Read The Transcript

Connect with Coach David
https://www.waybeyondmeasure.com/
https://twitter.com/CoachVerdu
https://www.facebook.com/WayBeyondMeasure/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/waybeyondmeasure/

Connect with Russ
https://russjohns.com/
https://thepiratesyndicate.com/
https://nextstepnext.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nextstepnext/

Audio digitally transcribed by Descript

Introduction: [00:00:00] Welcome to the #PirateBroadcast™, where we interview #interestingpeople doing #interestingthings. Where you can expand your connections, your community, #kindnessiscool and #smilesarefree. Let’s get this party started.

Russ Johns: [00:00:10] Holy cow. What a day. What a day. What a day. David's in the house. Coach David, what are you doing here?

Coach David Verdu: [00:00:17] Hey, buddy. How are you, man? I am in Amarillo, Texas at my aunt's house. It's good to be out of the cage.

Russ Johns: [00:00:24] Yeah, no kidding. No kidding. I've talked to several people that are excited about the possibility of leaving.

Coach David Verdu: [00:00:29] I have left the cage so exciting things happening and we'll get into that man. Happy to be here, Mr. Russ. You're always my favorite pirate, for sure.

Russ Johns: [00:00:42] The pirate, for sure. For those that don't know you, Coach David, share a little bit of detail about who you are and how you help. So we can frame it in a way that we can move forward on this conversation.

Coach David Verdu: [00:00:57] Hey guys, I'm Coach David Verdu. I am a 30 plus year education with high school, middle school, elementary school, and coach. It's why they call me coach. Just thought that being in the classroom was the greatest thing ever, influencing kids and students and being that positive role model was just an amazing time. And then I figured about, I think about 12 years ago, I wanted to ride off into the sunset, but it wasn't time yet. And so I went and did an assembly. Now I've spoken  events, being a minister and stuff like that, but I went to an assembly. It was a captive high school audience and man, why haven't I been doing that forever? It was like you were hooked to be, it was like, it was not because of what I said or who I am because of who they are. Because of what they want and what they need. And I figured it out. And so when I get up on stage and there's a thousand high school kids in the audience, and they're saying, dude, good luck because of all the ADD and of just everybody all over the map, I grabbed them, man. All of them too. Not just some, they're very amazed about this assembly now. We talk about mental health things that are tough, things that can actually talk about to help people move forward instead of being stuck in the rut. And so it's just been an amazing journey for us. It's SUSO, stand up, stand out@waybeyondmeasure.com and that's a whole nother journey cause this last month and a half has been very difficult for us because we've got hijacked. And I'll explain a little bit more about that and how that happened.

Russ Johns: [00:02:52] Yeah. And I think the essence of what you're delivering to the community, the high school community, the students and younger adults, people, teenagers. I really think a lot of kids are starving for the information from a real life perspective. I was talking to Reggie Waterman yesterday and he's going out to colleges and universities and talking to them about business and life in general, and how to interview and what to expect in life. And a lot of things that I think could be taught in high school along the same line and how to manage through the mental challenges we have,  the insecurities and the confidence issues that we all possess at that time in life.

Coach David Verdu: [00:03:36] It's interesting because we are such a fast food nation right now. Got it. Got it. I talk about the drive-thru and I don't want to give kids just a milkshake. I want to give them the whole happy meal, and so that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to get to them, not because of who we are because of what we are, is because of who they can become. And when you share with them tangible, grabbable fruit, so they can reach it. Then the world, that's just the way it is. And then why doesn't anybody talk to them about the pruning process?  Why does everybody think everything needs to be grand every second? It ain't happening, man. It ain't gonna happen. So everybody knows how to deal with being on top of the mountain and looking out. I made it at the top of the mountain. You can't breathe at the top of the mountain. There's no trees at the top of the mountain. There's no water. Unless you tilt your head back and hope for the rain cause it's all going to the valley.

Russ Johns: [00:04:43] It's all temporary.

Coach David Verdu: [00:04:45] Yes. But we know what to do when we're up there. It's glorious. So now what do we do when we go back into the valley where there are pitfalls, there are avalanches, there is not water flowing, there is the wind blowing like mad. What is it that you do? You gotta dig deep. Your roots have to go so deep that when the wind and everything moves, that you don't sway, it actually strengthens you to become a better person. And so that's what we do. We don't beat around the bush. We tell them, it ain't easy.

