Breaking the silence around our personal struggles might be the most powerful gift we can offer others. That's the central message from this intimate conversation with a successful entrepreneur who reveals how feeling "not normal" shaped their approach to business, relationships, and life.
Despite building impressive companies and commanding attention on stage, our guest describes the deep introversion that makes networking events "a necessary evil" and public speaking a personal challenge. The conversation pulls back the curtain on how someone can appear confident in professional settings while needing hours alone to recharge afterward. Rather than seeing this personality trait as a limitation, we explore how introversion can become a unique strength in business when properly channeled.
What emerges most powerfully is the universal tendency to believe we're alone in our struggles. Whether facing mental health challenges, infertility, childhood trauma, or any other personal difficulty, we often suffer in silence, convinced our experience is uniquely shameful. This isolation only deepens our pain. "In a world of billions of people, you are not the only one," our guest reminds us, explaining how this realization transforms private suffering into connection.
The conversation takes unexpected turns through personal passions - from racing high-performance cars (the perfect solitary pursuit for an introvert) to a childhood love of comic books that provided escape during difficult times. We also explore the delicate balance of exposing our children to our interests while giving them freedom to develop their own. Throughout it all runs a powerful thread: vulnerability creates connection, and sharing our stories helps others feel less alone. What parts of your story might help someone else feel normal today?
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Hi, I’m Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of Current TEK Solutions and CYBER GUARDIANS. If you or someone you know could benefit from our cutting-edge IT and cybersecurity services, we’d love to help. Reach out to us today to learn how we can secure and elevate your business. https://www.currentTEKsolutions.com
Episode Transcript
Everybody in their heads looks at whatever their
situation is or has been andthinks I'm the only one Right
and there's why that's, in myopinion, that's why there's so
many unspoken things in theworld and challenges and stuff
Mental health I'm the only onethat has these thoughts.
I'm the only one that struggleswith this.
Right, you have infertility.
(00:22):
I'm the only one.
I would never talk to that.
It's so embarrassing, it's sowhatever.
No, it's not right, it's.
You are not the only.
In a world of billions ofpeople, you are not the only one
right.
It might feel that way.
Right, it's.
It's one of those things.
So for me to share any part ofmy story of challenges I had as
a child and conditions that I'vehad and had to deal with and
(00:45):
situations that I've been facedwith and stuff not for any sort
of pity or sympathy or any typeof praise or accolade.
Anything is to just helpsomebody else feel normal.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
I'm going to focus just a few minutes here and get
a little bit, because we reallyfeel we touched on your
successes and the things you'vegrown and done with companies
which are very impressive, andcongratulations on your many
successes.
You know, I know we've kind ofmaybe rubbed shoulders here or
(01:23):
there as far as in differentindustry events over the years,
but you know, I think this lastfall in Chicago is really kind
of the time I actually took thetime and made the effort to
actually get outside my comfortzone and approach you and a lot
of that is me, you know, workingon myself, right.
But I found I guess with you iswhat you seemed like a very
(01:45):
reserved individual in socialsettings but yet on a stage, oh
my goodness, the story you cantell, I mean, is so impactful.
Are you really as sociallyreserved as what I felt you were
when I met you?
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, absolutely I'm.
I'm very introverted, right.
So in a setting like this, thisis totally fine for me and and
I have to force myself to dostuff on stage or at events to
be sociable and stuff.
But, yeah, I am.
I am not the person in mynatural setting to go and
(02:26):
approach people to have aconversation, right, I hate
networking events.
I do them as a necessary evil,right?
So, for me, I am uncomfortablein situations and places where I
don't know anybody, right, andI don't need to be best friends
with someone, I just need toknow anybody Right, and I don't
need to be best friends withsomeone, I just need to know
them.
I need to have had some historywhere I've got something I can
(02:48):
say to start that conversation.
Right, I'm not an icebreaker,I'm not a walk into a group and
just start participating in aconversation.
Me, but yeah, that's, that's me.
I.
I would rather sit back andobserve and watch what's going
(03:09):
on, um, then always be involvedin it, and I'll do the same
thing in a lot of meetings.
Okay, I will sit back andobserve.
We will have an agenda.
We'll let things flow.
Excuse me, but I would rathersee what happens and see where
the conversation goes instead ofguiding things or being the
focal point of attention.
(03:30):
Right, I think, um, I've I'vealways believed in, even when I
was younger like the loudestperson in the room is generally
not the smartest, um, you know,it's the one with the most
confidence and, in many cases,can be the one that's the most
arrogant.
Um, but no, I, I I'd rather bethe person that can observe and
(03:52):
learn and see and hear and andtake things quietly and then you
know, kind of process them andand, you know, think things
through before how I want toapproach something.
But yeah, that, that that is me.
You know, think things throughbefore how I want to approach
something.
But yeah, that, that that is me.
I mean, I'm not all the way tothe point.
That's like I'm the guy sittingin the corner and and avoiding
eye contact all the time.
(04:13):
But yeah, I, I try to just justsit to myself, not be the
center of attention, not do allthe things, and just just watch
no, and obviously it's um, it'sworked pretty well.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Um, obviously your success and the companies you
built, um, and you've.
You said you do it out ofnecessity and I can not only
understand but appreciate that.
You know I am not the mostextroverted person on the face
of the planet.
Um, and I can.
I can go many a weekends notspeaking to a single soul and
I'm good with that.
But at the same time, like Isaid, I know I pushed myself
(04:53):
myself outside my comfort zoneto engage with others.
Um, I know we have a lot to say, but, um, and doing those
things that make meuncomfortable to, to grow myself
personally, and you'veobviously managed that very well
, and do you feel that it's everheld you back from doing some
(05:17):
of the things you wish you couldhave done?
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, I'm sure in ways it has certainly.
Yeah, I'm sure in ways it hascertainly.
I mean, if you are ever morethe I don't know, I'll say a
showman, is it the show person?
You're going to get thatawareness right.
Like any business thrives onawareness and recognition and
(05:43):
familiarity and all of thosethings.
And that probably hinderedbusinesses of mine, because I
was not interested in being outon the main stage or out driving
things and everything.
I forced myself to start doingit.
We had people at the companiesthat I've had that were the ones
to stand on the stage and givea presentation and do stuff.
(06:05):
And when they moved on or asthings changed and I had to
start doing it or we were doingmore and somebody wasn't
available to go, I had to do it.
And you know, it kind of justdovetailed from there of okay,
well, now people want to learnfrom you and be inspired by you
and hear your story and stuff,and so I go out and do it and
(06:25):
again, it's more.
You know, for me it's.
There's nothing about any sortof personal gain in doing
presentations like that.
I hate it.
So the absolute only reason Ido it is one either it's, you
know, for the business and it'sa business presentation, or it's
(06:46):
to help other people right andhelp somebody to realize that,
hey, you either don't have ittoo hard or you can can push
past and do things, or just tojust to normalize themselves.
Right, I think everybody intheir heads looks at whatever
their situation is or has been,and thinks I'm the only one
(07:09):
Right and there's why that's, inmy opinion, that's why there's
so many unspoken things in theworld and challenges and stuff
Mental health.
I'm the only one that has thesethoughts.
I'm the only one that struggleswith this.
Right, you have infertility.
I'm the only one.
I would never talk.
It's so embarrassing, it's sowhatever.
No, it's not right.
(07:29):
You are not the only one.
In a world of billions ofpeople, you are not the only one
right, it might feel that way,Right, it's one of those things.
So for me to share any part ofmy story of challenges I had as
a child and conditions that I'vehad and had to deal with and
situations that I've been facedwith and stuff, not for any sort
(07:51):
of pity or sympathy or any typeof praise or accolade.
Anything is to just helpsomebody else feel normal,
because I lived my whole life,not feeling normal, and that's a
challenging position to be in.
So if you can give anybody abit of inspiration, if you can
give anybody a little bit ofnormalcy or recognition or, you
(08:16):
know, not feeling alone, thenI'll do it.
But what you will see is I willdisappear immediately after the
stage, maybe for the rest ofthe day, but at least for a
couple hours so that I canrecharge and get my energy back
and then go on and face thecrowd.
But yeah, I, I totallyappreciate that I can be very
reserved, if not sociallyawkward.
(08:38):
Um, and that's yeah, that is me.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
No no, and that's we all.
That makes Colin, and that's you.
And thank you for letting melearn a little bit about you,
right, because I didn't knowColin, you know the story that
you've told, let alone that youwere reserved as what I
perceived, and I can relate, andmaybe who knows what level, but
I definitely can relate and Iknow being on stage is something
(09:03):
that is a huge fear of mine,right, and and knowing that I
did quite a few times last yearand then earlier this year, just
about a month ago or so inDenver, no matter of the size of
the room, it doesn't matter,it's still, you know, that
anxiety, that's, you know, again, interacting with others and
feeling pushing myself outsidemy comfort zone to talk to
people and introduce and make ita goal.
(09:28):
Hey, I'm going to introducemyself to 10 people this time.
Or let's talk about theconference hall or a vendor hall
.
Make it a point to go andphysically talk to every single
vendor, at least introduction,and then trying to connect with
them later.
Or, once again, you'll see, mything is I take pictures of
people and their badges, right,face and badge so, cause I meet
(09:49):
so many people and then I, I, Iforget, like the name associated
with the face and but that's mything, that's.
That's how I'm trying to connectthe dots, right?
Yeah, absolutely so.
As we learn about it being onthe introverted side of things,
explain the statement thatyou're a hopeless car racer.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
I had to give that up for time now.
But yeah, I mean, I've always,I've always loved cars, you know
, as a fashion of.
You know I grew up veryunderprivileged and stuff, so I
mean loved cars from thefantastical bit about what they
(10:33):
are.
I was, from a young age,interested in the status that a
car could offer and provide, ageinterested in the status that a
car could offer and provide.
And then, and I think you know,the older I got, I was a lot
more interested in in theengineering of the vehicles and
what they're capable of, and Igot more into speed and dynamic
(10:55):
and and driving.
