Happy Canada and Independence Day - Summer is Here.

Thanks for being here and taking a sip from the Fountain.

Whether you're lakeside, BBQing, or just catching your breath this long weekend, I hope you're feeling grateful for the people, places, and opportunity North America offers.

I’ve had the privilege of chasing big dreams across ballparks and backroads in both countries and today’s story is one of my most meaningful Canadian episodes.

(We’re also hosting a great event in beautiful Kelowna, BC. Big news on that below!)

Enjoy.

⏳ Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes

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FOUNDER TRUE STORY

Getting cut hurts. There’s nothing like the anticipation when a tryout ends and you're walking down a hall to see a list, or meet with coaches to find out if they believe in you.

I haven't got cut from a company - but the same feelings apply.

I chose to course correct and look in the mirror on what part of my contributions to a team were not enough. 

The winter in Canada is not a great place to improve your baseball game, but there were a few things to get better at so I decided to:

I committed to both and spent a lot of my Grade 12 year in the gym and inside a cinder block batting cage with a coach.

The reason for the deep motivation was because I wanted to make Team Canada, I understood if you made Team Canada you had the best chance to be seen by Major League Baseball scouts, and NCAA coaches.

And you can’t make Team Canada if you can’t even make Team BC.

I share this to remind you that we will have setbacks, failures, and people that believe in us less than ourselves.

It’s your choice whether you go forward with humility and set a new dedication to the dream.

My dream at the time was time-sensitive as next season will come along in the spring.  The winter training and some grace and favor by another year of growth.

I was a lot bigger and stronger from my dedication, and also mentally stronger from having fulfilled my commitment to working out, gaining mental and physical muscle alongside a deep reason. 

As the next season came around, I was again invited to tryout for Team BC. This time I hit a home run in the last tryout game, and got my name on the list.

Which led to getting drafted by the Colorado Rockies in June, and eventually to a tryout for Team Canada in July.  Again I was worried about getting cut. The 40 best guys in Canada were fighting for 25 spots. In more specific terms, I was fighting for 1 of 2 catcher spots - so I had to be the best or second best catcher in the country. Fuck - tall odds.

My door got knocked on, it was an assistant coach who asked for my roommate. He left and the rest of us had our heads out the balconies talking to each other as we weren’t allowed in the hallways. 

My door opened and my roommate had gotten cut. Fuck - too bad for his dream.

Then the coach asked me to come with him, Fuck - I thought too bad for my dream. Sounds like they are cutting guys first.

I get into the coaches room and they have me sit at this desk, and they tell me I made the team. Fuck yeah to my dream. Cherry on top, I was also named the Captain due to my leadership on and off the field.

I was told to go to the next room for my gear and get ready to travel Canada for the rest of the summer playing against the best players from other countries and seeing the beautiful country that Canada is. 

I went down to the payphone in the hotel in Winnipeg and called my parents and said I wasn’t coming home for another month, little did I know I was actually not coming “home” ever again, but that’s a story for another Fountain.

Have you ever been cut? Coaches talk a lot about Michael Jordan being cut, and I just want to say to all of us who feel lesser-than after being cut, or downsized: believe that when any door closes you can find a side door, another door, or build a door, and if those don’t work, break down the fucking wall. Find a way in by finding a new approach and along the way becoming a better version of yourself. My dad would often say keep knocking and eventually the door will open.

What was the “cut” that made the biggest impact on your life. Reply to this email and tell me, I read all of the replies.

Happy Canada Day - to a time when I got to live a dream and proudly wear a team Canada jersey. As we talked about mentorship, I also got to learn from Greg Hamilton, the coach, who became a mentor and someone I look up to for his dedication and values. 

Coach Hamilton was just recently inducted in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame (alongside other legends like Jose Bautista) for his incredible contributions to the game.

Mentors share with you from their actions, their values, and integrity. People that, because you were in their orbit for a bit, your life is better. People who are experts in their game and easily educate you and make you better. People who open those doors we were talking about earlier. Greg Hamilton has done all of that and more for me and thousands of other Canadian athletes. A big Fountain Tip of the Cap to Greg on his well deserved honour (with a u 😁).

