Blog - Jeremy Fouts

Keep Your ‘Why’ Alive

As the days turn into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years we all find ourselves in a constant state of evolution and hopefully growth for the better. Most days I rise early, find myself going about my business and contemplating things in life that I have typically pondered before. One thing that I humbly accept as part of my life is that I am in a position where people ask for my ‘advice’. This isn’t a position in life that I take lightly. I truly always want to help better people’s paths, ease their burdens, and hopefully somewhere in the crossroads there is something from my experience that they can learn from and assist them in their journey.

A particular subject comes to me more frequently than others for whatever reason, whether it be destiny or just plain old common sense, I often find myself pondering purpose, passion and reason…or better known as a ‘why’. My why has served me throughout my life and continues to be the reason I strive to be a better father, husband, brother, and friend. It is my why that has propelled me forward when nothing else held the power to do so; which is the reason I want to help you find your hearts desire or your why. I have had people seek advice around a “why” and I want to share some thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head. As I continue to grow I hope that I can help you navigate finding your why, so that it becomes such a force nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. It’s easy to say things like, “write it down”, “place it in spots that are constant reminders”, and these things are valuable, but I want your why to be something so big that it becomes a feeling within you, that it defines you.

Your why should be worth fighting for and allow you to have fearlessness to explore new territory. Envision yourself on the most amazing destination family vacation then times it by one hundred, fuel your why with a monsoon of visualization. Let your why be powerful enough that it allows you to help others feel safe, that you literally remove fear from their life and let your why shine through helping to light their way. Let your why be even bigger than a dream, and have fun doing it. The power of your why should fill you with joy. And remember everyone is watching you so let them see you filled with a sense of purpose that exposes your intellectual muscle that is building the brand that you are selling the world. Consider that your why should be able to overpower any insecurities that might be holding you back. Those people that you feel like are judging you really shouldn’t matter, don’t forget that no one is thinking about your insecurities as much as you are, and if they should be thinking about your insecurities—their thoughts are really none of your business. Really ponder your why and plant it in fertile soil where it will continue to grow, develop and drive you.

This little exercise for continuing to fight for your why is what I continue to do to this day. It may evolve and experience some periods of metamorphosis, but it still compels me to move forward in the world doing my best to do good; and that is exactly what I want for you. A purpose and reason so strong that nothing can rob you of your why. For most of you a why is maybe something you have always known, for many of you it might be something you are working on. No matter where you are at in the evolution of your why don’t stop short of letting it propel you forward, with gratitude in your heart and a good reason why it is there. This debt-free, stay-at-home dad has come a long way on this journey to let you know that your WHY is worth it, hold it tightly in your grasp and near your heart

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-10-09T02:28:21+00:00September 24th, 2020|Corvive, General, Jeremy Fouts, Jeremy Fouts Corvive, Leadership|0 Comments

Tom Brady’s Mindset

Being one of only two players to win 5 super bowls makes Tom Brady a really special football quarterback. As if that feat was not great, Brady set the record of being the only quarterback who won 5 Super Bowls playing for the same team. However, that is only the beginning of what puts him in a league of his own.

He has 4 Super Bowl MVP awards (the most), has been into a dozen Pro Bowls, has 2 league MPV awards to his name, and has seen his team win more division titles as a quarterback than anyone else.

Tom Brady is easily in the list of the greatest athletes in the sport. He has been an inspiring figure to tens of millions. These quotes from this legend will not only help inspire you, but they can also provide you an insight into the stuff that makes him so great!

“You can’t go out and practice average on Wednesday, average on Thursday, okay on Friday and then expect to play well on Sunday.”

“A lot of times I find that people who are blessed with the most talent don’t ever develop that attitude, and the ones who aren’t blessed in that way are the most competitive and have the biggest heart.”

“I think sometimes in life the biggest challenges end up being the best things that happen in your life.”

“You wanna know which ring is my favorite? The next one.”

My personal favorite quote from Tom Brady is the following:

“You Push your body to the limits, but you have to train your body to deal with the limits.”