Russ Johns: [00:05:18] And I think you said it best, the pruning process. There are a lot of times, and this is something that I struggle with all the time is what do I say no to? There are things that we need to learn how to say no to and we need to prune things from our life that are no longer serving us. And as we go through these processes and these evolutions, you have to say no sometimes.

Coach David Verdu: [00:05:41] Yeah. And that's the pruning process happens to do and be with your friends as well. The dilemma is this in high school, junior high, I want friends. And if these are the only friends that I can hang out with, then I'm going to either evolve or mold in and you gotta be careful because you become who you associate with. And it's not easy because  I know a lot of the things that they do are wrong, but then if I bail who was going to be my friend? It's hard right now, it's really hard.

Russ Johns: [00:06:18] And I don't think that ends in high school.

Coach David Verdu: [00:06:20] Right? So important. Yes. Especially with an organization. We bring in a lot of folks that want to help and participate. Oh boy. Sometimes it just becomes a roadblock because deep down, there's a an agenda and listen, our agenda is to Influence as many people as possible. We want to engage people and influence them to move forward. And we're doing exactly that and it's just been a great journey. And then we got people like the pirate that says, look, come on board, come over here and share with us what's going on. Man it's been great. I need more summer camps if there's anybody out there that needs a motivational speaker for their summer camp I'm all in, man. Just give me a holler @waybeyondmeasure.com. I just want to help. I want to serve, I want to be that person that impacts the future of this generation for sure.

Russ Johns: [00:07:22] And the beautiful thing about it is when you hear somebody say somebody should do that, it's we're all able to do something and help someone along the journey. And there's so many people in the community, the pirate community that are really doing some great things. I know that in fact, going down the list here we have, Monique is in the house. Monique. Good morning. How are you doing? Elize, from South Africa. Good morning. Thank you so much for being here. Michael's in from Florida. Good morning pirates. Ken from Malta awesome individual and another pirate. Nancy's in from California.  Happy Thursday, Nancy.

Coach David Verdu: [00:08:04] And she's rocking it. I remember when Nancy came on about, I don't know, three or four months ago she was, I don't know, I'm just going to try... wholly cracker barrel. She's the Albert Poole host of podcasts now, man. She's awesome.

Russ Johns: [00:08:23] Get over there. Wendy's says, good morning pirates.

Coach David Verdu: [00:08:27] Absolutely. Greatest smile in the world right there.

Russ Johns: [00:08:33] Michael Baker says development of discipline, effort and achievement insight. #inspiration. Absolutely. Hiett Ives in from Houston, late arrival. Hello, fellow pirates. That's awesome, scheduled everything's in place. Michael Baker also adds, yes, when the game of life is over, all the pieces get put back in the box, you cannot take  anything with you. And that's what we shared today that matters. Absolutely. I've never seen a U haul behind a hearse.

Coach David Verdu: [00:09:03] These guys are all like scholars, right? All these powerful messages where I'm like, just impact them. Here we go.

Russ Johns: [00:09:11] And you know Russ Hedge.

Coach David Verdu: [00:09:13] Oh man. Go Ducks! Or beavers. I forget what... I forget.

Russ Johns: [00:09:20] The bearded bandits are at the ready. Go ahead. Way beyond measure. Mission is so important. Sheri Lally says good morning, all. Nancy Baker says way beyond mission is so important. Yep, absolutely. So what is the process? Is it primarily speaking to these groups and these individuals? And so getting more sessions with younger kids, is that the most impactful way that you can reach out or what's the way that the pirates community can help?

