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Speech Transcript

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L. Scott Ferguson: [00:00:00] Hi, I’m to Shine Today Podcast Varsity Squad. It’s Scott Ferguson and I have a fun conversation with a shipmate United States Navy. He made it to E eight senior Chief, a fantastic human being, and also the founder of Triad Leadership Solutions. And if you yourself, on a personal level or you’re a company or a business owner or working your way up and need to level up your leadership.

Listen to this. The knowledge nuggets that my really good friend, Enrique Acosta Gonzalez drops is absolutely mind blowing. And the thing is, is we are so in tuned. I have been joked that said, , we’re kind of brothers with different mothers on here with not only just the Navy and the military.

commonality, but also just our kind of philosophies about how we coach others, consult others and mentor others. So this is when you want to break out your notebooks. If you like it, please smash the like button subscribe. If you like my sponsors and affiliates absolutely love that. So without further ado, here’s what comes my really good [00:01:00] friend, Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, my shipmate.

Let’s level up.

Time to shine today, podcast, varsity squad. This is Scott Ferguson. And that I get really jazzed up and fired up and leveled up when I get to speak to another shipmate, a gentleman here, my good friend, Enrique Acosta Gonzalez served 26 years in the United States Navy, the world’s finest Navy, best Navy in the whole wide world.

And his leadership also got him. , he clipped out, it was clipped out with the courses that you could take in college, college level examination procedure, something like that. It was back in the day, but he did it right while he was in serving our country, serving others through ministry. And did it right.

And he ended up kind of going to this school with an H this Harvard school. Right. And this man is named number 76 out of the top 200 thought leaders to follow a nominee of the top 30. Global Gurus. [00:02:00] 2023 Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership. 2023 Global 100 Executive Coach of the Year. 2023 Best CEO Mentorship and Leadership Development Firm.

Top 10 Inspiring Leaders of 2023. The Best Selling Author and an Award Winning Podcaster, which is podcasts, is developing the leader within podcasts. Don’t go there yet. There’ll be a link in the show notes. But the best part about it, Is he helps leaders go from suck cess to success and that’s suck s u c k to s u c c e s s and shipmate Enrique thank you so much for coming on please introduce yourself the time to shine today podcast varsity squad but first What’s your favorite color and why

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: it’s actually a combination of red and black and it’s my town colors.

L. Scott Ferguson: Oh, red and black for what, what town colors?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: It is a town called

L. Scott Ferguson: Ponce, Puerto Rico. Oh, in Puerto Rico. Okay. Very cool, man. Very cool. Do you ever get to go back to Puerto Rico much or?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, I’ve been the last time was August a [00:03:00] couple of years ago to celebrate my dad’s 95th birthday. Okay.

L. Scott Ferguson: Oh, wow. 95th.

That’s some longevity there. That’s means you got some good genes. This world needs you around here. , so I’m looking at a hundred. So let’s go, man. I think 114 years old, you live to a million minutes, something like that. And that’s something I would love to make it to, , unless God decides to take me in his own way, a car wreck or a plane crash.

I live that way. I’m saying we’re probably close to pretty, you. Close to the same age. I’m 52. , I know that you went in the Navy a year older a year before me. So like we have

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: 52 as well.

L. Scott Ferguson: So we take care of each other. Look at us. You know what I’m saying? Good for us. Good. Russell. Good us. Look at me pushing our own buttons.

So let’s get to the roots, my friend. , I mean, you, So from what we kind of talked about off mic, , you’re a Puerto Rican and then you move kind of the Bronx, right? Give us a little backstory in that time.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, it looks like it was out of necessity for my mom leaving and separating a [00:04:00] marriage that may have been a little arduous for her.

And she made her way to the Bronx and we first started in Long Island, went to my to Manhattan what a place they call up La Marqueta, , a barrio Hispanic or Spanish Harlem.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yes.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: And then made our way to South Bronx and that’s where I grew up. I went to DeWitt Clinton High School.

