December 20, 2024 • 22 mins
Brace yourself for a powerful episode of The Mosaic Life as we delve into the heart of Hurricane Helene's impact on Western North Carolina. Join us for a gripping conversation with EG Sebastian, a certified performance coach who faced the storm's fury head-on. Hear his harrowing tale of survival, the shocking lack of preparedness, and the inspiring wave of community support that emerged from the chaos.
But the story doesn't end there. We explore the raw, emotional aftermath, the struggle for recovery, and the unwavering spirit of local businesses determined to rebuild. This is a story of resilience, solidarity, and the incredible strength of the human spirit. Don't miss this poignant episode of The Mosaic Life.
As the storm subsides, the struggle for recovery begins. We share the emotional journey of Asheville's residents and businesses grappling with the aftermath of destruction. Experience the raw realities of more primitive living conditions, where cooking on firewood and enduring infrastructure collapse became a norm. Through heartfelt stories, we highlight the unwavering spirit of local businesses like Moe's Barbecue and Green River Bee Company, which are rallying to rebuild despite significant challenges and delays in governmental aid. This episode is a tribute to the solidarity and strength of a community determined to rise above the devastation, offering a poignant reminder of the human spirit's capacity to endure and thrive.
A Mosaic is a bunch of pieces, put together, to make up the whole in a beautiful way. Here at Mosaic Business Consulting we discuss the various pieces of a business throughout the course of its life, and throughout all industries, and how these pieces, when put together, can help develop a better, more efficient, and effective running of YOUR business.
Find our more or register for a course today: Mosaic Business Consulting
Be sure to visit BizRadio.US to discover hundreds more engaging conversations, local events and more.
Website: https://www.mosaicbusinessconsulting.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mosaicbusinessconsulting/podcasts
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraBoggenkandesch, owner of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you'relistening to the Mosaic Life.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:22):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
And so to reach me, pleasereach out and contact me at
bizradious Today, my guest isnone other than EG Sebastian,
and EG is a certifiedperformance coach, a certified
disc trainer.
(00:43):
He started as an internationalconsultant in 1993 and supported
organizations for the next 30years, helping management and
sales teams boost theirperformance.
He is also an internationalkeynote speaker, author and
leadership developmentstrategist.
He is co-founder of Loical,which is loyal to local in
(01:03):
Western North Carolina.
His current company also isSebastian and Field Advisory
Group.
It specializes in providingresults-oriented solutions aimed
at assisting businesses incultivating fresh opportunities,
enhancing business planning,refining strategies, optimizing
(01:24):
operations I think you gave methat one just as a tickler, as a
whatever, anyway.
But you also foster personalgrowth, boosting sales
performance and addressing otheressential areas crucial for
business expansion, improvedmanagement and heightened
productivity.
(01:44):
I really love all that you dothere, eg.
It's fantastic.
Welcome to the show.
It's so good to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Thank you, it's an honor.
Thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh, I love it and I know we've been trying to make
this happen for I don't know howlong, so it's great to finally
have that opportunity.
I am kind of curious.
Let me check on one thing here.
So I am kind of curious aboutthe timing that we have going on
right now with the HurricaneHelene and all the damage and
(02:18):
destruction it's had in our area, and I'm wondering what has
been your experience?
What have you gone through andyou know?
Tell, please tell me whatyou're experiencing right now.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Well, it's, first of all, it's absolutely surreal.
I think this came as anabsolute shock, and these words
completely not describe what ashock it was for everybody in
this area.
Because we are in the mountainsyeah, hurricanes don't come to
(02:57):
mountains, yeah.
So when I saw the warning thata storm is coming, I bought two
boxes of water About what isthat six?
I bought two boxes of waterabout what is that Six?
About 12 gallons of water, andthat was it.
I didn't even fill up my tank.
I didn't think.
Yeah, you know like that was myonly preparation I did.
I didn't buy extra food, no, noextra gas.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
No, yeah, nothing, nothing so so at yeah, nothing,
nothing.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So at night, when this and I was wondering,
shouldn't have there been like awarning?
Like when there's Amber Alert,it comes on your phone with the
loud, annoying noise.
Shouldn't have been likewarning?
Warning, I mean, you tell methat the wind is 100 miles, 200
(03:44):
miles, 600 miles an hour.
I don't know what that means.
You need to tell me, like thegovernor said in Florida, that
if you don't leave you're goingto die.
Yeah, I wish there was awarning that serious storm
evacuate or whatever.
You know like.
I lived in South Carolina for23 years.
I loved it.
A hurricane was coming.
(04:05):
I could comfortably pack up andleave evacuate.
I would go take a trip, take afamily vacation, come back a
week later, and we had thefamily vacation once or twice a
year.
So I was wondering like wasn'twe didn't know that this was
coming?
I don't think they did I mean?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I think that was the whole thing.
You know, the last time we hada storm that big and that
intense was 1916.
And in fact it was less lowerflooding than what we had in
this storm.
So in fact this was much worsethan that.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, and not only that.
Anytime a hurricane comes thisway, it reduces in intensity by
the time it gets to the mountain.
We get like a little wind alittle rain I mean never
anything.
So anyway that that was surreal.
And at night the wind felt likeit will rip off the siding of
the house at any moment and Iwas wondering if I should go
(05:00):
downstairs and get my family inthe bathtub and get covered with
a with a mattress.
And other times the rain windcombination was hitting the side
so badly that I thought itwould like knock in my wall.
Well, exactly where I sleepupstairs, I sleep with the c-pep
.
I have severe sleep apnea, so Isleep by myself.
(05:21):
Exactly on that side side, theneighbor, the next door neighbor
.
The wind ripped off the entiresiding, the insulation.
He just has the framing of thehouse there.
Oh my goodness, so yeah, but inour neighborhood I don't know
about 50 homes, maybe they gotfive, six feet of water and
(05:42):
right now all their furniture isoutside and their dumpsters.
And FEMA was down here andmilitary trucks came with people
and they're putting thefurniture into dumpsters and
every day 10, 15 helicoptersflying above us.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
And that's just only what I see.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
So the support that we got was amazing.
It was tremendous.
I tried to volunteer a coupleof places.
They said that they have anabundance of volunteers, and
here in the neighborhood also,it was amazing the neighbors,
how they supported each other.
We went and we cleared eachother's yards.
People came here, helped me putmy fence back up.
(06:20):
The wind knocked out my privacyfence, so now, so my dog at
least can go out yeah, yeah it.
It was surreal, and we werestuck in the neighborhood for
about three or four days.
I lost track of time.
Oh yeah, somebody called me andsaid are you available to talk
on Thursday?
And I'm like, so, today, it'sFriday.
(06:42):
And the person said no, no, I'mlike it's today, it's Friday.
And the person said no, no, I'mlike it's Saturday.
He says no, it's Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Wow, I was so lost, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Because we didn't have power, we didn't have water
, we didn't have internet, wedidn't have cell service.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You were cut off from the world in communication too.
Like I couldn't find out if mymother was okay and it took me
two days to find that out.
And then it very scary.
It was very scary and wecouldn't get out of the
neighborhood.
It took two days to chainsawour way out of the neighborhood
because of the amount of treesthat went over our streets, um,
(07:19):
and there were about 10 or 15guys that had chainsaws that
were through.
You know, in two days to makeit happen to get one car through
, you know, it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, a couple of days.
So once the water went down alittle bit, I was able to take
my wife to work.
She's a nurse and I had to takelots of shortcuts to Mission
Health in Nashville and wentthrough lots of mud and the 30
minute ride to hours, and socoming back I thought I will put
gas.
(07:53):
Yeah, exactly yeah, no, nodriving, finding a gas station
burned all my gas.
Yeah, I don't pray, but I gothome on a prayer and my prayer
was very simple dear lord,please let me get at least less
than five miles close to thehouse so I don't have to walk so
(08:15):
much.
So when I saw the flag nearFletcher I'm like, oh my God,
anytime, if it stops now I'mfine.
It's only about two or threemiles and no, I made it home.
But I was not able to call mywife that I cannot pick her up.
It was very scary.
Nobody had self-service.
No, I'm like.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, yeah, it's very scary indeed.
I'm so glad your wife was atthe hospital.
We needed all the care andsupport we could get there.
So many people were injured andwe my my understanding is the
last count was 91 or 92 deathsin north carolina and most are
in in western north carolina,our area, because it was the
(08:58):
hardest.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah at the.
They made nurses sleep therefor many nights.
Some nurses couldn't go homeanyway, but some other nurses
couldn't come to work, so theywere encouraging them strongly
to stay in no water.
So imagine those bathrooms.
Yeah, Zilla Looney, she sent mea picture.
(09:19):
I'm like, oh my gosh, I couldhave lived a lifetime without
seeing that picture.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, exactly, Well it's surreal.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It's surreal yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, and we're not out of it.
I think that's the biggestthing that I'm taking away from
it is, you know, this is onlywell, nearly three weeks, and
there are people still withoutpower, still without water.
Some of the water that's comeback is only for flushing
toilets.
You know, there's a boil wateradvisory for anybody who does
(09:56):
have water, and they're sayingdon't even take showers with it,
Don't?
You know?
Don't take any consume anythinginto your mouth or anything
into your eyes or anything.
You know, just don't clean yourlaundry with it, Just flush
your toilets.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
And so it's kind of third world country living in,
and I know that's not true, butit does feel like I know that's
not true but it does feel likeFor many days, many of us, we
had to revert to I know you gavethe example of third world
country, but let's say justprimitive times, right, because
(10:36):
you had to cook on fire wood.
I'm lucky that I had two fullgas tanks for for my grill, so I
was boiling stuff on the side.
I was cooking with my fryingpan on the on the tree, so that
that was amazing.
but but yeah, we were eatingoutside the candlelight and yeah
and so, yeah, we had to revertto to primitive ways of living,
(10:59):
and somebody mentioned in one ofthe presentations, one of the
webinars I attended, that theycamped a lot as a kid and as a
teenager and now that came handybecause they knew how to do
what to do, because they had tolive like when you are camping,
but just circling back for justone second, that it's not over.
(11:20):
It will not be over for years.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Because we have main areas of Asheville still locked
down and teams are out therecleaning out buildings that
collapsed entire building inBiltmore Village, Entire
buildings were washed away werewell and the river arts district
.
It's completely not completelygone, but most of it is gone.
(11:45):
Yeah, lots of buildings arecollapsed.
I mean it will take years andyears to just clean, don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There are still people missing, like we still
don't know if there are morepotential deaths and my wife
asked yesterday and she's likeis it possible that they will
find people under mudslides?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I mean, there's so much mud and yeah there's a very
good chance that, yes, so yeahyes well, and you know you have
highways that were washed out.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
There could have been a car on the highway for all we
know, and you know.
So, that being said, I know it'sall scary, but we are talking
about businesses, too, thatcan't operate, that have been
completely wiped out, et cetera,and it you know, my
understanding is I just got anotification from I'm assisting
(12:39):
with Mountain BizWorks and such,and that Small Business
Administration is no longerproviding funding at the moment
and will be delayed untilCongress passes more legislation
.
Well, they're not going to dothat until the after the
election.
So now we're stuck, and sosmall businesses are really
(13:02):
reeling because out of 37,000applications, they funded 700 so
far.
Wow, wow.
And so that just gives you asense of what the challenges are
.
And so, with that said, I knowyou and I were chatting briefly
about some businesses that werestruggling that you've thought
(13:25):
about, and so I'm curious whatthose businesses are, and do we
want to highlight them and maybebring some attention to them
and maybe we can get someassistance for them Let me just
circle back just for one secondthat while you are in, while
it's happening, you don't evenknow.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But most of us we just brave, brave and we just go
through the motions.
But three or four or five dayslater again I don't know Cause I
was lost in time.
Some again, I'm not religious,but somebody approached us and
said can I pray for you guys andwe?
I mean I don't know why, but Ijust started sobbing.
(14:08):
Oh, yeah yeah, and other peoplein that group.
We were talking and we werestanding in line for water and
they were mentioning stories ofwhat happened to them and their
house got washed away and Ibroke down and sobbed again
those days.
For those two, three days Isobbed a lot, yeah.
But so now, as I'm mentioningsome of these businesses, I hope
(14:31):
I will not break down.
But if I break down, justunderstand that my brain is
still a little bit frail.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Oh, aren't we all?
And I appreciate you, Iappreciate your honesty and your
vulnerability and yourwillingness to share that,
because I think we all feel likewe shouldn't, and you know it's
normal it's okay, so pleasefeel free, you know yeah, we
were at the networking event.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I thought maybe two or three people will show up,
but more than 20 showed up onThursday, tuesday nice and and
at the buzz in Hendersonville.
And yes, there was some crying,we shared.
And yes, there was some crying,we shared our stories.
And there was some crying Menand women Mostly men crying.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, I think there's an assumption that only women
are going to cry.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah, it's too funny.
So I'm the co-founder of Loyalto Local and we have close to
100 members and Moe's Barbecue.
We were so excited.
They signed up with us whilethey were building the new Moe's
in Hendersonville and and theyjust opened about two months ago
or less and they got washedaway.
I mean not washed away butdestroyed, completely destroyed
(15:42):
oh my goodness, I mean, theytook so much care to build that
up.
And last month we have monthlynetworking events and anybody
can come anytime, no need to bemember and it's free.
But last month they catered ourevent and it was so delicious
and I was so excited to take mywife uh later.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I love most barbecue.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yeah and and no, now it's completely destroyed.
We drove by yesterday and theyare working on it and it was so
sad.
And one of the member isJessica Gleeman.
They are right across theoverpass over 26 as you go
towards Hendersonville.
Her company name is Green RiverBee Company and they sell honey
(16:28):
they have like a proprietary.
Yeah, beehives and jellies,homemade jellies and also some
artwork.
They house lots of artists' artin that building.
It's a big building Got floodedreally, really badly.
Everything got destroyed butluckily most members members,
(16:48):
they are fine.
Those who we reached we reachedreached about 60 out of the 100
and but jessica had it bad andmost most had it bad and the
networking event on tuesdayeverybody was fine with little
smaller damages.
They just mentioned thatSamantha Spain she works for
(17:12):
Kenmore.
She's also an ambassador forthe Hendersonville Chamber of
Commerce.
Her apartment got flooded andshe lost everything.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Do you have GoFundMe pages or any other resources
that people can donate to thatmight support or assist these
people in need that we couldannounce?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I do, I almost put one together, but I got so many
emails from so many places I'mlike I don't want to clog with
more GoFundMe pages, so I justsupport others who have GoFundMe
.
I think you have one, so maybeyou can share, tell us.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I actually haven't finalized it, so, but yes, mine
is going to be really supportingwomen and people of color.
They're women owned and peopleof color owned businesses, or
you know, because they arereally tight on resources and
services and funding in general.
And now you get hit with thison top of that.
(18:15):
It's crazy and I've literallyI've lost my clients too because
their businesses are gone.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Same with us yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, so we run into a situation where, okay, I was
working with some clients andnow they're gone.
So now what do I do?
Right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
yeah, well, we lost.
We lost prospective clients wewere.
We lost people who were talkingto and now they cannot join us
because they don't have abusiness to join with.
Yeah, so, and I'm also so manyclients who I'm consulting with
they now they came to halt.
So I lost.
Lost in revenue for most of usis tremendous.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Well, one thing I can say is Mountain BizWorks, I
think, is providing some fundingfor folks.
They are trying to not, youknow, they're trying to build
enough funding that they mightbe able to shift or at least
build some grant funds.
So that's free money instead ofthe loans that they're
(19:18):
currently having to do, butthat's, you know, they're trying
to do whatever they can tobuild those funds.
But I am kind of curious you'vementioned a lot about your own
business, not your own business.
You've mentioned a lot abouteveryone else's business, but
you have so much going on and Ithink what I'd love to chat with
(19:38):
you about next time, because Iknow where our time is running
short.
But I'd love to chat with younext time about your company,
but also Loyal or local, Westernlocal yeah.
Yeah, and then I'd like to alsotalk to you about, positively,
asheville and some other thingsthat you're involved with,
(19:59):
because I know that your yourpublic speaking and your disc
training, which I think arefantastic.
I would love to chat with youabout those.
If people want to learn moreabout you and find out more
about you and what you offer,how can they contact?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
you EG at EG, sebastiancom, that's.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
EG at EG Sebastiancom Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yes, linkedin.
If you look up EG Sebastian onLinkedIn, then that's or
unalignable, those who areunalignable, the ambassador for
the Greater Asheville AlignableAlliance.
We have about a thousand localbusinesses in there and we're
growing by about 30 to 50 everymonth.
(20:47):
Nice, yeah, so you put in myname in Google.
You'll get more ways to connectwith me than you bargained for.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Well, this has been fantastic.
I'm so glad we got a chance tochat, however brief it is.
I'm going to have to have youback on to talk about you,
though, instead of talking abouteverything and everyone else,
so I really appreciate youspending time and sharing your
journey with us and what's goingon.
I think it's so critical whatyou're offering and what you're
(21:20):
sharing, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Thank you for having me, yes.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, whoops, and so I want to thank you the audience
for listening to the MosaicLife as well, and you can get
this episode again and get thisgreat content or listen to other
great episodes and their hostsby going to bizradious and click
on shows.
Thanks so much for listeningand have a great rest of your
(21:46):
day.
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraBoggenkandesch, owner of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you'relistening to the Mosaic Life.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:22):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
And so to reach me, pleasereach out and contact me at
bizradious Today, my guest isnone other than EG Sebastian,
and EG is a certifiedperformance coach, a certified
disc trainer.
(00:43):
He started as an internationalconsultant in 1993 and supported
organizations for the next 30years, helping management and
sales teams boost theirperformance.
He is also an internationalkeynote speaker, author and
leadership developmentstrategist.
He is co-founder of Loical,which is loyal to local in
(01:03):
Western North Carolina.
His current company also isSebastian and Field Advisory
Group.
It specializes in providingresults-oriented solutions aimed
at assisting businesses incultivating fresh opportunities,
enhancing business planning,refining strategies, optimizing
(01:24):
operations I think you gave methat one just as a tickler, as a
whatever, anyway.
But you also foster personalgrowth, boosting sales
performance and addressing otheressential areas crucial for
business expansion, improvedmanagement and heightened
productivity.
(01:44):
I really love all that you dothere, eg.
It's fantastic.
Welcome to the show.
It's so good to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Thank you, it's an honor.
Thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh, I love it and I know we've been trying to make
this happen for I don't know howlong, so it's great to finally
have that opportunity.
I am kind of curious.
Let me check on one thing here.
So I am kind of curious aboutthe timing that we have going on
right now with the HurricaneHelene and all the damage and
(02:18):
destruction it's had in our area, and I'm wondering what has
been your experience?
What have you gone through andyou know?
Tell, please tell me whatyou're experiencing right now.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Well, it's, first of all, it's absolutely surreal.
I think this came as anabsolute shock, and these words
completely not describe what ashock it was for everybody in
this area.
Because we are in the mountainsyeah, hurricanes don't come to
(02:57):
mountains, yeah.
So when I saw the warning thata storm is coming, I bought two
boxes of water About what isthat six?
I bought two boxes of waterabout what is that Six?
About 12 gallons of water, andthat was it.
I didn't even fill up my tank.
I didn't think.
Yeah, you know like that was myonly preparation I did.
I didn't buy extra food, no, noextra gas.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
No, yeah, nothing, nothing so so at yeah, nothing,
nothing.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So at night, when this and I was wondering,
shouldn't have there been like awarning?
Like when there's Amber Alert,it comes on your phone with the
loud, annoying noise.
Shouldn't have been likewarning?
Warning, I mean, you tell methat the wind is 100 miles, 200
(03:44):
miles, 600 miles an hour.
I don't know what that means.
You need to tell me, like thegovernor said in Florida, that
if you don't leave you're goingto die.
Yeah, I wish there was awarning that serious storm
evacuate or whatever.
You know like.
I lived in South Carolina for23 years.
I loved it.
A hurricane was coming.
(04:05):
I could comfortably pack up andleave evacuate.
I would go take a trip, take afamily vacation, come back a
week later, and we had thefamily vacation once or twice a
year.
So I was wondering like wasn'twe didn't know that this was
coming?
I don't think they did I mean?
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I think that was the whole thing.
You know, the last time we hada storm that big and that
intense was 1916.
And in fact it was less lowerflooding than what we had in
this storm.
So in fact this was much worsethan that.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, and not only that.
Anytime a hurricane comes thisway, it reduces in intensity by
the time it gets to the mountain.
We get like a little wind alittle rain I mean never
anything.
So anyway that that was surreal.
And at night the wind felt likeit will rip off the siding of
the house at any moment and Iwas wondering if I should go
(05:00):
downstairs and get my family inthe bathtub and get covered with
a with a mattress.
And other times the rain windcombination was hitting the side
so badly that I thought itwould like knock in my wall.
Well, exactly where I sleepupstairs, I sleep with the c-pep
.
I have severe sleep apnea, so Isleep by myself.
(05:21):
Exactly on that side side, theneighbor, the next door neighbor
.
The wind ripped off the entiresiding, the insulation.
He just has the framing of thehouse there.
Oh my goodness, so yeah, but inour neighborhood I don't know
about 50 homes, maybe they gotfive, six feet of water and
(05:42):
right now all their furniture isoutside and their dumpsters.
And FEMA was down here andmilitary trucks came with people
and they're putting thefurniture into dumpsters and
every day 10, 15 helicoptersflying above us.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
And that's just only what I see.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
So the support that we got was amazing.
It was tremendous.
I tried to volunteer a coupleof places.
They said that they have anabundance of volunteers, and
here in the neighborhood also,it was amazing the neighbors,
how they supported each other.
We went and we cleared eachother's yards.
People came here, helped me putmy fence back up.
(06:20):
The wind knocked out my privacyfence, so now, so my dog at
least can go out yeah, yeah it.
It was surreal, and we werestuck in the neighborhood for
about three or four days.
I lost track of time.
Oh yeah, somebody called me andsaid are you available to talk
on Thursday?
And I'm like, so, today, it'sFriday.
(06:42):
And the person said no, no, I'mlike it's today, it's Friday.
And the person said no, no, I'mlike it's Saturday.
He says no, it's Tuesday.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
Wow, I was so lost, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
Because we didn't have power, we didn't have water
, we didn't have internet, wedidn't have cell service.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Nothing.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
You were cut off from the world in communication too.
Like I couldn't find out if mymother was okay and it took me
two days to find that out.
And then it very scary.
It was very scary and wecouldn't get out of the
neighborhood.
It took two days to chainsawour way out of the neighborhood
because of the amount of treesthat went over our streets, um,
(07:19):
and there were about 10 or 15guys that had chainsaws that
were through.
You know, in two days to makeit happen to get one car through
, you know, it was crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yeah, a couple of days.
So once the water went down alittle bit, I was able to take
my wife to work.
She's a nurse and I had to takelots of shortcuts to Mission
Health in Nashville and wentthrough lots of mud and the 30
minute ride to hours, and socoming back I thought I will put
gas.
(07:53):
Yeah, exactly yeah, no, nodriving, finding a gas station
burned all my gas.
Yeah, I don't pray, but I gothome on a prayer and my prayer
was very simple dear lord,please let me get at least less
than five miles close to thehouse so I don't have to walk so
(08:15):
much.
So when I saw the flag nearFletcher I'm like, oh my God,
anytime, if it stops now I'mfine.
It's only about two or threemiles and no, I made it home.
But I was not able to call mywife that I cannot pick her up.
It was very scary.
Nobody had self-service.
No, I'm like.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah, yeah, it's very scary indeed.
I'm so glad your wife was atthe hospital.
We needed all the care andsupport we could get there.
So many people were injured andwe my my understanding is the
last count was 91 or 92 deathsin north carolina and most are
in in western north carolina,our area, because it was the
(08:58):
hardest.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Yeah at the.
They made nurses sleep therefor many nights.
Some nurses couldn't go homeanyway, but some other nurses
couldn't come to work, so theywere encouraging them strongly
to stay in no water.
So imagine those bathrooms.
Yeah, Zilla Looney, she sent mea picture.
(09:19):
I'm like, oh my gosh, I couldhave lived a lifetime without
seeing that picture.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Yeah, exactly, Well it's surreal.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It's surreal yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, and we're not out of it.
I think that's the biggestthing that I'm taking away from
it is, you know, this is onlywell, nearly three weeks, and
there are people still withoutpower, still without water.
Some of the water that's comeback is only for flushing
toilets.
You know, there's a boil wateradvisory for anybody who does
(09:56):
have water, and they're sayingdon't even take showers with it,
Don't?
You know?
Don't take any consume anythinginto your mouth or anything
into your eyes or anything.
You know, just don't clean yourlaundry with it, Just flush
your toilets.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
And so it's kind of third world country living in,
and I know that's not true, butit does feel like I know that's
not true but it does feel likeFor many days, many of us, we
had to revert to I know you gavethe example of third world
country, but let's say justprimitive times, right, because
(10:36):
you had to cook on fire wood.
I'm lucky that I had two fullgas tanks for for my grill, so I
was boiling stuff on the side.
I was cooking with my fryingpan on the on the tree, so that
that was amazing.
but but yeah, we were eatingoutside the candlelight and yeah
and so, yeah, we had to revertto to primitive ways of living,
(10:59):
and somebody mentioned in one ofthe presentations, one of the
webinars I attended, that theycamped a lot as a kid and as a
teenager and now that came handybecause they knew how to do
what to do, because they had tolive like when you are camping,
but just circling back for justone second, that it's not over.
(11:20):
It will not be over for years.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Because we have main areas of Asheville still locked
down and teams are out therecleaning out buildings that
collapsed entire building inBiltmore Village, Entire
buildings were washed away werewell and the river arts district
.
It's completely not completelygone, but most of it is gone.
(11:45):
Yeah, lots of buildings arecollapsed.
I mean it will take years andyears to just clean, don't know.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There are still people missing, like we still
don't know if there are morepotential deaths and my wife
asked yesterday and she's likeis it possible that they will
find people under mudslides?
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I mean, there's so much mud and yeah there's a very
good chance that, yes, so yeahyes well, and you know you have
highways that were washed out.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
There could have been a car on the highway for all we
know, and you know.
So, that being said, I know it'sall scary, but we are talking
about businesses, too, thatcan't operate, that have been
completely wiped out, et cetera,and it you know, my
understanding is I just got anotification from I'm assisting
(12:39):
with Mountain BizWorks and such,and that Small Business
Administration is no longerproviding funding at the moment
and will be delayed untilCongress passes more legislation
.
Well, they're not going to dothat until the after the
election.
So now we're stuck, and sosmall businesses are really
(13:02):
reeling because out of 37,000applications, they funded 700 so
far.
Wow, wow.
And so that just gives you asense of what the challenges are
.
And so, with that said, I knowyou and I were chatting briefly
about some businesses that werestruggling that you've thought
(13:25):
about, and so I'm curious whatthose businesses are, and do we
want to highlight them and maybebring some attention to them
and maybe we can get someassistance for them Let me just
circle back just for one secondthat while you are in, while
it's happening, you don't evenknow.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
But most of us we just brave, brave and we just go
through the motions.
But three or four or five dayslater again I don't know Cause I
was lost in time.
Some again, I'm not religious,but somebody approached us and
said can I pray for you guys andwe?
I mean I don't know why, but Ijust started sobbing.
(14:08):
Oh, yeah yeah, and other peoplein that group.
We were talking and we werestanding in line for water and
they were mentioning stories ofwhat happened to them and their
house got washed away and Ibroke down and sobbed again
those days.
For those two, three days Isobbed a lot, yeah.
But so now, as I'm mentioningsome of these businesses, I hope
(14:31):
I will not break down.
But if I break down, justunderstand that my brain is
still a little bit frail.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Oh, aren't we all?
And I appreciate you, Iappreciate your honesty and your
vulnerability and yourwillingness to share that,
because I think we all feel likewe shouldn't, and you know it's
normal it's okay, so pleasefeel free, you know yeah, we
were at the networking event.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I thought maybe two or three people will show up,
but more than 20 showed up onThursday, tuesday nice and and
at the buzz in Hendersonville.
And yes, there was some crying,we shared.
And yes, there was some crying,we shared our stories.
And there was some crying Menand women Mostly men crying.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, I think there's an assumption that only women
are going to cry.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Yeah, it's too funny.
So I'm the co-founder of Loyalto Local and we have close to
100 members and Moe's Barbecue.
We were so excited.
They signed up with us whilethey were building the new Moe's
in Hendersonville and and theyjust opened about two months ago
or less and they got washedaway.
I mean not washed away butdestroyed, completely destroyed
(15:42):
oh my goodness, I mean, theytook so much care to build that
up.