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-08-28T00:59:45+00:00August 28th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Jeremy Fouts Story Part 1

Sometimes in life there is the rare personality that slips between generational gaps and can’t quite be requisitioned to just one way of thinking. Often we pigeonhole individuals into groups such as millennials, Gen X’rs, or baby boomers, and some of us don’t know where we fit in at all. And again, then there are those that are the outliers, the outsiders, those which have an old soul and that seem fit in any where amongst any group of people. Jeremy Fouts is one such individual confident yet kind, generous yet sensible, unassuming and humble. For every high he has reached there has been a self-admitted low, for every low he has dug in until the climb became even more rewarding than the summit. His is a rag to riches story worth sharing. Why? Because he is still living it, he is still approaching each day with a passion to help others. His passion has been instilled in him from his youth and is still deeply seeded in who he is today.

Being brought up in small town Oklahoma Jeremy learned early on in life that if you wanted something bad enough you had to earn it. Like most kids that grew up in rural America life was good, but days were long and often filled with hard work. But those long days that end up defining the positive features of a country kid, helped to make the successes in life even more savory and meaningful when they eventual arrive.

A natural born athlete Jeremy took to the sporting fields with ease. He understood the hard work that he would have to devote into his interests if he wanted to experience the winning end of sports. On and off the field Jeremy was a natural born leader that led with love. For those that have had a chance to spend time with Jeremy it is immediately apparent that he loves without judgment and if you earn his trust you have a loyal friend that will always put your needs above his own.

Growing up in a household of boys with God fearing parents also helped Jeremy to sow deep roots of faith, knowing that there is more to life than just the mundane day to day activities. There is a deeper connection bigger than us all that unites us all. His work ethic and his drive eventually allowed him to attend college (with his lovely wife Candice Fouts) and earn his bachelors degree. Education has been just as important to him as hard work because of the opportunities and doors that it can help open for you. Being a deep believer in education has also helped him to understand that it is the best tool that we have to help raise each other up as humans.

Jeremy’s drive and determination eventually took him around the world helping to educate individuals on how to better their own space in this world. To be continued…

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-08-28T00:59:03+00:00August 21st, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Right Person, Right Place, Right Time

When you look back on your life and consider all of the opportunities that have come your way, you may feel a sense of regret at a chance passed by, or you may feel a deep sense of gratitude for being in the right place at the right time. We often hear that term, “right place, right time”, “he’s always lucky.” There are times that can be considered luck, but as with most things in life, it’s because you were prepared.

Being prepared is a culmination of mindset and work ethic. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, mindset is “a person’s way of thinking and their opinions” and work ethic is “the belief that work is valuable as an activity and is morally good.”

As I’ve been on my journey, I’ve learned that opportunities are only visible when you’re looking for them and your success is dependent upon your level of maturity. My journey has been based on my ability to put aside what others say I should do and think and realize that I have to be able to change. Change that is for the betterment of myself, my family and the situation that I’m in and don’t like. This is where the “mindset” comes into play. I choose on a daily basis what my mindset and attitude will be, whether that is positive or negative. I also choose every day to work on my mind and strengthen my skill set. I do this through the books I read or listen to. I strengthen my skill set by self-evaluation, correction and practice.

Each opportunity that you’re presented with should be considered a building block of preparation for future opportunities. Have an open mind to see what’s available to you that will help you stretch and grow into a better person, which bleeds over into all other aspects of your life and relationships.

Work ethic, something I pride myself on, taught at an early age and no one can take away. I’ve made my share of mistakes, missed on opportunities that I either wasn’t ready for or couldn’t see the long-term benefits, but it wasn’t because I was out worked. There is truth to working smarter not harder, as far as understanding what and when to delegate. But when it’s time for me to work, it’s time to work. Understanding what your goal is, having a plan to get there is critical. However, the only way to make it happen, is to work when it’s hard, when you’re tired and others have stopped. No one can make your dreams and goals happen but you. Do you have what it takes? Numbers don’t lie and neither does your work ethic.

I encourage you to keep your eyes open and your hands working. I can promise you this, IT IS WORTH IT!

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-08-04T18:28:29+00:00August 4th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Hope You Live a Good One

Everyone has those days when they reflect on life and wonder: has my life been a good one? Have I done the right things? Did I love others the way I wanted to? Will Jeremy Fouts be recognized as a man who kept his word; loved, served and cared about others? I humbly hope these ideals will echo through the halls of time, because it is who I want to be and how I want to be remembered. I want to squeeze so much out of this life that there is nothing left in the end. And I want to help as many people as I can do the same. I wish to support others in becoming the type of people they want to be as they fill their lives with meaningful attributes that will carry on their legacy.