I was on my way to Cornell University through the US Air Force RRTC. I was going to be an actual air force officer, but things changed. And my mom was like, nah, I want to be by my parents. They’re getting older. So she took us. Back to Puerto Rico.

L. Scott Ferguson: Oh, and I said,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: oh, okay. So those plans for officer brow are gone.

Let me just, just, let me just enlist and get, get off the island.

L. Scott Ferguson: Wow. So you’re ROTC then when you’re up there? Yeah, well,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I was in ROTC through the high school. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. And it was going to transfer to the main ROTC for the officer corps.

L. Scott Ferguson: Right. Oh, wow. [00:05:00] So you were, you, did you kind of, I guess, graduate high school then in Puerto Rico?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. Yeah. My last, my last and only year was in their school system was

L. Scott Ferguson: my 12th grade. Did you lose any of your Spanish, like kind of moving up in the United States for a while and then having to go there and, , Have to catch up even though you’re a senior.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, no, I learned English and Spanish at the same time.

So Spanish was my first language. Yeah, absolutely. We moved five, I think I was four or five years old. Okay. So I learned English, but it’s in school, right? Right. So you learn very quickly as a kid. Yeah. I think I lost more Spanish serving. In the military that I did actually being in the front.

L. Scott Ferguson: I bet.

So you were there and was it, I’ve never really asked anybody this before, , cause you’re born in Puerto Rico and you kind of came to the United States and went back. Was it hard to enlist in the United States military?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: No, we’re a naturalized [00:06:00] citizen, meaning that when we’re born, we are just as a citizen as everybody else in the U.

S.

L. Scott Ferguson: Love it. Love it, man. So tell me a little bit about the Navy times, man. Oh,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Navy times. Wow. Did you go to Great Lakes

L. Scott Ferguson: or Orlando? Where’d you go to boot?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I went to Orlando. So that I, it’s funny because my career is considered What would be a book end career, meaning I started Orlando. I, my first duty station was Hawaii.

I ended my last duty station, Hawaii and ended up in Orlando. So a book, and that’s what they call a book in Korea. You start and you ended where you began. But , we was in the same time I enlisted November. 13th, 1989. So at the end of 89 and , we went through the same thing, golf war, several conflicts, , and the next couple of wars, I , I kind of participated in because I was on ships and [00:07:00] during those times, my last one, of course, Afghanistan.

And actually 9 11 was what pushed us out there and the USS Iwo Jima, which I was on. Oh, you’re in the Iwo. Okay. Yeah. And and we were the first. Are there on site and then the war started. Right. So we, we got to see a lot of, a lot of things. The shock and awe

L. Scott Ferguson: stuff back then. Right. So let me ask you that.

What, what was the biggest leadership before we move into your company here? What was the biggest leadership lessons you really pulled forward from, from the military?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: The biggest leadership lesson was that you can fake leadership.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yes, you can.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, that’ll hit you right between the eyes. Yeah. , there’s a lot of.

Leaders, unfortunately, my first three years was very, very brutal to me, but you learned that there are two types of leaders, ones that play the role and ones that live the role. And , unfortunately I, I [00:08:00] was under someone that played the role, but I learned quickly that that was not what I wanted to be.

And it actually was the catalyst to me going forward into the career that I’m in now.

L. Scott Ferguson: Gotcha. I gotcha. Yeah, that’s, that is so true. I never really thought about that, but there was a lot of imitators people just saying what they wanted or other felt. They thought other people would want to say really not taking the reins.

Even if it was something as simple as field day, you remember those, right? Going out and cleaning everything and whatnot, and there was never really anybody taking leadership. And that’s, what’s kind of crazy is one thing I noticed. Is that when I was in boot camp, it was a culture shock for me because I, , I grew up in Detroit, but like a white boy suburb.

Right. And so when I went in the military and boot camp, there’s people in there, I didn’t care what color their skin was, but they were like, well, I’m here because the judge said either going to jail or the military. For them to develop leadership out of that, the people that are there just [00:09:00] to avoid jail had to have been at that time, because when we’re young, we’re not thinking about it as much, right.

We’re just like surviving. Right. But now you look back on it, like, wow. , sometimes I look up on the Facebook phenomenon, , back in 05, 06, allowed me to look up a lot of the people that I served with and see where they met. I was pleasantly surprised, , to see how, how they, well, maybe they’re faking it online too, but , but that’s, that’s crazy.

So. Let’s move forward a little bit. You got out of the military after 26 years, honorably done senior chief, which squad like senior chief is one step below as high as you can get and in the enlisted side him and I would have to salute the, the The, the commission officers, but senior chief’s pretty legit, man.

So that was congratulations on that. Thank you. But like, let’s get out. You’re discharged. You’re kind of going through that transition. What, what’s going through your mind?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. What’s going to happen. That’s what’s going through my mind. , you’re, you’re young six years, right? Right. I mean, everything’s ahead of you, but it’s funny because in [00:10:00] relation to the workforce, you’re not yet, but in relation to experience.

You got your whole life ahead of you and you got something to give. So trying to find the place to be in that span of. , experience required type of environment. It was, it was difficult. And I think every transitioning military person, unless they get a great mentor, I would say the last 10 years of their career then everybody goes through this, an identity crisis, right?

We’ve been wearing this uniform. I don’t have to think twice about what I’m going to wear today because it’s right there and I’ll put it on. And I get instant. Recognition you do, I would, I would, I would come into an auditorium and it’d be quiet, right? So that goes away. And so who am I now? And so [00:11:00] that’s what I was thinking, , what’s, what’s going to happen?

How am I going to navigate this? Am I, and am I ready for it? Sure. , so, but , we worked through it.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah. So you’ve been out about seven years. Am I doing my math seven, eight

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: years. Okay. It was December 2015 when I gotcha. Gotcha.

L. Scott Ferguson: Gotcha. Okay. So tribal leadership, where did this kind of the foundations?

, triad leadership? Yeah. Where did the foundations come from that?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. Well, the, my service in the Navy was one. Okay. So if you see on my logo right? You, you see the Trident, right? That’s that’s the triad, yes. Three pointed co organizational structure, which is the CEO XO and the CMC.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yes.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I was fortunate to have served the last about six, seven years as a command Senior Chief. And that was great because that’s basically an opportunity for an E eight to execute E nine responsibilities. So it was, it was great. [00:12:00] And so that’s where triad was really birthed from. I love the three prong leadership approach to organizations.

If you ask me, if a civilian company would, would ask me what would make us great. It was to establish, it would be to establish a triadic leadership structure, CEO or CEO, the, the XO COO and hire someone that is a. The role of the command master chief senior chief

L. Scott Ferguson: and someone that’s kind of in the trenches with them and probably probably somebody, tell me your thoughts on this, something that kind of came up through the company, , cause like, especially if they’re in the trenches, like if they’re, if they’re there overseeing what you did as an EA, basically.

A CMC, if I remember correctly, kind of like they coasted, they know that you’re kind of on their way out the, the, [00:13:00] the senior chief command, the command senior chief did everything, dude, that’s what I remember and, and, and seeing that. So I love that approach, man, with that. So are you working with companies or more one on one right now, or what are you working with here?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, right now it’s one on one and topic specific, right? So I’m reeking. We have a veteran ERG group that would like some leadership perspectives, trying to get them through our company. So I’ll go talk to them depending on the topic. Hey, Enrique, we were having some communications issues. I know that you kind of train on that.

Can you come in here and I’ll go and I’ll meet and I’ll train and I’ll kind of mentor. Okay. But a lot of the calls are. Hey, Enrique, can we talk because I can’t really let nobody know that I’m actually getting help. Yeah. Yeah And so, , so there’s a level [00:14:00] Of discretion in, in my field of work and a lot of people take advantage of that.

L. Scott Ferguson: Good, that’s good to say should, , in a good way to take advantage of it. So maybe you’re in a one on one situation, maybe a discovery conversation, making sure you’re the right horse for the course for leadership or coaching or consulting. And like, is there any secret sauce you don’t mind sharing here, Enrique, that you help them kind of shine a light on that initial blind spot?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, the Awareness this, that, if any secret sauce is that a lot of people have knowledge of things, they’re just not aware. And it’s funny to say that, that you could have knowledge of something, but not be aware. But that is really where the hardest things to work through happen. That if you’re not aware that you are a participatory member in the issues that you think you have, Then [00:15:00] we have other issues, right?

And so what I do is bring in the element of awareness to the point where you can identify where you are being responsible for. And then that cuts the, the actual addressing an issue by half, right? Because you control you. And so that’s if anything is a secret sauce,

L. Scott Ferguson: I love that. And so responsibility, you said it responsible.

What, what is your definition of responsibility?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. Well, responsibility is the ability to respond. Thank

L. Scott Ferguson: you. That’s the exact words. I say it’s rooted in the word. Yeah.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Right. And a lot of people gloss over that, right? And it’s looking for actions that are past them.

L. Scott Ferguson: You just set awareness and that’s what it’s about.

If you’re aware to it. Yeah, this is awesome. You’re like my brother [00:16:00] from another mother, man. I swear, this is awesome. This is awesome. So Rick, let’s say you’re still in that discovery conversation, right? And is there any good question that you wish that they would ask you, but never do?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, hardly. I, I hardly ever get questions because the person calling is actually seeking, right?

So but if I were to say one of the more frequent questions that comes up, which is no doubt how much is this going to be? Thank you.

L. Scott Ferguson: Don’t be afraid to ask. How

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: much is the, but you have to know that, right? And then also what I also let them know is that we could do budget. We could do budget.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: But just consider that, , budget is a point where now you’re dealing with this from that perspective. So once you start bringing in the money question. Which is okay. You should know, [00:17:00] and I encourage everyone to use it to ask, but now you have automatically limited yourself to a budget. So,

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah, I love it.

So what makes a great coach then?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: A great coach is one that lives and actually has one. I tell people all the time, I’d say, look. Don’t hire me if I don’t have one don’t because I need help too. And so you also should have the confidence that if there’s anything that I may have trouble with, that I have resources to get the answer.

L. Scott Ferguson: Thank you a hundred percent. , people ask, , I’ll have my client or prospect. Well, what do you pay for coach? You don’t kind of, they don’t want to know. , , it’s almost five figures a month. I tell them because I have coaches because for me to pour into you, I better know my stuff.

A hundred percent, man. I love that. I love that, that approach to that. And so would you consider yourself? Cause I [00:18:00] see leadership, like I don’t teach too much leadership or I don’t coach too much leadership. I’m a coach. I believe everyone knows what they want. They just don’t know how to talk themselves into it.

Right. And that every. Every challenge they have that they have, the answer is just my curiosity gets it out of them. Right? So are you more of a coach or a consultant or are you more of a coach salt?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. And, and it’s called salt and mental. Okay. I love it. It’s a, it’s three pronged actually. And, and yeah.

So there are some people that need coaching. And so through the, you mentioned the discovery call. Sure. Through this discovery call, I can tell you whether you need coaching. Mentorship or, , some, some just consulting. Yeah. Help me out. Yeah. And so that’s actually, that’s the very first thing that is a benefit to the caller, right?

Because sometimes they say, Oh, I need a coach. And all they need is advice.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: And so, , so it’s different. So you, you as a, as a coach need to know During that conversation, [00:19:00] what the need is and then say, Hey, you called me for coaching, but what this really is, is this,

L. Scott Ferguson: right?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Would you like to proceed down that road

L. Scott Ferguson: versus this one?

I love it. I love it. That is a great. Objection handle for a lack of a better term, what I’m saying? Cause you never know. Cause some people will come to me and if they’re in real estate and I’ve been a broker since 1999, so I can consult them if that’s what they want. I’d rather figure it out on their own, , in a sense, because if they’re like, Fergie, I do this and it didn’t work, you’re an idiot.

