EP83: SWING the BAT with Jeff Horn, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Masked Rider Capital, and Former 2-Sport College Athlete

About the Guest

Jeff Horn is a former collegiate athlete who has leveraged his passion for sports and teamwork into a successful career in entrepreneurship. With a history in banking technology and business development, Jeff took the life lesson of "swinging the bat" from his sporting days to become a business leader. He co-founded and now serves as the CEO of Masked Rider Capital, a hybrid between a private equity firm and a family office, operating in Lubbock, Texas. His journey also involves navigating personal challenges and using them as stepping stones to success. Jeff is a testament to continuous personal growth and contributing back to the community.

Summary

In this captivating episode of "Becoming UnDone," host Toby Brooks welcomes Jeff Horn, a true embodiment of resilience and relentless growth. As a former athlete turned prolific entrepreneur, Jeff shares his inspiring journey from the playing field to the competitive business arena, drawing parallels that are sure to pique listeners' interest.

Once a promising baseball and football player whose career was derailed by injury, Jeff exemplifies how early setbacks become fodder for future triumphs. The lessons learned on the field translated into his entrepreneurial spirit, where, fueled by a 'swing the bat' philosophy, he took calculated risks that led to his leadership role at Masked Rider Capital. The conversation delves into the importance of adaptability, resilience, and the determination to build a great life amidst uncertainty and change. With SEO-centric language that includes entrepreneurship, leadership, risk-taking, and personal development, this summary aims to attract an audience keen on self-improvement and business acumen.

Key Takeaways

• Success is often preceded by failures and setbacks, which serve as valuable learning experiences.
• Embracing change and taking calculated risks are essential for personal and professional growth.
• The importance of having a supportive partner and mentor in overcoming adversity and achieving success.
• The significance of giving back to the community that fosters one's growth.
• Understanding one's purpose beyond professional identity is key to navigating life's transitions.

Notable Quotes

• "Swing the bat. You only get one chance."
• "Just because you're successful doesn't mean you've always won."
• "There's only one constant, and that's change."
• "Sometimes people with more wisdom and experience can see what people can become rather than the people themselves."

Resources

• Masked Rider Capital
• Jeff Horn on LinkedIn

Transcript

[TRANSCRIPT]

0:00:00 - (Jeff Horn): I got hurt in that. My last playoff game my senior year, I tore the cartilage in my knee and when I came back for my senior year at baseball, I was determined to not let my teammates get out there and get too far ahead. And so started really working and probably I no, I did. I overworked and I really started off the season not very good. I think I was one for my 1st 17 coach Mel y Aana of Bob Knight and I made it all the way up to one for 16.

0:00:27 - (Jeff Horn): And on my next step bat. I'm standing in the batter's box at what is now known as mango field, batting fing the lineup and it guy throws me a fansball first pitch and I take it for a strike and I think I take one step back and coach Mal is right there. He would grab my b and he says, and he goes, sit down and you're doneud. I've seen the dud and that sounds hard and it is okay. I owe a lot to him for teaching me this lesson and that is swing bat. I was in the lineup to hit and if I got a fastball, I need to swing the bat.

0:01:00 - (Jeff Horn): And that's the lesson he was teaching me. My name is Jeff Horn and I am undone.

0:01:19 - (Toby Brooks): Hey friend, I'm glad you're here. Welcome to another episode of Becoming Undone, the podcast for those who dare bravely, risk mightily, and grow relentlessly. I'm Toby Brooks, a speaker, an author, and a professor. I've spent much of the last two decades working as an athletic trainer and a strength coach, and the professional, collegiate, and high school sports settings. And over the years, I've grown more and more fascinated with what sets high achievers apart and how failures that can hurt in the moment can end up being exactly the push we needed to propel us along our path to success.

0:01:48 - (Toby Brooks): Each week, I invite new guests to examine how high achievers can transform from falling apart to falling into place. I'd like to emphasize that this show is entirely separate from my role as a professor, but it's my attempt to apply what I've learned and what I'm learning, and to share with others about the mindsets of high achievers.

0:02:03 - (C): This your first episode?

0:02:05 - (Toby Brooks): Welcome. I've had the pleasure of interviewing some incredible guests, so be sure to scroll back through and pick out some previous episodes of high achievers who who didnt let failure or setback stand in the way of their eventual victories. And if youre a regular, welcome back. Ive got ginormous goals for this show and youre a huge part of them. So I sincerely hope that you find inspiration and encouragement from every episode, and I am incredibly thankful to get to play a small role in your growth journey.

0:02:48 - (Toby Brooks): For Lubbock, Texas native Jeff Horn, early victories as an athlete paved the way to a football scholarship and eventually a spot on the baseball team at Abilene Christian University. But when his career was cut short due to injury, he found himself searching for purpose with an identity that had seemingly slipped away along with his playing career, adding a whirlwind marriage and fatherhood shortly thereafter.

0:03:09 - (Toby Brooks): And it would have been easy to resign himself to a good life. But Jeff had bigger plans for a great life. He embarked on a sales career and eventually parlayed that success into business ownership. Today, as co founder and CEO of Massstriider Capital in Lubbock, Texas, he helps lead one of the most successful teams and businesses in all of West Texas. I hope you'll enjoy my conversation with Jeff Horne in episode 83.

0:03:33 - (C): Swing the bat this week got a special treat a friend. Our boys played football together this past season. Jeff Horn is an accomplished entrepreneur and has just a fantastic story. So, Jeff, welcome to the show.

0:03:50 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, it's great to be here, Toby. Andeah, we've gotten to enjoy some eagle football together.

