Welcome to the One of a Kind podcast, the show where we explore the stories we tell ourselves and the moments that got us here.I'm Nisi Duran, and I hope today's conversation gives you something to smile about.
Welcome to the 23rd episode of the One of a Kind podcast.Those who know me understand my deep love for the number 23 that stems both from my love for MJ and my own birthday.
This is also our Hispanic Heritage Month episode and my first Intuit episode.Many, many things to celebrate.Today's guest is my Intuit onboarding buddy, Brock Morris.
Brock is a San Diego-based group manager on Intuit's TurboTax business operations team. He is a Southern California native and spent about nine years in Silicon Valley working in operations for enterprise and startup companies.
He joined Intuit about a year ago and is focused on refining his leadership skills and fostering an inclusive growth environment for his team to do the best work of their lives.
This was a major driving force in Brock's decision to pursue his MBA part-time while working full-time at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
In his free time, Brock is an avid runner, SoCal sports fan, I apologize to my brothers as I say this, go Lakers, go Rams, go USC, and is always game for any live music or stand-up comedy, although he has never invited me to either one.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of learning how to navigate change.Not only is change a constant in all of our lives, but Brock shares how it helps unleash our potential so we can become a truer version of ourselves.
We also discuss examples of visionaries who have embraced change like Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube who recently passed away from cancer.
I had the opportunity to speak about Susan with BBC NewsHour in London, and I once again want to send my thoughts to Susan's friends and family.
She was an inspirational leader who taught us the power of leaning into your authenticity, embracing change while striving to leave the world a better place.I want to thank Brock for making the start of my Intuit chapter the best kind of change.
I hope you enjoy our conversation.
So my dad was a former athlete, played baseball, played football, all of that.But I think some of the biggest gifts they've given me that were really to, you know, kind of give me the freedom to explore different things as I was growing up.
So be it baseball, soccer, art, I took cooking classes, played football, tried it all.Summertime, there's always, you know, different camps and just different things.
And the one rule we had in the house was though, if you started anything, you had to finish it and you didn't have to necessarily try it again. So but if we signed up, we did it that, you know, you're making a commitment, you need to see it through.
And so with that, though, I got to explore a lot of different things.And then I got the opportunity to really have some great coaches and just mentors through my life.
And then as I started my career, I had great mentors that got me into running, that got me into just discipline, pushing myself.
And I feel kind of a responsibility to now do my part and continue both raising the bar for myself, but also pulling, you know, the next generation up with me.
How are you doing that second part of pulling the generation with you?Because it's hard to do.I think we all want to do that with good intentions, but sometimes you run out of time in the day.So how have you been able to prioritize that?
I started really close with my family and some super close to my younger cousins.
So I've helped them kind of, you know, stayed close to them, helped them kind of through the college process, helped some of them get into the corporate high tech world.
And then some of my younger cousins just really staying present, being a good example and, and just being part of their lives.I think sometimes, especially as you know, I know we've shared a lot of stories, but being
you know, either first or earlier generation and kind of new to some of the corporate setting, that imposter syndrome is a big part of it, of just seeing yourself in that setting.
So I try to be really cognizant of, you know, bringing my family around, you know, being very present also back home in my community, but just so that that divide doesn't feel as vast.
And it was just kind of one of the things that I was really stood out to me when I was living up in the Bay.I was living in kind of at the base of Communication Hill, so in the south San Jose area, near like Almaden.
Yeah, so just outside of like, just south of the, like San Jose airport is where I was living.
So right on the outskirts though of all the, you know, Silicon Valley and all these tech companies, but just a couple of exits over, it was like a whole nother world.You know, there was, and I lived kind of right on the border of that.
So then if you went a little further south to San Jose, you had much more of the working class community and flea markets.And I loved it.I mean, it was, you know, culturally, and it just felt very at home.
But I really felt oftentimes like I was living in two worlds, you know, and even though we were within a couple of miles, the divide felt like it was hours and hours apart.
