[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” menu_anchor=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” publish_date=”” class=”” id=”” link_color=”” link_hover_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_blend_mode=”none” video_mp4=”” video_webm=”” video_ogv=”” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” video_preview_image=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” border_radius=”” box_shadow=”no” dimension_box_shadow=”” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” background_type=”single” gradient_start_color=”” gradient_end_color=”” gradient_start_position=”0″ gradient_end_position=”100″ gradient_type=”linear” radial_direction=”center center” linear_angle=”180″ background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend_mode=”none” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_type=”regular” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″ last=”no”][fusion_imageframe image_id=”2504|large” max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://yourepicmission.com/wp-clone/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Heroes-of-Change-Guest-1-1024×1024.png[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

Upon Reflection:
Lessons Learned from My Conversation with Bryan Shaw, Renaissance Man

By: Jeremy Turner, MBA
Founder & Managing Director: EPIC Mission

Following each of the podcast interviews, I like to take time for the conversation to marinate in my mind so that I can more fully absorb the wisdom I might glean from our time together. Each conversation is special to me, because the person on the other end has taken the time to prepare for the interview and to then answer my probing questions and engage in a dialogue that we hope will prove beneficial to you, the listener. Each interviewee has their own life story and reasons why they are where they are today. One piece of the puzzle that I am seeing that is somewhat common thus far is the connection between the interviewee and someone close to them whom they watched and interacted with during their most formative years. Bryan’s story is no different.

I’ve known Bryan for nearly four years and during that time we have taught together at the inaugural West Virginia Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship which was housed at Marshall University in 2016 and again during Year 3 at WVU, we’ve collaborated on various consulting projects for both my firm and his, we have coached early stage startups during his time as Director of the Ten50 Business Accelerator at RCBI, and we have joined forces to lead the development and opening of Huntington’s first coworking space, CoWorks. Along the way we have had many, may conversations about a myriad of topics, ranging from the absurd to the very serious. During all this time together I had never heard about his father and how Bryan was inspired by him as his father overcome what for most of us would have been a tremendous roadblock. In reflection, I suppose I had never really asked about his inspiration until recently. There are two lessons I want to highlight here. First, take the time and make the intentional effort to get to know the people around you. Learn their back stories. Ask curious questions, not to be nosey or intrusive, but to gain a better appreciation for who this person is by discovering from whence they came. I believe that we, as humans, are far more similar and have far more commonalities among us than we typically consider. Each of us has a story and stories have a great power to drive connection. Perhaps we might connect more deeply and  more meaningfully with others as we share our stories with one another. Perhaps we might learn something important about ourselves as we form the thoughts and speak the words of our own stories.

Second, never underestimate the power of being a proper role model to others. You never know who is watching and listening as they seek to learn how best to operate in this sometimes-crazy world, modeling their behavior after what they see you do and hear you say. Seeds are planted in us that take a long time to develop. These seeds are often planted unknowingly, much like someone tossing an apple core to the ground where the seeds are fertilized and nurtured by the environment around them. We both need role models and we need to be role models for others so that they might learn how to #BeTheChange from someone who has been there and done that, or who is at least brave enough to take chance.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]