0:03:55 - (C): And Jeff, I know it's been quite a journey and it's real easy for outsiders to look at where you are today and think, oh, must be nice. And I know for every entrepreneur that must be nice is usually paved with years of heartache and stress and risk and oftentimes launching out into the unknown. And that's really what this show is all about, is sometimes things go according to plan and sometimes they don't. And so I'm really excited to get a peek under the hood and hear your story. So we always start at the beginning with a little bit of a softball. What'd you want to be growing up and why?

0:04:32 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, and pretty much my whole life has been an unknown or did not go as, as the route. I grew up here in Lubbock. My dad played professional baseball for a while before working for his father, who was in the cotton gin industry. And then my mother was from here as well. They both went to Moderey High School, and I grew up in the late elementary, junior high. I thought I wanted to be a tax lawyer is what I really thought I wanted to be. And that someday get into politics is what I grew up wanting to be when, when I was a child.

0:05:06 - (C): Yeah, I've never heard that one before. That's an interesting takeape growing up here in Lubbock, obviously Texas tech is a big part of the community. And judging by the name of your family, your son's names and the logo and the name of your business, obviously Texas Tech has played a big role. But your background and your history goes, maybe it was a while before those paths crossed and you actually started off at ACU. So talk me through kind of the high school and the years leading up to your participation as a collegiate athlete.

0:05:41 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, I went, attended Monterey High School. I played football, basketball, baseball, up until my sophomore year. Then I just played football and baseball. Obviously, my education was very important to me during all that time and went on into college. But sports was a fabric of my life early on, with my father playing professional baseball and having an accomplished, an athletic career that was ingrained in me before I can even, you know, remember back. And so as a young child, but played football Monterey, for three years.

0:06:16 - (Jeff Horn): We went ten and zero twice and eight and two once. We never want a playoff game, but we always had to match up with the little Southwest Conference down there with Odessa Permian or Midal Le or Abilene Cooper. But my senior year was a quarterback of that team, and we were ten to know and ranked as high as number three in the state. Unfortunately, had to play the number two team the very first week and lost on the baseball side.

0:06:43 - (Jeff Horn): Played for the legendary coach Bobby Mal, who also coached my father. And both my father and I both won state titles at Monterey playing baseball. He woned in 1972 and 74 under coach Mel at Monterey. And then we were fortunate enough to win it in 1996 at Monterey. And so we're really proud of that.

0:07:06 - (C): Yeah, that's great. Definitely. Coach Maal is a well known name, a storied tradition in Monterey baseball for sure. You're considering where to go and have offers to play multiple different sports, multiple different places. Talk me through that recruitment process and what your mentality was making that jump from high school senior to college freshman.

0:07:29 - (Jeff Horn): I had had a pretty frustrating high school career up until my senior year. I was the backup quarterback my sophomore year on varsity, and we had a really good team and we had a guy that was just one year older than me that play, and he's a great human being. But it's hard whenever you've been one of the key guys for your whole life and then you don't play for a period of time. That was a really challenging first couple of years for me on the football side, but I continued to go to football camps and continue trying to develop my skill.

0:08:04 - (Jeff Horn): I was a bigger than normal quarterback. I know you won't find that hard to believe, but anyway, I had a really good senior year and didn't. I didn't have a heavy recruitment process. I think I went on four visits, maybe five. I went to a d three school, went to Avelyanc Christian, Tarleton State. I visited Tech. My stepdad coached for Spike dykes in the mid eighties at Texas Tech, and I had a chance to walk on at Tech, but I chose to take a scholarship and went down to play football at Abilene Christian.

0:08:41 - (Jeff Horn): At that point in time, they were a division two school back when the Lone Star conference was really beent heyday with West Texas A and M and midwestern state, East Texas A and M or East Texas commerce. There was a lot of these teams that have now since gone division one that were re playing in this division two conference. And so I don't want to mislead anybody. It wasn't like 50,000 people were sureing up to watch these games, but it was a good level of football, and I was excited to go down there and play that I, at the time I committed.

0:09:13 - (Jeff Horn): I'd also had, through coach Magel on the baseball side. Some people were interested in that as well, but I really was choosing to pursue football. But I. At the time, I knew the head baseball coach at ACU was Jimmy Shankl, and he actually caught with my father. He was a catcher for my dad, who was a pitcher of Monterey, and I knew that might be an option. Now, Jimmy ended up leaving to go to, I believe, UTSA to be the baseball coach, but.

0:09:42 - (Jeff Horn): But I knew that if I wanted to play baseball after the football season, that might be a possibility as well. And AC?

0:09:48 - (C): Yeah, well, certainly no shame. We know the statistics in less than 5% of all high school athletes play collegiately at any level, so there's nothing wrong with that at all. But certainly ACU has seen some pretty tremendous growth. The facilities are phenomenal, and they're now a full division one member. And so you get there and you quickly discover that high school football and college football, two different things, and maybe the responsibilities are different than you expected.

0:10:17 - (C): What was that transition like? Did you feel like you were prepared or was there a little bit of a jolt to your expectations? And that initial season?

0:10:26 - (Jeff Horn): That's a great question. I think there was a, Joel, I think anybody that moves away from home for the first time, especially, I was a very independent person, and so I was excited to get away and do that. But you quickly realized that college athletics is a full time job and 40 plus hours a week, and then you're going to go to school on top of that. You'you're not going to play college sports just because it's cool.

