Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts
Becoming a sports complex owner was not a direct path for Mike!
Connect with Mike Stoever
facebook.com/Choice-Sports-Arena
Growing up Mike wasn’t a great student, he even talks about graduating in the bottom 1% of his class. He really found himself when he decided that college wasn’t for him. So at age 17 he found out that the Navy would be a good opportunity for him to take a career path and figure out the rest later.
It was the fear of failure that drove him to make his time in the Navy a success. He didn’t want to look like a failure to his friends and family back at home, so it was really important to him to do the best he could.
Later in life, he needed extra money to support his family so he took a part time job working at a local skating rink. With in a few years, he was a business partner at the rink and running his own roller hockey programs in the mid-90’s. Soon, it became apparent that the roller hockey programs were going to need their own building. So, the owner gave Mike the opportunity to lease a building that he was willing to build next to the current skating rink.
The Choice Sports complex was born, and Mike started hustling to fill the building to capacity. Today, many years later, the sports complex is thriving with many different sports available under the ownership of Mike.
Mike hopes to pass the sports complex down to one or both of his children at some point. Both of his children have expressed interest in running the sports complex well into the future.
I play roller hockey at this sports complex, so I was very happy when Mike decided to be a guest on my show. I think there is a lot of great lessons in this interview to be learned.
Buy Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run
Episode 32
Transcription
1
[00:00:00],000 –> [00:00:05],40
this is the dreamers podcast where
dreamers shared their stories to inspire
2
[00:00:05],40 –> [00:00:06],330
you
3
[00:00:06],330 –> [00:00:12],000
now join host Joe Pardo as he interviews
a dreamer who’s living their dreams
4
[00:00:22],140 –> [00:00:24],510
yeah
5
[00:00:24],510 –> [00:00:28],560
welcome to the dreamers podcast I’m your
host Joe Pardo and today I’m
6
[00:00:28],560 –> [00:00:32],339
interviewing Michael stover senior who
is living history through running a
7
[00:00:32],340 –> [00:00:33],660
sports facility
8
[00:00:33],660 –> [00:00:37],110
welcome to the show Mike thank you Joe
great to be here it’s great to be here
9
[00:00:37],110 –> [00:00:39],510
it right in the sports facility
10
[00:00:39],510 –> [00:00:42],540
yeah let’s get started by giving some
background about yourself
11
[00:00:42],540 –> [00:00:47],850
I was born and raised in Philadelphia
went through schooling over there until
12
[00:00:47],850 –> [00:00:51],840
middle school then we move through
jersey spent for my middle school years
13
[00:00:51],840 –> [00:00:56],489
always to the present living in south
jersey after high school when the US
14
[00:00:56],489 –> [00:01:01],530
Navy spent six years in the Navy cut out
of service family job you will be going
15
[00:01:01],530 –> [00:01:05],370
to college part-time at night not really
knowing which direction in life I wanted
16
[00:01:05],370 –> [00:01:10],770
to go or where life was going to take me
and kind of stumbled upon this this job
17
[00:01:10],770 –> [00:01:16],289
and I mean now it kinda dumb walk really
be honest with you and I’ve been in this
18
[00:01:16],290 –> [00:01:17],820
business for over 20 years now
19
[00:01:17],820 –> [00:01:21],750
well first of all thank you for your
service i appreciate but honestly people
20
[00:01:21],750 –> [00:01:26],940
that know me know some of my best
stories and and I’ve been won the spin a
21
[00:01:26],940 –> [00:01:31],259
tale or two usually start with this
catchphrase when I was in the needy and
22
[00:01:31],260 –> [00:01:36],390
it goes from there so I i really really
thoroughly enjoyed my time in the
23
[00:01:36],390 –> [00:01:41],340
service and you know it was it was it
was really an honored to wear uniform
24
[00:01:41],340 –> [00:01:42],60
honestly
25
[00:01:42],60 –> [00:01:46],860
well if you’d like to you can get a
story speak
26
[00:01:46],860 –> [00:01:52],260
someone may not be you know right for
public consumption at this point that we
27
[00:01:52],260 –> [00:01:53],850
may be on the next show
28
[00:01:53],850 –> [00:01:58],410
well what would you say inspires you
well you know i I’ve always I’ve always
29
[00:01:58],410 –> [00:02:02],460
been the type of person among I’m an
energetic person you know I enjoy
30
[00:02:02],460 –> [00:02:07],289
getting up in the morning I i enjoy just
doing something it doesn’t matter what
31
[00:02:07],290 –> [00:02:10],470
happens to be it could be the smallest
thing in life to me that they will
32
[00:02:10],470 –> [00:02:15],120
inspire me honestly and genuinely which
say probably the biggest thing inspires
33
[00:02:15],120 –> [00:02:19],409
me is just people to me a good day to me
is is a day that I made a friend a good
34
[00:02:19],409 –> [00:02:23],700
friend or a new friend that inspires I
I’ve always been people person
35
[00:02:23],700 –> [00:02:27],480
I’m drew my people it never ceases to
amaze me that there’s so many different
36
[00:02:27],480 –> [00:02:32],159
people out there that have so many
different opinions and likes and
37
[00:02:32],159 –> [00:02:37],230
dislikes and you know whatever vast
topic you know of
38
[00:02:37],230 –> [00:02:41],819
best you know topics but that’s that’s
always been a guy I always enjoy people
39
[00:02:41],819 –> [00:02:43],890
i met a friend today i made a new friend
today
40
[00:02:43],890 –> [00:02:48],569
oh yeah yeah but you know new tenant
across more building and in a little
41
[00:02:48],569 –> [00:02:52],409
strip center and I happened to get some
of their mail delivered to our building
42
[00:02:52],409 –> [00:02:56],69
and I walked over and introduce myself
and I went up spending about 25 minutes
43
[00:02:56],69 –> [00:03:00],599
we’re talking to the sky as an insurance
broker and you know I i made a new
44
[00:03:00],599 –> [00:03:04],980
friend today and it was good i mean
these is good guy and like I said it’s
45
[00:03:04],980 –> [00:03:06],569
just something simple as that
46
[00:03:06],569 –> [00:03:10],768
well let’s first talk about going into
the navy how did that come about well
47
[00:03:10],769 –> [00:03:22],200
Joe I i was i was not what you were
considering a very scholastic oriented
48
[00:03:22],200 –> [00:03:26],578
person as a young as a young person I I
didn’t take my my high school career
49
[00:03:26],579 –> [00:03:28],19
very seriously
50
[00:03:28],19 –> [00:03:32],400
I i didn’t i didn’t work very hard at
grades and I didn’t work very hard
51
[00:03:32],400 –> [00:03:37],379
trying to impress teachers enough to
give me a good grade on some fronts it
52
[00:03:37],379 –> [00:03:40],920
could be looked at as you know some
teachers just thought i was lazy
53
[00:03:41],430 –> [00:03:46],530
I just never really get back there was
never really inspired enough I don’t
54
[00:03:46],530 –> [00:03:51],630
think through high school to really go
out and go over and above and try to
55
[00:03:51],630 –> [00:03:56],190
achieve Sodor my high school years i was
really an underachiever i had a hundred
56
[00:03:56],190 –> [00:04:01],590
eighty five kids are so my graduating
class i think i was ranked 180 185 kids
57
[00:04:01],590 –> [00:04:05],819
so they don’t go to where I’m talking
about you know the depths that the under
58
[00:04:05],819 –> [00:04:10],440
cheating actually sang too i have to
look back and I always remember a
59
[00:04:10],440 –> [00:04:14],130
conversation I had with my mom and i was
when i was in tenth grade I brought in
60
[00:04:14],130 –> [00:04:19],48
