#Flashback to our 2007 @ns4l showroom. #newscooters4less #reflection

New @whoagnv podcast episode with my co-host @michaelbriandees and guests @michaelpatz and @jdromelus of @greenhousechurch is out! We hit on so many things in this episode! Check out my YouTube Channel at COLLINAUSTIN.TV or listen on your favorite podcasting platform by searching WHOA GNV PODCAST 💯😄 #gainesville #whoagnv #whoagnvpodcast #gnv #podcasting #greenhousechurch #gainesvilleflorida Topics: #coronavirus #racism #rioting #God and more!

Beautiful day in NC.

Friends, Family, and Fun. ❤️

Love you all. ❤️

#blackouttuesday

#Remote #Podcasting #Zoom #VirtualBackground Life 🤣😂

Time stamp it: spring 2020 - #remoteoffice due to #coronavirus

Did you know that I lived in England for a few years as a kid? My dad was in the United States Air Force. This is our porch at our home in Littleport, England. I come across pictures like this and am so grateful for the opportunities God has given me. Being a military brat is not easy. My dad was gone a year fighting (a pilot of F111's) in the Gulf War when we lived there. We moved every couple of years and bounced around so much. You can imagine how difficult that was on a child. There were plenty of times I wasn't fond of the lifestyle and had to leave best friends and relationships behind to move somewhere else. Changing schools, being made fun of because of dialects I picked up in the last place I lived, having to make new friends all the time, and embracing the fact that "home is where the Air Force sends you." You never realize how great these things are in the moment. Little did I know that this lifestyle would be the thing that impacted my character the most. It would deepen my appreciation for others and their cultures, develop a life of servitude and leadership, and make me appreciate the importance of community. So I offer this encouragement... During this chaos of COVID-19, choose to find the good. Think about the future and how you will look back and appreciate how these moments molded your future, how they defined your character, and how you are stronger because of it.

Grateful for the opportunities and relationships in my life. #grateful #gratitude #relationships #opportunities #life #impact #purpose

There was a time where we thought Amazon was going to be the death of small retail shops. Now, the support for local business is greater than ever before, BUT so many of us have been forced to lock our doors. Start thinking about how you can innovate... NOW.⁣ ⁣ My friend Luis Salazar of Lendio North Florida said to me recently, "Necessity breeds innovation."⁣ ⁣ He's right. With the government requiring so many of our local businesses to close up shop, restaurants have had to pivot to 100% carry out or delivery. Gyms and fitness studios have had to pivot to teach classes and trainings on Zoom and other video platforms. At @ns4l we're getting our entire sales process online. See a scooter, buy a scooter, fill out paperwork via e-signatures, and have the scooter delivered to your door...⁣ ⁣ With their backs pressed agains the wall, we are seeing entrepreneurs adjust to the circumstances for their survival. This survival instinct is leading to innovative pivots. I get PUMPED by it and am excited to see these new revenue streams stick when things "get back to normal."⁣ ⁣ What have you done to adjust to these circumstances?⁣ ⁣ P.S. Want to hear how your fellow business owners are navigating all of this? Be sure to check out the @whoagnv Podcast Coronavirus Sessions every weekday at noon.

After a few weeks of being unsynced, new routines are becoming established. The "new normal" (my gosh how many times have you heard that already?) is being set. Things will stick...⁣ ⁣ A remote lifestyle will become MORE prevalent than it already was when this is all over. A new precedent is being set.⁣ ⁣ Children will have more digital assignments and turning homework in via Google Classroom we become normal (P.S. Watching my 6-year-old navigate these chats and work these programs is probably the most valuable and relevant thing I've seen him learn to this date. No offense teachers.) Watching teachers learn to pivot in a matter of days to these digital formats may also be the "push" we need for major restructuring of our education system, which I think most of us will agree, is way overdue.⁣ P.S. The teachers are doing an amazing job! ⁣ Business will change. The customer experience (something my team and I pride ourselves on) will most certainly change... Customized one-to-one experiences. More digital e-sign contracts. Zoom calls to show customers our showrooms/stores. "On Demand" shopping for all local business will become a priority and not only something Amazon offers anymore.⁣ ⁣ The world is changing. There is a plan and it's unfolding. I love it. I'm excited by it. I'm inspired by it.⁣ ⁣ #inspired #newnormal #remotelife #routine #googleclassroom #classroomexperience #customerexperience #evolution #change #adapt #Godsplan #smallbusiness #covid19 #coronavirus #gainesville #leadership #entrepreneurship⁣

