Ron Holmes: For people who have an idea, bet on yourself.

James Lacey: On this episode of the Fulfilled Podcast, Ron Holmes shares how his military experience and faith drove him to invent and create Ryker Grip. It's designed to improve shooting ergonomics for law enforcement, military and competitive shooters.

Ron Holmes: The Ryker method, it revolves around the product that I invented, which is the Ryker Grip.

And if you are in military law enforcement or a competitive shooter, there's plenty of options out there for forward hand support of the support arm where you can place the hand, but everything was on the bottom of the rifle. I retired from Marine Special Operations in 2010 and prior to retiring to have multiple surgeries.

That left me with essentially bilateral shoulder elbow surgery. So I've got rubber bands that hold my shoulders in, I've got fishing line and screws in each elbow, and, you know, above or below a couple of inches, on, on each arm and that combined with an inch of height loss, when I went to government service after I retired, we did, we were doing a lot of shooting and I found that just traditional methods of holding the rifle. 

My support arm was just painfully going numb on me. I like to say, and these are things that I do say quite frequently is that my superpower is that I'm left handed. I grew up in, in the pseudo special operations arena in the nineties. And in the nineties, we didn't have a tactical industry.

The tactical industry honestly, didn't, didn’t explode wasn't really created until 9/11 and all of a sudden overnight we had a ton of companies out there producing equipment. So in the 90s, we had to get everything through catalogs and you knew somebody and write letters and order stuff through and send a check and all this kind of stuff.

So a lot of the stuff back then came. side specific gear towards a right handed shooter. There was not a lot out there for left-handed shooters. So I used to have to undo and redo and make my own stuff. So I've always had, if I had a me problem, I have, I've come up with a me solution. And I started creating and just playing around.

I was like, how come nobody's ever gone off the side of the rifle? So then I started taking existing grips I have. And then I, started melting and screwing things together and burning ruined a pan. One of my wife's pans, got in trouble, cause I was like heating it up and melting plastic and everything and just to make it, just to make it work.

And then we, I found this moldable plastic and then I started, I started making these molds. And when I was going down range, I was giving them to other guys and we were all running them and I was running it for quite a while before my partner, one of my partners and I, you know we're talking, he's like, “you should invent something.”

And I was like, I invent something every day, dude, and now we have a, we have, I think, 14 products, off of that 1. And then along the way is I just created the grip to allow me to shoot pain-free. I wasn't thinking about anything else. I wasn't thinking about anyone else.

I wasn't thinking about putting this thing on a shotgun. I wasn't thinking about putting it on, a saw, like a heavy machine gun. I was just thinking about having it on my, my, my five, five, six platform. So I could shoot pain-free. And then when we started prototyping, we're bringing other guys to the range to try it out, to get feedback.

And the feedback all started to sound the same. Like guys would shoot it and they would turn around and be like, I feel faster. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel faster and I just feel like, natural. So at that point we started to, and this is the benefit of my team and I'll talk about leadership in a second, but this is where we, instead of just sitting there and okay, cool, not addressing those comments that they were common. We actually brought in a doctor of biomechanics and ergonomics to help us with this process, with the development process. So we have 2 medical doctors, we have a team of statisticians that helps us measure speed and accuracy, and we have the engineer firm. 

So we brought all this stuff in. So if you think about in the firearms industry, and you think about all the accessories and all of the things out there that you have purchased or been issued, depending on your line of work, how many of them actually have quantifiable data, behind it that supports it. 

And so then we were like, holy cow. So in that whole process, the patent writing process and everything like that, our patent, we own the side of the gun, we own the side of the rifle for purposes of hand placement. That was kind of funny because when the, patent writer came back and he was just like, all right, I think it would took I don't, I honestly don't remember.

It wasn't fast enough for me because I was super pumped now that we're like, we're going to do this and I want to change lives in have everybody shooting this way, but I think, it's 6 to 9 months, whatever we, so we sit back down with him and he goes, okay, you guys are either on to something or you're on to nothing and we're like, what in the world does that mean dude? 

And this guy was like, look, he's just either nobody's thought about this or nobody's ever done it. And he goes, so right now, he goes, you guys own the side of the gun. Like, that's it. So we had patent pending status that day because we thought we already had the attorney. We had already lined stuff up.