my report card it was not very good i
think the highest grade was was in a
61
[00:04:19],48 –> [00:04:25],169
which was in gym and then from Jim it is
saying down to like a scene in english
62
[00:04:25],169 –> [00:04:30],299
and then just went from there so I I
brought home a standard you know like
63
[00:04:30],300 –> [00:04:36],000
stover report card which was pretty dad
and my mom pulled me aside and she said
64
[00:04:36],000 –> [00:04:41],760
it is this the best you can do is just
the best you can do and I said yes
65
[00:04:41],760 –> [00:04:43],740
that’s the best I can do
66
[00:04:43],740 –> [00:04:48],150
and she said if this is the best you can
do then then I’m not gonna worry about
67
[00:04:48],150 –> [00:04:52],830
it because i only want you to do the
best you can do but you know and I know
68
[00:04:52],830 –> [00:04:57],30
that you’re smarter than this and you
can do better work than this if you
69
[00:04:57],30 –> [00:04:57],809
really wanted to
70
[00:04:57],810 –> [00:05:00],690
so I’m not going to worry about it i’m
not going to punch you I’m not going to
71
[00:05:00],690 –> [00:05:06],360
make it do more chores I just want you
to do the best you can do and i took
72
[00:05:06],360 –> [00:05:10],20
that to heart and I planted my way
through high school the rest of the way
73
[00:05:10],20 –> [00:05:17],159
that because it was almost like you know
my mom gave me a free pass but i’ll
74
[00:05:17],159 –> [00:05:21],509
never forget the words that she said
were this report card makes you look
75
[00:05:21],509 –> [00:05:27],240
like you’re not smart but I know in my
heart that you’re smart and that’s what
76
[00:05:27],240 –> [00:05:33],539
I’m going to bank as i know you’re smart
and I think you know you’re so you do
77
[00:05:33],539 –> [00:05:37],469
what you have to do in school I know
that you can do much much better than
78
[00:05:37],470 –> [00:05:42],449
what you’re doing and I always
remembered it struck me in a sense
79
[00:05:42],449 –> [00:05:49],349
though to make a short story long to
have I got myself to go into the service
80
[00:05:49],349 –> [00:05:54],240
i graduated high school I had enrolled
at Glassboro State College which is now
81
[00:05:54],240 –> [00:05:58],889
Rowan University and in Glassboro New
Jersey I was there maybe a weekend
82
[00:05:58],889 –> [00:06:05],310
honestly and i looked around and i knew
that that I was completely out of my
83
[00:06:05],310 –> [00:06:06],90
element
84
[00:06:06],90 –> [00:06:11],219
I mean I didn’t belong there and i had a
friend of mine a good friend of mine too
85
[00:06:11],219 –> [00:06:15],599
we’ve been childhood friends and still
friends with them to this day I came
86
[00:06:15],599 –> [00:06:19],380
home from from college for the weekend
with my buddies house and it always
87
[00:06:19],380 –> [00:06:25],409
stuff on his desk about the US Navy I
looked at it which is all now he said
88
[00:06:25],409 –> [00:06:26],69
that
89
[00:06:26],69 –> [00:06:31],289
Oh going to list a neat is it really and
he said yeah use that it’s pretty good
90
[00:06:31],289 –> [00:06:34],740
use i’m going to bootcamp and you know
they’re going to go to school and you
91
[00:06:34],740 –> [00:06:38],370
know then you’re going to train me and
then I’m gonna go get a job and eating
92
[00:06:38],370 –> [00:06:42],60
I don’t want to go to college and this
is an opportunity for me to not only get
93
[00:06:42],60 –> [00:06:46],199
some education but also get paid for the
education you said so that’s what I’m
94
[00:06:46],199 –> [00:06:51],360
going to do and I said wow i’ll go to
mark my mom signed the papers because at
95
[00:06:51],360 –> [00:06:55],400
the time i was still only 17 so i went
home and i said my mom you
96
[00:06:55],400 –> [00:06:59],719
I want to join an 80 and she use not
joining the navy she was you’re going to
97
[00:06:59],720 –> [00:07:02],690
college and i told her i said i don’t
belong there
98
[00:07:02],690 –> [00:07:07],759
I don’t feel like I belong at a
university that’s not what I’m cut out
99
[00:07:07],759 –> [00:07:13],669
the day I said listen I’m only 17 I want
to list but you know I’m not 18 you have
100
[00:07:13],669 –> [00:07:18],469
to sign the papers for me and my parents
were divorced and I said listen if you
101
[00:07:18],470 –> [00:07:19],370
don’t sign
102
[00:07:19],370 –> [00:07:22],850
no I’m gonna call bad and I’m gonna I’m
gonna ask him to sign she reluctantly
103
[00:07:22],850 –> [00:07:26],900
signed the papers for me to go in and I
went up you know going into the service
104
[00:07:26],900 –> [00:07:34],789
quite frankly was probably the single
best decision i’ve i’ve made from from
105
[00:07:34],789 –> [00:07:38],210
from a career stamp probably the single
best decision ever
106
[00:07:38],210 –> [00:07:43],940
why would you say that well at that
point you know once you go into the
107
[00:07:43],940 –> [00:07:44],870
military
108
[00:07:44],870 –> [00:07:50],120
there’s no place for my stover from the
1975 1979 circle high school
109
[00:07:50],120 –> [00:07:54],560
there’s no there’s no place for that guy
either you’re going to conform and
110
[00:07:54],560 –> [00:07:58],460
you’re going to achieve what they want
you to achieve or you’re going to be put
111
[00:07:58],460 –> [00:08:05],150
out and the last thing that I wanted as
an individual and I guess you know this
112
[00:08:05],150 –> [00:08:09],409
is kind of carried me through my life is
I I never want to go back to my hometown
113
[00:08:09],410 –> [00:08:14],960
and and and tell the kids that I failed
I don’t want to tell my classmates or my
114
[00:08:14],960 –> [00:08:18],919
neighbors are my family my friends it
that I got I got kicked out of the
115
[00:08:18],919 –> [00:08:26],60
service so it was almost a situation
where you know I was I was fearful of of
116
[00:08:26],60 –> [00:08:36],650
becoming a failure in the military and
that kind of turned me in innocence
117
[00:08:36],650 –> [00:08:40],189
where I still I started to look at
myself a little bit differently i
118
[00:08:40],190 –> [00:08:44],540
started to think of myself differently i
started to think you know what you know
119
[00:08:44],540 –> [00:08:48],110
maybe I am smarter than I really gave
myself credit for maybe there is more
120
[00:08:48],110 –> [00:08:52],730
than I can do then just be you know
some-some dumped on the graduated you
121
[00:08:52],730 –> [00:08:59],270
know the bottom one percent my class and
the the fear of failure drove me to
122
[00:08:59],270 –> [00:09:05],89
become a better person and a better a
better sailor in the United States and
123
[00:09:05],89 –> [00:09:06],870
then take care of me wanted to
124
[00:09:06],870 –> [00:09:11],430
single life i mean i-i I went through
boot camp I went to a class a school in
125
[00:09:11],430 –> [00:09:15],989
millington tennessee and graduated
second in my class out of maybe 50
126
[00:09:15],990 –> [00:09:20],460
sailors which is isn’t great but I mean
for me at that point I was at the top
127
[00:09:20],460 –> [00:09:27],60
looking down rather than the bottom
looking up and that inspired me to work
128
[00:09:27],60 –> [00:09:32],369
harder I’m like wow I could I think
really well and and I didn’t have to
129
[00:09:32],370 –> [00:09:37],860
take a gym class to get an a you know I
i did well for myself and it was really
130
[00:09:37],860 –> [00:09:40],500
a life-changing experience
131
[00:09:40],500 –> [00:09:44],130
so let’s fast forward to how you got
involved with owning your own sports
132
[00:09:44],130 –> [00:09:55],770
facility that is that that’s something
that was never never my intention i got
133
[00:09:55],770 –> [00:10:03],779
out of the Navy and I took a job working
for consulting engineering firm and
134
[00:10:03],779 –> [00:10:08],730
