Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 <inaudible> good morning,
Speaker 1 00:00:08 LinkedIn community. Welcome to what T 21. And I will guarantee you that this will be the best episode of coffee with Jim and James all this year. So far.
Speaker 2 00:00:23 True story. True story, James, am I right? Yes,
Speaker 1 00:00:27 No, I, I normally start off with the very wacky intro, right? Today's is going to be one of the shortest ones I've ever done and the wackiest ready for this 20, 20. That's it
Speaker 2 00:00:42 Never speak of that again? I thought you were going to say never speak of it again. Never speak to that again. Seriously,
Speaker 1 00:00:50 James, how are you? This fine and beautiful morning.
Speaker 2 00:00:53 I'm good. I am recharged back from vacation, uh, finished 20, 20 off strong sharpening the saw and, um, the ready to put in some work for 2021. Um, but what Jim was kind of referencing a second ago was in the pre-show. We were talking about how we didn't want this episode to be a reflection on the pandemic or on, um, the coronavirus, but more on, you know, like any here kind of talk a little bit. Yeah. It's, it's what happened. It's spurred a lot of what went on and, and our actions and reactions, but, um, there was a lot more to 2020, and, uh, we were hoping to kind of jump into that a little bit today and then honestly talk about the future future of the show, future future of our industry. You name it, just kind of dabble around top a bit, go down some, you know, some killer tangents or a rabbit holes, uh, what, whatever you're into today, Jimmy it's pretty freestyle show.
Speaker 1 00:02:04 I liked that. And again, for our viewers, welcome to this episode again, we wanted to kind of decompress and, and I guess really kind of get inflated for this year. And I, you know, James, let me throw this at you real quick. You know, 2020 is what it was, but a lot of great things, a lot of blessings came out of 2020. And I think that sometimes we can, you know, maybe lose sight of those with all the other stuff, you know, what's, what's, uh, what's a great thing that happened to you in 2020 in 20 words or less. I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2 00:02:42 Um, you know, I think, uh, this show really was something else. Um, it, it consumed a lot of what went on. Obviously we also had, um, an awesome project internally to rebrand this company and, and seeing it come to life was also another huge part of 2020. Um, you know, the pandemic was, was a big part, uh, forced us into some of this and, um, I think we're seeing the results. So it's been a blast. Uh, that part, man, I hate the circumstances. I wish we were out there, but I don't know that we ever would have done this journey. You know, I don't know that there ever would have been a coffin with German James without, um, the situation we found ourselves into so that I picked that for what it is and being a blessing. I know it changed your world. Absolutely. I think your transformation has been one that's, uh, you know, been pretty, pretty impressive to watch, um, as for those of us that knew Jimmy before, uh, coffin with Jim James, whatever that means, uh, sounds prolific before conference and James, um, know that, you know, how you are in person and how, uh, engaging and, and inspiring the, the industry to see that kind of transition and transform into, to this show.
Speaker 2 00:04:17 And I'm really, uh, a beacon in the industry. So kudos to you, Jimmy, you know, uh, for those that don't know, I don't know if Jimmy's even talked about it a lot, but he won, uh, the blue blue star award internally this year at energy world net, which is for really high performance and doing brave things out there in this world. And, um, so Jimmy pushed himself this year and I was really proud of that. But what are your thoughts, Jim, on 2020? How did it change you?
Speaker 1 00:04:53 Well, I'll, I'll build on that because for years I would walk into a conference trade show, put my arms up and say, Hey, we're here, let's get this going and get it started. And it was easy to do then all of a sudden, I feel like this last year was like the cell phones back in whatever year let's go 1998 or 1997, where, you know, I'm excited for this industry and I'm excited for this medium and, and doing things, we'll call it virtual because it's it. I, I view that, you know, in three, four, five years, we're going to look back at this time and say, gosh, you remember how awkward we were then or how clumsy it was and all those things then, you know, in the future, you know, you and I are going to be at some show together and all of a sudden, Hey, this is a great time to do an episode and pull out a widget or whatever it is, and set it here and do a whole episode with a no, without even thinking about it. And I think that's exciting, you know, to think about that. We're, we're really on the cutting of the industry right now.
