Journey of Resilience and Perseverance with Nolan Carroll

Summary

The Determined Society Podcast: Journey of Resilience and Perseverance with Nolan Carroll

Released on September 9, 2024

In this inspiring episode of The Determined Society Podcast, host Shawn French engages in a heartfelt and motivational conversation with Nolan Carroll, a distinguished 10-year NFL veteran. Carroll, who has played for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys, shares his remarkable journey of overcoming adversity, maintaining unwavering determination, and giving back to the community by mentoring the next generation of athletes.

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1. Introduction: Setting the Stage

Shawn French opens the episode by highlighting Nolan Carroll's impressive career trajectory. He paints a vivid picture of Carroll's early promise as a college football star at Maryland, poised for the NFL Combine—a critical platform where college players showcase their skills to potential professional teams. However, Carroll's journey took an unexpected turn when he suffered a severe leg injury during his senior year, casting doubt on his professional aspirations.

2. Early Challenges: Overcoming Injury

Nolan Carroll recounts the pivotal moment when he broke his leg for the second time during his senior year at Maryland. The incident occurred during a crucial game, leading to him being carted off the field in an ambulance. Carroll vividly describes the emotional turmoil he experienced:

Nolan Carroll [00:00]: "I wanted my family to see me smile, to know that it was going to be okay and I'm going to be fine. But once those doors shut, I almost broke down, thinking, 'All this work that I put in, what was it for?'"

Despite the despair, Carroll emphasizes his mindset shift. Instead of succumbing to self-pity, he chose to confront the challenge head-on:

Nolan Carroll [06:25]: "You have to be in the moment and understand that you can get through it or you can't obtain what you're trying to obtain. And that's what I did."

3. The Road to Rehabilitation: Unwavering Focus

Determined not to let his injury derail his dreams, Carroll dedicated himself to an intensive rehabilitation process. He chose to forgo the NFL Combine, understanding that performing at his best there was crucial for his draft prospects. Instead, he focused on "creating time" by maximizing his rehab efforts:

Nolan Carroll [07:38]: "What I could control was rehab. I went three times a day, every day, and never missed a session. When I got home, I rehabbed again. It was all about maintaining momentum."

Carroll's commitment paid off when he met renowned trainer Chip Smith, who accelerated his recovery, enabling him to perform successfully at his Pro Day:

Nolan Carroll [08:17]: "By the end of the month, I was ready to run. I showed the scouts that I was back and still capable, which ultimately led to Miami pulling the trigger on drafting me."

4. NFL Career: A Testament to Perseverance

Once drafted, Carroll embarked on a decade-long NFL career. Throughout his tenure, he remained grounded and focused on continual improvement. He credits much of his success to the lessons learned from overcoming injuries and maintaining gratitude for every opportunity:

Nolan Carroll [12:58]: "I'm always grateful to God for being able to play an NFL game. Every time I stepped out on the field, I was proving to myself that I belong here."

Carroll highlights the importance of playing for the fans and maintaining a sense of responsibility to those who support him:

Nolan Carroll [14:00]: "I was playing for that Uber driver, that little kid who saw me at camp, that person in the restaurant. Knowing my 'why' made me play more freely and with purpose."

5. Leadership and Gratitude: Inspiring Others

During his NFL career, Carroll was influenced by leaders like Malcolm Jenkins, who instilled a sense of gratitude and responsibility towards the community:

Nolan Carroll [13:53]: "Malcolm would always say, 'Look, I don't care if you're tired, I don't care if you're sore. There's somebody out there who wishes they could be on this field.' It reminded me to always be thankful for the opportunity."

This philosophy not only shaped Carroll's approach to the game but also laid the foundation for his post-NFL endeavors.

6. Post-NFL Endeavors: Mentoring the Next Generation

Transitioning from his professional career, Nolan Carroll, alongside his brother, founded Jacksonville Athletic Academy (JA Still). Their mission is to provide opportunities for young athletes who might have missed out on traditional recruitment avenues. The academy focuses on holistic development, emphasizing both athletic prowess and personal growth:

Nolan Carroll [16:20]: "We created a football program that caters to kids who missed out on opportunities. We help them get filmed, show them what they need to do to go to the next level, and prepare them to be impact players."