, then I’d rather them be like, take the onus and the responsibility and the ability to respond on themselves. So where are your strengths then, Enrique, what do you feel your strengths are?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: And my humility a leader that is not humble has already gone down a road. They shouldn’t have gone.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yes. How about weaknesses? What are you still working on?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. [00:20:00] Timeliness, not in terms of showing up on time, but the amount of time I dedicate, because sometimes I get just so enamored with what I’m doing. Dad, I end up giving more than I should. My wife is always saying, Hey, wasn’t that supposed to be an hour?

You’ve been there for three.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah, that’s true. Hold into that commitment that you’re, they agreed to as well. Right. ? Yeah, that’s beautiful. That’s beautiful. So have you, you’re, we’re the same age. So you’ve seen the movie back to the future, right? Oh

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: yeah.

L. Scott Ferguson: Okay. Let’s get in that DeLorean with Marty McFly.

Let’s go back to the double dupes. All right. 22 year old Enrique. , It’s probably an E4, E3, E4 by then, right? So let’s go back to him. What, what kind of knowledge nuggets might you drop on him? Not to change your journey, Enrique, okay. Cause your journey is pretty awesome, right? But to maybe help them shorten a learning curve and blast through maybe just a little bit [00:21:00] quicker.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. So, , for me during that time, like I said, it was, it was very very difficult. Time for me in the military, what I would have told myself is that not everything that’s bad is meant for your demise. I, I really took those years as a, a personal attack when it actually was just a reflection of a broken man.

L. Scott Ferguson: Right. Wow.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: That’s all that was.

L. Scott Ferguson: And one that’s still maturing, , cause we were young. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We were, I mean, we were kind of talking off mic about. About a couple of different things and that in how the Navy is a lot different and a lot better in many ways now compared to when you and I first, first, my first seven years and your first 10 years, absolutely, absolutely.

So how do you want your dash? Remember then that little line in between your incarnation date and your expiration [00:22:00] date, your life date and death date, hopefully it’s way down the road. Cause you and I are going to live a long time if it’s God’s will, but how do you want your dash? Remember?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, he, he made a difference in my life.

That’s it. I mean, , and that’s all that you can ask for, , did you make a difference in somebody’s life?

L. Scott Ferguson: Love that. And that’s kind of enough said in a sense, , I mean, it’s, it is, it’s what life’s about. I mean, I get up in the morning. I served nothing but my God and Scott Ferguson for the first 90 minutes.

That’s it, man. , I give myself my first 90 because the rest of the other, it can be eight hours, it can be 14 hours is about others, , as long as I’m out there making a difference, I know I have to take care of me and obviously you take care of you as well. So Enrique, what do you think people might misunderstand the most about you?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: They might misunderstand. Some people, some people think I’m haughty. Meaning, meaning [00:23:00] I represent myself in a way that can be confused for haughtiness. , there’s a lot of, I take a lot of pride. Yeah. And so, but, but, and then how I speak, I’ve been often told that I leave people behind.

L. Scott Ferguson: Okay. So, yeah,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: but but I will mention that the first three years, so the first three years.

I took the dictionary and I started eating it to combat what was coming at me from leadership. And so what happened was that that became a weapon.

L. Scott Ferguson: And

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: then I started using words that they could not understand. Or even look up,

L. Scott Ferguson: right. Right.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: And now I started leaving people behind, but that’s why I was mentioning, , what can I go back to?

I would say, don’t, don’t confuse those times [00:24:00] of trials that , and confuse it for your demise. Yeah. , I had my weapon, right?

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah. And I almost think you, the, a lot of what you said about humility is in that as well, where you learn through the years. Yeah. An experience that you’re trying almost not to leave people behind even though You might be miles ahead of them in maybe intellect or your knowledge , but you’re also open to learning which i’ve noticed as well.

