The Klimb with Adrian Branch

Redefining Rejection: Turning Setbacks into Setup

• Adrian Branch • Season 1 • Episode 4

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What does it take to rise from sleeping on a chair in the Bridgeport, CT projects to becoming a three-time All-American, professional athlete, author, entrepreneur, and pastor? Chuck Hatchett's transformative journey reveals the power of resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Born to a teenage mother and raised in crowded project housing where drug dealers told him "no one makes it out of here," Chuck developed an extraordinary work ethic that earned him recognition as a four-star linebacker with approximately 60 college scholarship offers. His path took a heartbreaking turn when academic challenges forced him to return home from the University of Oregon, followed by going undrafted by the NFL despite consistent interest from NFL teams.

Rather than allowing rejection to define him, Chuck embraced these setbacks as opportunities for growth. "There's no such thing as failure to an individual that never gives up," he shares, a philosophy that guided him to success in the Canadian Football League and beyond. A profound spiritual experience at age 20 became the foundation for his life's work, including founding WON Nutrition and developing the M3 Mindset mastery program now implemented in schools and organizations.

Perhaps most remarkable is Chuck's extraordinary discipline. Rising at 3:30 AM daily, beginning with Bible study and weight training, he structures every minute intentionally. "Discipline is everything. If you have discipline, you can literally win at every aspect of your life," he explains. This approach has enabled him to author four books, mentor dozens of young people, and raise his children with his wife Virginia—all while continuing to pursue athletic excellence as an Olympic hopeful in shot put.

Chuck's story isn't just about overcoming obstacles; it's about transforming them into stepping stones toward an extraordinary life of purpose. As he looks toward the future, he remains focused not on specific outcomes but on becoming the person prepared for whatever opportunities arise: "The individual that I'm becoming will be prepared."

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Welcome to The Climb

Speaker 1

you . Hi everybody , I'm Adrian Branch and welcome to another episode of the Climb , a show that celebrates the resilience of men and women and how they overcome , how they get to where they're going . They don't allow potholes and obstacles to stop them . This show is intentional about bringing you guests where you can identify and have some touch points . We want you to come away from this show saying if they can do it , I can do it too . If they can overcome , I can overcome as well . Having said that , we want to introduce you to a guy who's close to me . I'm so proud of him . He's a colleague , he's a friend and at 35 , he's already so accomplished . But you're going to connect with how he's overcome .

Speaker 1

His name is Chuck Hatchett and he's a fascinating

From Projects to All-American

Speaker 1

person . He's been a three-time All-American at the University of New Haven football linebacker . He's played professional football over in Canada for the BC Lions . He's married to his lovely wife , virginia , and they're three children . And then watch this folks . He's already written four books . He's an entrepreneur , he's a pastor I need a Gatorade , we hadn't even introduced him yet and also he's just an all-around good guy . So , chuck , welcome to the show , brother , I appreciate it . Thank you for having me , man , if I put any more mustard on that introduction , you'd be a hot dog . I'm running out of superlatives for you . You put a little bit on it . Well , chuck , tell us , I know you're from the Northeast . I'm a DC guy from the Northeast as well .

Speaker 2

East Coast Tell us about your story and growing up in Connecticut , I would say you know Connecticut's a beautiful place . It's the four-season state , for sure .

Speaker 1

True , the four-season that we experienced here . Now it's snowinging .

Speaker 2

oh , it's not fun , uh , but you know , growing up in connecticut it was um , it was fun , good and different and , you know , at times dangerous for me I lived in frishport , connecticut .

Speaker 2

Not sure if you know anyone knows where that's at , but they look at connecticut's little dot on the map and then you open that up a little bit and uh , it's the biggest city in the connecticut , I'm not mistaken . And uh , in bridgeport is known for a lot of the bad things that happened there . It's not known for all the great things that used to happen back then , because brisbane was known for a lot of great businesses that used to thrive there and the academic system was pretty good too , but today it's not so much . So I grew up in the projects and to a single mother , my mom .

