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- [00:00]
Johnny Parsons
I had everything in the whole world, but something was missing. Money in the bank account. Beautiful house. Beautiful. Anything I ever wanted. But I still had this void. That was insane.
- [00:11]
Bill
Right.
- [00:14]
Johnny Parsons
So I ended up going to jail the last time. Within two year period I was in jail probably 18 out of 24 months. Man. I used to. I stole from my mom. Like, you know, there's done a lot of stuff that I'm not proud of.
- [00:34]
Bill
Yeah.
- [00:34]
Johnny Parsons
And.
- [00:44]
Bill
Welcome back to the Bill pod, where authenticity trumps authority. Today's guest really redefines the meaning of purpose. He is a father, a husband. I found out he's a grandfather. When you see him, you're going to be completely in awe because I think he's a guil. I don't know what's going on over here, but he's. His story is really the true testament of empowerment. So welcome to the B pod, Mr. Johnny Parsons. I'm super excited to have you here. Are you excited?
- [01:12]
Johnny Parsons
Yeah, thank you. I'm excited, definitely.
- [01:14]
Bill
Yeah. So we're just going to dive in then.
- [01:16]
Johnny Parsons
Yeah, yeah.
- [01:17]
Bill
Is there anything you want anybody to know about you?
- [01:21]
Johnny Parsons
My name is Johnny Parsons and I'm excited to be here. The, the, the B podcast. And, and yeah, she pretty much hit the nail on the head.
- [01:31]
Bill
So we're just gonna build it up today.
- [01:32]
Johnny Parsons
Let's go.
- [01:33]
Bill
All right, let's go. All right, so I'm gonna dig in. I mean, I already kind of know your story, but I feel like everybody has a story. We were talking before. You know, people talk about the triumphs, but they never talk about the failures that led to the triumphs. And here's the best thing about success, is that success, for me at least, is all the failures. That's really what it. It's all the failures that you learn from and then you build it into this whole conglomerate conglomeration of success. That's what things, successes. It's not like an overnight sensation. But for you. I know your story is pretty rough, so let's get into it and tell me about your background and kind of what happened and we'll start there.
- [02:09]
Johnny Parsons
Yeah, I think like, like you said, you know, even from, from being like a young child, I remember actually going to Disney World and I would be like the kid that was like climbing up on the, the railing or walking on the high concrete stuff and, and you know, my parents always like, oh, don't do that, don't do that. And you know, always tried to protect me and I think I tried to do that for my son as well. But you know, I, I was the kid that was like, they said, don't touch the stove. I touch the stove for sure. So I wanted to see why, you know, so I, I think I kind of lived my life like that from, from a young age. And I wouldn't say really like rebellious, I get. I mean, I guess it was just more like out of curiosity. And sometimes it was good and sometimes it was bad. Like, you know, going the, the, the route that nobody told, that everybody told you not to go down because they wanted to protect you, you ended up learning from it and excelling. Whereas sometimes it was like you burned your hand from touching the stove. So that was pretty much my life in a nutshell. I mean, I've always been like a really, I guess you'd call it extra. You know, it was if, if I played baseball, like, I ate, ate, slept, you know, woke up, read the magazines, played, you know, anything that I, that I did, I just was full bore on it. Sports growing up, I think kind of transformed me into being like a team player and, and being disciplined from a young age. And, you know, I just kind of. I got to do whatever I wanted to do. My, My family, I was 15 years after my brother and my sister, and then I had a five year difference between me and my little brother, so. And my little brother has down syndrome, Ben. And so I got to do whatever I wanted. I was the 15 year later, after the first two kids, my parents like, yeah, go ahead, Johnny, do whatever you want to do. And you know, that, like I said, it was, it, it was kind of a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. So I did whatever I wanted, you know, to a certain extent, even when I would get grounded, my friends in the neighborhood, I would sneak out and, you know, called. My dad had this blue Astro van, and we called it the Blue Bomb. And like, it was the police. So, like, we'd be out in the neighborhood riding our bikes or whatever, and we'd see the blue bomb and everybody dip off in the woods. But it was, I guess you could call it rebelliousness. But, you know, I still got pretty decent grades. Like, I was a good kid. And, you know, I was, I was focused on, you know, excelling in whatever it was that I was doing, you know, and I think for, for me even going into like, high school and stuff, sports kept me straight because you had to have good grades to play sports. And, and I had, I could say that I definitely, like, I could fit in with everybody, right? You know, I, I was on the, the football team, wrestling team, played baseball, played street basketball at night, hung out in the kids, kids were smoking cigarettes in the bathroom. And so I just, you know, I could get along with everybody. And I always had like an outgoing kind of personality where you know, making people laugh and stuff. So that obviously translated into the party scene, you know, from high school. And you know, I grew up around a family that liked smoking weed. So I thought that was normal. So whenever I got older I saw them do it. I thought it was something that I would do. And it gatewayed into probably like 11th or 12th grade in high school to drinking a lot, partying after football games. And I got into drugs, know at a young age and wasn't really that big a deal for me until I got like, until I, I dropped out of school in the 11th grade, got my GED, went to work. I was making my first year ever working for a company. I made more money than my mom.
- [06:14]
Bill
Wow.
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Johnny Parsons
You know, 17 years old, three months before my 18th birthday. I made like $46,000 when I was 18.
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Bill
Wow.
- [06:22]
Johnny Parsons
And just from working like I was only getting like $11.50 an hour but like 80, 90 hours a week. I was doing land development. So I started, I actually widened 192in Holy Paw. We did 26 miles of highway and I was completely green. They you know, put me to work on every single crew and I just same thing. Like I excelled at it. Like they, I wanted overtime. They were like, all right, come in on the weekends. You can do mechanic work with the mechanics. I would help him. We're changing out rollers on know 490 excavators and changing out engines on D6 dozers and, and then during the week I was doing the construction work and I worked on every crew. I was laying pipe, putting silt fence in, grading the roads. I was at 18 years old, I was on a PC 400 excavator loading 22 off road dump trucks.
- [07:10]
Bill
Wow.