And last month we have monthlynetworking events and anybody
can come anytime, no need to bemember and it's free.
But last month they catered ourevent and it was so delicious
and I was so excited to take mywife uh later.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I love most barbecue.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yeah and and no, now it's completely destroyed.
We drove by yesterday and theyare working on it and it was so
sad.
And one of the member isJessica Gleeman.
They are right across theoverpass over 26 as you go
towards Hendersonville.
Her company name is Green RiverBee Company and they sell honey
(16:28):
they have like a proprietary.
Yeah, beehives and jellies,homemade jellies and also some
artwork.
They house lots of artists' artin that building.
It's a big building Got floodedreally, really badly.
Everything got destroyed butluckily most members members,
(16:48):
they are fine.
Those who we reached we reachedreached about 60 out of the 100
and but jessica had it bad andmost most had it bad and the
networking event on tuesdayeverybody was fine with little
smaller damages.
They just mentioned thatSamantha Spain she works for
(17:12):
Kenmore.
She's also an ambassador forthe Hendersonville Chamber of
Commerce.
Her apartment got flooded andshe lost everything.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Do you have GoFundMe pages or any other resources
that people can donate to thatmight support or assist these
people in need that we couldannounce?
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I do, I almost put one together, but I got so many
emails from so many places I'mlike I don't want to clog with
more GoFundMe pages, so I justsupport others who have GoFundMe
.
I think you have one, so maybeyou can share, tell us.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I actually haven't finalized it, so, but yes, mine
is going to be really supportingwomen and people of color.
They're women owned and peopleof color owned businesses, or
you know, because they arereally tight on resources and
services and funding in general.
And now you get hit with thison top of that.
(18:15):
It's crazy and I've literallyI've lost my clients too because
their businesses are gone.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Same with us yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Yeah, so we run into a situation where, okay, I was
working with some clients andnow they're gone.
So now what do I do?
Right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
yeah, well, we lost.
We lost prospective clients wewere.
We lost people who were talkingto and now they cannot join us
because they don't have abusiness to join with.
Yeah, so, and I'm also so manyclients who I'm consulting with
they now they came to halt.
So I lost.
Lost in revenue for most of usis tremendous.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
Well, one thing I can say is Mountain BizWorks, I
think, is providing some fundingfor folks.
They are trying to not, youknow, they're trying to build
enough funding that they mightbe able to shift or at least
build some grant funds.
So that's free money instead ofthe loans that they're
(19:18):
currently having to do, butthat's, you know, they're trying
to do whatever they can tobuild those funds.
But I am kind of curious you'vementioned a lot about your own
business, not your own business.
You've mentioned a lot abouteveryone else's business, but
you have so much going on and Ithink what I'd love to chat with
(19:38):
you about next time, because Iknow where our time is running
short.
But I'd love to chat with younext time about your company,
but also Loyal or local, Westernlocal yeah.
Yeah, and then I'd like to alsotalk to you about, positively,
asheville and some other thingsthat you're involved with,
(19:59):
because I know that your yourpublic speaking and your disc
training, which I think arefantastic.
I would love to chat with youabout those.
If people want to learn moreabout you and find out more
about you and what you offer,how can they contact?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
you EG at EG, sebastiancom, that's.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
EG at EG Sebastiancom Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yes, linkedin.
If you look up EG Sebastian onLinkedIn, then that's or
unalignable, those who areunalignable, the ambassador for
the Greater Asheville AlignableAlliance.
We have about a thousand localbusinesses in there and we're
growing by about 30 to 50 everymonth.
(20:47):
Nice, yeah, so you put in myname in Google.
You'll get more ways to connectwith me than you bargained for.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Well, this has been fantastic.
I'm so glad we got a chance tochat, however brief it is.
I'm going to have to have youback on to talk about you,
though, instead of talking abouteverything and everyone else,
so I really appreciate youspending time and sharing your
journey with us and what's goingon.
I think it's so critical whatyou're offering and what you're
(21:20):
sharing, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Thank you for having me, yes.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, whoops, and so I want to thank you the audience
for listening to the MosaicLife as well, and you can get
this episode again and get thisgreat content or listen to other
great episodes and their hostsby going to bizradious and click
on shows.
Thanks so much for listeningand have a great rest of your
(21:46):
day.
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