So That’s that’s amazing. So anything keep you up at night No, no,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: actually,

L. Scott Ferguson: I’m getting better at that too, man. Yeah. I never missed the motion of the ships. I do. I’ll tell you that right now, man. I missed that that time. Right.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: No, look, when I, when I lay down for the night, , I first thank God.

For the ability to do so, not everybody gets to lay in their bed every night. And and then I, I kind of pray around, , I, I, I, my wife is with me. I’m not mourning today.

L. Scott Ferguson: Right.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: , my kids are [00:25:00] in their rooms. I don’t have to worry about what they are. Sure. , and, and I’m in a home, so, , far cry from where I started, right?

That’s a kid, but so those things just put me at ease and I just go right to sleep. That’s beautiful, man.

L. Scott Ferguson: That’s beautiful. And you can like, let go. Right. And know that it’s, that’s just, it’s okay, but there’s kind of a higher power that’s there for you as well. , my God, , I’m, , I’m a Christian guy.

So, so I lean on that. That’s beautiful. I’ve gotten a lot better, , through help with some sleep studies and stuff like that with friends and holistically helping me. That’s, that’s beautiful. So what is. Enrique’s definition of a life well lived.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: If my children succeed at the things that I did not, I lived my life well.

L. Scott Ferguson: I love that. That’s awesome. That’s awesome. That’s beautiful.

We are back in [00:26:00] Enrique. Definitely. We live so close. We got a. And especially this bright line, man, I took that train a couple of weeks ago. And it was like an hour and 40 minutes from Jupiter to Orlando. It wasn’t even two hours. It was beautiful. It was beautiful. So we got to meet some time for a coffee or something in wrap.

And we’ll talk about some of these for 15, 20 minutes, these questions. But today you got five seconds with no explanations. And I promise you they can be answered that way. Do you ready to level up?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Let’s go.

L. Scott Ferguson: All right. Ricky, what is the best leveling, leveling up advice you’ve ever received?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Don’t take.

Everything so seriously. Yes.

L. Scott Ferguson: , my mentor used to say, don’t take life so seriously, too seriously. We’re not making that alive. Right. Absolutely. Sure. What are your personal habits that contributes to your success?

Prayer. Yes. So you see me walking down the street and being like, man, Fergie looks like he’s in his doldrums a little bit.

You see me somewhere. I’m just not looking at the energy that I usually am. What book might you hand me other than the good book?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Good to great.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yes, [00:27:00] absolutely. Any most commonly used emoji when you text

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: the celebration,

L. Scott Ferguson: my man,

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: nicknames growing up. Geeky, Rick, slick.

L. Scott Ferguson: I love it.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I love

L. Scott Ferguson: it. If you could be one age for the rest of your life.

Then gain all the wisdom. I’m sorry. One age physically for the rest of your life. Keep all the wisdom you’ve gained and continue to garner knowledge. What age physically would you stay for the rest of your life?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I will say 35.

L. Scott Ferguson: Thank you. I was going to say, you better say something between 30 and 35.

Absolutely. Just checkers or monopoly? Checkers. Any hidden talent or an indoor superpower that you have that nobody really knows about until now.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Musician, 10 instruments. I would say

L. Scott Ferguson: that’s awesome. Headline for your life

service. Yeah, absolutely. Go to ice cream flavor.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Oh, wow.

L. Scott Ferguson: Butter

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: pecan.

L. Scott Ferguson: There [00:28:00] you go. The there’s a sandwich called the slick Rick Enrique. Who build that, build that slavish, build that sandwich for me.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: It’s loaded. It looks like an Italian with a lot of veggies.

L. Scott Ferguson: I love it. Love it. Favorite charity and or organization like to give your time and or money to.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. Camaraderie foundation here in Orlando.

L. Scott Ferguson: Tell me about it.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah. They are, they address the invisible wounds of veterans and their families. And I’m a mentor for them for the last seven years. So that’s

L. Scott Ferguson: beautiful. That is absolutely. Is that in Florida?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, it’s in Orlando. Okay. They are also located in Tampa as well.

