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Episode 17: Uncommon Real Estate Investing and Running a Family Business - with Chris Ramsey
357 Plays7 years ago
Rental property can be an excellent source of residual income. Mobile home parks are an increasingly popular segment of this market. It is also, as we will hear, a great way to leave a legacy for the generations which follow you.
On this episode of the Uncommon Life Project podcast, Bryan and Phillip talk with Chris Ramsey who, with her two sisters, operate a mobile home park in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Chris also happens to be Phillip’s mom, so it’s a lively conversation, to say the least.
You’ll learn about the dynamics of a multi-generational family business and how to make that work.
Chris Ramsey did not expect to get into the mobile home park business – but when her parents passed it on to her and her sisters, they all rose to the occasion and are very happy they did.
Chris has worked in advertising, as a tutor, and in adoption services. She's a singer, songwriter and performer. Her group, the Matney Sisters were chosen by the Smithsonian Institute to represent Iowa during the sesquicentennial celebration, performing on the mall in Washington DC for two and a half weeks.
Chris and her husband of 43 years, Phil, live in Grimes, Iowa. She is a mother to two adult children and Nana to six grandchildren. She's a huge advocate of stepping out in faith, allowing God to work in all things creative.
What you’ll learn:- How to protect family relationships layered with a business relationship
- The importance of a buy/sell agreement, especially for a multi-generational business
- Creating legacy assets that can benefit and protect generations to come
- Uncommon ways to evaluate the risk of jumping in to a venture
- How to define roles and expectations in any business relationship
- Why many people relish the idea of taking on a new challenge later in life
- Why mobile home parks are becoming an increasingly popular source of residual income
- How to handle business disagreements in an open, honest way
- Giving family members the freedom to get involved or not get involved in the family business
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Aims
00:00:02
Speaker
Everyone dreams about living an uncommon life, but how we define that dream is very different for each of us. And for most, it's a lifelong pursuit. Welcome to the Uncommon Life Project podcast. We're going to introduce you to people who are living that life or enjoying the journey to get there. We're going to also give you some tools, tricks, and tips for starting or accelerating your own efforts to live an uncommon life.
00:00:27
Speaker
A life worth celebrating and savoring.
Meet the Hosts and Guest
00:00:30
Speaker
Please welcome your hosts, Brian Dewhurst and Phillip Ramsey. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Uncommon Life podcast, where I am your host, Phillip Ramsey. And I'm Brian Dewhurst. And we have a really cool show for you today. Totally different. Special guest. Kind of nervous. Not going to lie to you. But first, let's thank Virgine for that wonderful intro. She's amazing as always. Always consistent.
00:00:56
Speaker
And so let's go into the show and why I'm a little nervous and excited all at the same time our guest is the one and only Chris Ramsey Which is my mother and in studio by the way in studio First one in studio it is first one in studio and first today and last one in this studio as we are moving Yeah moving locations, which is exciting and nerve-racking and no one cares. So let's just keep going Let's talk about our guests and we'll jump into it
00:01:26
Speaker
Chris Ramsey currently co-owns and manages, along with her sisters, Parkview Mobile Home Court in South City, Nebraska, a Northwestern College Orange City, Iowa attendee. She has worked in advertising Native American tutoring and Bethany Christian Services adoption agency.
00:01:42
Speaker
She's a singer, songwriter, and performer. Her group, the Matney Sisters, were chosen by the Smithsonian Institute to represent Iowa during the sesquicentennial celebration performing on the mall in Washington DC for two and a half weeks. Chris resides in Grimes, Iowa with her husband Phil of 43 years, the silver fox we call him. Her most important accomplishment has been that of being a mother to two children, now adults married with an Anna to six grandchildren.
Chris Ramsey's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:02:10
Speaker
She is a huge advocate of stepping out in faith, allowing God to work in all things creative. Welcome, Chris Ramsey. Thank you. Isn't that the greatest intro ever? That is, that is. And I am honored to be here. Especially in this platform, because many years, all my words didn't always mean everything to Philip, and now he's hanging on like every phrase. I got him in the palm of my hand.