And so I think both personally and then in the community helping kind of bridge that gap.That's just something I take pretty, pretty seriously.And then just the other thing that I'm working on kicking off is a scholarship for my grandparents.
So I was really close to my grandparents.My grandpa was a born in Mexico, came over as a first generation, went through a very similar process to your father, which is amazing and super inspiring to think about.
And, and so now that has, you know, gone on and been able to kind of find like, you know, get our foot in this industry, starting a scholarship back for just local local high schoolers that, you know, are taking that step and going to college.
And just one, I mean, to help a little bit financially, but more importantly, trying to create just a community of, just a mentorship community where people feel like, you know, there's other people who are out there who have come up through the same community I'm coming up in, who have been on this journey and that are there if I need help.
That's amazing.You're doing that on your own?
I am.I am.It's something I started.Got the website set up.Was hoping to have the scholarship launch last year.Honestly, just it's a process starts a little earlier just to get in some of the different like scholarship brochures and different things.
But plan is to be live this year and hopefully have a first group of scholarship recipients by the end of this school year. Yeah, it's fun.It's fun.
And honestly, I mean, it's just a good way to memorialize people who have really had a big impact on me.
So you were an adult when you were living in like San Jose.How did you process that?And you said that you kind of bridged the divide.Like, what does that mean for you?Like, how did it affect your everyday?
Initially, I mean, just coming in, I was one of the One of the, I'd say like one of the relatively few Hispanics that were in our office in San Jose.
So I think right off the bat, I remember early on there was like even a few incidents where like people assumed that was part of the kind of like day to day, like the facility staff.
And, um, I just like letting me know if things were out of, you know, Hey, like the paper towels are out, which was part of the reason why I started addressing so formally every day, because it was really important for me to make that distinction because that wasn't, um, apparent initially early in my career.
And so I had a few incidents where, and it was totally like, not necessarily like, um, malicious intent, but it made me feel like, okay, like I am different.And, um,
And so with that, like just kind of getting situated there and just kind of really taking it as a, I had a great mentor.First at the intern, there was a first manager, a gentleman named Al Diaz.
And what just really talked to me and just like give me a lot of inspiration around basically like setting my own personal standard that, you know, you are different that, you know, regardless of, you know, whatever.
you know, that there is classified, there is, you know, certain, so that basically embracing that as an opportunity to really kind of shift that paradigm.
So saying that you need to hold yourself to a higher standard than anybody else, you know, could ever have for you.You need to dress, you know, so like, and just really keeping that consistency and that discipline.
And so it just made me realize the power of, you know, leaning in, having strong mentors and, um, and constantly kind of, um, proactively driving change as opposed to waiting for change to happen to me.
Thank you for sharing that.
I will continue to tease you because that's how we are.But I feel a little bit bad about teasing you about always wearing the fanciest clothes.How did that make you feel when that happened?
I don't know, as like a 22 year old self, I think maybe like, but probably thought like, what the heck or something.But like over time, kind of to the example of like running and some of the system stuff, it just became part of my identity.
So I said, okay, you know, this is how I'm going to conduct myself.This is what I'm going to do.This is who I'm going to become.And then over the course of the last like 11 years, it's just become me.
So now like on a day-to-day basis, I'm getting ready.I'm not thinking about, you know, okay, I'm waking up early.I'm running, I'm putting on my dress clothes, I'm doing these things, but you know, these are all just.
parts of me that have come through different changes and experiences that I've had in my life that now it's just part of my identity.
How do you feel about that?
I feel, you know, it's, I think you can look at it both ways.I mean, so I think there's definitely like, you know, there's a side that says like, you know, you shouldn't have to do all that.
Or like, why do you have to go above and beyond or, you know, you know, just slow down, enjoy, you know, smell the roses, the whole thing.But on the other side, I personally think, I mean, part of
us being alive is kind of that self-actualization and figuring out what we're really capable of and how to become that best version of ourselves.