- [07:11]
Johnny Parsons
And just moving, moving mountains figuratively and literally. And so like everything I ever did, I always went full bore. And I showed, you know, I, I, I never had to ask for money. They always just gave me a raise because I showed up every day. I had a good attitude, like yeah, never complained. And you know, I was a hard worker and got into drugs more in that, in that time frame and led to my, my bottom at 21 years old was completely done. I had went through like a large amount of money. I'd lost my job. I was on unemployment due to drug use. And I. I got a DUI. Was. Wasn't called a DUI, but I was, because I wasn't 21 yet, right? And. And they. They took my license, so I couldn't work. Couldn't even get to work. And. And I. I had. I spent a bunch of money, basically everything that I had on drugs. The first time I ever, you know, actually prayed to God, I was on my knees, I was crying.
- [08:16]
Bill
These were, like, heavy drugs.
- [08:17]
Johnny Parsons
I was. Yeah, I was on opiates and cocaine. Pretty much everything I can get my hands on. You know, I was like. I got to that point, and I call it my bottom. My dad, he's a Vietnam vet, Marine, and he's the one who raised me. My mom was working full time. My dad hurt his back the year I was born, so he raised me. He showed me how to do laundry, showed me how to cook dinner. Just instilled values into me that I think a lot of people wouldn't be able to get instilled into them. And. And obviously, my mom worked for the post office, so. Rain, sleeter, snow. She was doing what she had to do. And so my dad smoked pot for 45 years after he got out of Vietnam, and he was actually clean, like, three years at that time from all drugs and alcohol. And that night that I hit rock bottom, I was praying to God for the first time. And I. I never. Never experienced anything like I experienced that night. Like, I had. I had the presence. There was a presence there that was with me. I was in tears, and, you know, I just. I was done. I didn't want to live that life anymore. And the next morning, for whatever reason, my dad. And I was two hours away from where I grew up. My dad showed up there and was like, yo, Johnny, you want to come home? And I had. I got clean that day, stayed clean Till I was 27 years old. And in that time frame, I became a firefighter, paramedic. I was a. I owned my own landscaping business.
- [09:45]
Bill
Started now.
- [09:46]
Johnny Parsons
You're back on track 21 to 27. I was back on track. Same mentality as before, but I was working for myself, going to school full time. And I was in 12 step meetings with Narcotics Anonymous. And my. I met my son's mother. My son was born Braden. He was born when I was 21 years old, 22, early 22, and, like, I just, you know, continued to flourish. 28 years old is. I walked into a gas station one day, looked over, saw beer in the freezer, the cooler, and just decided that I wanted to go drink. I disconnected myself from the 12 step meetings. I moved across the state and you know, that was kind of like my, my downfall.
- [10:39]
Bill
Yeah.
- [10:40]
Johnny Parsons
And my pride and ego kicked back in. Straight up. That's what happened.
- [10:43]
Bill
You're doing well. You're. You're like, I don't need it.
- [10:45]
Johnny Parsons
I got this house. I got that. I got $70,000 truck. Everything with the white picket fence. Four bedroom house, two story house. Had my own lawn business. You know, there was. I didn't have a worry in the world. But I was like. I tell people this story is like I had everything in the whole world but something was missing.
- [11:07]
Bill
Yeah.
- [11:08]
Johnny Parsons
Like I would come home, money in the bank account, beautiful house. Beautiful. Anything I ever wanted. But I still had this void that was inside. And you know, I was always, always believed in God. Always very spiritual. And I tell people that today, like I believe in, you know, Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior. But like, I don't. It's not religious for me. It's not religion. It's spirituality.
- [11:31]
Bill
Right.
- [11:31]
Johnny Parsons
You know, makes sense. Religions for people who don't want to go to hell and spiritualities for people who've already been there.
- [11:37]
Bill
Yeah.
- [11:37]
Johnny Parsons
And don't want to go back. So. Ended up starting to drink again at 28 and just worse. Worse bottom than before. Over the next four years, I had lost my career, lost my business, lost custody of my son. I ended up going to jail a few times. Signed custody over of my son while I was in the county jail and just had like this feeling of like I was. I had dug a hole so deep that like I was. It was just easier to just keep digging it.
- [12:12]
Bill
Yeah.
- [12:12]
Johnny Parsons
Instead of like trying to climb out. And. And so I ended up going to jail the last time. Within two year period I was in jail probably 18 out of 24 months.
- [12:29]
Bill
Wow.
- [12:30]
Johnny Parsons
And just in and out. Violating probation and just couldn't stop doing drugs.
- [12:34]
Bill
And.
- [12:37]
Johnny Parsons
And then the last time I went, I was actually getting ready to get off of probation. I was clean and. But I had failed to pay some money. So they, they violated me, went back in and I was in the spiritual dorm. And that was like where I found God. It was the last thing I tried. And the first thing that worked. I felt the freest I've ever felt sitting behind bars. Wow. You know, and that was like my foundation for where I'm at now. My wife wasn't my wife at the time. I had met her. So she was, you know, kind of by my side during that time. And. And we got out and I'm like, look, I don't want to live that life no more. You know, this is. I want you. Because she gave me the ultimatums. First woman in my life I've, I've ever met that I couldn't manipulate or, or, you know, like, she would throw my stuff out by the road. She popped four holes in my tires with a knife one time when I was trying go get drunk. And like, she, you know, was the one, you know, and so when I got out that time, she's like, look, if you want to move back in with me, you got to marry me. You know, she was very Christian girl. Yeah, she was singing in the church, really great girl. And she's like, look, you know, you got to marry me. And, and like, American culture is like, it's just a piece of paper, you know, like, I gotta test drive the car, whatever. Like, that's the mentality that I had. And, and I remember going to the pastor and the pastor's like, well, do you love her? And I said, yeah. He's like, well, and you should marry her then. So we didn't even have the money to get married. Like, we were like, we lived in an efficiency apartment. I was making 16 an hour running a bulldozer. She barely, you know, was making 500 a week cleaning houses for somebody. And, you know, we could, like I said, barely afford to do anything. And so the pastor gave us the money to get married, the $80 at the courthouse, and we went to Walmart and bought $11 rings, went and got married.
- [14:42]
Bill
And what a story.