In just four years, the academy has successfully placed 11 athletes in various Division I and II schools, underscoring its impact and effectiveness.

7. Core Philosophy: Focus on the Process

A recurring theme in Carroll's narrative is the emphasis on focusing on the process rather than the outcome. He advises young athletes to prioritize their craft, trust their coaches, and maintain discipline:

Nolan Carroll [19:02]: "Focus on the fundamentals of football. The work you do every day, coming early, taking notes, preparing before practice—this creates the foundation for success."

He further elaborates on the importance of creating compelling highlight reels that showcase an athlete's technique and efficiency, making them attractive to recruiters without relying solely on social media presence or endorsement deals.

8. Words of Wisdom: Advice to the Youth

As the conversation draws to a close, Nolan Carroll imparts invaluable advice to young individuals across all fields:

Nolan Carroll [21:10]: "Don't rush it. Be patient with the game of life. Compare yourself to your own progress, not others. When the time comes, your hard work will show."

This advice encapsulates the essence of Carroll's journey—emphasizing patience, persistence, and personal growth over immediate gratification.

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Key Takeaways and Insights

• Resilience in Adversity: Nolan Carroll's story is a powerful testament to overcoming setbacks through determination and a positive mindset.

• Importance of Rehabilitation: Post-injury, Carroll's disciplined approach to rehab was pivotal in his return to the field and subsequent NFL career.

• Gratitude and Leadership: Maintaining gratitude for opportunities and understanding the broader impact of one's actions fosters strong leadership qualities.

• Focus on Process: Prioritizing the development of one's craft and trusting in the process leads to sustainable success.

• Mentorship and Community Impact: Carroll's dedication to mentoring young athletes through Jacksonville Athletic Academy highlights the importance of giving back and shaping future generations.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Resilience Mindset:

  Nolan Carroll [06:25]: "You have to be in the moment and understand that you can get through it or you can't obtain what you're trying to obtain."

• Commitment to Rehab:

  Nolan Carroll [07:38]: "What I could control was rehab. I went three times a day, every day, and never missed a session."

• Gratitude in Leadership:

  Nolan Carroll [14:00]: "Knowing my 'why' made me play more freely and with purpose."

• Advice to Youth:

  Nolan Carroll [21:10]: "Don't rush it. Be patient with the game of life."

Conclusion: Embracing Determination and Purpose

Nolan Carroll's journey, as shared on The Determined Society Podcast, is a compelling narrative of resilience, hard work, and unwavering determination. From facing severe injuries to carving out a successful NFL career and now mentoring aspiring athletes, Carroll embodies the spirit of perseverance. His story serves as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging listeners to embrace challenges, focus on personal growth, and contribute positively to their communities.

For those seeking motivation and practical insights into overcoming obstacles and achieving success, this episode is a must-listen. Nolan Carroll's experiences offer valuable lessons on the importance of resilience, dedication, and maintaining a clear sense of purpose.

Transcript

[Nolan Carroll]

And it happened when I was on the field getting carted off to go in the ambulance. And I just remember this vividly, my parents being there, my whole family was there. And I wanted to make sure before anything happened, I wanted them to see me smile, like let them know that it was going to be okay and I'm going to be fine. And I remember when those doors shut, I just remember almost breaking down to the point where I was just like, once, you said once again. You said not again. That's what I thought. All this work that I put in, what was it for? What?

[Host]

If you were going into your senior year at Maryland, it's the most important football season of your life. You have the draft impending. You have the thing that most college football players look forward to, which is the combine. The time for you to shine. And then on your second game, you break your leg and you have to sit there all year wondering whether you're going to get drafted at all. You have to make the decision to miss the NFL combine and just show up at pro day and run your fastest. Because you know if you show up to the combine and don't run your fastest, you are cooked. Well, this story right here, my man Nolan Carroll, stuck with the process, fought with the rehab for his leg, only to find himself in an illustrious NFL career. Come check it out.

