Stewardship Over Success w/ Paul Hood
Episode Details
Transcript
Paul Hood, CPA, Personal Financial Specialist, and CEO of PaulHood, joins the show to share a raw and transformative journey from "the wrong side of the tracks" to the helm of the nation’s largest single-owner CPA firm. He opens up about the grit required to break generational cycles of addiction and incarceration, and the humbling moment a Christian counselor challenged his entitlement, ultimately saving his 38-year marriage. Listeners will discover how adopting a "Kingdom stewardship" mindset can replace fear-based ambition with profound joy and explosive professional growth.
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Credits: Host: Lisa Nichols, Executive Producer: Jenny Heal, Marketing Support: Landon Burke and Joe Szynkowski, Podcast Engineer: Portside Media
Lisa Nichols
Chromosomes. Little strands of nucleic acids and proteins are the fundamental genetic instructions that tell us who we are at birth. Most people are born with forty six chromosomes, but each year in the United States, about six thousand people are born with an extra chromosome, making them a person with Down syndrome. If you've ever encountered someone with Down syndrome, you know that they are some of the kindest, most joyful people you will ever meet. They truly have something extra. My name is Lisa Nichols, and for thirty years, I have been both the CEO of Technology Partners and the mother to Ally. Ally has something extra in every sense of the word. I have been blessed to be by her side as she impacts everyone she meets. Through these two important roles as CEO and mother to Ally, I have witnessed countless life lessons that have fundamentally changed the way I look at the world. While you may not have an extra chromosome, every leader has something extra that defines who you are. Join me as I explore the something extra in leaders from all walks of life and discover how that difference in each of them has made a difference in their companies, their families, their communities, and in themselves. If you like this episode today, please go to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and leave us a five star rating. Lisa Nichols
Before we get started, I'm excited to share that my book Something Extra is now available. It is rooted in the remarkable spirit of our daughter, Ally, and the heartfelt conversations we've had on the podcast. You'll find wisdom and practical tools to ignite the leader within you and uncover your own something extra. Visit something extra book dot com or find it at Amazon or in all major bookstores to order your copy today. New Speaker
I'm delighted to have Paul Hood on the show today. Paul is a CPA, personal financial specialist, and the CEO at PaulHood. Well, Paul Hood, welcome to the Something Extra podcast. I am so delighted to have you on the show today. Paul Hood
Well, I appreciate your time. You know, I if people don't forget me because I say it's all good in the hood. So, you know, they'll remember now, Paul Hood. Lisa Nichols
All good in the hood. Oh my goodness. Well, I'm just gonna read a few things here, and then we're gonna jump in. But Paul's a CPA, an author, CEO who founded Hood and Associates over thirty years ago in 1992. Paul Hood
That's correct. Lisa Nichols
Founded our company in '94. Paul Hood
There you go. Lisa Nichols
So we're right in there. You have now grown this to the largest single owner CPA firm in the country, serving clients in more than thirty states. You're Forbes financial council member, regular TV financial expert, two time OSU, Oklahoma State University, top ten growth honoree. I mean, the list just goes on and on and on. And the most important part is you have been a husband to Lori for thirty five years or over thirty five years, a father to three sons. And we were just talking about this, your granddad to at least six. Paul Hood
I've got seven. Lisa Nichols
You've got seven now. Yeah. Oh my goodness. And we were just talking, and you said that there have been five generations of boys. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
And now you have all these little granddaughters who are in their little tutus. Like Oh, Paul Hood
it's it's crazy. Kids. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's, I thought I knew love, but, oh my gosh, these little girls. And I love my grandsons as well. But, you know, I walk in, and I've got three grandsons. One of them's a year, but the other two attack me. You know? They just wanna fight and wrestle and, you know, And and these little girls just smile, and I just melt. It's it's you know? Which is a new movement for me. You know? I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and so, you know, you gotta be tough. And and Right. These little girls, though, it's it's it's not fair. I love it, but it's not fair. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. There it is. Precious. I know Greg always says with our grandson, he said, I thought I loved our kids with all my heart until Sawyer showed me the other seventy five percent. Oh, Paul Hood
Absolutely. Yeah. I love my boys and, you know, I'd die for them. But Mhmm. Yeah. The it's, someone told me one time that the the reason we have such strong feelings towards our grandkids is you remember when you were your kids were little And, you know, all the things that now you miss, you're getting to redo. Plus you get to give them back, you know, and they start hollering and screaming. And and I can give them marshmallows for breakfast, and what what are they gonna do? Lisa Nichols
It's awesome. It's awesome. Yeah. We Greg and I are like, nope. We we're not the disciplinarians. You know? We're, you know, we're the we're the fun people. So Paul Hood
Absolutely. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. I completely agree. Well, you and I have not known each other that long. Paul Hood
No. Lisa Nichols
But I feel like we've known each other for a long time. I mean, we just immediately connected. I was asked to come to the ninety four x summit in Tulsa, and, you hosted the speakers the night before at your beautiful home and beautiful, home, beautiful family. I saw your grandkids doing cartwheels in your front yard. Paul Hood
Yeah. You got to see two of them. Yep. They live they're on the property with us. Lisa Nichols
Which is so incredible. I just loved it. But this ninety four x summit, you know, I'd love we connected for a number of reasons, Paul. I mean, obviously, we're still we're entrepreneurs still in you know, we're in business. But I think the thing that really connected us the most is our faith in Jesus and our faith in Christ. Yeah. But tell our listeners, if they have not heard about the ninety four x summit, this is really an amazing I would consider it a movement. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Started by Sean Copeland and Mitch Harris. Right? Mhmm. Mitch. Is that right? It's Mick. Did I get Mick. Yeah. Paul Hood