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Johnny Parsons
That was our, our beginning, you know, because, like, from then on, like, we just, we built everything we have together. Like, she came home one day, she was crying, she's like, oh, this lady's yelling at me. I was like, well, start your own company. She's like, okay. And it's always the leap of faith, right? It's always the being scared and like, not really like thinking you can do it. And, and it's. But after you take that step, you're like, all right, I'm all in now. There's no turning back. So, so true. And she found a vacuum cleaner on the trash pile, and that was her sign that started a company. And so she started doing that. I obviously was still in the construction industry and just wanted to work, work my way up, you know, I started on a bulldozer, wanted to be a foreman, became a foreman, wanted to be superintendent, just continuously moved up the chain and, and each, you know, project that I, I would switch to, you Know, was like a level up. So I ended up becoming a project manager and learned, Learned how to do estimating at the. Built the brightline railroad I was working for, for hsr. And, you know, I had gotten a call from another guy that was just starting his company out again. And I'm like, yeah, I'll come in. So I started estimating with him. Within six months, we had $18 million under contract. It was me and him in an office and we found estimators, hired every employee, bought all the equipment and, you know, built a pretty good foundation of a company. But the guy was just a scumbag. You know, he was a, he was, he was not a good person. Didn't pay his bills, and I just couldn't get behind him. And so like, probably like the third time that he cussed me out, I was like, you know what, I'm done with this. I'll find another job. And I ended up finding my partner for the company that I'm with now. Came in as an estimator, project manager, explained to him the whole nine yards, like, hey, look, we can get, we can make money. You know, and the first six months there, we had our first contract and first year we did probably 15 million.
- [16:54]
Bill
Right.
- [16:54]
Johnny Parsons
And site work, land development work. And then that was when he, you know, asked me to be his partner. So became 50% partner on alliance Land Development. And. And my wife's company's flourishing. She had two cars, two crews, 65 Airbnbs. Wow. Doesn't work as much anymore, but she still goes out in the field every once in a while. And, you know, just recently we jumped into. Oh, I, I got custody of my son back as well. That was.
- [17:27]
Bill
Congratulations.
- [17:27]
Johnny Parsons
He's lived with me full time for about three years. We, him and his mom, me and his mom split custody with him now every two weeks. He's 15. He's. He's like, I don't. He wants to stay in his room all the time.
- [17:38]
Bill
Yeah, of course, that's what 15 year.
- [17:40]
Johnny Parsons
Olds like to do, but we get them out. I had season tickets to the Dolphins. We go out and play in the mud. I got, you know, big four wheelers and stuff like that and. But just recently dumped into, you know, obviously building, building my brand as myself. You know, you figure that out over the years. Like people, you know, you build relationships with people and they follow you if they like you.
- [18:03]
Bill
Yeah.
- [18:04]
Johnny Parsons
You know, it doesn't matter where you work, who you work for. You have a relationship with somebody, they want to, they want to work with You. It's not the company. So I realized that about myself. And, you know, folks would tell me, because obviously I don't. I don't want to get my ego, you know, boosted up. I still want to try to remain as humble as possible every single day. And. And they were like, somebody's like, oh, you got a great story. You should write it in a book. Okay. Hey, you got. You know, why don't you tell people how you did that? Just, I was telling you before, like, three years ago, I was almost £300 is £280. Yeah. And I. I'm the leanest I've ever been. I weighed myself this morning. I was 208 pounds.
- [18:44]
Bill
Oh, congratulations.
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Johnny Parsons
But just, I mean, it's not. It took three years, you know.
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Bill
Okay.
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Johnny Parsons
It's not, you know, an overnight type deal. And. And you know, that. That everything that's happening to me almost kind of happened by default. Like, it just falls into your lap if you stay consistent and you stay disciplined.
- [19:01]
Bill
Yeah.
- [19:03]
Johnny Parsons
And, you know, obviously setting goals and. And focusing on. On accomplishing those goals, you know.
- [19:11]
Bill
Yeah. You're doing. I mean, I. So there's like a few things that I pulled out. Out of the things that you're saying. Number one, I don't. I don't. I'm sure you do listen to a lot of people speak, but they say the one most important, important tool. Not tool, but I would say one most important thing that you have to have when you're running something successful is, is to have a partner that is equally vested into you. So that's number one. I would say that it's the same way for my husband and I. You know, he's my biggest cheerleader, greatest fan, and it's always important. That's what they always say, that you have to have somebody that is your counterpart that is extremely supportive but more interesting. You know, there was a lot of setbacks in your life. A lot where many people. And I think a lot of times it's a lot easier to throw in the tow and just be like, you know, fudge it. I don't want to do this. You know, I'm at rock bottom. How am I going to climb my way out of this? And didn't happen to you once, but it happened twice. So you could have easily been like, you know what? I'm done. It's so much easier for a lot of people to say that. But I think that your story really gives a lot of people a lot of hope that it doesn't matter. And I say this constantly. One of my famous lines that I say is, you can fire yourself one day and rehire yourself the next. And it's so true in your case that no matter how bad things got and how big that hole seemed to be, you managed to climb your. Out of that. And I think that's really important for people to understand that, that I, you know, addiction is a real thing, right? It is. It's a real thing. That's what it is. An addiction definitely limits us in many ways, but it doesn't define us. And I love how it didn't define who you are. So that's. I took that from what you said and then your perseverance, like, it didn't matter if the going got tough. You know, you might have got going for a little bit, but somehow you were able to come back. And, and especially I. I love what you said also about spirituality. You know, your relationship with God, I think you believe in is completely different. Right. It doesn't matter. And your. Your spirituality, you're right, is, I think, is what keeps us connected, you know, however that looks. And it's different for everybody. So those. So those elements in them. So I would say you had, like, three great elements in your life. You had a supportive. You had a supportive spouse or a supportive partner, right? You had the mentality that you're going to keep going. Right. And then you also have perseverance, and that's important. And I think no matter what's going on, whether it's mental illness or addiction or whatever it is that, you know, it's there, it's always going to be present, but you don't have to use it as a crutch. It doesn't, you know, it's real. Right. It would have been easier to be.
- [21:35]
Johnny Parsons
Like, look, doesn't define you, right?
