And so I had a bold voice. So I got there the year that they didn't choose bold voices. They wanted soft voice. What are you singing right now? Oh my goodness. No. Welcome back to another episode of Be Life Changers. I'm your host Kathy Coats and we are here to help you find your purpose in plant, in business, and in life by sharing local love. I'm excited to have Jared with us today with JT Visuals without the I because we're more than me CI. Perfect. You nailed it. I was like, "Yes, we nailed it. We nailed it." Anyhow, no, I absolutely am excited to have Jared with us today. Um it is an honor to have you here. Um it's an honor to be here. This is an amazing studio and I'm so happy to um be introduced to you and find this studio. With being a new podcast and just coming out, there's always those little details that you don't know because this is a new realm for me. Like I've not been here before. And so shout out to Stacy with um Brandon Go KC for introducing us. Yeah, Stacy's incredible. Yeah, she's amazing. Amazing. And then Mindy made the connection through Stacy and I've always known about you through content and cocktails, an event that Kathy does that you guys need to go to. It's pretty amazing uh with Stacy and then but for some reason we were never in the same room together. But I find that strange. Yeah. But I think it's a God thing cuz you know timing is always it needs to be in place. You're so right. I'm just realizing that like with uh Yeah, that's weird. Yeah. No, because I wasn't I didn't know I was gonna have a podcast. So, if we would have met earlier, then maybe we wouldn't have connected the way we did now, which you know, sometimes I think you think that how did I not run into this person? I've been in so many places. But I just think it's always that perfect place, that perfect time, that perfect moment, and you know, because it just needed to happen that way so that, you know, this could happen. Like, how amazing is this? Like, look at this backdrop you done did. I'm like, oh my gosh, I feel so special. like this was a good collaboration of getting this together. It was I think it was and that's what it's all about collaborating. I think that's one thing you know when you're talking about businesses you know um sharing local love that word share is so important like you know because we need to share for one another. I think we get into the mode of competition so much. Like we always feel like we're in competition because we're doing the same thing when there is there is no such thing as, you know, being saturated. I agree. Like a lot of people, they have these dreams to start something with content. Maybe they even want to be YouTuber and it's becoming the next like musician thing, you know, where like you need a job that's going to pay the bills and then crush dreams and all that. That's the story of I can only imagine that guy. Oh, that's right. I don't Yeah, if you remember that. Um but yeah, and then eventually you you do it though because if you're called to it, you're going to do it anyways, right? No matter what people say. And then when you do that, you find that wait, hold on, but I still have a place in this world. I still have a voice in this world. I am the niche, you know, and all this, right? All these things. And then you you get in front of the right audience and the right people if you're doing it for business and sales start to come through and it really helps. It's not, oh, it's so saturated. There's other people doing videos stuff on that would be me. Like, there's other people doing video stuff on YouTube. Why should I do it? Well, I mean, we're all actually DJs of everyone's content. We're all remixing things that already exist. Definitely. And so why not serve the people best and be the guide for that? Like that would be an excellent idea. And I love that you're doing that on a lot of your social platforms and you get it and it's really cool that collaboration deal. And it all started back with, you know, Michelle who when we started Casey Women's Events, you know, we came in, you know, we worked together at first in a gym and um then we came together here in Kansas City. We met back up and um then we decided well I should say she made me jump out the boat cuz that's how it goes. If you've ever seen the first episode you're going to hear how is it a boat or is it an airplane? I don't know. I won't jump out of an airplane. My father says why jump out of a perfectly moving plane? Because it's fun. No, you don't do it till it's an emergency. Okay. I just guess what I'd pass out and die. Zero nerves. Really? Yeah. I think I'm a little crazy. you are. I had zero nerves doing it because I was prepared beforehand and really thinking of it and putting myself in there and then jumped out. I was like, "Hey, do a back flip. Like do this, that, that." Um I I wanted to go crazy and then I just did it. Like there's that energy that starts coming up. Right. Right. And hey, this is really good for anybody that's like thinking of starting some sort of social media thing who's who's a little I think the audience will like this if if they're um a little bit scared to get out there. Um, but you can utilize that energy of fear and you can utilize that energy of anxiety and just call it excitement. And once you start telling yourself that story that, hey, I'm