Mick. Mick. Lisa Nichols
Mick. Yes. And just incredible. Tell tell our listeners just a little bit about that if you if you can. Yeah. Paul Hood
You know, so that Absolutely. So I, I met Sean, about a year ago, year and a half ago, and then I met Mick. And they've got a book. It's on 94X. And and he was driving one day, I believe, and and god just spoke to him that said, hey. And he got this these these numbers ninety four times. And the theory is is we spend ninety four times more time at work than we do at church. And so why can't we be disciples at work? And as you know and, again, I'm I'm the furthest qualified, the least qualified to be a preacher, but, you know, we're called to be disciples. And how do you be disciples? You abide in Christ, and and then the Holy Spirit gives you the fruit of the spirit. And so the fruit of the spirit is basically love. And so you lead with love, and you treat people a certain way. And so he they set off to to put together an organized group of business people to teach us how we could be Christ like at work, love people without you know, and doing it in in a legal way to where, you know, you you you you don't get sued or whatever. But it's an incredible thing. And and one of the most thing things that touched me the most is is when they kick this off at at their bank, they had a lady that said, you know what? This is the first time I felt loved in twenty five years. And she had worked for Sean and the the team forever. And so how how do you live your life not feeling loved? And so it's it's really just simple bringing the principles of of Christianity, not the church because we as humans screw up the church. Yes. But being Christlike and loving people and and all of that into the into the workplace so that people, and and it's led people to Christ. You know? You don't have to get them in a headlock and smack them around and say, you're gonna know Jesus or else. You just Yeah. You just be you and be show love, and and and it's up between them and Jesus to come together. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Yeah. It's is incredible. And they are you know, their goal is to start chapters all over.Paul Hood
Yep. Lisa Nichols
So, you know, if you're a listener out there and you want to hear more, I mean, we'll put information in the snow show notes. You can reach out to either Paul or myself, and we'll connect you to Sean, and, away you go. Right? Yep. Hundred percent. So amazing. Well, you know, let me let me ask you this. I mean, you've built this amazing firm, like I said, largest single owner firm in the in the country. But, you know, before all of the growth, the awards, you know, take us back. What did you see or believe early on, Paul, that made you think I can really build something meaningful here? Paul Hood
Well, I don't know that I ever thought that until about three years ago. You know? I grew up, at least, I think you know, I'm the first person in my immediate family not to go to prison. I'm the first person, not to be, on my dad's side, alcoholic. Even my mom's father was an alcoholic. I'm the first person not to smack a woman around. Now married to a beautiful German girl. If I even thought about that, she would cut me. She would hurt me. So there's that motivation. First person to go to college. And, you know, it's, it's it's I know a lot of very successful people, and most of us, we're running away from something we didn't want versus towards something that we wanted. And, you know, I just knew I wanted to be a better father than mine was. I you know, my dad was homeless most of his life, and he was never there for me. Single mom, she was married six times. My dad was married five times. I want to be a a a better husband. And, really what created the success is and and, again, not to get political, but JD Vance's book, he talks about his people. And Mhmm. You know, in his book, he talks about seeing people put Mountain Dew in baby bottles. I've seen that. And the but the thing that that got me there that that I realized is JD Vance says, sometimes it takes an outsider to get you away from from your people. In my book Yeah. I call it pigs don't know pigs stink. You know, my cousins taught me how to fight and drink and smoke. And at ten years old, I knew how to use certain contraptions to smoke and fight and steal. And Lisa, one day and this is you know, there's a lot of men that say, I owe all my success to my wife. Well, at twelve years old, I saw this smoking, beautiful, little cheerleader with the smile that never ended. And I went, oh my gosh. What do I gotta do to get her attention? Right. And, you know, it took me a while. You know, I did, you know, there's there's all kinds of stories with that. But, ultimately, I convinced her to give me a chance. And then I met her family, and her parents were married, and they liked each other. And college. Yeah. I never heard of college. No. My family ever went to college. Most of them didn't graduate high school. And so she kinda was that motivating factor for me to turn and say, alright. I can do this. Now I was always good in school and a pretty good athlete. But, you know, I was on a path like everybody else, you know, in my family to probably end up in prison or, you know, some alcoholic, you know, smacking a woman around. But she literally changed my life. And Yeah. And so I I had to perform, Lisa. I had to be better. This I I felt so unworthy that I had to do more. I had to perform. I had to create. And forever, you know, we we we committed ourselves to Jesus, to to Christianity probably thirty years ago, but it was very cursory. You know, we went to church, but, you know, I grew up My grandfather on my mom's side was a Pentecostal preacher. And, you know, I thought the holy spirit was when somebody's flopped around on the floor talking in tongues,and, you know, what is that? You know? And I've learned since, you know, what he really is. But, you know, really, my motivation was to be good enough for Lori. Lisa Nichols
For Lori. Paul Hood
Yeah.And, you know, there was a period there that I went through, and, you know, we can talk about if you want to where I you know, like most men and I'm not being sexist, but most men, you know, I got in my thirties and forties and said, look at me. You know? Look what I've created. Look what I've done. Oh my gosh. And I deserve. I deserve. I deserve. I deserve. And so, God had to do some pruning through that period. And, thankfully, I had a wife. We filed for divorce, but she was prayed. She didn't give up. And so we pulled through that. And then, you know, there was a period that I went through that of learning that, Lisa, that you know, because I I I felt like I didn't have anybody. You know? My dad, I didn't have anybody teach me how to be a good man, how to be a good father, how to be a good Right. You know, husband, business person. And so there was a lot of pruning that went through in my in my forties, for sure. And and and about three years ago, I started you know, I realized, hey. You know, I may be meant to do some pretty incredible things to to Yeah. Sow seeds into the kingdom.Lisa Nichols