0:10:52 - (Jeff Horn): You're going to play because of a love of the sport or a love of the game or passion for it, because you're going to. You're going to work your tail off. And as I've had my boys, and as they've gone through that, they've experienced the same thing. But, yeah, it was an eye opener on how much time that took. And you're the big dog as a senior in high school, and you go to the bottom of the stack as a college freshman.

0:11:15 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah.

0:11:16 - (C): And add on top of that the jump from one level to another, and now you're trying to be a dual sport athlete, which is even harder still. Was baseball part of the equation early on? When did it really start to materialize as something you were going to be involved in?

0:11:34 - (Jeff Horn): I went through the whole fall season of 97. I had worked my way up to really being the backup quarterback, and I played some special teams that year. I had the unique opportunity, Toby, to be the deep snapper and I was the backup quarterback. I don't know, that combination has happened too many times, but I was encouraged about where football was headed. But it's tough when did'not play and things along those lines. And then there was some coaching transition a lot. We were a mediocre football team, and Brittt Boo was in his first year as the head baseball coach, and he played at LCU some, and also the University of Oklahoma. And he had knew, obviously, coach Shaco helped him get that position, and they reached out for me to come and. And really, it was a tryout. I had to go try out and do some. We did some inner squad scrimmages and stuff like that. I would say it really came together early January that this wasn toa be something that I was gonna do.

0:12:39 - (Toby Brooks): So.

0:12:40 - (C): So as a collegiate athlete, let alone a dual sport collegiate athlete, that takes up the lion's share of your time. But you mentioned that academics is also part of the equation. You don't just go to school to be an athlete, you're a student athlete. And so at this point of your career, was entrepreneurship or business pursuits part of the equation at all, or was that still out in front of you?

0:13:02 - (Jeff Horn): That was still out in front of me. I was on my way to getting a business degree and doing well in school. School has always been something that if I applied myself, I would do well. But as you get into higher level classes and obviously became more difficult. But I would always been driven in that regard. But, yeah, I would say I didn't really realize until the end of that semester, after we played 56 baseball games, how when I looked back, I really didn't have a weekend, maybe a couple of weekends off the whole year, and the toll that it took ended up taking on my body and.

0:13:44 - (Jeff Horn): But I will say I had an absolute blast doing that. And at the time, you're not really thinking about that. Cause you're so energetic. I think if you had to do it at 45 or 46, you might think a little bit different. But at the time, it was just. That's what I did. That's what I had done. My whole life is go from one season to the next.

0:14:04 - (C): So many times on this show, I talked to high achievers and that first season of their life, and oftentimes it's athletics. Sometimes it's arts. They're a performer or singer. Sometimes it's entrepreneurship. But that identity gets so intertwined into who someone is, and ultimately, that comes to an end. Very few people play their entire life times. That comes to an end. Of your own free will, you make that choice to step away, and sometimes it's cut short due to injury or you just run out of eligibility.

0:14:37 - (C): So what did that transition out of competitive athletics feel like for you, and do you feel like you were prepared for that?

0:14:46 - (Jeff Horn): Actually, no, I don't think I was prepared and a little bit personal. You know, my parents split when I was ten years old, and they're both great people, love them both today, dearly, and they both married some wonderful people, and I've been blessed. But I would say that my identity was too much of who I was as an athlete or one accomplishment I had achieved rather than the purpose that I was supposed to fulfill.

0:15:14 - (Jeff Horn): And l in my life. And when I got hurt, transferred to tech to play and was going through fall camp, and really ended up walking away because of an injury to my arm. And when you stop playing and that's who you are and just going to school. I wouldn't say that I was depressed or anything like that, but there is some soul searching time to becomes real. What are you going to do next, and how are you going to replace a competitive fire that lives within you and all of those types of things? And I was a Christian at the time, but I can't say that that was the focus of my life is, till I put it to the Lord to lead me down the path, and I could have reached out to more mentors at the time or whatnot, or probably done parts of that a little bit better.

0:16:06 - (Jeff Horn): Not dissatisfied with the path that this took. Cause I've learned a lot. Again, I don't want to reader it. There's no regrets there, but I'm just saying, yeah, I think that you're never prepared for that, and when that there's definitely ways that it could have been done better. Yeah.

0:16:20 - (C): And as you're talking, I'm thinking to this season for our own boys and our team, defending state champions. Uh, your son transfers in, role player, does the dirty work as a tight end. His first year at love of Christian with a. An all state quarterback at the helm, and finally gets his shot, and we are rolling and suffers an injury. And now suddenly this thing that's. I won't put myself or words into his mouth, but he's our starting quarterback for a defending state champion.

0:16:49 - (C): And in his own home is his dad, who's been down this road, who's had sport taken. Do you feel like that experience allowed you to have some conversations with your son that maybe you might not otherwise been able to have?

0:17:05 - (Jeff Horn): Absolutely. And, yeah, welker got. He got hurt in game six, got to play five full games. He's been a. He's been a pretty much a star athlete his whole life, and his identity is in athletics. And this is a great opportunity that his mother and I took to through letters that we write on game days is a special time between us. And then in talks to say, welr, I don't know when your day is coming to an end. It could be.

0:17:36 - (Jeff Horn): It could be next week, or it could be when you're 30. I don't know. You're talented, individual. We never know. But there's a lot of life to live once you get done playing athletics and there's more to life and being a great football player, and you're going to need to be a great husband someday, a great father, a Christian, all those types. So I think when Welker looks back on that period of time, I know he's already'back healthy and playing and doing all those things again, but I know he's mentioned it to his mother and I that his perspective on life has changed after going through that. And I do think that the trials and tribulations that his mother and my wife, I've had, myself, have had over our life really prepared us for that parenting moment.