Speaker 2

She was only 14 years old when she had me Wow and we lived in a three-bedroom , one-bath project housing apartment for several years and I was with my grandmother and my aunts and my uncles and my great-grandmother at the same time and it was a lot of fun in that house . But the house was definitely packed and it was not easy to find a place to sleep . So I always know I find myself at times finding different places to sleep , whether it's on a bunk bed , until the springs just start to come up and start stabbing you in the side , sleeping on the floor . But you know , we have a project , you get roaches and mice , you get all types of stuff , and then I end up sleeping on a chair , a sit-up chair , such as what we're sitting in right now for several years .

Speaker 1

So Connecticut is definitely home , but it has a fair share of what's going on . Let me park there for a minute . I had a teammate , wes Matthews won the championship from Bridgeport , connecticut , and he had a toughness about him . He was a great guy , but he had a toughness . Chuck , before we go any further in the story , I never knew that detail . Mom was only 14 years older than you , so you two almost grew up together . I want to say , but then not being a destination town or people thinking that you're not going to be like Yale University , that's not too far from you , right there . What did that do ? What was the mindset for you ? Because you could have folded the tent and said man , I'm out of here . Nobody thinks I'm going to do anything anyway .

Speaker 2

Yeah , that's such a great question . It was very tough to have a strong mindset and one to get me to where all the accolades that you just named , because in the projects you know , we would hear from other guys that were drug dealers , gangbangers , and they will see me do a little workouts outside because we didn't have no room to put , like the weight room set . So I'll work out with weight room set outside in the projects , in the back , and it would get rustic because the rain will come on , but I'll still use it . Anyway , my hands are turning orange , one of the things I'll hear all the time say yo listen , chuck , you should just stop , because no one makes it out of here .

Speaker 2

Wow , wow Also when you do something pretty good , people just just glance over it like that's nothing , who cares .

Speaker 2

So there wasn't much encouragement and also there was a lot of downplaying of all the things that you were trying to strive for . But I had a great , great family , my mom . She was my biggest cheerleader most of my whole life I would say mostly because my wife is my biggest cheerleader now . My uncles , my uncles were big athletes . Uncle Andre , he played football , my uncle Glenn played track and they were always there at a lot of my games and rooting me on and pushing me forward .

Oregon Heartbreak and Coming Home

Speaker 1

So I want to jump ahead . So this is an interesting story . You were able to accelerate and be in position for a scholarship for Oregon . However , it was a heartbreaking story because of one class . You had to come back home , tell us about Oregon and going all the way from the East Coast to the West Coast and then coming back East .

Speaker 2

It actually goes a little bit farther back . Coming out of high school , I was a four star linebacker , so I was pretty good . I got offered about 60 or so full scholarships from various schools , such as Oklahoma , virginia Tech , uva . A lot of different schools , a lot of great schools , and I couldn't accept one of them because I didn't have the right grade coming out of high school . I had a great SAT score , but I did not have the right GPA to mix with the SAT score , so I chose to go to a junior college in California , santa Monica , shout out to Coach T , who's in heaven right now .

Speaker 2

So we went over there and had the opportunity to make a name for myself again , and now all the schools are coming back . So there was a war between a virtual war , I would say between Kansas State University and University of Oregon . Of course I chose Oregon because they got the great uniforms .

Speaker 1

And Uncle Phil Knight . Don't forget the NILs before it was popular . Yeah , exactly , we always loved the NILs . Okay , okay .

Speaker 2

So I chose to go to Oregon . Get there , okay , okay , wow time .

Speaker 1

And they sent me back home .

Speaker 2

They said you're on academic probation and one of two things only can happen Either A you stay here but you got to pay for the whole semester . B you go back home and you get your grades right at your local community college and try and earn your scholarship back . It's not waiting for me , but you can try and earn it back . Of course I'm from the project .

Speaker 1

I didn't have no money at all .

Speaker 2

I went home and I went to the local community college , hoosatonic , and I did well , I did really well actually . I got on the beans list . It took 17 credits that fall . I was hurt , heartbroken , because I didn't have the opportunity to play football for that whole season and I called back and they said no . They said we would rather take a guy that's a freshman and we have him for five years and turn him into you over the course of five years instead of having you for only two football seasons .

