On this episode, we build with Mary Laurence McMillan Crook. Lovingly known as ML, she is the Executive Director of Camp Seafarer, where she leads more than 1,000 campers, counselors and volunteers each summer.

ML has been in my life since childhood. We went to the same schools, church and played copious amounts of flag football together. I'm thrilled to get her on the mic!

It was no surprise that we spanned lots of topics during this conversation. ML highlighted what life at camp is like and how they offer a unique setting for anyone on site. We talked about our shared experience of losing a parent and how that's affected each of us. ML shared how important rhythms and routines can be at home and at camp. We talked about the power of community and how we as humans need community to thrive. Along with so much more!

ML has long been one of my favorite people in my life and I'm so honored and glad she accepted my invitation to join the pod for this episode.

I hope you'll enjoy this wide ranging conversation!

Books Referenced:

• Love Does by Bob Goff
• Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley
• Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

Find more about Camp Seafarer and Camp Seagull here: https://www.seagull-seafarer.org/

On this episode, we Build with Zack Stone. Zack is a second-time guest as he joined us on episode 38 with his business partner, Joel Fleming, to discuss all things real estate and life.

In this episode we discuss kidnapping, water-skiing, Stoicism, decision making, juicing an onion, how we are finite, weight loss, diet, optionality and so much more. As you can see, we touched a lot of topics. Zack has one of the most unique perspectives of anyone in my life and it was a pleasure to have him on!

Zack graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Business and Enterprise Management. Over the years that followed, Zack started and successfully closed a private debt fund, assisted several small businesses as a consultant, started a private equity search fund and now runs Devereaux alongside Joel.

Please enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with Zack Stone!

Books Referenced:

1. Eat to Live
2. The Stoic Challenge
3. How Not to Die
4. Discourses of Epictetus

This is a special "Podcast Takeover"!

Our friend, Joel Fleming, takes the mic as host of this special episode of The Build with Clay Podcast. Joel knows what the people want - and it's an interview with Clay and his brother, Jamie Davis.

In this episode, Joel spends the first 25 minutes asking Clay and Jamie to answer get-to-know-you questions, weaving between serious and not-so-serious. Joel then has the brothers dive into their lives and how they were impacted by fatherhood and losing their father to ALS. Discussion leads into how their perspective on work has evolved and how the word "love" is now used in the Davis household.

Enjoy!

Book Referenced:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

In this episode we Build with David Foley. I wanted Foley (known by his last name in our friend circle) to come on the pod for many reasons - one of which is he recently retired at the age of 37. We chat about what went into that decision, what variables he considered and what advice he has for others contemplating early retirement. We also discuss how to optimally design your life, travel tips, what it’s like to be a lawyer, the power of reading and much more.

Foley graduated with an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina and then received his law degree from Duke University. Foley spent the first chapter of his career practicing law at Kirkland & Ellis, one of the country’s most elite law firms. He then become a Director of Legal at multiple start up technology firms, concluding his career with CrowdStrike.

I hope you enjoy this fun and wide ranging conversation with a dear friend!

References:

Rich, Broke or Dead?

ERN Safe Withdrawal Rate Series

Book Recommendations

The Martian

Project Hail Mary

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

On this episode, we Build with Joel Fleming and Zack Stone. This pair founded Devereux - a boutique real estate investment firm located in Raleigh, NC, specializing in the acquisition and management of multifamily and commercial properties. We chat about how they founded the company, the development of a growth strategy, how no one knows what’s going on, how to artfully ask others for money and so much more. We had a lot of fun in this episode which is jam packed with actionable tips, interesting stories and plenty of laughs. Please enjoy this fun and wide ranging conversation with Joel and Zack!

Zack graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in Business and Enterprise Management. Over the years that followed, Zack started and successfully closed a private debt fund, assisted several small businesses with their recapitalization efforts as a consultant, and most recently established a private equity search fund that would start a commercial security integration company and later acquire a large audio/visual integration company.

Joel graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Sport Management. Throughout his career, Joel has followed his entrepreneurial spirit by working as a commercial real estate broker, operating and successfully exiting a multi-unit franchise business, and actively sourcing investment opportunities in real estate and private equity.