0:18:23 - (C): Yeah. And I think it's also important to recognize that in the midst of our own struggles, it's real easy to just see the negative. But for me, sometimes I realize that me suffering through something benefited, whether it was my son or my family or a student that I serve. And we don't have the benefit of knowing that in that moment, that 20 years from now, somebody is going to benefit from the counsel I can provide.

0:18:52 - (C): So you mentioned and alluded to the fact that you and your wife went through some things, and maybe they didn't go according to plan. And from an outsider looking in, you're the successful businessman, and you've made all the right choices. That wasn't exactly how it played out. So talk me through maybe that. That next season and that next transition.

0:19:12 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah. Carrie was a fantastic volleyball player for love of Coronado, and then she played for Steven McRoberts at lovec Christian University whenever the LCU volleyball team made their first venture up to the national tournament and finished in the, I don't know, top four or five teams up there. And she was a all conference type performer. She gets mad when I say she was a all american and all that type stuff, but she was a phenomenal player, and we had a whirlwind.

0:19:44 - (Jeff Horn): We met in January of 99, ended up getting married in May of 99, and our oldest son, Tugger, was born in November of 99. And so, you know, playing days quickly came to an end, and she finished out her chemistry degree there and then was moving on to pharmacy school. But, yeah, that wasn't really the route that we planned on taking there. We both planned on finishing school and her finishing her playing career. But at the rope age of 21, we had a.

0:20:17 - (Jeff Horn): A baby on the way, and he didn put food on the table and talked about two years ago, I was batting leado for heavenily Christian, and now somebody else's batting lead off, and that's your child. And it was an eye opener, and it was something that you. We had a lot of support of family and all of that, but I wouldn't change anything about that process. Um, but really, we had to fast track on the mature train.

0:20:43 - (C): Sure. And I think as you're talking through that, you recognize that. I don't know if you had plotted your course and had written down goals or milestones, but suddenly that changes, and suddenly that gets fast tracked and priorities shift. So at that stage of your life, you mentioned it. You're looking to put food on the table. What were your professional aspirations during that season, and how did that translate over into your successes later in life?

0:21:15 - (Jeff Horn): Whenever I was done playing. A neat fact a lot of people don't know. Carrie's dad was the senior engineer for my grandparents who had a cotton gin equipment manufact company and they worked together. Kerie and I actually didn't meet till January of 99, but her dad worked for my family for, I don't know, 1214 years. Long time he was there. Most senior engineer there. And whenever all that was going down, I was still embarking on a finance career.

0:21:45 - (Jeff Horn): I had been coaching youth baseball teams and made some connections there. But once a baby was on the way and we basically promised Carrie's parents that she was going to get her pharmacy degree, her doctorate of pharmacy, and then I would start to work. Suddenly the fields that I was interested in really opened up, like I was willing to do pretty much anything. And a couple of the people that I had made connections with believed in me and my ability and even though I was young, gave me an opportunity.

0:22:17 - (Jeff Horn): A gentleman by the name of Ron Bartley gave me an opportunity to work in the bank technology space and I went to work doing that and working with community banks all across Texas and then later on the western half of the US.

0:22:34 - (Toby Brooks): We'll be back after a quick break. This episode brought to you by Forte are you looking to prioritize the mental well being of your employees? Look no further than Forte, the comprehensive mental wellness platform designed to empower everyone in your organization to thrive both professionally and personally. It provides employees with unlimited access to certified guides for 30, 30, 45 or 60 minutes confidential audio calls.

0:23:00 - (Toby Brooks): That's not all. Forte also offers a wealth of wellness content, including newsletters, e courses, challenges and webinars led by industry experts. Your employees will have all the tools and resources they need to make real and meaningful changes, and the results speak for themselves. 95% of employees who use forte report improved well being, and the overall forte rating from employees is a stelar 4.85 out of five. By investing in mental wellness, you'll see increased presenteeism, reduced turnover, and a more engaged workforce. Join the organizations that have already partnered with forte and experienced transformative results. Book a demo today to see how Forte can help your employees unlock their unique contributions.

0:23:41 - (Toby Brooks): Visit getforte.com to learn more. That's g e t f oash r d tash e.com dot so at this.

0:23:49 - (C): Stage, you're still an employee. You're working for a business. At what point does the idea of having your own thing start to enter into the equation?

0:23:59 - (Jeff Horn): I don't really know. I'd always felt the desire to lead and all of those types of things. But I was content. Cause for the first time, when you go from making nothing to making decent money, it's a big point in your life, especially when you're young and all of that. But I would say probably 2010, 2011 was really when I felt the calling to take more of a risk and entrepreneurship. And I got to give a lot of credit to my wife, who did complete her pharmacy degree and her being a pharmacist and having a full time position and all of that.

0:24:36 - (Jeff Horn): Once all that kind of set in as well, and you had the more comfortability and stability, it's easier to maybe take a look at other opportunities that may be out there. And so I would say around that period of time, yeah.

0:24:50 - (C): So according to Bio, previously president CEO of benchmark business Solutions, and found success there. And I think for a lot of people, there can be a real, like a dissonance where I've got this career, I'm making good money, I've got benefits, your wife's got a career, and that's the safe decision. Just plow away, just keep after that and you're gonna live a great life. And that may be safe, but maybe it doesn't necessarily speak to your own deeper purpose and risk starts to enter that equation.

0:25:27 - (C): Am I going toa step away from this for the sake of that? What would you say gave you the courage to step out of that stream and into this other?

