F3 Omaha 2nd Annual Brick Builder
May 21st, 2022. 54 degrees, breezy. Chill in the air
I got the call a few weeks ago. My man Sparty send me a text asking if I was going to do the Brick Builder. I told him I had not yet decided, and it was then that he said he had a proposition for me. He asked me if could MC the event, kick things off with a COT and then have some fun with the Mic throughout the event. I responded very quickly; so, I can help out at the event and not have to do the beatdown… that sounds delicious. I immediately agreed!
That morning I pulled up to Morrison stadium not sure what to expect. I was not at last year’s event and wasn’t sure what the morning would look like. I immediately saw some of my favorite people and any anxiety I had ebbed. First, I saw Griswold and Smash Mouth, two of the best guys I know. We walked in together and I saw Tater and Sparty. It was going to be a great morning.
There was an energy in the air. Not just an excitement but a feeling of doing something important. This event was special, and it really felt like the crowd realized that. I walked around and gave out a plethora of hugs and fist bumps. Seeing the PAX was terrific, but it was so cool seeing our guests. The friends and family, coworkers and wives of the F3 guys. How cool was it to have them there this morning as well?
Tater Tot and I walked down to the field to get a lay of the land and talk about the order of events. While smiling that big, beautiful smile I could tell he was a little anxious. Tater wants everything to go perfectly and on days like this his mind is working overtime. Meanwhile, mine seems to stay in first gear at all times…
We talked through what would happen before the workout, who would do what and shared some laughs. We felt good. A little before 8 am, the large group made its way to the field. Sparty was going to start with some words about the event and then pass it to me for the COT. My heartbeat was starting to pick up. Palms were starting to sweat. I was feeling some pressure as my time to speak was quickly approaching.
It was then I recalled a quote I once heard. “When you feel pressure, it means you are doing something important.” This event was too important to not deliver a solid message. And to deliver it well I didn’t want to let anyone down or disappoint anyone.
Sparty did a great job opening. He explained the meaning behind the event, honored Chris, introduced two awesome teens that the foundation was helping and congratulated the highest fundraising team. It was Nikki’s team of course and the crowd gave a great round of applause for her and the team.
He then handed me the microphone. It felt like it belonged in my hand… I took a deep breathe and started talking:
Good morning and welcome to the 2nd annual Brick Builder event. This is a special morning not just for F3 Omaha but for the Omaha Community as well. If you are a part of F3, great to see you boys! If you are a guest this morning, it is even better to see you. Candidly, I get tired of seeing all these guys every morning… Some fresh faces are a welcome sight! And to be around a group who prioritizes hygiene for a change is a breath of fresh air. Literally…
My name is Matt Mainelli, many of you know me as Roadhouse and I feel so honored to be here this morning. When Sparty asked me to say a few words to kick things off, I immediately thought of my very first workout. I didn’t love the workout, it was a Wait Time special and he was indeed not my friend for those 45 minutes, but I loved the COT- or Circle of Trust, where whoever leads the workout says a few words of inspiration for the group. I asked Wait Time if I could do COTs without leading the workouts. Since this is a family event I cannot say exactly what he said to me but the answer was NO. Well, wait Time, look at me now. Doing a COT and I am not even going to do the workout…. BOOM! You can take your F3 rules and traditions and take a walk my brother…
This event is a really special event and it ties really closely to a concept that I learned a few years ago that had a tremendous impact on me. The concept is called the Universal Law of Service and it says, the only way you can get what you want in life is to first help other people get what they want in life. So in other words, the only way I get what I want in life, is to first help other people get what they want.
What is interesting about this is that many people have gotten a bit of advice in life to ask what’s in it for me when they go into any situation. But that idea flies directly in the face of this universal law of service. To truly be successful in this world, it has got to start with helping other people be successful. Even more simply, this concept is about finding out what’s important to people and making it important to you. This idea has made a huge impact in my life because for a long time, I lived pretty selfishly and the results were a hollow existence and a lack of purpose. Now, I have shifted my focus externally and try to help people become the best version of themselves and when I see them grow and develop and succeed, I know I am successful.
And what is so cool is that this concept; it is exactly what the F3 Omaha Foundation does. They find out what these young men want and what they want to achieve and what’s important to them, and they make it important to us. Its mission is to help people achieve their dreams, and isn’t that what this world is all about.
So as you sweat and push and grind through this workout today, I want you to reflect on this concept and think about where your focus is. Think about the people in your life that you love the most and ask yourself if you know what they want. If you know what’s important to them. If you know their hopes and dreams. And if you don’t, maybe its about time you find out…
Good luck! I love you! And be safe out there!
As I finished, I handed the microphone back to Sparty. I had gotten a few laughs and I felt like my message had been okay. I never know how it lands.
Sparty said a prayer and Tater explained how the beatdown was going to work. And with that, the event began. As the teams took off running, preparing for a brutal combination of running and exercises that would push them like they had never been pushed before, I grabbed a cup of coffee and two Krispy Kreme donuts and felt terrible for them…
For the next two hours I watched these teams run and push and they never stopped smiling. It was such a special morning and again, there was a feeling that we were all doing something important together. It was the epitome of F3 Omaha; coming together to help each other get better. To do something meaningful and to make our community better.
I left Morrison stadium that morning feeling full. Grateful that I was a part of this tremendous group. Hopeful for a brighter future for the young people we are supporting. And of course, full from all the donuts I had.
Thank you, F3 Omaha, for a perfect morning and a special event. Whether you ran, volunteered, donated or supported, you were a part of something full of purpose and meaning and you should be proud.
I love you all
Roadhouse