And it's the stewardship. Right? Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
You get to the point where you realize, oh, gosh. All of these gifts are given to me by the god almighty. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Right? And how am I gonna store these gifts? Right? Paul Hood
Exactly right. Yeah. Yeah. It's all his, and I'm just here to to handle it. Yeah. And and Right. There's peace in that, though. There there really is because so many people, you know, they they can't find contentment. They can't find joy, and they can't find love is because they just, you know, they've they just try to hang on to it. They've they're fear based, but it's his. So if he wants it back, he can have it. You know, Lisa, I I've lived in a trailer house. I drove a car to college. I had to start with a screwdriver. And Mhmm. Okay. Yeah. The the wealth is great, but it's his. You know? If he wants to take it back, he can hope he doesn't. But if he does, he that's fine. You know? Lisa Nichols
Right. Right. No. It's there's so much about what you've just shared that I love, Paul. First of all, like, Laurie, you just never know in somebody else's life how your presence, how your words really, I mean, can change the trajectory of their lives. Right? We need to be on the lookout for that daily, I think. Paul Hood
Yep. Lisa Nichols
I just told somebody this morning, I said I just wanna be more and more surrendered because when I realize and I you you do the same thing. I come in contact with people every single day, and I know in my own strength, I have no ability to influence or impact, you know, but when you abide, you've already said the word abide, then you do have the power Yeah. Of the holy spirit Yeah. That lives in you, and then you can rely on him. And I think yeah. And I think what you said about, you know, gosh, there's so much that you said. But even, like, getting to that point where you think, look what I've done, you know, pride is really dangerous. Paul Hood
It is. It is. Lisa Nichols
I mean, the bible says pride comes before destruction and destruction before the fall. Listen. We've got to always keep checking ourselves. Yeah. Is pride? You know, what what's my motivation for doing what I'm doing? Is it pride? And then you gotta eradicate that because I mean, we're you know, humility. Paul Hood
I was gonna tell you the story. When when Laurie and I first met, you know, her and her best friend had a birthday party. They were turning thirteen. And, to this day, nobody knows how I ended up there. I don't know if I snuck in. They didn't know me. I knew who she was. And but they they played this game, Lisa, to where the the girls got on the outside of the circle facing out, the boys on the inside facing in, and you went separate directions. And when the music stopped, that's who you danced with. And I'm telling you, Lisa, I was not a praying guy. I mean, I'm twelve years old. And for whatever reason, I said, oh my gosh, god. I need to dance with this girl. And and the music stopped, and I turned around, and there she was. Lisa Nichols
Oh my goodness. Paul Hood
I can tell you, her reaction to me, she was not very happy, but I was walking on water. And and, I was twelve years old. And then, you know, at fourteen, I saw her again, and I asked her to marry me. And she laughed at me and said no. Lisa Nichols
When you were fourteen? Fourteen. Yeah. Paul Hood
Yeah. I said, I'm telling you. Now I I you know, I've never been bashful, and that's why I've created, you know, some success, I think. But Right. Finally so then I started going out with or whatever her best best friend. And and then at at fifteen, you know, we kinda got together and, dated for four years and got married at nineteen. And and then, you know, like I said, I I when I was in my forties, I I just felt like, you know, look at me. Oh my gosh. I'm created greatness. Nobody in my family has ever done anything. And this woman should meet me at the door naked, carrying a homemade lasagna. I deserve, I did you know, the life I gave her. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Paul Hood
And and so we did. We separated and divorced, filed for divorce, and then, you know, a series of things happened. I I, we my middle son lost a baby at thirty eight weeks. Mhmm. And, it humbled me. Unfortunately or fortunately, someone took a picture of me holding my son's face. Mhmm. While he held this baby. Lisa Nichols
Mhmm. Paul Hood
And I just felt lost. I just felt, oh my gosh. I am totally alone. I've got nobody. How am I supposed to react and to be a good father here? And during this period, you know, God was working on me, and I went to a a a Christian counselor, Dawn Marie Cola. She has no idea what she did for me. She was little five foot tall. Her husband was the pastor at Wesleyan church. And I was talking to her and she said, so, Paul, what what you're saying is you deserve for Lori to act a certain way. I said, well, yeah. I I mean, you see my house. You see what you know, she can do anything. And and Lisa, she said, do you know this guy named Jesus? And I said, yeah. What did he do for you? And so I said what he did for me. At least she looked me right in the eyes with the the sweetest smile and said, what did you do to deserve that? And I went, oh my gosh. And I got punched right in the mouth. And and, you know, that started a series of of growth and pruning and and things like that. Mhmm. And, Lisa Nichols
And ultimately healing. Yeah. Paul Hood
Hundred percent. Lisa Nichols
Ultimately healing. Right? Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
For your for your marriage, and you guys are you know, have been married for over thirty five years now. Paul Hood
So We're on we've been together forty two years, married with thirty eight. Yeah. And and it's it's, I've got a big passion now for men and and, just because I don't understand women. I've been married to one for thirty eight years. I still can't keep up. I I do know she's mentally, emotionally stronger than me. I mean, literally, Lisa, she'll be sitting over there. She's left handed. She's an artist. She paints, and and she's doing a crossword puzzle or or a a puzzle and looking at her phone and watching TV and carrying on the conversation with me. And I'm going, wait. Don't talk to me. I gotta turn from the TV. It was so simple. Right. And she just, like, years years ahead of me. And so I'm very, very, very blessed for sure. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Well, I I'm just thinking, you know, to back to that story. I love that story that you told about the thirteenth birthday party Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Because God was working Yeah. Yeah. Even though you didn't realize it, you know, that, that when the music stopped. But, you know, I read something in your book. I've read your book, and we're gonna talk about your book. But, you you kinda had this, philosophy, I'm going to win or I'm gonna die trying. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
