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A
I started going to networking events and quickly realized that women were really shy to sell themselves.
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Networking is where you make all the big deals and a lot of people are scared to do that.
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A lot of women were just downing champagne, not talking about their business. And I'm like, there's got to be more. Like, can't we do this on like walking Biz Talk.
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Alison Kindlespire is a visionary entrepreneur and.
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Expert in intentional networking.
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As the founder and CEO of Wealth Walks, she empowers female business leaders with authentic connection by hosting curated networking walks across across cities worldwide.
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A
I realized how good walking was for everyone. There was actually a study in Stanford recently that shows that you are 60% more creative on a walk than sitting anywhere. You could be sitting next to Steve Jobs and you're still more creative on a walk. So I thought that's really good for entrepreneurs and business minded people. You're like, I'm solving problems I didn't even know I had.
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Just for everyone listening, how would you teach everyone listening to do that?
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A
When you walk into a networking group, you're like, oh, how can I? Who can I sell to? I think one of the best things about networking and advice I can give to anyone is.
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It spans the globe like a super high cold Internet Elvis ready for free. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the market. It's not over until I win. The Living youg Legacy podcast.
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For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary.
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The impossible has happened. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan, open Chicago with the lead.
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A
You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.
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B
What's up? Welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers. Here of Alison Today founder of Wealth Walks. A really cool, innovative new way to network. Probably going to disrupt the networking game and get a few of you off the couch at the same time. So welcome.
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A
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
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B
So let's talk about this. You know, it's I, I said a minute ago I'm a runner so it reminds me of a run club but for business owners and entrepreneurs without the hard part of the running, right?
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A
Absolutely no one can really sell them theirselves and sell their business while out of breath on a run. So very much like a run club. The community like minded people all talking about their business, sharing ideas, challenges on a business networking walk.
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B
And you see this, you know, obviously you're growing it right now, but eventually you see it kind of like Weight Watchers where it's this like worldwide community. Brand name hubs in every City, that sort of thing.
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A
Absolutely. So one of the things that I noticed while traveling was it was really hard to find like minded women in the other cities I was going to. I live in Australia. If I travel to la, how do I find people with the like minded business hustling? And so I thought why don't I just make the brand myself? So the concept of wealth walks actually comes from we're all a wealth of knowledge and we should share that wealth of knowledge on a walk.
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B
Yeah, that's great. Yeah. And how do you kind of see the rollout? If someone's listening, they're excited. Like, is this going to start in one country, one city?
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A
Yeah. Thank you for asking. So we actually are going to start it in Australia because I live there and I've already been.
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B
There's lots of good walks there too.
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A
Every. Absolutely. It's beautiful. But I've been to every city so far and launched Wealth Walk. So we'll start there and then it will grow and grow and basically women can actually subscribe and get paired with like minded women in their area. And then you will be grouped together and you can choose your own walk.
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B
Yeah. So it's, it's like, you know there's an app, Right. It's kind of like, you know, you join Tinder, right?
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A
Yeah.
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B
You go to a different city, updates, I imagine, and you see it, you know, long term I fly into an. Right. Someone flies for an event. Next day I'm like, oh, I want to go for a walk, get some exercise in. I load up the app.
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A
Absolutely.
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B
And then find a group.
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A
Absolutely. Eventually there will be an app like that. So it could be real time. But right now you just have to change your location before the first of the month.
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B
Yeah.
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A
So as long as you know where you're going to be traveling that next couple of weeks, as long as you change your profile location. But obviously as we grow, we'll get more savvy with that kind of thing.
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B
Yeah, I love it. And let's rewind. How, how did you get into all this?
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A
Actually going to networking events myself. So my background is actually medical device sales. I'd like to say that I was a little bit of a sales gu through the medical device industry and worked my way up to sales director. And then we got a CEO and said no more contractors. So I kind of lost my job overnight. And I sat and I was like, what could I do that would never feel like work?
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B
Well, sometimes the great thing about losing your job is you get pushed into something new. Right.
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A
Then you just create what you want to do. So I started going to networking events and quickly realized that women were really shy to sell themselves.
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B
Most people, right?
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A
Most people, yeah. Women.
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B
Most people are, I think a lot of people, you know, like networking is where you make all the big deals and a lot of people are scared to do that.
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A
You know, I've seen some of your amazing wellness weekends and networking events and that's what, that's what they are. So at the networking events I went to, a lot of women were just downing champagne, not talking about their business and I'm like, there's gotta be more. Like can't we do this on like walking biz talk? And let's face it, walking biz talk is a bit mouthful. It's not very sexy. So Wealth Walks was born just so it could actually be a recognizable brand. And I started doing it, started telling women about it and they started buying tickets.
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B
Well, what's fascinating about walking and exercise and even because I do run in a triathlon is when you're out there everyone's kind of the same. Like what you can, you can be, you know, I can be out running with someone worth tens of millions and I have, you know, I'm pretty successful. So in like a business event, people are scared to come up to me. But when I'm out like running in a big run group, people don't even know who I am. You know, they just come talk to you. So it kind of, it's great because it also is disarming and it lets everyone connect.