Speaker 1

Stay there for a second , stay there for a second . So you're coming out again with respect , 14-year-old mom , bridgeport , connecticut , and you've got to grind . You finally get to Oregon it's nice to be wanted . Kansas State , oregon Power 5 teams it's nice to be wanted . You get there second time calculus You're trying and it failed . You were rejected . And then you finally overcome For the listeners . Tell us what was your mindset , what was the steps , what was your self-talk ? Were you saying man , that's not the end of my story , that's not the end of my story ? How did you overcome that ? Again , because this is what this show is all about , chuck .

Speaker 2

Oh yeah . So you know , I don't think . At the beginning I thought to myself that the beginning I thought to myself that this isn't the end of my story . I definitely was . I was hurt , very hurt by the decision that you know had transpired and I didn't know what to do . But I knew that I had to do something . And my mom , she told me right to my face . She said look , you know , this is not over .

Speaker 1

Okay , you will get through this . And and I didn't believe her at that time . Yeah , you know , apparently they say all the cute , sweet things all the time . They're supposed to say that , yeah , and I'm her only kid , I'm the only child , oh , I say these things .

Speaker 2

But she was right and all I had to do was , you know , wake up grinding a lot harder than the next

Football Success at New Haven

Speaker 2

person , grinding a lot harder than I've always had , because that was the way my life had to transpire .

Speaker 1

So you weren't afraid of hard work at the time . You weren't afraid of that grind .

Speaker 2

No , that's how I grew up . I grew up like that and my mom , she instilled that strongly into me and it didn't matter to me at all . I was excited . I mean , people think that because I was a good football player , it's because I was blessed with a lot of talent . Yes , that's a part of it , but I had to work so hard to really get to a high level where I can be sought out by these high schools and even from play professional as well . So I just worked hard every single day . I worked out like I do now , three times a day .

Speaker 1

And now you came back home University of New Haven and then was a three-time All-American linebacker .

Speaker 2

Yes , yeah . So I was a preseason All-American , went All-American each year all the years that I was there , and they brought me there when they brought the program back .

Speaker 1

Oh okay , the program wasn't even in existence at the time .

Speaker 2

They didn't have a football team since 2000 or something like that , if I'm not mistaken .

Speaker 1

I think it's been on hiatus for like eight , ten years , got it and they finally brought it back to the NCAA and any team that's new to the NCAA .

Speaker 2

there's Probation .

Speaker 1

Okay , I'm sorry I cut you off . I thought it was probation . Anytime , it's new . You got a hold for a year , so I cut you off . I'm sorry , chuck , say that one again . They did the hold in here . You're right , it was probation .

Speaker 2

But they brought me in for the actual season . So when I came , they were ready to start their regular first season in the NCAA . And that means that a team should be terrible . They should be completely terrible . Right , I get there and you know we had a pretty decent team . We win every game undefeated . We're undefeated , go to the playoffs . Our coach goes head coach of the year . I'm the number one linebacker in the country . I lead the country in tackles and our defense is number one defense in the country for seven weeks . And then we dropped down after losing the first round of the playoffs . To like paying him a five-year penalty .

Speaker 1

Now , at the same time , there's some parallel things , because you're no dumb jock , you're sitting there getting your education and it is in nutrition and psychology . So tell us about that parallel experience , because you know as athletes a lot of times basketball , you play for two hours and you have 22 hours all to yourself . Football , outside of all the training , you train for four hours and then you've got 20 hours all to yourself . How were you able to balance that other part of your life ?

Speaker 2

Honestly , you just have to figure it out . You have to learn to understand that this is only what your life , honestly , you just you have to figure it out . You have to learn to understand that this is only what your life is about . Your life is about school and football , especially being in college . You're not there for no other reason , but you know a lot of college students . They go to college . They think that they're there for the school , the sports and the party , and can you party ? For sure . But when you get to the realization of I'm not really here for anything else besides school and sports , then you can actually really hone in on all the stuff that you got to deal with and be able to do a great job . So I've experienced all the partying stuff out in .