So sometimes by going through those uncomfortable experiences or maybe leaning in and even small stuff, and we don't even realize it's happening, but like you said, going to Cornell, moving cross-country, moving back, you're going through a lot of changes that
at the time seemed like, oh, this is just the right next step or this makes sense.But through it all, you become a product that you would have never become if you hadn't gone through those experiences.
And so in that sense, I'm very grateful for just the time and and just I mean, I'll say the I think our industry was very different before COVID.
And so I'm very grateful for being able to be a part of it and being able to be kind of in the Silicon Valley during a pretty special point in time.
I like that a lot.I need to process it, I think. Because you're right, there are different ways that people can react to that.And other people may have reacted in anger, right?
To say, why is it that because I look different than the average person that's here, why do I have to now dress in business casual every day?Sometimes business formal.
Whereas other people are wearing crop tops and, you know, jeans with holes in them, including myself. So you could be like, why, you know, I want to wear my ripped jeans.But I think I really like what you said, right?I agree.
When we have challenges, if we rise to them, it transforms us into this new person that is stronger.So, I mean, I think of you as being a very strong person, even just from what you've shared right now.
And I think one of the things we wanted to talk about was that change is constant in life and you and I have both been through a lot of change even in the last couple of years.
So how do you think this almost like resiliency or positive outlook, almost like solution oriented approach has helped you?
I think change is constant.And so no matter, you know, we're never standing still.And so I think with that, you're either, you know, getting better or you're getting worse, right?I mean, there's, you're never staying the same.
And so I think, you know, through change and through some adversity is where, you know, those, um, those transitions happen.
And I think the sooner that we can either kind of proactively drive the change or accept and really adjust to the change really dictates, you know, who we become on the other side of any changes that we face.And so.
On the other side, oftentimes I think both personally that I think about certain changes in my life where maybe, you know, didn't turn out as well, or, you know, you see others who maybe don't adapt as well to change.
And I think that's a lot of times it's when we're resistant to those changes.So we, you know, we don't want to accept it.You know, we don't understand why it's happening.We don't agree.So we resist and oftentimes to our own peril.
I think sometimes you probably feel like a different person than we were even 11 or 12 months ago.And I think that compounded over a lifetime really shapes who we ultimately become and who we are for those around us.
That's really important.I'm going to push a little bit.Do you think that we become different people or do you think that we are discovering who we actually are?
I think a little bit of both.I think I think we have a
kind of an identity and we have potential, but I think that there's a lot of times where we don't really touch on that potential or we just, we kind of leave that a lot of it untapped, you know, in, you know, we choose to kind of go with the familiar or with the comfort comfortable of, you know, kind of going through my day to day, coming home.
I like my routine.I like, I like sleeping in a little extra in the mornings. you do all these things.
And so I don't know that change or adversity necessarily changes us, but I think it maybe opens us up to another area of ourselves that we maybe otherwise wouldn't have tapped into.
I think that, I mean, I agree with that.
I think that for me, the change that I've had, particularly both sides, professionally and personally, I think I, in some cases, it led me back to my past where I actually knew who I was and what I wanted and what I wanted out of life.
So part of it, I feel sometimes going back, but almost like strong enough to stand up for that person.And then part of it is also maybe what you're calling potential of. I didn't know I was capable of certain things.And then suddenly I realized I am.
And so I think they're right.I think it's a combination.
It's funny too, because, you know, recently I've really, I've been inspired and, you know, again, congratulations to your father for getting his citizenship.
And just in the past week, you know, hearing your stories and seeing your excitement has really kind of made me think about my grandfather, like I mentioned, going through that process.
And then, you know, all the doors that opened for his children and now his grandchildren.I look back and I don't know if you ever do this, but I think back to like, what if he would have never taken that leap of faith or done that change?
how different it would have been for him, but also, and I think, oh, he would have never met my grandma, and then my mom wouldn't have been here, then I wouldn't have been here, and so it's interesting, because I don't know if you ever think about that with your dad and how different life would have been, but sometimes those changes are just, I mean, like you said, you can't imagine life before them.