And just the grit and the perseverance and the, you know, never give up. Right, Paul? I mean, that's really important for entrepreneurs Paul Hood
It is. Lisa Nichols
Because there are some days where you're like, this is just too hard. Too hard. Paul Hood
Well, what Right? The thing for me, Lisa and and just to to correct you a little bit. So we've split our company between the CPA side, the not it it's called attestation services, and then we have a very large non CPA firm, does tax and consulting and everything. And, and we're doing pretty something pretty amazing in in the industry, and we'll talk about that maybe in a little bit that, I I tell my team they're gonna write books about us. We are changing the industry for sure. Mhmm. But, you know, when you you grow up a fighter, you you grow up no you know, thinking I've got nobody. Even though Laurie was always there, and I have three beautiful sons and but I got nobody. You know? And that that realization that, you know, when I was holding my son's face and you don't know pain. You do. You don't know pain until your kids have pain, and you can't solve that. And I've always been that I can I I will carry the burden for my entire family? But when you don't and what I realized, Lisa, because I you know, in that moment, I have a father who's gonna teach me how to be a good man, a good husband. But when I after the series of events, I realized I did have a father. I did have a business partner. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Paul Hood
I did have a counselor to teach me how to be a good husband. And it's written in the book. I mean, it's it's literally, just go to the book. Lisa Nichols
In the book. Yes. Paul Hood
And and that changed everything. That that was a pivotal point to where, you know, up to that point, I was growing partly out of fear, being unworthy. I was you know, I would not be out work. You can you know, times are tough. I get excited because I know weaker people are gonna quit. So it's partly out of fear. It's partly out of, as you create success in a world like mine, out of guilt. You know, why me, god? I mean, why why not all these other people in my family? Why me? And and then, you you know, just created that mentality. I gotta win for wins to win's sake, for win's sake. And Right. And that all changed a few years ago, and and it it's it's been just absolutely amazing because, you know, you put so much pressure on yourself when you when you have a drive to succeed because of issues like that, because of fear and because of, guilt. I I it'll never be good enough. I'll never have enough. I've I've gotta be the best. I've you know? And Lisa Nichols
That's so good. Yeah. That's so good, Paul. And, the scripture comes to me when when you're talking about that in in our weakness, he is strong. Yep. It's his strength. Right? And I see so many people burn out because they're trying to do it in their own strength. And just that surrender that you're talking about and for our listeners who may not know the book that Paul's talking about, he's talking about the bible, the holy bible. And it's all in there. Paul Hood
It's all in there. Yeah. You you wanna you wanna know how to have a good marriage? It's right there. It's written down. You wanna have a good business, good relationships? It's right there. It's and, you know, and I can laugh at it now and and so I don't cry. But literally, the woman I prayed to to have a little dance with, I thought I was too good for. The gift that God gave me that created that I had no problem acknowledging allowed me to create at least the motivation and the, you know, the the structure to create all this success. He was no longer good enough, and it's comical. It's Yeah. It's so silly, but and so many men do that. Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Thank you so much, and I'm so grateful that God took you through that, Paul. Now you can build into other men because, it's it's not it's more of a universal thing Paul Hood
It is. It is. Well and they don't know. They don't know. We we have this me, me, me, me, me, me, and I deserve, and I fell out of love, and she should do this. And I no. That that that's it's it's counterintuitive is is is when you when you get when you think about me, you will never find joy and happiness. And so it's it's not about me. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Yeah. That's so good. Well, I know that you know Horace Schultze. Paul Hood
Mhmm. Lisa Nichols
And Horace was on my podcast. And I tell you, I think Horace is, like, eighty four, eighty five now. Yep. Maybe eighty six. But I just I love that interview with him, Paul. But at the very end, you know, he's just talking about choices. Your life is a series of choices. You make a decision. You have the choice. God gives you the choice every day. How you're gonna respond. How you're gonna show up. And at the very end, he just he just cracked me up. He said, and for you men out there that say, oh, I've fallen out of love or whatever. He goes, well, whose choice is that? Amen. It is. And, just he he was just so funny, but, it just reminds me of him. But, you know, and I just wanna tell our our listeners this. I mean, you gosh. And I want you to talk more about, Hood. I want you to talk more about the company. But, you know, this is funny to me. So you started the company in nineteen ninety two? Paul Hood
Correct. Lisa Nichols
I believe. Okay. Just three years after you graduated. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
But you also bought a company. You bought another CPA firm, I think, because you were working at Deloitte. Yep. And you bought a CPA firm, like, in Bartlesville or something, like, in nineteen eighty nine. The year you're right. And I'm thinking, oh my goodness. I mean, you just, you just had some grit about you, Paul. Well Like, you know No. Paul Hood
Again what do you know? I don't know about grit. For you. Well, let me kinda tell you that little story. So, yeah, I graduated in eighty nine, went to work with Deloitte in two, second largest accounting firm in the world. And, Lori and I you know? So when Lori and I got married, she got on birth control, and then she had a a mini stroke because she can't some people can't handle the hormones. And our, ever so intelligent doctor said it'll take six months for that to get out of her system. Well, ten months later, here's a little baby, and we're still in college. So Lisa Nichols
Right. Paul Hood