Devereux is a boutique real estate investment firm located in Raleigh, NC, specializing in the acquisition and management of multifamily and commercial properties. Our team combines a background of real estate, business management and private equity to provide sound, technical evaluations of investments. To learn more, visit their website.

Recommendations:

The Waking Up App

The Master and Margarita

On this episode, we Build with Ricky Shore. Ricky graduated from North Carolina State University and started his first career with Wachovia Bank. 25 years later he left the Bank as a senior executive and purchased Aladdin Travel and Meeting Planners. 14 years later, he sold Aladdin and is now happily retired from not just 1, but 2 careers.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss life with 3 kids, his journey from being with the bank for 25 years to pivoting to owning his own travel company. We get into what "Rickyism's" are and how they help build a strong culture that's built to last. Ricky also shares how to incentivize people the right way and how to pick the right clients.

Ricky is married to Sally (41 years) and they have three children and seven grandchildren. They have lived in Hickory, NC, Atlanta, Georgia and now their hometown of Winston-Salem, NC.

During his working career and in retirement Ricky has been a committed volunteer and helped numerous organizations with fundraising. He is active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and has helped with 3 capital campaigns, served on the Vestry both Senior and Junior Warden.

Today, Ricky is enjoying traveling, his children and grandchildren, golf, tennis, pickle ball, biking and not working.

Enjoy!

On this episode we build with Skip Lineberg!

Skip learned business, management and marketing at General Electric, during the Jack Welch heydays. He parlayed that experience into the founding of marketing communications firm, Maple Creative, where he led the firm as CEO and Chief Creative Officer from 2001 to 2010. He later served as Chief Innovation Officer at the law firm Spilman Thomas & Battle. Skip also worked at Frontier Communications, serving as solution developer and scrum master. He presently works for CAMC as its digital strategy manager.

Skip is an Honors Program graduate of West Virginia University (B.S. Industrial Engineering) where he studied with Dr. Jack Byrd (from episode 11), who remains his mentor to this day.

Skip is co-author of the book, “Effective Immediately – How to Fit In, Stand Out and Move Up at Your First Real Job.” Published by Random House in 2010, the book is in its third printing. He’s also the founder and host of the popular show “The Main Thing Podcast.” While podcasting is his passion, Skip’s purpose is teaching. He views every role and opportunity from the perspective of a coach.

He resides in Charleston, West Virginia with wife Lisa and two children.

The Main Thing Podcast - Hosted by Skip Lineberg

Subscribe to Skip's email newsletter

Purchase Skip's book, "Effective Immediately"

Book Recommendations:

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Tribes by Seth Godin

On this episode, we Build with Mary-Kathryn Connor!

Mary-Kathryn Connor is the Director of Hayes Barton United Methodist Preschool. She is a native of Goldsboro, NC and holds a Bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Meredith College and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has her B-K, K-6, and 7-12 teaching licenses. She has a vast resume of experiences having been a teacher, department chair, and adjunct instructor at Moore Square Magnet Middle School, Needham B. Broughton High School and Meredith College. Through her skillful leadership, Mary-Kathryn brought about instrumental change and success not only in programming but also in student achievement and staff support. The Wake County Public School System recognized her work by naming her Wake County’s Diane Kent Parker First Year Teacher of the Year, Broughton High School Teacher of the Year, Wake County Teacher of the Year Finalist, WRAL Teacher of the Week, WCPSS Employee Excellence Award recipient, and the Richard M. Jewell Teaching Excellence Award.

This was such a fun conversation. We discuss so much in this episode, beginning with her journey through early childhood education (and some fun stories!). We discuss how she has surrounded herself with amazing talent and what advice she has for young families and those about to enter the real world. As Director of the Preschool, Mary-Kathryn has been surrounded by 150+ children for the last 5 years and I've seen firsthand how she has transformed an environment that has positively impacted the lives of so many, including my children. I want others to know her journey, what she's learned and be inspired to grow!

Enjoy!

Books Recommended:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

The Lives We Actually Have by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie