Transcript
Todd Pinkston: All right, welcome to unstuck and alive today we have Landon sheets on with us Landon, welcome.
Landon Sheets: Thanks.
Todd Pinkston: Landon what the has been a part of Concord Medical Group. for a long time currently sits on the board with them as an elder at his church in lubbock texas Most notably is the chairman of the board for Wayford Adventures.
Todd Pinkston: He's an endurance athlete. He's got a bride and five kiddos. And Landon, we're excited to get to know you today. and
Landon Sheets: yeah Glad to be here.
Todd Pinkston: learn a lot lot about your story.
Landon Sheets: For sure.
Steven J. Neuner: Welcome, Landon. I'm just really surprised that we didn't you didn't just leave with your bio.
Landon Sheets: Thanks for having me.
Steven J. Neuner: President of WayForward Adventures Board. Chief head wrangler of Todd Pinkston, you know.
Landon Sheets: I try to keep that. Good. I bet.
Todd Pinkston: Amen.
Landon Sheets: That's the toughest part of the job, no doubt. No doubt. Yeah, someone's got to put up with him now.
Todd Pinkston: Come on. All right. Hey, Landon, tell us tell us your story. Tell us kind of how you've got to where you are today. you know You're a man that' that's sought after for mentorships. You're a disciple maker. You've been elevated to to different leadership roles.
Todd Pinkston: both professionally and in the in the spiritual realm. So we'd love to know just kind of like what has what has shaped you into the man you are. And how have you got to kind of the place you are today?
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Man, that's that's a big question. lot A lot of lot there. I mean, I think when I think about what has shaped me into the man that I am, I mean, it has to start with the family that I grew up in. Right. I'm.
Landon Sheets: From a big family, I'm one of 10 kids. My parents, super grateful for them. uh you know uh and Raised us, pointed us toward Jesus, really cultivated. just a family that was close. and a family that was about other people and hospitality.
Landon Sheets: I think growing up with. 10 siblings. pretty quickly realize. what what made me go and i think uh You know, I've always been drawn to to adventure. to challenge. to kind of...
Landon Sheets: I mean, I'm an Enneagram 7. I don't know if that means anything to anyone. But, you know, I just love the the new, the next. And that can get me into trouble.
Todd Pinkston: Loves to have fun.
Landon Sheets: Absolutely. i love I love that fun. I love... kind of a novel experience, right? and and kind of testing the limits and finding finding the margins on stuff.
Landon Sheets: So yeah, I think that... you know, in in early you know, as as a kid. uh through high school you know that that came out in sports and i love sports and played everything and just loves to compete.
Landon Sheets: anywhere that that I could find a place to compete. But then kind of. Ultimately, you know that that played out in uh I was pre -med through college.
Landon Sheets: And then after taking Namcat and... doing let's just say unfavorably on it. I was like, man, I'm not sure this deals for me. and and so i kind of.
Landon Sheets: pivoted and joined my dad. He was starting a company. medical staffing company. And so kind of joined him and my brother. in in doing that and I mean, a lot of ways we didn't know what we were doing.
Landon Sheets: But. kind of just cut our teeth and my dad had a business background he had started a business before kind of going back and becoming a doctor. But...
Landon Sheets: Man, we just learned as we went. And. you know that's kind of my first experience into business into building teams uh and really into you know leading an organization in any way and so Through a lot of. trial and error and failure.
Landon Sheets: We over 15 years, like. built it and And... Yeah, just It was fun building a team. It was fun getting to... help grow leaders. and pour into them. and
Landon Sheets: Obviously along the way I met My wife, Whitney. We have five kids. Peyton, Esther, Tyler, Sloan, Leah. Yeah, so that I mean, that's kind of... how I got to where I am today.
Landon Sheets: I guess. going back a little bit and you know I'm sure we'll touch on this later. but At some point. about four years ago. Tried to sell the business.
Landon Sheets: And that didn't kind of pan out. and That kind of precipitated my dad and I taking a step back from operating it day to day. So.
Landon Sheets: We're still engaged with it, but kind of opened up. Just more opportunity to pursue things outside of. the staffing business. So. Yeah, that's where we're at today.
Todd Pinkston: So Landon, if you'll kind of... Dive into that. Let's go four years ago. You're you're transitioning out of what you're doing day to day. You guys have a successful company. You've been.
Todd Pinkston: building a big team.
Landon Sheets: e
Todd Pinkston: You and I are floating on the on the Rio fly fishing and you are you're kicking around some of like the deeper questions of
Landon Sheets: even
Todd Pinkston: you know. Who am I? And like what? What do I want to do with my life? and you know These are questions as you've you know been on trail, as you've been a part of Freestone Ministries.
Landon Sheets: e
Todd Pinkston: and you know helping other men become more of the man they've been designed to be.
Landon Sheets: right
Todd Pinkston: you know You're wrestling with those same questions. Can you kind of dive in right there? of you know what's going on in your mind during those times why was that kind of like you know a culminating
Landon Sheets: yeah
Todd Pinkston: time period of your life and and what has your journey been over the last four years in that?
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Well, I think. Being in Concord, running it. I held a lot of positions and you know at the end was the chief operating officer.
Landon Sheets: I think it's easy to kind of like. without even realizing it, adopt that as as my identity, right?
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: So like, that's who I was. It made the question of, you know... What do you do? Really easy to answer. It was clean. Even maybe seemed impressive or at least felt impressive No one else may have thought that.
Landon Sheets: but But it was clean and it and it was really easy for that to kind of become the identity. so then Oh. you know, kind of in that season where. out of a desire, kind of like a lack of. Like I don't want to. hop back in and run Concord.
Landon Sheets: I was. opened up to... to to not do that and to figure out what was next. It really like left me with this. kind of void of like, okay, well then like if I'm not chief operating officer of Concord Medical Group and here's our stats.
Landon Sheets: then who i am I? And I think what... it Like, man, that that actually. led to a... A few years long season of kind of like. I mean I wouldn't say identity crisis but
Landon Sheets: really just like searching for like okay like what is like who am i like what's my purpose And even like going through some, like at the end of the day. it's in My purpose, like who I am, is it includes like I'm a father, I'm a husband, I'm a discipler of men. But even those things.
Landon Sheets: like aren't ont all of it. like I think all of those things come up short. and really just kind of like kind of having to re... re -solidify that like my identity is in Christ.
Landon Sheets: and my like value and worth and significance. is in Christ. And all of those other things. can go away all those other things are are not like promised
Landon Sheets: And so I think like that's Uh, Yeah, I think i think that's... kind of what what What I learned from that is... Just like. like what my identity is. and yeah What it has to be.
Steven J. Neuner: Landon, if I could just if we' we're to kind of go back. the way you described that situation. I'm curious, like, below the surface was it did did it feel more like it was That season was a season of courage.
Steven J. Neuner: or more of a season of restraint. Like... do you do you have any kind of sense of like what was going on beneath the surface in regards to you know, the what was actually going on.
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Yeah, I would I mean I think that it was... I think it started as a season of courage.
Todd Pinkston: I see.
Landon Sheets: and then maybe like so flopped into a season of fear a bit a season of insecurity and of of you know
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: questioning and and even doubting. But ultimately, I think like ended with like, you know, like a a season of like courage and and in opportunity. Like I think there was.
Landon Sheets: Like as long as I kept the... The mask. And I, and I was like, I was, you know, who I was in, in Concord. But I think like it was a. so I think God was inviting me into something deeper, into a deeper sense of like, okay.
Landon Sheets: Why do I exist? you know, to to glorify Jesus. and and like make disciples and yes like disciple my kids and be the husband that God has called me to be and pour in where I can.
Landon Sheets: But I think he was calling me into like Kind of like an open handedness about like what I do. Or even like. how I would answer. the question of of what i do And I think that's where like truly a lot of the insecurity.
Landon Sheets: Woods is like... You know, I wanted to have a clean answer to that question. you know really you know Tight. tied up with a bow. maybe even impressive. But certainly not one that made people be like, hang on. So like, are you like. Was I retired at age 40 or whatever? Because that's...
Landon Sheets: Like that's not what I was with my time. That's not what I was with my heart. Like I felt like I was pressing in.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: but it But it also felt like. well do i just say i'm a dabbler like i just kind of do a bunch of things and but but really just getting to a place where like i was okay with who God had... It's...
Landon Sheets: brought me to be in this season. the influence that he had given me. the opportunity that he had given me to pour into younger men. to leverage for you know my my time for Yeah, just all the things that he had put.
Landon Sheets: on my plate. without any Any feeling of like I need to apologize for it
Todd Pinkston: It's good. So one of the things you said like right off the bat was you are who you are because of your family. And I can.
Landon Sheets: Hmm.
Todd Pinkston: you know i don't i don't know all of your siblings but you know From the ones I know, from from what I hear about the relationship you have with your family, the relationship that you and Whitney are creating with your kids, like you guys really do. you've got You've got an amazing family. You have a family that so many of us would love to...
Todd Pinkston: you know. have our kids talk about down the road. And, and you know. From a peer level, I look at a look at the way that you're raising your family, and I glean wisdom from that. And...
Todd Pinkston: our family shapes us in in the positive and the negative ways and so family business
Landon Sheets: even mm -hmm
Todd Pinkston: you know working with your brother working with your dad what What are some of the things that you've learned? On maybe more of that shadow side of that you've had to work through of like. you gathered some of your identity from the way you were viewed in your family and how has that you know opened up for you to receive from the lord your identity from him
Landon Sheets: yeah Yeah, one of the...
Todd Pinkston: you know.
Landon Sheets: one of the I think the... unintended negative side effects of growing up in a family that I grew up in. was that... Man, I never felt unloved.
Landon Sheets: I never felt unvalued and i don't think i was like my i always felt like i was an important part of something
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But there was there was sort of a sense of of like. You get noticed, you get recognized, you get a pat on the back when you make a splash.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Right. And so, like, I think. And it wasn't that all of a sudden you're not important if you... Don't do something extraordinary. but if you're if you do something in sports or in in just if you make a funny comment like right like It's what you bring. that somehow is connected to your value.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And so I think that has like, again, unintentionally and probably mostly rooted by my own pride and my own sin and my own, you know. my own my own self.
Todd Pinkston: sure
Landon Sheets: his it kind of created the situation where like my value. is based on how productive I am, how what I bring to the table. Like. rather than just like an existing. and being Landon Sheets created by God, loved by God, son of God.
Landon Sheets: And so. Like, man, like, that that can be... and and Like. That is still something I very much. battle with struggle with today like if you look at my journal
Todd Pinkston: Sure. Sure.
Landon Sheets: you know there' it's It's still... got identity and just like working through that and praying through that. all over it's not something that i'm like figured out and like now now I got it.
Landon Sheets: But but I think like. be it's It's a really like stifling place to be like, okay. I've got to perform up to a certain level. meet these people's expectation, maybe even like make a huge splash and do something extraordinary over here.
Landon Sheets: to then constantly re -earn, reconfirm my value. my worth. The fact that I that i'm matter and I'm significant. and It's almost like it's it's kind of you know creates a little bit of like imposter syndrome right like I've done it up to this point.
Landon Sheets: I've had the successful business of, you know, whatever. But I kind of have to. constantly recreate it and reprove it every day, every week, every year. And it can be exhausting. And there's there's no place in that.
Landon Sheets: for just like a deep like wrist. and the Lord.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: and like who he's made me to be. It's this constant striving. and it plays out in relationships, it plays out in career and aspirations. It plays out in my marriage.
Landon Sheets: Right. Like this constant need for like. re another round of validation of confirmation of You're worth something.
Todd Pinkston: That's good. So what is that? And then you know even as you talk about... you know, what do I do now? You know, and you even said, I dabble or I mentor like.
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Todd Pinkston: How does that lie feed into? almost disqualifying some of the things if they don't make a splash.
Landon Sheets: Say the question in a different way.
Todd Pinkston: Meaning like... If... you know If the Lord's inviting you into something that is you know not as big of a wow. But. you know, there's an opportunity to to mentor somebody that's not, you know, nobody's going to, you know, share huge highlights about, you know, the one -on -one mentorship once a week.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: How does the lie of, you know, it's not making a splash or, you know, it's not something people are talking about.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: How does that kind of disqualify or? yeah pull away from what forward to inviting you in too.
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Well, I mean, I think it ultimately what I have experienced. in my own life and even in others' lives is that like, almost never.
Landon Sheets: is like what's really impactful. what's what's really important. Like. It's almost never measurable. in the moment. like it's almost always just the the small mundane faithfulness.
Landon Sheets: keep showing up over like a really long period of time.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: that you look back and you're like, dang. over the last 15 years that was that was impactful and now i can actually see the impact and people are even like confirming and affirming
Steven J. Neuner: Mm hmm.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: the impact. but whether it's with discipleship. of dudes or whether it's with raising my kids like it's almost never that one big conversation that I get to have. It's like the...
Landon Sheets: you know, hundreds of conversations or little moments or even like the the ones that seem unimportant. They're not even about something important. but it's just the time together. And so. I mean, I think to answer your question like it It. Keeps you like. having that mindset of the big splash. keeps you from Just... being present.
Landon Sheets: being faithful in the mundane. Because most of life is mundane. Most of my days are not a big splash.
Todd Pinkston: Sure. Sure.
Landon Sheets: Most of them are kind of like. running the same play, the same routine again. And dude, again, as a seven. I get. It's easy for me to like get lost in that and to like escape from that to something in the future or something more exciting.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah. Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But like my experience. would say, man, like... The place where... where it you're going to have the most impact. is like right here in this moment, in this conversation.
Landon Sheets: playing Legos with your kid. you know. playing pickleball with a dude who wants to spend time with you, whatever the thing is. Not. imagining what huge impact another situation could.
Landon Sheets: Good. offer.
Todd Pinkston: come on
Steven J. Neuner: Do you have any rhythms that help you stay focused in there? Because when I think about it, it's like if you. If you look at... A lot of. Where you found it early in your career, like I think.
Steven J. Neuner: we so often get rewarded. for not being a dabbler like for being all in right so it's like well
Landon Sheets: yeah Mm hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: if i If I'm wired that I want to make a big splash Being a dabbler is almost antithetical seemingly on the surface, right?
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: To being someone that can make a big splash. So I'm just curious how you think about that.
Todd Pinkston: Sure.
Landon Sheets: Right.
Steven J. Neuner: Like, you know, there are there any rhythms that haveve helped you? stay yielded in that way because I think a lot of high performers this is like a real thing especially if they're a person of faith
Landon Sheets: all
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Man, I don't know if it's like an on purpose thing and I don't even know if it's a good thing. But. I... I tend to like just take things, take opportunities as they come. And that gets me into trouble because I end up saying yes to too many things.
Landon Sheets: I end up not having a focused, you know. This is my week is going to be spent working on this. But it's more just as someone says, hey, can we get together? Can we meet?
Landon Sheets: As an opportunity comes up.
Steven J. Neuner: Mm -hmm
Landon Sheets: I try to just like. Give with the Lord. And if it's something that seems like it's in line with with what he's about. And with my giftings. And with his kingdom. Then it's just like a yes.
Landon Sheets: Which, man, that that's naturally going to lead to... days that are full of a bunch of different things scattered gun approach of you know
Steven J. Neuner: Mm hmm.
Landon Sheets: all over the place right and meeting with lots of different types of people. engaged with. Different. types of organizations and So I mean, like my disorganization in that sense.
Landon Sheets: is probably a big part of it so i'm not sure that many people would be like, yeah, I need to be more disorganized. you know.
Steven J. Neuner: but But speak to it, though, because I think that there is an element of faith, right, for someone for a believer that's also a high achiever. there's an element of faith that like, wait a minute.
Steven J. Neuner: i can i can I can dabble. I can... i can make this small contribution and there can be outsized returns because it's where the Lord wants me to be. and i I think it's, again, we're so...
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: I can. grind on this thing and we can make it happen.
Landon Sheets: yeah
Steven J. Neuner: And so I just would love to.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: you know maybe that's been natural always for you but i'm just curious how that
Landon Sheets: It may have been natural in my personality, but you nailed it. that there it is There's plenty of times when I can feel like, gosh, I'm doing a bunch of things and none of them are like.
Landon Sheets: in and of themselves great or or meaningful or whatever.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And it does take. Me getting with the Lord and reconfirming, no, this is. like showing up in these things that I'm being invited into. being faithful in the mundane the little situations is going to make a big impact.
Landon Sheets: And I might not be able to see it now or even this year. but it's going to make a big big impact. But and then also, I i think there's an aspect of community in that. And like.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: having others. And man, this is like... when we should do more encouraging and and affirming of others that that are. just being faithful because what when others have spoken that into me. of like man i see the little things that you're doing the the little deposits that you're making just your your consistency and faithfulness and showing up in these little ways
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: and it's making an impact that That is super encouraging to me. That's the thing that actually... reinforces my faith okay yes like it It's not for nothing.
Landon Sheets: it's not that i'm missing out on the one big thing by dabbling and in these other things. Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: Thank you.
Todd Pinkston: Landon, one of the one of the things you're passionate about is is biblical manhood, you know, raising up men.
Landon Sheets: Hmm.
Todd Pinkston: Big 10. lead their families. They can follow after you know the things the Lord puts on their heart. I'd love for you to... to Talk a little bit about Freestone and and and also about the the prayer group that you have started and kind of like what you've seen the Lord do and like simple acts of guys getting together to pray.
Landon Sheets: Yeah
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Yeah, for sure. and And the prayer group is really just somewhat of an outflow out of Freestone. But Freestone is is a ministry that... I started with my my good friend Ben Hamilton.
Landon Sheets: We've been friends since college. And. It's honestly kind of just so I can. an overflow of our friendship that they you know started. Well, it started because we both wanted to go fishing.
Landon Sheets: but But ultimately, like... really quickly we In a season when. Not a lot of our friend group was taking their faith seriously. We started like meeting together. talking about the Lord.
Landon Sheets: confessing sin, just like... like a a deep, meaningful, authentic. just real friendship. And what we like what we experienced in that was...
Landon Sheets: it's It's really life -giving.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: It's really life -giving to be able to like share. Everything. the ugly. the the struggles the fears the insecurities all of it and have someone else who you love. Be like, yeah, me too.
Landon Sheets: or Or even not me too, but like, you know, remind you of the gospel, push you back to Jesus, remind you that your identity is not in crushing it in all of these areas. or you know being fully sanctified in these areas.
Landon Sheets: but that like like just a a brother to walk with you and and identify with you. and and push you back to the gospel. And so I think what we... we experienced that it was just so life -giving. And then as we both, and we met we didn't live in the same place.
Landon Sheets: but we both experienced in our circles everyone like so many men were looking for it
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: So many men felt like they were alone. And then as men in our sin. So often that pushes us to isolate even more. man, no one probably understands what I'm going through.
Landon Sheets: no one else is having the same anxieties or fears that i'm having all that stuff right as men And so. that we we started freestone 11 years ago And really like it was a.
Landon Sheets: Again, an unorganized, like just kind of wool. We will. You know, use both of our dads ranches. You know, dudes like to hunt doves, so we're going to have a dove hunt. you know bring in someone to speak or do it ourselves. and have good food but ultimately just like create a space to just have real conversations with other men.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: and so we did the you know the first few years we're like man this is the year it's going to be a flop And every year it was like. even though it was kind of disorganized and kind of pulled together in some ways and wasn't super sharp.
Landon Sheets: The... across the board. like feedback that we got was Man, that was so encouraging. I needed that. And then we saw actual lives change, like like men carrying.
Todd Pinkston: and
Landon Sheets: It wasn't just like a weekend. It was like through the whole year. they're communicating and then they're like actually building these. meaningful friendships and pursuing like you know relationship with other men and So, I mean, that obviously makes us even more like, okay, we're going to keep this going. we're going to See what's next. And it's been a you know side hustle for both of us. you know it's not Not our main deal. We'd probably love to. to have it be more of a thing, but.
Landon Sheets: I mean, we it's just been really cool to see what God has done just through that one event. Oh, by the way, a little shameless plug, Todd Pinkston. is the speaker for our or freestone dove hunt.
Landon Sheets: Here this September, we're pumped about that.
Steven J. Neuner: Come on.
Todd Pinkston: Come on.
Landon Sheets: Best speaker yet. So. But then like the the prayer group.
Steven J. Neuner: Published author.
Todd Pinkston: yeah
Landon Sheets: What's that?
Steven J. Neuner: He's a published author now.
Landon Sheets: That's right.
Todd Pinkston: and
Landon Sheets: That's right I can't believe he's stooping down to come speak at our deal.