You know, I I I we were at Oklahoma State University, and and it was my senior year. We had a little baby. He was born in eighty eight and graduated in eighty nine, went to work for Deloitte and Touche in Tulsa. Two years later, one of their partners and senior managers convinced me to leave with them, and they started their own practice. And I left with them to be able to move Laurie, and our second child was on the way back to Bartlesville, which where her family was. And and and so I worked for them for about a year, and they, they said, well, we want you to move back to bar back to Tulsa. We're gonna close that office because and and no. I'm I moved my wife and kids right there with grandma and and everything, and so I didn't. But that little practice so I bought them out, but it wasn't big enough to sustain me. So Mhmm. I went to work for a a private company and was doing the tax things on the side. And, Lisa, god bless the people that can do that as far as working for corporate America. I can't. You know, two weeks into it, I'm looking around these people, and it's it's and they were beautiful people, but I felt like I was in a zombie movie. You know? I had no way on earth can I do the same thing over and over and over? So then and I had a good job. I was, like, third, two people away from the CFO, but I just couldn't handle it. So then I bought another practice in ninety three, was out on my own. And so, you know, it was really out of necessity because my wife, we we needed to stay in in in Bartlesville. And then I bought another and bought another and bought another and bought another one. And about three years ago, I, you know, started getting calls from private equity people. And, apparently, I had done something pretty magnificent because my industry has always been built in a in a a centralized management model, which is a partnership. So I was, we were doing about eighteen million in business, had offices in in four states, and I own ninety nine percent of the business. And a typical CPA firm that does eighteen million dollars in business has fifteen, eighteen partners. I I had a one percent shareholder because I don't wanna sign up on audits. And and so we we kinda changed that industry, and so we built it in a decentralized management model. But in one year, Lisa, we went from eight to eighteen million dollars in revenue through acquisition and organic growth, and I realized I'm a horrible manager. There's a difference between being a manager and a leader big time. Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. And Paul Hood
and, you know, my I used to say my management style is I'm a take off running every now and then look back and see who's following. That's leadership. That's not management. And so about three years ago, we started on a it was again, God put these things in place, and I hired, a implementer. She had just sold her company. And I'm gonna tell you what's what's really great, Lisa. And I say this right to her face. She's not a Christian, and she don't have to be a Christian. I'm a a conservative Christian cowboy from Oklahoma, and she's a liberal Buddhist from England and Austin. But she's one of the most Christ like people I've ever met. And I've told her, Lisa, straight to her face, God brought you to me. It's my job to bring you to him, and she just smiles and everything. But she's an implementer. And there's a book called Rocket Fuel that, she it it's kind of like I in my vision, I know what this thing's supposed to look like. I know exactly what it's supposed to look like. And so if you think of maybe a fifty story building, I know what it's gonna look like. I can't I would couldn't. I don't want to determine, are we on pace? When do we need the plumbers? When do we need this? When do we OKRs and KPR KPIs and and management cadence and making sure and so but the two of us together is a powerhouse. It it's absolutely god sent, and and we're really excited. We're on pace to go from a twenty million in revenue to about a hundred million in revenue in the next three to four years and, gonna do some really great things for the kingdom of god. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Yeah. So cool. Well, Paul, we've got I've got lots more. I wanna get into your book. There's lots more questions. We do need to take a quick break, and we'll be right back with Paul Hood on the Something Extra podcast. AD
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So welcome back, everyone, to the Something Extra podcast with my friend, Paul Hood. So here is his book. It's called he's written two, but I've got the one in front of me, Roadkill Tastes Like Chicken. Yeah. And it is a really good book. I mean, you know, that one gets everybody's attention. I'm sure, that title alone. But what is the deeper, you know, story and lesson you want people to take away? And I would highly recommend our leaders get the book. You will laugh. You will cry. You will be inspired. I mean, it's all of those things. But, you know, I'm I'm in I'm gonna put I'm gonna put one thought in your brain. Okay? K. Paul. But maybe other things. But, you know, one of the things that really stuck out to me, it's not your circumstances that determines your attitude. It's how you choose to react to your circumstances or to respond to your circumstances. Because your circumstances were not ideal. Right? But you responded in a different way. So, you know, what other lessons what are some of the lessons you want people to take away when they read your book? Paul Hood
Well, you know, roadkill tastes like chicken. The title came from because we were so poor. We literally have stories of eating roadkill. And I don't mean we stopped and picked up a dead animal, but my grandfather was full blooded and then my dad was half. And whether he shot a squirrel with a gun, an arrow, ran over the car, that's dinner. And, the the yeah. I I I'm sure you've heard you know, Jim Stovall. And Jim Stovall is my buddy, and he's got some incredible books. And and he's a client, and I get to meet with him, periodically. And, he's very generous. Gen he's great with his time. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Paul Hood
And he said, Paul, you need to write a book. I said, no. I don't need to write a book. I'm a CPA and a financial planner. Nobody wants to read that book. And Jim said, what are the ten to twelve things that you learned from where you went where you were to where you came, where you're at now? What are the ten to twelve things you've learned on this path that if other people knew, it might change their lives? How did you learn it, and and how would they apply it? And, you know, the the, the emphasis of the book and, again, when I wrote it, it was kind of like, I'm not good enough to write this. A little bit out of guilt. You know? I I I don't know why I've got this, but there you know, I made a list of ten things. And and, one of them is, Lisa, my ultimate goal in life. I had the opportunity to sell half of my company in March for fifty million dollars. Yeah. Broke deal everything. Fifty million dollar. If I can't live on fifty million dollars, there's a problem. You you got a big problem. I felt like Satan was tempting me because I know what we're gonna do with on the back end. And but the whole that that section, especially that quote is, there there's a there's a there's a thing called the I call it maybe is the, scarcity principle, Lisa. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Paul Hood