I think about it all the time.Have you seen that movie, the butterfly effect with Ashton Kutcher?
It's like the ripple effect, like one little thing and it changes everything.It's a little bit dramatic and hopefully life is not that dramatic.Maybe it is, but I do think about it a lot, especially because you do identify your families.
You're there from Mexico.Is that right?Yeah.My mom says your mom says from Mexico.So given that Mexico is so close by, you can almost very directly see the difference. I don't know how you feel about this.
I'll just give my opinion and then you can give yours.There is a difference between being Mexican from a border town, which is where my parents are from, versus a city more inland or further south.
There is also a difference between being Mexican-American at a border town versus somewhere else.And so I identify as Mexican-American from a border town.And so I always felt as if I could have very easily been in Mexico and lived my life there.
And you also always feel like you don't fit in, right?Because you're not fully American, you're not fully Mexican, you're this in between.So I don't know how you identify and if you've ever had those feelings as well.
Yeah, it's interesting because I think being kind of like brown complexion based on the different places I've lived, people have always kind of assumed I'm different.
So when I was in LA, I was interning, I was living in Westwood, had a lot of Persian friends.And so people just kind of assumed I was Persian.I was up in the Bay Area.A lot of people assumed I was like Punjabi or different types of South Asian.
And then now being back in SoCal, I do kind of, people assume a little more like Hispanic, but it's funny how you mentioned some of those different identities because my grandfather was born in Chihuahua, which was a little deeper in Mexico.
And then they came through Mexicali and then came to the US.And so at different times, you know, He was very proud of the journey to be an American citizen, but he also maintained his like heavy Mexican pride.
But then when he would go back, especially deeper into Mexico to visit his brothers and different loved ones, that over time that people there started to tell him that he had become Americanized.
And so it became kind of this like identity crisis where like through the change, like you were kind of an outsider in both worlds. But through that, then you became part of like a different community of all those people who had done that change.
And so in that sense, like I really felt like inspired and connected to your story.It's like because you hear other people are in those stories.You're like, oh, those are my people.
That's what I do love that the world is that's the part of the world being more connected that I love.Right.When I think about this is going to go in a slightly different direction, but one of the reasons I loved YouTube so much.
Was because we learned about all these micro communities that popped up where, you know, a content creator was sharing their story or their passion about something, and it could be something really small and.
off the beaten path and then suddenly they were connected to people around the world and that were super passionate.
So to your point, like the more that we share our stories, whether it's through these like podcasts or YouTube or whatever it may be, you hopefully will find more people that are like you and it, there's nothing better than feeling like you belong, especially when you feel like an outsider all the time.
I'm glad your grandfather had that.
The other thing I was going to push you on, cause I thought it was really interesting.You, you said you're either, Nothing ever stays the same.There's something, everything's always changing.And you said you're either getting better or getting worse.
I think I've heard that before, but I haven't processed it fully until you just said it right now.Do you really believe that?
I do.I mean, because I think, I mean, the way I've always thought about it, kind of a competitive perspective is that, you know, the competition is never standing still.
So maybe you personally aren't getting better or worse, but you know, in your specified, whatever it is, so whether it's, you know, training for a marathon, whether it's, you know, attacking a project at work, whether it's, you know, being a parent,
that, you know, there's, I think when you, the bar around us, I think like there's always people that are, are striving and kind of pushing.
And so I think in terms of kind of like we said, like reaching our potential, if that's the bar, like we're either getting closer to reaching that or we're getting further away.And so I don't know that
maybe worse isn't, you know, cause I don't know, there's not like a bad connotation, but either I think we're getting either closer to that full kind of actualization or we're getting, you know, kind of a way.
And I think we can also, and what's interesting about that is I think through our personality and the way we feel, you kind of intuitively know when you're on either end of that spectrum, when you really feel like you're driving and you're in control and Hey, I'm doing these things, you feel good and you feel,
accomplished and you show up better to your, your team and your, your family and all that.