Speaker 1

California and out there . Could you dance ? While you're talking about party , could you dance Thumbs up ? I'm being silly . Okay , the shoulders , the shoulders . Okay , the shoulders . The body's too big . It looked weird . Let me ask you this one , chuck . You allow me to be silly with you . Then , after a success , big success , about 20 minutes from home . Then you tried out for the NFL . The Jets and Atlanta didn't make it . A lot of people could say failed , could have rejected . However , you found success in the Canadian Football League . Again , before we go to that success in Canada , what was that mindset like when you didn't make it , when you got cut ? Tell us about that . I remember being angry . I was angry with my agent . Oh , yeah , my agent .

Speaker 2

I had the opportunity to sign with Joe Flacco's agent and I didn't , because I got tricked , I would say , and even swept off my feet from an agent Okay , I hope you were using a fork .

Speaker 1

You weren't using your hands , chuck . Don't tell me you were using a fork . You weren't using your hands , chuck . Don't tell me you were using your hands . I didn't even know how to grab the stuff , right , okay , so I'm sitting there and I said how should I dress ?

Speaker 2

He said you wear whatever you want . I'm wearing a hoodie , people are wearing like ice clothes . Okay , I didn't know what to do .

Speaker 1

But you know they took be good . We should be a pro trainer and I figured to myself oh , this is going to be great .

Speaker 2

But come to find out he was not one of the greatest agents , not even a great one period , and so I was mad at him . I was mad at God , because I thought that this was my track record , which I was going to be going to , but I finally got to a place where everything was going to start to work out .

Speaker 1

And you're 22 , 21 , 22 , 23

Pro Dreams and Canadian Football

Speaker 1

at the time , 22 years old .

Speaker 2

Okay , 22 years old and so I'm watching a draft and everybody just knew that I was going to get called by the Patriots in round . Seven Patriots came to campus every week . They were on campus every week just to see me checking in with coaches , trainers , professors , you name it . And they're checking in with me . So they're like yeah , we're gonna take you between six round and seven round . We really like you , you know . So just hang tight . One phone call on draft night . Thankfully , the day after I got a call from the Jets so I get on down there to camp and I'm doing my thing . But then they realized they don't want a linebacker , so they released me .

Speaker 2

They called and said hey , we want to try to look at you and the Chargers wanted to look at me as well as a fullback , but I didn't have any film as a fullback . So then all that stuff was going on for several months and then no contract came out of it . So I was really hurt , got a job , started working , but I never gave up on my dream . I said there's still an opportunity , I'm not too late . I'm not too late , I just got to keep working hard . I worked hard . I got invited to your town . I was in maryland of the maryland dc area and for a workout with the British Columbia Lions .

Speaker 2

Oh , they invited me so most guys paid for these type of camps . It was free for me and they were expecting me to show out and I actually did . And they called me that same week when I went to church I'm sitting in church service and I get a phone call I run to the bathroom . They said we sent you this contract , you got to sign it . It was a really nice contract and it flew me over All rookie honors .

Speaker 1

You had big success there .

Speaker 2

Yes , sir , yes sir . It helped us win a really big game out in Calgary and a couple sacks on the quarterback . I just led the league in tackles , especially that week , and it was huge .

Speaker 1

Let me pivot real quick . So after your playing career , this is when it really gets interesting , because all of a sudden you're a young guy but you're still an entrepreneur . When did faith come into play ? Or you always were sensitive to the things of God and the people of God . And then where , since being 35 , and I say this in celebration for the next 12 years how were you able to write three or four books , to get married and raise beautiful daughters and remember , tell Uncle A says , shoot it every time , tell Charlotte , shoot it every time . There you go , pass later . But how were you able to simultaneously , through the heartbreak , continue ? I think about this real quick .

Speaker 1

To this point , chuck , they say pick your grind . You're either going to grind for success or you're going to grind in heartbreak and rejection . And I'm hearing your story and you're not afraid to grind from college , from Bridgeport , from heartbreak , from not being drafted to having the wrong agent . I had that myself . I had a hockey agent that didn't know anything about basketball , but you continue to pick the right kind of grind . So tell us about after that . And you got into the ministry and , man , you have just been blowing it out .

Speaker 2

Yeah , I've been grateful to grow up in a family where they dragged us to church . I would say my grandma didn't play that . She did not play that at all . We couldn't even watch cartoons .

Speaker 2

We could watch TV first for 30 minutes , and then we could watch cartoons . And so I grew up . I believe that I was sensitive to the things of God , for sure , but I was not a Christian . But the Lord radically saved

Faith Journey and Family Life

Speaker 2

me when I was 20 years old . I came home one summer from break in California and I went to church on the hottest day and one of the most amazing encounters I've ever had and from that moment , my whole life just changed .

Speaker 1

Could you say as much without being weird or spooky , or so ? Could you tell us what happened ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , I tried not to be weird or spooky . So that day was a record heat day in Connecticut . I still remember because we always were raised to watch the news before we go outside , so we know how to dress . So I watched the news that that day and they were talking about it was a world record heat day since 1970 , in the 1970s , and it was like it was 99 degrees , zero mile per hour wind , and at the church that I went to was a little storefront church that had wooden pews , no fan , no ac , no vents , and remind you , there's zero mile per hour wind .

Speaker 2

So I go to church . As I'm sitting in church , my hearing goes lost . So I'm touching my ears and I'm thinking that I'm dying in church and I thought to myself what a way to die . I'm dying in church . Maybe I'll go to heaven . Within moments I feel this presence come around me and then the book starts flipping in my lap like this and it slams on Psalm 1 . And that's why I didn't identify that , because there was nothing that can cause the pages to flip , let alone open my Bible .

Speaker 1

Oh , it was flipping by itself , by itself , with no wind .

Speaker 2

No , wind , no air . It was the hottest day and it was zero mile per hour wind . There's no ACs and no fan in the church . You're just sitting there sweating the whole time , and so I stand on Psalm 1 . My hearing came back within moments . The church service was over . I didn't hear not one part of the message . Everybody was clapping . Pastor said have a great , great week . I'm like I didn't hear anything . I don't know what's going on . So I started reading that scripture and the Lord was affirming me , but rebuking me at the same time .

Speaker 2

He said , blessed are those who do not walk , sit or stand with the sinners . And you know that's what I was doing , anyway , you know , even though I was trying not to do what they did , but I would be more blessed if I did not even walk with them or stand with them or sit with them .

Speaker 2

Blessed if I did not even walk with them or stand with them or sit with them , which is and people , they get that mixed up where they think well , aren't you supposed to be telling the sinners about the Lord ? Yes , he's telling you to not have fellowship with them . That's different . Like you literally choosing to go to the club to have a good time , but instead you bringing them to church , like you can still , you know , hang out with them in a sense .

Speaker 2

Got it to church Like you can still , you know , hang out with them in a sense , Got it , but don't let them change you , right ? Wow , and that all happened , changed me from there and at 20 years old I got the gospel and my whole life just changed for the better .

Speaker 1

When did you ? Because you also got married at a young age . So when did you start to engage your family ? When did you start to write your books ? And then I know I'm asking a lot here , and then you've got to tell us about One Nutrition and him . Go back to starting with the family . When did the family , the missus , come into play ?

Speaker 2

My wife . She's been my girl since we were 20 years old . She and I went through middle school and high school together . She was one of the beautiful she was the most beautiful girl in our school Just did not date her because she was the first Bible club starter in our school , one of the top smartest students in our school . But she didn't talk to nobody and I was afraid of rejection so I would not approach her at all . So I did not approach her and then , you know , we ended up working with each other . So we ended up getting in , we started dating and we got engaged , got married right after the draft . Right after the draft , we got married . We were about so . Then we ended up having children for us three years later .

Speaker 1

Wow .

Speaker 2

Charlotte came into the picture , and then Violet came three years after that , and then Evangeline came two and a half years later .

Speaker 1

Did you know that you had an entrepreneurial spirit ? Because now you have a nutrition company and you got to tell us the name and the origin of it . I love what it is . Tell us what it is and how you got the name of that .

Speaker 2

Yeah , so it's One Nutrition

Entrepreneurship and Wellness

Speaker 2

like U-1-W-O-N and it stands for wellness or nothing . Our goal is for you to really strive for wellness , because there's really nothing else in life . A lot of people wish that they had certain things in their lives , but not realizing that the best attribute and the best asset to you is your health and your wellness . If you don't have that , but you have a million or a billion dollars in the bank , what uses it to you ?

Speaker 1

because you can't even spend it , you can't even enjoy it . Can't enjoy it Exactly .

Speaker 2

So that's where we came up with that name . And then the word won , because true wellness is true winning , and so it was like oh , that's perfect , so wellness or nothing , but you truly won if you are striving for wellness , and our goal is to really help you be well physically on the inside , physically on the inside . And so I'm a nutrition and dietetics major from school , and I was a pre-med major to start , so I was studying to be a doctor first , but then I switched it over to nutrition and dietetics to learn more human sciences as well as nutrition science as well .

Speaker 1

How'd you get that H-I-M ? That's the other part of it as well .

Speaker 2

Yeah , so H-I-M . People were like , oh , that's cocky . I so it's him People are like oh , that's cocky .

Speaker 1

I said no , it stands for heaven in motion . Oh Heaven in motion .

Speaker 2

Wow , so him is really pointing to him . So the I is the arrow pointing up .

Speaker 1

Okay , Arrow .

Speaker 2

M . So it's him . Heaven in motion . The goal is to put heaven in motion . We want to do the things that Jesus said . He said to the people that would come to him . He said if you fed that person who was hungry , you fed him .

Speaker 1

If you gave that person who was thirsty something to drink . You gave it to him . If you hold that person who was naked , you did it to him .

Speaker 2

You visited that sick person or that person that was in jail . You did it to him , and a lot of times . We want to do all the glamorous things in church , right or of Christ . We want to , you know , do the prophetic stuff . We want to do the big preaching , the big speaking thing . What about doing these things that really matter to the Lord , which is taking care of those individuals ? Not on camera , no one sees it , no one knows about it . Don't toot your horn at all , only between you and the man upstairs . That's it .

Speaker 1

Let me ask you this , chuck so were you able to leave the past behind ? So the heartbreak where you just identify ? Well , let me go back . So if you had one word where you said in the draft it was angry because you didn't get what you were thinking , like the Patriots . If it was one word when you fell short from Oregon and had to transfer back east , what was that one word ? With the rejection at the time ? For the mindset , I would say it was self-pity . Okay , so there's self-pity there . When you were in high school , going through the Rikes and had to grind and when did you realize , like whoa man , this neighborhood is on . It's like don't start , nothing won't be nothing . What was that one word that you would associate with you growing up right there in Bridgeport ?

Speaker 2

It's hard because my family were the ones that were like the big game .

Speaker 1

So they brought the noise , they brought the noise . Okay , I wasn't really a person that was seen on the outside looking in , I was on the inside looking out , got it . I watched that get made .

Speaker 2

I watched people get shot , all types of stuff For me . I was always told by my mom my mom didn't play that and said you will not be like so-and-so , Got it , Got it .

Speaker 1

And then you know my uncles and them .

Speaker 2

they will always be like . You know , you're the one and I didn't like that at first , because I didn't like people thinking that I'm somebody special over anyone else , Because everyone was special in my opinion .

Speaker 1

But they were always treating me like that . They were just like .

Speaker 2

You can't hear this , you can't watch this , you can't see this Don't come this way .

Speaker 1

Got it so you knew where it was . Now bringing this up , I think this is fascinating . Tell us about this one , Chuck , because you got your degree in nutrition , but also you were aware of psychology , and now you have an M3 program that your university may use as a curriculum and the schools around there . Tell us about that and the genesis of it .

Speaker 2

Yeah , it's amazing , we actually did it at UNH already . So I did their business business class where I talk , know , mastering mindful mindsets for leaders and teams . But , um , you know , it came about because I struggled with mental health when I was a kid . I almost killed myself when I was 16 .