That's why gold and silver and diamonds are so valuable. It's scarce. What I've come to discover, one of the things I want, spend my life doing is, like, I I periodically will talk to urban football teams, and and their coach, this last one, he said, Paul, not a single one of these boys know what success actually looks like. And, Lisa, if I'm talking to you, you talk about scarcity. In the history of mankind, from Adam to today and for the entire future, there has never been and never will be another Lisa. You are the the the definition of scarcity, of value. And God put in you the the desire and the ability and to be to do amazing things, things that nobody else on the planet has ever been able or ever will be able to do. It's in you. But we live in this world, and I come from that world of of this victim mentality, blaming other people. I can't do this because of where I grew up or my family or my race or, you know, whatever. And it's it's just it hurts my heart that there is so much talent tied up in poverty. And the people that the the biggest hindrance to people being who they god created them to be is themselves. Is that self talk? Right. Is that self talk? And Yes. And they get the affirmation from the people. Nobody's ever done this, and, no, we you know, we our our kind just don't do that. And we have this entitlement attitude that's pervasive and this victim mentality. And it's it's it's a lie. Lisa, it's a lie. And and my intent was, especially with that quote, was to try to start that process to to you are your biggest asset. And, you know, if I wanna play professional basketball, then I'm gonna study. I'm gonna learn. I'm a videotape myself. What are my movements? I'm gonna go get coaching. I'm gonna work work work work work work because it's proven, that it it's it takes about ten thousand hours, and you can be a a an expert in anything. Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Right. Paul Hood
Right. Yeah. I believe yeah. That's in the outliers, the book The Outliers, which is amazing book. And and you'll see for me that that I quote books all the time. I quote your book all the time. And and because I I don't want people to see it's not me. You know? I I just have learned things, and I intentional. I I sent you this note, you know, that I sent to my boys this morning or the other morning that my my my hope for them that is at one point at some point in time in their life, they have a goal and and or a purpose that is so big that it scares them. That that, they know if they complete this, it has to be got. There's no way they could have done it themselves. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Paul Hood
And Yes. But what it does is it it puts you in a position to where you can't quit. You you can't you know, because there's so many people relying on you that you do. And that's basically my life. From the beginning of of this amazingly beautiful woman that I did not deserve to have, to my kids, to my grandkids, to the the calling is it's so much bigger than me. That's gotta be God. And Lisa Nichols
Yes. Paul Hood
I want that for my kids. And, you know, and that's a that's a worry for people. I don't know if you've thought about this. I'm sure you have. But, on one hand, I I get very emotional thinking about what I missed out having not having my dad around or, you know, the times, you know, I my mom, who was an angel at the end of her life, but, you know, she'd take me to beer joints. And, you know, I'd be around drunk people and cigarettes and pool. I can hear and but, Lisa, that's what made me me. Lisa Nichols
Absolutely. And Yeah. Paul Hood
I don't regret it. I I regret it, but I don't regret it. Lisa Nichols
Well, if you hadn't gone through those things, Paul, you might not be the person you are today. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
You know? I mean, you know, be yes. I but I just love that. And I think you are so right that, yes, we are our biggest asset, but we can also be our biggest roadblock. Paul Hood
The roadblock. Hundred percent. Lisa Nichols
You could be the roadblock. So, gosh, I've got so much here that I want to to talk about. You know, this is cool. I mean, your boys now are, you know, not just your sons, but they're also with you in the business Yep. Which is really cool. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
You know, is there, like, one particular like, if there is a listener out there, Paul, and they're thinking about possibly bringing their children into the business, because sometimes, I mean, sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. Sure. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
You know? I've seen the generational thing does not work sometimes. You know, is there one piece of advice that you would give them? I mean, like, as the founder, this was your baby, but what what had to change in you, you know, to to make room for for your boys to be in in the business? Paul Hood
Well, you know, I don't know that I ever even thought that they would come into business with me, you know, and and they kinda I kind of, tricked them because Lisa Nichols
You tricked them. Paul Hood
Yeah. Yeah. Because, you know, I coached everything. I coached them in sports, and I created a pretty good lifestyle. We had a nice house, and and and I coached them. I didn't I I did miss my youngest son still won't let me forget this. I missed one football game in high school, and he gives me all kinds of grief about that. But but back then, the technology didn't exist. So I would work and then do my dad thing and coach him and do all that kind of stuff, and then put them to bed. And then I'd go back to work at eleven, twelve o'clock until two, three o'clock in the morning. And it was just a price I I wanted to pay. Well so what they saw, Lisa, was this great lifestyle, and dude only works forty hours a week. Let's go. But the the thing that I would tell people is there's a separation between if I'm a dad or not and Mhmm. To a degree. But the reality is is I'm harder on my sons than I am on anybody else. I've told them, your last name is Hood, so there's more expected of you. You will get every one of my sons have started off answering the phone, you know, shredding, copying. I've never given my sons an allowance, because I have a big fear, Lisa. Like what I was saying earlier, the struggle that I went through, I didn't know it was struggle. It made me who I am. And I don't want the lack of struggle for them to make them who they become. And so, I don't know how other than, you know, divine interference because they're all three just amazing young men, great fathers, great parents, serving, God. And and so, I didn't give to them. I made them earn what they get. They acknowledge that they had a you know, they may have been born on third base. Now my first one, we were poor, so he he was probably born on in the dugout, if you will. But just because you're born on third base doesn't mean you had a triple. But they know they know, even to the point of, you know, we're creating some pretty significant inherit you know, wealth. And I've told them, don't count on inheriting anything. Now my grandkids, that's a different story. They're they're That's new. Lisa Nichols