actually excited to do this, then it actually helps and it becomes fuel instead of crushing you down and stopping you from living out your potential. So true. But you're still not going to get me jump out of a plane. Okay. Hey, the the first step is you got to want it. No, I agree. You have to you have to want it. I get it, though. I love that analogy though. That's perfect analogy. I would jump out of a plane. My purpose would be that it's going to save my life. Then I would jump out of a plane because then I'm going to have that energy and it wouldn't scare me anymore because I know it's the only thing that's going to do. Or you do it because you're scared anyways. And that's called being brave, right? Having that faith that I'm not going to pass out, that I will make it to the maybe you will talk me into jumping out of a plane. Since we're talking about being brave in content, I don't know if this is you can steer me away from this, but did you ever watch that show that was um David and Goliath? That that show. Yes, of course. Yeah. Yeah. There was something they depicted in that series that I didn't know before or think of. Okay. And that is that to have courage and to be brave, you're still going to be scared and you do it even though you're scared. Oh goodness. cuz they started they explored that visually on the the show and I thought they did a good job. Oh yes they did. Yes. Because it's so true because there is a level of fear you have to get through and you know I always say if you're not scared your vision isn't big enough. Oh it's just the truth. Yeah. Because I mean I was really I mean back in the day you know even running a gym I was scared to do that. Like I mean I'd never been a personal trainer or a group fitness instructor and now they're asking me to run a gym. Like really like I've never done this before. But I had to move through my fear of okay, you are good enough to do this. You're saying running a gym, not running in a gym. Yeah. I I ran in a gym and I run the gym. Oh, okay. Both and both and. Nice. No. Yes. Yes. So you're a little uh like Do you follow Alex Hormosi ever? Yes, I do. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I'm in trouble then, right? Like, you're just gonna get me through this whole thing, right? It's okay. It's all right. I told him I'd always have a comeback. That's for sure. Yep. I always do. I always have a comeback. But that's good. Yeah. You're never too late. Never. Ever. Ever. You're never too late. I am 51 years old. You're never too late. I would not think that. Yeah. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. But I am I am 51 years old. And I just said my name out loud on I just told y'all my age, didn't I? Well, I'm not Don't believe. No, it's okay. I I I I don't I'm glad I'm I'm glad that I'm here. It's a great place in life. You know, I had to do it scared. Do it afraid, you know, cuz I always thought, you know, um I didn't get here in time. Like, you know, I got married at a very young age and then had kids at a young age. I was Was it 19? Yeah. I just was turning 20. I had just turned 20 and I had my first baby at 21. And of course, I have eight kids alto together. I don't know if you knew that. No, I'm one of six kids. Oh, okay. Yeah. So, I have eight. So, I kind of relate in the sibling side, but Yes. Yes. Yes. I have eight. I have Wow, good for you. So much joy. Oh, yes, it is. It is. That's your when you're Yes, it is joy. It is. That is it. Do you like do you eventually since you're in business, do you find that running family is ends up being similar to business as far as like delegating leadership and like who does what? Oh, definitely. Definitely. Because like I didn't finish college. I started out at Ozark Christian College and I went there um to actually sing. I was Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. Shut up. Me and Danielle, my best friend, you know, she was on the second episode. You got to go back and watch that one. We were together and we actually sang in a group called Free Spirit together. And then that's when I wanted to go to Ozark Christian College because they had this big Impact brass to sing. And so I had a bold voice. So, I got there the year that they didn't choose bold voices. They wanted soft voices. You sing right now? Oh my goodness. No. I know. Well, what do you want me to sing? I probably could, but no, we'll do that on another episode. But yeah, I ruin my I I tore up my voice by teaching water aerobics because I was screaming a lot. But I still can sing. It just doesn't sound as good as like it did back in the day. I'd have to I'd have to really coach my voice again because I screamed at eight kids and I scream at No, I'm just kidding. I'm just joking. I'm just kidding. Probably did. I probably did. But no, I didn't have anger issue so I had kids. No. Yeah. Well, you know, they will test you. Even that little bit that's in you, it'll Yes. be amplified. So much truth. That's so true. But yeah, so being there and then coming back at a very young age, um, having kids at a young age, I had to face a lot of things. My second child was deaf and autistic. So at the age you think about, yeah, Gabriel, Gabriel's, my second son, he has special needs and he is deaf and autistic. I was just 22, almost 23. So I was very young at that. And so I was very afraid. I mean