And on the other side, when you feel like, I know there's things that I should be doing or that, you know, I'm neglecting and that, or there's change and I'm nervous about it.And I don't know what this means for me.That's when we become anxious.
And, um, and so I think it's interesting how that kind of feeling the middle, how it manifests in, um, how we show up to the world.You can feel it physically, physically, emotionally.And I think others around you can sense it. the energy.Exactly.
And it really is magnetic.And that's why I think we're so attracted.
And even like when you mentioned people like Susan, we're attracted to people who are visionary, who are, you know, raising the bar, who are finding a way to do things that seem unattainable to those around them.
And that, you know, every time there's a change, they always seem to come out better on the other side.And everyone's intrigued by like, what's different about those people.And I think there's a lot to learn from them.
What do you think is different?
I think it's really those.I mean, I think that they make the best of every situation, that they know that they're one, that they're visionary.So they see change coming before it comes.They adapt quickly.
and that they're willing to kind of change, they're willing to make changes in core areas of their lives.
And I think the other part is like, and this is where I was really inspired by, again, just Susan's story, hearing you talk about it and seeing all the posts on LinkedIn, it just, it seemed like she was really clear in her priorities too.
Like, you know, she was an executive, but she took mentorship really serious.She took being a mom really serious.
And so also I think having your priorities straight, no matter, we hear a lot about principles or what are your personal guiding principles, but then when change comes, it's like, all right, these changes are happening at work.
I'm shutting down at this time and I'm going to go be a mom, you know, and it doesn't matter, you know?And so when you can implement that structure and discipline, it makes you more adaptable to whatever comes.
Do you have a sense of what your principles are?
You know, I, I do.I, um, I, and I think, I mean, that's part of like the fun of change is I think, um, you know, you're, if you're figuring some of it out, but I, I think number one for me is always family.
Um, and my family's number one, I'm a big in my faith.I not necessarily like super religious, but I'm definitely, um, like faith and like belief in a bigger picture and a bigger plan.And then, um,
really big on just kind of, like I mentioned, like, you know, finding new challenges for myself, like you and I were even, I was slacking you on Friday of like, signed up for a half marathon, like just fun stuff that's just like, people like, why would you do that right now?
But just fun things that like, you know, you're just finding reasons to push yourself, challenge yourself.And I think when you're always doing that, it just becomes part of it.So then when a curveball comes, you're used to being uncomfortable.
And so creating those situations where you can be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Is that your approach to life?
That really is.I'm just reading another book recently called Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways, but it basically talks about two things.One, how do you get comfortable being uncomfortable?
what precipitates that is putting yourself in uncomfortable positions.So in order to be comfortable being uncomfortable, you need to push yourself to be uncomfortable.And so absolutely.
I mean, I think, um, and I think you and I have like similar, I've had some similar journeys where I look back on my life or friends or family back.
And they say sometimes like, you know, it seems like you've lived multiple lives between different stops and different. But it doesn't feel like that when you're in the moment.
You're just going, but you're kind of thinking about what's next or what can I do to push myself or what is something that would be a good challenge in whatever area I want to focus on.
And then just not overthinking it, just doing it and then figuring out how and through that process, you grow.
You've talked a lot about competition and pushing yourself and making yourself uncomfortable, but I want to be very clear, you're competitive with yourself.
I think what's, when I was thinking about your values, the other thing I would probably say is you care a lot about bringing people along, not just people in your community, but even just an Intuit across our team, you try to create culture.
And so it's interesting because Yes, it sounds like you have a very high bar for yourself and you're competitive and you push yourself, but you're not doing it in a way that's putting other people down, comparing yourself to other people.
So how have you been able to do that?Because I think oftentimes when people are so laser focused on winning, they'll do it at no holds bar and they'll just, you know, hit people at the knees and you don't do that.You're the opposite.
How have you been able to do that?
I feel like as a leader, that is my role is to figure out how to get. the maximal output by delivering and also, you know, with the most satisfaction to the team.
