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Yes, And More
526 Plays1 month ago
In this episode of the Uncommon Wealth Podcast, I sit down with two of my favorite humans on the planet — Greg and Libby Olson — and let me just tell you… these two are magnetic. They’re a married couple, business partners, and the kind of people who walk into a room and instantly raise the energy. Their whole life is built around this mindset of “Yes, And” — and it’s not just something they say… it’s how they operate.
We talk about their story — how they met (in a very uncommon way), how their paths kept crossing over the years, and how they eventually realized, okay… maybe God is doing something here. From running their marketing agency Growl, to navigating the ups and downs of working together as a couple, to learning how to set boundaries so the business doesn’t swallow their marriage — they get super real about what it’s actually like behind the scenes.
And then we get into their health journey — because what they’ve done is honestly incredible. They’ve lost a ton of weight, completely changed their lifestyle, and now they’re doing stuff that would’ve sounded insane a couple years ago… like training for Hyrox, running races, strength training — all of it. And it didn’t happen overnight. It was layered. One “yes” at a time.
But underneath everything, what really stands out is their faith. We talk about how God has been working in their lives — not just in the easy seasons, but especially through the hard ones — and how that has shaped their priorities and their purpose going forward.
This episode is funny, honest, and full of momentum — and if you’ve been feeling stuck, tired, or like you’ve lost that spark… I think the Olsons are going to light something back up in you.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to The Uncommon Wealth Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Everyone dreams of living an uncommon life and the best asset you have to achieve your dreams is you. Welcome to the Uncommon Wealth Podcast.
00:00:12
Speaker
We're going to introduce you to people who are living uncommonly. We're also going to give you some tools and strategies for building wealth and for pursuing an uncommon path that is uniquely right for you.
00:00:25
Speaker
Hello and welcome everybody to another episode of the Uncommon Wealth Podcast where I'm your host, Philip Ramsey. Today, I
Meet Greg and Libby Olson
00:00:31
Speaker
cannot wait. I'm going to be like Tom Brady and like, let's effing go. you know what I'm saying? With these two people, we have Greg and Libby Olson, a married couple. And you guys know if you guys listen for us this is one of my favorites get both people on uh so let me give you the bio and then we'll jump into this so greg olson is a visionary and founder of the ceo of growl a marketing agency he launched to shake up the traditional marketing world with a career spanning over two decades in the b&b marketing you say visionary hold on visionary i heard visionary and i don't know like uh okay
00:01:06
Speaker
I don't want to interrupt you, but think could use a different word than visionaries. Master of blending technology and storytelling, helping brands cut through the noise and truly connect with your audience. When he's not driving marketing and innovation, there's another one, Greg is improv enthusiast. That's going to come later. I wrote that for my mom, by the way, so that is not for anybody else. No one cares.
00:01:27
Speaker
Outdoor adventure and the guy to make you laugh at a meeting. You've already heard it now. Greg Olson. Okay. His other half Libby Olson is a grouse partner and COO. The agency's optional or operational powerhouse and creative strategist with a background in leading marketing for attack for tech and brands. Libby is passionate about crafting data driven strategies and delivering real results for champion collaboration across teams.
00:01:57
Speaker
You didn't very good looking too. and Just smoking, right? You don't even get to see that. I do. So it's on me. i'm just Outside the boardroom, Libby is deeply involved with the community, loves mentoring future marketers, and brings the spark of creative to everything she touches.
00:02:13
Speaker
They're amazing. they're married how long are you guys married? ah 12 and a half years. 72 years. 72 years. Oh, sorry. yeah That's field time. So that's my biography. That's like what, you know, let's just quick do some research quick. I i hate reading out loud, but here we are. My question to you guys is if you had to do the bio for the other person, what would it say? Boom. We're going to start with Greg and then we're going to go to Libby. Improv. um I would say Libby, she's the rock that holds growl together. And I might have heard that from somewhere else that we were talking about. It is true. um
00:02:48
Speaker
ah She has ah ah mental filing cabinet that is I don't know how she can hold it all in there, Philip. It is one of those very special skills where,
00:03:01
Speaker
You know, she can pull up information, background, technology, um and very impressive of how she how she does it. ah You know, so we're very lucky that we have that opportunity to work together um and moving forward. So, yeah, the rock, the inspiration, and the good looks.
00:03:20
Speaker
Love it. but We can just keep saying that because nobody can validate it. All right, Libby, what would be Greg's? All right. I would say Greg is the ultimate engager. Greg can walk into a room and probably is even more comfortable walking into a room of a whole bunch of people he does not know and become everybody's best friend right away. he can reach out. And he, even with people that we know, like with our employees, he's going to be the first one to ask, Hey, how are you doing? How are things going? How was this thing that you talked about a week ago? right um Whereas I tend to get right into the to do's and tasks. So, know, Greg is definitely the ultimate engagement. It's really what makes him so successful at, you know, bringing in new clients. And, you know, he's our, he is our visionary. He is our person out in the street, you know, engaging with new opportunities And that's what makes him such a good leader and success in that space. It's good. Okay. So when you combine both of those biographies, it's just like they're magnetic. You guys are magnetic. So I can't believe I got you on this show. I'm pretty excited about it. I i love that we have relationship outside the show and we actually can conversate and talk about this stuff. I really do feel blessed ah to know you and like together you guys are magnet. So magnetic. So thank you for being on the show.
The Olson's Love Story and Unconventional Courtship
00:04:41
Speaker
My first question for you guys is how in the world do two people like you meet
00:04:49
Speaker
in a very uncommon way there it is let's go you just all your dna is is just uncommon yeah uh so well our story goes back a lot longer than 12 and a half years we so we met um through work sort of greg was working for a trade show company um and this is probably 25 years ago. Greg was working for a company who built trade shows and he was a project manager. I was 12 years old that. Yes, exactly. Very young man.
00:05:23
Speaker
Motor on. I don't know. So, yeah. shot Yeah. Yeah. Savant. um And I was the marketing girl at a company, ah a manufacturing company. And Greg was the project manager for our our booth. So, we were building a booth together. um We met that. That's how we met originally. think you met on I think you had on very sexy shoes too. what I'm probably talking about. Highly possible. I did like to wear high heels a lot. For a B2B manufacturing, it was very like inappropriate shoe wear to work. And most people have to wear, you know, steel-toed shoes, steel-toed boots, not Libby. No, I did. She's the marketer.
00:06:09
Speaker
Melvin Marcos was definitely an idol of mine being able to have that many shoes. Not so much anymore. But um yeah, so that's I mean, that's originally how we met. We went out for drinks once at that point. Greg's a little bit older than me. ah Greg's eight years older than me. And so back when I was 20, early twenty s that was a lot. That was a big difference. And we just were in different stages of life. Our paths,
00:06:33
Speaker
um went separate ways after that we stopped working with that company for a completely different reason and um come about five years later I'm in a different job he's working for an agency and um we I I had bought a condo in downtown Denver I was renovating that as a late 20 something um When you don't have a lot of money, you you learn quickly that you um even to get rid of stuff, you have to pay for it. Unless you put it up on Craigslist and someone will come pick it up for free.
00:07:09
Speaker
And so Greg was looking for cabinets for his garage. And I was getting rid of my 1970s kitchen cabinets. And so I threw them up on Craigslist.
00:07:23
Speaker
We were interacting back and forth. He came to get them and we were like, hey, I know you. You're the one with the shoes. Right. Yeah. So he, and as I just said, he was working for an agency at that time. I worked for a startup. Um, so we again did one project together and that was it. He was, he was with somebody. I was with somebody. who we didn't date at that point either. We did one project. We were a startup. We had no money. So that was the only project we really did together. And then fast forward another about five years. And, um,
00:07:55
Speaker
that When Twitter was coming out and Greg was on Twitter at some point, like on a Friday night, he was out here actually with his parents and Fruita and posted something business related on a Friday night. I DM'd him or commented, I can't remember, and said, how lame that you're posting about business on a Friday night.
00:08:14
Speaker
In his snarkiness, he responded and said, how lame that you're responding to my business on a Friday night. Yeah. And um so we we proceeded to get drinks after that.
00:08:28
Speaker
And I'll let Greg finish the story because I think it's his favorite part. yes Hit me. i um I don't know. On this on your on your ah on this podcast, if it's PG-13, we can talk about it. so yeah were We're talking about it. We go PG-13.
00:08:44
Speaker
It was a little uncommon. Neither of us really interested in, we both are getting out of relationships and i don't know how many times our paths have crossed, but um she thought I either wanted business or i wanted a date. I didn't either. um You know, we just, we got together. We ended up living just blocks from each other ah this whole time. But it was one of those nights that we were only going to meet for an hour.
00:09:05
Speaker
Fast forward. Four hours later. More than that, probably. um And, you know, we're sitting in another bar at the basement in a dark corner, um really learning about like we're like high school kids underneath the bleachers making out for those people. So ah but and you would think after that, we we'd be like, oh we fell deeply in love. We actually were embarrassed and it took another probably. i don't know.
00:09:30
Speaker
eight months for
The 'Yes, And' Philosophy
00:09:31
Speaker
us to figure out that we were ready to get to actually um i think god put us together i think it was at first he he kept trying over many years to say hey i keep i keep putting you two together because there's really no one else for you so you will try again and he kept trying and trying and trying and trying and then here we are so i honestly think god put us together because ah God said nobody else is going to put up with either of you. So just figure out.
00:09:57
Speaker
It's a perfect marriage. Yeah, it is. And I don't think anybody would put up with this. So yeah, but a little bit uncommon. I think i think it's uncommon. um But yeah, um and I love that story. I'm pretty lucky um to, you know, have a super hot business partner. no one Not anybody can say that.
00:10:16
Speaker
12 years later, more than 12 years. You are rocking. So how long kidss have you known each other? Like when you started from the way back? till If you go all the way back, it's probably been 25 years. i think I was 25 or a couple of years under 25. Wow. 49 now. I love gosh that's a long time ago so if the for the listeners you know that i'm kind of like hot for 2026 the yes and i just love that concept and i feel like needs to encompass that so well and so their life has changed drastically because they just started this whole yes and thing and you heard it in the biography with uh
00:10:53
Speaker
with Greg being the improv guy. So let's talk about the yes and in your life. um And we can talk about different facets. We can talk about relationships. We can talk about your work. We can talk about your business, running a business, your health, stewardship, the way you cast vision. I think this can go many different ways. But one thing I really wanted to get you on early on in 2026 because my yes and year is really stemming from the Olsen's and you guys is like passion for not only just saying yes and but like contributing in such a way authentic way that adds this in this environment of just encouragement and energy and excitement and like everything that's positive is just you guys so let's talk about yes and for you guys how did it start where is it brought you and like I probably won't talk for the rest of the interview so thanks for letting me show
00:11:44
Speaker
Well, I just want to say it and maybe we can talk about it. but I think the biggest thing for your listeners is... um there was a book, I mean, this isn't why, but Yes Man is a book and it was a movie and, um you know, fantastic that someone has to say yes to everything, you know, whatever they someone asks them. mean, it's actually, I think, a really good book. I think it's a fun movie to watch, um you know, and I think in many times in society or we get busy or we get into a grind that um we don't want to really try new things as is challenging, right? It takes time.
00:12:19
Speaker
Like you're going to go to a try a new class or especially as we get older, right? You don't, you just get set in our ways, right? And it's, um but I think it does break that cycle. And Libby can talk a little bit about that as like, you know, just because we've always done something one way, that is always the way it's going to be. and I think if we, so if we're going to change, I think having that yes end attitude. And I think that it, yeah um, formulates from improv. And if it is, if you want to look it up, it's a well-known thing when you're, when you're in improv, um, and somebody comes to you and improv and says, an example would be I'm stacking, uh, someone stacking so an invisible something, an improv on a stage. Right.
00:13:01
Speaker
And I remember doing, when I was first doing improv school, i actually went to improv school. Can't believe Libby stuck with me through all those years ago. I can't believe there's such a thing. Yeah, there's a lot of improv schools, and um I got to go, as I traveled for business, one thing that's cool about improv is you go to any city, and you want to go to you go to an improv, like Second City.
00:13:22
Speaker
Not that you're on a big stage in Second City, but there's all these little stages. In New York, I went on some. would just call up and be like, hey, do you guys... have guests come in i'm an improv student or i go do improv in denver at this place most of them know of each other but i would just call up places and i got to be on stages in new york city with like ah actors like real actors that we see on movies and tvs they go back to improv to reground themselves and you'll see them they don't even want to know like they're not there to be like you we're having philip ramsey who's been on 17 tv shows and four they don't announce it they just come and play right because they're just trying to get grounded so i got to go i just it was a thing to push yourself to be on stage with new people and that yes and mentality allows you to always say yes to whatever they're doing so someone's stacking like they're stacking like um
00:14:14
Speaker
you know, eye sculptures to debate whatever, eat but whatever they're stacking something, you know, they're talking like, Oh, we got to get going, you know, help me move these, you know, help me move all this over. And they're like, and then maybe they say, yeah, this firewood is, you know, and then you change it and come in and be like firewood. Why are we moving firewood? That's a no. Right. But then you take it and you're like, Oh, this is great. I can go carve,
00:14:37
Speaker
I've always wanted to carve my own Oscar awards. And then the next guy comes in and be like, oh, you know, he takes it from there. So it's a yes and always keeps things moving forward. Right. And so that's kind of the mentality we have.
00:14:49
Speaker
And this year, Libby said, i want to make it the year of yes. I interpreted that. i I said, you know, there's a lot of things I can we can say, but she has been pretty good. I keep running into 10 K's, eight mile runs in cold to Iowa. um You said yes to that, too. We did that recently together. um Unbelievable. But having that yes and mindset, I think, is so important um as a person, as in in a business, but also in a marriage.
00:15:14
Speaker
Let me take it from there. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, the yes and mindset really has been a foundation for growl. We it's one of our five values. We have it on a poster in our office. um And it really is one of the core things that we that we want our employees us to always be mindful of as we're dealing with clients.
00:15:38
Speaker
clients can always bring curveballs and we just want to kind of take that curveball and go yep, and then and here's how we'll we're going to manage that or and we can do this. or Just always have that positive mindset. And then kind of tied to the book that Greg was talking about, so that Yes Man book, this is also a little bit inspired by my best friend. So she, many years ago, um she was so sick of dating and so she just decided I'm going to do a year of yes.
00:16:08
Speaker
And I'm going to say yes to everybody who wants a date, whether that's one day or it turns into more. I'm just going to do my year of yes. And she ended up meeting her husband that year.
00:16:19
Speaker
Okay. And so it worked out for her. um And i think, you know, just as Greg said, we get, especially as business owners, we get so bogged down and we get tired and we start to say no to a lot of things just in life in general, because we're tired. We're trying to protect ourselves.
00:16:38
Speaker
yeah Yeah, we doubt ourselves, you know, whatever the reason. And I think so I just, you know, when we had like a lot of people, we had a tough 2025 2025, I think rocked everybody's world in one way or another. And so kind of coming out of that wanted to just reset everything and say, well, let's just say yes to pretty much everything. And and whether it's once or we it's something we find out we love or we can say, well, we did that. We're not going to do it again. But it was an experience and we have a story to tell about it and really bring that adventurous mindset back that we you know i felt like we used to have a lot of.
00:17:15
Speaker
You know, you heard our get together story. you know, we used to be a lot more adventurous and and that that spark has left over the last couple of years, especially, I think, in the business side. So just being a little more open, open to risk, open to new ideas, open to whatever God might bring our way and just say yes.
00:17:34
Speaker
Yeah, I totally feel like that's been kind of the feel that I've gotten as I've gotten this old uncommon wealth thing, like really pouring into people. Like, how has God uniquely gifted you? I feel like people lose that excitement, enthusiasm, all the stuff where you used to be when you were young.
00:17:50
Speaker
Yeah. Elementary school. What did you want to do when you grew up? And you had this, like, I want to do this. Well, then the bills hit you. And then you realize, like, we're not doing that. And we got this desk job at Wells Fargo and hate our life.
00:18:01
Speaker
And, like, they don't even have this idea of, like, hey, but if money were no object, what would you do? It's hard for people to get out of the rat race of their own self. And I do think this is a cultural thing of The more we get uncomfortable or the more that we feel like we try to like make ourselves the center of our world. Right. We kind of like even in in even in culture today, it's like find your happiness, find your energy, like really focus on who you are and what makes you happy. And it's trying to like get into this.
00:18:35
Speaker
individual of who are you and who may like but really what I feel like the Bible calls us to do is like be outward facing of like, no, go serve other people yeah and, and stop being the center of your world and start realizing how good you have it because other people don't have it as well, as good as you. And, and that really stems from the yes. And yes. And, and I want to contribute and I want to, Yeah.
00:19:03
Speaker
outside of things that like maybe youll be my i'm having a rough day right because it's easy to start going internal but i feel like what we're called to do is like go know go external like start impacting the world and see how your inner life is happier When you focus not on yourself, but other people.
00:19:22
Speaker
And so that's, that's the yes. And I think mantra that you guys are doing. And I love that the improv, um, it stems from improv because aren't we all kind of sometimes improv-ing our life? 100%.
00:19:33
Speaker
one hundred percent I don't know what any day is going to be like. So you're constantly, you know, right. Okay, we're gonna we're gonna tackle that today. i didn't know that that was gonna happen. Totally. And having this attitude of like, but let's make a memory to like, yeah that's the coolest part. Because let's say you say yes, and it's like a disaster.
00:19:52
Speaker
Well, if
Balancing Business and Marriage
00:19:54
Speaker
I didn't, if I wouldn't have it said yes, I wouldn't have had the disaster to have as a memory bank to be like, remember that time? Like even bad things can be actually hilarious later. Yeah. Hilarious. Right. If you have the right attitude. Right. Exactly. So, okay. So let me ask you this because let's just talk a little bit about growl. Like both of you guys are married and you guys are, are,
00:20:13
Speaker
like running this thing together tell me how that has shaped you guys's marriage you guys relationship your business like how i'm sure our listeners are hearing like how you guys are the ying and the yang like you both are very um great at complimenting each other so help me understand like as being married how is it running a company together
00:20:37
Speaker
I can start. Go ahead. Go go ahead. yes Go ahead. No, go. You know, it's been an evolution like everything. I think, you know, we've we've had to learn how to work together. And I think especially actually, I think.
00:20:54
Speaker
At the beginning, we probably were better business partners than we were married partners. And I think that tended to take over our marriage as we first started Growl. And I think that happens a lot with with couples that especially when if you own a business and and you're married, it's so your life is so intertwined. And so it's really hard to separate those things and and. and So realizing that and creating boundaries ah with a learning curve for sure and figuring out like, hey, you know, after 530 or five o'clock, we're not talking about this anymore. Or we can have 30 minutes where we're going to talk about this. And then we need to just be a married couple and not um yeah not deal with work finances or the employee that's driving you crazy or whatever it is. um You know, just learning to let it go until tomorrow when we can deal with it again. That was a huge learning curve for us.
00:21:52
Speaker
Yeah. And one of the things I think that really helped that we we got the opportunity to kind of separate business where I i actually went and left for about a year and a half and. and worked for a previous client of ours. So I stepped back. I was never gone from the business. I was still very much involved, but I wasn't in the day-to-day from eight to five and working with our employees and working with our clients. And that that separation really allowed us to take a moment to reset. And then when I came back, really realizing, okay, this is, this is what worked well before.
00:22:29
Speaker
This is what didn't work well before. Let's make sure we don't bring those patterns back into this, into this version right growl and figure out how do we do a better job? And, you know, part of it too you We talk about, you know, kind of our board of advisors and, you know, you are definitely one of those people in our kind of personal and growl board of advisors where we need those people in our life, whether it's advising us on finances, advising us on coaching, advising us on our spiritual life, and you know, having that full board of advisors to be accountable to.
00:23:04
Speaker
in our life, whether that's in business or in our personal life. And the nice thing is most of those people blend both as well. You know, like you sure were talking about, you're in our personal life your and personal finances and business life and business finances and friendship. And um that's, what's been really great about really everyone we've put in our circle. That's good.
00:23:26
Speaker
good. Greg, what would you be? What would your answer be? I mean, I think it's no rain rainbows and ponies, I think. you know why Cupcakes and rainbows. Yeah. Cupcakes and candy bars.
00:23:39
Speaker
You know, i think um we're blessed that we can work together. i know that um you know we got a chance to meet a lot of your you know close friends when you brought us together, and um it was amazing. um And I think that helps solidify a lot of things for us even more, right? that I think having certainly...
00:23:58
Speaker
Like Libby said, stepping out of business, but i think the biggest thing that brought us back in alignment, and it isn't easy, is faith. And I want to kind of bring that forward, that 25 was a very tough year for us. And as I look back, as we kind of like, you know, you know it's funny how you...
00:24:14
Speaker
kind of lean into faith deeper when, you know, you're like, i don't know what's going on, God. chipped There's all these challenges, you know, and you're in the trial. Yeah. And I think, you know, God works in mysterious ways, but I think also, you know, like, you know, i was thinking like Proverbs 16, three, you know, commit to Lord, whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. And I think that is so true. What happened with us, we,
00:24:35
Speaker
um you know he didn't waste these hard seasons. I think he was shaping us. Right. I mean, we we had to make some changes. We had to do something different for the future to be together. And I think I think we're starting now to see the fruits of i of that. I don't know Libby feels, but I finally am starting to feel like that's there. um And I think that part of working together is becoming a lot more fun, i guess. There's always going to be challenges, whether it's whether you and I fill up for business partners. and You might have had business partners. out and things but you know If you and I were, you're going to have challenges. I've had business partners in the past, and I think everybody should go to business partner school and be like... And maybe it's in church. I have no idea. But I think it's something like that where you go, maybe, you know, and you're like, here it's goingnna happen when it gets tough and you guys don't agree, you're going to have to, are you going to work through it, right? And I think that's kind of what Libby and I had to work through, like, when it gets challenging.
00:25:29
Speaker
And... um you know um and again she's just a hell of a lot smarter than me so i got that's the other problem is that part she's working with a dum-dum sometimes you know it's like i you know i don't even know why i have a computer half the time it's like um so you know she's got to she you know um i think god tests her with me because it's like it's you know but i do believe that having faith um and prayer and you know i strongly believe it i think it's it's changed different things you know um i don't know how you feel like i'm just wanting to bring it up because i do think last year guided us and shaped us into something that uh you know i if someone would have said you're going to go through this and here's what's going to look like the other side i would have been like i don't know about that but here's where we are i don't know you think libby
00:26:21
Speaker
Yeah, no, 100%. I mean, certainly 2025 brought us to our knees, that's for sure. um But I think, you know, you were saying about having business partners and whether your business partner is your spouse or someone else, there are challenges. um And, you know, you're going to have conflict, you're going to disagree. Absolutely. And that's just a guarantee. And I think it's how you how you work through those. and And on the other side, you know, I've been in peer groups with other companies that have had business partners that they're not married. And one of and I feel very blessed, actually, to be married, because one thing that we never have a problem with is what our end goal is and what our vision is. And, because you know, we're we're very much aligned. on that and And, you know, our goals are are always going to be aligned because we're we're married and we have a vision for our ultimate life.
00:27:11
Speaker
um And the business is there to support our life versus kind of the other way around. And we're both really focused on that and not letting the business run our life, but support it. And i think...
00:27:26
Speaker
You don't always have that in a in a regular business partnership where you could, you know, this person may want to retire in five years, but you want to grow, the but the other one wants to grow the business to $10 million dollars or something. You're not always aligned on what those goals are. And I think being married, that
Health Transformation Journey
00:27:43
Speaker
makes that side a lot more straightforward.
00:27:49
Speaker
Sure. Yeah. know what you're to next. Help me. Yeah, hit me. I know. You're going to ask, is the sex as hot as you think it is? And it is. Okay. When you're in business with your wife, I would tell anybody, just go do it. It's just going to make it that much hotter. I mean, that was what was going to ask. Yes, and. I know I could see that. I knew what you were going to ask. got to kind of regroup because you just ripped that one right out. I did. I had to bring it up because everybody's asking when you're like, you know, it must be like, you know, we have to have separate spaces or we couldn't keep our hands off each other. So hot now.
00:28:21
Speaker
So hot now. You know what I mean? I mean, she locks me in my room. She says she locks me in my, in a room because of that. I don't know if that's true, but I said, I understand it's hard if you keep your hands off me. That's why. And then she comes and lets me out for dinner. Okay. But it it's, um you know, so I don't know if that's normal for other husband and wife couples, but I understand I'm glad we touched on that, actually. Yeah. OK, here's here's my next question after that question. OK, go ahead. So yes, and like fosters this like adding on to. OK, and I feel like health has been one of those things where both of you have said yes, and and then it stemmed to this like this is the.
00:29:00
Speaker
It's just an awesome part of your life. And you guys are continuing to encourage and spur each other on, not only in your marriage, your business, but your health. So I want to talk and like, where is the yes and taken you and your health journey in the last 18, 12 months?
00:29:19
Speaker
um Wow. um but they Just name it, Libby. Just, ah you know, we we lost a person. I know. but We lost a large person together. yeah So, I mean, i do i my wow was I don't even know where to start because we're completely different people than we have ever been um in our, probably in our adult lives, but certainly in our married life together. We um we have we were we were active, um you know, I think before we, right when we got married and before we moved over to the western slope of Colorado, um And business has a way of kind of taking over. And I think that's why we we very much have the that have the forefront goal of businesses to support our life versus the other way around, because the other way around got us to 150%.
00:30:08
Speaker
ah hundred and fifty hundred some pounds overweight and each, not total, each. And um so, you know, we both lost well over 100 pounds each and we're running and active. And um I'm certainly in the best shape I've ever been in my life, not just my adult life. And I think Greg as well.
00:30:28
Speaker
um Greg's probably the same size as he was in high school, I would have to guess. I've only seen pictures. But um yeah, we we are running, as Greg said earlier. We're training for it Thank you.
00:30:40
Speaker
the thing that scares the crap out of me called high rocks. And we're doing that in less than six weeks. oh wow And I'm excited and super scared, but the best thing is we're doing it together and it is a doubles. So, um, what I can't do, Greg can do, and we can always, you know, take, take over for each other. So it will definitely be the, the, a true test of our, our couple hood.
00:31:05
Speaker
Um, but ah you also training for a half marathon this summer and, you know, and just, exactly saying yes. And it, and it wasn't both of us started at the same time. So and i started actually kind of losing weight first about three years ago, slow, very slowly.
00:31:22
Speaker
And a year ago, Greg really joined in on that. And then we layered in not drinking and then we layered in harder exercise and then we layered in strength training and then, you know, Exactly. It was very much yes and. and um And I think that's what's made us successful is we didn't go out of the gate like we have in the past. The Olsens are notorious for let's cram as much stuff into a tiny amount, a tiny box as possible. And then we don't become successful. So I think the reason we actually are successful this time is it was very much layered on. We started with walking.
00:31:58
Speaker
Then we layered on eating better. Then we layered on not drinking. Then we layered on something else. And so it really was... a slow progression of just getting better and healthier and more fit. And now we feel like, ah you know, I even last beginning of middle of last year, I was saying, I don't know how we could tackle this year in the shape that we were in living the life that we were in. If we were in the shape that we were in, if we were drinking the way we used to drink, I don't know that we would have made it through 2025 successfully. Wow.
00:32:30
Speaker
That's a testimony right there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's been amazing. We started, you know, the journey. Libby was on this journey well before I was and walking and losing weight. And, you know, um you know we would go for walks and she was doing this walk-run for weight loss. And I was doing walk-walk-crawl for weight loss. And it's nothing better as a man than, and she is eight years younger. We've all heard that the beginning of the story. so um But, you know, she would run and then walk back to me as I'm walking. So it was amazing.
00:33:01
Speaker
So I know I didn't do something, but luckily we were doing this run-the-edge plan where you walk as many miles as a walk, run, bike, whatever your thing is. So 2024, 2025, 2025 miles. So actually that last year, we'll do it again year. But now we're at point where we're able to say yes-end to things like,
00:33:23
Speaker
and we will'll do it again this year but now we're you know we're at a point where we're able to say yes and to things like eight mile runs in Iowa and 10 K runs and things that we never thought we would do more of. Right. So I'm excited. We're enjoying it by the way. Yeah. and Enjoying it. Yeah. We're eating better, better habits. And I, I live is right. I don't think, um, you know, something was preparing us for that. You know, like God, I mean, I'll say that because I think it was happening and to prepare us for something that was going to happen. You know, um it's kind of like we started a story in grain and getting ready and watching our money and, you know working with you. We met you well before any of that was happening. And you were able to guide us through some really challenging times and like, hey, guys, it's OK.
00:34:05
Speaker
Right. You're going to be OK. You've got money. You've got this saved. You can use it like this. You're OK. You always mean. So there is a reason we all met. Right. It's great to meet people when everything you're high on the hog
Faith and Community's Role in Life and Business
00:34:16
Speaker
and everything.
00:34:16
Speaker
You know, there's no worries in the world. But then when the iman lean lean times happen, it's a testament to how you're preparing yourself without knowing you're preparing yourself and having that yes-end mentality. So Libby you wanted to have that yes-end this year. i don't think we really said it was yes-end, but intentively, like everything. um Because there was a lot of no's. Like, I don't know if we can do that. i don't know if we should spend money, that kind of stuff. and So now it's more yes-end. So I think we're...
00:34:44
Speaker
um You know, we're more open in those conversations. Right. You know, it's funny how especially business owners, like we feel like the best thing that we can do is focus 100 percent attention on our business.
00:34:58
Speaker
And and we see like traction or we start seeing success or whatever we or we go through a bad year. And the people who don't focus on the other areas of their life end up.
00:35:09
Speaker
Just self imploding like it's just a bad situation where maybe they get a divorce like, oh, gosh, like, well, because you spent so much time focusing on one thing and you forgot that there's other things out there like relationships, your health.
00:35:25
Speaker
the way that you show up with your faith. Like there are way other things, but I think as business owner, sometimes we forget like, no, this is the best thing I could do is focus on this one thing. And we forget like, that's only a part of our life. That doesn't have to be all of our life. And how do we compensate? And how do we put things in place where we can start focusing on what is the core values of our life and make sure that those things are still being intentional of like your marriage?
00:35:51
Speaker
It's a high priority. Your health. Don't let that slip. Right. Because sometimes you get on top of the mountain, you look back and you're like, man, I'm on top of the mountain, but I have no wife. Like, you know, my health is deteriorating. Like sometimes the joys and the journey and trying to focus on other things other than just a business. So, okay. My last thing I want to talk about is your faith is like, how has that played a role? And you guys start talking about running a business and your marriage and your health.
00:36:18
Speaker
I feel like faith is like the under woven theme about all of this. And so I just wanted to give you some time to talk about your faith. Where is it going? Where is it now? Where does it come from? Those kinds of things.
00:36:31
Speaker
You want to start quick? Sure. Um,
00:36:37
Speaker
you know, i grew up, um, Lutheran, um, just to give a head, you know, so I had these elders and, ah you know, so I think faith for me, um as I went through college, you know, then I kind of was more of a silent believer. Right. I wasn't really, ah moving around a lot. I wasn't really going to like finding a church that was resonating when Libby and I met. It wasn't really something that was, um, together. It wasn't really forefront. Right. I think that was um it' something missing. and just how our lives came together. Right. I think, you know, we've always both been believers, but not so much talking about it together. Right. So, um,
00:37:15
Speaker
you know something i've always explored um but not with liby and i think that was probably the missing part of you know leading a relationship and doing that so i think um you know over last couple years of really kind of figuring out how do we step into that together that part is i think really strengthened and changed that and um and really what was missing in our lives was really other christian friends and believers when when you just start to put it out there, like in prayer and that all sudden we started meeting a lot of other believers. Right. And that part was amazing to me. It's like, it wasn't something like you can go online and put on Facebook and be like, Hey everybody, um I'm looking for Christian believers. ah who loves Jesus? Just get back to me. And you know, it isn't that way. Right.
00:37:57
Speaker
Yeah. I love Jesus. And you know, and, um, or the people who are announcing it might not be the same beliefs that you feel like, yeah okay, that doesn't matter. So that's not the yes end, I think. But you know then when you just pray about it, you start meeting. And also, it's like you, and we have other friends, and then we find a church, and then we start going. and I think it was that little bit of yes and, right? And a little bit of uncomfortable when you're trying to get in get into the...
00:38:22
Speaker
you know, get into the faith river, let's call it. So you have to trust that it's going to take you somewhere. Right. Um, you know, I think you wait, you wait into this, I call it the faith of faith river without a life. You don't even have, like, you're just like, I'm going in and your wife is like, where are you going? You're like, I don't know, but i we're going together. i didn't know you had a Bible. Right. And then, uh, so it's a little bit ah like that. Right. And I think,
00:38:45
Speaker
um And again, I think something was preparing us. And if I look back, it's a weird thing to say. And if anything, I would say Libby grew up probably um in more churches than me. Right. Just ah she's much more knowledgeable, you know, and we talk about things like, but we actually enjoy now the Bible in a year. and we're going through this Acts book. And so we've actually gotten into this groove now that,
00:39:11
Speaker
Honestly, it was, it was, this wasn't, you know, it's hard to do that. You don't just wake up one day and be like, Hey honey, you want to start reading acts together? And she'd be like, uh, what, you know, it doesn't really work. I don't know. Maybe it does, but didn't it's not that way with us. But, um, so we started meeting more Christian friends where, you know, we're being, I feel like i' being called like, um, leading some different groups. We started a Bible study at home, just things that we would have never done even like two years ago. Right. That wouldn't even been on our radar.
00:39:38
Speaker
So I think those things happen for a reason. And you and i have had those discussions and about certain things and that's been helpful. So um I'm a little surprised by it sometimes, but I feel um like I'll say being in that faith river feels right to me. And it it I feel like it's taking us where we need to go and what's happening. So anyways, that's, that's a little bit of how I, um you know, a little bit of my yes ending on that right now. Libby, your thoughts?
00:40:05
Speaker
Yeah, I think as Greg said, so i i did grow up in the church. My mom is a very strong Christian woman, and... um I, and I, you know, went to church out the way through college after college and was involved. I was part of the worship team. I was part of worship team and chemistry when I was at college, but I think through that whole time, i think my, my faith was like a, it was like a piece of clothing. It was, it was a part of me, but it wasn't inside. Like it was part of my identity. It was part of who I was. I didn't really know anything else.
00:40:41
Speaker
Um, because I grew up in the church and then, um, through circumstances, um in the church that I was going to, the friend group that I was going to just kind of ripped all that apart in my late twenties. And I never turned away from God, but I definitely turned away from the church and just kind of walked away one day and just didn't really want any part of it. And, um, and it really wasn't until,
00:41:10
Speaker
last of just about a year ago, a little over a year ago, and greg said, I think we should go to church again. And I was feeling that myself sure um and felt like, yeah, I think, I think that sounds good. I think we should try and figure this out. Didn't necessarily know how I felt about everything really, but felt like that was the right thing to do. And um I've just grown tremendously again in my own faith. And I think, you know, really having it now that now that's,
00:41:37
Speaker
Yeah.
00:41:52
Speaker
owning it as my own versus just this thing that's the only thing i i know to believe um and And as Greg said, you know, it's really amazing to look back over the last several years and see God's hand and kind of placing us in different situations with different people. And, you know, one of the things we really struggled with moving from Denver to Fruita was finding a group of friends. And as I said earlier, Greg's super engaging. We had no problem meeting people and having acquaintances and finding people to go do something with. We didn't have friends and you know, people that we really could share our lives with and share our struggles with. And, um but, and so I think some of that was a little bit of protection that the people that we were hanging out with weren't the right people. And so it was kind of waiting for us to kind of come back to God, come back to the church. And,
00:42:45
Speaker
and get to know people in that circle. And also even the house that we purchased, we're next door. Our next door neighbors are an amazing couple of faith and their sister lived down the street. her Their sister lives down the street and she also is. And so just having conversations with them, how that kind of, you know, pecked at our hearts a little bit over the last eight years. We coming to know you and you being our wealth manager and you're a man of faith. And we had no idea, you know, at the very beginning, but sure. And same with the gym that we go to, we had no idea that both of the trainers, well, I guess all three, Lauren Scott and Kana are all believers and, you know, go to church in our community and just the different areas that God continued to place us. And he's like,
00:43:33
Speaker
I'm going to get you. So you're going to come back to me. You're going to figure it out. And really circling us with people that, that loved him and and had strong faith that it's amazing to kind of look back at that and go, huh? Yeah,
Olson's Guiding Philosophy and Episode Conclusion
00:43:46
Speaker
I guess. Yeah.
00:43:47
Speaker
And God put us in like three churches, which is the weirdest things right now. So I never, all three different, right. And different locations that, um, you know, we're being called to and, uh,
00:44:01
Speaker
you know And that's a yes-end for me moment right there, right? is like um I think when things happen like that, you just say yes-end to God a little bit. and it's like like Last night I was on a disciple group at the Church 1122 out of Florida online, and the guy's like, Greg, um i think I think you should lead a you should Lead a disciple group. I think you, and I, you know, and I, before I'd be like, i don't know. Right. I'm good ready. you know, I'm, I'm still working through acts and I'm kind of confused about this whole, like, you know, um, Holy spirit. Yeah. Yeah, what's happening, you know? um But it, and I said, sure, you know, like, yep, if that's what it said where I have to go, let's do it, right? And, you know, um I used to think like, well, how am I going to fit all this in? What's going to happen, you know? And I think...
00:44:51
Speaker
yeah um And it's a funny, you I like you sleep better. It's something that's outside of work. You know, you're, it's used to be like, well, I got, you know, is it a networking thing? You know, I'm going to join this chamber or should I go to, you know, and then you just, once you leave that behind, right. All the other doors will open.
00:45:09
Speaker
And that's, I think, what faith is. I think it's like, if God is first, and I think if you have that faith first mentality, i think it's faith, family, and fitness. And I didn't come up with three Fs, it just resonated that way. um But I think that's been our goal this year, last year and this year was faith, family, and fitness, right? And I think...
00:45:28
Speaker
um If you can sync those together somehow, like take care of God, take care of your family, take care of yourself, I think a lot of things are going to open up for you. And and then work will be down there. Work will happen.
00:45:39
Speaker
God will put those opportunities in front of you um and open those doors. But if you, I think we're upside down many times on that, right? We're. so financially driven by our work and I'm going to work longer, get up earlier, um you know, join that club or join this golf, whatever it is, but it leads you, i don't think it's going to, I don't think it works. Uh, and I've been doing this a long time and I think things are starting to open up the other way. So, um, that's how I feel. So that's good.
00:46:06
Speaker
Well, thanks for letting me just have the time to hang out and talk. And I, I mean, the information that you're providing is like invaluable. So I hope all of our listeners is like, I want a yes. And for 2026, I want to stop being internal and stop thinking more selfishly, but like, how, how can I start contributing to society? I think,
00:46:25
Speaker
Your marriage is so great because you complement each other so well. But I think if I would give you three things, I usually like to leave people with this, is I would say the three like things in my head when I think about you as a couple is just you're encouraging.
00:46:37
Speaker
You just do such a good job encouraging other people, and that's electric. um You strengthen not only yourself, but other people around you. kind of goes along with encouragement, but your faith. I think those are my three words for you is encouragement, strength, and faith. Um, I just think it's great. And I just love how you guys compliment each other. And it's just like fueling this snowball down this mountain of momentum and encouragement and awesomeness. So thank you so much for being part of the show. Thank you so much. It's been a lot of fun talking about it.
00:47:06
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. It's such a blessing to just really call you a friend. So I appreciate that. Well, you've been listening to the Uncommon Wealth Podcast. Until next time, be yes and and go hit the streets. Thanks for listening.
00:47:19
Speaker
That's all for this episode brought to you by Uncommon Wealth Partners. Be sure to visit UncommonWealth.com to learn more about our services. Don't miss an episode as we introduce you to inspiring people who are actively pursuing an uncommon life.