because I didn't know I had one kid at home and one kid there. So there's many things in life that you face in fear. But that's where your strength comes from. You know, I think that's really important to understand that you know um that's where when you go through the storm, you know, when you're going through that storm, even when you're scared, you'll do it anyway. But when you come out on the other side, you see what you need to learn through that. Oh yeah. You know. Yep. And then the next step you take, you think you're not going to be as scared. But I can't promise that. Yeah. Or even if you are, it's not a bad thing. Learn to channel the energy and then use it for your Yeah. Yeah. Totally agree. Totally agree. Yeah. Yep. So did you sing on stage? Did I sing on stage? like you went to school but did you get to points where you were like so I did recital or anything? Yeah. So what we did was um we actually I didn't make impact brass like I wanted to but failure isn't final. It's good to to fail sometimes. Failure is not final. And really I didn't fail. It was just that I made it into a traveling group instead because the one year they had the soft voices and I have the bold voice. Yes. Y'all know everybody when I walk into a room, you know it. And so, um, it was a bold voice, but they used us as traveling team. So, we got to travel all over, um, Missouri and some places in Kansas. And we did go to a couple places in Oklahoma as well. Did you know that Oklahoma has the cow chip capital of the world? Did you know cow tipping is not a thing? Cow tipping? Yeah, it's not a thing. That apparently Oh, someone said that to me. And I was like, wait, what? Hold on. I may have grew up in the country, but I'm definitely not a country girl. Mindy, was cow tipping a thing is a thing. Oh, it's a thing. Oh my goodness. Okay, so Okay, it's it's a thing, guys. So, whoever told me that and the moral of the story is don't believe everything you hear. Okay, I would agree. Unless it's on this podcast. Yes, I would agree with that, too. Then never do any of your own research and never disagree with us. I'm just kidding. I'm being sarcastic. No, I get it. I get it. But I Yeah, but there really is a cow chip capital of the world. I took my picture by there. We sang there and that was it was great though. That was a great experience. I learned a lot at a young age. But you know um it was it was a really good experience to be that young and it getting over that fear of being on stage you know and singing in front of people and um of course by that time I pretty much already got over it because you know I used to lead song service and stuff growing up always. Did you really? Yeah. Led children's church and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. That's why I did music for kids once. Oh you did music for kids? Okay. Oh I mean several times actually. Yeah. Maybe that's why I had so many kids. But anyway, yeah, so um that was the first thing was just, you know, going through that and learning those experiences and then of course being a young mom and being able to face fear all the way through. But that's where you get your determination from. I think that's where you find out who you are. Um and a lot of times like we had talked about before, you know, losing your identity sometimes too, you know, when you become that that I mean I don't know about your experiences. Tell me a little about you. I don't know how. Tell me something that you think that you went through that maybe taught you that. Okay. So, you're going to love this cuz I don't know if you know this, but you said it on a previous episode, but I was a stay-at-home dad for a while. Oh, wow. Okay. That was something that was very difficult because I'm not built for it in the sense physically. Um, and when babies cry, you have to warm up a bottle before you can get them to feed them. I don't know. So, you had to wait for the time. I started developing strategies and things for that. And I was like, oh, I got to be get it ready and make sure it's ready cuz if I ever didn't, then it's like, oh, to go from frozen to like, oh, I got to feed the baby, but it's going to be 10 more minutes. And what do you do with the baby while in the in the Well, that too. Yeah, I mean you figured out you're either holding them or you're have a thing you can lay them in. But yeah. Oh, dude. That taught me so much though, just being a stay-at-home dad and it was so precious to me. She's eight years old now and my first child um that was Her name's Lyric. Oh wow. I love And we're talking about music and her name is L. Her name is L. I love that. That is a beautiful name. And if I ever make a video about her, then it's a song. It's a lyric video. A lyric video. That's because you know, you look up bands sometimes and it's like the lyric video. The lyric video. Well, you're gonna have to do it then. Definitely. That taught me so much though. Like Yeah. To and also to appreciate the the uh stay-at-home work side of things. Like it is it's a lot, right? And and it's very needed and it is rewarding, right? And it's really cool to be able to like do things, but I had to get out of my shell with it as well because it was like just survival mode. And then I would hear from other people that's like they just take their kids with them to places. It doesn't stop them from doing