One of the most moving conversations I ever experienced was a conversation that featured Warren Buffett. This is a man that I have respected on so many levels in life and many things he has spoken of has influenced the way I live my life. There isn’t a lot of business icons that are also good examples of lives well lived.

Warren Buffett: “When you’re nearing your end of life, your only measure of success should be the number of people you want to have love you that actually do love you.”

This comment strikes a chord in my soul. He went on to say, “I know people who have a lot of money, and they get testimonial dinners and they get hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them. If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.”

This really summarizes how we all should live our lives. I would like to think when you ask people about Jeremy Fouts, they would say he was a generous man. I may not always do things perfect, but I was raised by wonderful, God fearing parents that taught me the golden rule and I truly try to live by that rule each and every day.

Warren Buffet: “Love is one of the most powerful emotions a human being can feel, and yet, we still live in an individualistic society of keeping up with the Jones’s: We forge ahead with our business ventures and strategically plan our career paths in hopes of finding fame and fortune. We feel we’ve finally arrived at the top when we’re able to vacation twice a year to exotic islands and drop a European luxury car (or two) in the garage. We dream about having all of these things, love be damned. The problem with love is that it’s not for sale. The only way to get love is to be lovable. It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money. You’d like to think you could write a check: I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love. But it doesn’t work that way. The more you give love away, the more you get.”

So with that said, I’m sure you can see how CorVive’s principles line up very closely with some of the values that Warren Buffett held true. Now how do we keep those principles growing within our own way of living?

1) Serve: Be selfless and don’t expect anything in return. The laws of love are reciprocal.

“When we choose to love someone unconditionally by encouraging and believing in them, love comes back in full force through respect, admiration, trust and loyalty.”- Warren Buffett

2) Love: Part of love is empathy. Empathy is one of most common traits of likable (or, as Buffett prefers to say, “lovable”) people. True empathy occurs when you’re able to step into someone else’s shoes and see their perspective. In a study of more than 15,000 leaders across 20 industries, researchers found that the ability to listen and respond with empathy was the most critical attribute of a team’s overall performance.

3) Care: Treat others the way they would want to be treated. As children, we’re often taught this Golden Rule. But the Platinum Rule takes it to a whole new level: “Treat others the way they want to be treated.” When we follow the Platinum Rule, we can be more certain that we’re respecting what they want, instead of projecting our own values and preferences. That doesn’t mean we should ignore the Golden Rule altogether, but we should realize its limitations given that every person and every situation is so different.

Additionally, when the team and I sat down and discussed what would be CorVive’s main moral code, fun, became a main focus point. We didn’t want to be just another company, we wanted people to experience joy just by being part of us. It is beginning to happen in a big way and I couldn’t be more excited. One of the major miles stones that Warren Buffet mentions is making work “enjoyable and fun”. When you enjoy work, you enjoy life, and you tap dance your way to work. I love every day. I mean, I tap dance in here and work with but people I like. There is no job in the world that is more fun than running Berkshire, and I count myself lucky to be where I am.”

I feel the same way, I have specifically hand selected a team that love being around each other and that Candice and I enjoy. We have taken our time in aligning with leaders who we love to serve and care for. It is a mission for us to find those that have a passion for helping others and helping to cultivate that character quality in any way possible.

The evidence here is clear: In positive and uplifting cultures, where people share the same values, beliefs and norms, you’ll find a high-performing group of people who attract folks of the same kind.

In closing, I hope that you understand that I work hard because I love and care about people, and how I treat people I truly hope represents those values. In the end following your passion will be what ultimately will have the unbreakable bond necessary to keep all your dreams alive and accelerate your drive to achieve them. Many of us take our cushy paychecks and job security for granted, even though we might hate our jobs and would rather be doing something else — something we actually love.

In signing off, Warren Buffet once said—“As humans, doing what we love is a major contributor to true happiness in life. So if you don’t know what your passion is, it’s time to figure that out.”

