Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, welcome back to the K-Cup episode 32. We have a special episode for you this week. We’re kind of going off script this week, and we wanted to take the opportunity, uh, with the, uh, holidays insight, uh, particularly Thanksgiving to be able to, uh, take a minute and, uh, talk a little bit about, uh, you know, what this time of year means for us, uh, being in business, being, uh, you know, in a business that serves the community here. And, uh, John has some stuff that he wants to share, uh, you know, with those that are listening about how he feels about, uh, you know, being able to have, uh, his company and the way we’re able to, uh, uh, not only serve the public, but also take care of the team and, uh, you know, our families and things like that. So, he’s just gonna share some, some thoughts with, uh, with us about, uh, you know, what this time of year means and how we might just pause and take a minute and show some appreciation for all the blessings that we have. So, uh, take it away, John. Go ahead and, and, uh, share your thoughts with us. What are you thankful for General Contractors Baton Rouge?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yes, sir. Thank you, Joe. Yeah. Yeah. Just, uh, I wanted to take a few minutes today and just, uh, you know, talk about Thanksgiving. I, I think that Thanksgiving something that’s, uh, commercially overlooked, uh, very easily. And, uh, if, if not carefully, you know, we, we overlook it personally as well. I mean, we all love to get together with our, with our families and eat all the good food and <laugh>
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Oh, yeah. I’m wondering, general contractors Baton Rouge do you agree?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
See all the, the cousins and aunts and whoever that you don’t get to see often. Yeah. Uh, but if we’re not careful, we, we kind of overlook it, overlook the, you know, the, the Thanksgiving side of Thanksgiving for just the festivities. Yeah. Uh, so just thinking about that, you know, the early settlers, they came here. They, they had to work with Native Americans. I know that there were some real challenges that Native Americans were able to, to help the early sailors with, and vice versa. I mean, there was, there was things that, you know, the early sailors were able to contribute, but just kind of, uh, you know, working together, collaboration, cooperation, all stuff that we talk about a lot on our show. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. Uh, and, and, you know, that’s the meaning of Thanksgiving and that that’s what it’s all about. You know, the first Thanksgiving, those guys got together to show thanks and, and, you know, give thanks to each other for, for what they were able to overcome, um, and, and ultimately become the nation that we are today.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah. So, you know, Thanksgiving and, and showing thanks can, can go a long way and can really work in a way that’s pretty amazing when you think about the country and, and all the things that we have today. Uh, so just wanna spend a few minutes and talk about that. You know, mainly, like I was saying, I think it’s kind of commercially overlooked for sure. I mean, it goes straight from, you know, Halloween, you see the costumes and the, the decorations everywhere. Yeah. Straight to Christmas. Yeah. You don’t see too many turkeys. You don’t see, uh, <laugh>, you don’t see any of that stuff like you did at, uh, at one time, you know? Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
The more lucrative
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Holidays seems to, I mean, at least I feel garner the attention. At least I feel like that’s how it is. Is that how it is? Do you,
Speaker 1 (03:11):
It seems that way to me, for
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Sure. Yeah. I mean, I, I surely think maybe at one time when I was a kid, I felt like I used to see some more pilgrim hats and turkeys and that kinda stuff, <laugh>. But anyway, I think all that’s overlooked. Uh, so anyway, I just, uh, I was able this weekend to, to talk to a young group of guys and we kind of got on this subject and, and, and talking about Thanksgiving and, you know, I was pointing out some things to them that, that as a young person, you can o uh, easily kind of overlook, you know? Yeah. If you, if you have a nice warm home, or you know, if your parents are taking you out to eat every so often, or just even feeding you good meals at home, uh, I know deep in their hearts they’re thankful, but they probably are not going through the, the act to show it and say it, and mm-hmm <affirmative>.