0:25:37 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, I was in a good situation. I had a good paying position, I had equity ownership in the company. I didn't have control, but I definitely could have probably stayed there and done well for myself and being a contributor on that team. But I think you reach a stage to where you realize that you're going to have one journey through life. And there were certain things that I wanted to do it on my own, wanted to, to gain that experience and being able to operate a business and be the person that when they go to sleep, they worry about everything.

0:26:13 - (Jeff Horn): And that had always really driven me and to really chart my own path. More than anything. We were very blessed financially, and I decided to walk away and to purchase a business, to operate it in 2012. And I attribute most of that to really thinking long and hard about what I wanted out of life. Whenever I was fifties and the sixties and what kind of path I wanted to take and all of those types of things, it was probably, it might be the most difficult decision that I've ever had to make to do that, to go from being comfortable to being extremely uncomfortable.

0:26:56 - (Jeff Horn): I found that's when most of your good growth comes, but that it's gonna come with risk, it's gonna come with stray.

0:27:07 - (Toby Brooks): You have to respect this mentality. Jeff has successfully navigated tumultuous few years marked with incredible change, and he's come out the other side a success. You heard him recall how he'd gone from batting leadoff for the Abilene Christian Wildcats one year to a transfer to Texas Tech with an abrupt end to his playing days due to injury the.

0:27:26 - (C): Next, and then the next.

0:27:28 - (Toby Brooks): Hes married with a baby on the way, working in a sales job, but hes not sorry. He doesnt recount those days with remorse. They were just stops along the way on a path that was molding him into the kind of leader who isnt afraid to have a bold vision, take some risks, and see things through. That bravery served him well as he headed his, his professional life in a new direction. And that never quit attitude would serve him well in the future as well.

0:27:53 - (Jeff Horn): It's gonna come with risk, it'snna come with strain, mental anguish, and anxiety. Nervous times. There's a lot that comes with that, and oftentimes a lot of people don't end up doing it because they're fearful of the unknown, but because of the strong partner that I have in life with my wife and her stability and all of that. It was a move that after we had thought about it and prayed on it, but it was time to take that step.

0:28:24 - (C): So, founder, CEO of Masriider Capital, which is where you're still at today, and I think we can see a business that's out in the community and sponsoring things and finding success, but oftentimes there are dark days. I have a friend who founded a company, and on more than one occasion he said, if I don't make a sale today, I'm closing the business, and I just happened to make a sale. And consistently, from high achieving entrepreneurs, I hear these stories and I'm just blown away, because it's natural to assume that if you're successful, just, you just breed success, you just always win, and that's not always the case. So talk me through those early stages of this new startup. Startups fail and you manage to find success.

0:29:11 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, I need to take it a little further back even than that, just to explain. When I owned and operated benchmark business solutions from 2012 until 2018, and did about five or six acquisitions during that period of time, I sold to private equity and operated about a third of their business for them over the next three years. But back whenever I purchased benchmark, Dusty Womble, who's my partner and one of my best friends and really my number one mentor in life and a big person to this Lubboct community in Texas tech.

0:29:51 - (Jeff Horn): We started Massst RNER Capital all the way back in 2012, and it was just a casual investing company. We bought a piece of commercial real estate here in town, and we collected rent payments. And he was still embarking on his career in Tyler technologies. And I was operating Benchmark. But after I sold benchmark and was, after a couple of years of working for the private equity firm, really sought his advice on what was next.

0:30:21 - (Jeff Horn): Um, what he thought would be good for me next I would to try to finish my career. And we had a lot of conversations. We looked at a lot of different things. And ultimately, we decided that Lubbock really needed a private equity type company. There's not any, and we're not really a private equity firm. We're really a kind of a hybrid between a private equity firm and a family office. But we felt having a family office slash private equity firm here in Lubbock that could help other businesses grow and be a platform for which we could buy other businesses and operate them and grow them and built their teams and provide the capital necessary was something that we really thought could go well in Lubbock. And. And so we decided, right after COVID, to really launch, take mass Rider Capital, an existing company, but really put it in more of the public eye and build a team and get that going and start making investments, since that's what we decided to do. And so now, to answer your question, yeah, and we're not done laying the foundation here. We're.

0:31:34 - (Jeff Horn): We've been laying a foundation now for nearly four years. We've built an incredible team here. We're involved in some very dynamic businesses. But with any startup, whether you're starting a donut shop or a private equity firm, there's a lot of work you have to do as an owner. There's a lot of time you're going to spend. You're going to create a lot of new relationships with all of those types of things.

0:32:02 - (Jeff Horn): But Dusty is very public in his life with being a regent.

0:32:09 - (Toby Brooks): If fe're in the West Texas and Texas tech parts of the world, the name Dusty wommbble should sound familiar. But if you're not, consider this. The $31 million Texas tech basketball practice facility that opened in 2021 bears his name. And the $50 million football facility that is under construction at Tech right now will also bear his name. Now a member of the Texas Tech Board of Regents, Womle is a highly successful entrepreneur who graduated from Tech in 1981 before building a series of businesses in the technology sector, beginning with encode and eventually Tyler technologies.

0:32:42 - (Toby Brooks): Womamle's impact on Lubbock and Texas tech are immeasurable, but there's more to the story than just personal fortunes and big donations for Jeff. He's a friend, a a mentor, and he took those roles seriously when Jeff showed promise in building benchmark business solutions before recognizing the opportunity to grow his latest venture, masked Rider Capital. You may remember Ashley Adams, former Texas Tech maskd rider who now serves as marketing coordinator for, fittingly, mast Rider Capital from episode 74. Fearless.

0:33:12 - (Toby Brooks): With Wombles help, Jeff has assembled a team and his growing mast rider steadily as a powerhous in the private equity space, meaning MRC helps entrepreneurs acquire and invest in private companies. It may seem a long way from the leadoff spot on the ACU baseball team. Jeff realizes that his own innate leadership skills coupled with the impactful mentorship from a friend like womle is a winning combo, and it's one that continues to serve him well.

0:33:39 - (Jeff Horn): And we're involved in a lot of different things. It's been a whirlwind, I would say, the last four years, getting this business off the ground, but we do have it off the ground and've got a great team, and we're participants in some really good investments and some investments that we lead as well. And so we're very confident on Mash Rider Capital's future. We haven't arrived. To your question, some people may look from the outside and go, man, they've arrived. They're doing this, they're doing that.

0:34:08 - (Jeff Horn): We're active. We've got some very driven people here with high goals on what they want to accomplish, and there's a lot left for Mash Rider capital to accomplish.

0:34:17 - (C): Yeah, one of those former guest, Ashley Adams, former Mastke writer herself, perfect fit for your marketing coordinator at the company. But one of the things I discovered in researching Ashley's episode was just this meteoric rise. And Lubbock is so much better for the, the charity for how Dusty has poured into Texas tech. His name is on the basketball facility now, the football facility, just this year, ma rder naming rights to the stadium at Love OFK Christian. And so it's not like you are feeding from the community. You're pouring into it. So what do you think has been the most gratifying part of this most recent success journey?

0:34:59 - (Jeff Horn): I tell you, when Dusty's a partner, then by other partners as Brooke Hopgood, who is an anesthesiologist and has done very well with her medical career before switching over to be our president and chief operating officer. But the common thread between the three of us is that we've all operated businesses and we all are cut very similarly in the fact that we know that we've got to lead and operate great businesses.

0:35:29 - (Jeff Horn): But part of what you have to do, I think whenever you're in a community the size of lubboc, can really, no matter what the community, if a community is serving you and your businesses, you need to get back and you need to leave it better than what you found. And I work with two great people that believe that Dusty's gifts to Texas tech are amazing in that they've been, a lot of them been tied to athletics, but they're given unconditionally not, hey, the coach has to be this person or we need to do this or we need to do that.

0:36:00 - (Jeff Horn): Very thoughtful and same with our love of christian deal is that we're both believers in love of Christian and the mission that they're fulfilling and developing children in the kingdom. And we're happy to do those things and strongly believe that if you give back, much will be given and all of those types of things. And so anyway, I think the older you get, the more you realize that you're not going to take any of this with you or whatnot, and you want to see it going to good causes.

0:36:28 - (Jeff Horn): And this community has been a tremendous community for us and you. I think one of the things, too, that we really love about not just giving back, but about what mast rider capitals try to do is that we, we have, between Brook dust, we've got a lot of relationships out in the business world and networking that we've done. And now we get to work with all those people, whether we're helping their business or maybe purchasing their business or maybe they're going to be an investor in one of our opportunities or whatnot, those relationships now are able to participate together. And that's been another really rewarding thing for us.

0:37:08 - (C): Well, there's no doubt it's been an incredible ride, especially the last few years. What do you think adversity taught you that just winning every time and getting your way all the way wouldn't have taught you?

0:37:23 - (Jeff Horn): That is a great question. I'm going to tell you a little story. When I was in the high school, I got hurt in my last playoff game. My senior year, I tore the cartilage in my knee. And when I came back for my senior year of baseball, we knew we had a good team. Didn't know we were going to win State, but knew we had a good team. And there was a very strong core of seniors that were very motivated. And I probably had surgery like early December.

0:37:51 - (Jeff Horn): And so baseball seasonss started middle of January. That was only about six weeks later. Back then it was about an eight week recovery. And I was determined to not let my teammates get out there and get too far ahead. And so started really working and probably I know I did. I overworked and rehabilitated and coming back and I really started off the season not very good. I think I was one for my 1st 17 and a quick side know coach meal y a lot of Bob Knight, he and after I was about one for eight, I'd strike out. I'm on my way back to the dugout and they'd be like horn at 250 pounds and you can't hit a lick. And then when I made it to one for nine, I was now 270 pounds.

0:38:37 - (Jeff Horn): Then I was 300 pounds. They know he was a prognosticator as well, later in life. But I made it all the way up to one for 16. And on my seven, on my next step bat. I'm standing in the batter's box at what is now known as Maggo Field. And I I batting, I think, fifth in the lineup. And it got. Throws me a fansball first pitch and I take it for a strike. And I think I take one step back and coach Mal is right there.

0:39:13 - (Jeff Horn): He would gr him my that and he said, and he goes, sit down and you're done. I've seen enough.

0:39:19 - (C): Wow.

0:39:21 - (Jeff Horn): And that sounds hard. And it is okay. They coach Mel is one of my dear friends, and I owe a lot to him for teaching me this lesson. And that is you swing the back. I wasn't in the lineup for my glove and to make plays. I was not a very good defensive player. I was in the lineup to hit. And if I got a fastball, I need to swing to bat. And that's the lesson he was teaching me. And with the very next game, I think I batted in the nine hole and he was gonna winmitty over me and get me to learn to fight and to come out swinging.

0:40:00 - (Jeff Horn): And really from that point on, it took off for that year. And because my father had been so successful, I think you coached me one way, coached me really hard. And I'm very appreciative for that fact because he really changed my whole mindset from waiting for this opportunity to maybe develop before me, to, like, go create the opportunity that makes sense. And I really, I learned to swing the bat, and really, no matter what, I'm looking to swing the bat no matter what. And I think learning that and then the success that team had that year and being a contributor towards that and the confidence that gave me is that it emboldened me to be confident in the skills that I had and the abilities that, that I'd been given to apply those, but not just apply, but to really challenge myself to do even more and owe a lot to that and that adversity. And the same, I think, can be said to my high school football days. When I didn't play the first two years, there was days I wanted to quit.

0:41:10 - (Jeff Horn): My stepdad talked me out of that, said, you're very talented. You need to stay with it. Sometimes things don't happen on our timeline and think the adversity of going through those challenges and also playing for the men that I played for that really developed who I was gonna be and my character, I really owe a lot to them for seeing more out of myself than what maybe I believe. And I think that's why we have coaches and mentors and player development, all those PE bosses and stuff like that, is because sometimes people with more wisdom and experience and can see what people can become rather than the people themselves, for sure.

0:41:53 - (C): As you're talking, I'm thinking, if you're a pitcher and you trust the defense behind you, your approach is totally different. If you're a hitter and you trust the guys above and below you in the order, your approach to the plate can be a little different. And so it's real easy for us to focus on us. But, man, that team around us makes all the difference. And you can be a risk taker. If you've got a wife that's supporting you for a moment and helping support that dream.

0:42:22 - (C): And the same could be said of any athletics team. That's one of the things I love about love a Christian is I know the men and women who are in the classroom and in the coaching staff, they're reinforcing that idea that failure isn't final, and it might not end the way we would have scripted it, but we're still gonna grow, and we're gonna learn from this. Those are valuable lessons learned early.

0:42:46 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah. I always tell my kids, swing bat, you get to get one chance. And, and my kids, a very successful, they're good people. They've worked really hard, but I will say that is, that's one of the things that I don't think enough people do is to take that opportunity and believe in themselves. They'll be shocked at what you can do when you really, you have to do it, man. The swing the bat mentality translated to whenever I found I was going to be a father for the first time, unexpectedly. And then we've got at imp pendending situation and we dealt with it the right way, in my opinion. And we've been married 25 years and all of that. But if you don't have that bedrock principle, really believe it in yourself and be willing to take a risk and it can be somewhat calculated. I'm not saying to take uncalculated risk, but I think if you want to be a high level achiever, no matter who you talk to, that is a high level achiever, there they have taken some sort of risk in their life. And so for, for sure, what would.

0:43:50 - (C): You say has been the single best piece of advice you've ever been given and who gave it to you?

0:43:58 - (Jeff Horn): I had three mentors growing up to both of my grandfathers and then my grandmotherus of my parents splitting at a, you know, relatively early age for me that I got to spend a lot of time with them. And my one grandfather really introduced me to my love of Texas tech. My other grandfather, he was a risk taker, big time risk taker. He was an entrepreneur. He dealt with several business failures and achieved a lot of success and has 17 patents and is in the cotton hall of fame and all those types of things.

0:44:35 - (Jeff Horn): But my grandmother really believed strongly in education and she taught me so much. And one of the things that she said at one point in of my life before she passed away five years ago was this was as a college age or high school. But to really think about what you want people to say at your funeral and do you live your life that way to make that happen? And I know I've heard that a lot from a lot of people when she mentioned that.

0:45:08 - (Jeff Horn): Hadn't really ever thought about that before, thinking about from the backwards back through life, but she had the wisdom of being closer to the end of her life when she said that. And I just, I really think that's a good way to do that. And to think about what kind of path do you want to blaze and what you're going to want people to say, and do you live your life that way? And ye, nobody's perfect. I'm definitely not perfect. I make a ton of mistakes.

0:45:35 - (Jeff Horn): Just ask my wife. But I do think that that was a good piece of advice.

0:45:41 - (C): Yeah, there's definitely wisdom wrapped up in that. Getting close here. If we were to watch a montage of your life, what song would you pick to play in the background and why?

0:45:51 - (Jeff Horn): Man, I heard this on another episode that I was wondering. Cause I'm not the most physically inclined person here, so I'll take a stab at it. Though. I. I would say one is remember when by Alan Jackson. That's a slower song. That's a sad song. But it goes to my grandmother's advice of different parts of your life and be able to look back and, you know, maybe take full advantage of all of the things that were there and make sure you cherish those moments and live for today, God for tomorrow, and those types of things. And then a second song is by YouTube. It's one I really like. I still haven't founded what I'm looking for that speaks to that desire to achieve and wanting to push the envelope as far as you can with the business world, spiritually, with your family, all of those types of things, and fully embrace what's, what you've accomplished, but never rested all your laurels and willing to push yourself further, but also to be content.

0:46:54 - (Jeff Horn): And sometimes those are all really fighting against each other doing that. But I would say those two songs.

0:47:00 - (C): That'S a great one. You teed me up for the closing question here. Still haven't found what I'm looking for. The last question I ask of all guests, what for Jeff Warren is left undone.

0:47:11 - (Jeff Horn): Hopefully a lot. Hopefully we got a ways to go here as get closer and closer to age 50. But Masssh Rider Capital has a lot to accomplish. We're closing in on our fourth year. We've got some significant investments. We want this to be a family office, top of company that transitions on to future generations and is a. Something that is a big part of the Lubbokin West Texas community for a long period of time and.