So, you know, it's like we've all been part of the team, see where you're like, Oh, we got a ton done, but everyone's burned out.
And so how to find that right balance where everybody really feels like you're in kind of in a groove, you know, and those are the best teams where you just feel like it doesn't almost feel like work anymore.
Like you just feel like you're, you're coming, these are your friends, you're figuring stuff out, you're working together.And that's truly where the magic happens.
I love teams too.I love team sports, working in teams, et cetera.It's great.Not everybody likes that.I think we're lucky that we like it.
I love it.I mean, you and I have talked about this a lot, but I mean, I was at first, like everyone during the pandemic, it was like, you know, it was kind of nice having a little bit of freedom, work from home, all of that.
But I pretty quickly started going crazy of like, you know, I need to be around people.I love that, you know, that team feeling.
I like being a walk around, see the whites in each other's eyes, um, and just checking on people and, you know, really just. aside from work and just being able to, I mean, it's like a little fist bump.
And yeah, to me, that goes a long way, you know, of just maintaining that connectivity.
Or tapping your coworker on the shoulder and making her think you're one way when you're the other way.
I would never, I would never.
And I fall for it every single day. Why did you pick tech?And yeah, why did you pick tech?I have a hypothesis, but I'd love to hear from you.
Yeah, you know, it's interesting because I was one of the first major kind of changes or pivots in my life.So growing up, I was a basketball player for most of my life.
like elementary, junior high days, was on a pretty good travel teams, got to travel a lot of the United States.I was pretty serious about basketball.And I was, I was tall for my age.I was about this tall in seventh, eighth grade.
And so people thought, you know, you're going to be seven feet tall, you know, you're going to do all these things.And then I kind of stopped growing.So by how tall are you?I'm about 6'1", 6'2".
Yeah, but by, by like, end of our freshman year of high school, most of my teammates had like, caught up or passed me.And, and so then it was kind of like, you know, I wanted to get football a shot.
So freshman year of high school was the first year I played football.And then after that first year, had some coaches, some really good football coaches that basically told me like, you know, hey, six foot two,
you know, forwards don't typically go on to play college basketball, but six foot two tight ends do.So if you're really thinking about it, maybe, you know, think about how to, um, like where you want to focus your time.
And so I continue doing football, basketball track, but really focusing on football and then. fortunate to play in college.Going into my senior, I guess my fourth year, I redshirted my first year.So it would have been my redshirt junior year.
I tore my ACL the first time.So that was kind of a first setback.Went through the rehab process, came back, was a gung-ho to play my senior year and then tore it again.So re-tore the ACL.
So then it kind of like medically at that point ended my football career. But so through that, had the opportunity, I ended up TAing for a, actually a marketing professor, Professor Stern Neal, great guy.So I keep in contact with him.
And then through that, he ended up, through my TAing with him, he was getting internship opportunities, which, and he had gotten in for an internship at Symantec.So he made the connection.
You basically open the door and then that was my first into tech, interned with Symantec down in their Culver City, LA office.
And then after the conclusion internship, got an offer to come join their customer experience team based up at their headquarters in Mountain View.And that was the start of my tech career.
And it's interesting because at the time too, thinking like, I actually thought that was a pretty like, I was pretty disappointed by that whole transition because I was really good.
But I look back and I'm like, it's probably the best thing that ever happened to me.So again, it kind of is like how we embrace change.
I was going to push on that.I think I've heard of stories, similar stories where someone was an athlete in college or in high school and they have an injury and then they, life continues because life doesn't stop and you have to figure it out.
but I can imagine it was very painful, right?You had your first injury, you worked your butt off, I imagine, to get back to shape.
And so how did you feel when that happened and what advice would you give to people of how you kind of picked yourself back up and stayed focused so that you could do something else with your career?
Yeah, I mean, at the time, I mean, like as a, whatever, 21 year old, it's probably pretty devastated.I remember like, I remember at the time, like they thought I had torn maybe like a, like an MCL or a meniscus or something.Then they called.
They said, good news.Your MCL is not torn, but your ACL is.It's like, oh, all right.Well, but, um, but I also remember like, and even now this quote, I mean, somebody told me at the time I was in college and it's kind of stuck with me.
It's, um, basically like the best chapter in your life hasn't even happened yet.And, and so as I think about that, it's like, um, so at the time it was pretty devastating, you know, but as I look back, like I said, I mean, it's like,
I still feel like I'm relatively early in my corporate career, about 11 years in, but it still feels like I look back and I'm like, I would have not had any of those experiences if I would have gone this route that I, in my mind, had devised for myself.
And so a lot of that is really being adaptable, trusting the universe and making the most out of whatever situation you find yourself in.
And please correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you probably were also surrounded by people that cared about you because you had invested in those friendships or relationships.Someone sent you that great quote.
Because for me personally, and maybe I'm projecting, whenever I've had a really difficult time, and even in the last couple of years when I've had some really difficult personal changes,
I've been so grateful that I invested so much in my friendships and they could help guide me when I couldn't see the end of the line of the tunnel.They're like, it's there.I promise I see it.Just keep going.
So I don't know if that was the case for you.
Absolutely.I mean, that was a huge part of it of having really good friends and family around.And then just like, like I mentioned mentors, but, um, I think a big part of like getting good mentors early in my career was.
And I was doing this kind of unintentionally because I was just coming from like football world.So it just kind of carried over.
But almost being like strong leaders, you know, obviously have certain just principles that they live by structure, discipline, consistency, balance, like all these things drive.
And so the more that these people can see themselves or early version themselves in you, the more that they want to kind of pull you up, right?Because they see this person reminds me of me when I was coming out of college, this person reminds me.
And so coming out, that was very much the attitude I had of, Hey, like, you know, wanting to raise my hand for everything.And, you know, people are going running at 5am.I'll be there.You know, I'm not a runner.I'm going, Oh, we're doing.
And so by doing that, it started creating these doors where pretty quickly, you know, you're, now you're running with all your execs and you're doing marathons with your
And it was not at all like, you know, this wasn't me trying to, you know, be conniving or trying to like, you know, be, it was just like, literally like, Hey, like, I'm, I want to push myself.This is what you guys are doing.
I want to do what you guys are doing.And I want to experience it, put myself.And I just think the more that you do that, that that connection start to happen.They sense your hunger.They see what you're about. you are being inspired by them.
And in turn, you end up starting to kind of motivate each other.You know, and that's what I think strong mentorship is.It's not just one way of mentors telling you is like they're also getting inspired by your drive, your hunger.
And that's and that's where that's what makes them want to kind of pull you up.
I don't think I've ever heard mentorship described that way.That's lovely.I think you're right.It's rewarding on both sides.
Tell me about your half marathon before I let you go.When is it?
Yeah, I'm so excited.November, I think, 2nd or 3rd.As of this morning, good forcing functions to get out, get my runs in, and I'm looking forward to it.Apparently, it's the Mission Bay Half Marathon.
I think it's the Kaiser, so a little plug for the half marathon here, but apparently the most scenic trail in San Diego, so I think that's interesting.I think there's a 5 and a 10K as well.
There you go.Let's do it.Let's sign up.November 2nd?I can do it.Let's do it.It'll be fun.
Let me be very clear.I think there's a 10K.
I could do a 10K.What is that?
I think about six.Yeah, around six.
I will consider your proposal, but I will definitely do a 5K.
It'll be a good reason for us to go get brunch after and guilt free.
I mean, I do that after a mile. Favorite brunch spot in San Diego.
Favorite brunch spot in San Diego.I'm a big breakfast burrito guy, actually.So I love I have a spot here that I kind of been going to Burrito Santana.It's been like my go to.I'll pick up a burrito and go down to the beach on Sundays.
They have a great cash brown and bacon burrito.But what's yours?Which of you could have one kind of food?