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Bill
Yeah, I'm an addict. Like, what do you want from me? A lot of people say that I'm an addict.
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Johnny Parsons
I don't even claim it over my life anymore, right?
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Bill
Like, what can you meet? I suffer. I suffer so bad from anxiety. And I could have easily been like, well, I. I have anxiety. I can't. I can't go to work. I can't. I can't do it. But that's just part of who I am. It doesn't, you know, it doesn't define all of who I am 100%.
- [21:56]
Johnny Parsons
So it makes you unique, right? Because. Yeah, you know, I think every part of the story, everybody has, like, a little bit of, like, maybe Asperger's or a little bit of everybody has ADD or everybody has, like, it's not who you are. Like. But, you know, if you claim that over your life, like, oh, well, I got. I got autism. I'll never be able to. To do that. Well, guess what? You've already failed before. You tried because you said, yeah.
- [22:21]
Bill
I think your belief in yourself specifically says a lot about your character, too, that no matter what has happened, you've been able. I think you said it best is consistency. You know, it's not. Can't just, you know, one thing I think people really don't understand, whether it's, you know, building a business or building your body, you can't just do it, like, sporadically. Right. You have to do it all the time. And it's not instant results because you said it took you three years to lose the weight and build your body. So it's sticking with it. And it shows discipline. It shows, you know, consistency and all of intentionality and working with purpose. And so many people forget those principles in life. And then they look and they're like, I don't understand, like, what happened.
- [23:02]
Johnny Parsons
I think everybody. We all hear it growing up, like, society tells you. Well, society wants us to believe that it's instant. Right. That you can just buy a pill or you can take the. You know, something, and you're going to be skinny or you're going to be, you know, you're going to be. Don't have anxiety anymore. No, that's just a temporary solution to an ongoing problem.
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Bill
Yeah.
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Johnny Parsons
You know, it ends up becoming like a mindset thing. And until you actually. For me, until I actually did it and then started seeing results, I always just would start seeing results, be like, oh, yeah, I can see like three abs and then quit.
- [23:33]
Bill
How do you keep your focus? I mean, that's hard. That's really hard. Especially with losing weight or building a business. How are you able to stay. What keeps your focus?
- [23:42]
Johnny Parsons
I think habits.
- [23:43]
Bill
Habits.
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Johnny Parsons
I think doing the same thing every single day.
- [23:46]
Bill
Yeah.
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Johnny Parsons
And then even if I, like, I do the same thing every day, there's. I'm very much a creature of habit, so. But good habits versus bad habits. So going to the gym, waking up in the morning and doing the same thing every morning, reading my Bible before I, you know, leave the house. I'm, you know, kind of just getting myself spiritually ready. And, you know, I haven't. It's been such a long time that I haven't done what I do now that, like, I don't know what it is to. To. To just be Meandering through life like I used to. Yeah. Like, before I walk out of my door in the morning, I'm. I'm armored up, and I guess that's how. And. And I just, like, set my day. Like, I know what I have to do before I even leave the house. Like, I have my schedule set for the day already.
- [24:33]
Bill
Use a calendar.
- [24:34]
Johnny Parsons
Not really. Like, people think I'm crazy. You know, I got a good friend of mine that's been a real big. I call, you know, he. He got me off of the bench. We'll call him. That guy, right?
- [24:44]
Bill
Yeah.
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Johnny Parsons
He got me in the game. So he's like, man, I told you, you got to use your calendar. I'm like, man, Ray, I don't. I just. I don't know. I got it all here.
- [24:53]
Bill
I would say you got to use your calendar. Well, you're young still. You're not even, like, you're not 40 yet, right?
- [24:58]
Johnny Parsons
No.
- [24:58]
Bill
Yeah, that's why. See? Yeah. See, that's when I turned 40, but.
- [25:01]
Johnny Parsons
I'm learning how to, like, talk to my phone now and stuff. I saw.
- [25:04]
Bill
Oh, yeah, you can set alarms. Yeah, that works.
- [25:06]
Johnny Parsons
I'm. I'm, like, moving in that direction.
- [25:08]
Bill
All right, you're going to get there. You're going to see. Because once you turn 40, the brain starts, like, not. You're going to see. I do the alarm thing, and I never thought I'd use a calendar, and I do use a calendar. I use count anything that I do because I'm. I'm. Same thing. Like, oh, I'll remember. But once you turn 40, I'm going to be like that. I'm telling you. And the more businesses and podcasts and everything else, you. You're going to have to have some kind of.
- [25:27]
Johnny Parsons
I'm definitely moving in that direction for sure.
- [25:29]
Bill
You're finally.
- [25:30]
Johnny Parsons
Well, I'm putting on paper, like, what I'm going to do for the day or for the week. And like I said, I'm starting to utilize the technology to be able to help me out.
- [25:36]
Bill
So you're still using paper, though? You can put it in your notes.
- [25:39]
Johnny Parsons
You know, sometimes, yeah. So some things it's better to put on paper.
- [25:43]
Bill
Yeah, I agree. I still use paper for some things I do. I use paper when I want to write my thoughts out. And what I have to say, I still will use. I still will use paper, but I do use the notes. I'm in. I am in the technology era. I'm getting good. I set the alarm. So I look at my calendar every Day in my Google calendar. And then I set the alarm because, you know, the brain after 40 ain't remembering everything. And then I set the alarm.
- [26:05]
Johnny Parsons
In my business, that's what, you know, someone will tell me something, and I try to delegate it. So I'm like, oh, yeah, send me an invite.
- [26:12]
Bill
Yeah, yeah, See, that works, though. But that's.
- [26:14]
Johnny Parsons
I just recently learned how to do the invite myself that.
- [26:17]
Bill
Well, congratulations. Welcome to the 21st century. I'm glad you're here. Yes, I'm glad. Now, as you continue to grow, you're going to have to learn it even.
- [26:24]
Johnny Parsons
But I've been a guy from the field. Like, I was never in the office until, like, a few years ago.