started out as an entry-level position
and kind of work my way up when through
135
[00:10:08],730 –> [00:10:12],660
certification courses in engineering and
then I decided that I wanted to put
136
[00:10:12],660 –> [00:10:18],689
myself back into school and I went to
burlington county college growing t’en
137
[00:10:18],690 –> [00:10:22],800
in the members in New Jersey when i’m
going to school night working full-time
138
[00:10:22],800 –> [00:10:27],420
during the day and I i got an
associate’s degree in business
139
[00:10:27],420 –> [00:10:34],290
administration and it was again one of
those things were said to myself wow you
140
[00:10:34],290 –> [00:10:38],430
know what I want to Glasgow state
colleges a seventeen-year-old and I knew
141
[00:10:38],430 –> [00:10:44],40
that you know really belong there and
then is 22 or 23 year old I went back to
142
[00:10:44],40 –> [00:10:47],730
a community school and I’m saying to
myself I should have done this five
143
[00:10:47],730 –> [00:10:52],589
years ago but in any event i was working
part-time and met a lovely young lady
144
[00:10:52],589 –> [00:10:57],660
who I happen to marry and my job took me
to the point where i started to make a
145
[00:10:57],660 –> [00:11:02],370
little bit of money in life was like wow
doing pretty good here young guy 28 29
146
[00:11:02],370 –> [00:11:04],410
years old and make a little bit of money
147
[00:11:04],410 –> [00:11:08],939
my wife and I had our son our first son
was born and you know we’re living in a
148
[00:11:08],940 –> [00:11:12],779
condo at the time and was good you know
two-bedroom two-bath little condo we
149
[00:11:12],779 –> [00:11:13],360
want to
150
[00:11:13],360 –> [00:11:18],279
single-family home and we found herself
down here in Washington Township New
151
[00:11:18],279 –> [00:11:22],750
Jersey and we we bought a single-family
home we had decided when our son was
152
[00:11:22],750 –> [00:11:28],630
born that we wanted to raise our child
we wanted to be the primary caregivers
153
[00:11:28],630 –> [00:11:33],70
we wanted to be the ones that saw him
walk and talk and throw a baseball
154
[00:11:33],700 –> [00:11:36],820
we want to be the first ones to see all
those things you know I didn’t want to
155
[00:11:36],820 –> [00:11:39],550
find out at kindercare that my son
156
[00:11:39],550 –> [00:11:43],660
oh you’re some walk today or your son
ate spaghetti used by himself today we
157
[00:11:43],660 –> [00:11:48],819
know we wanted to be there for so moved
down here to Washington Township and the
158
[00:11:48],820 –> [00:11:56],19
gentleman who owned this facility prior
to me was was a friend of ours
159
[00:11:56],19 –> [00:12:00],279
my wife and I had known for a number of
years he found that move down here and
160
[00:12:00],279 –> [00:12:03],579
offer me a part-time job you know
working in you know one or two nights a
161
[00:12:03],579 –> [00:12:08],500
week we were roller skating at that time
and he said listen I could use a you
162
[00:12:08],500 –> [00:12:10],390
know part-time manager to help me out
163
[00:12:10],390 –> [00:12:14],230
would you be interested in coming in and
give me some part-time some part-time
164
[00:12:14],230 –> [00:12:14],950
help
165
[00:12:14],950 –> [00:12:19],660
at the time you know getting back to you
know my wife and I working and not
166
[00:12:19],660 –> [00:12:24],550
working I went home I said to my wife
was working a part-time job at night it
167
[00:12:24],550 –> [00:12:29],170
was killing her and I said listen I can
work part-time at the skating rink at
168
[00:12:29],170 –> [00:12:33],219
night couple nights a week rather than
you leaving the house at night when i
169
[00:12:33],220 –> [00:12:36],399
came home from work and coming home and
twelve o’clock one o’clock in the
170
[00:12:36],399 –> [00:12:40],000
morning and then when i leave at 6am you
have to be up because we have a baby to
171
[00:12:40],000 –> [00:12:43],839
take care of why don’t you allow me to
do that and then you can stay home and
172
[00:12:43],839 –> [00:12:47],320
you know it’s going to be a couple
nights a week so you know we agreed that
173
[00:12:47],320 –> [00:12:51],970
that’s the path we want to take well the
one or two nights a week turned into
174
[00:12:51],970 –> [00:12:54],730
three nights a week turned into four
nights a week turning now my god in
175
[00:12:54],730 –> [00:12:59],380
their seven nights a week and after a
year year-and-a-half the guy who owned
176
[00:12:59],380 –> [00:13:04],000
the business asked me if i would like to
come into work from full-time and they
177
[00:13:04],000 –> [00:13:11],230
said do you talk about got a career man
get a Wi-Fi got a house about working at
178
[00:13:11],230 –> [00:13:15],459
the skating rink said it was great
part-time money but you know I would
179
[00:13:15],459 –> [00:13:21],489
never think about you know it is a
career for me and say listen with all
180
[00:13:21],490 –> [00:13:24],940
due respect this is your business i’m
not looking down my nose at you because
181
[00:13:24],940 –> [00:13:26],230
you’re doing a great thing
182
[00:13:26],230 –> [00:13:30],520
but this wasn’t well I had envisioned
for myself
183
[00:13:31],360 –> [00:13:37],60
ironically Joe my wife and I both grew
up as roller skaters as kids we both
184
[00:13:37],60 –> [00:13:41],20
grew up skating to the point where my
wife grew up her mother was a
185
[00:13:41],20 –> [00:13:48],370
competitive figures here roller nice
roller and her mom was born and raised
186
[00:13:48],370 –> [00:13:51],610
in roller skating centers my wife
roller-skated as a kid I boys roller
187
[00:13:51],610 –> [00:13:56],890
skate so ironically to be offered a job
at skating center was kinda like really
188
[00:13:56],890 –> [00:14:01],390
you know this is what you want to do so
my wife and I talked about it and
189
[00:14:01],390 –> [00:14:05],500
gentlemen the business before me you
made me a great offer to come in and
190
[00:14:05],500 –> [00:14:12],10
work his business full-time so at that
point I accepted the job we were just
191
[00:14:12],10 –> [00:14:17],770
running roller skating sessions and
birthday parties and I just happened to
192
[00:14:17],770 –> [00:14:22],689
be looking through a roller skating
association trade magazine which every
193
[00:14:22],690 –> [00:14:27],910
business i’m sure has her own trade
magazine and I was leafing through this
194
[00:14:27],910 –> [00:14:31],569
thing one day just you know trying to
figure out what the business is all
195
[00:14:31],570 –> [00:14:36],880
about and I saw there was rinks
throughout the country that were running
196
[00:14:36],880 –> [00:14:42],70
roller hockey programs to supplement
their income and fill-in dead times in
197
[00:14:42],70 –> [00:14:46],390
their schedules and I say to the guy
with the building at the time is it
198
[00:14:46],390 –> [00:14:50],140
we should try to do this because I don’t
know anything about Ryan hockey is what
199
[00:14:50],140 –> [00:14:53],290
do you know about running oculus it i
don’t know anything about running hockey
200
[00:14:53],290 –> [00:14:58],569
said but I grew up playing sports my
whole life I i played your competitive
201
[00:14:58],570 –> [00:15:03],400
sports and I I’ve always loved sports
and i said i don’t know anything about
202
[00:15:03],400 –> [00:15:03],939
it
203
[00:15:03],940 –> [00:15:07],450
be honest with you said but I’m gonna
learn and I think I think it’s something
204
[00:15:07],450 –> [00:15:14],50
that we can do so that was right around
90 95 I i started here part-time in 98
205
[00:15:14],50 –> [00:15:19],240
93 early 94 came in full-time 95 i
started doing roller hockey shortly
206
[00:15:19],240 –> [00:15:27],790
thereafter and within two two-and-a-half
years we we had our rocky and the
207
[00:15:27],790 –> [00:15:32],620
