In this episode of One Hand at a Time, Chris Welton sits down with Ricardo Carrillo, a highly experienced mortgage broker with deep expertise in real estate investing and finance, for a meaningful conversation about purpose-driven success in the mortgage industry.

Ricardo shares one of his biggest motivations behind his work: ensuring his parents can retire comfortably. This goal has fueled his discipline, consistency, and long-term vision, reminding listeners that true success is often rooted in something bigger than personal achievement.

The conversation also dives into Ricardo’s passion for serving the Spanish-speaking community, where he has played a key role in helping clients better understand mortgages, financial literacy, and the homebuying process. By educating rather than simply selling, Ricardo has built trust and created lasting impact within an underserved audience.

As a nationwide mortgage broker, Ricardo explains how he finds success regardless of location by delivering exceptional customer service every time. He emphasizes that geography doesn’t matter when your standards are high and your process is client-first.

To round out the episode, Ricardo discusses the importance of building strong relationships with real estate referral partners, highlighting how collaboration, trust, and alignment are essential to sustained growth in the mortgage space.

This episode is packed with insights on leadership, service, and building a business that truly makes a difference.

If you would like to learn more then please schedule a free coaching call with me, Chris Welton today! 

https://calendly.com/chriswelton

If you would like to learn more about Ricardo please follow him on Instagram!

@Richithelender

In this powerful episode of One Hand at a Time, Chris Welton sits down with Anthony Bryan, an elite adaptive athlete and world-class endurance competitor, for a deeply inspiring conversation about resilience, mindset, and refusing to quit.

Anthony shares his story beginning at just six years old, when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. During surgery to remove the tumor, Anthony suffered a stroke that left the left side of his body permanently paralyzed. Faced with a reality that could have easily defined his limits, Anthony instead made a different decision—one rooted in determination and grit. As a stubborn kid with an unbreakable spirit, he chose to believe: “I can still do things.”

That mindset carried him forward into athletics, where he discovered running and eventually carved his path into elite adaptive competition and the Paralympic world. Throughout the conversation, Anthony explains how he learned to use his weaknesses as tools, not excuses—constantly adapting, adjusting, and finding solutions rather than giving up.

Chris and Anthony dive into what it truly means to overcome adversity, discussing how resilience is built through persistence, creativity, and an unwillingness to let circumstances dictate outcomes. Anthony’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t about what you lack—it’s about how you respond.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone facing challenges, questioning their limits, or needing a reminder that perseverance can redefine what’s possible.

If you would like to learn more about Anthony then follow him on Instagram!

@THENOLIMITSATHLETE

In Episode 17 of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton challenges business owners, team leaders, and anyone in a leadership role with a powerful—and uncomfortable—question:
If you were hiring today, would you rehire the people around you?

Chris makes it clear that this isn’t about immediately answering “yes” or “no.” Instead, it’s about honest evaluation and awareness. He dives into the idea that not everyone on your team needs to think, act, or operate like you to be valuable. In fact, those differences may be exactly what’s needed to help expand your vision and push the organization further than you could on your own.

The episode focuses on embracing the unique strengths each individual brings and learning how to intentionally incorporate those differences into your growth strategy—rather than resisting them or trying to mold everyone into the same version of a leader.

Chris also emphasizes that communication is the foundation of great leadership. Without clear and defined communication, teams drift, expectations blur, and growth stalls. Leaders must set the tone, articulate the vision, and create clarity so the people around them know how to develop, contribute, and grow alongside the organization.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders who want stronger teams, better alignment, and sustainable growth.

In this episode of One Hand at a Time, Chris Welton sits down with Zach Starnes, Regional Vice President and Director of Non-QM Lending at Element Mortgage, for a deep dive into one of the most powerful and misunderstood areas of today’s mortgage industry: Non-QM lending.

Zach breaks down why Non-QM loans have become such a valuable tool for borrowers and loan officers alike, and how carving out a niche in this space has allowed him to separate himself in a crowded market. Despite only entering the mortgage industry in 2020, Zach shares how committing fully to the Non-QM space has accelerated his growth and created massive opportunity.

The conversation also explores Zach’s background as a football player and how the discipline, teamwork, preparation, and resilience he learned on the field have translated directly into his success in business. From handling pressure to executing game plans, Zach explains how sports prepared him for leadership and performance in the mortgage world.

This episode is packed with insights on specialization, mindset, and leveraging past experiences to build a career with purpose and momentum.

To learn more about Zach please visit his Instagram!

@ZachStarnes

In Episode 16 of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton shifts the focus forward by encouraging listeners to pause, reflect, and intentionally prepare for what’s next. With 2026 on the horizon, Chris shares the three questions he’s personally asking himself to create clarity, growth, and momentum going into the new year—and challenges the audience to do the same.

The episode centers around these three powerful reflections:
1️⃣ What are you most proud of in 2025?
Chris explains why recognizing wins—big or small—is critical for building confidence and momentum. Progress matters, and acknowledging it strengthens belief.

