Unique & Intentional Relationships
One of the things I love about hosting The LoCo Experience podcast is that I get to have long talks with so many interesting people. In real life, we might work together, or be in a book club or church life group together for years, before my guests feel as free to share as they seem to feel on the podcast. Because - that’s the intention! They’re there to share their story, and hoping to find a meaningful conversation and perhaps more folks that jive with what they’re building.
For my part, my intention is to share those stories, and hopefully to inspire more would-be entrepreneurs to take a leap of faith and start something. Or - for those already in the game - to gather more data to help them create the business they’ve been dreaming of. And - though I am always the host and they are always the guest - and our roles and intentions are much the same for each show - each relationship is unique.
This month’s blog topic came to me at least in part from my podcast conversation with Bob Hewson, CEO and Co-Founder of Colorado Youth Outdoors - Episode 229.
When Bob boils down the mission of CYO, it comes down to one word - Relationships. Through their PACD model - which stands for Participate, Appreciate, Communicate, and Dedicate - paired with outdoor recreation activities shared by parents and their children - relationships grow! Healthy things grow, and following through with an intention of spending time together is like a combination of rain, sun, and fertilizer for a relationship!
And - each relationship that is grown or made healthier with activities and programs at CYO is unique! Every father-son, every mother-daughter, every mother-son relationship is unique - they’re like fingerprints! And - so is my relationship with each and every one of my regular readers - you know who you are! - and they can all be grown healthier with intention. Bob and I hadn’t met before our podcast conversation - but now we have a unique relationship. Mine is the only podcast thus far that he’s been on - and he got me thinking about relationships and intention in a whole new way.
Some of you saw my post on LinkedIn recently - sharing publicly the news of the departure of Alma Arellano from the HQ team at LoCo Think Tank, which was planned going back to late April. Alma is moving on to exciting new chapters, and certainly she and I have a unique relationship, built with intention.
The uniqueness started basically Alma’s Day 1, when she learned that the Marketing Manager whom she’d applied to be Marketing Intern for would be leaving after a week together, and that her offer of 15 hours per week would be increased to 25 or more if she was available for it. Alma had recently turned 18 at the time, this was her first office role during her second semester of Front Range *Online - and she responded without fear - and performed so well that I gave her a $2/hour raise in 90 days. She continued to advance in titles, hours, pay, and responsibilities until she earned the title of Operations Manager in 2023. Mostly, I was the door-opener - LoCo put her through an online UX Design course as we were preparing to update the website, and then through a Monday.com course as we moved to convert our CRM. She’s now a Monday Ambassador, with special access to support and early access to new features!
And - about that time another unique relationship developed in my life - with Kim O’Neil - the founding Facilitator of our Next Level III chapter. Kim had recently departed the COO role at Encompass Technologies - a company which she and her husband had built - and was referred to me first for a podcast. Our conversation was Episode 86 and revealed a shared passion for business and people - and soon after I welcomed Kim into the LoCo Facilitator team and we launched Next Level III. In the seasons since, Kim has been an amazing shepherd for the chapter, and also developed a unique relationship with Alma. The two met monthly, with Kim mentoring Alma in her operations role - and in her professional development - and they’ve been growing a unique and intentional relationship since, with Alma even housewatching and feeding the fish while Kim’s been away.
And - Kim has been re-filling her plate since her initial early retirement. She’s a partner in a marketing agency, investor in basketball gyms, and recently - the owner of a pair of beer distribution businesses in Eastern Colorado and Dodge City Kansas. In February of this year, Kim shared that she wouldn’t leave me hanging, but suggested that I should start looking for another facilitator for the chapter, as she was beginning to feel stretched and didn’t want that role to suffer. What a kindness! - we have a month-to-month contract with facilitators due to our principle of “hold loosely” - and she could have said “I’m out - you’ll figure it out!” - but that’s not the relationship we’ve built.
And so in May, we introduced the chapter to Pete Gazlay, who - with their agreement - would take over the facilitator role in June. Pete had joined LoCo in January of 2025, coming into the role of facilitator for the Original Thinkers chapter, was qualified for Next Level facilitator role, and had already helped to grow that chapter membership by several members. He was welcomed warmly into the facilitator chair, and the chapter members also encouraged Kim to remain in the chapter, but in a member seat. Her plates being full at the time - and in order to create space for Pete to fully claim the facilitator role - Kim stepped away for June and July but will be rejoining the chapter for August and our 3rd Annual Next Level Summit at Sky Corral Ranch on August 26. I’m excited for that event, as we’ll feature another past podcast guest, Richard Fagerlin, getting deep into trust, and we’ll have a morning talk from a special guest - Kyle Speller - Public Address Announcer and Team Chaplain for the Denver Nuggets!
And finally, I must mention one the most unique and intentional relationships of my journey, with Drew Yancey - the facilitator for our Next Level I and Next Level II chapters. That relationship began in January of 2020, when Drew shared that if/when I was ever looking, he’d love to facilitate a next LoCo Next Level chapter. Next Level I had launched in April of 2019, and had grown to almost 10 members by that time. Drew and I had met some months previously, at a Guys Who Give event (which is coming up August 13 at Mas Fuegos), and I immediately recognized him as someone that would add a lot of value to the organization.
And you know what happened a couple months later - 2 weeks to stop the spread - J/K - stay in your house and close your business - ok you can open - J/K you’re closed again, 6 feet distance unless you’re sitting down with food in front of you, your kids can learn on laptops! - all the stuff.
Suffice it to say, the economic and political environment wasn’t great for growing membership in the spring and summer of 2020, and by July the membership of Next Level I had flagged to 7, with one or two on the fence. And - there were significant political differences between my viewpoint and the previous facilitator, and after the July meeting he told me he was out - effective immediately! Of course, my first call was to Drew, and he was able to shift his schedule and facilitate the chapter in August. The chapter responded quickly to the upgrade in facilitator, attracted new members and even brought back some former members, and by summer of 2021 it was full, and Drew and were drawing up plans to launch Next Level II! It was the greatest season of growth in LoCo Think Tank history, and Drew remains today my MVP, facilitating two chapters of our premium memberships, his members are crushing it on their outcomes, and his chapters are always full.
August will be 5 years since Drew joined the LoCo Think Tank facilitator team, and ours is a unique and intentional relationship. Drew is a great friend and mentor, a patient teacher and amazing listener, and a standout example of a lifelong learner and servant to the community. So proud to have you on the team Drew, and thankful for our unique relationship.
Nice story Curt, what’s the point?
The point, smarty pants, or maybe the call to action, is that each of us has unique relationships in our lives, but sometimes we don’t develop them with intention - it just kinda happens. But if we’re intentional about investing in our most important relationships - they will grow and thrive. Each relationship remains unique, but it can become its best when we intentionally apply Bob’s wisdom from Colorado Youth Outdoors - Participate, Appreciate, Communicate, and Dedicate.