So about my team, both of my, partners are, they're veterans. They're Navy guys. One was prior enlisted to officer. One was, was a, pilot. And when they did away with the P3 platform, he just stayed in. and went a different route. They both retired. So the thing, I think one of the big things that's really strong about our company is the diversity and the leadership. Is if you try to start a company and all three of you are exactly the same and you have the same background and the same ideas and the same training, the same schools and the same vision.

You are not going to go very far. You have to have, I think we've heard it put is, you have to have. You have to have the no man, you have to have the idea man, and then you have to have the middle of the road guy. And I'm the idea man, and I'm the optimist, our one partner, who's our no guy, he's, always no, we have to earn a yes out of him, and then in the middle is our, partner is Josh, who's our CEO, and he's very even keel, he's like mom and dad combined.

So having that diversity in there has helped. I've learned so much about business and that's because I truly feel is that we have a diverse, view on leadership. and I've honestly, we wouldn't still be, and we're just a small business and we're not big and we're still every day we're on the struggle bus, and that's fine and it's fun and it's a challenge, but, we would not still be here, almost like 9 years into this process, if it was not for the diversity and ownership of leadership.

James Lacey: That's, it reminds me just immediately of the kind of many members, coming together, like we're, none of us are the same, like someone's a hand, someone's a foot, someone's fingers, someone's a toe, et cetera.

and if you were all the same, it would be just redundant. And so, I think it's, yeah, beautifully depicted as far as the diversity of leadership goes. It's not too often that I, get to have a conversation with someone that's kind of,  more so on the inventor side and being able to also take their expertise and focus like in, really in that area. And of course, I'm sure there's many things that you have to do as well, that outside of that. But, a lot of the time it's more so kind of somebody created a solution and then they've gone off and just tried to make business out of it where it feels like you created something, invented something that was of such use.

And then it just started being tried and tested by people that almost out of like, necessity was created and into a business and into a product. How do you explain or like, how would you say to somebody to say, maybe they've experienced like a challenge or an issue and there started, creating their own, like self-medicated, if that makes sense, whatever it's a product or whatever it might be, to fix their issue.

But now they're like, Oh, all of these people in my community are telling me that they have the same thing. I think I need to create a product or business out of this. How do you like make that jump? Because that feels like a huge gap to me.

Ron Holmes: Yeah. I think you know one of the first things, cause this, this phrase, I say this a lot and it carries through.

Even when you're mild success, greatly success, success in your company and down the road, but you don't know what you don't know. And the best laid out plan that you're going to have and the schema maneuver going forward into this, you are not, you're, if you're 50 percent accurate, you are extremely lucky on that, but you gotta have, you gotta have the, resiliency to lean in and to just continue to try. So I think one of it, one of the things is, I made this product. I had a knee problem. I came up with a solution. So I could do my job, right? So I could do my job effectively. Why was, why I earned that position?

I, I earned my right to be at this place. It was difficult, but my, you know it's performance and some other things on how you get there. And it was, great. But I wanted to make sure that I stayed there and I wanted to make sure that I was also doing my teammates to my left and right, that I had their back the way that they had mine, and I needed to create something to allow me to operate at that higher level.

That's what my grip gave me. I wasn't thinking about anything beyond that. It wasn't until I had a conversation with my, one of my partners, one of my best friends who's a business development type of guy and we just started chatting and then here we were. So the big thing is, lean in and bet on yourself, right?

And you're going to get, you're going to get pushed back and it was difficult. And in the beginning it was like, one of the things in the tactical space and in a firearms industry, Is everybody asks for change. Oh, I want this. Oh, I want this. I need this. So everybody has a thing, right? so you have to look at it as, in the beginning, in, in all honesty, it's just like it hurts feelings. 

Like with this, the company is also named after my son, and the product is named after my son. So when people come on, the internet, and then you sit there and it's It's hard for me not to take this personal having to look at that and then realize it's just okay, just because I like it, doesn't everybody like it.

So in the beginning we had this thing, we called it like the “embrace the hate campaign”. So we believed in ourself. We went all in on ourself. Okay. So we leaned in into this and, everything is there's, there has to be. If anything, on our walk with Christ and everything, there's suffering and everything.