- [26:28]
Bill
So I get it, I get it. I was in the field to sell it. I get it, I get it. It's. But. Okay, so I also know that you use faith a lot, right? And there is a theory that when people go to jail or, you know, something, they hit that all of a sudden they discover God, like. Or faith. Not just faith in general. Do you think that was true in your case, or do you think. Because you've always been kind of spiritual, you said.
- [26:52]
Johnny Parsons
I've always been kind of like that guy that notices nature. And, you know, I think when I was in the 12 step realm, like, never. I always said God. But I never really like a. You know, I called it like the great outdoors or, you know, good, orderly direction. And I think that the 12 steps set. Set me up for believing in Jesus as my Lord and savior. Because I. I look back on my life and I saw that, like, something was there the whole time.
- [27:19]
Bill
Right?
- [27:19]
Johnny Parsons
Like something was protecting me. Like, I should be dead. I should be in prison. I shouldn't be here right now.
- [27:24]
Bill
Yeah, I believe that.
- [27:25]
Johnny Parsons
I do believe that something was there, like, protecting me and. And sparing me for what it is that, you know, maybe I'm doing now. You know, I. I think my purpose kind of changes as I grow and change. And so, like, I just did two years serving in a student ministry with, like, high school kids. You could have never told me that I would even want to do that years ago. But it's kind of like, I don't know, it was something that I believe was part of my journey.
- [27:53]
Bill
Yeah, I think that God doesn't give us anything that we can't handle. Like, you know, I know that's a little controversial to say because it depends on your belief, but I think that everything happens for a reason. And I do believe that nothing is given without the Understanding that someone is not going to be overwhelmed with something they can't handle. I do believe that a lot. So for you, okay, so for you, when someone's feeling. Because I'm sure you felt like this because you said you had it all and you know, you hit rock bottom. So what happened? What kind of advice would you give to somebody that's feeling overwhelmed? No direction. Like, where do you start if you're feeling like that, you're feeling that emptiness.
- [28:29]
Johnny Parsons
I mean, I feel like that if you dwell on the overwhelm, being overwhelmed, then you're just going to stay overwhelmed. And I obviously, I know that now that no matter what happens in my life, good, bad or indifferent, like, I have to go through it. I can't be like, oh, well, like, let's deal with that, like next Thursday. No, like, let's just face it and solve it and get to the bottom of it. And maybe sometimes won't ever be able to solve it, but at least get through it. I think like, in your. There's three things that happen to people in life. You're either going through something, you're fixing to go through something, or you're coming out the other side.
- [29:02]
Bill
Right.
- [29:02]
Johnny Parsons
So it's how or how and how am I going to deal with it?
- [29:07]
Bill
Yeah. So don't avoid it. You're saying, like, face it, whatever it is.
- [29:11]
Johnny Parsons
Faith. What is faith? Faith is trust. You're trusting it. You have faith. You believe that even if the outcome isn't what I want it to be, still got to deal with it, so I got to be okay with it. So I think true faith is believing that I'm going to be okay no matter what.
- [29:25]
Bill
Yeah. So you think people kind of like that are. That are feeling. That they're feeling directionless or they're feeling like they're. They're just not dealing with what's in front of them.
- [29:35]
Johnny Parsons
Well, you get caught up with like, the what ifs. Like, I, you know, oh, man, if I walk outside the front door, I could get hit by a car. Yeah, yeah, you could. Or you could get truck, you know, but you get caught up with all that stuff that could happen, and you, you focus on that, then guess what? You're going to focus on all the things that could happen. Or you could be like, hey, guess what? I'm just gonna go and be led and. And, you know, whatever happens kind of happens. Deal.
- [30:00]
Bill
Yeah. I think where we're our own worst enemies.
- [30:04]
Johnny Parsons
100.
- [30:05]
Bill
Right. I. That's what I really think it comes down to. So, like, when it comes to mindset for you, when someone comes to you saying I'm stuck, what's the first coaching question you ask them that breaks the mind wall. Oh, I mean, the mind. No. Or the mindset of that wall. I don't know why I said mine wall, but mindset of that wall.
- [30:20]
Johnny Parsons
I. I would say, what are you stuck on? Because, I mean, that's where you gotta kind of isolate what the problem is.
- [30:27]
Bill
Yeah.
- [30:28]
Johnny Parsons
You know, and that's what coaching is. Because most. Most time, you're not giving people answers. You're letting them find that you're empowering them to find.
- [30:35]
Bill
Right.
- [30:36]
Johnny Parsons
Themselves. So that's from my experience with people that have coached me. Like, nobody was like, hey, you got to do this, because what. It's like a diet. I could do the celery diet, and I would lose £400. And then you to eat celery. And it's like, celery doesn't do nothing to me.
- [30:55]
Bill
Yeah.
- [30:55]
Johnny Parsons
So everybody has to find what works for them and then for, you know, and then stick to it. Like, if it ain't. If it ain't spiritual, it ain't practical. So we just got, you know, practice.
- [31:05]
Bill
So I think the biggest thing for people is sticking to the regimen. So if somebody came to you and said, listen, I want to do X, Y, and Z, so kind of like what we're talking about, how would you get them to, I guess, believe? Or how do they stay the course? Like, what would you tell somebody that wants to lose weight or wants to build a business? Like, how would you help them keep that discipline?
- [31:31]
Johnny Parsons
Same thing. Like I just said, like, I'm just like a guidance. Right. The people have to want it.
- [31:38]
Bill
Yeah.
- [31:38]
Johnny Parsons
You know, anytime that I've worked with people, like, they've already. They've done the work. All I did was I give them a couple answers. I had a guy talk to me. It was what we were talking on social media last week. He's like, hey, you know, I met this guy. He's. I paid for his coaching program, and, man, he's really got me on the right path. And I'm like, he didn't do anything.
- [31:57]
Bill
You did.
- [31:58]
Johnny Parsons
You did it. Yeah. And that. That's what, like, the. I can't take credit for what these people have done that I've just been associated with. They're the ones that did all the work.
- [32:07]
Bill
I love that.
- [32:07]
Johnny Parsons
All I did was like, it's. There's a difference between, like, telling someone what to do and then empowering them.