Coach David Verdu: [00:09:52] The first thing is to make sure that you do your due diligence and make sure that way beyond measure is exactly what it's supposed to be. You don't just bring anybody in to speak to somebody because it's either going to make your fly or make your sink. So that's the very first thing I tell people but the second thing is elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, churches, boys, and girls clubs, YMCAs, we do a program called Suso stand up, stand out, and we teach kids of all ages the importance of taking care of themselves and being kind. That's it. We talk about the program. Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? It's so very simple, but we've got music to every one of those truths. We've got skits, we've got cartoons. We've got so many different avenues. We are a fast food smorgasboard. That's a word back in the day. Remember? It's all you can eat buffet now where they can grab things that are important to them at the moment. And so when we go in, there's not really an agenda. Except that, where are they now? So I find out the schools in need. I thought it's been very sad or hurting because someone got hurt or man, we just won the state championship. What can we do with that or whatever it is. And then we build on that, always talk to kids about what are you leaving? What is it that you're leaving? Are you leaving legacy? Where are you leaving just dirt, mud for the next person to try to figure out how to build something or do something incredible? So I'm getting me in front of youth and getting me in front of students and getting me in front of kids and parents who says amen to that. Get me in front of some of these parents to help. And so whatever way we can serve and be that's what we want to do. I just love it. It's just something that I love to do and I'll travel to Malta, Spain. I've been invited to Greece. And so we're trying to figure out the Greece event. I'm speaking at a teen summit on June 26 in Europe, Greece, that whole area of teenagers and stuff it's going to be amazing. And For somebody like myself, these podcasts and the videos that shoot out all over the world. These are just as important as getting in front of people because that's just where we are now. And man, what a great time to be a motivational speaker, because you got so many avenues, so many places that you can go so waybeyondmeasure.com. If there's something misspelled or something wrong on there, just let me know, I'll fix it. And it's just, I love it. I just love it. And I am coming to Arizona. I'm super excited about it.

Russ Johns: [00:12:51] You better look me up and let's grab lunch or something.

Coach David Verdu: [00:12:55] Oh, yes, that's a fact.

Russ Johns: [00:12:56] Absolutely fantastic. One of the things that I want to express to people here is the idea that we all have... you're putting yourself out there and it's not always easy. There's things that we all have to go through and there's challenges. Life happens. Pandemics take place, these interruptions in life, however we can all be, and I promote this idea that #kindnessiscool and I do it for a reason. Because it makes so much of it. It makes so much impact in the world and little bitty pieces in places. And I just applaud you for doing what you're doing.

Coach David Verdu: [00:13:33] Thanks let me explain to you what is not easily. End of the month. I received a note saying some things have been changed in my back office and I tried to figure it all out. I lost everything, Russ. I have no website. I had no domain name. All my accounts were taken from me, from Kajabi. To all my workbooks, everything. And it was just two days ago that I got it back and I got to redo it all over. They won't release it to me. He won't, he's suing me for saying that he did all this work and he was supposed to get paid as a volunteer. It's just nuts, man. And he he just took it. I don't know how else to explain it. I trusted him with my passcodes to help adjust some things. And he did a great job. He moved things.  He was pushing us forward, but then he got to the point of now you owe me, we are a nonprofit. I can't pay, I don't have any money. There's nothing really to pay. And so I just told my wife maybe that's it. Maybe that's it. And then a couple of days ago, I got my dot com back then someone told me about this wonderful history site and that history site, snapped pictures of my whole website. So I still have my website. I just had to rebuild it because it's just nuts.

Russ Johns: [00:15:08] All of the things that entrepreneurs don't...

Coach David Verdu: [00:15:11] I quit! All this work for 12 years, I quit. And you know what, there's something in me. There's something in the Ragu that if you just pop the top over the cook spaghetti, it's all in there. Then you don't need anything, it's done. And that's what's in me.  I do, I quit at least twice a month, easy. I'm done. And it's usually people, it's not the system, it's people, and I've got to look past, I've got to keep moving forward and that is the key to life.

Russ Johns: [00:15:52] Yeah, it is the key life.

Coach David Verdu: [00:15:54] No one's going to break my stride and nobody's gonna hold me down. No. Got to keep on moving. Keep moving forward. And you got people on your side, Russ. I got so many people that had wrote me when I said, okay, not sure what to do, but this could be the end. They were like no, I was like, whoa. Wow.

Russ Johns: [00:16:18] It's interesting too, because you don't know who is out there quietly supporting you,

Coach David Verdu: [00:16:24] Oh, true. And those are the ones that finally write and say really? Oh my gosh. You're so funny when you do... I've never heard you ever write that. Why didn't you write that six months ago? It's okay. I get it. That's that silent voice in the back.

Russ Johns: [00:16:43] A lot of people are not in a place yet where they're willing to put themselves out there. And so there's advocates out there and they're quietly supporting you in a number of different ways. And adjusting your travel and your direction and what you're doing and why you're doing it. And when you're doing it, it's all going to change.  And the tools you use, the website, the email, all of that stuff is just a tool. The essence of who you are is still the essence of who you are. You don't necessarily have to have everything that you had, to be who you are tomorrow.

Coach David Verdu: [00:17:21] Wow.

Russ Johns: [00:17:21] And what I say all the time is use your pain as fuel for your future. And  just like you would tell your kids, just like you would tell your community, let's say, hey, we have to adjust, but we don't have to quit.