00:02:40
Speaker
Oh dear. No, that's not true. All right. So why do we want you on the show? Let's talk about that. Right. Why do we want my mother on the show? Well, I think for me, it's been really neat to see you and Phil
00:02:57
Speaker
enter into an entrepreneurial opportunity at a different stage in life than most people would enter into it. And so it's been cool to see just the growth, you know, not only through your faith and your marriage, but but yeah, this kind of creative entrepreneurial spirit that's been passed down from your parents and and we'll get into that. So for me, that's what it's about. And and it's just cool because she's mom.
00:03:25
Speaker
I think a lot of people want to know some stories about Philip, too. So I don't know what time for that today, but we'll see where we go. So let's talk about when did you acquire the mobile home park in South Sioux City, Iowa?
Family Business History and Legacy
00:03:38
Speaker
Well, yeah, this is Nebraska. So this park has been in our family for 34 years. And at the time, my father, both my parents have passed away.
00:03:52
Speaker
And at the time that my father passed away, he had owned up for 20, 28 years.
00:03:58
Speaker
And then my mom lived for two more years, and she was in poor health, but nevertheless, she really owned it. And then when she passed, they graciously welded this park to us, and that was in 2014. So at that time, we were owners. Our brother-in-law, Denny Nut, was the manager.
00:04:23
Speaker
And so we really didn't play a huge role. We worked just probably once or twice a week, but we didn't do the managing responsibilities. What was that thought process when you first heard that you now have this park? Was it excited? Were you nervous? Was there a transition there? It was very exciting because
00:04:52
Speaker
just through the process of grandpa. I never know whether to call him grandpa or dad. So your dad and my grandpa. Which his name is Harley, Harley Matney. As we were experiencing this time, he had had a stroke and we had moved back to the area. So Shelly and I were really the ones that really worked with him. We were his hands and feet. He was
00:05:21
Speaker
very sharp and such a great businessman, but we were the ones that really actually did the day-to-day driving and so forth. But through that process, I've learned so much from him because he was a big, a huge advocate of surrounding yourself with good people. And at one point, we were in the middle of actually looking for a manager. This was before Danny.
00:05:51
Speaker
And he looked at me and he said, honey, you could do this. And oh, I said, no, dad, no, no, I can't do this because I'm very creative brain. I don't know if that's right brain, left brain. Speaking from a true creator. From a true creator. I don't know which brain that is. But
00:06:12
Speaker
Anyway, I'm creator, I'm songwriter, singer, musician, artist to some level. And that was such a bizarre thought to me. To own something that you're now running. To own something. Yeah. And you're having your father who's ran it saying that you could do it. Yeah. There is a chasm there that I could see that you would be like, I can't run out the way you did. I can't.
00:06:37
Speaker
And he said, yes, you can. And then it rolled on and then all the way to the point where he passed away and then Denny took it over. So to answer that question, it was exciting, but yet there still was that level of
00:06:55
Speaker
We didn't really run it. Yeah. Yeah. We were under somebody. Yep. Yep. And now you are running it. Exactly. With the thought process, I think it's important to even work through that you told your dad, I can't do this. Like you were kind of telling yourself, I can't do this. Exactly. There's too many unknowns. I'm sure you were thinking, well, let's be honest. I was there with that, that decision.
00:07:17
Speaker
I remember telling you what's the worst that can happen. You're stepping into something that the hard work of my grandfather, Harley, has done and now you can step in and now you can honestly see if you do have it or you don't. I remember just encouraging you and
00:07:36
Speaker
my father to why not give it a shot. You really don't have anything to lose. And even if the park's value goes down as you're going through that, what you're going to understand and know because of it, it's going to be far more valuable than any amount that it goes down. I remember seeing you like, well, maybe I can do this and now stepping into. So
00:08:00
Speaker
Let's go. I want to take a little bit of a hiatus and go backwards because you were married at 10 years and then your father decides to purchase this park. Correct. What was he doing before this? Do you even remember? Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. What was he doing and how did he get to owning a mobile home park?
Dual Business Ventures
00:08:22
Speaker
was his whole career was in meat packing business. And he worked from the bottom up to be a vice president at Illini Beef in Joslin, Illinois. And when he left that profession, he decided to invest. And he did a lot of research. He always did a lot of due diligence. And he decided at that point, I think,
00:08:51
Speaker
to get into real estate. But he at first decided to do Meat Packer Supply International, which was kind of a combination of what he had learned all through his years. So he was supplying meat packing supplies all throughout the United States and even internationally.
