Lessons From the Pit

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

If you want more information about us, you can check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

You can find us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and then on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Sign up for our newsletter over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding.

How is my son's one-tracked mind and a file cabinet related to life and barbecue? The same thing is true in both life and barbecue. If you only focus on one area of life or one area of the cook, you will do so at the expense of everything else. I break this down and then give you three ways to combat this in your life. Check it out!

There are seven areas of life that we should be focusing on and three steps to help guide us in those areas. What are some ways this relates to barbecue?

Quotes from the episode:

• "Always remember, your focus determines your reality". - George Lucas

• "Your life is controlled by what you focus on." - Tony Robbins

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

Sign up for our newsletter (and you can sign up if you haven't already) over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding.

Too often, we as men get caught up in too many things, or the wrong things and some of us just get caught up making a living that we forget to actually live and then we lose sight of what really matters most to us. That is what happened to me until I decided things needed to change. I don't want my journey to be your journey, and so that is where Life Around the Pit and Lessons From the Pit emerged. I want other men to learn these lessons much sooner than me. Years ago, I fell in love with cooking barbecue and smoking meat, and I have put together the lessons that barbecue has taught me about life, and about living an intentional and connected life and so our podcast, Lessons from the Pit, is an offshoot of Life Around the Pit, which is where we work with men to create and/or optimize their lives to be lives of intention and connection, while using barbecue to teach the lessons.

RECAP OF 2023

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2024

10 LESSONS RECAP

Tip of the Week:

If you want to be a better pitmaster or live a life of focus and intention, don't try to do everything at once.

Call to Action:

This week, I want you to decide that you are not going to be the same man at the end of 2024 that you are at the beginning of 2024 (and if you are listening to this later in 2024, then it still applies).

Download the free 10 Lessons From the Pit pdf which includes a quick tip that will help you create some easy wins for you. You can get that by going to www.lifearoundthepit.com/lessons_wins and sign up to get it delivered to your email inbox so you can print it out and have it in front of you as a reminder.

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Show Close:

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

You can find us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and then on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb. You can send your friends, family members and coworkers out to sign up for our newsletter (and you can sign up if you haven't already) over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding. And I hope to see you join us as we live life around the pit.

On this episode, my three sons read the Christmas story and then share a favorite Christmas memory or tradition from our family. I hope you enjoy listening to them on this episode!

Tip of the Week:

If you want to add an extra layer of goodness to some Christmas steaks, make your own compound butter using seasonings of your choice. It is game changer when you add it to your steaks and let it cook into the meat. Nelson made ours for today's steaks we are having for our dinner.

Call to Action:

Find out what your family members or friends love about Christmas or traditions you might have in your holiday seasons. Ask them to give you the item and then ask them why. Then, write that down or make a mental note so that you can come back around to it later to be impactful in the relationships by letting them know you listened and you took a moment to learn and know more about them. And, have a wonderful week this week. I know life is not always easy during this time, but remember to be intentional and connected during this time, even if it is in small ways. Remember, the small things can create massive impact!

As always, I want to make sure I end each episode with a call to action so that you can be thinking AND taking action over the course of the next week.

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

You can find us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and then on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb. You can send your friends, family members and coworkers out to sign up for our newsletter (and you can sign up if you haven't already) over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding. And I hope to see you join us as we live life around the pit.

This week, Wright's Barbecue Rogers General Manager, Brandon Lynch, joins me to talk about bbq, thoughts on running a barbecue restaurant, life lessons, Christmas music and double-smoked hams. We had fun recording this episode and I hope you enjoy listening to Brandon and gain some bbq and life value nuggets. Then check out the tip of the week and call to action at the end. They are short thoughts, but good!

Tip of the Week:

This week's tip of the week is short but good: Take a few moments to observe and live in the moment.

Call to Action:

As always, I want to make sure I end each episode with a call to action so that you can be thinking AND taking action over the course of the next week.

This week I have two calls to action that are easy:

1. Come back again and join us next Monday to listen to our Christmas Day episode and maybe listen to it with your family that day.

