Moment To Remember

Good morning, everybody at Cadre. Man, what an unbelievable day to be alive today. It's going to be a world class Wednesday, I have no doubt about it. For you, for your families, for your colleagues, for all of your friends. You name it, man. There's our little blink. So let's welcome everybody here again. Welcome to a world class Wednesday here, wherever you are in the world. Really excited about today. I just, I have to take you down memory lane today. Eight and a half years ago, nine years ago, I started, I would call it the Health and Human Services journey, working for an organization called Hazel and Betty Ford foundation.

At Hazel and Betty Ford Foundation, I actually was a representative at this march conference in downtown St. Paul. The march conference is, let's call it the Super bowl for the mental health and substance abuse and recovery space. Every organization is there, all the individuals, LiCSWs, LPCC's, LMFTs, licensed, non licensed individuals in training. It is a great place for networking and the industry to basically get together and share best practices, interventions, all the different things. Some of the individuals that are actually in Cadre were even there yesterday, too, which is amazing.

But like I said, eight years ago, I was an exhibitor for Hazel and Betty Ford Foundation. Hazel and Betty Ford foundation was established in 1949. It's been around for a very, very long time. Another one is Minnesota Dalton Teen Challenge, established in 1983. Some of these long tenured organizations with 40 plus, 50 plus, 70 plus years of experience in the space. Like I said, I was an exhibitor for Hazel and Betty Ford foundation. Today, seven years later in, you know, 2022, the organization that I started was front and center where it was at the, when you walk down the steps and you enter into the big exhibitor hall, it was Minnesota Delan Teen Challenge, Northstar Behavioral Health, and Hazel and Betty Ford foundation, which is just this crazy series of events.

To think I was an exhibitor eight years ago with that organization, with that company, and talking about publication materials and the new comprehensive opioid response with twelve steps, and to start an organization with some of the most passionate and inspired and, and incredible people to now be a leader in the entire space where your represent, your organization that you started is represented with the likes of a Hazel and Betty Ford Foundation, Minnesota Delta Teen Challenge, some of the new way, some of the largest programs, not only in the state but the country, is really just a testament to hard work and grit.

And I'm telling you, if I can do it, you can do it. Anybody can do it. If you have the right tenacity, passion, grit. Know how? I mean, it's not about resources. It's not about the amount of money you have. It's not about any of those things. It's, are you willing to work, learn, figure it out, identify solutions, knock them down, pick yourself up again and do it over and over and over again? And like I said, you know, to walk down there and to see now who's the vice president of operations of the business, to see all the individuals that started at North Star 12356 years ago, plus to see all of them at the event and share their stories, whether it's at North Star or speaking engagements, you know, as at the organization four at March.

It was, it was just really a dynamic moment. And it just kind of. It's one that you just have to sit and be really humbled with and realize, like, how lucky you are. And so, you know, we're on that same journey today, right, as a startup with Cadre and, you know, establishing and building ourself. And, you know, think of the likes of, you know, the players that have been here a while, right? Like wellbeats, you know, headspace, a couple of those other, you know, organizations that have started even before the pandemic, you know, and you learn about them and you figure out and you identify what they're doing, right, and what they're missing on, etcetera.

But, you know, you just, you just keep working hard. You keep putting 1ft in front of the other, and I'm telling you, and you can go anywhere you want in this world. You just got to be willing to go all in, try as hard as you possibly can, pick yourself up over and over again. And the grit that you have to show and sustain, it's not a one day thing. It's not a one week thing. It's not a one month thing. You know, it's, it's, it's. It's a year thing. And, um, you know, there was an interesting article that was sent out and into slack.

I think it was either last night or this morning, talking about burnout and how it's overused. Um, you know, I would agree. I would agree with that. That, that article, I think, you know, when you find your passion and you find what drives you and you find what you're devoted to do on this planet, in this place, and you find your. Why, like, burnout just doesn't exist. Like, yes, you will be tired, yes, there will be nights that you're up all night. Yes, there will be those things, but you're never going to be burned.

Out, because you're going to find ways to find your balance. You're going to find ways to reset. You're going to find ways to establish what you need. Like, burnout is not a thing. Like, when you're going all in on your passion, on your drive and your love, you need to have people to tell you, like, when you're maybe, like, going a little too high or a little too manicky, for lack of better words, but you're just going to find yourself always figuring it out. And so, again, I just wanted to take you down memory lane and just share that story, you know, that, you know, a place that I worked at and where I was an exhibitor, you know, seven years later, you know, North Star behavioral health, it was, you know, stood the test of time over the last seven years and has represented himself, you know, as one of the leaders in the space and surrounded themselves with the.

Let's call it the industry meccas. And to be, you know, regarded as one of those industry meccas is just a testament to an incredible team that has been willing to work their tails off and do whatever it takes to be successful and build and build and build and establish new things. Because it was always about a one a, one b. Right. The individuals we serve and those that get to serve them. Right. One a, one b. And so, you know, establishing, you know, our principles here at Cadre is so critical to our cultural success and, you know, establishing ourselves as an industry leader.

And seven years later, I can't wait to see what Cadre is going to be doing, too. So have an amazing day. And, Nick, it is an awesome event. It's a world class event. If anybody's in Minnesota and gets a chance to just walk into march, by all means, please do. And, Alec, you're right. Like, you know, balance. It does. But the balance comes with the work you love. You're. You're absolutely right on, and you need to establish and identify that. I wouldn't call it balance. I would call it harmony, you know, to establish your own harmony.

But when you do, I just. I'm a firm believer that, you know, burnout's really not even on the table. It's just love, and it. You're willing to do whatever it takes for what you love, right? If I'm. If I'm willing to do whatever it takes for my family because I love them, and I'm willing to go through extremes and do whatever it takes because of my love, I'm willing to do the exact same thing for NBH. I was willing to do the exact same thing for Cadre because I love it. And I love, love what I get the chance to do every day.

And I'm privileged and I'm fortunate and I'm lucky, and a lot of people aren't. So love you guys very, very much. Like I said, I just wanted to take you down that trip down memory lane today. Have a great day. I hope you do wonderful things. Establish yourself as one of the leaders in your space and do whatever it takes to be successful while keeping your ethics, morals, and standards high. Always have an incredible Wednesday. Make it a world class Wednesday.