Mindset Mastery and Daily Discipline

Speaker 2

Witnessing , you know , my dad doing those crazy things to my mother and watching what my mom gone through and all the other stuff that transpired . So I literally almost succeeded at killing myself . Thank God that I didn't and as I got older .

Speaker 2

I started realizing that many other young people and even adults are dealing with this , but no one's helping them process it . And I was fortunate to be able to process all the stuff that I went through in my life and so I thought who am I to keep this information to myself ? So that's when I developed M3 to get into schools first and then it just expanded to leaders and teams . I got a chance to speak at PSE&G it's an energy company .

Speaker 2

I went in New Jersey , was teaching them about positive leadership , teaching that to University of New Haven about leadership of leaders , that to University of New Haven about leadership of leaders that have a strong mindset , that are combating against mindset killers and , of course , dealing with the mindset builders to help you war off those mindset killers . And then , of course , helping teens and young adults deal with a rich mindset versus a poor mindset . We also deal with mindset killers , but we also teach them the art of goal setting . A lot of people say that they goal set but they don't know the art of it . There's a reason why many people don't get their goals because they don't understand the art of it , and if that were true , that people would know how to deal with their goals . They would succeed every five seconds .

Speaker 1

We don't see that Double down on that one , because you one time told me that you set your appointments or you set your schedule almost two weeks in advance . So give us , give us a day where you're still a highly competitive Olympic hopeful , where you just tried out for it and fell short this past summer , but you're still working out at a high level . You are an entrepreneur , a dad and a pastor . So give us a Monday through Saturday kind of scenario in your time , because time has to be so important .

Speaker 2

Time is very , very important . So everything , every minute to me counts and every minute to me is precious . So I wake up at 3.30 in the morning from Monday through Friday , every single morning , and I start my time , my day , reading the bible first , while I'm walking on my treadmill , and then I pray , then I get I do one , one very hard task , one of the hardest tasks I have for an hour and then I go work out , um , and so that that's every single day , that that's like that , right . But then there's at least four days out of the week that I'm reaching out to individuals to encourage number one . And then the other part is there's always . You know , I'll give myself between nine and nine hours and eight and nine hours to do work , whether it's certain business work or , you know , speaking in somewhere , in some capacity , for that matter .

Speaker 2

But my kids I play with them about five or six times a month . So I make sure that's scheduled because that's so important . And obviously there are three of them , so they don't necessarily need dad to play in their playroom all the time , but it's very important to me that they see that because it keeps their youthfulness . And then my wife and I we go on dates often several times a month and we have talks every single night . We and she and I will get together , put the kids to sleep and we'll have these elaborate conversations , some of them funny , some of them serious , not like serious between us , but about something that happened in the day or whatever .

Speaker 1

And it's interesting just paying off that point with you and the missus that you guys also have fellowship with other young couples at your house , so much so that you got to shoo them away sometimes about that one and the leadership that you have .

Speaker 2

Yeah , yeah , we would mentor a lot of people our age , our age range or a little bit younger , and they would be at the house . But it was always like that when I was doing youth ministry back in the day we started doing that , we realized that true leadership can actually happen if someone follows you and knows you regular day to day . I can teach you leadership until the cows come home , but unless you're someone that really gets it which there's only a few in each group that will really get it , I really need you to be with me to see and so we did that with people our age young adults and it's been awesome . We'll get about 40 or so coming over to the house , feed them , teach them , get a whole bunch of good open-ended questions and answering , and then people hang out and do whatever . Usually summertime they stick around in the pool or something like that .

Speaker 1

Let me ask you this one , chuck . I wrote this one down and I'd love to hear your response and your answer to it . It might be one and the same . The first one is how has failure shaped you ? And the other one is what's the most important lesson you've learned in your life ? So one is how has failure shaped you and what's the most important lesson you've learned in your life ?

Speaker 2

So one is how has failure gears ? But there's no such thing as failure to an individual that never gives up . So that has changed my way of thinking , of understanding . Whenever I have a setback somewhere , that's just an opportunity for me to learn more and to develop more and to get right back out there .

Speaker 1

Yeah , I like that because you had a quote . I wrote down one of your quotes Growth isn't about failure , but what you learn in the process . What are you becoming ? That's right .

Speaker 2

Exactly . And another question you said failure .

Speaker 1

Yeah , what's the most important lesson you've learned in your life ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , I would say the most . The best one that I've learned in my life is discipline . Discipline is everything . If you have discipline , you can literally win at every aspect of your life . Discipline in your eating you will have better health and , of course , better body right . Discipline with your time , as far as how you spread it out . Discipline in your relationships . Discipline in your training if you're an athlete . Discipline on your job . Discipline in your relationships . Discipline in your training if you're an athlete . Discipline on your job . Discipline is the greatest asset to any person , and everyone has it , and not everyone .

Speaker 1

Everyone doesn't use it , and so I choose to use it every single opportunity that I get a few more questions before we shut it down , because you you have just been on on fire . First , 35 years in the books and all All-American . As we mentioned , you've been an author and now they're using that in your curriculum and the state of Connecticut that you're so proud of . What does the next five to ten years look like for Chuck Lord willing ?

Speaker 2

Lord willing . I'm not too sure , but I

Future Plans and Final Thoughts

Speaker 2

do know one thing If I'm still alive and if I'm still healthy , it's going to look good . I'll tell you that right now , the things I'm striving for . I'll probably have several more books out there In five , ten years . My oldest daughter should be about 15 years old at that time , so I'll probably be doing a bunch more Uber driving with my kids , so you got to stay in shape .

Speaker 1

Keep up with the kids .

Speaker 2

I'm always around . My kids never feel the absentee father . They know that their dad smothers them so much to the point where my oldest daughter a lot of times says Dad , can mom take me to my basketball game ? You always have to take me , I'm always going to take you . You're not going to give my job up to your mother , but , yeah , I would say the next five years or so it looks very bright , lord willing . I don't know what it entails . The only thing I know is that the individual that I'm becoming will be prepared .

Speaker 1

Oh , I'm loving that . I'm loving that . Chuck , this has been fantastic . Where can the listening audience find you ? Where can they find your books ? Where can they find you if they're looking for you online ?

Speaker 2

Yeah , they can go to chuckhatchetcom . Simple is my name . First and last name is chuckhatchetcom . They can find my books , they can find the M3 curriculum on there . They can sign up for the newsletter . We'll be sending out a bunch of free stuff just to help people , encourage people . The books right here this is the one that just came out . It was God and my .

Speaker 1

Sport . Give us a bullet point . What is that one Chuck Give us ?

Speaker 2

a bullet point . This one is an athlete's promotion 100 days . So usually there's 100 days in the sport , from preseason all the way to championship , and this will help encourage you to discover where the Lord is in your sport because he's always there .

Speaker 1

Alright , give me the heading Number 24 , that's my basketball number . Look at number 24 . What do you say as a bullet point for number 24 ? Day 24 . What do you say as a bullet point for number 24 ? Day 24 . What do you say on that one ? Real quick , just a bullet point . Divine assurance . Ah , I like it . I like it , Divine assurance . Well , chuck , chuck , you are special . You are as good as advertised . You are the real influencer . It's not those celebrity hubbubs , big mouths , it's guys like you that never quit and keep going . Thank you so much for coming on here today , man . You are a blessing , and thank you for being a colleague and a friend .

Speaker 2

I appreciate you Seriously . Thank you so much .

Speaker 1

Well , folks , you've heard it , that's Chuck Hatchett . And look him up . You can find him . He's the real deal , Really . If you enjoyed this show , go to AdrianBranchSpeakscom or find us at Adrian Branch Speaks on the website and have a good time with the podcast as well . You can find the CLIMB podcast wherever it's available Again , adrianchbranchespeakscom , and look on the social web at Adrianch Branch Speaks . It has been awesome . We sure appreciate you and for my climbers out there , remember this Be encouraged and keep climbing . We'll see you next time . Everybody , you