There's got to be a little bit of suffering. So part of our suffering has been in this journey and it has been with like, Oh my gosh, not everybody feels the same way. And, so we kind of did this “embrace the hate campaign” and we started engaging and talking to people and everything like this. And then I started doing more and more vendor shows.

And, just, so the thing is if you have an idea, try it, believe in yourself. Like if you, if it's good for you and don't ask your mom, cause your mom's going to be like, oh yeah, honey, this is great. I love it. You go ahead and do it. No, you need, people around you. it's, I tell people in my circle, they know, I'm the friend that's not going to tell you, what you want to hear, I'm going to be the one that tells you what you need to hear, and then if you can't handle that, then that's going to challenge our friendship because I don't want you to, I respect the same from you. 

I don't want you to tell me what I want to hear. I need you to tell me, dude, you're messing up.  Like, I  dude, you need to do this. This is good, but this was bad. fix this, right?

That's what I need. I need those hardcore corrections. I think a lot of that's missing in society because people think that feelings are an acceptable form of, leadership and they're not. So you, if, you believe in yourself and you have a supporting cast, right? Like a good team of ownership in, in, in internal leadership, right?

But then you're supporting cast as my wife had my back at day one on this and my partner's wise, this is really cool. You guys are creating something that didn't exist and you're trying to bring it to the world, and then you just keep walking, walking that path and you know, we've had some really cool things like there's a medal of honor recipient who's a really good friend of mine and we took him to the range and we had him shoot and through his injuries, he has limited mobility. In his, right arm, he can't move his wrist this way or this way.

 So his hand is, his very little movement. So he can't  rotate his hand to hold a rifle in traditional means. He's got one eye and he has a glass eye and we took him out to the range and he was shooting. He was, “Can I keep shooting?”

I was like, “man, you can shoot, until we have no more ammo”. And he's sitting there shooting and he turned around and he was like, “fellas,” he says, “I'm gonna tell you right now.” He said, “as I am today,” he goes, I could go back to Afghanistan.” He goes, I haven't shot like that since before the injury.

He goes, “I'll go back today with your product.” He goes, I goes, I have not been able to hold a rifle like this since before I got hurt. Right, so I shared that with my partners. Cause they were with, we were with, I was with some other people on this range. I shared it with my partners and our, we have a silent partner in Alaska.

And he said, fellas, he goes, if We closed up shop today and we don't sell another product and we go out of business. He goes, we're a successful company, because we just gave someone back something that they lost that they never thought they'd have again. That's something you can't write into a business plan, right?

That is something that it's not even, it's not even on the table of ideas. So then we started getting letters from other wounded veterans and cops and people who have neck and arthritis issues,  and a cop who had a lung transplant, who's never been able to shoulder a rifle again, and now he can shoot because by placing your arm out to the side, it takes all the pressure off his chest and he can shoot comfortably again, right?

So now you start hearing all these things and you're just like, holy cow, this is a blessing. This is amazing. And any, and. And you do it, So I'd say for people who have an idea, bet on yourself, bet on yourself. And one of the things that I have learned  is that I have got to lean in more and you also have to understand that it's not you.

It's not you. It's that this was given to you. This is a gift given to you. Now it was given to you, thaat doesn't mean it's all, the work's going to be done. You still have to pick it up and go forward with that, with that gift that was presented to you. So that's the other big part of it, which I've learned and I'm now on that side of things. I'm really leaning into that.

James Lacey: Man, there's a lot there. It's just like putting a fire beneath people's feet. I think, to dive in that is and also to find those people to come around them, to be that support group. and the kind of those, cheerleaders, not, like you said, not just your mom and, or whoever it is, your, brother, your sister.

But, People that will genuinely tell you how it is. I think that's huge. What, you're almost 10 years in, right? I think, with, Ryker and if I'm not mistaken, and what, do you learn over time far as stewarding? Both inventing products, but also a business and kind of what have you learned on the day to day of staying focused, staying disciplined, you know obviously you, you have a Marine background, so I think that's going to help more than most would have.

but I think that's a challenge today, especially with kind of instant gratification and wanting things now. But just understanding that things take time sometimes. How would you speak to that person or how would you speak into that as far as discipline, focus, the day-to-day.

Ron Holmes: If you're going all in and you're going to believe in yourself and that this is something that you're seeing it as whether it's a career shift, right?

Or you're, you’re not happy where you're at, but you have this idea and you want to do this and you believe in it that much where you're free time, you have to dedicate to it. You have got, but now at this part, now, if you're looking at it as a family unit, this is why I say it's important to have a very strong supporting cast. Because your families, you're going to be doing more things, taking some time, some family time away and everything like that.

So you have to have, you can't live in a vacuum on that. You have to, it has to be, like I said, a supporting cast. Everybody has to be the same. And I will tell you too, is that is, my wife understands the tactical side slightly because I've taught her all the stuff that she knows on that. She has clients and she's like I'm,  you know, and now it's learning how to be mentored leader and all this, but you also have to be a good follower.

So you also have to understand how to receive word and translate it, to help you with that problem. You don't, you also can't be afraid to ask for help. You know, like I said before, you don't know what you don't know. Being the you know, being an inventor, having an idea and trying to do something that doesn't exist is a challenge, going to market and learning all of these things. I think one of the other things too is patience is a big thing. Is you gotta have patience.

A lot of people will say comments like why don't you make one that does this? Why don't you make one that does that? Yes, I want to do that. I want to do that. Why is this cost so much blah blah blah. These are also they're not invalid questions But they're questions from somebody who is shopping with their wallet, but not ever invented something right there.

They've never sat down and gone and searched for a manufacturer. They've never had a conversation with the manufacturer to negotiate molds and product costs. And then now sitting down with the distribution center and who's, holding, I don't hold all of our products and that wasn't an issue at all, but all of our products are, are sourced and manufactured. Everything we make is 100 percent American, American made, sourced and manufactured. Two of our three, two of our three manufacturers are veteran owned. Right? So that's also massive for us. So all of these things is it, it's nothing, nothing is fast.

Nothing is fast. Deadlines, It's almost like that, that, that line from, pirates of the Caribbean. when she was like, I have the rule book and the rule books as probably ah, it's merely like a guideline, not so much as like a rule. That's what timelines are in industry, in manufacturing. And it's yeah, if they tell you two months, but it takes another month and it takes another month, right?

Cause now you have to balance it out. Now you have to look at this as do I want to rush? Do I want to rush and make mistakes that are going to cost me more money? Or would I rather delay and put out the right, the right product at the right time? So there's, again, you don't know what you don't know.

And that goes for a client that goes for consumers as well as as producers, right? and the biggest thing is, is you have to all, all lesson plans, all, mission statements, all business plans must be written in pencil.  Because they're going to change. Nothing is permanent. You get, you've got to be able to change, in the military we always had that saying. Don't fall in love with your plan. and because when you fall in love with your plan, your plan is going to fail. That's the bottom line. So write everything in pencil and, stay resilient. I don't know. Is that good? 

James Lacey:That's awesome. Especially that, the, closing line right there, write everything in pencil, stay resilient. I love that. what, does faith come into play as far as business decisions go?

Ron Holmes: Now? Now it does. You know it's funny. It's cause I think back on a lot and I've always, I, personally have always struggled with, the, duality, Of like of in man of good and evil in my life and as a father, my son is, eight.

And you know, the big thing is, I want to be the example and my wife and I want to be the example in the home of, we have to start our day first with with time dedicated to the Lord, right? That's awesome. I'm up at, essentially 4:30 every day. I come downstairs before I go to the gym.

I read my devotional, I have my time. And then, then the, I come home from the gym. My wife goes to the gym. My son gets up and we always talk and it's okay, you know go sit down, have your time with God. And so for us now, it's being, for me being, you know my wife and I had to be the beacon in the home and that's our path and that's our way of life.

And to talk openly with our son about this stuff, now learning how to translate that into business, As well as I'm learning how to navigate it myself. and I've come across some, almost I've I've I have a very strong faith network in the industry, in the firearms industry. My buddy, Steve, who's the fifth watch, the fourth horse, fifth watch is his stuff, and, and Jay struck and there's a whole bunch of other people, and we're in the firearms industry, we're trying, he's pulling people and we're all pulling people in and it's, it’s great to talk to other people and learn how to navigate that in that, in such a, of essentially a violent industry.

So leaning into that now, it's amazing and it's amazing as to the things that I'm seeing in my everyday life and in the business side of things that are being revealed. As far as like who are, people who are, followers, who are believers and who are people who are not. And where I'm at now is, is I don't, that's what you want to do then that's the path and that's how you want to represent yourself. Then that's fine. But where I'm steering my business, I'm steering myself and I'm shielding us from that. Now I would pray that something changes in their life and gets them off of that path. But on the same sense is I have to make a business decision, also a faith decision.

And the faith is telling me you need to leave in the businesses leading on faith is I need to protect my brand and not associate myself with that. So I think in the past I would have overlooked it. I would have been like, whatever. I would have put my head down and be like, I can make this work. Let's just accomplish the mission.

And now that's not the case. And I think now I'm at a point with the faith and, and I think that I see it now and I, and it's not so much that maybe I've always seen it.  Now, I realized that I have to make a better choice and I'm aware of that. I'm being shown that now for a specific reason that is not, that's maybe where I used to be.

That's where I used to accept that things, but I don't, now I can't. I have more responsibilities than to, for the purpose of selling product. I'm not going to sell out like that. It's just not going to happen. does that make sense?

James Lacey: Yeah, it makes a ton of sense. And I think a couple areas that you touched on, I don't think are spoken about enough and for example, the, last thing you mentioned is yeah, you're not willing to compromise on those, I, think we're seeing a huge surge right now in the desire to, shop locally or shop small businesses or that type of thing, because.

people are not willing to, compromise on basically what they're supporting. And, and I think just what you said, like to, as a, consumer, you, it starts to become important knowing who you're buying into, not just the product you're getting. And I think to hear, somebody that's leading a company say something like that, it's like, I want to be a part of that because I trust these people and, because they're not willing to sell out just, for the bottom line, you know?

And, so I think that's huge. and I don't think it's spoken about enough. and prior to that, just, even sharing like the breakdown of how you operate as a family with the Lord and, also then learning how to navigate that into business. That's one of my passions is, how, how do those things, come together in, in naturally unison?

Because a lot of the time it is the case that you're like, your head's fully immersed into whether it's embedding a product or whether it's, which is, actually very Christ-like in itself being a carpenter. But, but, whether it's embedding a product or whether it's, making business decisions at an executive level, you know it's a lot of the time you are so immersed in that, the rock that is Christ, and I, yeah, I just think that's huge.

And I don't think it's spoken about a lot by, by people that are inspirational, and yeah so it's just really, powerful to hear that. Do you have a favorite quote or favorite piece of advice you've ever received from a mentor?

Ron Holmes: So one of my favorite quotes is from Muhammad Ali, And it's something that stuck with me and it wasn't really ever said to me, but I've heard it and I could be off on the numbers a little bit, but basically Muhammad Ali said, if you're the same man at 45 that you were at 25, you've wasted 20 years of your life.

And that right there is one of the things that I always say is that I've been my own firearms instructor for 16 years, right? You have to remain a student. A good friend of mine, who's another brother in Christ, Scott Puckett down in South Carolina. He is, his saying is you have to be a seeker and you have to be a seeker in all things.

And I, because I do it this way and I teach it this way, that doesn't mean I am, if you think that you're above criticism, if you think that you're above, change. If you think that your way is the only way, then you're living in that vacuum, right? So you have got to evolve. You've got to develop.

Look, I'm 53 and I have an eight year old, right? And I'm going to tell you, I love being an older dad. It is awesome. It is awesome. I am a better father. I'm a better father at 45, 50, 53, right? Than I would have been at 25, 30, 35, 40. Hands down. I get to bring a whole different perspective to him. My wife is 10 years younger than me.

So my son gets this very broad spectrum of culture that's brought into his life. So yeah, you have to constantly reevaluate yourself and change. You have to constantly, constantly be able to continue to move on. You know another thing that I always, I was in high school, we were in business classes, and one of the things it was is he, I think it was like 58 years old.

Colonel Sanders did not start Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was 58, 60 years old, right? He had failed miserably at everything he had ever done up until that point. And he started in like a little airstream making chicken amd driving around to, he was like the first food truck, if you look back on it now. And people don't even realize that he didn't start KFC until he was 58.

And I think he died when he was 74 and he sold KFC, he sold it for like $3 million in 1976 or something like that. And it's and I'm like, oh my God, Dee, he didn't need it. His vision stopped like he was there and then it just stopped. But it's almost like Dr. Eagle was like, Oh, I want 1 million, right?

But that's the thing. It's just, you shouldn't be limited to an age thing. You shouldn't be limited to, Oh, the other thing that I can't stand hearing is like, Oh, it's just always, this is the way it's always been. That's not acceptable. That's not where you need to be in your personal life, in your home life, in your, in your spiritual life.

You need to change that. You need to have the courage to, to realize that's it. Now you have to put it out there. give me a direction, give me a path. So I think that, that whole quote. If you're the same person at 45, that you were at 25, you've wasted 20 years of your life. I think that's a very, very true statement, from a pretty iconic person, whether, what are his beliefs are and everything like that, but what that man stood for.

And it's pretty, it’s pretty interesting too, because like just knowing what he did and everything and, going to jail because he didn't want to fight in the war and everything like that. And like, being a veteran and stuff like that. And I,  I'm not, I'm kind of like ambivalent. I understand his position.

I don't hate him for not doing that. Right. I don't, not at all. because that man, if you look at it, there's a lot of value he's added to people's lives. But that quote, that's one of my quotes that I always lean back on because it just, you constantly have to look inside and you constantly have to have the courage to look at yourself and look yourself in the mirror and be like, “Yeah, today wasn't a good day. Let's, not do that again. Okay? Let's remember what led us into that direction. Let's remember that. And when we feel that and we see that again, let's immediately make that course correction.” So that's one of my favorite quotes.

James Lacey: I'm never gonna forget that. I've never had that one before of Muhammad Ali's. So that's definitely gonna stick with me. I think. Yeah, it's just one of those. Like you said, you have to constantly ask yourself internally. I love that. We are, coming up on that time. And I want to make sure to honor you and, your time. And just there's so much, I was actually going to say, I, you could be a life coach like this.

It's incredible. The level of, it's I don't know, just the urge of life, but behind you, as you speak and what you share is, and what you were saying, even about being an older dad, I think, you know your son is so blessed to have that and because he's, growing up with that in the home and, just having a short conversation with you It's like feeling the urge, to, to just, Take more from life and, get up and get on. A lot of people need that. I think it's really powerful, but, just coming up, one of our favorite questions to, to ask here and kind of being connected to, who we are at fulfillment, is asking the question what does real fulfillment mean to you?

Ron Holmes: You know it's, my, my partner, Josh asked me, he was like, he's “what is success in your eyes?” And I say, I don't know. I was like, I don't know. I was like, I know what failure is. I was like, and I know what success is, but once you get success, it's always been like, okay, I passed this test.

I accomplished this. That's got me to the next thing. That's got me to the next. And I was like, so I don't know. I was like, so then we're sitting there. I was like, I think, I guess when every Marine in the school of imagery is issued, one of our grips and slinks is issued our product. I says, I said, that could be fulfillment.

when, we can provide, you know our family, when I think fulfillment, some of the other stuff that we've talked about was getting to a point where we can select a veteran-owned business that, is, it has a unique product and mentor them and guide them. That would be cool, right? So fulfillment for me is I don't think I've hit that yet.

Like I know I haven't because I want, I want to keep going, I want to make sure that, that I pass on as much as I can to my son about everything. So the fulfillment is I guess I'm still working for it you know? Working for fulfillment is one of the things that we've done. We started January 1st last year is the Bible in a year.

And, I'm coming up on, I've been, on it. I think I'm three days ahead on, on it right now. It's been difficult. I don't, I'm like, I'm, still a student. I'm still raw and I'm still like, what are they talking about? I'm like, I don't understand. Numbers killed me. I don't understand it. I was just, I looked at it as just are they talking about,

I started thinking military. I'm like, are they talking about moving troops and maneuver, but who are they maneuvering them? I'm so confused. So I'm good. I have to, obviously I'm going to start a Bible studies and all these things, but I'm coming up on completing that task of fulfillment of, doing completing the Bible in a year.