0:47:41 - (Jeff Horn): And laying that, blazing that path. I. I've got a couple of decades or maybe even three left to be successful with a lot of different kinds of businesses and it supporting this community. So that's one and then two. I'm closing the chapter on from a family standpoint with Welker finishing up, he's got another year of school, and that's our youngest son and then our other two, Tucker and Raider. And you're right, there's a tech them in all of them.

0:48:11 - (Jeff Horn): My wife and I, because of the whirlwind 1999 that we had we didn't get to spend a lot of time together before we had kids and all of that. So I'm really looking forward a doctor that I want to get my last child out of the house, but I'm looking forward to spending some time with her and doing some of the things that we want to do and that she wants to do and do some traveling. And we are both fired up about the next phase of our life as grandparents someday, and we't want that to happen in due course. But we're excited about that. And I.

0:48:46 - (Jeff Horn): I tell you why that's so important to both my wife and I is that we both come from families that poured into us and that'll be our way to get back, is to pour into them. And so I think from a family standpoint, there's a lot left. And we're excited. We're excited to be able to do that. Hopefully this will be the benefit of having kids young is that we've still got some energy left to chase them around.

0:49:11 - (C): Yeah, that's fantastic. We are latecomers to the Lubbock Christian community. Our son transferred midway through a sophomore year. One of the things that I've really been struck with, I already bragged on the staff and the coaches and just the community there, but just the people and I'm just. Jeff, I'm thankful that our paths have crossed. You're an inspiration to me and just. I'm really thankful to have gotten to know you over this past year, in particular your son. I know you guys are headed to do great things. My son's graduating. I'm trying to hold it together for. We're headed for an empty nest.

0:49:45 - (C): And it's bittersweet to see your kids do something for the last time that's been part of their life, but that's part of growth. And if nothing else, this show has taught me that even high achievers go through that grieving process sometimes. And it's really a question of how can we build on the lessons we learned in that season. The idea that I'm not going toa cry over what doesn't exist anymore. I'm going to be thankful for the fact that it has.

0:50:14 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, that and I'm so thankful to love of christians'been a tremendous benefit and asset for Welker and his life. And we. We moved to Graham for nine years. We had a great nine years in Graham and we moved back. And I can't say enough about the mission of loveving Christian. So if anybody's listening out there and you're debating whether you should do it or not. You should. They, it's a wonderful opportunity for young people to be very involved in a lot of different aspects of high school and junior high life. And it's been very beneficial. They really develop young people is what I've seen into leaders. And I, I'm so thankful for the administration and the coaches and getting to know you as well, Toby and all that. You know, I would tell you, this is like one of the things that we've learned that really I learned.

0:51:06 - (Jeff Horn): My oldest son also signed with AC who played football in college right out of high school. And we dropped him off in June, graduated. He immediately went to work to work out for football and started training and all of that. And the day we dropped him, all I literally could not talk to tell him. I was so sad. My best friend walk to was gone and I was just like how his life going to move on. And I had my wife drive home and I literally cried for about an hour.

0:51:39 - (Jeff Horn): And about two weeks later I realized, hey, life is going on. He's doing great. This is the way it's supposed to work. And now that there's only two of the house, she and I are spending a little bit more time together. And that was good. And that we're reconnected and all, you know, and all these things. And then our middlewood leaves and then it was like, okay, this is pretty. And sometimes we have these thoughts that we're hey, if this happens, boy, this is going to be really this way. But sometimes your eyes are just open and God has a unique way. I call them wo moments of whatever you're thinking things are going to be one way. And then all of a sudden, man, your, your eyes are open away and something is just totally different. And anyway, there's what they constant and that's change.

0:52:26 - (Jeff Horn): And you better embrace change because it's going to happen and learn to deal with it. And I think the quicker you can, especially for young people, quicker they can learn to deal with change, embrace change and try to apply that change the best way they can, the more successful they'become, for sure.

0:52:45 - (C): Jeff, thanks so much for your time. It's been great having you on. I really appreciate the insights and thanks for sharing and letting folks hear about your journey.

0:52:53 - (Jeff Horn): Yeah, you're welcome. My name is Jeff Horn and I am undone.

0:52:57 - (Toby Brooks): It's been an exciting journey for Jeff and the rest of his family and team. But through it all, that tough love lesson to swing the bat has paid off. For more info on today's episode, be sure to check it out on the web. Simply go to Undonepodcast.com ep 83 to see the notes, links and images related to today's guest Jeff Horn. I know there are great stories out there to be told and Im always on a lookout.

0:53:22 - (Toby Brooks): So if you or someone you know has a story that we can all be inspired by, tell me about it. Surf over to undonepodcast.com commta. Click that contact tab in the top menu and drop me a note. Coming up, ive got some great conversations with a fantastic bunch of new guests, including former Texas tech chancellor Ken Han. Then ill check in with learning scientists and physical therapist F. Scott Feeliel, followed by an interview with world class flute professor doctor Lisa Garner Santa.

0:53:48 - (Toby Brooks): So stay tuned. This and more coming up on becoming undone becoming undone is a nitro hype creative production written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. For now, Im a one person show relying on AI tools from descript, decipher and Opaslip to create, produce and deliver the best show I know how to. You, my cherished friends and listeners. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at becoming undone Pod and follow me at tobyjbroks on x Instagram and TikTok.

0:54:32 - (Toby Brooks): Check out my link tree at Linkt Ee Tobyj Brooks Listen, subscribe and leave me a review at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart radio or wherever you get your podcasts. Till next time everybody. Keep getting better.