Ric Elias

I really had this thought is, wow,

I was not scared.

And I thought it would be super scary.

And I was certain.

And the feeling was actually sadness.

The feeling was somehow I had missed my opportunity to leave my mark in this world.

I had not focused on whatever my purpose was meant to be.

I was so busy accumulating, doing the things that society asked me to do, that I have forgotten that I actually can leave this place, this world, a little better than I found it for my existence.

And to me, that's the only meaning of life.

And that manifested itself on my kids.

I really justify myself being a light 5% of the parenting.

My wife carried the load and she did an incredible job.

But I felt like, oh, I'm doing this side of the equation and she does that side of the question.

And I was like, I've changed dramatically.

My relationship with my kids right now is fantastic because I realized that that to me is my purpose.

But my purpose is also this business.

I am here 24 years later and as engaged as I am because I believe that this place is a place of good.

It's a place of good where you come here, you get invested in, you get trained, you graduate, you do great things.

And hopefully you do it in a way that is honorable and ethical and purposeful.

I believe that all this random success I've had, because it's more random than not, is an opportunity to actually put it back into the system in ways.