And I'm excited, on this because it has been, there's been dates. Like I've been ahead, I've been behind, I've caught up, I've been ahead. So, and now I'm like on track, everything's good. But now when we're going to church, receiving the word different and I'm hearing it and I'm like, Oh my gosh, I've heard this.

I remember this. I get this. I know what he's talking about. Now. I kind of understand this. It's helping. So there's spiritual fulfillment is coming. The more that I lean into that, the fulfillment of the people that are coming and revealing themselves and I'm revealing myself and all of this. It's,

that's, fulfilling, but, and, and that, but there's never a, there's never a finish line in that, so it's always, okay, I got this. Let's keep going. Let's grow. Let's grow. Let's grow. But fulfillment with a company for a business is, is keep moving forward. Just keep moving until you hit that point when, you know, it's time to sell it, close it and do something different or, but I haven't hit any of that yet.

 So we have merged, we've merged brands. We're merging with, another veteran-owned weapons manufacturer. and that is just been like, a blessing, for the last two and a half years and how we met and we've been together pretty much, been joined at the hip, and everything that we do, cause we're doing the same things.

So it just made sense. And, it, none of it is by accident. I don't think it's all by design and it's all part of. What I'm supposed to be doing. So yeah, the fulfillment one, that's a hard, that's honestly a hard question. 

James Lacey: That's a big one. That’s a big one, yeah there's a diversity of answers that come with it. But, I think the range that, you actually talked about, even connecting it to the different areas in life as well is really beautiful.

A lot of the times, I, myself or others, it's like a singular answer. And often I think we forget of the different components to life and finding the specific specifics in each area, because you know, you can say an overarching answer and that can be theoretically true.

But if the other things are out of whack or out of line, I think we would feel lack, in, in some areas. And so I think that's really great. Wow, Ron, man, I could speak, honestly, this could go for hours. This is awesome. and, but yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna wrap it up here. I just want to make sure though, that people know where to find out about Ryker, follow along with yourself and just stay in touch.

 Where would be the best place for that? for them to be able to either connect with you or follow along with Ryker. And also, is there any final thoughts that you would like to add on?

Ron Holmes: Yeah. So the best place is honestly, is like we have our website as RykerUSA.com. You can check out Mitchelldefense.com, that's who we're partnering with. we, but Instagram, we do everything through Instagram. So RykerUSA or instructorone, instructor spelled out O and E. And then the summer camp that we started, which is, it's God, family, country, and it's called life skillz. And that's S-K-I-L-L-Z. So it's life skillz USA. That's another one. And, that's kind of it and so really just DM me on Instagram and, you know we can set up training, talk about products. And all the above our YouTube channels, Ryker USA. We've got a ton of videos on there, but, final thoughts is, for me, a big thing is, is learning that all the stuff that I have done.

I'm not alone. It wasn't me. It wasn't me doing it. And I was, like naive is a polite way to put it, to think that I'm the one that got me through the test, I'm the one that did that. Now there's certain things that I think there's certain abilities that, that we have, we all possess. But just humble, you get humility is a big thing.

Breathe, you don't always know what somebody else is going through and I, one of the things I always like to say is that, it could always be worse. It could always be worse. And a lot of times you have to take a break, a breath in the middle of workout. You just have to tell yourself, this isn't the hardest thing I've ever done.

It's just the hardest thing I'm doing right now. you take that and, remain a student, a friend of mine, Bert Soren, he always says is” be present and lean in”, and that should fit cover, cover down on everything. Is being a parent, being, a student and, in God's word, being a business owner, being a friend, being a husband, being a neighbor. Look, everybody's so quick to tear down, look at how you can build up, one of the things I always say when I went on emails and posts and stuff, I say, train safe, train smart, train with purpose, be the difference and be a good human. And I think that is, we could all do that. we could all lean in and be better and build something up.

So I think that would be it.

James Lacey: Love it. Ron, thank you so much for your time and for sharing so much wisdom and encouragement for people. I know this is going to bless a lot of people. And, that is it for today's episode of the Fulfilled podcast. We will be back with you soon.