I love so much food.I really love, I love avocado toast so much.It's so delicious, but I'm really into protein now because I work out so much.So I always have to have eggs as well.So if I have avocado toast, I have to have eggs on the side.
This was awesome.Do you want to say anything else?You didn't talk about your mom that much.Do you want to say anything about your mama?
Yeah, my mom was my everything.My mom had me when she was about 22.So she was really young, um, you know, early in her career.And so I look back, I was actually just joking with her.
We were together last weekend and I was thinking, man, mom, like when you were my age, you already had an 11 year old.And so, um,
I look back and I say, I definitely, like I said, I'm mauled by everything, but I definitely, especially later in life now or as we're growing, I've appreciated the sacrifices and what she did to make sure that I always had good dinners, always had home.
whatever struggles adults have, be it financially, be it personally, all of those, they always did a really good job of shielding me and really focusing on just allowing me to have childhood and lessons and sports and all of that.
And so I just appreciate how much my mom was doing behind the scenes to really allow and to just invest in just becoming the person that I'm still working on becoming today.
I was going to say you were lucky, but my friend told me to stop saying that.He said it's blessed is the right word.So it sounds like you're very blessed with both of your parents.
You should come visit.I want to meet your mama.
Yeah.You would love her.She would love you.Kind of an interesting connection.Her middle name is Sylvia.I think I've told you.Yeah.Ramona Sylvia.So yeah.
I don't know a lot of Sylvia's.Yeah.We need to meet.We'll take her to go get breakfast burritos.Does she speak Spanish?
Yeah, that was her first language.Cool.Yeah.
We'll talk bad about you.
Well, that's what's funny, too, is so like my grandparents and all the siblings, all of their children, Spanish was obviously there, all of their first language.And they spoke it.And then when the grandkids came, they never really taught us.
And it was more of like, I think, one, they wanted us to really embrace English.But two, they also liked having the like they could talk about whatever.So it would go from English.
And then we'd come in the room and they'd all say like, Orejas, Orejas.And then they would all start speaking Spanish. Yeah, so the later life though, that my grandparents started giving us, I was like, why don't you guys ever learn Spanish?
And we're like, well, you guys didn't teach.
And because they wanted to be able to gossip, the chismis.
Yeah, like orejas.So that was still our kind of joke.
That's amazing.I my kids don't know because their dad doesn't speak Spanish.And so we made the choice that as a family, we're going to speak English, but I really want them to speak Spanish.So I play Spanish music every single day and they sing it.
They don't know what they're saying.And sometimes it's good because sometimes it's inappropriate lyrics.But I think it's I'm going to try and we'll see what happens.But culture is really important to me.
It doesn't mean you can't embrace your culture if you don't speak the language.It's just sometimes you can understand it a little bit better. But we celebrate like Dia de Muertos and Tres Reyes Magos.
I don't know if you grew up doing that, but it's it's lovely.I really love our culture.
Yeah, we see like the Posadas and all that around the holidays.And yeah, to teach them young, it's a lot easier.
It is.We're going to celebrate Mexico Independence Day next month.So I'll let you know.
Awesome.Yeah.Well, thank you.And thanks for doing all this, Silvia.This has been a great way for us all to to learn more about you and learn about each other.And so that's just a great project and just thing that you're doing.
Thank you.Shout out to Tony.He's going to be so excited to listen to this episode.
The fearless leader that we've referred to multiple times.
He was like, oh, you're doing your first Intuit interview.I was like, yeah.So anyway, thank you for everything, Brock.You're an amazing buddy.And so I think I'm thriving.Hopefully other people think I'm thriving.
And it's a lot because you were so welcoming and I feel like I could be my real self with you at work and that's super valuable.So thank you.
Awesome.Yep.And you're absolutely killing it.So keep it up and look forward to coming back on after our marathon.
We could talk about maybe a 10K.What was it?No, not 10K.What is it?Yeah, maybe a 10K.I'll let you know.
We'll give an update to this audience.
Thanks, Brock.I'll see you tomorrow.
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