Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate and let’s go change this world!On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Judge Echo Hutson, the elected judge of Montgomery County Court at Law #4, which oversees misdemeanor criminal cases, domestic violence court and mental health treatment court. She has dedicated her personal and professional career to protecting Montgomery County’s citizens and victims of violent crime, first as a prosecuting attorney and now in her role as Judge. She was instrumental in starting the first domestic violence division in the county in 2011 and became the county’s first domestic violence specialized prosecutor. She loves to speak and educate others on matters involving domestic violence and mental health treatment. She is also the founder and host of the annual Flowers on the Lake Domestic Violence Awareness event.To begin, Judge Echo Huston shares that she earned her undergraduate degree in Alaska with the intention of attending law school. When one of her fellow students, a young woman, went missing in their small town, Judge Hutson had the opportunity to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the missing case as an intern. Working on this case changed Judge Hutson’s career trajectory. From that moment on, she saw the practice of law as an opportunity to be an advocate for victims and to never give up on someone who no longer has their voice. Right after she finished law school, Judge Hutson moved to El Paso, TX, where there was a special division for domestic violence and began prosecuting. Judge Hutson began and organically grew the domestic violence division at the DA’s office. A study done between 2021-2022 concluded that Montgomery County’s specialty court is one of the highest national performers. This is based on conviction rates, the time from cases being filed to disposed, their trauma informed treatment for victims and more.Then, Judge Hutson shares some of the key statistics regarding domestic violence based on U.S. studies. First, 1 in 3 women in their lifetime will experience domestic violence. Those who attempt to leave the relationship, there is a 75% increased likelihood that they will be killed during that time. The average victim makes 7-8 attempts to leave domestic violent relationships before they finally leave for good. Judge Hutson shares that the biggest mistake people often make is to push victims to leave a relationship before they are ready to do it themselves. We also know that victims of domestic violence who have help from resources tend to remain alive. Before wrapping up, Judge Hutson highlights success stories and highlights her goals for the future. Finally, she identifies her own personal game changers.Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world! On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Jan Rutherford. Jan is an Executive Coach, a keynote speaker with numerous online courses, a former Green Beret, and the founder of Self Reliant Leadership, in which he leads wilderness expeditions with executives and veterans. Jan is also a podcast host and author of The Littlest Green Beret. His next book, Becoming A Self-Reliant Leader, will be released in summer 2024. To begin, Jan shares that his journey as a business owner began after he read the book Perfect Business by Michael LeBoeuf. At age 19, Jan was the medical instructor for the thousands of students going through the Green Beret course. Over the entire course of his career, he has maintained the goal of helping other people learn. As soon as he entered the corporate world, he knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. Jan shares that to be a good leader, you must prioritize taking care of others above yourself. Then, he shares his principles which guide his leadership process and business ownership. The core pillars of Self-Reliant Leadership include leading oneself, leading others, and leading the organization. He looks for 3 key things when finding people to get involved: selflessness, heroic aspirations, and willingness to take risks and be adventurous. The first thing he tends to ask clients is to identify what they want in life. The most common challenges he finds leaders facing today are managing their time and their effectiveness with people. Another challenge leaders face is how to personalize leadership, yet show fairness to the entire team. Because every person has different needs, personalities, and circumstances, it is impossible to treat everyone the same. Thus, it's important to take the time to understand what each person's motivations are and be sensitive to them. Jan identifies the most critical attributes of successful leaders. He believes that the best companies are great at selecting the right people for their company and investing time into their success. Reflecting on the course of his career, Jan identified critical moments that have shaped him into the person he is today. Working with great bosses had a major influence on his outlook. Similarly, working with bad bosses also led to a handful of useful learning experiences. He stresses the importance of always being willing to learn and have the maturity to understand that we are not always going to be right. In closing, he urges listeners to keep a journal to keep track of the day-to-day, learning experience, gratitude, and priorities. A good life is not something that is in the future, and we should figure out how to live a good life today. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world!  On today’s episode, Jeff talks about how to prep for making 2024 the best year ever. 2024 can be the best year yet, but it's important to remember that it's on us to make that happen. Jeff hopes to encourage listeners to have a plan in place to make this upcoming year great. He begins the conversation by outlining the "Four A's" to live by as we plan for the new year: appreciate, attract, add, and achieve. The first step to prep is to review where we currently are and what happened in the last year. He shares that we should always learn from the past, live in the present, and plan for the future. Jeff reflects on his accomplishments and the areas where he fell short in 2023.  