rollerskating business with such that i
was finding programs in a rollerskating
208
[00:15:32],620 –> [00:15:36],910
business that weren’t making money and
cutting them out to put roller hockey in
209
[00:15:36],910 –> [00:15:39],410
place and before you know it
210
[00:15:39],410 –> [00:15:42],439
radix things the cut but we still need
more time
211
[00:15:42],440 –> [00:15:47],300
so the owner of the building said to me
listen why don’t we put an addition on
212
[00:15:47],300 –> [00:15:50],750
the building and we’ll put up a roller
hockey centre we started talking about
213
[00:15:50],750 –> [00:15:57],379
this in 1997 1998 and $YEAR 1999 we want
to under construction at that point the
214
[00:15:57],379 –> [00:16:03],980
owner may be his business partner and
game partner in the business 2004-2005
215
[00:16:03],980 –> [00:16:10],9
the other approach me about leasing the
building from him and I get and then in
216
[00:16:10],9 –> [00:16:15],230
$MONTH 2011 which was three years ago
today or you know most of the day three
217
[00:16:15],230 –> [00:16:18],230
years ago I had an opportunity to
purchase the building from where i
218
[00:16:18],230 –> [00:16:19],279
bought the building
219
[00:16:19],279 –> [00:16:26],240
it’s never ever honestly guide you know
it’s never really been a chore her job
220
[00:16:26],240 –> [00:16:31],819
or something that I woke up in the
morning and said oh I gotta get back
221
[00:16:31],819 –> [00:16:36],680
over there it was never that way for me
I mean how could it be mean i’m running
222
[00:16:36],680 –> [00:16:40],99
you know our or wood floor that we were
skating off for years and years and
223
[00:16:40],100 –> [00:16:44],149
years we confirmed that we do indoor
basketball we do volleyball we do some
224
[00:16:44],149 –> [00:16:47],209
soccer on the wood floor we have the
full blown roller hockey centre with
225
[00:16:47],209 –> [00:16:51],920
dashboards and glass and took a
carnival-like working in a carnival for
226
[00:16:51],920 –> [00:16:56],990
me it’s it’s it’s never been it’s never
been a chore so that’s how like that’s
227
[00:16:56],990 –> [00:17:02],209
how he became where I’m at today and
honestly job I would look back from that
228
[00:17:02],209 –> [00:17:06],168
point of that perspective of my life
there’s there’s really no regret
229
[00:17:06],169 –> [00:17:12],20
I mean some people have regret i mean
i’m 52 53 years old and people model at
230
[00:17:12],20 –> [00:17:15],168
my stage life like you said to be the
later stages of my life
231
[00:17:15],679 –> [00:17:22],850
yeah have regret I know they have any
Grey they have friends in every grants I
232
[00:17:22],849 –> [00:17:28],369
i have i have certain regrets in life
about certain things that i may or may
233
[00:17:28],369 –> [00:17:33],139
not have done but choosing this as my
profession has never been one never been
234
[00:17:33],140 –> [00:17:37],220
one wow that’s quite a mouthful but
thank you for all that
235
[00:17:38],480 –> [00:17:43],100
so how was your dream were seized by
family members like he told me I’m you
236
[00:17:43],100 –> [00:17:45],469
know I’m gonna start working here and
then
237
[00:17:45],470 –> [00:17:50],900
um you kind of mentioned that before but
go let’s jump towards ok i’m going to
238
[00:17:50],900 –> [00:17:54],169
start doing this full time as my own
business
239
[00:17:54],950 –> [00:17:58],460
well you know what was the response from
your family well let’s talk about the
240
[00:17:58],460 –> [00:18:03],799
two most influential women in my life
you know I never I never want to lose
241
[00:18:03],799 –> [00:18:06],320
sight of that to me my wife
242
[00:18:06],320 –> [00:18:10],100
what are you nuts are you out of your
mind why would you want to do that
243
[00:18:10],640 –> [00:18:15],49
no Gary know is gary with the island
will tell no we just want to work for
244
[00:18:15],49 –> [00:18:18],470
he’s got all the responsibility my mom
245
[00:18:18],470 –> [00:18:23],750
oh I would do it I told you you could do
this so it was it was it was it was a
246
[00:18:23],750 –> [00:18:30],830
split it was a 50-50 split and
unfortunately i had to make the final
247
[00:18:30],830 –> [00:18:31],730
decision
248
[00:18:31],730 –> [00:18:37],669
unfortunately my wife initially was was
not i would say a hundred percent on
249
[00:18:37],669 –> [00:18:43],309
board my kids you know at this point you
know you’re talking here the mid-2000s
250
[00:18:43],309 –> [00:18:49],129
our son Michael at that point you
figured that was what eight nine years
251
[00:18:49],130 –> [00:18:55],820
ago he was probably 11 or 12 years old
our daughter Brock was at that point
252
[00:18:55],820 –> [00:19:01],760
eight maybe nine years old and they’ve
both been basically born and raised in
253
[00:19:01],760 –> [00:19:06],830
the building so they embraced it begins
with braces like wow yeah she’s great
254
[00:19:07],429 –> [00:19:12],710
no word on the building this is their
playground that they grew up in my wife
255
[00:19:12],710 –> [00:19:16],39
not so much what she saw the big picture
the big picture is here you have a big
256
[00:19:16],39 –> [00:19:20],179
building there you have responsibilities
you have big bills you know big
257
[00:19:20],179 –> [00:19:25],760
headaches but ultimately you know we can
collectively my son my my daughter
258
[00:19:25],760 –> [00:19:28],669
myself you know we convinced my wife
that this would be the best thing for
259
[00:19:28],669 –> [00:19:36],110
the family and said it’s it’s been good
so what steps specifically did you take
260
[00:19:36],110 –> [00:19:39],649
to get started you mentioned starting
with flipping to a trade magazine you
261
[00:19:39],650 –> [00:19:44],480
found the article was the article or
advertisement the article about the
262
[00:19:44],480 –> [00:19:49],70
rocky and what steps did you take to get
started with that
263
[00:19:49],70 –> [00:19:55],280
well it’s it’s it’s kinda weird because
we had a that point we had essentially
264
[00:19:55],280 –> [00:19:58],290
just one surface that we were skating
which was a maybe
265
[00:19:58],290 –> [00:20:04],889
wood floor and there was a lot of kids
at that point that I saw skating that
266
[00:20:04],890 –> [00:20:09],60
were skating on inline skates and the
inline skate at that point was was
267
[00:20:09],60 –> [00:20:12],690
something that was that was newer to the
market a lot of kids had essentially
268
[00:20:12],690 –> [00:20:16],560
look like a like an ice hockey skate
with with a with an inline frame
269
[00:20:16],560 –> [00:20:21],000
underneath and I approached a lot of
these kids and said no you guys play
270
[00:20:21],000 –> [00:20:21],870
roller hockey
271
[00:20:21],870 –> [00:20:26],70
yeah we play hockey where you play we
play at the park would you play inside
272
[00:20:26],70 –> [00:20:26],790
here
273
[00:20:26],790 –> [00:20:29],460
yeah we would love to play inside but
the guy who owns the building told us
274
[00:20:29],460 –> [00:20:34],20
before that he doesn’t want to ruin his
floor and I said let me take care of the
275
[00:20:34],20 –> [00:20:38],280
guy once the building is if I started a
program here we would you guys be
276
[00:20:38],280 –> [00:20:44],100
interested in playing my program and he
said yeah and so I said to myself that’s
277
[00:20:44],100 –> [00:20:49],649
really the area that you need to
starting is with the kids you got to get
278
[00:20:49],650 –> [00:20:53],160
the kids involved there’s a new guys are
going to carry your program through
279
[00:20:53],160 –> [00:20:56],940
their generation and hopefully you get
another little generation but that
280
[00:20:56],940 –> [00:21:00],90
doesn’t end there because there’s a lot
of adults i was in a goal at that time I
281
[00:21:00],90 –> [00:21:03],810
still I still roller-skated I you know I