I’m here and standing ready to help you all do just that. Let’s find your ‘why’ and your ‘passion’ and reach others.

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-07-23T16:13:58+00:00July 23rd, 2020|Corvive, Jeremy Fouts, Leadership|0 Comments

Good. Good. Good.

I know there are some out there that can get overwhelmed by positivity, like it’s going to wear off on them and they are going to become a better person. You’ve heard them say it, “I’m going to go crazy if that person gets any happier.” Obviously I say that with a pinch of sarcasm, but it is true that there are some people that get stuck in “negative gear” and can’t shift their thoughts any other way—the world is out to get them everyday.

There is not a greater force on the planet than the power of positivity. Its ranges from how you treat people to how you approach every situation, finding the good in life always beats finding the bad. Sometimes it even happens when you look back on memories, even though everything in your life wasn’t perfect you have the ability to look back with fondness. However, there are those people that look back and still begrudgingly can only see the ugly of a situation. I feel for them. I had an employee that approached each day with this positive attitude, every day was “awesome.” How you doing today Brad*? “Awesome!” Brad, how is that project coming along? “Awesome.” To Brad everything was “awesome”. Living is awesome. Somewhere along the way in Brad’s life, he had learned the secret to life—The Power of Positivity. This is one of the most powerful ways to get the most out of your life and really make a change in the lives of others. Please, if you’re reading this find a way to find the power of positivity in your life, as it will shield you throughout your life whenever there is stormy weather.

We are always going to face things in life that aren’t easy, nothing is perfect. However, how we choose to react to different situations will influence how quickly we overcome these unpleasant challenges. More than that, we will have the ability to influence others to see how living in the light of positivity is a much better place to stand than wallowing in the dark waiting for someone to come rescue you, which by the way, is unlikely to happen. So start each day off knowing you have a choice to choose positivity; because everything is good, good, good.

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-07-08T16:49:33+00:00July 8th, 2020|Corvive, Jeremy Fouts, Leadership|0 Comments

Exercise

As we all know life is full of stressors, from starting a new job, losing a job, getting married, moving, financial obligations, etc. etc. Don’t get me wrong, a little bit of stress can be okay and can even help us perform better. However, many of us tend to deal with an unhealthy level of stress. What many people don’t realize is how effective exercise can be in helping decrease our stress levels. 

What happens when we get stressed is our brain releases the natural-occurring chemical, cortisol. What “fights” the cortisol, if you will, are endorphins. Right now, you are probably wondering, “How does knowing this help me?” Well, it is because when we exercise endorphins are released into our brain, thus reducing stress levels, anxiety, tension, and even depression. If you have ever been stressed to the max and decided to go on a heart-pumping run, you probably know what I mean.

Long-term effects of the primary stress hormone, cortisol, will eventually take a toll on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, heart rate, heart, immune system, digestive system, and the list goes on. For centuries though, yogis and others have understood how proper breathing and physical activity can decrease our cortisol levels and create a calm for ourselves.

So next time you’re stressed, instead of picking up a bad habit such as binge eating, binging on TV, sleeping too much or too little, or binge drinking, pick up your favorite physical activity and let your body do the work and recalibrate naturally! If you’re going to be stressed you might as well get fit! 

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-06-25T18:18:00+00:00June 25th, 2020|Corvive, Jeremy Fouts, Leadership, Legislation|0 Comments

Change – Jeremy Fouts

Change is constant

As we take the time to acknowledge the world around us, we can clearly see how things have been changing over the past few months. It seems as though 2020 has brought more change than many of us have experienced in a long time. Although these changes can seem intimidating, they will inevitably bring about good outcomes.

One thing I know to be a fact is that change is constant – it is something we can always count on. When faced with change we have two options; see the positive and roll with it or get caught up in the fear and negativity of it all. Oftentimes, I notice individuals tend to deal with the latter.

People tend to look over all the benefits change can bring about. The main benefit being personal growth. Anytime I have dealt with change, big or small, I always notice personal growth. However, the benefits don’t stop here – change also brings about new opportunities, new people, new environments, and fresh perspectives.

Many of us like to try and have everything figured out and be in perfect control of our lives, but the reality of it is, we can’t – no matter how hard we try. Change doesn’t care what our plans are or how in control we wish to be, it’s coming and it’s probably going to be beyond our control. Our mindset and how we view change will determine how we respond to it, and our response will be what makes or breaks us.