00:09:11
Speaker
you know so it was knives and you know just all things associated with that you know the helmets and mesh clothing. Yes exactly. So he did that for a long time and then
00:09:28
Speaker
He took the jump and then got the part. So, you know, just to coin a country music song because you know me, you know, he was country before country wasn't cool. He was into mobile home parks before they were the thing. And now, if I can fast forward, we on an average are called three times a week.
00:09:53
Speaker
And and I'm and I'm being of people that want to buy our park. Mm-hmm And so this is something that is you know Is this like residual residual residual and other people are catching on and as if people The scales have come off their eyes and they see you know what a benefit this is and and he saw them Yeah, yeah, Sony
00:10:21
Speaker
So he gets in the business, the meat packing business, then he gets into the mobile home park. And if I remember right, like this is a little bit, I know this, because he was running his meat packing supply out of the office that he was owning of the mobile home park. So it was like right in the heart of it. So he had like dual businesses running out of that one business. Which is how he rolled.
00:10:46
Speaker
He was forever, forever throwing the anchor forward. At 80 years old, it took about $100,000 loan on the part. Who does this at 80? And we've paid it off. But he was forever doing that. Understanding how to make upkeep. What was that for the $100,000?
00:11:06
Speaker
It was for improvements in the park. Still investing forward. So not only did he do those two things, he also buys a laundromat. So talk through that. When did he buy that laundromat? Because it complements everything very nice and it was within walking distance of
00:11:24
Speaker
the little home park. Okay so what you're not remembering is that he bought those together. He bought the park and the laundromat and actually in the in the laundromat it was a kind of a mall like a strip mall type thing and he had his office at the end of that and at the other end was the laundromat. So it wasn't until I believe 1998 that he built the current office that we have on the grounds there.
00:11:53
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. He had his hands in many different ways. And I remember going to the laundromat with him. I loved it. There was video games. I would drink soda, hang out with grandpa. She was changing the change. It was great. Okay. So I want to fast forward a little bit because you talked about this. So when they passed away, you know, we've encountered this with several families, but leaving an asset like that to multiple children, because you have three sisters, correct?
00:12:21
Speaker
What did your father and mother do to prepare you girls to inherit this type of asset and to protect you in that same vein? Oh, that's such a good question. For one thing, grandpa, my dad was so intuitive, so good at thinking of all the legal aspects of things. I mean, so he always was thinking that probably more than we were even aware of.
00:12:50
Speaker
And the question through the years mostly from Grandma was, what will you girls do with this park? What will you do? I think Grandpa knew. I think Grandpa had a feeling that we might go on with it because he did the hard, hard work. He's done the hard work. But to answer your question, Brian,
00:13:14
Speaker
It was very important to him that we put into place a buy-sell agreement. He just wanted things equal with us sisters. He wanted things
00:13:27
Speaker
He didn't want any problems with it and what can come up in so many families. And unfortunately, he did not get this done before he passed away. But he, particularly to Pam, told her many times, you have to get this in place. So when he passed away, almost immediately, we all were very involved with the attorney and getting that that put together. And, and it's just worked out very, very well.
00:13:58
Speaker
Because one sister has retired and has put that into place. Very cool. So yeah, just the importance of protecting the family relationship with a business relationship on top. That was probably the most important thing to my parents.
00:14:19
Speaker
Yeah, and I would say the importance of being forward thinking about that is the biggest gift for your sons and daughters. I mean, that's been a huge thing for Brian and I is you've got to communicate this stuff. You've got to put something in place because a lot of times it's doesn't seem like it's a money issue. It's what would dad and mom really want to do with that money? And then it becomes a huge issue with the kids.
00:14:48
Speaker
and a bickering and that's when siblings don't talk to each other. And you can't tell me not one parent would want that, you know? And so to do the hard work early and often and put an importance on something like that, it actually protects the whole family in that process.
Forward-Thinking and Legal Preparedness
00:15:06
Speaker
It's really one of the best gifts that you can give to your show. It's a legacy. It's a legacy. There's an asset there to protect everyone, to walk through that exactly how you want to do that.