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Actually show that gratitude. Yeah. And what I was explaining to them is that just kind of goes a long way for, for the individual providing not, not that they even expect it. I mean, I know for me, like, you know, I feel like I provide pretty good for my, my family and my kids, and, uh, I don’t expect them to say anything as far as, Hey, dad, thanks for that, or whatever. Yeah. And I, and I know that they are thankful, but, uh, you know, like the other day, my, my 7-year-old, she was like, Hey, dad, thanks for doing this, or whatever it was. I don’t remember specifically what it was, but it was really neat, uh, for her to do that on her own and kinda show that gratitude. Yeah. I was like, wow, man, that feels pretty good, you know, to yeah. To to hear her say that, uh, and, and not ask for it or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Mm-hmm <affirmative>. So just kind of got my wheels turned and like, man, you gotta gotta be sure that you’re showing gratitude even though you’re thankful. So that’s what I wanted to do on today’s show. I wanted to just kind of take a minute, stop and reflect on, on some of the things I’m thankful for, uh, and, and just kind of say it, just kind of put it out there and, uh, yeah. You know, hopefully, hopefully some people hear it and, uh, know that it’s coming from a, a good place and, and, and truly thankful place, you know? Sure. Uh, so anyway, with that being said, I mean, you know, and, and most people know that, that I’m a Christian and I want God to be at the center of, of everything I do. Sure. Uh, and, and that includes our company. Yeah. Uh, so just wanna take a minute, say, you know, thanks for the opportunities. Hopefully this is a sentiment that general contractors Baton Rouge can get on board with.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
I think that there’s been a lot of opportunities that are, uh, that are definitely from God. I mean, you know, there’s things that happens that you’re like, wow, you know, I know specifically early in my career, there were times where I needed a job and, you know, in our business, once you get a contract or even before a contract, the bidding process can take, you know, a month or, you know, maybe longer, and then the contracting process can take some time. Yeah. <laugh>, and it may be a, a few months before you can get a job rolling. I literally remember multiple times when I needed a job and a, and a and an opportunity popped up, and within two weeks I’m working. Yeah. And just amazing. And nothing that I could have kind of put together. It was, it was certainly a God thing, you know, <laugh> Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And, uh, lots of connections made that I could say that I felt like were God connections, people that I, you know, I was able to connect with, uh, that just kinda happened outta nowhere or, or similar to the job thing where I kind of needed an in or something. Yeah. And it, and it just happened. Yeah. Um, I think all those connections and things like that are, are, are put there by God. So Yeah. Certainly thankful for those connections. Absolutely. And, and then even the struggles, I mean, you know, having a business is hard. Uh, it really is. Uh, but through those struggles, I do lean on God and I, and I am able to, uh, you know, get strength and, and, and get direction. And without them struggles, I, without the struggles, I don’t think that one, I don’t think I’m who I am today, and neither do neither do I think the company is what it is. Yeah. So, so even thankful for those struggles and thankful to God that I have him to lean on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Uh, yeah. The struggles kind of shape who, who you become. Right. Of course. It’s nice to have that support. <laugh>. Yes,
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Absolutely. <laugh>. Uh, so anyway, like I say, just want to say out loud, thanks to God for, for these opportunities Yeah. These connections. Absolutely. And the struggles, and, you know, thanks for allowing us to, to be who we are today. You bet. Uh, and then, you know, kind of going down the list, just thinking about, you know, family, my wife, my kids, uh, you know, they, uh, I mean, there’s benefits and then, and then there’s I guess their struggles to being, uh, married and, you know, daughter, son to a business owner. Yeah. Uh, it’s a trade off. But, uh, you know, definitely, definitely a lot of time sacrifice. I know I get lots of texts late in the evening or later in the evening, <laugh>, uh, you know, Hey, dad, can, can you come home now? Or <laugh>, I want to go do this. And, you know, I’m, I’m tied up at the office trying to get the next job, or Yeah. Uh, you know, trying to, I don’t know, button up something, you know, we’re, we’re always, always here working on something, digging deep, so get a lot of those texts, uh, you know, a couple times a week probably. But, uh, anyway, just wanna say thanks to my wife, my kids, for their support. Yeah. Uh, you know, for what they have to put up with. Yeah. And, uh, anyway,
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Everybody makes their, their contribution, their sacrifice to the right. Bigger picture. So yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Bigger,
Speaker 1 (08:52):