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A
Yeah. And one thing that I found after I started Wealth Walks actually I realized how good walking was for everyone. There was actually a study in Stanford recently that shows that it's. You are 60% more creative on a walk than sitting anywhere. You could be sitting next to Steve Jobs and your still more creative on a walk. So I thought that's really good for entrepreneurs and business minded people. You're like, I'm solving problems I didn't even know I had.
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B
So yeah, yeah, I mean, love the idea. It's easy, it's free, it's healthy, it's connecting people. I'm sure there'll be lots of good. You have to try and track one day how many deals come out of it eventually.
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A
Honestly I only started selling walks last August and the amount of deals that I can already track is quite mind blowing. Like I've had a girlfriend, actually a screenwriter now writing a feature film in Australia just from a connection she made on a wealth walk. It's Actually, just mind blowing. So one of the things that's different on wealth walks is that I actually teach women how to introduce themselves.
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B
Oh, okay.
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A
And I teach them how to kind of sell yourself without sounding ick or salesy. So I think that kind of takes away some of the nervousness in the butterflies. So you teach people, you introduce yourself, why are you doing what you do? And then I have people talk about the challenge that they're going through and their superpower. And so when everyone says that in the group, then they get to pair up based on how they can help someone, not how they can sell someone.
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B
Yeah, well, it's good too, because they move around, so it's not like running someone's off and, you know, so you're all kind of in a group. So let's talk about that part. I think just for everyone listening. How would you teach everyone listening to do that? What's an example of that?
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A
Look, honestly, I think leading with curiosity rather than going to a group, when you walk into a networking group, you're like, oh, how can I? Who can I sell to? I think one of the best things about networking and advice I can give to anyone is actually lead with energy and curiosity because people remember how you feel rather than what you do. Like, you know, how do you make me feel when I left this room? I'm sure you hear that all the time at your event. You're like, man around Rudy. I'm just so inspired, and he's so motivating. So that's one tip I would definitely give all the women.
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B
Good. Love that. Let's talk about just for a second. You know, your upbringing behind it, right? The story you got, you, obviously, the sales side, talking with people. Did you think you'd always be in sales? Did you think you'd become an entrepreneur?
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A
Like, look, I am a true definition of a visionary. I don't know if you've read the book Rocket Fuel.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Okay. That gave me so much permission. I was like, just stop trying to teach myself how to do things and just stay in my lane and be that visionary. When I went to Florida State, as soon as I met, I had a business mentor there, and he's like, man. Actually was at a networking event. He's like, you have the gift of the gab. You are absolutely going to be in sales. Can I hire you on the spot? And I was like, okay. And pretty much the rest was history. I started in pharmaceutical sales, worked my way up, then medical devices, then medical software.
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B
And then what was the change to.
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A
Entrepreneurship, like, look, to be honest, it's been. It's been a learning curve.
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B
Especially if you say, yeah. I mean, sales is such a high income, if you're good at it, right. And then that ship, you kind of go all the way down to start back up again.
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A
Yeah, that's been a learning curve. Thank God I have us. Very supportive husband. Thank you, hubby. That's kind of been. He. He tells everyone he's my silent partner at the moment, so he's still waiting on his. On his paycheck.
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B
But.
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A
But yeah, no, I think that was probably the. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur because I come up with about 18, 20 business ideas a day.
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B
Oh, funny.
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A
I'm constantly, like, learning how to. Ways to make money and suggesting other people how to make money. And so, yeah, I think I always knew, but it wasn't until I got pushed into the D fan and I lost my job and I was like, shit, I better.
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B
And how long ago was it?
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A
Gotta figure it out. Last February. So a year ago.
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B
What did you think the day you found out? Were you nervous or excited for the new thing?
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A
Actually really nervous because I didn't have this idea of wealth.
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B
It wasn't fleshed out. Okay.
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A
I knew I had a couple of other ideas, but they actually needed way more money to start. It wasn't until this idea came up that I was like, actually, this has actually been a blessing in disguise.
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B
Okay, and what made you fall on this idea then?
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A
That there was nothing like it and that I think we talked about blue zones. So the fact that blue zone. Blue zones. And there's a documentary talking about that. Some of the people that live the longest in the world, they are. Their communities are centered around walking. So, you know, wellness is business and health is wealth. So there was no other business networking events around walking. So I thought, business networking walks. No one's doing it. Let me. Let me give it a go.
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B
And let's talk about. Where did you start? What was the first, like, the initial reactions?
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A
You know, the initial reaction was I sold out twice. And I. I kept, like, increasing, like, I started like, I only want 20 people here. And then like, no, we need more. So, like. So the first event, I had 40.
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B
Women, and I was like, and what are you charging?
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A
Well, that was like 25 a walk.
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B
Okay.
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A
And I was like, you guys paid.
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B
For a free walk? I'm like, crazy. This is like selling water, you know?