Todd Pinkston: What?
Landon Sheets: We're grateful.
Todd Pinkston: yeah Keep going.
Landon Sheets: We're grateful.
Steven J. Neuner: Just that he's gonna have to run there.
Landon Sheets: We got him before his book came out.
Steven J. Neuner: He's gonna have to run there. But you know than that
Landon Sheets: Yep. Yep. So then the prayer group was was just kind of an outflow of that. you know i
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: I feel like God put it on my heart that. You know... that that men needed just this place to just be real. And then I had an experience in Guatemala.
Landon Sheets: with some missionaries where they're like hey do you want to come to prayer I was like, yeah, sure. So I showed up not knowing what it was and there was no like. plan or like rhythm or you know agenda to it no book study or anything like that it was just Guys sitting around a table early in the morning.
Landon Sheets: Just like... being real and praying for each other and maybe sharing what they're wrestling with in scripture. And so. that's really what it started as is me. I just sent out a text to a handful of guys and said, Hey, Thursday mornings at 6am. I'll be on my back porch. Awesome coffee.
Landon Sheets: And like. that's it if you want to come it might be awkward We might sit in silence and we do sometimes. But we just get. in front of the lord And. We've been doing it for like right at three years.
Landon Sheets: And there's yet to be a single time when it was a flop.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: when it was not. meaningful connection with the Lord. and with each other. And again, there's we've seen like lives change marriages like impacted and restored.
Landon Sheets: Your sin's brought into light. all just through this like showing up
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And trusting that. God's going to meet us there. I mean, again. not not different than than way forward where like you create that space you show up and you don't have to like worry that it's not going to turn into something meaningful.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Like when... When you show up with open hands, like god like God shows up and... and he does the work. And so that that's been a super cool thing. and then it's now multiplied into to another group as well. and Probably need to multiply again.
Landon Sheets: so it's cool
Steven J. Neuner: Well, I appreciate you sharing that story because really like for anyone listening to me, I think you just gave a really. Clear example. of how dabbling can produce produce a lot of fruit.
Todd Pinkston: Okay.
Landon Sheets: Hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: it's a text message it was people getting together right and then just That is, we talk about unforced purpose in the book. I mean, that is just that is just overflow, man. So that really cool.
Landon Sheets: yeah
Steven J. Neuner: uh very tangible way for someone that's Maybe not. Followed through on that they've had that thing. Beneath the surface that's nudging them and they're just afraid to maybe just send the text message.
Steven J. Neuner: So anyway, thank you Amen.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: One. Yeah. but And then that is it. like there There is fear there. that I mean, there was for me and these were all guys that I was close with. at the beginning. But there's this deal of like, okay, is this going to be like a super weird thing where they're like, Landon invited us over and we sat there and, you know, and even after it was great the first time, it was like, well, next time it's going to be. maybe Maybe I need to have a plan.
Landon Sheets: And it's like... like there there is that kind of fear of being the one who initiates it. But man, when you just step in. with with faith and or like it could have been a flop and that would have been okay too because i would still would have been taking a step in faith and that's the thing is like it's not a matter of the result
Steven J. Neuner: you
Landon Sheets: It's a matter of the obedience.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah. It's good.
Steven J. Neuner: Amen.
Todd Pinkston: And then another thing I think you said that I don't want to want to blow past. you know, we In the Western world, we have such a, you know... Like. a systematic approach to things and it's.
Todd Pinkston: It's very much like I need to get further down the road. in my faith, which means you know more Bible study. It means more verse memorization.
Landon Sheets: Mm -hmm
Todd Pinkston: It typically means more academic study. and And all along the while, there's this lie beneath the surface that is. robbing us of you know truly having communion with the Lord.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: because it's the thing we filter everything through. and
Landon Sheets: Yeah
Todd Pinkston: you know Even as you talked about you know growing up in a great family, and I think, man, so many times in in a good family, we don't feel like we can look around and do an honest evaluation. Because it's like, I have it so much better than most people.
Todd Pinkston: You know, why would I?
Landon Sheets: right
Todd Pinkston: and and And then again, it's like the lie the enemy feeds us.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: And all the while we've got this, you know, hey, you've got to make a splash or hey, you know, whatever that kind of.
Landon Sheets: right
Todd Pinkston: untruth is that that that the enemy has woven in And you said it. It's like when guys get together and can be vulnerable and can share that stuff. and then realize you know So many times around the circle on a way forward trip, people, you know they get back and they they say.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: yeah I realize these guys are just like me. different professions, different families, different upbringings, you know, different whatever.
Landon Sheets: yeah
Todd Pinkston: but but we're so similar to each other.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: Uh,
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: it's It's powerful.
Landon Sheets: It is. And so much of the the secret sauce to that. and I mean, obviously, you know, that's like it's it's. being present like being where your boots are right and like
Todd Pinkston: Yeah. Yep.
Landon Sheets: That is something like... That... that impact, that experience, that... like that that vulnerability can only happen when you're present.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And like, I remember, I mean, being president has been like a lifelong struggle for me. And it really like. there was one one moment i mean there's been lots of moments when i was very aware of it but One moment there was room. really impactful and I still remember it even though it was I guess almost like 12 years ago. but Peyton, my oldest daughter, was like four or five years old.
Landon Sheets: And... I was in this mindset of like, I can i can multitask. I can you know always be producing something more. And I was just. undisciplined and easily distracted.
Landon Sheets: but I had gotten home from work. She was sitting with me on the couch. and i was on my phone you know returning an email or doing something Not urgent. And she was like, you know, four year, five year old girl, like talking to me.
Landon Sheets: And. along the way I'm just kind of uh -huh. Yeah Yeah. And she's like, Hey dad. Are you listening to me?
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: I was like, yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: of
Landon Sheets: And she's like, okay. Cause like. I asked the question and you said yes, but that didn't really make sense.
Landon Sheets: as an answer. And like i I literally like got emotional.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: And I was like, man, I wasn't listening to you. I put my phone down. I'd love to say I like put it down and never did that again, but that's not true. But it was. Like it just like. cut right through and
Steven J. Neuner: Mm.
Landon Sheets: Like just was it such a good reminder of like. and Like if you're. If you're not fully present, you're not present.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And, I think like whether it's in the back country. or sitting around a fire pit like Just creating a space. for giving people an opportunity to be fully present.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: without the distraction. is so huge And I'm not.
Todd Pinkston: Huge.
Landon Sheets: tough enough or or like strong enough to avoid the distraction sometimes unless it's like not an option
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And to me, that's one of the things that I love most about WayForward is like. I was telling someone just the other day is. there's Like. It takes a lot of discipline to like again and again all right Another life story.
Landon Sheets: another like You know, what to to to go through those things. And. Yeah, I think without someone saying. Here's what we're gonna do.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: you can't have your phone with all that then like sometimes we're not tough enough to actually be present and be fully engaged where we're at.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: And...
Todd Pinkston: It's good.