never thought of putting you know in
282
[00:21:03],810 –> [00:21:05],879
lines in and a hockey stick
283
[00:21:05],880 –> [00:21:09],240
you know in the same equation but then I
said to myself wow that’s really awesome
284
[00:21:09],240 –> [00:21:14],430
i mean you know it’s cheaper than I sake
and you know you can you still basically
285
[00:21:14],430 –> [00:21:18],120
play the same sport i always play street
hockey is a kid I loved that was the
286
[00:21:18],120 –> [00:21:21],510
best unfortunately you know why folks
could afford to put me into an ice
287
[00:21:21],510 –> [00:21:27],150
hockey program so I do what I had to do
you know but so I went to the local
288
[00:21:27],150 –> [00:21:33],390
parks where these kids were playing
roller hockey and I ran into some adults
289
[00:21:33],390 –> [00:21:38],700
men that were out there skate around
shooting hockey balls and I walked over
290
[00:21:38],700 –> [00:21:42],750
and I say let’s play all the time and I
said yeah you know sometimes we got a
291
[00:21:42],750 –> [00:21:46],740
big group that comes down here and we
split up teams we play because we’re
292
[00:21:46],740 –> [00:21:51],960
doing rains he said we don’t play i said
if there was an indoor facility locally
293
[00:21:51],960 –> [00:21:55],950
would you would you consider playing
inside and they said yeah but nobody
294
[00:21:55],950 –> [00:21:59],940
around here is offering anything I said
well I offered in an indoor hockey
295
[00:21:59],940 –> [00:22:04],590
program would you start playing and he
said yeah sure you know we would
296
[00:22:04],590 –> [00:22:05],399
consider it
297
[00:22:05],400 –> [00:22:09],720
so in a matter of a month month and a
half
298
[00:22:09],720 –> [00:22:13],830
of just doing what we’re doing right now
just talking to people i found out that
299
[00:22:13],830 –> [00:22:18],720
if i offered if i offered an indoor
program i can get kids to come inside
300
[00:22:18],720 –> [00:22:23],190
and play and for offering into a program
i could potentially get that adults to
301
[00:22:23],190 –> [00:22:28],350
play and i was like i said in the mid
mid nineties ninety five ish maybe early
302
[00:22:28],350 –> [00:22:34],139
96 started out with probably 25 or 30
kids playing in our program and that
303
[00:22:34],140 –> [00:22:39],930
blossom 222 the height of our popularity
we at one point had maybe 350 kids
304
[00:22:39],930 –> [00:22:45],570
playing in our program the adult program
I i started out with five or six teams
305
[00:22:45],570 –> [00:22:51],689
plane pretty bad hockey but that blew up
to
306
[00:22:52],350 –> [00:22:58],50
we’re at today where we customarily
would run anywhere from 50 to 65 teams
307
[00:22:58],50 –> [00:23:02],100
in our goal program depending on the
time of year and it was all
308
[00:23:02],100 –> [00:23:06],179
realistically spawned on the fact that i
just went out and kind of pounded the
309
[00:23:06],180 –> [00:23:10],50
pavement if you were a little bit went
down to the park and looked around and
310
[00:23:10],50 –> [00:23:13],919
talk to some people but my name out
there and told him where I was act that
311
[00:23:13],920 –> [00:23:14],550
was it
312
[00:23:14],550 –> [00:23:18],659
yeah there’s constantly teams a lot of
teams here i mean i play your personally
313
[00:23:18],660 –> [00:23:23],310
so it’s pretty crowded especially on
sundays what roblox have you hit along
314
[00:23:23],310 –> [00:23:24],179
the way
315
[00:23:24],180 –> [00:23:27],630
not too many to be perfectly honest with
you
316
[00:23:27],630 –> [00:23:32],760
where were located down here in southern
New Jersey there was a few roller rinks
317
[00:23:32],760 –> [00:23:38],10
like we were at the time that we’re
doing roller hockey inside the ranks and
318
[00:23:38],10 –> [00:23:41],850
we kind of fed off each other we formed
a little Alliance if you will we had
319
[00:23:41],850 –> [00:23:45],600
this little Delaware Valley roller
hockey league you know we put together
320
[00:23:45],600 –> [00:23:49],230
some some youth travel teams and you
know the other rings put together you
321
[00:23:49],230 –> [00:23:53],490
travel teams and I’m talking travel
within a 10-mile radius of the facility
322
[00:23:53],490 –> [00:23:56],970
so it wasn’t like you know we were
driving to Pittsburgh and back we were
323
[00:23:56],970 –> [00:24:01],770
no driving you know from Washington
Township to deptford from Washington
324
[00:24:01],770 –> [00:24:05],730
Township to Berlin or you know something
like that which are all within a 10-mile
325
[00:24:05],730 –> [00:24:10],320
radius of the facility so initially
there were really wasn’t any robot
326
[00:24:10],320 –> [00:24:17],129
blocks we got to the point where we’re
going to put up the dedicated roller
327
[00:24:17],130 –> [00:24:18],420
hockey rink
328
[00:24:18],420 –> [00:24:21],840
unbeknownst to us at the time the
329
[00:24:21],840 –> [00:24:27],90
mecca of roller hockey not only in New
Jersey but in the country was located in
330
[00:24:27],90 –> [00:24:32],428
Berlin New Jersey 20-25 minutes from
where we’re sitting right now gentlemen
331
[00:24:32],429 –> [00:24:38],190
was running arguably the best roller
hockey program in the country and at
332
[00:24:38],190 –> [00:24:42],240
that point when he found out that we
were putting up this facility there was
333
[00:24:42],240 –> [00:24:44],850
a little resistance on his end
334
[00:24:44],850 –> [00:24:48],360
I not always a with resistance is
probably wrong work
335
[00:24:48],360 –> [00:24:54],449
acceptance is a better word on his end
and he went so far as to call us on the
336
[00:24:54],450 –> [00:24:58],440
phone and say will you do you think
you’re doing down there you you know i
337
[00:24:58],440 –> [00:25:02],549
have a dedicated roller hockey rink
radio Berlin why would you do something
338
[00:25:02],549 –> [00:25:09],59
like that and my explanation to him was
listen I’m not trying to hurt you
339
[00:25:09],59 –> [00:25:12],990
personally or professionally I’m just
trying to put up or we’re just trying to
340
[00:25:12],990 –> [00:25:15],990
put up at that time was there i didn’t
own the building but we’re just trying
341
[00:25:15],990 –> [00:25:20],309
to put up a facility that will best
serve our customer base that’s that’s
342
[00:25:20],309 –> [00:25:23],850
what we’re trying to do or not we’re
trying to hurt you or hurt anybody in
343
[00:25:23],850 –> [00:25:27],209
what we’re doing we’re just trying to
service our customers the best way
344
[00:25:27],210 –> [00:25:32],220
weekend and it was there’s a lot of
underlying stuff going on in the
345
[00:25:32],220 –> [00:25:35],159
background don’t go down there to play
in his place he doesn’t know what he’s
346
[00:25:35],159 –> [00:25:36],120
doing
347
[00:25:36],120 –> [00:25:40],20
you know he’s a new guy i’ve been doing
this for a long time long time roller
348
[00:25:40],20 –> [00:25:44],730
hockey really first burst onto the
national scene sometime in the early
349
[00:25:44],730 –> [00:25:52],289
nineties 91 92 93 so he may have had
five or six-year leg up on us which at
350
[00:25:52],289 –> [00:25:54],990
that time seemed like a lot you know in
retrospect you think about five or six
351
[00:25:54],990 –> [00:25:57],539
years I’ve watched virus accuses blimey
352
[00:25:57],539 –> [00:26:00],510
yeah we need some stumbling some
stumbling blocks and some roadblocks
353
[00:26:00],510 –> [00:26:04],740
along the way particularly you know
trying to build our youth program bigger
354
[00:26:04],740 –> [00:26:09],779
because now I wasn’t building my youth
program around rollerskating programs it
355
[00:26:09],779 –> [00:26:14],190
was the program i mean i had to fill
that building I needed to feel that
356
[00:26:14],190 –> [00:26:18],419
building there was requirements on my