things, right? And then I'm like, wait, hold on. Should I be taking them out more? I don't know. I don't know. And then so that whole experience, how long was that? Like one, two years, three years. And then we moved to Africa. We were missionaries over there. Oh, I didn't know that either. That's super fun. Um, we took our at the time three-year-old. And then talk about fear. Oh, yeah. Uh-huh. And I haven't driven shift. Scared. I mean that. Yeah. That's that's Yeah. I haven't driven a manual uh car before. Oh my. And it's like they did actually have some automatics, but we went with an organization that the car that was they were able to give us was a manual. I was like, "All right, okay. I'll learn it." So, not only am I learning stick shift in a car, I'm also learning how they drive over there. So, there's more fear and anxiety and everything coming out because was at least on the same side or did they drive on that? It was at least the same side. At least the same side cuz I'm not familiar with that. So, I thought because they were a French colonized uh country. Okay. So, when Okay, that got you. That's right. That's right. So, that was an experience of itself and it's like when do I go? When do I go? when you learn about the big truck rule, like the bigger the car, then you just get out of their way, right? Um, and and it's funny like there's like one Yeah, there was one at the time we were there, one stoplight out of the whole Capitol cuz that we lived in the capital of that country and then it was like every time you stop at a stop sign or you know stop light if you've been out of the country before then you you know like people go up to the car and they try to sell you stuff or whatever and but they'll do the reverse like oh the at least the kids they'll they'll try do uh they'll wash your car windshield and then hold out their hand for money. So they do the work and then hope that you pay. Hope you pay. So then you really feel guilty if you don't because they already did the work. Yeah. Oh wow. But that was just another part of it that that thrown into everything and then it's like where's the lanes there? Like everything's all dirt like this there's a million potholes and then you start to learn to drive like this. And then I even took a video of it at one point um and posted it on my Tik Tok and you can see it and it looks so crazy. It's like a kid crossing the street rolling a tire and then like uh a car that's coming directly at you but you know to steer away and you know that they will too. And there was another side to it that once you learn it there was just this whole thing of like nobody really wants to get in wrecks or anything, right? Like and and they're not extreme rule followers. They're just respectctors. Mhm. Here in the US though, we came back and everyone's so rule following that they would probably like, not everyone, but but a lot of people would rather hit you just because you're in the wrong and they were in the right. Right. Right. And then just cuz that's the rules. It's like, oh, come on. Just it's like collaborate a little. Collaborate. Move. Move to the left to move to the right. But through that experience though, you you found out I could see that you know you could find you found out that not only were you facing your fear but no matter what environment in you can adapt to that and overcome. Oh, I just got chills because that was exactly the foundational part of my life where I could do that. Like I coming out of that it was like Yeah. I felt like I could do anything. Mhm. You know, God got me through that and used us through that too. Yeah. Amazing. And then yeah, the another like funny thing though, what's that? I got pulled over so many times. Oh my goodness. I can't say what country now because um I don't like dogging on that that side of things, but yeah, there was a time a cop chased me all the way across a river and chased you. Did you like I didn't know. I didn't know, but they were they were chasing me. I was running on accident. You didn't know. So you ran on, he said, and they confiscated all my stuff. Okay. And so we had to send someone out to go get it. Oh wow. I was like I'm glad that we got to the place our destination before and then yeah they took it all and we just sent someone to go get it and it took like a day and it was fine. Okay. But and then I got pulled over for like drumming. I was listening to some music and air drumming. It was that we were stopped and then I was air drumming. It drew attention and they Well, isn't that funny in reverse? Like we have all the rules here in driving and never would get pulled over for drumming in the car, but there's not rules over there in the driving as much. But you got in trouble. I think what it was they knew I was an expat, you know, like Oh, okay. I I wasn't part of their culture. Okay. I stood out and so I and usually that means they have money and so we're going to just go talk to them to see if we can find something to get money. Wow. But they weren't they weren't like extreme corrupt or anything in the one that I was in. It was just right that was just a nature of things. And well, I think that we find that in life like obstacles that come that we can't change that we have to overcome and get over, you know. And I guess if we're in the subject of of fear, another like add-on