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A
So then. So then, yeah, I was like, wow, maybe this is a thing. And then obviously everywhere I Go. Every plane I get on, every city I go to, they're like, oh, what are you doing? And I'm like, I tell them like, that is a really good idea. And so it's actually just been this self fulfilling prophecy. Every time I meet someone, they keep stroking the ego, saying it's a good idea, and I just keep doing it.
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B
It's good too, because I think in the last four years, most people want us to get into entrepreneurship way more than before. COVID Yeah. And most people want to get healthy now, like four or five years, it's changed. Where even unhealthy people want to start walking. I've noticed. Right.
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A
Like, yeah.
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B
So it's kind of like you've got those two elements, like everyone trying to make more money and become an entrepreneur.
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A
Absolutely.
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And everyone's trying to like get healthy. And I know so many people that are trying to get healthy and they know they're pretty unfair, so they just start walking. Right. Like walk three times a week. It's a great way to start, you know, build the habits.
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A
Everyone can do it. Absolutely.
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B
That's free. Right. So, yeah, I guess, you know, you combine in those two elements that I think society is moving.
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A
Absolutely.
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B
Which is cool. So what is the plan in terms of someone's listening, you know, maybe, obviously you're in Australia right now, but can they become like the representative of a city eventually? How, how do you see all that working?
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A
Yeah, look, we've, we've thought about it. I don't think so at the moment, but everyone who knows me knows that I am collaboration over competition. So I do see it that there's already brands and communities. For example, there's a brand here in Fort Lauderdale. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say, but it's called the Beauty Boost. And they have ambassadors in different cities. They're already doing these things. I don't want to compete with them, but what I would love to do is have that brand do a wealth walk for their community members. And so then that way everyone wins and everyone's collaborating.
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B
Yeah.
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A
So I don't think I'll have ambassadors or anyone leading these things per se.
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B
So you'll have staff or yourself fly out and build the community?
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A
No. So what will happen is that when women subscribe to the platform, they will get sent an email and connecting them to three or four women in their area. We will give them three suggested walks in cafes to meet at. They will meet themselves and they will, they will take themselves on a walk.
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B
Got it.
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A
So yes. Now, look, when I'm in areas like I'm here now filming this, I am doing a Wealth Walks launch party in Fort Lauderdale, and I'm going to have 40 women there tomorrow. So I will be going Wealth Walks, Milan, Wealth Walks la.
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B
You do all the cool spots.
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A
Yeah, so I'll do it at all the cool spots.
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B
Yeah.
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A
And. And I'll just find women that already have communities to partner with, probably.
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B
No, I love it. Yeah. It's a great way. Yes. I mean, there's so many big business influences in every city that can easily fill it and start the movement.
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A
Yeah, it's been. It's been exciting. And then aside from the actual walks itself, I will build because obviously I get told all the time. So after a walk, how do I connect with that woman I met? How do I connect? How do I connect? And I'm so good at seeing connections. I've become this professional DOT connector. I'm sure you've been called that before as well. So we're building what we're calling the Wealth Collective on the inside. So that is an exclusive, higher ticket. We're just developing that at the moment, like a membership. It's going to be a membership or a yearly fee. And that's where your, you know, you don't mess around there. You come in to help leverage each. Leverage off each other, help each other grow. I don't know about here in America, but in the state, in Australia, we have this business coach culture that is just taking over and everyone's a business coach and it's like $69,000 a year. I'm like, I'm only a new entrepreneur. I can't afford that. So my dream is that the Wealth Collective, we become our own business advisors within our own community. So we feed off each other. Everyone's already made mistakes, everyone's learning. Share that wealth of knowledge again with inside our own community to help each other grow.
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B
Great. Love it. So, last few questions, we talked a lot about the business and how you got into this. Let's talk about the legacy side. What does legacy mean to you? What do you want to be known for?
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A
I've thought about that a lot since I applied for the show, actually. And I think one legacy that I would love to leave behind is that the term wealth walk is in the dictionary. Yeah. So I said to a friend the other day, I want to be watching a movie in the cinema. And the character goes, hey, do you want to go on a wealth walk? And I'm like, that will be my legacy. And again, it's keeping everyone fit. It's keeping everyone healthy. So wealth walk. The definition will just be an intentional walk to exchange knowledge.
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B
Love it. Love it. And last couple of questions. If someone wants to follow you, follow the journey, go on a well walk. See, when you're in town, where do they go?
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A
Right now, the Instagram pages are probably the easiest way to get in touch with me. So Alison, Kindle, spire, just all one word. And wealth walks without any vowels. So W, lth, W, L, K, S. Love it.
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B
And last question, what will they get from your main episode you've not talked about today? Tease them with a takeaway or a nugget teaser.
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A
Oh, I didn't think about that yet. So in my episode, I think I'll probably give you the tips and the tricks of, like, what you should be doing when you go to a networking event to get an roi. And if you're not tracking your ROI on your networking events, you should.
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B
Good. The power. Yeah. Connecting. Networking. Yeah.
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A
Yeah.
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B
Love it. Well, you're probably a master at that, so no one better to learn from. Thank you, guys. That's a wrap. Keep working hard, have a lot of impact, and build a legacy. Check out a wealth walk and I'll see you guys soon. Take care.