The greater plan.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah. And, and look, wife and kids are great. They’re, they’re always there, uh, yeah. There when I need them. And <laugh>, I feel like I try to do the same thing. So anyway, just wanna say thanks to those guys. That’s awesome. Uh, you know, then again, just kind of going down the list, the second family, the team <laugh>, uh, you know, we have a great team of people here. Yeah. Uh, we try to spend time together. We try to do a few events and, you know, those events are, you know, you know, are, we are show trying to show thanks, and we are trying to get together and spend time with, with the team and the family members to say, to, to say thanks. But we don’t actually say thanks at those meetings, really. We kinda get together and just have fun. Yeah. So again, today’s just an opportunity to say, you know, thanks to our team. Yeah. Thanks for all the work that everybody puts in the commitment, you know, just like my family, uh, probably suffer some, I know all the team, you know, when when things are busy and got a lot of stuff going on, other family members probably suffer. So thanks to those family members as well. <laugh>. Uh, so anyway, yeah. Just thanks to the team, thanks to our family members, uh, for, for all that we sacrifice to, to get where we are. And I hope general contractors Baton Rouge follow my lead on this and show appreciation for their teams as well.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
We’re all wanting a bigger piece of you, but there’s only one you, so, thank goodness, clonings coming online here pretty soon. <laugh>.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah. Maybe that’s the business that we get in next <laugh>. I’m not sure how that goes with my Christian faith, but Yeah. <laugh>. But, uh, but anyway, and then just, you know, kind of thinking about the early believers, if you will, you know, the people that kind of helped get Kelly Construction Group off the ground. I mean, you know, I know thinking back to the very early days, you know, as a guy or two, that that kind of gave me some real opportunities when I didn’t have any kinda history. Uh, I mean, I think that, you know, obviously I knew how to do the work. We got it and did a great job, but, uh, you know, you had to get that opportunity. I, I remember the first job, I, I literally was telling the guy, man, I’ve never done this really <laugh>. I mean, but, uh, we can do it, believe it or not.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
So, you know, those early believers that that kind of gave us some opportunities and, and they know who they are. If, if they’re listening to the show, they know who we are. Sure. Uh, and, and I say the early believers, but I mean, they’re still, we still run into those kind of people every day that Yeah. That’s kind of helping us get to the next level. You know, you’ve never done this mm-hmm <affirmative>. But we think you can. Yeah. So just thanks to those guys for the opportunities that they’ve given us. You bet. Uh, I mean, obviously we wouldn’t be be here at all without all those guys, so For sure. This is something I’m sure all general contractors Baton Rouge can relate to.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Uh, definitely can’t do it on your own. It takes a team. That’s
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Right. For sure. Yeah. Uh, and I can think of a lot, man, we’ve gotten, we’ve gotten into, you know, different facilities that, not gonna say that we weren’t qualified for, but maybe we didn’t have their credentials. Uh, but, but somebody was able to help us out, kind of tell us to, you know, either introduce us to the right person or mm-hmm <affirmative>. Get us set on the right path. So definitely don’t want to overlook any of those things. Uh, and, and that’s kind of where all this is coming from, you know, talking to that young group of guys, just really starting to reflect on stuff that I may be overlooking as an adult mm-hmm <affirmative>. Uh, and then, and then that just kind of trickled into the whole business thing, and Sure. You just don’t want to take any of those. I don’t want to take any of those, uh, relationships or any of those things for, for granted. So all the things that we’ve talked about today, I’m very appreciative of. And, uh, hopefully it means something for, for somebody to hear
Speaker 1 (12:23):
That. Sure. Yeah. I think, I think, uh, sometimes Thank you. Like, I think there’s even a song like that where it says thank you’s, the, you know, the hardest thing to say, you know, and, uh, and I don’t know why it is, but it’s just human nature. I think we just assume that, uh, whoever’s in our life understands that, you know, if we’re a good person, uh, we obviously are doing things that demonstrate that we care. Right. And, and we appreciate them. Right. So we don’t always say it ’cause it, it, who knows why we just don’t think to. Right, right. But, but, but when you do hear that it can, it can definitely, uh, I guess boost your spirits, I guess you’d say, you know? Yeah, yeah. Kinda lifts morale or whatever, just to hear it sometimes. And, uh, especially if you’re not hearing it at home, you know, I can come to work and get, get encouraged.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