Steven J. Neuner: with I think also like just from my perspective, being on trail, what what I love and I'm grateful for your service to WayForward as well. because we We've... Felt the impact in our community, but it's like we forget the vision of how good that is
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: right it's like you almost becomes the frog in the kettle it's it's well sure i'm strong but if i slowly forget how amazing that is
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: That's right.
Steven J. Neuner: you know i don't i don't i don't have something to aspire to right it's just i'm slowly gets chewed away by a thousand little paper cuts so anyway
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Absolutely.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Yep. Yep.
Todd Pinkston: and And Landon, the... Backcountry has been more for you than just way forward trips. You've been on several.
Landon Sheets: Yeah
Todd Pinkston: You took Tyler on trail this summer. but You've been going in the backcountry for a long time. You love adventures. You take your family.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: You go with friends. like How has that besides the physical adventure side, like how has just being in the back country been shaping for you and community?
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Landon Sheets: i Think even I mean It's it's shaping for me in that like I genuinely just love the adventure. I love the you know the heart of it, that the discomfort of it.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: I also feel like I just like. I don't think. Okay. I don't think God's more in the backcountry than he is, you know, in Lubbock, Texas. But, and this is from you, I'll give you credit on this, like...
Landon Sheets: the The volume of everything else just gets turned down so you can hear from from him and experience him and slows down enough to where...
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Just time with Florida is is sweet in the backcountry. but i mean like over the years like just getting with other men in the backcountry. like i think there is just something about uh a fire about just like a late night in the backcountry.
Landon Sheets: that just promotes a type of... conversation of just even like laughter and just enjoying one another. that is hard to do and like I was having a conversation with my wife, Whitney, the other day. and like I feel like even like looking back like 10 or 12 years ago.
Landon Sheets: We used to do a whole lot better job of like. Having people over and then that you'd you'd look up and be like, I mean, it's 9 .30 or 10. The kids are falling asleep and we're still talking and laughing and just doing life together.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Now it feels like when someone comes over for dinner. it's like all right hour and 20 minutes and we gotta get kids in bed it's like i get it like we you know, I understand But I feel like there's something that.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: it almost sometimes takes a long time of undistracted conversation to kind of like break through to whether it's deeper, more meaningful conversation.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And often it goes with like laughter and just like a vulnerability on both sides. of like man we can be real This is a safe place to just be fully known. And I think that's one of the things that...
Landon Sheets: It doesn't have to be the backcountry, but the backcountry is a great... place to experience that. And then of course, like you add. the fact that you're all tired and you're all dirty and you're all uncomfortable you're all talking about I'm going to go sleep another night in the uncomfortable tent where I'm going to feel the rock through my mat and the whole deal.
Landon Sheets: and I think all of it adds to. that togetherness that, you know. that that community.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah. Type 2 fun, baby, you know?
Landon Sheets: That's right. Yep. You're too bad.
Todd Pinkston: Hey, so you you've talked about Freestone. You've talked about you and Ben. you know What's the dream? Like, if... if If you guys 10 years down the road woke up and and you went for everything in it, what would it look like? Who would be who would be impacted?
Todd Pinkston: what would some of the results be?
Landon Sheets: Man, that's that is a a great question. And we we do dream about that sometimes. I think we... Neither one of us have had like. have like a super clear exact dream but i think ultimately It would be.
Landon Sheets: just a wider like a wider net of impact. I think it would be. more events I think. it would like yeah it It would be more men.
Landon Sheets: That can. just like have the story of man, like I. Showed up. We sat around the table. I didn't expect to. share this this thing that i that I was going through. But then I did, and I just felt like known. I felt seen.
Landon Sheets: this And so, yeah, I think it would just be maybe like. you know, rather than one hunt. once a year, it would be like... more events or you know more weekend kind of get togethers or conferences or dinners or who knows maybe maybe some backcountry trips i have no idea but I think just more.
Landon Sheets: Space is created. for men to show up. and just like with with the thought of like this is a place where I can be real. and We had a... We have a or I guess our only like event that we've had that's not the dove hunt.
Landon Sheets: Is, uh... last year or the year before. We had a dinner.
Todd Pinkston: Mm hmm.
Landon Sheets: in Lubbock and just like, you know. Two or three hours.
Todd Pinkston: Okay.
Landon Sheets: We, you know. had a big group and provide a dinner. had a list speaker and they just had like a some table conversation And even with that, it was like a...
Landon Sheets: A low bar. It wasn't a whole weekend.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But like the response, that like I've had so many men. Say, hey, when are we doing that again? and And honestly, like less even like. you have to have a great speaker, but more just like. We could just get together.
Landon Sheets: tee up some like some things some some good questions that the things we're talking about here And let's just be real together and just create a space. to be real And it just seems like that's the kind of the recurring theme, whether it's prayer, whether it's this, whether it's... like the response to a way forward trip like There is this hunger, especially among men.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: for just like a space. to like... Be real to like share what's actually going on. And maybe as importantly, to hear other people. share what's actually going on and realize they're not alone.
Todd Pinkston: It's good.
Steven J. Neuner: Do you have any for someone that. Can you share any experiences in regards to like someone that. Maybe hasn't done something like this feels a nudge towards it do you have anything uh any encouragement to them in regards to you know Things you've learned maybe either the easier the hard way. I mean, I just I've been a part of groups in the past myself where you know it's like the people come in and then there's sometimes there's people that it seems that they They they won't.
Steven J. Neuner: And it as people go more and more in. they eventually repel because it gets too deep i just i'm curious if you've
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: you know, maybe there's some learnings that can be shared.
Landon Sheets: Yeah. I think. I think the thing. that uh that keeps most of us from from from stepping out and whether it's starting something or whether it's asking to join something that already exists is is a fear of failure, a fear of rejection.
Landon Sheets: And like. i i don't like talking about being afraid of stuff like it feels like
Todd Pinkston: you
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Kind of embarrassing. not that mean Not that attractive, right? and
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: and so like insecurities is not something that men usually put out you know out there and own And I grew up with a dad who like, I mean, just always talked about like, don't be afraid of failure.
Todd Pinkston: you
Landon Sheets: Don't be afraid of failure. And I like. Kind of like. prided myself as being someone who wasn't afraid of failure. and that And I could like. you know. fake it in a lot of areas where i'd i'd go do the hard thing or whatever But I still had a fear of failure, just like I think we all do.
Landon Sheets: of like in certain areas it's like i don't want to get embarrassed on that
Steven J. Neuner: Mm hmm.
Landon Sheets: I don't want to like really put myself out there. And then the business fails or the the group doesn't materialize or, you know. I get. you know rejected by the the girl that i'm going to try to ask whatever the situation is or the level like, there's fear of failure. And I think, like...
Landon Sheets: I think just an awareness that like. When we choose to not act, to not... Step into what? God is inviting us into. Like we're we're.
Landon Sheets: we're only cheating ourselves like we're we're missing out on what he has for us.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: And it might be like the group that's going to be really meaningful. where it might be like an opportunity to learn that my identity is not in everything succeeding and if i if i get rejected well that's still not my identity and I still have value and worth and either way.
