There are conversations that stay with me long after the mic turns off, and this episode of the Elliott Army Series was one of them. I sat down with Jaycob and Alyssa, a couple whose story started with a towed car and turned into a decade of partnership, faith, and growth. By the end of our conversation, I found myself thinking less about the questions I had prepared and more about the quiet lessons woven through everything they shared.

A Towed Car and a Decade Together

Jaycob and Alyssa’s story began the way a lot of good stories do, without either of them expecting it. They were next door neighbors in a gated community when Alyssa’s car got towed. Jaycob knocked on her door to warn her, arrived just a little too late, and the two started talking anyway. What began with a message on Instagram turned into a relationship that has now lasted ten years.

What struck me most was how unhurried their journey felt. They did not rush into marriage or parenthood. Instead, Alyssa put it simply: she always wanted kids, but she was glad they waited until they felt ready, even though she admitted that readiness never fully arrives. As she said, you prepare as much as you can, and then you trust that things will unfold the way they are supposed to.

Staying Grounded in a Competitive World

Jaycob has spent years in sales, an industry that can easily turn into a comparison trap. When I asked how he avoids getting pulled into that mindset, he traced it back to his childhood wrestling career. He described getting matched against older, bigger kids on purpose, taking losses in practice so he could win when it counted. That same mentality carried into his career. Instead of resenting people who are further ahead, he sees them as a preview of where he is headed. His phrase for it stuck with me: your mess is your message.

Finding Faith Together

One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation was hearing how their faith took root. Jaycob and Alyssa told me that although they always believed in God, their real walk with Him did not begin until they moved to Arizona a few years ago. Since then, they said their lives have moved faster in the last year and a half than in the previous decade combined.

Alyssa shared something I have been thinking about since we recorded. She said that no matter what you feel called to do, if it truly comes from God, He will equip you for it. You do not have to carry the weight of figuring it all out alone. That kind of surrender is not something we talk about enough, especially for people trying to do it all.

Why the Elliott Army Series Exists

We also talked about the heart behind this podcast itself. I created the Elliott Army Series because I believe in documentation, in leaving something behind for the people who come after us. Jaycob and Alyssa’s goals reflect that same instinct. They want a bigger family, more travel, and the chance to hand their children experiences instead of things. Hawaii is on the list. So is a trip retracing places central to their faith. Their reasoning for prioritizing travel was simple and honest: they grew up in a small town, and they want their family to see how big the world really is.

The Culture Lesson That Stuck With Me

Jaycob told a story during our conversation about another guest, a salon owner who transformed her business after studying how stylists in Europe approach their craft. It was not just about technique. It was about presence, atmosphere, and treating each client’s experience as something sacred rather than something to rush through. Jaycob’s takeaway was about intention, about how much can change when you slow down and pay attention to the details other people overlook.

What Makes Them Different

I ask every guest on this podcast the same question: what makes you different from everyone else on the team? Alyssa’s answer was about attitude. She said that before she was ever hired, she felt unqualified, but she trusted it was still where she was supposed to be. Whatever task lands in front of her, she treats it as a challenge worth figuring out. Jaycob’s answer traced back to belief. From the very first event he attended, he knew this was where his family belonged, and he has spent every year since bringing more of the people he loves into that same circle.

A Lesson on Proximity

Jaycob’s advice to listeners centered on something simple but often ignored: find a mentor or a community and fully commit to it. He talked about how much faster he grew once he stopped trying to figure everything out alone. It reminded me of the African proverb that says if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. That idea, more than anything else we discussed, felt like the thread running through their entire story.

Closing Thoughts

Jaycob and Alyssa are the kind of people who make you want to slow down and pay closer attention to your own life. Their gratitude, their faith, and their willingness to be honest about the parts of the journey that were not easy left a real impression on me. I am grateful they trusted me with their story, and I hope it encourages someone listening to take their own next step, even without knowing exactly where it leads.

About me:

I am currently a Master Facilitator for The Elliott Group in addition to being on the board of advisors for our Cultural Transformation Department in ELLIOTT ARMY.

With over 14 years of client service experience, I have held substantial leadership roles in the automotive industry. I’m also an accredited coach, a speaker, a triathlon finisher, and a wife. To contact me for engagements, you can reach me at [email protected].

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