A quote I would like to leave you with is by Dan Millman. He said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” I want to encourage you all to be present, embrace change, and then build upon it.

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-06-08T21:56:08+00:00June 8th, 2020|Corvive, General, Jeremy Fouts, Leadership, Legislation|0 Comments

The Power of Positivity

The Power of Positivity

Every morning when we wake up, we are faced with a decision – are we going to have a good attitude and be positive or have a bad attitude and be negative? This seemingly simple decision has the power to have a significant effect on almost every area of our lives.

Some benefits of being positive include having better overall health, a better ability to deal with stressors, being a happier person overall, helping you build skills and develop resources, becoming a better leader, opening your mind, and so on. Whereas being negative actually narrows your mind and thoughts.

I want to be clear; being positive does not mean you become oblivious and ignore all of the tough situations surrounding you. It means that, when faced with one of these tough situations, you have a more positive way of looking at it. In turn, you are able to be resilient and face these situations head–on and come out on top.

What I have realized over the years is the first step in becoming more positive is being aware of how you talk to yourself. This may seem silly to some, but trust me, this is huge. We all have our internal dialogues and thought processes and, often, these are automatic.

When you start to become aware of your internal dialogue, you will begin to realize if you tend to have positive or negative responses to situations. From here, you can begin to alter these thoughts. Meaning, if you have negative responses, they can eventually become automatically positive.

For example, if you are faced with something new and automatically think, “This is new, I’ve never done it before, so I’m scared.” You can change this to “This is an opportunity to learn something new. I could actually be good at this.”

Another key is to find something positive in every situation – even if it seems to be a negative one. If you tried something and failed or made some small mistake, try to figure out an area you did well in, something you learned, or an opportunity you found in the situation.

I want to encourage all of you to hone your ability to be positive. Once you accomplish this, almost every area of your life will change for the better. Not only this, but so will the lives of people around you because, as most of us know, attitudes are contagious.

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-06-03T17:27:13+00:00June 3rd, 2020|Corvive, Jeremy Fouts, Leadership|0 Comments

The Power of Gratitude

Have you ever had the type of day when it seemed as if the world was conspiring against you? It is those kind of days when it feels like it is impossible for anything to go right, like you’re playing a real life game of whack-a-mole, popping your problems on the head as they spring up. The day starts with a cold shower because today was the day your water heater died, followed by a quick breakfast of nothing because the last thing left in the kitchen was a wilting banana. You were welcomed to work by a boss who can’t seem to find the value in your work no matter how you try…you see the trend, things can go from bad to worse minute by minute. There is a secret here my friends, you have a superpower to solve your problems and it is called gratitude.

This little miracle action, gratitude, holds the key to local untold treasures of mental health. I promise you as you sulk around your life holding your head low, there is someone out there in the world that would gladly change places with you in the blink of an eye. Gratitude is the choice we make to see our world from a perspective of joy, and with this power of choice we have the ability to affect ourselves and those around us in a very commanding way. For every stroke of bad luck there is an opposing act of good luck. We have all heard the statement, “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes”, but have we ever really given it a second thought? I would encourage you to really ponder that statement, really think about the mother who has just lost her son, the son who has just lost their father, or the father who has just lost his job. Not to sound like Debbie downer, but for everything challenging in life, there is always something even more disconcerting.

I challenge you to use your power of gratitude and cast off those bewildering negative feelings that take you to a place that is of no value in your life. For every negative thought, find the opposite thought and experience those feelings of gratitude. I would encourage you to practice something I do each morning and journal the things you are grateful for, from small to big and everything in between. Some days the list might be endless, other days the list might be shorter, but I promise you if you practice focusing on what you are grateful for you will find ultimate joy. We take so much for granted that it is easy to forget to be grateful, remember even the small things…the air we breathe, the people we love, the freedom we have to make a choice. You will quickly see that a short-lived cold shower is nothing but a thing of the past that helped you realize everything you love about your life.

Jeremy Fouts CorVive Founder

By Jeremy Fouts|2020-05-28T19:44:48+00:00May 28th, 2020|Uncategorized|0 Comments