- [32:13]
Bill
How do you Help them believe in faith like you did. If they have no faith, a non faith based person, how ha. Or have you, I should ask, have you ever gotten somebody that is a non believer and whatever their belief, whatever their, their higher being, how, how have you or have you ever been able to empower someone to believe in faith or a higher being?
- [32:33]
Johnny Parsons
I think no matter which way you look at it, whether you believe in God or you don't believe in God, there's a reason why 12 step works. And there's atheists in there, there's all kinds, everybody. But it's a mirror image of a church, church, congregation. But you know, prayer, praying like you've already won, got what you want. And faith, I mean faith, trust in whatever it is, if it's your higher power, if it's Buddha, if it's whatever you look at. Any religion and religion was created a divide in my opinion.
- [33:06]
Bill
Like agreed.
- [33:08]
Johnny Parsons
That's why I say that I'm spiritual.
- [33:09]
Bill
Because agreed. I agree with you.
- [33:11]
Johnny Parsons
It's all of them are the same, they're just different.
- [33:14]
Bill
Yeah.
- [33:15]
Johnny Parsons
And they all have the same common goals.
- [33:17]
Bill
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
- [33:19]
Johnny Parsons
So there's a reason why it works and, and you know, you gotta trust it. And that's all. I guess I'll guide somebody in the direction of like whatever it is that they believe in to show them that it's the same principles.
- [33:30]
Bill
I would agree. I would say in business too, like when we get new agents in, we always say trust the process. Well, we know it works. That's why we know it works. So trust it. Trust the process, trust those that have already done it. And the best thing is you can learn from other people's mistakes. So you can use that to make yourself better. I mean that it's like a no brainer. And some people just don't understand that whether it's faith based or business based, you can apply both principles. So. All right, I'm going to shake it up for a second. All right. And we're going to talk about. This is like faith or fiction. Okay. These are discipline myths. All right, so you're going to tell me if it's faith or fiction. You have to wake up at 5am to be successful.
- [34:09]
Johnny Parsons
No.
- [34:09]
Bill
So it's fiction.
- [34:10]
Johnny Parsons
It's fiction.
- [34:11]
Bill
Okay. What time do you wake up?
- [34:13]
Johnny Parsons
I wake up at 4, but on the weekends I wake up at 8.
- [34:17]
Bill
Yeah.
- [34:18]
Johnny Parsons
And I still do the same thing that I did when I Woke up at 4.
- [34:21]
Bill
Okay. Balance is real. You can have it all. Even if you, even if you plan Hard enough fiction. Agreed. Yeah, agreed.
- [34:32]
Johnny Parsons
Gotta have balance.
- [34:35]
Bill
I think. Balances. Like, balance in what sense, though?
- [34:41]
Johnny Parsons
Well, if you. If you don't balance, you'll learn the hard way that you need to balance. So that, like, for me, with, like, my extracurricular stuff, obviously my bread and butter is what I do for a living. And it's no matter what, I'm there from seven to whatever hour in the afternoon, but in the evenings, I. There's other things that I do, whether it's the men's group, whether it's doing the pseudo ministry like we were just talking about. But then, you know, you start realizing, like, hey, I'm gone three nights a week. Where's my most important ministry? Sitting at home, playing on their phone. My wife and my. My son.
- [35:19]
Bill
Yeah.
- [35:20]
Johnny Parsons
So there's a balance that I had to find, that if I wanted to keep my marriage and wanted to keep my son from going off the deep end, that I had to, you know, spend time with them, too.
- [35:31]
Bill
Yeah, I. I call it work life priority. Because I don't know that there's always a balance. Like, sometimes my work is going to take precedence over my personal life. I mean, of course, if my personal life is in dire need of something, of course. But then that's priority. That's what I put first. Because sometimes you have to sacrifice, because everything in life worth having, you got to do a little bit of sacrifice.
- [35:49]
Johnny Parsons
So 100.
- [35:50]
Bill
All right, next one. Discipline kills creativity.
- [35:57]
Johnny Parsons
I wouldn't. I wouldn't say so. Because even being disciplined, like, you still have to reevaluate your situation. So you still have to, like, take an inventory of where you're at if what you're doing is working. So you still have to be creative in that sense as far as, like, hey, you know, all right, I got this figured out. Let's start working on this.
- [36:17]
Bill
Yeah, I agree. That's a good answer. Which one of. Which one of those myths have you personally had to unlearn on your own journey?
- [36:24]
Johnny Parsons
Unlearn?
- [36:25]
Bill
Yeah.
- [36:28]
Johnny Parsons
I would say the balance one would be top. I had to. To wait. Yeah. I mean, I had to learn it.
- [36:35]
Bill
Yeah.
- [36:36]
Johnny Parsons
But then. Yeah.
- [36:37]
Bill
Because now you have a family.
- [36:38]
Johnny Parsons
100%.
- [36:39]
Bill
Gotcha. All right, ready? So now let's talk about boss moves. You've turned your personal philosophy into a business, a podcast, you know, a movement. You're. You're coaching kids left and right. So how do you teach entrepreneurs or young entrepreneurs to stay disciplined without burning out? That's a hard one, because you're extreme. I mean, you you told me from the beginning your personality is extreme. But I think. Well, I'll let you answer this. Not my question, it's yours.
- [37:08]
Johnny Parsons
I think it's still. The balance has to come into play there still. Because for the businesses that I have started up, and I think you would agree with me, too. Like, your first five years is just grind time.
- [37:22]
Bill
Yeah, like, agreed. Even, like, that's what the expectation is.
- [37:27]
Johnny Parsons
Like, if. Same thing. Like, I remember when I went to fire school and paramedic school, I was like, they basically told us, they're like, say goodbye to your family.
- [37:34]
Bill
Yeah, I agree. I agree. I don't think they're. I think burnout's a cop out.
- [37:39]
Johnny Parsons
There's a sacrifice that needs to happen absolutely. For a period of time, and there has to be an understanding of everybody involved that, like, hey, look, this is what's going to happen. It's only for a little bit of time, and if you're on board, you're on board. If not, you know.
- [37:55]
Bill
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I. I just. I hate the word burnout. I think burnout's a really good way to say cop out. Because think about all those times you ought to keep going no matter what.