was just like they all like carry AK-47 rifles around. Oh yeah. Like the cops or the enough to scare me. Like we got stopped because there are tanks in the road before, you know. Uh and so all this stuff is going on and and it can be very scary. Oh yeah. And you don't want to say anything. But I was the other kind of character was trying to see through that, see through the fronts and see someone's heart or soul the way that Jesus sees them. Right. And exactly. Even though I can't speak the language, I knew hello. And so I would say hello in their language. And even though they look very intimidating, they would light up and and smile because you spoke their language and then they'd say something back and then it's like, "Oh, well, I don't know. I can't I can't carry after that." Well, you know, very little very little. Yeah. But I think that that says a lot, you know, that you know, even in the midst of fear, you just need to resonate with someone. Just someone feeling that you somewhat know them, you know, that opens up that, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, it was great. Where have you been? I know you I know you've been places, right? Oh my goodness. Well, not as not Africa, although I want to. I I've always had a vision. I want to go back. Do you want to go with me? Sure. Let's go. Because there was there was a little film crew there that they're still going. I taught them and then they're still going. Oh, awesome. Well, I also have my dad's best friend. Okay. Um he um he actually has a um group there. um that um in Africa. So that is pretty cool. So he has like a a place. That's awesome. Yeah. So yeah. So um anyway, so that is pretty neat. He So I'm supposed to be going over there to see their village. So it's like a school. They have a school and then like all the kids come in and do all that kind of stuff. So yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. I love doing all that like traveling and Yeah. Yeah. So I do want to go. I've always had the vision of um you know going over and but of course having lots of children and um all that kind of stuff we're not able to I wasn't ever able to do a mission trip you know yet. How old is your youngest? So my youngest is um is um trying to think about this. My youngest is where is that what eight does? Yeah. Yeah it does. It does that to you. He's just turned 23 so and just got married a couple weeks ago. Oh wow. Yeah. So he just got married. My youngest is 23 and then I have a 24 year old daughter, a um 20 or 28year-old son and then Gabriel 29 and then 30 and then it jumps. So I have three bonus daughters. I don't call them stepdaughters cuz they didn't step on me and I didn't step on them. Yeah. I birthe them through my niece. So you know I love them just as much. They're all my children. So I call them a bonus, you know. So anyway, so I was like, I chose you. I didn't choose these other ones, but I chose you. And so yeah, so they are um 30. Let me get this right. 37 39 and one's get or 38 and one's getting ready to be 40. Yep. Yep. So yeah. So yeah. So now you can go places without them, right? Oh yeah, definitely. And it's nice because I they're old enough now to watch Gabriel. So my husband and I are actually getting to travel places. Okay. So we like go over the weekend like we've been, you know, went to New York one weekend. That was really fun. Yeah. So just different things like that. Um which is nice because it's always been like, you know, I always talk about finding your identity. We're talking about fear, you know, you know, and finding our identity. Yeah. Um I for so many years by always being a full-time mom and you know in church full-time I always was doing something on the ministry side whether it was little tots or leading worship or it was always something. So I found that that became my identity and you know I wasn't so it kind of like yes you're walking in some of your purpose but sometimes that gets shaded because you're doing things for everybody else. Identity is so like deep. It really is. It's so deep because like I don't think it's like what you do. So just because you do things doesn't mean you are that right. No. Exactly. But it it runs so deep that there there's something there's a level a foundational level of who you are before that. But then it's weird because who you are can change. Oh yes. Oh yes. Hence your name. Yes. Be life changers, right? Like lives can change and people can change. There's there's embedded code and DNA in everyone, right? But beyond that, it's like Oh yeah. experiences. Just think about the experience you just talked about about being in Africa with your family. That experience changed lives but also changed your life in the midst of that. And also I always say what you do throughout life all comes together to be what your true purpose is. So you can see things from like I mean when I was just turned 16 I started working in sales. I've been in sales all my life. like you know I started out in Walmart that's where I worked they hired me I was 15 but I couldn't come to work till I was 16 and it was but that's where I worked and I was in sales I was over health and beauty aids right away and so then it just went evolved from that I was in lots of sales al always customer service and um all that came through you know to having kids and then a daycare and all those things came together um to be who I am right Now, those experiences, those challenges I went through like with Gabriel, having a son with special needs, having a blended family, that's a whole episode we could do, you know. Yeah, let us know in the comments. Let us know in the comments. Comment below, you know. But yes, I mean, but that could be very encouraging to people because it can be done. We are very close. I mean, my kids all have a group chat together. Like that doesn't always happen between blended families and all of Now that's your social media cuz there's so many. Yeah, there's so many. That's what became my ultimate family text. It's like it's like I don't need social media. We just post here. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. But they I like they have one that they you know they do talk about all the dirty. I know they talk about me on there. They talk about their Snapchat. They don't expect you know go snaps and goes away. But you know it's okay though. But I love that because they have each other. you know, because there's a time that you can't go to your parents with stuff, but they have each other to bounce that off with. And so all those experiences, you know, lead to who you really are, you know, and it takes time. Oh, yeah, definitely. I mean, through the experiences. I love that you're saying like try things, try to do things because you don't know sometimes until you until you try it, you know. Um, oh, if you would have ever asked me if I was going to be a group fitness instructor, let alone a personal trainer, I would have laughed at you. There is no way. If I never picked up a camera when I was little, hey, we made Star Wars Episode 7 before it actually released. Oh, wow. By the way, okay. Okay. Before Disney bought it and made theirs, they stole it from us. I'm just kidding. No, they didn't steal it. But we I do have that and like we would just go in the backyard and we would always I was always the one with the camera and recording it and that's where all that really got instilled into me and then went to school for music and then came back did music and then that also meant wearing multiple hats. So, I still did video and I got my reps in and then ultimately decided, hey, I think video is the the niche route for me that I'm called to do because there's so much impact uh with messages and with story. But the hard thing is uh that there's a world out there where people are manipulating footage. People are manipulating uh things for their own agenda and putting it out there and then we all think the world's a negative place because of bad media and people cutting just to get views because we all eat up that fear content, right? You know, it just sells. And so it's nice to play a role and to be part of that positive change and to put out content that's really good. And that's why I love that you came in and started the Be Life Changers with us because yes, this is one that like if you listen to this, your life is going to be different because of it. It's going to be positive. And I really love that about your podcast. And uh it really was uh just like a divine appointment, you know, like just to meet that. Yes. And that's that's just my heart. That's always been my passion, you know, is for, you know, just what we're doing, you know, bringing that spotlight and the community that you live in. It may not be here in Kansas City, right? You know your community may be wherever the you know the listeners are that's your community but you know share that local love collaborate with people come together we have enough like you said fear-based enough negativity all of that they say stories that sell I want stories that sell that tell the good like make an impact y because that's what helps people because you know you're not alone. You know, you know that, you know, maybe just like you said, being a a stay-at-home father now, you don't feel like you're alone. If you're a father at home, now you know you're not alone. Like, you know, so um or a a family with that's huge. That's not normal right now to have a big family. But when you can listen to something inspiring like this on Be Life Changers, that's going to change your life. But not only that, when I see that help someone else, it changes my life. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And then in collaboration and community, everyone can impact everyone and we could become more of a movement because of it. And that would be really Oh, yeah. Definitely. I want it to definitely be a movement. Yeah. So, but thank you so much for being on my podcast. I'm so excited. Um the of course make sure you follow them JT Visuals again without the eye because they are definitely more than meets the eye because look at all this amazingness. Thank you so much Jared. I appreciate it. I appreciate all that you're doing doing for the community. I know I'm humbled. I I'm for what you guys are doing for the community. Your network is amazing. You got to check out the other podcasts guys. Follow them. Like share. Um follow and like me on be lifech changers. Share it. Comment below. Tell us. We want to hear an experience. We want to know something that you can comment below that was a lifecher for you. We want to hear about it. So, thank you so much for joining and we'll see you next time on