[Sean French]

This one luck. I let the pain inspire me. I put my all in. Everything I'm doing up until it's done, I mean for the entirety, I put it in overtime. I be working Just know I'm a go for mine. Cause I earned it. They watch and I know it's time I confirmed it. The whole society determined determin.

[Nolan Carroll]

Please welcome Nolan Carol. Like the theme music, man?

[Host]

What's that?

[Nolan Carroll]

I like the theme music.

[Host]

You like it? He's. He's here. He's going to perform.

[Nolan Carroll]

Is he? Yeah. I need to come back later. Yeah, you do.

[Host]

Yeah, you do. What's up, everybody? We're back at Lynch's Irish Pub in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. I got my boy Nolan Carroll here, 10 year NFL vet, played for the Miami Dolphins, the Philadelphia Eagles, and finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys. And he's doing some amazing things now with the next generation, with the college that he's coaching at. And man, I'm just super excited to have you on the show. Welcome, bro.

[Nolan Carroll]

Appreciate it, man. Thanks for having me on. Thank you.

[Host]

Absolutely, man. So let's, let's talk a little bit about it. You know, you have such a decorated career. I mean, I grew up as A young man wanting to play professional baseball. You know, my career stopped at Louisiana State University. But you man, you know, when playing college ball, Maryland, right. And then draft in 2010, had this amazing career. Talk to me about that, man. For the people that don't know your story flew them in.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah, so my story, it's interesting because I just talked to my guys about this today. As a matter of fact. I always just anytime there was a test in front of me, and I think it's because of my parents, my mom and my dad, anytime there was a challenge in front of me, I always embrace a challenge. I never felt like I needed to run away and hide from the challenge and many people that don't know my situation. I broke my leg in high school, my senior year of high school before I got to Maryland. And then five years later in my career at Maryland, just trying to work up to the ranks of a starter, finally getting my shot, getting my opportunity on the Thorpe Award watch list, which means top defensive back in the nation. I have these preseason accolades. I'm supposed to be a second round pick, late first round pick. So all these different things are going back and forth as far as the player that's about to come out for his senior season. And I break my leg again, you know, my senior year. So I missed my entire senior year. So I have to bounce back and really attack rehab. And there's a whole bunch of questions now as far as am I going to get drafted? Am I going to be a free agent? And it was just one of those things where through those persevering times, it really tests if you really want it, if you really want to be disciplined, if you want to fight through. So for me, it was just one of those things where anytime I was presented with that test, I just said, all right, this is another test for me to get better. Because I know on the other side is where the prize is. So. So that's been my career and that's why I've been able to manifest the things that I have. Because anytime there's a test, I never shy away from it, I always attack it.

[Host]

That's big, right? So I want the audience to understand that when the things get hard in your life, it's not the time to shut down and downshift and maybe find that plan B. There is no plan B.

[Nolan Carroll]

Exactly.

[Host]

So I mean, here again, like you could have said your senior year. Here we go again, victim mentality. Boo hoo. I broke my leg again. And at that point, I mean, you're a young man, you're a collegiate athlete at that point, you're still a kid.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

And you have to go through those moments. Where is this going to even happen now?

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

Am I going to have my shot.

[Nolan Carroll]

If I'm a free agent?

[Host]

Am I going to get my opportunity? And yet, you know, you still got drafted.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

Right. So it says something. You had a successful NFL career. Like, that's special, though. There's a lot of people that can, you know, go through that moment. So let's talk about the moment when you did break your leg your senior year, because I know you had the tools to get through it, but there hadn't been something in the back of your mind that said, oh, man. Like, what's my life going to be like now?