- [38:04]
Johnny Parsons
Because discipline means chill. Burnout, you know, it means doing what you're supposed to do even when you don't want to do.
- [38:11]
Bill
Yeah, that's exactly what it is.
- [38:13]
Johnny Parsons
So I don't think there is a burnout for. For me.
- [38:16]
Bill
Yeah, same thing. I'll keep going. I'm relentless. I feel like I'm just relentless. Maybe I'll get a little tired, but I'm not burning out. I'm going.
- [38:22]
Johnny Parsons
It's that understanding yourself and like I said, doing that inventory, like, for me, it's like on a daily basis, not. Not perfect at it. But at the end of the day, you're like, did I cuss anybody out today? Do I owe somebody an apology? Do I need to evaluate where I'm at? So just constantly evaluating yourself. Do I need a break?
- [38:41]
Bill
Yeah. You know, agreed.
- [38:43]
Johnny Parsons
So. And I do it. I do take a break if I have to.
- [38:45]
Bill
Yeah. I don't. Yeah, I agree. I think that you can definitely take a step back, but not because you're burnt out. I think sometimes you need to recharge your battery, but it's not from burnout. It's like a. It's like a car. You know, the car, in order to move it, it has to be refueled.
- [38:58]
Johnny Parsons
Yeah.
- [38:58]
Bill
You know, but I don't. I don't think that burnout. I think It's a crutch. I do. I think it's such a crutch. Word. I don't.
- [39:04]
Johnny Parsons
Because you get through it and you're.
- [39:05]
Bill
Like, wasn't that bad.
- [39:06]
Johnny Parsons
No, for me, it's every Thursday. Like, if I train five days a week, at least, yeah, I might get a Saturday if my wife lets me. And. And Thursday, every week is like, man, I'm tired.
- [39:17]
Bill
I don't want to hate Thursday workouts, too. That's how I felt today. I definitely. I don't want to say burned out. Maybe I coughed out a little. I only.
- [39:24]
Johnny Parsons
But then you go. You're like, man, I don't want to do nothing today. You go. And you're like, Thursday ain't got nothing on me.
- [39:29]
Bill
Yeah, right. I hear you. Yes. Thursdays are always the worst, though. It's. I don't know. I had. It was the same thing this morning. I'm like, should I go? Should I not go? I went. I did. I only did cardio, but I went. I went. And I was like, it wasn't that bad. I could have done more, you know, whatever. All right, so what is the biggest mindset trap that you see people fall into when they're trying to turn purpose into profit?
- [39:53]
Johnny Parsons
I think. I think fear you're scared of, like, oh, I don't want to ask people for money. That's a good one for me. I. I was. I like, helping people. I like, I'll help everybody for free.
- [40:11]
Bill
I don't care.
- [40:12]
Johnny Parsons
But somebody, you know, brought it to my attention. Like, look, you know, like, my plate's overflowing already. How can I help everybody if I got an overflowing plate? So I have to have to create. My time is valuable, so I need to monetize that in a certain way. And people will pay. If they pay, they're going to pay attention. You know, if you're helping somebody for free, they're not. They're not going to take no skin in the game. None.
- [40:42]
Bill
Yeah, I agree with that.
- [40:43]
Johnny Parsons
And I did that myself, you know, investing in myself during my journey. Like, I mean, I think you would agree with me on that, that I.
- [40:50]
Bill
Think you have to invest in yourself. That's the biggest investment you make. And once you pay, it's a totally different gym membership.
- [40:56]
Johnny Parsons
It's the supplements you buy. It's the.
- [40:58]
Bill
You're more vested.
- [40:59]
Johnny Parsons
The books you buy to. To help yourself. I mean, all that stuff is investments. We just don't look at it like that. But, you know, it's. It's. It's really expensive to eat healthy like. But that's an investment I have to make that is going to help me.
- [41:12]
Bill
Love that. So if somebody right now is wanting to build their brand or their business or whatever, what would you say is one habit they should start today? What is it? 21 days to form a habit. Right.
- [41:24]
Johnny Parsons
21 days to make or break.
- [41:26]
Bill
So what would. So what would you say? One. Give me one hack.
- [41:30]
Johnny Parsons
I would say, well, first one would be the to. To start moving in the direction of discipline, disciplining yourself.
- [41:42]
Bill
Fair enough.
- [41:44]
Johnny Parsons
I think the hack would be just to write it down. What do you want?
- [41:49]
Bill
Love it. Write it down. That's it. Know your why we talked.
- [41:51]
Johnny Parsons
You. You said something about writing it for me. Like I just. When I put. Take a pen and a piece of paper, I don't know why I can't speak the way I write sometimes because I. I articulate so much better whenever I write it on a piece of paper. And I think it's. Maybe it's a creativity, I don't know. But when you write your goals down or you write, you know, your. A journal for the day comes out different.
- [42:14]
Bill
Seeing is believing. I think it's manifesting.
- [42:16]
Johnny Parsons
You could type it, I guess would be the same, but same thing.
- [42:18]
Bill
You can just see it right in front of you. You know, like if I. Sometimes I'll put it as the screensaver on my phone. So I know that this is what.
- [42:25]
Johnny Parsons
I've committed to post it note. But you see it? Yeah, yeah.
- [42:27]
Bill
Being impeccable. All right, so here we're going to go. Ready, boss round. So these are quick hits, no hesitation. All right, one. All right, one guest on Discipline Legacy Podcast. Who left you speechless and why? Or maybe no one has yet.
- [42:43]
Johnny Parsons
I would say Steve Townel.
- [42:46]
Bill
Why?
- [42:46]
Johnny Parsons
He. He's. He's. He just has the background of. Of, you know, coming from. Maybe because he's local.
- [42:55]
Bill
Okay.
- [42:55]
Johnny Parsons
He's. He comes from the same town I come from. From. So we have. He kind of hit home for me a little more than everybody else.
- [43:03]
Bill
Which of your three books challenged you the most to write the.
- [43:08]
Johnny Parsons
The Daily Devotional?
- [43:10]
Bill
Why?
- [43:12]
Johnny Parsons
Because it was 365 days, but it was a compilation of like three years worth of journal entries and trying to like combine them with scripture and a prayer and just more. The other two books are small, they're short.