end for my boss to get the building
357
[00:26:18],419 –> [00:26:25],470
filled and particularly the kids was
tough but you know through just honestly
358
[00:26:25],470 –> [00:26:31],169
Joe just threw your dedication to the to
the to cause if your dedication to the
359
[00:26:31],169 –> [00:26:33],970
sport dedication to my customer base
360
[00:26:33],970 –> [00:26:41],920
again that fear of failure that fear of
walking to my boss and say do i I can’t
361
[00:26:41],920 –> [00:26:46],60
do it i’m sorry you you put this this
two-million-dollar building up for me
362
[00:26:46],60 –> [00:26:47],470
and I I can’t feel it
363
[00:26:47],470 –> [00:26:54],520
I don’t know what to do and that fear
that fear drove drove a tank to fill
364
[00:26:54],520 –> [00:26:59],320
that building the best I could run the
best program i could all for my customer
365
[00:26:59],320 –> [00:27:03],129
base the best program for the lowest
amount of money that I possibly could
366
[00:27:03],130 –> [00:27:09],310
and get as many fans in the seats as we
could and that’s what drives me to this
367
[00:27:09],310 –> [00:27:11],50
day that drives me to this day
368
[00:27:11],50 –> [00:27:15],490
that’s pretty crazy level of commitment
that going to deal with
369
[00:27:15],490 –> [00:27:20],890
two-million-dollar building and not even
I mean realistically knowing that you’re
370
[00:27:20],890 –> [00:27:24],430
going to be able to to make it all
happen I mean you add up when you have
371
[00:27:24],430 –> [00:27:29],350
programs here so you had some you know
you had kids you were gaining ground but
372
[00:27:29],350 –> [00:27:32],409
that’s I mean once you make that
commitment to that’s a pretty scary
373
[00:27:32],410 –> [00:27:38],380
thing to have to deal with and then to
perpetuate it and then year-over-year
374
[00:27:38],380 –> [00:27:43],120
continuously have people coming to the
program right now well now that you know
375
[00:27:43],120 –> [00:27:45],760
all these years later now you’re
established it must be a bit easier
376
[00:27:45],760 –> [00:27:50],860
because you have the word of mouth and
you have that longevity behind you
377
[00:27:50],860 –> [00:27:55],419
mmm yeah initially initially like you
say to me even though we did carry a
378
[00:27:55],420 –> [00:28:01],90
program with us if you will into the new
facility it wasn’t it wasn’t a capacity
379
[00:28:01],90 –> [00:28:06],879
the the building at that point was
probably fifty percent at capacity
380
[00:28:06],880 –> [00:28:10],720
you know to get that to a hundred
percent capacity and did it take a lot
381
[00:28:10],720 –> [00:28:12],940
of you know dedication a lot of work
382
[00:28:12],940 –> [00:28:18],880
it was it was rewarding knowing that we
we had a hundred kids playing in our
383
[00:28:18],880 –> [00:28:24],370
program we started last year we got to
our kids in our program and you know
384
[00:28:24],370 –> [00:28:31],270
that that is rewarding you know but not
so much from my perspective from a
385
[00:28:31],270 –> [00:28:36],670
monetary standpoint because I tell my
friends and my family I’ll tell anybody
386
[00:28:36],670 –> [00:28:44],710
the business and the money as has never
never really drove me it never driven by
387
[00:28:44],710 –> [00:28:45],620
making the money
388
[00:28:45],620 –> [00:28:49],399
much written by you the business do I
love it
389
[00:28:49],400 –> [00:28:54],140
yeah i love this i was always driven by
the people I i told you earlier you know
390
[00:28:54],140 –> [00:28:58],790
one of my things what inspires my
genuinely enjoy meeting people and i
391
[00:28:58],790 –> [00:29:03],710
genuinely enjoy watching people get
enjoyment and coming in my building
392
[00:29:03],710 –> [00:29:07],790
talked about this earlier before we
won’t hear that fulfills me is to watch
393
[00:29:07],790 –> [00:29:15],440
some kid come into this program and get
enjoying it and it’s it’s been rewarding
394
[00:29:15],440 –> [00:29:21],470
and in that respect that got a lot I
mean I can I can’t begin to tell you how
395
[00:29:21],470 –> [00:29:27],500
many great people I’ve met in this
business and people that I not only
396
[00:29:27],500 –> [00:29:34],970
consider my customer but friends that
that i will know forever and it’s it’s
397
[00:29:34],970 –> [00:29:38],390
been it’s been good so many parts of
your dream that haven’t quite worked out
398
[00:29:38],390 –> [00:29:39],260
yet
399
[00:29:39],260 –> [00:29:43],970
well yeah I’m sure I mean I’ve ever i
have i written these things down and
400
[00:29:43],970 –> [00:29:46],490
kind across the office of go along
401
[00:29:46],490 –> [00:29:52],760
no should I have probably but I’m sure
if I if I really thought about it long
402
[00:29:52],760 –> [00:29:57],740
and hard there’s aspects of the business
that you know I I haven’t really struck
403
[00:29:57],740 –> [00:30:04],70
gold with get if you can use that term
so II conversion to the wood floor the
404
[00:30:04],70 –> [00:30:09],50
basketball volleyball and some indoor
soccer on wood surface has been has been
405
[00:30:09],50 –> [00:30:10],250
good for us
406
[00:30:10],250 –> [00:30:14],570
unfortunately for me personally that’s
not really my forte basketball has never
407
[00:30:14],570 –> [00:30:15],678
been my forte
408
[00:30:15],679 –> [00:30:23],150
as far as the sport I don’t know enough
people that drive that sport to make my
409
[00:30:23],150 –> [00:30:27],679
basketball program the basketball
program in the area so if there’s a
410
[00:30:27],679 –> [00:30:32],600
couple things yes that is something that
I’m them continually working on and
411
[00:30:32],600 –> [00:30:38],90
continually striving to meet people in
that industry that could drive that part
412
[00:30:38],90 –> [00:30:42],20
of our program and make that program
better particularly the best was such a
413
[00:30:42],20 –> [00:30:48],889
great sport that is embraced by so many
people of all races in any any cultural
414
[00:30:48],890 –> [00:30:53],179
background any social economic
background basketballs embraced by so
415
[00:30:53],179 –> [00:30:55],700
many so many people so many countries
416
[00:30:55],700 –> [00:30:59],149
I mean every country in the world pretty
much plays basketball
417
[00:30:59],149 –> [00:31:04],939
where a you you can’t really say that
with hockey hockey was always perceived
418
[00:31:04],940 –> [00:31:10],879
as being a sport for people that were
well-to-do that had money that where
419
[00:31:10],879 –> [00:31:14],29
they could put your kid in and it’s
always driven by is obviously because
420
[00:31:14],29 –> [00:31:15],649
that’s the thing to figure out
421
[00:31:15],649 –> [00:31:20],149
it’s always been driven by people that
are a little bit more well often other
422
[00:31:20],149 –> [00:31:22],518
people and it was kind of like it
423
[00:31:22],519 –> [00:31:27],619
oh wow make that their kids place on
like that was a that was a big deal but
424
[00:31:27],619 –> [00:31:34],668
basketball like i said is is a sport
that embraced by by everybody and that’s
425
[00:31:34],669 –> [00:31:42],769
one thing that at this juncture i still
need to get a better grip so something I
426
[00:31:42],769 –> [00:31:48],499
get hey so the project like work behind
keep keep me going for the next eight to
427
[00:31:48],499 –> [00:31:50],960
ten years there’s always something isn’t
there
428
[00:31:50],960 –> [00:31:55],399
yeah yeah well I asked the big but
that’s what makes it fun like my in my
429
[00:31:55],399 –> [00:31:58],369
industry that’s what makes it fun I mean
it’s like any other business it’s
430
[00:31:58],369 –> [00:32:02],629
constantly evolving constantly changing
you know the faces to come into the
431
[00:32:02],629 –> [00:32:08],119
building may remain the same but sports
as a whole are changing and in a lot of