To plan goals for the upcoming year, we should begin by thinking about where we want to be. Once you determine what you want to accomplish, you can begin to develop goals aligned with your values and personal mission. Jeff sets both personal and professional goals for himself and understands that these two areas of life often overlap. In terms of his goals for the podcast, he wants to record 40 episodes in 2024. Some examples of his personal goals include strengthening his faith by reading the Bible, reducing his body fat percentage, and logging his exercises. Professional goals of his include reading a certain number of career-related books read in the year. He also encourages listeners to find a way to be philanthropic in their communities. Jeff suggests that we track our goals every month, so we know exactly where we are in achieving our goals, and reward ourselves when we meet small intervals. Before wrapping up, Jeff explains his "Four A's." First, appreciate everything you have every single day. Second, be ready to attack those obstacles and challenges that will inevitably present themselves. Add value to every situation and conversation you find yourself in. Finally, achieve the goals you are setting for yourself in 2024. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate and let’s go change this world!  On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Tim Jensen of Grunt Style. Tim is a Marine Corps veteran and leader in the business and advocacy veteran community. Born in Chicago, he is currently the Co-Owner and Chief Brand Officer for Grunt Style and lives in San Antonio. Grunt Style is one of the fastest growing retail and e-commerce brands in the country. In the Marine Corps, Tim served as an amtracker gone infantry man and was deployed to Iraq in September of 2004.  To begin, Tim explains his transition from amtracs to infantry, which most officers actually do the other way around. He participated in over 200 combat patrols in the extremely violent Northern Iraq, for which he was awarded Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Achievement Medal. He finds it immensely important that we celebrate the men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our country from danger. By working alongside Grunt Style’s CEO to align the brand’s vision with its values, Tim’s goal is to help grow the brand and ensure that their products meet the highest expectation of demand. Although the brand doesn’t directly take any political side, they do recognize that the United States Constitution is something that should be known, celebrated and defended. Grunt Style also strives to be a leader in pride of the self, our military and our country.  Then, Tim shares about his journey from the military to Grunt Style. After returning to Chicago from the military, Tim found his life in a state that he was not proud of. Understanding that he was in need of making a major change, he quit his job and enrolled in college thanks to the GI Bill. He graduated in 3 years at the top of his class with a degree in video game design. He interviewed with Grunt Style and accepted a position working with the company’s inventory. 11 years later, he is Co-Owner and Chief Executive of the business. He is also the Chairman of the Grunt Style Foundation, a nonprofit committed to serving veterans and their families. What Tim enjoyed most about his time in Iraq, he shares, is that he was able to see a group of people get the ability to vote for their own government for the first time in their lives. He als sheds light on the freedoms we have as Americans that we often take for granted. Finally, he shares that Grunt Style’s goal is to continue sharing their love of freedom, our country and the self with people every day. They also plan to help people understand that patriotism is not a bad word. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world!  On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Stacey Abella, an author and clarity coach. To begin, Stacey shares that her new book Secrets from My Travel Diaries: How One Burned Out Executive Reignited the Adventurer Within tells the stories of the two personal journeys she took to discover her true life purpose. As a young person, Stacey was fascinated by the idea of international travel and meeting people from all over the world. She went to Europe at 21 and had a multitude of revelatory experiences during the trip. Stacey's biggest goal in writing her new book was to help others realize that they can fulfill their dreams too.  Before becoming a clarity coach, Stacey had a corporate career. Over time, however, she began to realize that the life she once wanted for herself was not quite the life she wanted anymore. She then stepped into her "second life's journey" by developing the clarity method she uses with her clients today to help them construct a vision for their ideal life and how to get there. Her business is called Wind In Your Sails Consulting and offers clients a practical approach to embarking on their new life journey. Stacey explains that many of us are often too busy to recognize how to embark on a new path on our own. Each week, her clients are given personalized steps to approaching their goals and encouraged to have moments of calm reflection. Her favorite way to do this is by waking up at 5:00 every morning, a time she has set aside and dedicated to herself.  Next, Stacey shares specific travel stories she recounts in the book, including her visit to the Anne Frank house during her travels in Europe. As a writer, she found a lot of inspiration in the young girl's diaries. As a reminder that traveling is not always positive and uplifting, she also shares about the scary situation she and her friend experienced in Budapest. Meeting her husband, one of the happiest moments of Stacey's life is another story told in the book. Before wrapping up, Stacey shares the key takeaways she hopes readers will get from the book. She hopes that by sharing these stories with her, readers will emerge feeling changed. Finally, she identifies her game-changers in life.  Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate, and let’s change this world!  On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Payton Riley, the fifteen-year-old singer-songwriter from Conroe, Texas. To begin, Payton explains that she began taking vocal lessons at age 7 and started her career two years later by singing the Star-Spangled Banner around town. She shares what initially captured her interest in singing and hopes to be a performer like Miranda Lambert one day. Payton was among the top 10 finalists in the 2023 TCMA Songwriter Contest. She also attended a songwriter retreat in Memphis with Grace Askew, where she learned skills and techniques she continues to use today. She also shares about the most inspirational people she has met in the music business thus far.  Payton grew up singing Christian music in school and always listened to country music at home with her mom. She prefers to write songs naturally without feeling pressured to do so. Payton also explains when she finds the time to be a kid while balancing school, sports, church, and her music career. She shares that her Christian school is small and close-knit and understands Payton’s desire to follow her dreams. Her goal is to attend Belmont College for a degree in songwriting and continue playing as many shows as possible to get her name out there. She hopes to be a light for listeners and let them know they can always chase their dreams. In closing, she offers her best advice for people just starting in their passion: surround yourself with positive people who can always lift you. Finally, she highlights her upcoming releases and the formation of her new band. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

 Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate, and let’s change this world! In today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Andrew Anderson, an executive coach who works with his clients to determine why they struggle in their personal or professional lives. Over the 9 years and 700 clients Andrew has coached, he has found that a business will only grow to the extent the business owner does. This is why it’s so essential for people to get to the roots of transformation in their lives to embrace change and progress. As a coach, Andrew takes a holistic approach when speaking with individual clients to uncover how fulfilled they are in each facet of their lives.  Andrew shares that his coaching business began 10 years ago in his parent’s basement. He was at the height of his career as a high school teacher and a father of two beautiful daughters when his wife decided to separate. At this point, Andrew felt that he had failed and could not be redeemed. What was the end of his teaching career was also the beginning of his career as an author, speaker, and coach. Andrew takes pride in helping pull others out of the dark place he once found himself in. Despite the challenging world we are living in, Andrew notes that he and his client are playing to win and be proactive.  Next, Andrew shares the pivotal moment when he realized he wanted to write a book after he had sworn off writing forever. The book is entitled Strength of the Oak, Strength of the Willow, a metaphor for the oak-like strengths of courage we all possess. His book teaches readers how to find their life’s mission that will drive them forward to live a life of longevity like an oak. The willow is a complementary force that can bend in a storm without breaking. This metaphor teaches us compassion, humility, and grace for ourselves and others when we fall short. In closing, Andrew identifies a few game changers that have helped him immensely along his journey. Finally, he shares that being a game changer means owning the game. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate and let’s go change this world!  On today’s episode, Jeff welcomes special guest Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations for Texas Values and Texas Values Action. In her role, Mary works with legislatures and their staff at the state capital to ensure pro-family values. Pro-family values represent the traditional value of what a family stands for by God's Word. This means providing a mother and father are in a home and doing everything possible to support traditional marriage, the upbringing of children, and parental rights.  Before joining Family Values, Mary worked under the general console at Midwestern State University, focusing on education policy. She also worked with First Liberty, researching and performing outreach for attorneys. This opportunity is what ultimately set the tone for her career path. She shares her appreciation for the First Liberty organization, which advocates for people to express their faith freely in professional and academic settings. After attending law school, Mary felt called to return to this field of work and was connected with Texas Values through the connections she made while working with First Liberty. Texas Values started in 2012, and Texas Values Action in 2014. Mary explains that Texas Values is a 501(c) that educates people and conducts research. Texas Values Action is a 501(c)(4) that endorses candidates and handles most of the organization’s lobbying and action work. Then, Mary explains how and when the organization will begin to support candidates as we approach election season. Hear how Texas Values stood alongside a protest held by women athletes protesting the NCAA in San Antonio. Even though Mary knew that God was calling her down this path, she shared that she initially hesitated to take on the work because she didn’t have prior legislative experience. However, she discovered that people within the legislation were welcoming and easy to talk to about subjects she had prior knowledge in. Reflecting on Texas Values’ most recent successful session, Mary reveals that the work never stops when fighting new policies that harm our children and rob us of our liberties. There is still work to be done to protect children from things like inappropriate curriculum content, library books, and premature sex education. In closing, Mary shares what she hopes is in store for her future (including possibly running for office) and who in history she would most like to speak with. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate, and let’s change this world!  In today’s episode, Jeff welcomes guest Leo Simpson to discuss leadership and what we must do to make a difference in the world. Leo is a Professor at Lone Star Community College, a five-star wedding officiant, has published seven books, and has been on platforms with over 130 million people. Leo’s book, the main topic of today’s conversation, is a comprehensive approach to life, including business, leadership, teamwork, heartbreak, disruptions in family life, marriage, prayer, and more. It is designed to give people the inspirational experience of receiving what they need to do what they need to do in every area of their life.  To begin, Leo discusses his idea of the “family, business, life mastery.” He started in 2012 as a certified leadership coach with the John Maxwell Team, emphasizing the importance of finding your niche. Leo discovered that his umbrella niche is in the area of professionals with families. More specifically, his calling is to help CEOs, business owners, and executives bridge the gap between their family and business lives. Leo explains that family life requires more quality time, and business life requires more time. Among the chief messages of Leo’s teachings is that family life and business life are meant to be teammates, not opponents. To achieve flow in these areas is far better than achieving balance because putting the two in a continuity structure creates fuel to encourage a better performance in both.   Next, Leo explains that adversities are reminders that there is an absence of something we need to leverage to have the predictable productivity we want. Leo teaches his executive and professional clients alike that we should look at ourselves and others at the level of our potential. While there are only two types of potential, fulfilled and unfulfilled, Leo shares the 15 laws to help you tap into your potential. We collaborate and connect as people by becoming masters of life. Leo explains that good leaders must maintain credibility in their private lives. They also must be comfortable with being less to lead. Leaders’ work is never actually about them as they are there to serve and add value for others. Knowing what problem you are meant to solve is the most significant thing a leader needs to know to lead best. In closing, Leo shares that the people who sit in the seats of government all come from families. Thus, he urges listeners to consider how our public environment is born in our private environments and how we could leverage these environments to inspire change. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It’s simple: inspire, educate, and let’s go change this world!  In today’s episode, listeners better understand Game Changers’ host, Jeff Newkirk, who is interviewed by returning guest Stacy Harris. Jeff shares that he is celebrating 35 years with his wife, Diane, and has three children. Stacy finds that Jeff is good at celebrating the success of others, which means he is not often talking about his success. He began his business in 2019 after many years in the corporate world. He was the CFO of financial management and the primary caregiver for his aging father. After Jeff’s father passed away, he and his family moved from Illinois to Texas, and he started his business. He shares his continuous love of working with people, helping them grow their businesses, and watching their communication and leadership skills evolve.  Then, Jeff shares the three elements that make up his favorite client-consultant relationship. This client must seek assistance, be receptive to ideas, and display an alignment of values and beliefs. This client could be a new business or someone who has been in business for a long time but is ready to reach the next level in their career. As a Don Maxwell Certified Coach and Consultant, what makes Jeff so passionate about leadership is the lack of leadership displayed in our country. Many factors and characteristics come into play in a strong leader. Jeff explains that being a good, strong, and effective leader begins with having a good value structure, knowing the difference between right and wrong, and prioritizing serving over being served. Jeff’s advice for listeners is to surround yourself with people who make you feel better and challenge you to be the best possible version of yourself.  Jeff shares that when he closes each podcast with “Today was a great day, and tomorrow will be even better”, he truly believes it, but it is up to us to make that happen. His professional goals for the coming years include continuing his business and helping people. Jeff lights up at the idea of being able to help others realize their full potential. Jeff is involved with several local non-profits outside his clientele, including Hands of Justice, the Dispute Resolution Center, and the Kiwanis Club. Before wrapping up, Jeff identifies faith's role in his life. Every morning, he starts his day off on the right foot by writing down the top three things he is grateful for. He also pays special attention to making sure his daily decisions are based on his core values, of which faith is one. Finally, he shares what he hopes his legacy will be and the overall impact he hopes the podcast has on the world.  Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast