The Determined Society with Shawn French
Rising from the Trenches: John Huffman’s Journey from Struggle to Success on The Determined Society
Mon, 09 Dec
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In the latest episode of The Determined Society, host Shawn French interviews John Huffman, a local entrepreneur and CEO of Huffman's Construction Group in Naples, Florida. John shares his emotional journey from a troubled youth to a successful businessman and community leader. He speaks candidly about his struggles with addiction, the turning points in his life, and the role of faith in his transformation. The episode is a compelling story of resilience, hope, and the importance of community and mentorship. Shawn and John also dive into the significance of having systems and processes and how they can lead to personal and professional growth. Grateful for his family, John's story is a testament to the power of determination and the impact of positive influences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What experiences shaped John Huffman's entrepreneurial spirit?
I was an entrepreneur, always was an entrepreneur. And that was some of my trouble that I got into, was entrepreneurial in the wrong areas. But it's still entrepreneurial. But it's entrepreneurial. I became everything I ever made fun of. I promised myself something as a child, even in detention centers. I always knew I was going to be somebody. Like, I just know.
I was just trying to take the shortcuts. Right. I like wanted to play Scarface. And then before I got shot, just take all that money and invest it in a legal form. But obviously that's a movie and Scarface gets shot. So anybody that's trying to do that, you're going to die or go to prison. Just telling you. Don't do it. Don't do it. Sharp French, what up?
This one's luck, I let the pain inspire me. I put my all in everything I'm doing. Up until it's done, I mean for the entirety. I put in overtime. I be working. Just know I'm a gopher, man, because I earned it. They watching. I know it's time. I confirmed it. The whole society determined. Determined society.
What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of The Determined Society. I'm your host, Sean French, and I'm excited to bring to you an amazing guest today. But before I introduce him, please, if you aren't already following the show, hit subscribe on Follow It and on Apple or Spotify or even YouTube. Let us know what you think about it.
The only way we're growing right now is by you guys showing us love. And I'd appreciate it. Follow all of our socials at The Determined Society on Instagram and at TheSeanFrench. on Instagram as well. So without further ado, let me get to the meat and potatoes of today. I have my boy John Huffman here today. He's local here in Naples, Florida with me. He's the CEO of Huffman's Construction Group.
Completely turned his life around. I think you're really going to enjoy his story, but man, welcome to the show, buddy. Man, I appreciate it, man. Thanks. It's an honor for being here, bro. That's for sure.
It's an honor sitting in front of you, man. I want to publicly acknowledge you real quick. I just want to thank you for bringing me into your event at Speak Life. Yeah, man. A couple Fridays ago. Yep.
here in Naples you didn't have to do that but you know he had an event for the local entrepreneurs pouring into them for their business and he let me in for free and I just want to say thank you for that that meant a lot to me and just to get to meet you and just hear a little bit more about your story and get a little bit of the infectious energy dude it was cool did you okay hold on you cracked me up I gotta tell you this I'm gonna say this in front of everybody now so you guys listen to me it's true and you're gonna see it after I say it
Dude, you got like a white Kevin Hart energy. Bro. Like, dude, when you're on the stage, you're like, my little meep meep. I'm like, come on, man. Come on. Come on. So my cousins and people that are close to me all call me the white Kevin Hart. Dude. No, Jake, you are. Dude, you are. And it's funny. I need that Kevin Hart money, though. Bro, dude, come on. Who doesn't?
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Chapter 2: How did addiction impact John's life journey?
I always knew I was going to be somebody. Like, I always knew, like, I just know. Like, I was just trying to take the shortcuts, right? I, like, wanted to play Scarface, and then before I got shot, just take all that money and invest it in a legal form. And, like, that was my mindset, right? Right, got it, yeah. But obviously, that's a movie, and Scarface gets shot.
So anybody that's trying to do that, you're going to die or go to prison, just telling you. Okay. Don't do it. Don't do it. So 24, man, 24 years old, I became everything I ever made fun of. And what was that? Man, I was smoking crack, dude. Oh, shit.
You went down that motherfucking road. Right, bro. Like, dude, I went from just slinging powder. And then what happened, what my demise was, doctor shopping. You know, this is 15, 16 years ago. I would go over to the East Coast. They gave, you know, they coached you along. You got oxy, you know, codone, and we called them blues.
And, well, I would take people with me and pay for all their, you know, cigarettes.
scans and everything and then I would take them monthly pay for their scripts and give them 10 so I was able I had bodies so it was all a hustle it was all a hustle it started out as a hustle it's a good hustle yeah but I started taking them jokers man and I hated coke I hated coke because I'm you could tell I'm energy you're already on that give me coke I'm I'm stuck like I'm gonna take that energy drink yeah dude I'm you know so when I took the blues
It worked. Yeah.
So I started getting high on my own supply. And that's what I tell people that I teach is like, do you think I woke up at 19 years old? Man, I can't wait to be a crackhead. No, I had dreams and aspirations. That's why addiction is so scary. Nobody knows they're about to walk into what they're walking into. The enemy comes beautiful. He comes with a pretty red dress or a nice suit and he dances.
And one day he looks at you and pulls the mask off and says, you're stuck. And that's kind of what happened. So I found myself secluded, messed up. I always had a pocket Jesus. I'd pull them out and negotiate. If you get me through this, you know what I mean? And I always believed in the fire insurance.
And one thing that I believed is like, well, you said in your bird that if I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart, you would forgive me. So about my prayer consisted of, before I go to sleep, Lord, forgive me of all my sins. That way, if I die tonight, at least I get to go to heaven.
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Chapter 3: What role did faith play in John's transformation?
So yeah, we're, we're going to be doing that with me, you know, and the goal is to get me down to 12%.
Yeah. Let's go. Yeah. You get a little bit of help, plus, you know, you eat right and do the right habits. You're all good. And, like, last night, man, I did all good yesterday. Like, I'm the lowest I've ever been. Muscle mass, all. Like, I sparred last Friday. I left the MMA gym feeling, like, on cloud nine. I'm 41. Do you go to Evolution? Yeah, I go to Evolution. I met those guys.
Yeah, they're great. They're great. Well, and Levi. Levi's the man. Dude, I coached. at the high school he went to. He was playing football when I was in baseball.
Yeah, I think that's how we connected. I think that was it. Was it? Because I've been helping Levi get ready for his fight. I'm on the fight team. No way. Yeah, I'm on the fight team. Obviously, I'm not getting in a cage, but I give the guys good rounds. You know what I mean? Do you think? I don't know. I remember spotting you on there, though. I don't know. I don't know. I think it was before.
It could have been. I don't know. But anyway, go ahead. But yeah, anyway, like, so yeah, man, I had a damn mom. My wife came home. I had a salad with some chicken on it for dinner. Good meal. Yeah.
Right. For lunch. Did my five meals. She brought home someone from church, Jesse, the worship leader at New Hope, made her homemade cinnamon rolls. That's not cool, dude. So she brought them home. It's like 6.30. I look at them. I say, no, I'm going to win this. Nine o'clock. Nine o'clock, dude.
Nine o'clock. So I was like one spoonful. So I took a spoon and cut it and ate it. Next thing you know, the whole damn thing was gone. But here we are. I was like, I'm jogging tomorrow in the morning.
But that's the thing. It's like, But I also want people to understand to give themselves some grace too. Like, you know, we had a Friendsgiving at a really good friend's house last night. I had the turkey, the ham, and a small bit of the sweet potato casserole that I made. But I didn't have the sweets and I was fine with it. I was fine with it. Went home, you know, I wasn't extra tired.
You know, this morning I woke up, had a good meal. My wife made avocado toast with some eggs and, you know, and then I had, you know, something at the deli, the salad place down the street and, and I feel good, you know, but I think it's all important.
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Chapter 4: How did John overcome his struggles and find hope?
It's me and my wife pretty much now. Yeah, dude.
It's so weird. You mentioned, like, somebody unfollowed me. Like, it's... This one I took personal. Yeah. You know, because I see the dude all the time and I never knew it. I shake his hand. And the last time I shake his hand, I saw, like, this weird vibe. And then somehow I just saw that he, like, unfriended me on Facebook. You know, unfollowed me on socials. Like, I bet. I'm like...
I guess it's suffocating you, maybe it's something I said, but for me it hurts because I know my heart, right? I know I'm not a bad person and it's just like, And it's also kind of like, okay, Sean, drop the bullshit. Like if you don't like, if you're not for him, you're not for him.
And, you know, and this was like when I was, you know, like I told you I was eating bad and like I was just not doing what I was supposed to. All of a sudden I start exercising again. I started eating well again. And now it's like, fuck it. Don't care. Don't care. Like if he doesn't like me, don't like me. But like, that's the thing, dude, we lose people, but we gain so many more.
And a lot of the people that, you know, that are in my circle now, like, or even in the past, I know I can't call them, but I know I could call you. Amen. Absolutely. It's strange how life works like that, man.
And I'll tell you, you know, God showed me this recently. You know, the first thing I do in the morning, you know, I get creative. That's my creative time with the creator. You know, I always say that we were made in his image. He is a creator, which he's created us to create, right? Um, and the, the thing is, is he showed me, he said, I'm going to take you here.
This is the vision that I've given you, but until you're okay with not being light, I can't take you there because you're going to take everything personal.
And I'm on that journey right now. I'm not going to lie. Cause it happened. I'm thinking about it. Like, as you're speaking, like it happened multiple times and it's like, and I cared too much. That's just the, you know, I think it's okay to care. You're passionate, man. But, I'm still learning not to take it personal.
Yeah, that's the thing. I'm there with you, too, because I feel like I'm ready. I'm like, Lord, I'm ready. Let's take this thing nationwide. Let's go. And he's like, yeah, you ain't ready yet. I got to sharpen you a little bit, and I got to mold you. You're in training, baby. You're in training camp. It's crazy.
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Chapter 5: What systems and processes contributed to John's success?
That's why. Yeah. And I'll tell you, man, it's, it's a fundamental practice, man. It, It's better to give than receive. What you paint in the ground, man, it's popping up. God commands us. He commands us. It's not a request. He commands us. He says, bless the poor. How the hell am I supposed to bless the poor if I'm poor? It says a righteous man, a righteous man, right? And the word says...
Our righteousness is like filthy rags. There's only two places where it says you're righteous. Abraham was righteous by faith. It says a righteous man falls seven times and seven times he gets back up. So it says someone who fails is willing to get back as righteous. Then it says a righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. See, that's the key. That's a legacy.
There it is. It's a legacy. It's his principles. So if you're thinking, how do I serve? How do I give? And how do I make sure my children's children are taken care of financially and spiritually? You're passing on your characteristics, the things that you spoke and sewn into their heart, their beliefs. That is the legacy. It is, man. It's so simple. And I say it's simple, but it's not easy.
Well, I mean, my buddy Matthew Haddon is always like, I said simple, not easy. Matthew, I'm not coining it, but dude, it's not original. I love you. I'm just kidding, buddy. Hey, truth is truth. But dude, like, yeah, like what is simple is never easy, right? It's working out simple. It's not easy. Yeah. Diving simple. It's not easy. Everybody knows how to do it. Yeah.
You say you don't know what to do. You're full of shit. You don't want to do it. You eat less calories than you burn. And you prioritize protein and healthy carbohydrates, not processed foods. It's not rocket science. Here I am fat right now. but we're getting there. It's easy. It's simple. It's not easy.
I appreciate you, man. Um, you know, I want real quick, um, before we land the plane for you to tell the audience one where they can find you on socials and then also how they can actually work with you on Huffman speaks your coaching program.
Yeah, man. So, uh, john Huffman speaks.com. You can go on there and fill out an application. Check me out, man. I do multiple things. Um, come in, train your teams. I have group coaching, um, Man, we talk about process systems. Mine, it's a weekly call Wednesday, every Wednesday from 7.30 to 9. It's very affordable. In the morning? In the morning. Yep. Yep. Thank you for that.
And yeah, man, at real John Huffman. on instagram facebook john huffman um tick tock the real john huffman and uh johnhuffmanspeaks.com yeah and then and if anybody your viewers are looking for a renovation man i have a construction company um This is what we do. We transform homes, man. So naplesconstruction.net is how you can look that up too.
Okay, cool. Well, there you have it, guys. Again, reach out to my boy, John, if you have any needs. All of that information will be in the show notes. You can just click the links, go check him out, but definitely give him a follow and listen to his positivity. I just want to thank you guys so much again for listening and joining me today as I speak to my boy, John, here.
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