Right. Right. There may be some trust funds there. Yeah. But, yeah, no. I mean, we've told our kids the same thing, you know. And, I mean, we wanna, build into the kingdom. We wanna, you know, give away. But Paul Hood
They've gotta Lisa Nichols
earn it. Yes. I just remember you just reminded me long time ago, Paul, I heard Crawford Larrutz speak. And his son was speaking alongside him and, kind of the same thing. He said, you know I mean, he goes, at the time, he goes, I'm like, what? You know, he goes, dad wouldn't help me with college. He wouldn't help me. But he said, you know, what I realize now is dad refused to remove the struggle. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Because there is something really transformational that happens in the struggle. Paul Hood
Unearned wealth is always negative. Always. Mhmm. You know, if you if you research people that won the win the lottery, vast majority of them say it's the worst thing that's ever happened to them. Mhmm. And and so we're focused on financial counseling as where well, it's tax. And so, you know, somebody comes in and, hey. I my mom died. I inherited a hundred thousand dollars. I'm a pay off my credit cards. I tell them don't do it, Lisa. You put that money in the bank, and Dave Ramsey may get upset with me, but I don't think so. Because I tell them, you gotta go six months. You show me six months or a year to where you don't charge those credit cards up, then pay them off. Because within five years, you're gonna be back. And Lisa Nichols
Right. Back to those habits. Right. Paul Hood
Yeah. So you you've gotta create opportunities for your kids to struggle. You've gotta create opportunities for them to learn. And in my industry, it's great because they've gotta take all these tests and become licensed and do this. And so they there is a badge of honor that they passed, you know, these tests and and to be a financial planner and a CPA and all of that. But you Lisa Nichols
just Right. Paul Hood
It's it's, it's a hard thing. It really is not to, take away their pain, take away their struggle, but you are hurting them big time. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. That's such great advice. That is such great advice. I love that. Well, thank you. Thank you for sharing that. Oh my goodness. There's so many things other things, but I know that we're, running out of time here. You know, I mean, you know, I'm just gonna tell our listeners. I mean, you're very deeply invested in a community. You know, giving back is really important to both you and Lori. You've done things with the boy scouts, arts council, employee education ministry, big brothers, big sisters. The list goes on. It's important. Yep. Right? You know, I was gonna ask you what grounds you when the stakes are high, but I think I know what grounds you. Yeah. We've already talked about it. Paul Hood
Yeah. Lisa Nichols
Go to the the book. Paul Hood
The book. Lisa Nichols
Okay. Yeah. Go to the book, people. Go to the book. Go to prayer. You know? So let me ask you this. What okay. For somebody listener out there that is building a business today and they feel this overwhelmed by growth, competition, comparison, what advice would you give to them, Paul? Paul Hood
Well and and I don't know, Lisa, if if this is a point to where I can tie into where, you know, the something extra type scenario. So here's what I learned. First off, there's two things. One, like we established earlier, you're your own best asset. So if you're not do getting up every day with an attitude that I'm gonna win today physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Meaning Mhmm. I I get up in the mornings and I'm Lisa Nichols
Say that again. Keep Say that again. What are the pillars? Paul Hood
The pillars are gonna be you you gotta get up and win the day physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. So regardless of what happens, you have to have habits of taking care of your body. You've gotta be reading everything you can get your hands on. And there's lists. There's people, you know, to be a better person because you can't grow. I'm not equipped to run a business today that does a hundred million dollars. So I am just devouring, work. And I'll tell you, you need to go further than just reading. I go through and I mark the books and flag them and mark this is your book. This is one of my favorite new books, and I mark it. And I've got an assistant now that will go in and type my notes. I've got notebooks. So treat reading and everything as like you're in college. Never stop learning. And the key though, Lisa, to this whole story is when I when I lost my grandchild, I'm out went through divorce, and Don Marie Colos smacked me in the eye with with it's not about you. And then I read another book by Andy Stanley. It's called Better Decisions, Pure Regrets. Lisa Nichols
Yes. You recommended that book to me, and I've got that book and have been reading that. Paul Hood
Mhmm. Well, one of the last questions it's a series of five questions, and it's great. It's not it's a faith based book, but everybody should read that book just like everybody should read your book because it's it goes beyond. It's it's it's it's developing as a person. But one of the questions, Lisa, that he says, what does love require of me? And I also read another book. It's called Living Life Backwards. And and God took me through all of these steps and all these books and one called Visioneering by I think it was by Andy Stanley also. And the the total focus is is it's not about me. Lisa, if you wanna be if if you wanna create greatness in this world, it's not about you. If you wanna have a great marriage, it's not about you. It's not. And if you wanna have great kids, it's not about you. You get home at night and you're tired, get your butt up off the couch and go wrestle with them. Go play. Play games. Read to them. If you wanna have a great business, it's not about you. It's it's about helping other people and Serving your people. Exactly. Mhmm. And what I found and and it's just so