00:15:18
Speaker
You bet. So you have these three sisters. All the while, you guys are writing music and performing. And so you kind of had been in business in a different way, you know, these last few decades before the part came. What was that? Did that kind of help prepare you for more of the business side of things or working together when you kind of inherited this asset?
00:15:45
Speaker
Not really, not really. This is such a different thing. You know, this different and this actually, uh, the situation that we're in now, uh, where we actually own it and we manage it didn't happen until a year ago because Denny, uh, at that time decided to retire.
00:16:05
Speaker
And Jamie really thought about it too. And going into this, you know, we've had to really be in tune with our attorney as far as could we make this lucrative with just the two of us, you know, with the consideration of the buy a cell agreement with two other sisters. But then Jamie thought it over and decided that she did want to do it. So, um,
00:16:29
Speaker
We started out trying to learn everything, taxes and just all the book work. And you have to know we're performers and we're singers and we're creative.
00:16:44
Speaker
Not really your cup of tea. That is not really our deal. So, you know, I just and I honestly feel like it was the Holy Spirit and I truly do that I was thinking one night and really actually overwhelmed, you know, but I thought this thought came to me.
00:17:04
Speaker
You need, and it was grandpa too, you need to do what you're good at. Surround yourself with great people. He did. He surrounded himself whenever he could with professional people he trusted that would do what they're supposed to do. And then it allows you to do what you're good at. And so we decided to revisit this topic with Danny and ask him if he would be interested in
00:17:34
Speaker
doing the bookkeeping for us, but had he not, because we wanted him to be retired had he wanted to be, we would have just tired someone else. It wouldn't have been as good because Danny is family and you know of course has the heart for that, but it would have happened. And he was delighted, he was thrilled. So now we have got excellent people around us
00:17:58
Speaker
to allow us to do this business venture together but it's a different feel than putting together performances and music and creating music. It's different but it is so crazy fun.
00:18:15
Speaker
It's just so fun. Did you ever think you'd say that? No. Oh, no. And I think the good part about it is that in this business venture, the three of us, Shelly Jamie and I,
00:18:33
Speaker
are very like-minded and so we're able to look at the big picture, we're able to step back if one disagrees, one you know we're just we got each other's back and but it's been a learning thing actually and what's so exciting is that
00:18:54
Speaker
I think that God is really highlighting things that we had no idea that we were good at, which at my age is really kind of unbelievable. It's kind of uncommon. You see what I did there? You know what? And I led right into that. Yeah, you did. Thank you. I did. I tried to help him. No, I think that's so true because we run into a lot of people
00:19:20
Speaker
you know, in their mid fifties and sixties that just kind of want to tap out. I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want another challenge. It's just been really neat to see you and feel kind of embrace this.
00:19:31
Speaker
and just take this on in a new way. And so kind of to your point, so we had another gentleman on the show, Caleb Walsh, who owns Mobile Home Parks, kind of probably like one of the people who's called you three times a week. That's probably accurate, actually. What is his name? I think it is. Caleb Walsh. Yeah, you're right. Just kidding.
00:19:51
Speaker
But looking at this you know it's so easy to look at mobile home park from a number standpoint residual income is no brainer but for you at this age. Can you talk to listeners about your face and about.
Managing the Park as a Ministry
00:20:04
Speaker
The ministry opportunity within the park i think you know there's a lot of people have a negative connotation to mobile home parks you've been around one pretty much you know your entire adult life.
00:20:14
Speaker
through this can you just talk to listeners about what it's like on kind of the non-business side or you know oh my goodness I'd love to I'd love to our community is a large percentage Hispanic people in fact our groundskeeper is a Hispanic man his name is Jose Avila and
00:20:39
Speaker
And dad, grandpa took him on probably about 12 years before he passed away. And he idolized dad and dad idolized him. And he took him on and really mentored him and brought him along.
00:20:56
Speaker
He is one of the reasons that we're able to do this because whenever we need an interpreter, he comes up and interprets for us. But to go back to your question,
00:21:12
Speaker
Because my dad did the hard work, and I don't say grandma, but she was a background there for sure to allow him to do this. But he did the hard work. We and people loved him. I was always amazed when I worked with him. I wanted to see
00:21:32
Speaker
why would they love him so much because you know it's a deal where you pay every month you know because we just rent the land they have to own their own mobile homes and so forth but he was firm he was fair he was kind he was you know
00:21:51
Speaker
But he did all of that sort of setting the stage for us because now we look at this as a ministry, almost a ministry. Because you get to know people that come in every month. But the other thing you learn is that you do have to have a spine. You do have to have a backbone. And people respect you.
