Everyday I'm Raking: Business, Leadership, Relationships with Kurt Kristynik

I’ve wanted Kurt Kristynik as a guest on the podcast for a long time. Interestingly, as Vice President of Buffaloe Floors, Kurt runs a 3^rdgeneration family business—a bit of a black swan considering America’s startup craze.

Thinking back. I’ve respected Kurt’s business acumen since the day I invited him to speak at our real estate organization almost 20 years ago. A presentation he nailed, by the way, due to his effective communication skills, humility and relatability.

Kurt is also Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, an organization he started from scratch in Spring 2017. The program, located in Cypress, Texas, is where he and wife, Marti, raise their son, Cole, and daughter, Chance.

In his spare time, Kurt likes to deer hunt, fish and bar-b-que with friends & fam. In addition to his role as Director of Rake City Cypress Baseball, he operates three high school travel teams every fall and summer.

Yet none of that is why I wanted Kurt on the podcast. Don’t get me wrong. Operating & growing a family business is no small feat. Nor is building an elite baseball program or raising a beautiful family.

But for me, you sit beside Kurt, talking baseball, drinking beers—with or without respect for an arbitrary twenty-one number—or have him pull you “under his giant wing” to remind you the importance of where you came from.

Of tradition.

Of why relationships don’t die, they deepen.

Of keeping in contact—regardless where you happen to be in the world.

Most importantly, it’s Kurt’s presence. His way of being that elevates those around him.

It’s a presence that’s always conveyed to me: “You go be you, ‘lil bro,’ I trust you. Together, we’ll get this thing figured out.”

By the way, Rake City isn’t a place, although Alex Bregman may beg to differ. He and several teammates started calling Albuquerque, New Mexico, “Rake City,” due to the amount of hitters his hometown produced.

For the uninitiated, “rake,” in baseball parlance, means frequently barreling that MF! If you need help there, this episode isn’t for you. Rake City “prided themselves on playing the game the right way, producing great teammates and young men who are going to be ready for the next levels of baseball and life.”

It’s no wonder the program grew quickly. Nine players from their first two graduating classes went on to play college baseball. Eventually, they merged with Texas Slam Acadamy.

Kurt’s baseball org is located in Cypress, Texas. I’ve said that already. Hey we’re both “over the hill,” which we discuss.

We also share a birthday. That bonds us at least till Peter greets us at the gates. But Kurt and Brent Brooks also started a lifestyle-hat company in Cypress for baseball junkies. They call it 2 Seam Hat Company.

In this episode, we talk a lot of baseball. I recall my earliest memory of Kurt at Cy Falls High School. Towering above everyone in the athletics hall, I see a giant kid wearing a letterman’s jacket in no less than 90-degree weather.

My initial thought was damn he looks like “Johnny Quarterback.” My second thought was I’ll bet you he’s questioning his decision to wear that jacket today “cussing the sweat and the Texas heat, and mosquitos.”

There’s more to love about Kurt. Like when he was dating that girl who attended Penn State his senior year of high school. We never learned much about her.

That’s because any mention of long-distance love got him taunted with, “This mystery gal you speak of, what’s she doing in State College, PA, with QB Kerry Collins instead of down here with you?”

Don’t misunderstand. Kurt could’ve kicked the shit out of any one of us. And we knew there was nothing brewing between his high school pen pal and the eventual 5th pick in the NFL Draft.

But the 1900s were a different time. Trash-talking was almost expected if you were to be respected; a quick-witted ribbing of teammates was more a rite of passage than any breeding of love or hate.

Thinking back. It was as if upperclassmen said to young guys, whether “Dantonio, Lambin, Johnson (Eric or Brett)—you’re welcomed to talk shit, and I’ll treat you like a man. But understand running your mouth comes with expectations. And those expectations are hard work and winning.”

Done and done.

Kurt & I also discuss whether he has plans to ever retire. Says he couldn’t imagine not doing anything. Or having a plan for every day.

I ask why the additional 2-Seam side-hustle with two other businesses on his hands. He says making cool hats is fun for him. It brings relief. And helps to reset his brain before getting too far on his main jobs.

This may feel like I’m changing the subject—but hear me out.

I got four texts last week. All from guys you would think from the outside-looking-in they’ve nearly got it all. Each text was a variation of: “Hey bud, I’m struggling with something. Got a few minutes to chat?”

“Of course,” I tell them.

I’ll say this till I’m invited to join Blue Man Group. We men need each other. Not just someone wishing us well. Or somebody in our corner when the fit hits the shan.

What men need nowadays is someone they can text anytime and know they’ll have an ear.

It’s cliché. But as I always say. Sayings have achieved cliché status for a reason. Those who dismiss or ignore them are idiots. And I just want to remind you that a phone call with a friend might be exactly what you need to get back swingin’ it [as God intended].

I felt that diversion from my episode with Kurt was appropriate only because of the week I had last week and the fact that I know Kurt is a man you can call or text anytime you need to chat. And since I had your attention, thought it was important to mention.

Having Kurt on the podcast was a blast! Not only was it fun to ketchup—you’ll find yourself absorbed by his clarity of thought on leadership, coaching, and importance of family.

Hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did.

Questions asked:

What is your take on the Jon Gruden situation?
Do you know anything else he said that was offensive?
Did you ever think you were grateful enough?
Did Kobe Bryant have any impact on you?
What’s the most important thing your dad has taught you about being a man?
Did being the oldest sibling help you become a great leader?
Who is Chris Kolkhorst?
Did you have any older influences?
Can you tell me about your senior year of high school baseball?
How do you go about finding somebody that can be that personal tutor/mentor for your son?
Did you restrict what ages you coached?
What’s with guys striking out so much nowadays in baseball?
Are you working with hitters?
Would you be a fan of robo-umps?
How hard is it to hit in a game when it’s 9 to 1 bottom eight?
Can you talk about your side hustle – 2 Seam Hat Company?
Where did you go after coaching the Cy Falls varsity team?
Is Cypress Ranch High School still a perennial powerhouse?
[Question from Carson Lee] What’s the path to building a stable baseball organization?
[Question from Carson Lee] How do you find kids to build the program & add teams when you’re first starting off?
[Question from Carson Lee] How do you add coaches to the organization but continue to instill a coaching/practice/game philosophy that’s the same with every team without having to attend every event?
Can you tell us about your third generation business?
Do you have any plans to retire?
Why the additional side hustle now that you have a second business?
Are you a prayerful person?
Did you raise your kids in the church?
Do you invest for retirement?
Do you do any investing outside of your businesses?
If you had a windfall of $125,000 next month, what would you do with it?
What’s the dumbest money decision you’ve ever made?
On a scale of 1 to 40 games, how much does a manager impact wins & losses over the course of a Major League season?
Why is Tony La Russa having so much success?

Fun questions:

Is social media a net positive or negative for society?
What is your favorite baseball/basketball/football card that you’ve ever owned?
If you’re a Jeopardy contestant & you get to choose the category for Final Jeopardy, what are you choosing?
As you enter Final Jeopardy, all three contestants are tied at $10,000. The Final Jeopardy category is Heisman Trophy winners. How much are you wagering?
[Final Jeopardy Question] Name three non-quarterbacks to win a Heisman Trophy.
What is the award given to the best quarterback in college football?
Would you rather win a national title or a gold medal?