Speaker 2 00:05:59 I don't know. I don't know if you remember it, that there was a, and it doesn't matter who it was or why it happened, but there was a, there was a day we were going to, we were planning to record one afternoon. Um, it was a busy week. It was, we were getting ready for the holidays. Uh, the first Thanksgiving holiday and Jim get married. And so we're recording a lot and one afternoon, uh, someone had something come up. I had to cancel. And, um, we, I mean rolled with the punches. We were pros at this point, right? So we just rescheduled, uh, we, we lined somebody else up and he kept cranking through it. And I remember calling Colin knew Jim later that, that day and saying, could you imagine this last year you had a, a virtual meeting with these folks and we were going to record it and do a webinar and all this, how much anxiety and stress you would have had leading up to that moment. And then for it to get canceled, how crushing it would have been on top of that. And that wasn't our situation. We rolled with the punches. We went right back to work. I'm sure we recorded that. So the next week, like it was just the world we lived in. But the thing back of last year, thinking about that, what a wrecked was like, we were trained for that moment.
Speaker 1 00:07:26 Yeah. Let us date bro. And we said, we're going to record on Thursday. I'm like, huh? We are okay. You know, the night before. Okay. You know, and like even today, you ready to go? Yeah, I'm ready to go. Let's do it, you know, and getting on. And I think though that that's what, why people are, have gravitated towards us and stick with us is that we try to keep it real. And it's like conversations that we have had and we'll eventually have at trade shows and, you know, just the banter and people like that. They want to be included. And I look forward to the time when we can have things like this, ready. This is the crystal ball where all of a sudden, you know, somebody, somebody pops on and, you know, spends, you know, a minute with us and pops off and somebody else pops on and we can go back and forth. And the technology is growing that way. But you know, like I said, it's exciting to be in this place. You know, it really, it really is
Speaker 2 00:08:20 2020 definitely pushes us into this and this world a little quicker maybe than some of us wanted, but these are the byproducts. I think that's cool, Jim, uh, let's talk just, uh, I don't know about you. Well, I do because I approved it, but I had a lot of time off this, uh, this holiday season, uh, probably a lot like everybody else. I not use my time throughout the year cause I was working from home. I didn't have anywhere to go. And so I had a little bit of extra roll into the end of the year. So I made it a point. Um, we, we surprised the kids and, uh, with a trip to Colorado, uh, we had our, we had reserved a place there and uh, we're able to take them on sleigh rides and sledding and you name it really enjoy some snow and still be safe and socially distant. And you know, and that's the glory of Colorado. Isn't that just only Colorado can put a fence around something, call it a park, open, open space park. Uh, in Texas, we call it punished you, but in Colorado you can just walk in and it snows and it's pretty and you love it. So, uh, that, that was kinda my holiday. Uh, let me ask you a quick question, knowing Colorado.
Speaker 1 00:09:43 And it was probably a 50 minute, maybe 45 minute plane ride for you. You guys went up and down and were there
Speaker 2 00:09:50 12 hour long car ride with, uh, you know, my, my nine soon to be 10 year old son, Liam, uh, shutout old old-school guests there for the last year. If you remember that one. And then my daughter who's four. So, um, yeah, all of 12 hours solid, they were troopers, but man, that's a long, uh, and it was really long coming back when you don't have to Colorado, you know? So, uh, it was fun. Funny enough, we went in search of snow. We found it, but while we were gone and actually we caught some snow here in the metroplex, uh, here in Texas. So that was kind of funny that we, we drove 12 hours to find snow, but I'll promise you, I think everybody, the agreement that we made the right choice, it was beautiful up there. Tons of snow, really safe. But, um, anyway, uh, Jimmy, what about your break, man? I saw some pictures, uh, I guess your family man leaning into the coffee with Jim and James, you know, it's real when it starts, you know, burying into your family and, and the gifts that you got. So I thought that would be a funny thing to talk about.
