I’ve only known Drew for about a year, but he’s taught me a few important things that have changed the way I look at myself, my business, my family, and the world around me.

#1- There’s always a lesson

Some people may find that this is one of Drew’s more annoying tendencies. He can’t simply just sit at an aquarium and enjoy the fish for the fish. He has to analyze and interpret what he is seeing and how he can apply it to his own life. I’ll admit, at first I was a little thrown off by this.  But as I got to know him I realized that he sees things that a lot of other people don’t. He’s taught me that you can take even the most simple of experiences and use it for growth. He taught me that everything you do, and every person you meet comes into your life for a purpose. He can take even the worst of situations and figure out a way to use it as a catalyst for forgiveness and grace. This is something I strive to do more of every day.

#2- There’s power in silence

For someone who has a lot on his mind and a lot to say, Drew spends a lot of his time being quiet. I can’t count the number of car rides we’ve had that have been entirely silent. At first, I would try to break the silence with awkward conversation or small talk, but I learned quickly that there’s power in the silence. Sometimes, a quiet car ride or an intentional time of quiet can help your brain connect the dots it’s been having trouble connecting. Silence does not have to be awkward. We don’t need to feel like we have to fill the space with our own voices all the time. This was a hard one for me, as a public speaker and all, to learn to appreciate the stillness and the quietness. But once I got the hang of it, I did a lot of my best thinking and reflecting during the times when I intentionally chose to stay silent.

#3-Comparison is the thief of joy

I know Theodore Roosevelt gets all the credit for this quote, but Drew helped me see it lived out. Comparison is the thief of joy. Drew didn’t always have it easy, and it would have been easy for him to look at the accomplishments of his peers compared to the route he chose, and label himself as a failure. We’re all guilty of that. However, Drew showed me that the more time you spend comparing your business and your life and your marriage and your children to other people’s, the less time you have to enjoy your own. Drew is the physical embodiment of contentment. And not in a bad way. He is content with what he has, while always striving to be the best he can be. He’s served me a piece of humble pie once or twice, and although it hurt my ego, it built my character.

Everybody needs a friend like Drew. Someone they can rely on, someone who will tell them like it is, and someone who will celebrate their accomplishments with them. I appreciate Drew’s outlook on life and appreciate him as a mentor. I hope that I can be as influential to others as he has been to me

Want to meet Drew? Click here.