- [43:29]
Bill
But love that one unpopular opinion about personal development.
- [43:36]
Johnny Parsons
I would say the same thing I said earlier. It ain't spiritual. If it ain't practical, it ain't spiritual. So it. If you can't practice at it, then.
- [43:45]
Bill
Love it. Perfect. All right, ready? So I have a controversial question for you. You're one of the few coaches, I would say. I think a lot of this is. Whatever. It'll be controversial for me, and maybe I'll get canceled. I think there's a lot of coaches, fraudulent coaches out there that preach something that they've never necessarily been through or have experience, and they're kind of out there. Maybe they're imposters. I don't know. But we used to call them, like, wannabes. I would say that happens a lot. So how would you. What would your take on that? Like, people that say that faith and business or faith and it just shouldn't mix together. And like, all the. You know, you see these, like, fraudulent people out there preaching that they're coaches, that they're. Or they're spiritual, but in reality, they're, like, kind of phony.
- [44:33]
Johnny Parsons
It's. Well, I mean, obviously it'll work for a while, but what is your goal with what you do? Right. You know, for me, it's being able to lay my head down at night and. And, you know, knowing that I was able to impact somebody by being authentic versus.
- [44:52]
Bill
Yeah.
- [44:54]
Johnny Parsons
You know, it's not all about money for me.
- [44:57]
Bill
I think that's number one. I think that realizing that your purpose is far more greater than you and money, I think people can smell the authenticity. But I do think there are a lot of people that portray themselves as people that have been through it. So I would say for anybody that is looking for a coach or some, like, a mentor, I would do background research on them, because there's a lot of frauds out there right now that are selling courses, they're on stages, they're speaking, and they have not done.
- [45:25]
Johnny Parsons
Or like, what is it? The CEO ones and, like. But they're not a CEO.
- [45:31]
Bill
Yeah. Or they've never built a business. Like, what are we doing here? I mean, I've never seen you build a business, but, hey, you know what? I don't know. Whatever works.
- [45:40]
Johnny Parsons
Yeah. For a little while. But what is it the. Like the child say you sell your soul to the devil or whatever for money, but, like, the kid actors. Or actor, you know.
- [45:50]
Bill
Yeah.
- [45:51]
Johnny Parsons
Then they get older, and they either they lose their fortune or they end up saying.
- [45:56]
Bill
Yeah. That they probably shouldn't have done that.
- [45:58]
Johnny Parsons
Right.
- [45:58]
Bill
Yeah. Agreed. Give us something that you've never, ever spoken about. Tell me something about yourself that, like, somebody would be surprised that you've never spoken about publicly ever.
- [46:11]
Johnny Parsons
I pretty much Said everything that I've done publicly. I mean, I, I was, I was a crackhead. I shot, shot heroin, smoked dope. Oh, I think I pretty much put it all on blast. I don't let the enemy have any power over me.
- [46:27]
Bill
I like that. Address it. Like, I, it's like the Eminem 8 mile. That's my favorite movie. Like, just say it. Say what it is. This way nobody can say anything about you. Me too. I put it all out there. I have.
- [46:36]
Johnny Parsons
No shit, man. I used to, I stole from my mom. Like, you know, there's, I've done a lot of stuff that I'm not proud of.
- [46:43]
Bill
Yeah.
- [46:44]
Johnny Parsons
And I mean, I, I, I don't regret it because I wouldn't be who I am today if I didn't go through everything that I went through. And I think that even as, like, now as a parent, like, I see, like, I don't want to shelter my son as much like, I want him to see adversity. I want him to kind of bump his head a little bit, be there to catch him. Right. But at the same time, you know, we all want more for her. We want them to be better than we were.
- [47:10]
Bill
Right.
- [47:11]
Johnny Parsons
So not, not just enough, but I love that.
- [47:14]
Bill
So as we end our show today, this has been such a powerful conversation. Just hearing about your story and what you're doing and how you're impacting. I mean, you've done in such a short period of time of your life. You have been able. I mean, you've really gone through it. You know, when you talk about somebody that has experience, experience life, you've experienced it at all ends. So if you could leave our audience with one piece of advice for maybe somebody that's going through something right now or, you know, somebody that just can't seem to get it together, what would you, what kind of advice would you give?
- [47:48]
Johnny Parsons
I would say, hang on. There's an acronym for, for hope. And that's kind of like why I do what I do on a daily basis, is because somebody came and was like, gave me hope. You know, is, is it. Hang on. Pain, ends, hope. Get it? So just stay the course. I mean, like, the same thing I said earlier. Either going through something, you're fixing to go through something, or you're coming out the other side. Just at some point, you'll be at one of those.
- [48:15]
Bill
So I love that. I mean, everything that you had to say, I absolutely couldn't agree with you more. Now, if every, everyone know, if anybody would like to find you or reach out to you. How would they get in touch with you?
- [48:28]
Johnny Parsons
I would say the easiest would be Instagram. Johnny Parsons official. I kind of answer most of the messages on there, but I have a website to discipline and legacy and it has email on there as well.
- [48:43]
Bill
And what about all your handles?
- [48:45]
Johnny Parsons
All the handles I have Tick tock. I'm, I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
- [48:54]
Bill
You're all over it.
- [48:55]
Johnny Parsons
Are you on threads by default? Yeah, I don't think I go on it too much but I'm on there and somehow that posts to it. So every once in a while I'll get like a message from it and it's like, oh, I didn't know I posted that there.
- [49:08]
Bill
But, but you're there.
- [49:10]
Johnny Parsons
I'm there.
- [49:10]
Bill
You're there giving all, you should give all your quotes on there. That's what I started doing. I go on there and I get.
- [49:14]
Johnny Parsons
Just started doing the quotes.
- [49:15]
Bill
And that's it for today's episode on the Bill Pod. My challenge for you this week is to focus on one of the five Fs you might have to help me. I think it's family focus, fitness, finance and faith. I want you guys to go ahead and focus on one of those. Write about it, tell me a courageous story, something creative, you know what to do. But for now, I want you to like, share you already know the deal and subscribe to the Bill Pod until next time.