[Nolan Carroll]

Yes. Yes. And it happened when I was on the field getting carted off to go in the ambulance. And I just remember this vividly, my parents being there. My whole family was there. And I wanted to make sure before anything happened, I wanted them to see me smile, like, let them know that it was going to be okay and I'm going to be fine. And I remember when those doors shut, I just remember almost breaking down to the point where I was just like, once, you said once again, you said, not again. That's what I thought. All this work that I put in, what was it for? And then I just remembered quickly. Once I started getting X rays and they're cutting my pants because I couldn't take it off myself, I said, now is the time where you have to understand and prepare your mind. Once the surgery is over, once you understand the whole dynamics of what's going to happen the next day is when rehab starts, realistically. And that's what you got to get your mind right for. It's. You can't reverse time. You can't go back on the field and try and fix it.

[Host]

You can't unbreak the leg.

[Nolan Carroll]

Can't do it. So you're here now. This is what you need to do. This is what you understand. And it's. This really comes down to being in the moment. Whether it's good and bad or bad, you have to be in the moment and understand that you can get through it or you can't obtain what you're trying to obtain. And that's what I did.

[Host]

I love that, man, because so many times. And I can say, even in my life, too, when shit gets hard, it's like, that's the time for you to lean into that pain after. Right. So what you're talking about in that back of that ambulance, you didn't stray away from that and push it down and kind of, you know, try to sidestep it. You're like, okay, this hurts. Like, this is real. But I'm going to lean into this emotion and the physical part of the rehab. And then, lo and behold, man, you did have that moment where your name was called in the fifth round. Right. Talk to us about that moment, what that moment meant to you after everything you had been through.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah. So once getting into it, I knew all I could do was just rehab. I knew I couldn't take care of the draft stuff. I couldn't. I couldn't worry about what scouts were thinking. That was out of my control. And I just knew, let me control what I can control. I knew that. I can go to rehab. How many times can I go to rehab? All right, three times a day. If I can go three times a day, I'm going three times a day.

[Host]

Sure.

[Nolan Carroll]

What are you doing when you get home? I wasn't in school anymore. I had finished school. So the next thing was, okay, you can find time to rehab in between. So when I got home, that's all I did was rehab. When I went to rehab, I rehab. When I got back home, I rehabbed again. So I'm always talking to my guys, especially my team, about creating time and if you can find ways to create time that extends time later on for you. And that's what I was able to do and create. And as time grew on and I met somebody, it's probably one of the best trainers, I think, in the world. Chip Smith, he's in Atlanta. He. Champ Bailey was his first guy. Brian Urlacher was another one. Keith Brook and Jerry Zuma, all those guys were Pro bowlers.

[Host]

Some names, right?

[Nolan Carroll]

Yes. And he's had many other guys since then. But I remember when I got to him, he told me, and this was January when I started, he said, by the end of the month, I'm going to get you running again. And I was. I was shocked. But he stayed on me. So the stuff that I was able to do at Maryland, pushing myself to create time, he was able to create more time for me because when I was with him, we were only concentrated on getting better. When I rehabbed, I rehabbed. But when I got back with him, it was still more about creating time again. And by the end of the month, right before the combine, as a matter of fact, I was ready to run. And he told me not to run because he said, look, the week after is your pro day. Let's go ahead and keep attacking. Let's just go ahead and keep attacking. Rehab, training, and then finally shoot. When it was my time to actually run, I showed those scouts that I was back to.

[Host]

He's back.

[Nolan Carroll]

He's good. And it was all because of me, understanding that I can create the momentum to get me to where I need to go. And once I went through that process of the combine and my workouts, teams were comfortable enough to invest that investment in me because they saw that he broke his leg. We saw the medical report, we got all the information we need on him, but yet he's still back. He's still here. He still ran a good time. Yeah. And all these other qualities that we saw before he broke his leg, they're still there as.

[Host]

They're even better now at that point. Right.

[Nolan Carroll]

And that was. That was when Miami pulled the trigger and they knew from. And I remember this. I remember talking to Coach Burano, Todd Bowles, Jeff Ireland. I talked to all those guys. I looked them straight in the face and I said, look, I'm ready. I'm good. If you're willing to take this chance on me, I'm not gonna let you down. And that's exactly what happened.

[Host]

So you see, that's. That's the thing, though, man. That's what I think society is missing.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

You know, and you had great role models. You talk about your mom and your dad, you learned a lot from them. And being able to lean into those moments, that's. That's. That's amazing.

[George Garcia]

Right?

[Host]

It's like, hey, you saw the medical report. You know, I'm here. I'm ready to rock and roll. How much trust did it take for you, though? Because when your coach said you're not. You're not going to run at the combine, like, where'd your mind go? Let's be honest. Like, that's the time, like, when you Turn on the TV. NFL combine. You're watching dudes run that 40.

[Nolan Carroll]

Oh, yeah.

[Host]

How did that play in your mind?

[Nolan Carroll]

That's all you dream about as a football player. You don't dream about the draft day. You dream about the combine.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Nolan Carroll]

Because you know that's where you can actually display your skills amongst the best of the best.

[Host]

Right.

[Nolan Carroll]

For me, that's all I thought about for the five years I was in college, was that because I was fortunate enough to go to school with Sean Merriman, who was the seventh overall pick. Vernon Davis, who was the sixth overall pick. Darius Haber, Bay, who was the seventh overall pick. Those guys, when they were on display at the combine, that's what got their status there. And I knew at Maryland, we were a mid tier school, meaning as far as the status of who we were, but we still played big games.

[Host]

Yep.

[Nolan Carroll]

My thing was, if they're going to consider me just average, if I go to the combine, if I go to the senior bowl, I want to blow it out the water to where they understand. All right, this is the gym in the draft and his draft stock is rising. That's what I wanted to hear. But when Chip pulled me to the side, he said, I don't want you doing anything. I said, everything that I work for, it should not be for not I need to do this. But he said, look, if you don't run a good time, that's just going to reinforce you being hurt. And you're still hurt. You need to do it in a comfortable setting. You need to do it at your college where you understand the setting, you understand your position coach, your strength, conditioning coach. You know, they're going to be at your place. So they're going to be at your place. Everything that you've done to train yourself is familiar for you, and you'll be able to run what you need to run. And when he said it and explained it that way to me, I was able to put the full picture together. And a lot of the times we don't understand the full picture because we're only thinking about right now.

[Host]

Exactly.

[Nolan Carroll]

And he had me look at the bigger picture, and I'm glad he did because those guys were running slower times at the combine. Because what people don't know is whenever we're the last group as far as DBs to run. So that means the turf is softer. If the turf is softer, you don't.

[Host]

Get to glock a lot of give.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah. So guys are running four, six, four sevens, and it didn't look good. So if I was a guy to run and I ran a 4, 7, it wouldn't have done well. And now I'd have to come back the next week to try and reinforce, hey, whatever happened last week, that was last week. First impressions were very important. So he wanted to make sure my first impression was the best impression. And that's what ended up happening.

[Host]

That's. That's the thing about, you know, we talk about you can't do things alone.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yes.

[Host]

So you have to trust your coaches. You have to trust your support. You know, let's move into the league now. 10 years, you I mean, bro, you had these moments in college where you're fighting to get better. You spent 10 years, 10 years in the league, man. What did that mean to you?

[Nolan Carroll]

Me, I'm always gracious to God for that, first and foremost, because you never know. Like, you really never know if you're going to be able to play an NFL game. Like, you go into camp. Yes. And most guys, when they go into camp, they feel like they've arrived.

[Host]

Just beginning.

[Nolan Carroll]

My thing was, I never felt like I arrived because I wanted to always prove that, no, I belong here. Whether the injuries does not play a part in my mind. I'm proving to myself before I'm proving to anybody else that I belong here. And if I'm going to be here, I'm not going to waste my time here. So every time I stepped out on the field, I always was just thankful for it. And I remember when I played in Philadelphia, and this was the realest thing. One of our captains, Malcolm Jenkins, he's probably. He should be a Hall of Famer, but he would always say this before practice. He's like, look, I don't care if you're tired, I don't care if you're sore. I don't care what you got going on at home. There's somebody right now that's working at McDonald's wishing that they could be on this field.