Speaker 1 00:11:09 Well, it was fun and, and thank goodness to my wife, Tammy, who helped out, uh, uh, giving some ideas for some really cool signs. If I could hold that upward shows up, James has went up over there. I got a really cool, and I can't figure out how to work yet, but a microphone that's supposed to be really awesome. And, you know, just living in the virtual world with Tammy and the pipeline side of things, um, you know, we're doing video calls, conference calls all the time. So we got an outdoor placards, you know, recording in progress for both of us to use. So it was just some fun stuff. We didn't go anywhere. We hung around here. I mean, all like so many people saved PTO that because we're going to travel at the end of the year. Well, that didn't work. But we tried to do a Homebase here where people came in, went small people, socially distancing, disinfecting the whole bit. Um, but it was, it was a good holiday, good time to sharpen the, saw, getting to know some of the seven habits that we've talked about. I thought about it every day, you know, again, sharpening the saw, getting ready for 2021 getting, you know, looking back at the seven habits and looking forward to them. Um, it was, it was good time. It was, it was really, uh, I'll say relaxing
Speaker 2 00:12:29 For those that maybe were unaware or didn't catch the seven habits episode last week is we, um, we at the end of 2020, and I don't know about you, Jim, but I, I was really happy with how it turned out as far as the timing of it, because we, we had an internal bookstore study on seven habits of highly effective people from, um, student coven, um, rest in peace. And he, uh, um, really inspired us rolling into this new year, you know, picking up that book. We had an awesome group. I mean, just super awesome group, shout out to all those folks that were involved in that study, uh, this time, uh, very safe, very open, very respectful. And, um, man, just walking into 2021 from me having that as a foundation with something incredible that I haven't had, I don't know in my life, you know,
Speaker 1 00:13:32 It was incredible. Let me just give a little more details. I think we did it over a seven week period, seven or eight.
Speaker 2 00:13:38 We have a tight, yeah. Even with the holiday in there. I think we still got it in seven weeks.
Speaker 1 00:13:43 Yep. So it was really that, um, you know, the same group of people did it virtually all the way through James is a master of it. He's a student of it. Uh, even though he's a master, he's still a student because you learn every day from it. You pick up more things. I'm learning from James on this and other mentors, you know, when we brought it to copy, Jim and James have been doing some episodes to try to get folks to be sparked on it. I it's, it's a wonderful journey and it really does. It really does the beautiful thing. It impacts so much of the life, not just professional, personal community, family, church, all of it. I mean, you could use it all and there's so much, it's like you have to keep going back and saying, okay, wait a minute. I just want to touch up on this because you know, this doesn't work well and it's something you can keep referring to a reference that was wonderful. It was a great way to start 20, 21 and a great way to kind of bring together 2020 in, you know, the positive things about it. So it was wonderful.
Speaker 2 00:14:46 That was fun. Um, again, awesome group that we had in there and really a high note of 2020 man just, and right at the end where people I think needed it more than we even realized how much they needed it. So, um, that was, that was an awesome, an awesome thing to see, to close 2020 on. Now, as we kind of look into the future, I wasn't going to say one other thing. I'm just, I looked over and saw it. Uh, also my wife got me a brand new that troll a record player. So I want Frank, my, my son just sits over there, but so I've been buying old records and I just got this Beatles solid man. So, so I've been on this kick and vinyl records. And, uh, I've mentioned to you earlier, thing about records is you've gotta, you've got gotta, there's very few records from start to finish that you, you know, you don't want to be over there moving the needle all the time, you know, and, and, and working the record player, you just wanna, you wanna wreck records from start to finish. There's only, there's only so many out there that you feel comfortable making that commitment to, you know?
Speaker 1 00:16:14 Yeah. And all the records that I threw away.
Speaker 2 00:16:20 Just bottle.