I mean, we talked about being anintrovert.
There is, driving a car is nota team sport, right?
Unless you've got a teammate inF1 or something like that,
right, and even they arecompeting against each other on
the same team.
So it was the ideal thing forme I could sit in the car, I
don't have to talk to anybody, Idon't have to do anything with
(11:16):
anybody, I can just go and putout my best, right, and so, yeah
, that that is something that II love and I'm I'm very
passionate about and you know,as, as time has gone on, I've
been afforded the opportunity tohave better and better vehicles
to to go out and race and dostuff with, but, um, time has
(11:38):
not been afforded to me of lateto be able to, to participate in
that.
But, uh, yeah, absolutely,absolutely love it.
I think part of me sits indreams one day that I would
actually race in a in acompetitive league and sport and
and try to accomplish things onon that, uh, in that world.
But uh, for now I do not, soI'm hopeless for it.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Hopeless.
What kind of uh car racing is?
I guess has your interest.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I mean I won't say all of it but I mean I love, I
love F1.
Um, it was fortunate to uh withmy co-founder in this business
and longtime friend and partner.
Uh, we were able to go out andrace um open wheel indie cars
together, um and do that as anexperience which was an absolute
thrill.
Um, and you know, I've I'vedone this long stuff with with
(12:34):
in my younger days, with somesome more agile cars and stuff.
And you know, as I, as I grewup and as my my career evolved,
I mean we've we've gone intoexotic, you know just just hot
exotic hobby racing and stufflike that.
But yeah, I mean just you knowrunning the circuits and doing
timed laps and and positioningand all of that good stuff,
(12:58):
learning the line.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
Yeah, and you said, obviously growing up without,
and you talk about the love forcars.
Um, so, the daily driver, doyou have a love for cars there
too, on the streets?
I?
Speaker 1 (13:10):
did I've?
I've gone through an exercise ofsimplification in my life in
the last year here, um, but butyeah, I mean daily drivers had
my um Audi RS5 Sportback for along time, which was a great
vehicle and and enjoyed that,and I raced that.
Um, we have winter here so Icould not daily drive the R8.
(13:34):
Um, that was that.
Well, I guess I could have, butI was not interested in that.
Um, and then for a long while Ihad the new M3 competition
which was so far for me has beenthe best daily driver I've ever
had from.
You know a full spectrum ofwhat that car was capable of,
but all of the other luxury andfeatures and and and, yeah, just
(14:01):
good feel for it.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
So no, that's awesome , awesome.
And you touched on the love ofcars.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
My understanding is that, uh, at some point you had
a love for comic books as wellalways have yeah always have, I
mean my background is verydifferent these days, but you
know, if you look at over theyears, some of my stuff, I
almost always was wearing asuperhero shirt.
Uh, always had, you know, acaptain america shield in the
back or something like that.
(14:27):
But yeah, always, you know, Ithink, growing up, um, you know,
I I would find myself in asituation where I was looking to
escape my life, right or what,what environment I was in and
things like cars and dreamingabout cars or dreaming about
being in different locales or,um, you know, superheroes and
(14:52):
comic books was was an escapefor me, and to be able to sit
there and dream about, oh, if Icould do this, if I had that or
what, what would, would what,what a life that would be and
stuff.
So, yeah, I mean, it was always, always something for me.
And, and superheroes, I stilllove them and you know it's fun
and it's been so amazing towatch how, you know, the
(15:13):
resurgence of things like dc andmarvel and disney taking it on
and revitalizing all of thateven more.
Um, you know, has been beenamazing to do so.
Yeah, absolutely Love it, lovethe love, anything fantastical
really in life.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
So, no when it comes to your children.
Um, your love for comics isthat uh?
Is that something your childrenhave a love for as well?
They pass that on.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
I wouldn't say that they love them.
You know they, they appreciateit, they.
They could probably list off orname, you know, pick out of a
line, any, any, any superheroes,um, so they know, they know who
they all are.
Um, they, they like vehicles.
My youngest absolutely lovesvehicles and was always a big
(16:02):
fan of when we'd go for ridesand you know more spirited
drives and stuff through themountains and stuff with them.
But yeah, I mean, they're alsotheir own individuals, as I'm
sure you've experienced as aparent, sure, um, so for me, you
know, a big, big thing for meis less about trying to, you
(16:27):
know, influence things that Ilike or want or appreciate and
stuff on them, exposing them toit, but giving them that freedom
to explore and adventure andand learn what it is that
they're truly interested in andwhat they like, not because dad
makes us go to every one ofthese movies or makes us do this
(16:48):
or whatever else.
It's a lot about what intereststhem and let them kind of forge
their own path.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Hi, I'm Mark Thomas, founder and CEO of Current Tech
Solutions and CyberGuardians.
We know business owners likeyou want to focus on growing
your company, not worrying aboutIT problems or security threats
.
That's where we come in.
Our team uses AI to protectyour business from cyber risks
and keep everything runningsmoothly.
If you're ready for peace ofmind and a stronger future,
(17:20):
reach out to us today.
Let's secure and elevate yourbusiness together.
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