[Host]

Yeah, exactly.

[Nolan Carroll]

So you should always take. Every single day, you should always be grateful. Don't worry about the game, only worry about practice and be thankful that you get to have a practice.

[Host]

That's leadership, bro.

[Nolan Carroll]

When he said that, I mean, every single day, I was just gracious for. Because I knew not everybody gets this opportunity. So anytime I just. Just walk into the facility, leaving from the facility, going, being able to go somewhere and somebody knows I play for their favorite team, I took that to heart. And I made sure that anytime I was out there on the field, I was playing for that person, that Uber driver that was taking me to a restaurant, that little kid that saw me at camp and I took. I had his autograph. That person that saw me in the restaurant and I took a picture with their son or daughter. Like, those are the people that I was doing it for. So every time I was out on the field, I knew my why. Yeah, once I knew my why, that makes. That makes you just play so much more free because you understand that somebody is watching you. They're not just watching the team anymore. They're watching, oh, I know that guy. I feel a part of that team. More because of that player.

[Host]

It's funny you mentioned that. Like, I don't know if a lot of people think of it that way, but, like, you talk about playing for the fans. Like, my wife is a big Eagles fan. Like, I went when they won the Super Bowl.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

Like, I went to an Eagles bar.

[Nolan Carroll]

You saw another side of her, bro. I know you did.

[Host]

She's scary. You're gonna meet her in a second. She's here. But. But, dude, like, crazy. Like, I'm rooting for the Eagles, and one of the Eagles fans trying to fight me in an Eagles bar while I'm rooting for their team in a Super Bowl.

[Nolan Carroll]

I'm not surprised.

[Host]

It's crazy. But. But, dude, that's. That's a great point, man. And I love that. That there are some professional athletes that. That keep that in mind, because there are some that just go out there and do it because, like, hey, this is all me.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah. It's not.

[Host]

There's a big community that you don't even see.

[Nolan Carroll]

See. Yeah.

[Host]

That their whole take depends on, like, how they perform. Yeah, bro. I mean, I'm that way with LSU football. LC Football loses. Like, I'm depressed. Like, I'm yelling at. I'm the worst LSU fan. I'm like, actually, you know what? I'm on par with every other LSU fan.

[Nolan Carroll]

Okay.

[Host]

We are. We are bad. Oh, no. We're bad. Because, like, if they lose, all you guys suck. You know?

[Nolan Carroll]

But so it's almost like the end of. I played with so many guys in lsu, and they used to say it's like, it's championship or bus.

[Host]

Dude, you can't.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

If you don't win an Addie there, it's nothing. Same thing with baseball, man. I played baseball there. And when we got beaten Omaha, we come back and people are filming, like, what happened? What happened? What happened? Like, we two and barbecued, man. But. But listen, I want to transition a little bit, because I do not want to miss about what you're doing now with the college as your coach and what you do for the next generation. So your head coach now. Look, you're working with your brother.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yes, my brother.

[Host]

So talk to me about that. What are you doing?