No, I’m just kidding. <laugh>. Yeah, definitely. Just kidding, honey, if you’re watching this episode, <laugh>, and, you know, you’re my straight man of this comedy gig, that’s hilarious, <laugh>. But, uh, you know, you know what I’m saying? Yeah. But, but we, you know, and, and it works both ways too. Like, we appreciate you, I mean, you know, uh, in every relationship you have, well, first of all, they, what they say, the saying is, familiarity breeds contempt. In other words, if you spend too much time with somebody, you start getting aggravated with each other. You know what I mean? We make a note of that, and that can happen. Hey, you never knew that
Speaker 2 (13:48):
<laugh>. I said, I’m gonna make a note <laugh>.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
And that can happen, even even with your work family, you know? But obviously, uh, you know, with the effort that you’ve made to pick individuals and add individuals to your team that, you know, ultimately are, are really great people, uh, you know, we all can get aggravated with each other and, and at the end of the day, we still want to come back tomorrow. You know? ’cause it, yeah. We really do like it here. And we, and we appreciate each other and, and, uh, I know that everybody here definitely appreciates you and knows that you care. And, uh, you know, and that makes all the difference in the world because when times get tough, when, when team members don’t feel like their their leader cares, that’s when you start seeing the, you know, things crumble and Yeah. It’s, that’s never know ever even been an issue here at all, ever. So, and I think it’s because of the, the type of people that you try to put on your team, which are people that just have a general baseline of appreciation for good things and good people. So, you know, so just know that, that we appreciate you boss and we look forward to, uh, you know, great things in this coming year. For sure.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Appreciate that. Thank you, Joe. Yeah,
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Absolutely. All right. So, so what else you got on the, on the spit for us here? Yeah,
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Man, I think that’s about it. I think, you know, I guess the final message, if you would, would just be, you know, think of something that you’re, that you’re thankful for and, and maybe tell somebody, maybe tell somebody thank you, uh, something that’s maybe easily overlooked, but, but you know, that you’re thankful for. Just dig deep, find what that is and tell somebody thank you, you know, over this Thanksgiving holiday.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yeah. Well, I mean, we really don’t have no choice. Now that you’ve publicly praised and thanked your wife and children, we’re all gonna have to go home and quickly do the same so that we, uh, you know, don’t fall behind the curve. So anyways, <laugh>, thanks for setting the, uh, um, the pattern for us so that we can emulate that and, uh, show proper appreciation. But no, seriously, uh, you know, we appreciate your words of, of appreciation, and I think it’s awesome that as a business leader, you know where all your blessings come from and they, you know, they come from our God and everything starts there. Without that blessing, you’re not gonna get very far and, uh, to, to be able to hear you, you know, publicly, you know, state that, and, and, and thank, uh, God for all your blessings, because those trickle down to us too, as part of your team. This is something all general contractors Baton Rouge should be trying to implement.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
So we appreciate that about you too, because again, you know, you could be working in a situation where that that person that’s leading you has no appreciation for that. Yeah. And I just would feel like something would be lacking as far as the full potential of what you might get to experience without that blessing. So anyways, that’s very important. And uh, I think everybody here feels the same way about that. I think we all appreciate that about, about you and about this company. So anyways. All right. Anything else? That’s it, man. Okay, well I guess that’s gonna wrap it up. This was short and sweet. Thanks for, uh, tuning in again. Episode 32 is a wrap. Uh, we’re getting, uh, towards the end of this, uh, 20, 25 year. We’re looking forward to 2026 and all the possibilities. And, uh, we hope you are too. So stay tuned. We got more great, uh, episodes coming for you in the coming year. And really before this year’s up, we still have a couple great episodes that we have planned for you. So, uh, stay tuned and uh, give us a thumbs up and please subscribe. And that’s it. We’ll see you later.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Cut. Cut.