00:22:17
Speaker
And that's why they respected him, but he expected something from them. And we do. And I'm very proud to tell you that our park is almost, and this is a big deal because it's lower economic situations, is pretty much 100% paid.
00:22:42
Speaker
And this is huge and it has not come without a lot, lot of work and, and heartache and, um, and dealing with people and being firm with people, expecting, raising the bar. You know, if I, if they'll test you as a new owner of something, they will totally test you. But the deal is.
00:23:03
Speaker
you know, you find out early on, I can remember a couple of situations with grandpa, uh, when I was first working there and I didn't, I disagreed with him and it was over a situation with a tenant and I went in the, in the back room and I cried and because I didn't think he was being fair. I didn't think, and now I get it, but at the time, and I'll never forget this, he, he, he knew I was upset and he said, honey, I want you to sit down.
00:23:33
Speaker
And I just want to hear about this. I want to hear what and then he said you know what we're gonna have disagreements and But I always want you to say what they are I want I want to talk about it because because I learn from that and But someone's got to make the hard decision Someone's got it someone's got to move it and so now ta-da We're doing the hard decisions
00:24:00
Speaker
You know, we're having to make those, but they're easy. And, you know, we've just had situations where I've had to demand that they get caught up and they do. It's a miracle. And then we got them a meat tray. We got them buns. We got them fruit. We got them as a thank you. You know, we got them, you know, a $25 Walmart gift card. And so it's when you're a firm.
00:24:30
Speaker
When you're firm and you expect and you raise a bar high and they do it, then you come out with, you know, and it's, it's such a relationship building thing. Yeah. And if I can revert because I am your mom, if I can just revert to some parenting, cause I know I'm talking to.
Parenting and Legacy Hopes
00:24:52
Speaker
Now you're getting some of me, but you parents,
00:24:59
Speaker
out there. When you raise your bar high, and I did and we did, your children will raise up to it. And I cannot tell you the incredible children that we have, God-fearing, just wonderful children, wonderful parent, wonderful businessman.
00:25:25
Speaker
But you have to raise your bar high in parenting, business, in relationships. Yeah, and I will say, just quick, something that I caught onto that was communicating even though there's disagreements. Like, Brian's like, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. That's where he gets it. I don't care if we are going at each other, but we need to talk through that so we can get through it or we don't. Either way, we're going to be better for it.
00:25:54
Speaker
So that's like, well, I gotta say is a, is a testament to that. I think, you know, I would say one of Philip's superpowers is he makes the hard discussions so easy. And at the end you're like, why aren't I so afraid of that? And he does that so many times, you know, with our clients and in meetings, but also just within our own partnership.
00:26:14
Speaker
So it is just such a testament to what you're saying. So I gotta say thank you for all that and raising the bar at home because it's helped us immensely. And when you're a parent and you're in the throes of it, it's hard to set that bar high. And sometimes you're like, maybe just lower this bar. It's gonna be way easier for everyone. I know, I agree.
00:26:33
Speaker
but i can see phillip where you with clients would be able to. Dive right into the hard stuff we get into some meeting but you know what it's a growing thing for everyone for sure it's a growing thing and you know sometimes it's hard to get into.
00:26:50
Speaker
into things, but it's worth it. Yeah. So I want to take, I want to change a little bit. So I love your husband, Phil. I do too. You didn't do the senior junior thing, but I do have the same name.
00:27:04
Speaker
But uh, so he's he worked at mid-american energy pretty much like his whole career, right? Yes And so that was the consistency before you took over the park, right? Absolutely. Oh my goodness and forever grateful, right? Oh, he's an amazing man And so as he's ending his career at mid-american you're looking at this on wrapping up So what has your marriage been like in this season as he was kind of trying to wind down and now you're taking on this new opportunity? I
00:27:35
Speaker
You know, Phil is an amazing, he really is an amazing man. And he's been like this as a parent. He's been like this as a husband. He is so encouraging with this. There's no way I could do this because what your listeners don't know is that this park is three hours away. You know, my husband was transferred back here and then since has retired.
00:27:59
Speaker
And I know this is where God wants us. We're around our children, our grandchildren, and so forth. But this is the way. So this is a commitment to do this, but it's so worth it. But I could not do it without Phil. And he comes with me whenever he can. He works with Jose. He's got great insight. But nevertheless, he just always knows that I'm the one that's doing this. He never enters into that part of it.
00:28:29
Speaker
So, the part of our marriage, it's been good, it's been a growing thing, but mostly not as much as just his retiring. That's been a different aspect for him as well. But we're getting our dance now.
00:28:48
Speaker
So cool. And just to how? You've been married 43 years. 43 years. Yeah. So congratulations. On Valentine's Day. Oh, that's awesome. Thank you. Very cool. I just have to throw that out. Yeah. Yeah. So funny. You know, it's funny. I just, this, here's the quick, like we're taking a time out. This is,
00:29:05
Speaker
Yeah, so a lot of people want to know how do you engage Brian and I, right? So you can go to www.uncommonwealth.com. You can know all about us, schedule a call. We would love to dive into where you are at and where you want to go and see if we can provide value there.
00:29:24
Speaker
I was with a buddy of mine. We went to a lunch yesterday. We went to this place called B&B's Grocery. I've never been anything like, eh, that's not true. I've been to things like this, but it was so crazy. It's a butcher, third generation butcher.
00:29:43
Speaker
And this place is in the heart of Des Moines. Everybody that's going in there is smiling from ear to ear, all different clientele. And I go back there and the butcher, third generation butcher, has the same hat on that I think he probably started when he was 12. And he looks over at my buddy Todd and he goes,
00:30:08
Speaker
you give me a chance to be your butcher and you'll never buy meat from anybody again. Oh, for heaven's sake. Like the passion and the drive. Yes. I was like, I want to buy meat from you. Like, yes. Take my money. Yes. And like the whole time I was ever taught, I was like, I don't know where we are or how we got here, but I'm excited to be here and I'm excited to get food. And we got food and it was like straight off the grill. Like it felt like we were on a picnic.
00:30:34
Speaker
Anyway, so just to say the passion and enthusiasm that happens from a generational family-owned business is different than something else. Now, I would also say the clientele, it was packed and there was only one cash register. There was a couple people behind it and the cash register said, we need more family members because I just can't do it anymore. She was a family member. It was crazy.
00:31:00
Speaker
Anyway, so I think one the the camaraderie that it comes to the community like I mean this place has been there and the building I mean you you walk in you like yeah, this place has got some history B and B groceries Now they're really gonna be yeah and the way that he interacted with my buddy and
00:31:24
Speaker
I was there, I wasn't there when I saw it, but Todd said that and he was like, oh yeah, he's like, I'm going to try it. Yeah. And so it would be fun to have him on the show. He would do it unless he was working. And bring hamburger. Yeah. That was a segue to my next question. Man, I nailed that. Yeah.
00:31:45
Speaker
So your second generation business owner, you have the third generation sitting here. I know. And Phillip has a sister trailer. Yes. What would you say to your son and to your daughter as a business owner and as your vision, you know, for the next generation? Concerning. Just the part, the part, life, you know, whatever you want to, it's your soapbox here as a mom, as a business owner.
00:32:11
Speaker
You know, is this something you'd want to pass down to Phil Pintrello? Absolutely. Absolutely. You know, that would be, you know, I think what my parents have started is a legacy. It's a legacy. And the way they've handled it, the way they have groomed and prepared and buy-sell agreement,
00:32:35
Speaker
Of course, their top priority always has been family and protecting that and keeping that because we've seen many, many situations where that does not happen. And even the best families can fall apart very quickly.
00:32:55
Speaker
Yeah, I definitely would like to see that legacy passed on. I'm kind of like my dad and my mom, not sure how that's going to be. Because now you have three families of four. We have four families. I think from my perspective, I've had very open-handed, I want this to stay in the family somehow.
00:33:18
Speaker
Whether it's me or if it's my cousins, how do we keep this going? Because I know what a legacy that is. So however that is passed on, I'll be happy no matter what. And so I do think there is some question of, now we have three people owning it. We have three individuals that all have family members that may or may not see value in it.
00:33:43
Speaker
So it's just kind of walking through that as a family and being open and being honest and what do you want? What do you don't want? Is this something that's appealing to you? You just don't know how to do it. So that's where I kind of get excited because it's a hard conversation which you can truly see. It's worth doing the work. It's worth doing the hard work.
00:34:07
Speaker
You know, yes, it is interesting because with, you know, grandpa always said this, this is going to be difficult because you really can't have more than one person doing this. Yeah, that's biblical. Yeah, we, and so we have an unusual situation that we have three like-minded people that, you know,
00:34:30
Speaker
But you know the thing the thing and Pam is like minded as well. She has just made the choice to retire to retire now Which was the right choice for them? They're very very busy
00:34:44
Speaker
But I think, you know, going forward, it's something that we have to look at and we have to talk about, and we have to, like, you know, Philip said, some people just financially would not be able to look at it, and some have no desire to do it, you know. So that's just something that looking forward, you know, and then with Tralev, you know, we just don't know how that will all play out. That's my sister. Yes. Yeah.
00:35:11
Speaker
I want to go back, we're kind of running out of time, so I need to be thoughtful of that. When you were running the park with all three of your sisters, what were the strengths? Because like you said, it's not easy to run something with more than one person. It's almost impossible with three, and it's pretty much impossible with four. But what strengths did you see each one of your sisters possessing that helped in that running of the park?
00:35:41
Speaker
Oh, that's a great question. We talk about this. Jamie was a counselor and really worked in the business world more than Shelly and I did and worked in office settings and so forth. She brings incredible knowledge on just organization. Organization. Processes. Processes.
00:36:05
Speaker
files, you know, that sort of stuff. Shelly is very creative. She's good with people. She's, you know, she, she just, you know, we all have kind of different things that we're in charge of, but, you know, she's in charge of getting the insurances all up to date and so forth. But she, she just brings a very heartfelt
00:36:29
Speaker
part to our ministry. I think I am kind of, I get things done. I want to get things done. You know, I come with a list and I, you know, it's important to me. Is that you? Oh, that's so scary. That is so scary. Oh, that makes sense. Yeah, the light went off.
00:36:54
Speaker
And I have a no-nonsense. I have a way of looking through and seeing the black
Collaborative Management with Sisters
00:37:01
Speaker
and the white. That's really going on here. Yeah, I have that. But we definitely all bring something, and we all appreciate what we have given. Sure.
00:37:11
Speaker
And you know what, Pam, when she worked with the park, she has a real mind as far as business as well. But she was very good with the people. She actually worked out in the park with Jose and developed a rapport with them and so forth. That's valuable.
00:37:33
Speaker
I'm just going to sum this up. When you're dealing with multiple relationships, you've got to define the roles, understand the strengths, and then execute those in a way that are defined. Because if you don't have those, it's like, well, I thought you were going to do that. No, it was your job. Well, there could have been a lot of looking around. There could have been a lot of looking around.
00:37:56
Speaker
So I can't thank you enough for being on the show. I hope this was enjoyable. It was enjoyable for me. It was amazing. It was very fun. It was so exciting. I was a little nervous. You couldn't tell. Never let him see a sweat.
Contact Information and Conclusion
00:38:11
Speaker
If you wanted to reach out to, how would our listeners reach out to you if they had any questions or if they wanted to follow up?
00:38:18
Speaker
Like with an email? Yeah. Okay. That would be good. That would be great. Yeah. Matney Singh, M-A-T-N-E-Y, sing at hotmail.com. Perfect. Perfect. And so that would be a way to reach out to Chris Ramsey. Yeah. If you have any questions or follow up, but what you're doing is one inspiring and also I think very motivating to other people on the podcast who have maybe an idea
00:38:43
Speaker
that wants to maybe explore that, but they think maybe an age could be the obstacle that's preventing them. So if you want any more information about Brian and I, you've been listening to the Uncommon Life Project. I've been your host, Phillip Ramsey. And I'm Brian Dewhurst. And we hope you have a great day. Take us out, Virgine. Thanks, everybody. Goodbye.
00:39:06
Speaker
That's all for this episode of the Uncommon Life Project, 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.