So I think establishing that in a healthy way, establishing that, great building opportunities, to build networking community is great, but to have to realize that we're here for a mission.

You know, we all have our parts. I think the other big point about really building an effective team from the side, from the perspective as a leader is recognizing individuals' gifts. I think one of the greatest joys that I've had really professionally has been when I see people on the team and they have gifts they don't even realize they have. And being able to put them into opportunities or take on an initiative and just see them flourish has been one of the greatest things because that impacts everyone. It really shows the value. And I think the third thing is communication, communication, communication. Like Slack is great and all these things are really good.

but sometimes things get lost in transition. But I think when you take the time to communicate and listen to what your team is really saying and how they're responding and listen to how they're not responding, that's where you have a really clear temperature reading or where things are at. Yeah, I love that.

All really, really great advice. I think that check-ins are super underrated. Totally. And I think that they are highly underutilized, you know, I can even think about it in my company I was just with for 15 years, you know. Had I gotten two or three more check-ins throughout the year, I maybe wouldn't have left. Totally. Because it's, you know, too little communication can have people's values start to diminish in their mind.

And I know for me, I was kind of at that point where it was like, why am I only hearing something if you've got something negative to bring the table? What about celebrating some of the, you know, showing, showing that appreciation there? You know, I think that's, it's a, it's a two-way street. You know, you can't just go get on somebody when something wrong. You also have got to talk about when they've had some successes. It's, you know, I've always looked at it in sales. It's like build, break, and build, right? You got to build somebody up and then break them down a little bit, bring it back down the earth.

You've got to build them back up again. And for me, when I've been building teams, that's always been effective because, like you said, you can't always be their friend. You've got to show them that tough love sometimes, you know, because that's where you're going to grow. We actually grow and become stable and instability, not stability. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely.

And I love that you said it too. I think one of the things that I really, I don't have a hard time doing this. And it's something that, you know, the leaders that I work with, I really encourage, it's about giving that appreciation. you know, that it's not just about telling someone, oh, great job, Jordan. Yeah, good, a good job on that report you did. But it's really being specific saying, wow, that report that you prepared on those, those last four pages really set the tone as we move forward and like really beautiful insights. Okay, you're going to remember that. Yeah. And, you know, really seeing that is so important. Because you hear about this all the time, like, oh, retention. We get people don't.

stay or blah. It comes from the leader. And when you do that with your team, most times that's a catalyst for team members to also start doing that with each other because they're going to remember how that felt. So it's full circle. But I agree with you 100%. 100%. Awesome. So I know we're missing part of the journey, right? You are now in in Toronto, right? So we got to give the audience the story. So, you know, when did you end up leaving Manhattan? And what was it about Toronto that attracted you to this great city that you're now living in? So full disclaimer. Never in my wildest dreams that I ever planned on leaving Manhattan. Like, I loved where I lived right next to Central Park. I loved my life there. But the reason I left is because I had met a Canadian.

And that was the reason and the catalyst for the move at that time. for the reason of coming to Toronto. And so I came here, continued as an executive, and some other opportunities, which were amazing. And I stayed here. It's been great. It worked to my benefit that the roles I had, my network in the U.S., and being here was beneficial

for the different roles I had and went back and forth. But literally it was about two years ago. I just had this desire. to step away, to bring it all together. And so that's why I founded Evolution, Evolution. And really what's really important is I love working with leaders. I just, that's something I really enjoy, whether they're a first time, you know, CEO or they're a professional that maybe is seeking a career change or they're, you know, millennials that are, you know,

super smart finding a company, but they need some guidance. Leadership is so, I just love it, and I love being involved with them. And part of the way I work with people is, you know, there's a sense within me, there's a sense of spirituality of purpose. I'm not talking religion, but a sense of helping people to go deeper within themselves. When you align with in your heart, when you align with your skills and your gifts, that's when you make tremendous, impact in the world. That's where your mission becomes really alive and it's a beam of light for so many others. And that's where I love spending that time. And so I bring together my expertise as an executive and leading teams, supporting some of the highest individuals who are also leaders and really

bringing that together. And it's just a deep passion and it's something I love doing. And now more than ever, last statement. I think post-pandemic, things have shifted. The world is different. Leaders are different. So many, you hear the term, they're awake. What does that mean? It just simply means that they're more in tune to that, okay, it's not just work, work, but about making impact and the lives around them. Yes, you still want financial success. Yes, you still want to grow. But really doing that from a place of alignment that is purpose-driven and has value and ethics in above all tremendous joy. I love it.

I can definitely see your passion for what you're doing. You know, your eyes lit up just as wide as you telling me there was 20 presidents in the room. And so that, you know, that definitely says a lot. And, you know, you're definitely blazing your own trail, my friend. That's why we had you on the show today. And I know the audience is definitely going to want to connect with you afterwards. There's going to be some people that. hear this and they say, you know what, that is me. I'm that brand new CEO or I'm that leader that

that wants to take it to the next level and really step into my greatness and evolve once more. So I'd love for you to share, Brian, where are the best places for people to reach you if they want to get in touch with you and say, you know what? Let me at least have a conversation with Brian. Absolutely. So, you know, one of my things that I love the most in life, I love connecting with individuals. And when I connect with them, it's about that relationship that we spoke about. It's not about a sell or a sale or trying to pitch. It's about really connecting. So I keep it simple. Two best ways to connect with me. I'm very active on LinkedIn. Reach out to me. Send me a note. Say you heard me in Jordan's podcast and we will connect. I'm very good about responding,

usually within like 24 hours. Or you can also go on my website, which is www.com. evolution evolution.com and you can also send me a message there. My website's going through an evolution. It's all being updated and showing all new things. So stay tuned for that, but you can always reach through me there and you will hear from me. And I welcome the chance to at least have an introductory call and hear about your evolution. Love it, my friend. Well, hey, I appreciate you coming on today. I know that this conversation is going to add value to so many people in our now 54 countries. We've got listeners.

And so shout out to everyone listening all over the world. And thank you so much for blazing your own trail, my friend. Thank you. And thank you for all that you're doing, Jordan. This is a real gift to be here. And I wish you every success. And again, I really appreciate the opportunity. Thanks, brother.

Have a great day. You too.