432
[00:32:08],119 –> [00:32:12],678
different ways big thing right now is
what do we do as an indoor sports
433
[00:32:12],679 –> [00:32:17],179
facility what do we do and I I don’t
want you brings you know conversation to
434
[00:32:17],179 –> [00:32:22],849
a duel . 3 you know a blood . if you
will but you know what do we do is an
435
[00:32:22],849 –> [00:32:28],519
industry to protect our our athletes
what we do to minimize injury what do we
436
[00:32:28],519 –> [00:32:35],719
do equipment wise or facility wise how
can we make it so nobody gets her it’s
437
[00:32:35],719 –> [00:32:40],909
all over the news I mean you know the
concussions used sports particularly
438
[00:32:40],909 –> [00:32:43],429
like football hockey is a big one
439
[00:32:43],429 –> [00:32:48],830
kids getting head injuries kids get neck
injuries and from that standpoint
440
[00:32:48],830 –> [00:32:50],839
there’s there’s a lot to learn
441
[00:32:50],839 –> [00:32:55],428
I mean injury is not like it used to be
back when I was a kid playing sports you
442
[00:32:55],429 –> [00:33:00],799
know it was like oh what happened oh
I’ll smash my head I rub some dirt on it
443
[00:33:00],799 –> [00:33:06],80
will be fine you know that was it you
know I now it’s like you know you you
444
[00:33:06],80 –> [00:33:10],519
really have to be cognizant if you know
you do have you know prior to suffers
445
[00:33:10],519 –> [00:33:12],490
some sort anything any injury
446
[00:33:12],490 –> [00:33:16],510
injury back injury arm neck you know it
doesn’t matter what it is
447
[00:33:16],510 –> [00:33:19],990
so from that perspective there’s there’s
always stuff to do to move forward
448
[00:33:20],559 –> [00:33:25],000
yeah definitely definitely you already
kind of touched on it so why don’t we
449
[00:33:25],000 –> [00:33:28],179
just follow through with the question
what are your dreams for the future look
450
[00:33:28],179 –> [00:33:34],420
like I have two children that both
collectively and individually have
451
[00:33:34],420 –> [00:33:39],490
expressed interest to me that they would
like to continue on in the business they
452
[00:33:39],490 –> [00:33:43],990
want to wrestle the old man for control
of the business and send me off to see
453
[00:33:43],990 –> [00:33:51],850
if you will and 52 or 53 years old not
this work for me per se air quotes
454
[00:33:51],850 –> [00:33:57],189
people here cuz it’s not work for me but
i would i would like to one day you
455
[00:33:57],190 –> [00:34:04],450
retire and not have to have to the
stress and worry of running not only
456
[00:34:04],450 –> [00:34:08],860
building 46 where 46,000 square foot
facility here not only running a
457
[00:34:08],860 –> [00:34:12],310
building but running the business within
the building so my vision for the future
458
[00:34:12],310 –> [00:34:20],139
would be to have one or both of my
children take over the business from me
459
[00:34:20],139 –> [00:34:27],129
and I can kind of drift off if you will
to the right never really relinquish in
460
[00:34:27],129 –> [00:34:30],940
total control because I think that’s
just not my it’s not my makeup but i
461
[00:34:30],940 –> [00:34:36],700
would i would love to have my kids take
the baton and and move forward with it
462
[00:34:36],699 –> [00:34:41],859
and at that point I’m not gonna go just
say okay well I’m going walk away i mean
463
[00:34:41],859 –> [00:34:46],629
i would always be there you know whether
it was for managerial expertise if they
464
[00:34:46],629 –> [00:34:49],899
need you know a yo we’re going on a
family vacation
465
[00:34:50],739 –> [00:34:55],330
can you can you work the week for me you
know i would step back in you stay here
466
[00:34:55],330 –> [00:34:59],650
for you know we two weeks whatever they
need or if they you know once or twice a
467
[00:34:59],650 –> [00:35:04],000
week a you’re listening can you can you
work wednesday night for me you
468
[00:35:04],000 –> [00:35:07],600
yeah sure I mean I would love to do that
i would love it i would love to be able
469
[00:35:07],600 –> [00:35:13],990
to take a step aside let one or two one
or both of my kids just like I say take
470
[00:35:13],990 –> [00:35:17],709
the ball and run with it and if they
need to call me from the sidelines from
471
[00:35:17],710 –> [00:35:21],460
from time to time to the the kind of
help out i will be more than glad to do
472
[00:35:21],460 –> [00:35:24],600
that and I can envision
473
[00:35:24],600 –> [00:35:31],920
myself being able to enjoy the business
even more at that point that i do now
474
[00:35:31],920 –> [00:35:36],900
because then you’re not in the trenches
every day you’re not you know as i like
475
[00:35:36],900 –> [00:35:39],300
to say to my my son my daughter all time
476
[00:35:39],300 –> [00:35:43],170
hey listen I’m the one taking the
bullets here you know I’m the one who
477
[00:35:43],170 –> [00:35:50],730
you know it stops here at my desk and it
will be nice to kind of step out of that
478
[00:35:50],730 –> [00:35:54],720
let those guys take the hits if you will
because you’re dealing with customers
479
[00:35:54],720 –> [00:35:58],169
you’re dealing with people you’re
dealing with a lot of people’s children
480
[00:35:58],170 –> [00:36:02],400
people’s children are the most important
thing to that particular person should
481
[00:36:02],400 –> [00:36:06],60
be mindful of that but you know not that
often another tangent but you know that
482
[00:36:06],60 –> [00:36:12],660
would that would be a very nice
transition for me i never want to fully
483
[00:36:12],660 –> [00:36:16],859
fully walk away never anything my kids
know that butBut I don’t wanna be the
484
[00:36:16],860 –> [00:36:20],370
guy I wanna be looking over your
shoulders either i want to be able to
485
[00:36:20],370 –> [00:36:24],990
step aside knowing that you know both my
children have have a good grip on what
486
[00:36:24],990 –> [00:36:28],979
was going on in the business have an
opportunity to drive the business
487
[00:36:28],980 –> [00:36:34],320
forward continue one for another
generation and maybe if they have
488
[00:36:34],320 –> [00:36:38],700
children maybe they want to do it or you
know who knows that’s where not only my
489
[00:36:38],700 –> [00:36:44],640
head but also my wife my wife kind of
shares in that vision as well we would
490
[00:36:44],640 –> [00:36:49],259
love to be able to watch our children
take something it that we’ve basically
491
[00:36:49],260 –> [00:36:54],540
cultivated from the ground up and say
now this is your be passing this on to
492
[00:36:54],540 –> [00:37:00],120
you don’t screw it up and you know I
think it should be easier than one
493
[00:37:00],120 –> [00:37:02],759
vacation time edition out there
494
[00:37:02],760 –> [00:37:08],700
yeah yeah so if you were stranded on a
deserted island with your with your
495
[00:37:08],700 –> [00:37:09],569
family
496
[00:37:09],570 –> [00:37:12],690
Oh what three things would you want to
have with you
497
[00:37:12],690 –> [00:37:17],100
that’s a good question Joe that’s a
really good question was deserted island
498
[00:37:17],100 –> [00:37:22],319
i guess i was probably probably need a
lifetime supply of sunblock forward a
499
[00:37:22],320 –> [00:37:27],240
tropical island somewhere so i don’t get
burned up i enjoy the beach when I can
500
[00:37:27],240 –> [00:37:28],49
get to it
501
[00:37:28],50 –> [00:37:32],640
nothing better to be on a deserted
island i guess if if you had you know as
502
[00:37:32],640 –> [00:37:37],170
much as much cold beers you could
possibly have and some great reading
503
[00:37:37],170 –> [00:37:38],70
material
504
[00:37:38],70 –> [00:37:44],100
and having something I need to read
something so i would have to if it was
505
[00:37:44],100 –> [00:37:48],180
me I’d like to have some frosty
beverages something to read and some