Speaker 1 00:16:22 Yeah. When the thing called the CD came out, I thought, Oh, the world has now changed. I never need vinyl again, talking James. I mean, for the queen, the who, you know, I'm dating myself, led Zepplin pink, Floyd, odd Marvin Gaye. I mean, I mean, wonderful ones. I know Johnny Cash from San Quentin,
Speaker 2 00:16:45 The hits. So that's been a fun thing to start the new year off with, uh, uh, I told my wife, I'm going to spend about a hundred bucks a month on records, just buying real quality stuff. What a records costs these days. I don't even know they're super expensive or they don't talk about yeah, probably. Well, it depends, you know, probably a little all over the place. Uh, I, I think I bought some for 20 or 30, but there were some that were 50, but I'm going for greatest hits. That's, that's where that's the smart mode and those are more expensive. They know what they're doing, but Jimmy 20, 21, we'll let 2020 go. I know everybody's ready to send it to pasture. Um, but 20, 21, what does it look like? What are you thinking? What's in your crystal ball? What are you, what are you pushing? What are, what are we shooting for?
Speaker 1 00:17:51 Well, I think we, you and I are going to be pushing for taking this coffee series and, and I would say amping it up a few notches. You have taken it up to the next level. And I think the key is that we've learned enough in this industry that virtual will not go away, even when we get back to whatever the new normal is. And I just see the, this virtual being such a great conduit going through everything. Uh, that's, that's kind of where I'm, and you know, me, I'm excited for conferences. I'm excited to get back and shake people's hands or do whatever I can do put my arms up when I walk in the exhibit hall and say, let's get going, you know? But, um, I just see a lot of, uh, positive grassroots momentum with, with that whole world. That's kind of where I'm looking at. You know, I'm really excited about the coffee series. As everybody knows, we do this coffee series to bring positivity into the industry to bring awareness, to bring good topics. And I think we're really going to look at a very interesting year this year of, uh, I don't want to say blow it out of the water, but you know, that's, that's going to be my term and yourself, James, what's your thoughts?
Speaker 2 00:19:08 Yeah. I want to take this thing on the road a little bit too. Um, I pray just like everybody that we're back to some capacity by the end of the year. I don't know where that first one's going to have. Jimmy has Mike will travel. Um, I think this thing is going to be fun, translating it to a live audience to some degree. Um, I hope we're able to try that this year, if, uh, if not. Yeah. Uh, I think we're going to turn it up a notch and, um, hopefully have the guests to back it up. And the folks that are as passionate as we are, um, to keep pushing and building this audience and building this grown, we're so blessed and say it all the time. We're worried about how we're going to change what we're doing. And other people are worried about, you know, you name it, their health, their safety, their livelihood, their, their lack of a job.
Speaker 2 00:20:09 And to be able to be creative and not be, not have their hand slapped and told no in situations like this, man we're so, so, so blessed. Can't say that enough. And the roll into 2021 eyes wide open, really not scared of anything like we were, you know, I mean, we're scared, you know, we're going to be safe. Doesn't mean we're scared, we're mindful, we're cautious. But man, as far as creating content, getting that out there, talking to people, there's still a means. And I hope, and I pray that we can help as people as possible, uh, do the same. Yep. That's my 21. Give it all away. Let's give it all away.
Speaker 1 00:20:55 Cause it'll come back. It'll come back three, five, 10 fold. You know, so
Speaker 2 00:21:02 That's what we learned. I mean, I feel like that's all we did this year was give it all away.
Speaker 1 00:21:07 Well, you know, and that's, that's, you know, we're in the energy industry. A lot of our emphasis is, and that's really, when you think about the energy industry, that's kind of a mantra, you know, what can we do for the industry work we do for our, our, our fellow industries and even outside of the industry too. So I, I agree with you, 2021 is going to be a exciting year. It's going to be expanded. It's going to be, um, uh, what, what did they say on star Trek? Uh, bold new horizons where nobody's gone before.