2. If you haven't already done so, go out and grab our free 10 Lessons From the Pit pdf download. You can get that by going out to www.lifearoundthepit.com/lessons_wins and sign up to get it sent to your email inbox. This free document gives you the 10 life lessons from the pit that you need to help you build and optimize your life to be intentional and connected in the right ways and areas. Plus it gives you a tip or action item for each lesson that will be quick and easy wins to get you moving today! Don't miss this…go out and grab it today!

Again, that is www.lifearoundthepit.com/lessons_wins

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

You can find us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Sign up for our newsletter over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding.

About this Episode:

My wife, Tisha, joins me today on a special episode to talk about our 24th wedding anniversary, raising three boys and what it is like to be the wife of an unintentional husband. Tisha has value to add to your life this week, and you will enjoy hearing her thoughts on 24 years of life with me. Check out the tip of the week as well…it is life changing for you and your family.

Quote or Verse:

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

"The key in life is not the money we've lost, but the life we have gained." - Tisha Brown

Tip of the Week:

Have a state of the family meeting or conversation regularly…basically, consistent communication.

Call to Action:

1. Set up your first state of the marriage or family conversation.

2. Download our free 10 Lessons From the Pit pdf over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/lessons_wins.

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected]. THIS is Lessons from the Pit.

If you want more information about us, you can check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com. I encourage you to go check it out today!

Our podcast, Lessons from the Pit, is an offshoot of Life Around the Pit, our work we do to help men create and/or optimize their lives to be lives of intention and connection, while using barbecue to teach the lessons. You can find us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and then on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb. You can send your friends, family members and coworkers out to sign up for our newsletter over at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding.

I cannot wait for you to hear today's interview with pitmaster Seth Simmons. You are going to love it. Seth provides so many valuable life and bbq bites that you are not going to want to miss. I basically just sat and took notes as he spoke. Plus, his cranberry relish recipe is going to become a staple in my home going forward!

Call to Action:

This week, go out to the website to download the Cranberry Relish Recipe that Seth Simmons created and provided for you. You can read the recipe online and then get the downloadable and printable pdf version through your email. Check it out at www.lifearoundthepit.com/cranberryrelish and then the second part of the call to action is…COOK THE RELISH AT YOUR HOUSE!!

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com

Get involved with the show and email us at [email protected]

Today's episode is a short, bonus episode that I wanted to provide for you on this Thanksgiving holiday. Life is hard, but being thankful can change us even for a few seconds.

Listen to the story about Mr. Rogers and then join me for 10 seconds of gratitude.

Like and share us on Instagram at lifearoundthepit and on Facebook at lifearoundthepittb

Rate and review and share our podcast out with others!

Until next time, season some meat, start a fire and make an impact.

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

This podcast, Lessons from the Pit, is an offshoot of Life Around the Pit, our work we do to help men create and/or optimize their lives to be lives of intention and connection, while using barbecue to teach the lessons. Sign up for the newsletter at www.lifearoundthepit.com/newslanding.

Today's episode is all about gratitude, and how it can impact our lives as men when we make it a focal point in our daily lives. Gratitude has the power to transform the way we live and the way we perceive the world around us. I believe gratitude is crucial to living a life of intention, especially to us as men.

Quotes or Scriptures:

• Teddy Roosevelt said that "comparison is the thief of joy" and Mark Twain took that a step further and replaced the word "thief" with the word "death".

• And then the Bible says in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 "But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding."

• "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Tip of the Week:

This week's tip of the week: when faced with a challenge or difficult situation, try to find one thing to be grateful for.

Call to Action:

This week, make it a goal to incorporate gratitude into your daily routine. Share your experiences with us on our social media platforms using #gratitudechallenge.

And then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com. I encourage you to go check it out today!