Landon Sheets: If he's inviting you into it, it's it's worth stepping into. So I think just like... pushing back on that fear of failure and obviously It's hard to do. like yeah it's It's fear. that's That's a hard thing to overcome.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah, it requires courage.
Todd Pinkston: Sure.
Landon Sheets: Yeah. For sure.
Todd Pinkston: But. When you take that into the into the corporate world, you know you you talked a lot about running a team, building a team. You know, there's a lot on the line. There's people's livelihoods. There's your livelihood.
Todd Pinkston: what What are some things... You know, if somebody's listening to this that is running their own business and wants to follow Jesus and at the same time
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Todd Pinkston: you know wants to run their company in a way that is uh that's righteous that's in line with the lord like
Landon Sheets: yeah
Todd Pinkston: what tips can you give that person on how to do that?
Landon Sheets: It's a good question. I've wrestled with this a fair bit. we Concord, our our staffing company, was not a It wasn't a a Christian company. like We had a lot of non -believers, still have a lot of non -believers.
Landon Sheets: that worked for the company. We had a lot of non -believing doctors that that we... put in in hospitals.
Todd Pinkston: sure
Landon Sheets: And so there are like Christian companies out there where it's like, hey, like we're all Christians. We have Bible studies before work. and i think that I think that's awesome. I think that's a... a great model But like for us, we were not a distinctively like.
Landon Sheets: Christian company. but we were distinctively Christian. owners. and leadership.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And and so I think that's like. like my approach, our approach was like, we are going to like put. our values the non -negotiables the integrity, the like Christ -centered service. like all those types we're going to put those out front and center and they're non -negotiables You don't have to believe that the why, but you have to. buy into to what we're about values wise.
Landon Sheets: And then we're going to like. We're not going to like shy away from the fact that. This is like, we're going to say the why for us.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: and we're in hopefully take every opportunity to have spiritual conversations with employees, with other leaders. And so I think like for for me, like one of my favorite things about leading the company, and there were there were some things that I didn't love.
Landon Sheets: that the the day -to -day grind, the filling shifts, you know, all that kind of stuff. But I did love. the the culture building. And the, like, not only the...
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: the values but then like the the the downflow of that it's like what does this look like and and why is it even important to do what you say you're going to do and to to have follow through. and like why is our work in like
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: Why is it work in general even important? And so I think like. That's what I... in leading the company that's what i really enjoyed the most is kind of like galvanizing everyone to...
Landon Sheets: go conquer the hill and like we're all exhausted and it's been a rough stretch but like This is why it still matters. And this is why we can keep taking steps. you know use use the the ultra analogy of like man like
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: I... I may not feel like I can run another 30 miles. But I can take that step. I can take the one after that. And i I can take the one after that and just like. having that mindset of like Even when we're tired, we can keep going.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm. It's awesome.
Steven J. Neuner: Can I follow up on that? Just curious. I mean, because you and your dad and your brother, we're all doing this together. right, as owners.
Landon Sheets: Hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: Obviously, faith is a part of you Like, did you guys start? with the mind and heart in that direction did you start in a way and then come to that realization i'm just curious how that showed up for y 'all.
Landon Sheets: I think like a lot of things in our company, We didn't have a plan. It was just kind of like... you know figured it out as as we went.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: My dad may have had more of of a... you know philosophy on it. I mean, he had he had started in grown companies before.
Steven J. Neuner: Right.
Landon Sheets: I certainly didn't have like a this is what I want it to look like.
Todd Pinkston: so
Landon Sheets: And I even like had some like. Growth along the way like there was i mean probably like 10 or 12 years into the company.
Landon Sheets: There was one leader that we had that I worked closely with. and realized that Mike. I wasn't sure. if I wasn't sure if they knew Jesus. and that And it's like I went in one day and I was like, hey, this might be awkward, but like.
Landon Sheets: I feel like. i've never explicitly said like what I believe and just shared that with you. And just ask you if they'd be okay. And and and it it was... a little bit awkward but i think like there there are definitely some more overt like Like stepping into the weird sort of situations. But then. a lot more of just like i'm going to try to Act and lead. and guide in a way. that is
Landon Sheets: honoring to the lord where they're kind of even drawn to like what's different here. So I guess to answer your question, no, it was not like a... here's our philosophy on how to run a company in a and in a way that glorifies the Lord.
Landon Sheets: It was more just kind of... as we went.
Steven J. Neuner: Discovered. Yeah. yeah
Landon Sheets: Discovered.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: That's it.
Steven J. Neuner: I love it.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: Thank you.
Landon Sheets: Yep. Yep.
Todd Pinkston: What are the things right now that are firing you up? Like, what do you what do you get out of the bed out of bed in the morning excited for? where you focus in your energy.
Landon Sheets: Well, I have. It depends on the week, actually. but there's There's a few projects with with our investment group that... pretty excited about. we're were built we're Coming up on.
Landon Sheets: Uh, completion of an RV park out in near Palo Verde Canyon. So that'll be. exciting we'll We'll see if we know how to run an RV park.
Todd Pinkston: Cool.
Landon Sheets: And then we own and run Sugar Brown's Coffee Shop. here in town. And so that's, you know. a team that we love building and community kind of space that we love creating.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But honestly, like the thing that I probably get most excited about when I wake up is just. the uh I do some some coaching. some of leadership coaching.
Landon Sheets: And then just like mentorship. and Every day, I've got... you know, meetings with young guys. i'm meeting with a a business next week that's trying to kind of like reimagine what their business might look like.
Landon Sheets: And so I think just like.
Todd Pinkston: Okay.
Landon Sheets: getting with people and and having conversations about What would it look like to have a life that... Honors the Lord. that matters.
Todd Pinkston: gentlemen
Landon Sheets: you know what are the things that like derail us from having a life that matters. that distract us from it. and yeah i think just Bye. walking through life with other dudes other leaders and
Landon Sheets: yeah having those conversations i think that's what really excites me if i could If I had, like, the the ability to... to you know, cancel out all the other stuff and just do coaching and and discipleship full -time.
Landon Sheets: I'd probably do it.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: my wife thinks i would hate it because i need the the dabbling nature you know a bunch of different things but That's the thing that I get most excited about. That's the thing I enjoy the most.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: And what's the, you know, if a... 30 -year -old guy comes to you and... and Ask to kind of help mentor, coach, disciple. what What are conversations that you almost know are going to come up because they come up so many times with those types of folks?
Todd Pinkston: What are they wrestling through? What are the you know the doubts they have?
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: And kind of how do you work them through that?
Landon Sheets: Yep. Yep. I think for sure the... The the usual suspects are... Like how. you know. I'm at this stage in my career where I'm not entry level.
Landon Sheets: But I haven't gotten to whatever.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: thing I think is is having made it. so like how do i balance trying to really like crush it in my career maybe work the longer hours. maybe acquire the you know the business or go for the promotion or whatever whatever that is How do I balance that?