Speaker 2 00:21:40 Seems like a Coleman question or a Lauren question. I, I don't know how that skill. You don't have that skill. Wait,
Speaker 1 00:21:50 Give me some, give me a final thought. That's in your head that you want to get through to the audience today just as we kick off this year and look upon things, but what's in your head.
Speaker 2 00:22:05 Yeah. I've thought a lot. I was on break about our industry and how we're all itching to get back, you know? And, but then I always come back to almost every company, every person I talk to, it's always safety first or safety always. Right. Even more so. Right. Um, safety first or safety always. You hear that just non-stop and I think we're going to do it right. And you know, lean again on safety. I think we will be back this year. It may take us a little bit longer because usually when we do things, we do it right. We may walk around that truck twice, you know, before we get in and, and take off, then we back into those parking spots for a reason. And we put that cone out, you know, like, and I think when we're putting these situations like this, that we might find that we want to take a little bit more time and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
Speaker 2 00:23:07 It's going to hurt. We're going to still be itching, but we'll find ways in between now and then to do it safely and effectively. And, and that's, what's on my heart is I know we all want to get out there, but what good is all those, if we jump the gun at this last bit, so I'm praying that we can be patient God willing, we'll be back out there by, uh, so man, I hope we're all surprising. We're out there on, around him hating those, uh, you know, that checks mix at the embassy suites and those little tiny beers. Again,
Speaker 1 00:23:44 I'll be having diet Coke so you can have the beers. All right.
Speaker 2 00:23:50 That's that's it. What about you, Jimmy?
Speaker 1 00:23:53 Uh, I'm just, I'm looking forward to it all. I mean, you know, I've been living in golf shorts and, and, you know, uh, as that one picture. Yeah. Well actually, no, they're press they're pressed slacks. Don't anybody think I got my boots on, you know, starched jeans were okay. No, you don't get it. It's weird. You know, put it on real shoes, you know, getting out and, but you know, talking about this medium, I mentioned it before I've used 2020 is the old Motorola flip phone. And now guess what we're going to in 2021, we're going to go to this thing called a iPhone. You know, that's an analogy for folks, but remember how our life changed with that? You know, we went to the blackberries and went to the I-phones I view that this year is going to be, and it's not just the technology I'm talking about. It's the delivery and the depth and the breadth of the information that we're going to bring to the industry. That's what I'm excited about. And I really want to open up this can and really get it going. I know James does too, to take off the takeoff, the, uh, whatever they're called the yeah,
Speaker 2 00:24:55 Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:24:57 Going with it. So that's kind of where my head is. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:25:01 So we're on the right track, man.
Speaker 1 00:25:04 The names that if you don't have anything else, I think we should wrap this up so we can get our viewers back to work. Now, stay with us a little bit longer. This is, this is almost considered like personal development listening to it.
Speaker 2 00:25:19 I will say this to me. And for those that stuck around and heard this, please drop your favorite album in the comments. Um, if I may to pick up a vinyl that that is a must have item, I will add it to my, um, my library just on your, on your recommendation alone, the McCombs. So you heard it. I like it.
Speaker 1 00:25:48 I'm going to give you my recommendation. I'll tell you that much. I've already given you a few anyways, LinkedIn community, you know, we, we can't thank you enough. We're honored, blessed, touched humbled by everybody's, um, participation in looking, watching, following us. We look forward to a great 2021. If you want to be on the show, has some cool ideas, some thoughts, whatever hit James or myself up where we already have some guests that reached out over the holidays that we're getting lined up already for the next couple of weeks. And that's exciting to see. So stay tuned. And in the first episode, I said, as nervously as possible, we'll see us sometime in the future, not knowing what it is, but we're going to see you next week. As we have a commitment to you, we want to help you all out there. So we will see you next week on coffee with Jim and James and tell, then please stay safe. Have a great week. And James, my friend, I will see you. Wait, somebody used to say this, I will see you on the radio. I don't know what that means, but Casey, Casey, everybody
Speaker 3 00:26:59 <inaudible>.