2️⃣ What is the biggest lesson you learned in 2025?
Every year brings challenges, setbacks, and breakthroughs. Chris dives into how extracting lessons from experiences—especially the hard ones—turns the past year into fuel for future success.

3️⃣ What is the largest area of opportunity for you to grow and change in 2026?
Chris encourages listeners to identify where they need to evolve, adapt, or show up differently if they want the next year to look better than the last.

This episode is a reminder that great years don’t happen by accident—they’re built through reflection, clarity, and intentional change. If you want 2026 to be different, it starts with the questions you’re willing to ask yourself right now.

In Episode 15 of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton delivers a powerful reminder about what truly separates high-level performers from everyone else: authenticity. Chris breaks down why the people who succeed at the highest levels aren’t the ones trying to imitate leaders, influencers, or top performers—they’re the ones who have the confidence to be themselves.

He explains that while learning from others is important, copying someone else’s style, voice, or approach ultimately limits your growth. What actually creates momentum, connection, and long-term success is uniqueness. People are drawn to authenticity, not imitation. When you show up as your true self, you give others something real to believe in and something different to connect with.

Chris challenges listeners to stop comparing, stop copying, and stop trying to fit into a mold that was never designed for them. Instead, he encourages embracing individuality and trusting that who you already are is enough to win—if you’re willing to lean into it fully.

This episode is a call to show up unapologetically, lead with authenticity, and understand that your uniqueness is the very thing that will set you apart.

In the 14th episode of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton dives into a powerful conversation about the importance of routine—not just any routine, but the one that’s built around the things that actually move you forward. Chris breaks down how identifying what works in your business and turning those actions into a consistent routine can create predictable, repeatable success.

He emphasizes that success isn’t random. It’s built through structure, habits, and intentional daily actions. Once you find your rhythm, your routine becomes your advantage.

Chris also speaks on something many high performers struggle with: celebrating your wins. He explains that acknowledging your progress isn’t about ego—it’s about expanding your capacity. When you celebrate wins, you raise your ceiling. You give yourself permission to grow, do more, and believe in more.

Everyone wants to hit the next goal, reach the next milestone, or climb the next level—but Chris challenges listeners to pause and recognize what they’ve already achieved. Because without honoring your victories, you’ll end up chasing success without ever feeling it.

In the 13th episode of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton breaks down his full experience at the HYROX competition—fresh off the event and still feeling the impact of every rep, run, and obstacle. He walks listeners through each workout in detail, sharing which stations pushed him to his limits, including the notoriously brutal broad jump burpees, which he ranks as one of the toughest parts of the entire course.

Chris also opens up about a moment that could have derailed the day: he fell during one of the event workouts. Instead of letting the setback break him, he tells the story of how he got back up—driven by the energy of the crowd and the unwavering support of his wife, whose presence helped him push through the pain and finish the race.

Reflecting on the entire experience, Chris talks about the strengths, discipline, and mental resilience he’s gained from committing to something so physically demanding. Taking on HYROX wasn’t just a fitness challenge—it was a massive personal overhaul that expanded what he believes he’s capable of.

To close out the episode, Chris flips the focus to the listeners and asks a powerful question:
Why are you still waiting to do the things that feel “too tough”?

If he can take on an event like HYROX—fall, struggle, fight, and still finish—then he knows you can take on the difficult things in your own life too. The message is clear: stop waiting, stop overthinking, and start confronting your adversities head-on.

In the 12th episode of Freestyle Fridays, Chris Welton opens up about his upcoming HYROX competition and the deeper reason he’s stepping into such a challenging event. For Chris, HYROX isn’t just a race—it's a deliberate decision to place himself in adverse situations so he can grow through them. He shares how intentionally facing difficulty builds mental toughness, resilience, and character, ultimately shaping him into a stronger, more capable version of himself.

Chris then shifts the conversation toward the future, reminding listeners that 2026 is coming faster than we think. He challenges the audience to reflect on who they want to become by then—and more importantly, what they are doing now to prepare for that version of themselves.

Are you changing your habits?

Are you putting yourself in uncomfortable situations that make you better?

Are you building the foundation for the goals you want to accomplish in 2026?

This episode blends motivation and introspection, pushing listeners to confront the gap between where they are and where they want to be—and to start doing the work today.

In this inspiring episode of the One Hand at a Time Podcast, host Chris Welton sits down with Whitney Faires, a highly respected leadership advisor, keynote speaker, and executive coach, to explore the journey of stepping into leadership and unlocking true personal potential.

The conversation begins with both Chris and Whitney reflecting on their own transitions from the corporate world to full-time performance coaching—what that leap of faith looked like, the challenges they faced, and how those experiences shaped their perspectives on growth and leadership.

From there, they dive deep into what it really means to be a leader, not just by title, but by influence, integrity, and example. Whitney shares her insights on how anyone—regardless of position—can develop the skills and mindset to become a leader in their own space.

They also discuss the power of belief and mindset, emphasizing that leadership starts from within. Whitney explains how your internal dialogue and level of self-belief directly impact your ability to inspire, guide, and serve others effectively.