Landon Sheets: With. still like... My marriage is kind of struggling also and like we're you know, we're past the honeymoon phase and trying to figure out like
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: What does it look like to pursue? like like deeper friendship and knowing of each other and you know, with with, you know, kids and challenges. and How do I still be a present dad? and how to you know also be be be relevant physically.
Landon Sheets: and you know, maybe lose a few pounds or just, just how do I balance all of it?
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Like that's a season of life with young kids.
Todd Pinkston: Sure.
Landon Sheets: in that stage of career. where it's like You feel like I've got it. I can only pursue so many things at once and it's hard to balance it all. And so just like.
Landon Sheets: Asking questions. Trying to... sort through like you know what their actual desires are and like
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: But yeah, I think that's like. that's That's the usual kind of like. you know scenario that I'm probably working with.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: and i And I love it. like i I think that my... I tend to be an optimist. I love like just galvanizing and, you know. like encouraging them to just like go crush it and charge the hill and But then I think because of my own experience.
Landon Sheets: also being able to balance that with like Whatever success or or things you get in place in all these areas. like it's not gonna satisfy you're still gonna there's gonna be another set of things that stress you out that
Todd Pinkston: yeah Mm hmm.
Landon Sheets: that you want to go conquer. And so like if if if you can't find rest in Jesus right here in the middle of all of it.
Todd Pinkston: yeah
Landon Sheets: you're not going to find it once all these things are or figure it out
Todd Pinkston: Let's go.
Landon Sheets: And so just. You know. trying to encourage them back to. rest in Jesus. and not as opposed to conquering
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: I'd love to. build on that if I could and take us almost full circle. Before we even jumped on the podcast, we discovered, you know. Made the connection. I have the cool privilege of getting in. I know uh landon one of landon's brothers zach and his sister heather and i've gotten to know them in a really cool way uh over the last few years before actually and i've heard of landon but i actually got them getting to meet them with you guys today
Steven J. Neuner: The common thread that I just love about. at least the three sheets I've been surrounded by. It just is. faithfulness, this love for the Lord.
Steven J. Neuner: and yet this also this this willingness to to, I don't know, be afraid to to take on things, to...
Todd Pinkston: yeah
Steven J. Neuner: Live with courage and be bold.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: And so full circle, you know, you mentioned what your what your family did well. they cultivat your Your family was cultivated. On Jesus. And. other people in hospitality you mentioned if we were to just unpack that just a second
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: Because I've seen the fruit. right I'm seeing the fruit. What? What did that look like for like anyone listening? that wants to impart that to their children because i'm seeing it now multi -generational in your family
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: what did your What did your parents do really well? i mean
Landon Sheets: Yeah. Yeah. I actually thought about this. and And there's some pieces that... we really try to implement and live out in our family. But I think what my parents modeled unbelievably well is.
Landon Sheets: Our house was just like an open invitation.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: And in different seasons and different groups of people, like there were always it was just like, hey, this is you can this can be your second home.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And it was it wasn't like a. Everything's going to be put together. and everything's gonna be super clean and like a you know hosting in an airbnb it was like a you're invited into what Into our real.
Landon Sheets: right and so like people would come over for dinner unannounced or invited. And it wasn't always like. the most. elaborate dinner. Like a lot of times there was like literally, you know, laundry on the, on the table and, you know, think things were a mess and they just kind of like hopped into. our world of you know 10 kids and parents and And they were part of the family. and
Landon Sheets: They would stay late after my parents went to bed and like, you know. rough house with with you know the kids and it was often it was like kind of multi -generational kind of deal and So I think like what they modeled was.
Landon Sheets: that hospitality is It's just like inviting people into your life. and and so then like
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: We try to. do the same like in in my discipleship like it can't be all you know, meetings at coffee shops and you know, And sometimes it's like. Hey, I'm going to be playing basketball in the backyard with. with you know my son. You're welcome to come and join us. and shoot or we're going to go fishing or yeah you know, Whitney will invite girls over to literally like...
Landon Sheets: hang out and visit while she kind of... hustles around and does chores or You know, whatever, like they just like inviting people into. what you're already doing. And man, I think my parents did. a really great job of of Doing that and then I got to see we got to see like the fruit of that over. Again, over a long period of time. these relationships that still exist. and people that feel like they are a part of our family.
Landon Sheets: Because for a season. Maybe it was like the four years we were in Galveston. while my dad was in medical school. and these medical students, classmates of his. Just like. For that season, we're a part of our family. and ate lots of meals and chocolate chip cookies at our house. and And so I think like. that,
Landon Sheets: Just kind of open -handed. Doesn't have to look a certain way, nature. of the hospitality. And and and the the thing about it is it's actually like. pretty inconvenient like looking back And now experiencing a little bit myself, like.
Landon Sheets: There's something really great about just like a quiet evening of not having people at your house we're like not having a policy of just like you can come over unannounced
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But. something a phrase that my wife likes to say
Todd Pinkston: a
Landon Sheets: is that that we like to spend and be spent. for the kingdom.
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Landon Sheets: And I think that's the way like we try to live our lives is like. in all the categories like we And again, this is... from my parents, but like. We just want to like...
Landon Sheets: sacrifice. spend and be spent. Like. So that. Again, when... when we look up 20 30 years from now there will be like okay we can see like the impact of just like those
Todd Pinkston: you know.
Landon Sheets: that that that Wednesday night when We wanted to have a quiet evening at home. We were really tired. But someone dropped in and instead of. being mad about it we're just like yeah this is exactly where god has us right now come on like it's gonna be great you know
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: Love that. Thank you.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: Spin and be spin. I like it. Landed some... some kind of themes that you've shared about like authenticity of just being real. and And I can attest to that.
Landon Sheets: Mm hmm.
Todd Pinkston: We've we've spent the night or we've we've hung out at each other's house. I've never been invited to spend the night, but just like you know to come over and share.
Steven J. Neuner: Well, you weren't a published author yet Todd.
Landon Sheets: Maybe one day. Mmm.
Todd Pinkston: Share some dinner and then and I was I was more on like the hey, it's been an hour and 20 It's time for you to it's time for you to leave.
Landon Sheets: Yeah, exactly.
Todd Pinkston: I was more on that side of things.
Landon Sheets: a
Todd Pinkston: So You know, I'd love to experience the other. No
Steven J. Neuner: yeah
Todd Pinkston: And then also like embracing the hard. Like, you know, you do. You've you've run ultras. You've, you know, you. You and and Tyler did like a you know run for 97 hours straight thing the other you know a couple months ago.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: And then you're an optimist. and You know, I've always said i I want to be doing hard things. and And for me, the context is usually in the backcountry, whether it's side by sides or. hiking or something or or hunting.
Todd Pinkston: I want to be around people that. When the crap hits the fan. Because it inevitably will, whether it's...