So thanks to all of those people who cut me and also put my name on a few lists, I have been on both sides. That summer was some of the best days of my life and I am still friends with great teammates and those inspiring coaches. 

Also - Happy Fourth of July and Independence Day to our Friends of the Fountain south of the 49th parallel. I love America and have spent a lot of years in the lower 49 - seen a lot of the beautiful country from the back of baseball buses and airplanes. Some of my best friends are American and I hope your having a great holiday with your friends and families as well. I hope everyone’s Roman candles on both sides of the border light up the sky and kids eyes and dreams.

~Trent

Some cool media I’m consuming, Canada related:

Whether you’ve already got a ticket or are on the fence, we wanted to share a few more details about our inaugural event ‘Gather Round! in Kelowna.

As you know, we have designed this event to be intimate, informative, actionable and Fun (pools go well with almost everything ☺).

But, what we hadn’t yet revealed is the surprise guest.. So, drumroll please.. the big news out of the Fountain this week is the special guest speaker for the Gather ‘Round is going to be Chris Koch!

Chris is a friend of the Fountain, international motivational speaker who has presented for the biggest companies in the world, and also completes marathons in his spare time. He is a an example of being able to achieve more than most people think possible and also an example of pure Fountain energy.

Huge thank you to Chris for coming and we cannot wait to learn from you 🙏🏼.

Tickets are limited to the event, and the VIP dinner has only 3 seats left 🙂

We welcome your ideas and suggestions to help make Gather Round the best it can be - here are some FAQ’s:

We are happy to announce the first sponsor for the Gather Round is SAXX.
All attendees can expect some swag and gifts, and we thank the best underwear in the world for giving in the spirit of the Fountain energy - more collaborators to be announced soon.

So walk me thought the day - what am I in for?

The morning hike is free - thanks for investing in a new day and idea and thank you for investing in yourself. We are going to meet at the Base of Knox Mountain and then hike to Paul’s tomb. Then there will be an optional cliff jump to get the day fired up. We will walk back by approximately 8am and you will be feeling a little braver.

12:30 - you will be greeted at 3330 Neid Road. Around back is a beautiful view in a shaded veranda where we will have a small seating arrangement to do the workshop with your dreams card materials provided. Ria will welcome you warmly with a mindfulness and gratitude for all of us to recognize and feel our intentions for the day

1:00 - I will share my story of failures and successes, my definition of success, and my unique philosophy. The story and sharing of my dreams cards - I have every one since ‘99 - and teaching how to write down your dreams, carry them with you, read them, and take actions as a winning formula.

2:00 - Where do you want to go? Who do you want to see? Where do you want to live? What do you want to own? What do you want to sell? How do you want to dress? What is your values with regard to Health, Wealth, and Abundance to help others? Ria and I will be going table to table working with each of your privately on your dreams card, we have a form to help guide your unique card and dreams. Do you have to show the world your card: No, disclosure of your card is all yours. I share my card with Ria, and all my cards with those at the Gather Round.

3:00 - Wow - I get to listen to Chris with all of you and learn from a world class speaker and person. Chris is going to share his stories about overcoming obstacles and achieving countless times what others say they can’t. I am so excited to share the day with Chris and I thank him for contributing the Fountain community.

Breaks - Yes - we will have breaks and refreshments for all and you are welcome to have a walk around the vineyard to get your thoughts, or find a spot overlooking the valley to look into your future.

3:30 - The music will come on and we can all relax in and around the pool to enjoy the positive energy and hopefully cool off on a beautiful Okanagan summer day. We will also thank you for being part of the day and listen to what parts you enjoyed, and ideas for next year. Maybe a Fountain event in Los Angeles?

6:30 & 7:00 - Arrive in style and thanks to all of those who have purchased the VIP dinner. Friday night will be fun as we are hosted by Kings Tap on the waterfront.

More detailed communication and menus will be communicated in advance for a seamless day of connecting and celebrating. I leave you with the the vibe of one of my favorite tracks and messages from The Flaming Lips:

Thanks for sharing with your friends and hope to see your smiling face emerging from the lake, the pool, and in the future.

We hope to see you in Kelowna.
Bringing your curiosity, biggest questions, and bathing / poolside attire ⛱.

Stoked to fill your cups,
Trent & Ria