amazing. There is no fear of failure, Lisa, because it's not about me. It it whatever god wants me to do and people always talk about, well, what's God's will for my life? God's will for your life is in the book. And in the book, he says abide in me, and that means seek his word every day. And work and love and and you lead with love, and you can't fail. Because there in that moment, Lisa, when when I was holding my son's head thinking I got nobody, then I realized I've always had somebody. And the the crazy thing is and right now, Lisa, I'll just tell you, any man listening to this is thinking about divorce, you call me. I'll give you my personal cell phone number. You call me because it's a lie. It's a lie. I Lori and I, she thinks I'm a freak now. I just I just stare at her, because when you get to a point to where it's not about you, life is great. You know, that that book, Living Life Backwards, it talks about some of the happiest people on the planet have a terminal disease. They don't worry about somebody cut them off in traffic. They don't worry about this and that. They they see the moment as joy. Lisa Nichols
They live in the present. Yes. So And every moment's a gift. Yep. You're looking at her when you're staring at her now, Paul. You're looking at her and just thanking God for the gift. Paul Hood
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Well and and so but it it it permeates my entire life. And if somebody wants to know the secret to success, it's those words, is is to read and and be understand it's not about me. Because what does Jesus say? You know, we as humans kind of pollute Christianity. Jesus says, love God, love your neighbor. And then he directs us to be his disciple by abiding in the spirit. And if you abide in the spirit means read his word and be with him all the time. You do that, and you get what's called the fruit of the spirit, which is love, Lisa. Yes. And when you look and I've got a one final story to tell you, that is just the most amazing thing that one of the most amazing things that's ever happened to me. And, and it all happened after this, after God showed me, it's not about you. Every fight I've ever had with my wife, it's because I'm thinking of me. Every disagreement in business, at work, I'm thinking about me. Lisa Nichols
Yes. Yes. Paul Hood
Stop it. Just relax. It doesn't mean it's gonna go away. So one day, I'm in, in Starbucks, and and this guy walks in. He's obviously homeless. And, I I just go I felt god said, go buy him some food or whatever. And so I went over and said, hey, brother. You want something? He said, yeah. And he said, thank you. And he he got this little protein bar. I said, oh, no. I said, let's go. Let's go. Get you a sandwich, a drink, a cup sandwich. I got him a gift card thinking I've done some really good stuff here, Lisa. And he says, sir, may I ask your name? And and I said, my name is Paul. And Lisa, I said, what's your name? Lisa, his name was Dennis. Dennis was my father's name who was homeless most of his life. Oh, wow. And in that moment, when I'm thinking, look at me. I've done something really good. God showed me a gift. I just hugged the man, and I'm sure he thought I was a freak because tears started flowing. Yeah. And that's the epitome. It's not about me. But you know what? When it when it's not about you, that's when you find joy. That's when you find contentment. That's when you find success. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Paul Hood
And it's not about me. Lisa Nichols
And Yeah. But, Paul, you know, I'm just thinking, you know, here's the thing. You had your eyes open, your ears open, your heart open. You know, it's not about me. I mean, just really, truly you know, you could have missed that. Yep. You could have missed that man so easily. And how many times do we walk into Starbucks and we miss it? Yeah. But when you're in tune, when you're walking, you know, the holy spirit will prompt you. You know? And then you acted on that. You know, you're obedient to what you Paul Hood
have to do. Wife, with your husband, with your kids, with your work. Just stop. It's not about you. You'll get yours. You create goals. It's the old Zig Ziglar. We wanna be earthly. Zig Ziglar said, you help you'll get what you want in life. If you open up, other people get what they want. Lisa Nichols
Person get what they want. Yeah. One of my favorites. Paul Hood
It's all it's all biblical, and it's real simple. It's right there in the book. Love. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. Paul Hood
Lead with love. It's not about you. Lisa Nichols
Yeah. That is so good. Well, I love it, and I don't think I've ever had anybody say that that that's the something extra. So thank you so much for that. You know, I just wanna tell our listeners because I know because I've gotten pictures of you on your your elliptical or your treadmill with a book Yep. There. But you read all the time, Paul. And if our listeners would get the book, Roadkill Tastes Like Chicken by Paul Hood, in the back I love this. You have the whole suggested reading. And Paul's got a whole list of books in the back. I've read many of them. Some, I have not. So I'm gonna be, checking some of those out, but you've got, like, pages and pages of Paul Hood
books Lisa Nichols
here Yep. Recommended reading. But, yeah, I know that you are that physical. You're you're working out every day. You have a, you know, some equipment in your home. You're working out every day. You're working your mind. You're definitely spending time in the word, and, I just I love I've just loved every bit of our, conversation here, and there's so much more we could talk about. We we may have to do a part two. Paul Hood
I would love that. I would love that. You know? I wanna talk about everybody writing a book. You know? I was told, Nick, I can't pronounce his last name. He was at ninety four Lisa Nichols
eight. Yeah. Paul Hood
Yeah. Yeah. I believe he told me that the the biggest library in the world is in a, cemetery. There's so much knowledge that people die with. Everybody should write a book. You change one person's life, and that ripple effect through humanity is huge. Yep. Lisa Nichols
It's so huge. Yeah. I love it. Well, Paul, thank you so much for making the time. I know how busy you are, and I can't wait to see you in person again. Paul Hood
Take care. Lisa Nichols
Either you got you and Laurie come to Saint Louis or Greg and I will come to Tulsa. Paul Hood
Absolutely. I love that. Let's make it happen. Lisa Nichols
Okay. Paul Hood
Alright. You're a blessing. I appreciate you. Announcer
Thank you for listening to today's show. Something Extra with Lisa Nichols is a Technology Partners production. Copyright Technology Partners, Inc, two thousand and nineteen. For show notes or to reach Lisa, visit tpi dot co slash podcast. Don't forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you listen.