This is the first week in 102 weeks where we did not release a "studio" episode of our podcast on Monday morning (and over a month since we last recorded in this space). My heart is a little broken because I look at this photo and yearn to be back here interviewing fascinating people that have made my life happier. Though I miss it terribly, I want to share what I've learned from this absence...⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 1. Time away from what we love helps us ensure we never take it for granted. Ever been away from your loved one due to a trip or other occurrence? When you are away from them, you realize how much they mean to you (love you @shannonaustin) and you are so grateful when you are back in their arms. Ever been away from your favorite sport due to an injury? Oh, how great it felt when you stepped back on that field or court again, right? This time away from the "studio" has reaffirmed my love for our @whoagnv podcast and I can't wait until we get back!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 2. Pivoting is critical. I could have sat around and sulked about not being able to be in the studio or I could adapt. This is why holding onto 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 is so important. By staying true to my purpose of building others up and building community, we shifted to a daily zoom format to help business owners learn from others. In this, we realize that we're all in this (coronavirus) battle together, we learn from one another, and we encourage each other. Plus, we are still giving it our WHOA GNV Podcast touch to make it "us." 🎙️🎧⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Don't be defined by the circumstances that surround you. As my friend @willisalexander80 says, "It's your job to find the opportunity in the darkness."⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Get to it. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #purpose #impact #whoagnv #whoagnvpodcast #GNVBIZ #gainesvilebusiness #gainesvillefl #gainesvilleflorida #whyilovegnv #bestofgainesville #opportunity #podcasting

I recently heard a story that really resonated with me and I'd like to share a summary of it with you today as you kick off your week...⁣ ⁣ When a cow and buffalo are out on the plains and a storm is approaching, the cow will start to run away from the storm. ⚡ The problem with this is that the storm eventually catches the cow and the cow keeps running that same direction ('away' from the storm) thus ends up being caught in the storm for a longer period of time.⁣ ⁣ However, when the buffalo recognizes a storm is coming, it charges for the storm head-on. Sure, it knows it's going to go into a storm, but by facing it head-on it comes out the other side into the sun's brightness a lot quicker.⁣ ⁣ As we deal with this virus, as our businesses become challenged amidst this chaos, and as our lives get rocked by uncertainty... Are you going to be a cow or a buffalo?⁣ ⁣ Be strong. Be confident. Face the storm head-on. 💪⁣ ⁣ #leadership #storms #impact #facethestorm #challenge #uncertainty #chaos #COVID19 #coronavirus #buffalo #cow #buffaloorcow

In 2013, I was asked by the @gainesvillechamber to stand up and speak to the City Commission and the Mayor about my small business struggles in Gainesville.⁣.. ⁣ The zoning issues I always faced. The number of times I thought about moving to a more "business friendly" community. The works.⁣ ⁣ It was the first time I stood up and really spoke to a non-student audience and ALL of it was from my heart.⁣ That speech resonated with many business owners and professionals in the area and that's when I was thanked by many for being a voice of the small business community.⁣ ⁣ Little did I know, that was just the beginning. Being a "voice" of the community would become a norm. Speaking is something I do regularly and I continue to pour time into building the small business community. This purpose, this calling, led to the creation of the @whoagnv podcast. It led to investing in and building a network of people (YOU!) that I absolutely love. It's leading to a calling given to me by God and I feel so blessed to be able to do what I do.⁣ ⁣ I believe that seed was planted on the day this photo was taken. I believe that I'm in the infancy of something remarkable and though I'm not 100% sure what that is yet, I wanted to say THANK YOU for your continued support. I'm honored to live in a community that continues to push me to live my best life and encourages me to really go after my dreams and passions. I'm incredibly humbled. Though I know we are all going through a difficult time right now, I believe that great things lie ahead!⁣ ⁣ Stay Strong Gainesville!⁣ I love you. ⁣ #gainesvillestrong #gnvbiz #gainesville #gainesvillefl #gainesvilleflorida #gnv #whyilovegnv #passion #pursuitofhappiness #gratitude #grateful #publicspeaker #publicspeaking #podcaster #podcasting #voiceofsmallbusiness #voiceofgainesville #humbled

That look you give your co-host when you reach episode 💯 of the @whoagnv podcast! ⁣ ⁣ 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗩.𝗧𝗩⁣ ⁣ #podcast #podcasting #realestate #mastermind #whoagnv #whoagnvpodcast #GNVBIZ #gainesvillebusiness