Coach David Verdu: [00:17:41] Wow, Russ, you turned this into a counseling session for me. It's true. It's okay. And it's good because I need it too. What people don't know is I have ADD and most of the alphabet, and so it's just a matter of staying with it and growing and going. So we are going to come back stronger. Because of the pandemic, we did a lot of videos and those videos are available for students about k through fifth grade and they can just go onto the website, click that sign up button, and then for less than $15 a month, they're going to have so many videos for their kids and curriculum and all this things that they can just enjoy and love. And it's about the price of Netflix, when you plug it in, those kids are going to learn how to take out the trash and they're going to be obedient and they're going to make their bed and they're going to become Suso kids. Stand up, stand out. And so we've got hundreds and hundreds of kids probably this morning, singing stand up, stand out, be who yougonna be and they're singing and like they want to. And it's just a joy to be part of the whole because I'm just a little piece of the pie.

Russ Johns: [00:18:55] Just think of it as a spark in the flame of their life. It's one of those things that you just have to get somebody to realize that they can make a difference and then give them some tools to go out and make that difference. And that's what Rick Henderson is doing. He's been a motivator of youth through sports. He's a coach, some of the best parenting some kids will receive might be on the football field is how I coach and my coach's coach. So he's he's local here in Phoenix area.

Coach David Verdu: [00:19:27] That is awesome. Listen, being a football coach, I won two state titles in Colorado, and I got two basketball titles in Colorado as well. And you're absolutely right. It is one of the best places to be as a leader on that field to teach them that there is no I in team. And man, I really appreciate that. Rick, I'd love to talk to you because because I have some stories for you about coaching and training and the camps that we do in the summertime. I do a lot of camps in the summertime, sports, agility camps and stuff like that, but the most important thing about a camp, Rick, you ready? Just relationships. That's it. Building a relationship and letting the kids know that, hey, if you need me, I'm here. Give meholler at waybeyondmeasure.com. I answer everybody. Everybody. I always answer them. So man, I'm looking forward to it. This #PirateBroadcast absolutely 100% works because people listen or people are intrigued by what you do, Russ Johns. You can't give up ever. If if there's not an episode or there's a couple of missteps episodes,  I be calling you saying, dude, what's up? How you doing?

Russ Johns: [00:20:38] Well after 430 plus episodes, I haven't missed a day. Yesterday, I was in the car in Phoenix, sitting down there and even after I broke my hip, I still made the episode. So I'm committed to the cause, I'm committed to the journey. And and I'm also working on doing things every day to create content, to support the community and make sure that people have at least some level of #inspiration in the day, they can always come back. They don't always have to show up every day. I'm not worried about who shows up or if they don't show up, I'm not too concerned about that. I always appreciate everyone that shows up like Nancy. I deeply appreciate the silent supporters. I was there once. In time, the goal is to help everyone find a new voice and use it in a way that feels good to them. Sometimes that role is the silent supporter. Absolutely positively.  And we all have a gift. We all have a message and we all have a way to share that information. Now, whether it's coaching in person online, over a podcast or broadcast over live stream, there's so many ways and opportunities we have to share our message and put it out there. So I just want to remind everybody. Coach, thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate the fact that you dropped  by again, giving us an update on what's taking place and you still make a difference. You showed up. So even though there's bumps in the road and trials and challenges and things that look like roadblocks and dead ends, the fact that you can get up and stand up.

Coach David Verdu: [00:22:21] Come on, stand up, stand out. I tell people that, listen, if you're on the team, you're wearing the uniform. Be proud, always be ready to go in the game cause you'll never know what's going to happen. I'm gonna end it with this. Drew Bledsoe was the quarterback of the new England Patriots many years ago. And when he dropped back to pass one time he got tackled and his arm got shredded. His shoulder. So this no name sixth round pick, Tom Brady. Really? Tom Brady comes into the game. The rest is history. Listen, be ready, man. Nobody knew his number. Nobody knew this kid from California that played for Michigan. What's a six round pick, he wasn't even on the charts. He's one of the greatest... he is the dope anyways. So be ready, be prepared. That's right.

Russ Johns: [00:23:31] Thank you. Thank you, coach David for being here.

Thanks to everyone for joining in. I know a lots of comments here. Lots of support. And as you all know,  #kindnessiscool, #smilesarefree and you #enjoytheday. Take care, everyone.

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