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah, so we created. We call it JA Still. It's called Jacksonville Athletic Academy. Jacksonville Athletic Christian College as well. And my brother came up with this idea during COVID of all times. And I remember him and I, we were driving. We were driving from South Florida, and he said, nolan, what is the one thing that's missing right now, what do you see the dynamic of college football? Like, what do you see that's going on? And I started telling him there's a lot of kids that are missing out on opportunities to continue to keep playing. It's not the same as when we grew up where we had coaches that were pushing us to be sold, basically sold to be recruited by schools. And he said, yes, that's a problem. But also too, just with all this other stuff that's going on in college football, the high school kids are losing out on opportunities to go to the next level. And as he started piecing this together, he said, look, let's create a football program that's going to cater to these kids that have missed out on an opportunity to go to school. Let's help them get filmed, show them what they need to do to go to the next level. And just based with the experiences that I have and the coaches that I know, the people that I know, I sat back and started thinking, if we can piece this together the right way, meaning if I can show coaches, the coaches that I know that there's talented kids that are in the area of Jacksonville that can be on your team, not to be the guy, but to be that person that can be an impact player on your team and be a leader, that's what you need. And somebody that you don't have to worry about paying nil deals to, that just has only concentrated on coming to this team to see how he can help you win and keep your job. That's the bottom line. And for us, as this thing is growing, this is our fourth year now, and, you know, we've got 11 kids out to different, different schools, division one, division two. And the thing we pride ourselves on is understanding that all our kids are starting somewhere. Right now we have 11 kids that are Division 1, Division 2 schools. And they're all starters. And they pride themselves on understanding the values that we created here at JA so that when they do go to these other schools, these kids are chasing the money, they're chasing the attention. Our kids are chasing the play time, the opportunity to play there and then be that impact leader so that they know that when it's time, I can go somewhere else so they understand the system we built, the culture within our school to understand a system somewhere else so they can thrive and understand how to be better for themselves and gain that confidence to build their own brand and be that identity so that they can show somebody else and keep that going. So it's been a great ride.

[Host]

That's Sick.

[Nolan Carroll]

It's been a great ride, man. And this team this year, though, I honestly believe this is the best team I've had, because those guys get it. I test them every single day and they're just like, what's the next challenge?

[Host]

Yeah. Where you got.

[Nolan Carroll]

And that's what you want.

[Host]

But see also that that is indicative of who you are. Right. So leadership. Right. It rolls downhill.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

If you weren't that guy and you didn't display that for them, they wouldn't be responding like that.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yeah.

[Host]

So that's big, man. What has it meant to you to come back and do something like that? Because the biggest thing that I'm hearing here is you're preparing kids to go into that next system, to be successful in play, while everybody else is worried about social media, all their commitment photos, nil. What can I get? It's completely independent of the actual gridiron.

[Nolan Carroll]

Yes. So you've known this. Keep the main thing. The main thing.

[Host]

Yep.

[Nolan Carroll]

We've lost sight of what the main thing is. The main thing's always been football, right?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Nolan Carroll]

So at the end of the day, I'm teaching them the same fundamentals of football. The football stuff is what gets you the deals. It's always been like that.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Nolan Carroll]

I've never just played football for a year and then got my deal to Nike or got my deal to Under Armour. It's never happened that way. I had to make plays on the field first to get those deals. And once I started explaining to these guys, the work that you do every day, coming early, taking notes, making sure that you're preparing before practice, that's the creating time. I'm talking about creating time for your highlight film. The longer your highlight film is, that means you're doing something right. It's not just putting plays to put plays out there. It's showing a coach, what technique am I playing with, what system am I playing in, how efficient am I doing that right away? Coaches only look at a minute of film, so in that minute is very crucial for me to understand what I need to do and how I need to do it. Because I know if I do it right, everything else is going to come to me. I don't have to chase the deals, the deals are going to come to me and I don't have to worry about the things that are out of my control. I can't control that, but I know I can control my work ethic and my discipline. If I do that, I'll get those deals easily.

[Host]

It's massive. You're talking about focusing on the process, right? You're talking about focusing on your craft. That's what you're there to do. All the other stuff is going to come, and that's what I've brought into the show. It's like, I can't worry about where I'm going to be. I got to worry about this right here with Noel Carroll. And then everything else takes care of itself. We keep fighting and fighting. Before we wrap up, okay, I want you to do one thing for me, okay? I want you to give the youth the best advice you can give them right now. Whether they're baseball players, musicians, football players. Doesn't matter. What would you tell them if they're sitting right here in front of you right now?

[Nolan Carroll]

I would tell them, don't rush it. Don't rush it. I mean, if you rush it, you'll never be ready for it, and then you'll lose it. Don't rush it at all. You have to be patient with this whole game of life. It's about patience. And it took me a long time to figure that out. I'm still learning it still to this day. But if you're a young person that sees or tries to compare yourself to somebody else, don't do that. Their timeline is different from yours. So you have to understand, be patient with your work. Be patient with your preparation. Make sure that when the time actually comes, you'll be ready for it. Because if you try and force it, you start doing somebody else's job, you start doing too much, and then you lose that opportunity. And you don't want to do that because you'll repeat the cycle again and again until you get it right. So you might as well be patient with it to prepare. And when that time comes, hey, everything that you've done, it'll show. So never rush it.

[Host]

Love it, man. Thank you. You guys heard it. Don't rush it. Be patience. Follow the process. Nolan, Carol, man, thank you so much. I appreciate you, bro.

[Nolan Carroll]

No problem, bro.

[Host]

Appreciate it. We're gonna bring a. What I've always found is all the flavors you can taste artificial flavoring in them. With raw. It's exactly that. I don't taste that. It's a clean protein source. Tastes great. And I'm not putting a lot of things in my body that aren't good for you. The biggest thing that I will say that I love about raw nutrition and bum energy is they're all natural ingredients in the third party tested. So what that means is an actual lab test is to make sure. What's in the product is actually what is stated on the label. And then you'll see on the website of raw nutrition that it is signed off on. So there's no banned substances in these products. Athletes can use them safely and not get tested and popped for a failed drug test for performance enhancing, you know, ingredients. It's completely safe. Guilt free, baby. George Garcia, my man. Hey, thanks so much, dude. Your local guy from Jacksonville beach, the beaches. This is a community. How does it feel for you to create something and grow something that can help this community out and for you to just see it get better, man?

[George Garcia]

You know, first, beaches insurance is so important to me, but more important to me is the beaches community. My family's been in this area for over 100 years. It's who we are. We care about the people, we care about the businesses. We just love seeing this place prosper.

[Host]

That's amazing, dude. And just thank you so much for being here today, Supporting this event 10 year anniversary and adaptive and helping the determine sustainability society. You know, just in everything that we're doing here, you're truly, truly outwardly focused and I had no idea. Your family's been here for over 100 years. That's a legacy, man. Talk to me about that because that's big.

[George Garcia]

Yeah. So it's kind of funny. People always say, how are you a Garcia? It was just a guy that came over on a boat in Cuba in 1875 and we ended up in Jacksonville, Florida and been at the beach ever since. It's just a place we love.

[Nolan Carroll]

This is beautiful.

[Host]

I tell you what, I'm a big fan. I'm so happy to meet you. I love what you do with the Trevor Lawrence wig. Yeah. You really dive into the creative part of this whole business and the outreach to the community. I just think it's great to see and I wish more people were doing that. How'd you figure? How'd you come up with that?

[George Garcia]

So the wig idea was actually, it was a gift for my son who was 4 years old, but he wouldn't wear it. And so I started wearing it and I mean, I'm Duval till I die for sure. We're Jaguars all the way. So the wig, everyone loves it. Everyone loves Trevor, you know, so that's just something we do to try to keep it light. It's just insurance, you know.

[Nolan Carroll]

Right, right.

[Host]

Well, you gotta liven it up a little bit. Right, right. You know, Trevor, you guys lock him down for some more. He's staying. That's a big deal. Big gift for the community.

[George Garcia]

Big for my content too.

[Host]

Absolutely. Cause dude, what if you had to get like a short wig?

[George Garcia]

I know, I know. We can't do that again.

[Host]

Your whole brand would be all.

[George Garcia]

Exactly. So. So we got him locked in for seven years. That's seven more years of content. We're ready to go.

[Host]

Beautiful man. Well listen dude, I appreciate you George. Thank you so much. FBI first speeches, insurance right here in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

[Nolan Carroll]

Peace.

[George Garcia]

See you.

[Sean French]

Sean French. What up? This one luckily let the pain inspire me I put my all in everything I'm doing up until it's done. I mean for the entirety I put it in overtime I be working just know I'm a go for mine cuz I earned it they watch and I know it's time I confirmed it the whole society determined, determined.