If you want to separate yourself from the rest of the pack, and want to make the kind of impact that lasts, then you need to slow down and take the time to do something that other men won't. You need to focus on the little details. The same is true as pitmasters and as men. Most men see the big things such as work, sports, material things, status, etc. But most men do not have their eyes on the little things. You focus on those…and the result will be life changing! And as always, I will give you a tip and a call-to-action near the end of the episode, so keep listening to hear more!

https://www.facebook.com/NWASpecialKids/

John Wooden, the famous basketball coach said "It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

Ernest Hemingway said "Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another."

Heraclitus (PRONOUNCED HERACLYTUS…LONG "I") said "Men who wish to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details."

I want to restate something before I'm done. If you want to be a rockstar pitmaster, then you have to learn to focus on the little details and if you want to be a rockstar man, dad, husband, employee, leader, you name it, then focus on the little details that separate you from the rest of the pack. You might be surprised at how little effort you have to put in sometimes…because no one else is even thinking about the details.

Tip of the Week

This week's tip of the week is actually the same as the tip in episode PIT013 because it fits today and makes the same impact: Take the time to be patient enough to see the little details and patient enough to sit in the moments with people…share life together.

Joyce Brothers said "Happiness hides in life's small details. If you're not looking, it becomes invisible."

William Feather said "Beware of the person who can't be bothered by details."

Call to Action

As always, I want to make sure I end each episode with a call to action so that you can be thinking AND taking action over the course of the next week.

This week's call to action is for you to set up a "my favorite things" list for your folks. I know it sounds dumb or silly or like a waste of time, but trust me. It will make a difference. When you surprise someone with their favorite candy bar because you know about it, it makes an impact. I've seen it happen multiple times. So, for your family, each of your immediate family or go beyond if you want. Or, if you manage a team at work or sports or some extracurricular activity, make a list for each person you are responsible for. It doesn't have to be super long, just enough to make sure you know them. You know what, I've made it easier for you because I've already created a free PDF list for you. All you have to do is go out and get it from my website and wallah, you have it and you can now just ask the folks what their favorites are and then store that list somewhere you will remember it so you can pull it out sometime randomly to make someone else's day. You can get that free pdf by going to www.lifearoundthepit.com/myfaveslist

Then, don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!

Get involved with the show and community. Send your e-mail to [email protected].

Check us out at www.lifearoundthepit.com.

On today's episode, Pitmaster Tommy Caldwell gives us his military experience, breaks down veterans day and then provides multiple bbq and life value bites. You are not going to want to miss listening to Tommy's interview and trust me, you will be blessed and will gain some value from Tommy for sure. He also provides you with two recipes you can use to feed some of your veteran friends. And as always, I will give you a tip and a call-to-action near the end of the episode, so keep listening to hear more! I can't wait for you to hear it…so let's get to the interview!!

TIP OF THE WEEK

This week's tip of the week: Take the time to be patient enough to see the little details and patient enough to sit in the moments with people…share life together.

CALL TO ACTION

And as always, I want to make sure I end each episode with a call to action so that you can be thinking AND taking action over the course of the next week. This week's call to action has two parts:

1. Go out and download the two free recipes that Tommy provided on today's episode: www.lifearoundthepit.com/brisketphilly and www.lifearoundthepit.com/thomastwinkie

2. And, this week, take 10 minutes to sit down and think about a specific area of your life that you feel you are not giving enough attention to you. This could be an area of focus such as health or finances, or it could be somebody in your life you haven't given enough attention to. Brainstorm 5 small details in this area that you could and should be focusing on. Those little details will make all the difference. Now that you have those 5 details, now put it into action. How are you going to focus on those details? What triggers or scheduling need to be set up for you to take action on them this week? Now, make it happen!

3. And I lied…it is a three part call to action because you need to go out to and find Tommy on Instagram at tommy2brisketz

Don't forget, you can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart, Spotify and any of the other places you listen to podcasts. We are also on all the socials as well: Instagram at lifearoundthepit and Facebook at lifearoundthepittb.

Remember: BBQ is known for being low and slow cooking that produces a fantastic reward. Life as a pitmaster is the same. You have to put in the low and slow efforts to produce the fantastic reward: a legacy of impact! Until next time: season some meat, start a fire, and make an impact!