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: on an adventure or in life, like something's going to go wrong.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: I want to be around the people that are like, oh.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: Now it's fun. Like, we'll figure this out.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: And you totally fit into that category. of you know you you know you helped build a company kind of not knowing you know what you were doing and it's turned out really successful because you show up in your present and you're creative
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: you know the the adventures you get to go on what and And not that backcountry plays all of it, but you have a ton of adventures. I'd love to know. like What is one adventure story?
Todd Pinkston: Where, you know, it was either epic or it didn't go the way you wanted it to. Just like one formative. backcountry adventure story.
Landon Sheets: Yeah. that my mind immediately there's there's probably other options my mind immediately goes to So one of my really good friends, Dusty Thompson, he's the pastor at our church. he and i have done a bunch of backcountry trips together and We both. like the way you described that just now.
Landon Sheets: like we joke sometimes that we it almost kind of elevates the experience.
Todd Pinkston: Yes.
Landon Sheets: when we have to change plans last minute or reimagine what we're going to do.
Todd Pinkston: Absolutely. Okay.
Landon Sheets: Even on stuff that we're like really excited. It's okay. Now. now all of a sudden there's a brand new exciting thing that we just got to hop into
Todd Pinkston: Yep.
Landon Sheets: So we we both. or or that way But. We... uh We... We're going go to do a trip into the Wind River Range. in like Southern Wyoming.
Landon Sheets: And so we we rode like. 18 miles in on horseback. And we started out like we were in like, you know, shorts and. a rain jacket or something like that.
Landon Sheets: And it was. you know 80 degrees And not long after that, it starts raining a little bit, gets colder, wind picks up, rain turns to sleet, turns to snow.
Steven J. Neuner: Oh wow.
Landon Sheets: went really picking up. So like after like a six hour. horseback ride. not moving. We were like... And we were all kind of like two. prideful to say hey i gotta stop i can't you know i'm too
Landon Sheets: so we get off the horses our our wrangler that was taking us in Actually stopped because he was like, this is dangerous. We can't keep going. I've got to get these horses back down. but when we got off the horses like we were like hypothermic like you know having trouble with like dexterity and even like mental clarity.
Landon Sheets: And. So ended up like starting a fire after a while, you know, that the the moment passes, but it was like. Genuinely scary we were like very made very aware of the elements and in that whole week -long trip was just like...
Landon Sheets: one thing after another of, you know, getting caught in a lightning storm on top of the continental divide, all these like challenges. that we probably would have never signed up for.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: But then like you get through it. in the like for sure like when it's a long ways in the rearview mirror but even right after it It's like, not only was it okay. But like, it's the highlight.
Landon Sheets: Like it's actually the thing. that you look back on and you're like, Man, remember that trip? Remember how... crazy that was and it's not like i hate thinking about how hard that was it's that was actually what made it good
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: And I've experienced the same thing with an an ultra race where. you know i'm just Totally exhausted. My stomach's hurting. I want to throw up. I want to stop. It's so miserable. And I'm like, why in the world did I choose to do this? And then you look back.
Landon Sheets: at those same pictures at that stop where I thought I was going to die. It's like, man, that was so great. Like. There's something about like going through something really hard. Really uncomfortable.
Landon Sheets: Even like. yeah i didn't expect it to go this way i thought my stomach would hold up whatever the thing is And you look back and you're like, man, the fact that it was so much harder or unexpected or had to take that, you know.
Landon Sheets: that turn or go a different direction.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: That's actually what makes it good. And I think like i've I've even experienced the same thing in like. In my life, like those seasons when. It's really uncomfortable where I get pressed. where it's just like, man, is this ever going to end?
Landon Sheets: And you it's not that I'm always grateful for those seasons. Like there's some that are just hard. or or sad.
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: but there's almost always some bit of like, man, that. that hard was was doing something. And there's something for for my personality that kind of like draws me to that, that makes me want to like run it back.
Landon Sheets: Sign up for the next. thing except i'm not doing the ultra with you in october but but man yeah you're like
Todd Pinkston: Not yet.
Landon Sheets: There is something to that for sure.
Todd Pinkston: That's awesome. Man, that's good.
Steven J. Neuner: <unk> okay Amen.
Todd Pinkston: I love it Landon, thanks for sharing all this stuff. Thanks for sharing time today with us.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Steven J. Neuner: Thank you.
Todd Pinkston: If somebody's looking to... you know get connected with you if they want to start a men's bible study and want to glean some wisdom from you or a prayer group if they want to
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: go on a freestone dove hunt in September.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: If they want to talk to you about, you know, coaching or mentorship.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Yep.
Todd Pinkston: what How can they get in touch with you?
Landon Sheets: Well, probably the best way is send me a text message or call me My cell phone number is 806 -239 -6818. I'm kind of a simpleton when it comes. I do email enough to get by, but.
Landon Sheets: I'm... Just a phone call or a text message. Genuinely, though, I'd love to connect with anyone, whether whether it's any of those things. or Or just like, hey, how do I take the next step and in this area where I'm...
Landon Sheets: a little bit uncertain or whatever, I'd love to. to have that conversation For sure.
Todd Pinkston: It's awesome.
Steven J. Neuner: Awesome.
Todd Pinkston: Lame or not.
Steven J. Neuner: man
Todd Pinkston: I love the way you live life. I told our staff when you guys brought dinner over this summer. that that was something that I was, you know, drawn to in you is watching your kids, you know, the way they interact with you and Whitney, seeing the way you guys serve. Like, you don't just talk the talk. You you walk it out. you you know The way you pour into your family, the way you invest in them is the way that a man should.
Todd Pinkston: And I love, you know, Greg Murtha was one of the the founding board members with WayForward, had cancer and passed away, wrote a really good book called Out of the Blue. And one of the things. that he talks about is like welcoming interruptions.
Todd Pinkston: And I feel like.
Landon Sheets: me
Todd Pinkston: It doesn't always. It doesn't always sound great to wake up in the morning and not have a full schedule or not knowing what your day holds. but It makes you available to what God might be bringing in. And I feel like you live that out really well.
Todd Pinkston: You're intentional with people and you hold you know you hold an open hand to what might come. And so I'm grateful for you.
Landon Sheets: Amen.
Todd Pinkston: Thanks for your friendship. Grateful that you're at the helm of. of the WayForward board right now. We're better because of your participation. and So thanks for your time today.
Landon Sheets: m
Todd Pinkston: Yeah.
Landon Sheets: Man, for sure. thanks Thanks a ton for that encouragement. That really means a lot. And I just want to like say that. I feel like in any forum, sometimes it can come off with, with just, just the highlights or just the kind of glamorized cleaned up version and like on all that stuff. Like.
Landon Sheets: I'm just, I mean, if you walked around with me, you'd see I'm trying to figure all of it out. and then just so not nothing is a finished product on any of it but i mean that's really encouraging i appreciate it appreciate y 'all's time
Todd Pinkston: Hmm.
Steven J. Neuner: Yeah. Thank you, Landon.
Todd Pinkston: You bet.
Landon Sheets: Yeah.
Todd Pinkston: Thanks for being here today.
Landon Sheets: Yep, seal.
Steven J. Neuner: Appreciate it.