L. Scott Ferguson: Well, beautiful. And last question, you can elaborate on this one a little bit, but what’s your, what’s the best decade of music? 60s, 70s, 80s, or 90s.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: I would say 80s. I was gonna say you better,

L. Scott Ferguson: man. It’s like, that, that that decade had everything. I mean, it phased out the disco, right? But you had the invasions from like Run DMC and the Beastie [00:29:00] Boys to From overseas with U2 and Duran Duran and Men at Work and like everything, the big hair, don’t care.

Glam rock, metal, rock, like everything in that decade, ? And not even that, just the movies too. I mean, come on man. John Hughes is the best. So I know that you have the Developing the Leader within podcasts, but you said you authored a book too?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, there’s several, several books actually that I’ve been collaborated with, with Nice or collaborating author.

And I’m currently working on, on mine, which is well, I’ll say taking you from success to success.

L. Scott Ferguson: I love it. Dude, that is awesome. That is awesome. You said. Kind of written from a first person or is it a parable or like what’s it written from?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, it’s, it’s written from a kind of like a, a how to it’s not like a memoir kind

L. Scott Ferguson: of built in from your experiences.

That’s beautiful. That’s beautiful. So how can we find you?

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, I reside mostly on LinkedIn and that’s usually where I’m at. Enrique [00:30:00] Acosta Gonzalez. You can find me there. Or you can look for developing the leader within wherever you hear a podcast and find me there.

L. Scott Ferguson: Yeah, absolutely. And there’ll be a link to his show in the podcast as well.

He has a lot of solid interviews and some knowledge nuggets that he drops himself. Enrique, give me one last solid and leave us with one last knowledge nugget we can take with us, internalize, and take action on.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Yeah, , life is not as serious as it seems at times. Now, I won’t diminish the pain that comes through a lot of circumstances.

But give yourself a chance. , if, if, if something’s coming up, give yourself a chance. Put, put the stake, put the money, put the chips on you. You’re the one that has to do that. We can cheer you on. But give yourself a chance.

L. Scott Ferguson: I love that, man. And squad, we just had like a fun conversation with my shipmate.

Who’s become a good friend of mine now, , Enrique Acosta Gonzalez. And he reminded us that you can have two types of [00:31:00] leadership. One is fake leadership. And then there’s one that’s real leadership. Don’t be the fake relationship, , play the role. Don’t, don’t play the role. You live the role, live it, be the example for people.

, I love this example with the, the triad, the three tips with the CEO, the COO, and kind of like a, a master chief that oversees kind of the workers and all of them. Communicating with each other in building a business together. That’s fun and people really want to live and lean into that a lot of people have knowledge of things he reminded us but not be aware Awareness is where the magic happens and to make that magic happen You have to participate you have to get out there and get over it get after it the also a great coach Has a great coach or coaches.

I know Enrique has coaches, myself have coaches. We lean in and serve the masses, but we also have to have shoulders for us to stand on to be able to see ahead, to be able to give you the knowledge that we have to give you. He’s going to be remembered as [00:32:00] somebody that is, has humility and strength in, he does things for the intention, not the attention that I see.

He’s not like rah, rah, rah. Look at me. I know we all have egos and he’s very confident, but he’s not out showing it like he’s all of that. , life well lived to him as someone that made a difference and that if his children’s can see, can succeed at the things he did not. That is definitely the epitome of a life well live.

And lastly, life is not really as serious as it seems. There’s going to be pain that you’re going to go through and circumstances, but squad give yourself grace and space. Take a step back and bet on yourself. And that’s what my good friend Enrique does. He levels up his health. He levels up his wealth.

He’s hungry yet. He’s humble. He’s a handsome double. He’s earned his varsity squad letter here at time to shine today. Thank you so much for coming on and recap. Absolutely. Love your guts. Shipmate.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: No, thank you, Scott, for having me and thank you all for listening.

L. Scott Ferguson: Absolutely.

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez: Chat soon.

L. Scott Ferguson: All right.

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