506
[00:37:48],180 –> [00:37:50],100
some good tunes and that’s that
507
[00:37:50],100 –> [00:37:54],330
OBO be happy music reading material
something something something something
508
[00:37:54],330 –> [00:37:57],330
to drink and maybe be totally happy
509
[00:37:57],330 –> [00:38:01],290
I mean I guess some people have a
satellite dish in the flat panel TV and
510
[00:38:01],290 –> [00:38:06],390
second nobody said that yeah yeah yeah
but with the iphone you can it’s music
511
[00:38:06],390 –> [00:38:12],89
or movies your your TV shows you’re
reading everything I mean everything is
512
[00:38:12],90 –> [00:38:16],440
what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna do
this we want or just signal it’s all
513
[00:38:16],440 –> [00:38:25],350
theoretical I’m okay so i would have a
signal i’ll have my iPad a now i’m
514
[00:38:25],350 –> [00:38:30],390
telling you i would i would be more than
happy if I knew that I could you know
515
[00:38:30],390 –> [00:38:36],600
enjoy enjoy a nice beverage have some
pants and some good tunes listen to and
516
[00:38:36],600 –> [00:38:41],910
and and be able to read whether it’s
paper form and ipad whatever but those
517
[00:38:41],910 –> [00:38:45],660
days are probably do three things and i
have my family course so you already
518
[00:38:45],660 –> [00:38:49],529
have yes that’s why it’s included
throwing shit at so they’re gonna bring
519
[00:38:49],530 –> [00:38:52],680
three things too so yeah so they always
bring a flat file
520
[00:38:52],680 –> [00:38:58],470
hey you got something there right before
we get into your last thoughts I i just
521
[00:38:58],470 –> [00:39:01],740
wanted to go real quick into for people
who don’t know what the difference
522
[00:39:01],740 –> [00:39:06],419
between roller hockey and ice hockey is
could you give a few examples of of the
523
[00:39:06],420 –> [00:39:10],200
differences you know that the basic
premise of the sport is is exactly the
524
[00:39:10],200 –> [00:39:16],49
same stick talk with the puck in the net
put a gold the scoreboard but there are
525
[00:39:16],50 –> [00:39:20],310
some nuances that are different
obviously you know equipment-wise it’s
526
[00:39:20],310 –> [00:39:24],60
it’s essentially the same other than
what you’re wearing on your feet to the
527
[00:39:24],60 –> [00:39:29],910
boot is pretty much the same of your
skate whether it’s ice or roller but
528
[00:39:29],910 –> [00:39:34],500
rather than skating on a skate blade
you’re skating on a blade has wheels but
529
[00:39:34],500 –> [00:39:41],190
the sport itself ice hockey is played
with five skaters and going on each team
530
[00:39:41],190 –> [00:39:46],170
roller hockey is just for skaters and a
goalie on each team
531
[00:39:46],170 –> [00:39:50],730
I sake is predominantly a checking sport
where you know
532
[00:39:50],730 –> [00:39:54],210
if you don’t know checking is it’s where
you physically use your body up against
533
[00:39:54],210 –> [00:39:58],560
another person’s body and pump them if
you will either offer Parker into the
534
[00:39:58],560 –> [00:40:04],859
boards or you can physically check
somebody where roller hockey at any
535
[00:40:04],859 –> [00:40:09],600
level at any level whether it’s kids or
adults whether its in-house league where
536
[00:40:09],600 –> [00:40:13],380
there is professional leagues that are
being run for Rocky there’s no checking
537
[00:40:13],380 –> [00:40:19],830
in roller hockey at all so you got 44 no
check and there’s no offside so
538
[00:40:19],830 –> [00:40:24],29
basically the entire ring is wide open
to do whatever you want to do and where
539
[00:40:24],30 –> [00:40:29],220
an ice-hockey there is off sides and
there is no such thing as ice into
540
[00:40:29],220 –> [00:40:33],359
pockets as they say in ice hockey ice
hockey can’t shoot the puck from your
541
[00:40:33],359 –> [00:40:37],770
own goal always down the other end of
the rank and just dump the puck down
542
[00:40:37],770 –> [00:40:41],730
there that’s called icing on the whistle
we pick up the puck and bring all the
543
[00:40:41],730 –> [00:40:45],359
way back down to where you dumped from
many faces off and start again when
544
[00:40:45],359 –> [00:40:47],160
roller hockey you can just dump it
545
[00:40:47],160 –> [00:40:53],100
you know all day so there’s during the
big differences it’s a 44 game as
546
[00:40:53],100 –> [00:40:56],880
opposed to five on five there’s no
checking in roller hockey there’s no
547
[00:40:56],880 –> [00:40:58],109
offsides there’s no ice
548
[00:40:58],109 –> [00:41:01],410
other than that it’s all the basic same
concept well thank you for that
549
[00:41:01],410 –> [00:41:05],220
so do you have any last thoughts to
share with the audience well the one
550
[00:41:05],220 –> [00:41:11],310
thing I could say you know for anybody
whatever whatever you know walk of life
551
[00:41:11],310 –> [00:41:16],650
you come from and i want to say this to
sound cliché or 40 or anything like
552
[00:41:16],650 –> [00:41:24],570
that but you know if you find something
that that that drives you that you enjoy
553
[00:41:24],570 –> [00:41:31],920
doing that you want to do do it do it
whether it means you’re going to be the
554
[00:41:31],920 –> [00:41:35],220
poorest person in the world or the
richest person in the world or you want
555
[00:41:35],220 –> [00:41:41],399
to fall somewhere in between the money
is only a material thing you got to do
556
[00:41:41],400 –> [00:41:46],200
what makes you happy to sound cliché
you can’t buy happiness you have all the
557
[00:41:46],200 –> [00:41:49],529
money in the world to be miserable if
you find something you like to do is
558
[00:41:49],530 –> [00:41:54],540
find something that you enjoyed it
really really motivating drives you do
559
[00:41:54],540 –> [00:41:59],700
it and do it to the best ability because
what’s going to happen you’re going to
560
[00:41:59],700 –> [00:42:01],529
eventually reap the real
561
[00:42:01],530 –> [00:42:06],210
Ward’s of that you will reap the rewards
I promise you if you find something you
562
[00:42:06],210 –> [00:42:09],300
like to do and you do it to the best of
your ability
563
[00:42:09],300 –> [00:42:12],900
someone’s going to take news someone’s
going to call you on it and someone’s
564
[00:42:12],900 –> [00:42:15],210
going to give you a reward for doing it
that way
565
[00:42:15],210 –> [00:42:19],680
that’s my last final thought you want to
share your website Facebook Twitter
566
[00:42:19],680 –> [00:42:23],759
while we are on Facebook choice sports
arena i do not have a twitter account
567
[00:42:23],760 –> [00:42:27],960
because i don’t understand it but we do
have a facebook account and we do have a
568
[00:42:27],960 –> [00:42:31],590
website our website you can you can get
to our website a couple different nation
569
[00:42:31],590 –> [00:42:40],710
go to www.myspace.com you can go to
www.petland.com either one of those will
570
[00:42:40],710 –> [00:42:42],180
bring you right to our webpage
571
[00:42:42],180 –> [00:42:44],910
well thanks so much for coming on the
show my care really appreciated thank
572
[00:42:44],910 –> [00:42:45],420
you
573
[00:42:45],420 –> [00:42:49],350
great it’s been a pleasure thank you for
joining us for this episode of the
574
[00:42:49],350 –> [00:42:51],520
dreamers podcast
575
[00:42:51],520 –> [00:42:57],370
follow us on twitter and dreamers
podcast join us on facebook at
576
[00:42:57],370 –> [00:43:00],370
facebook.com slash dreamers podcast
577
[00:43:01],300 –> [00:43:05],470
if you or someone you know would like to
be a guest on the dreamers podcast
578
[00:43:05],470 –> [00:43:13],509
please send an email to j and j parr .
co this podcast is copyright 2014 by j
579
[00:43:13],510 –> [00:43:16],510
parr . code
580
[00:43:17],609 –> [00:43:21],660
yeah
