This is the Truth Network. Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is set for one flaw. Introducing first, from Lithuania, he weighs 123 kilos, the Russian. Nightmare, Nakita Cole. Welcome to another episode, QA with Cole off the Devil's Nightmare.
Welcome back, QA with Koloff. Questions and answers. And you guys are amazing when it comes to giving me feedback on this show. You really enjoy a lot of the questions that are asked of me. And of course, believe it or not, there's no scripts.
Like, I don't get the questions ahead of time, you know, unlike some of the rumors we hear going. Anyway, I digress. Moving on, moving on. With me today, Patrick Taylor. Patrick, welcome to QA with Koloff.
Hey, great to be here with you, Nikita.
Well, great to have you. And, you know, the format of the show is different than the It's Time to Man Up show, where, you know, we just kind of organically talk about who you are and what you do. And of course, on this one, I always like to give people a chance to ask me a couple questions.
Sometimes it's wrestling related.
Sometimes it's ministry related.
Sometimes it's life related. Most of them are fairly lighthearted, but man, there have been times I'm like, whoo, let me really think on this one before I answer the question, right? But before we get there, before we get to your questions for me today, let's introduce you to our listeners, Patrick Taylor from Out in.
Well, technically, you live where technically?
Well, my uh I've got uh you know, my main residence is in uh right outside Austin, Texas.
Okay. A smaller town called Georgetown. But uh, you know, I still have uh a place uh here where I'm right now in Asheville, North Carolina as well that I I frequent quite often. And Asheville is is the area you grew up in, correct?
Well that's correct. That's where I was born and raised. Born and raised, and I've come to learn you are one of eight children. That is true. I was number seven of eight.
My parents had four boys and four girls. Oh, my goodness. Even than that. Four and four. Currently, I have seven grandbaby boys, seven grandbaby girls currently.
That's amazing. Yeah, it is. But next year, the tie is going to be broken because my youngest daughter, Colby, they're adopting their third child. Oh, that's neat. Yeah.
That's really neat. They'll have a newborn, a one-year-old, and a two-year-old. Yeah. Oh, wow. And all born in the month of May, all three children born in the month of May.
And Colby's birthday is in May, and they were married in May, her and her husband's. Oh, isn't that neat? Yeah, talk about a busy month. But anyway, that said, so you're born and raised, family of eight. You're like, not the baby of the family, right?
Correct. No, no, I've got a younger sister. I'm the baby of the boys, but not the baby of the family. I have a younger sister. Baby of the boys.
So I know you grew up, of course, we met at some of the charity soccer, soccer. I'm getting ahead of myself here. I know you played soccer in school, right? I did. Yeah.
Okay, we'll get to that. I wanted to say we, I think, originally met at some of the charity golf tournaments that I would come up for some of the fundraisers up there. And that's where we really got to know each other. And then over the years, just maintained a friendship, kept in touch over the years, right? Through our mutual friend, Mr.
William Murdoch, up there in Asheville, right? Yeah, that's right. Yeah. And he was your coach. He coached you in soccer, huh?
Yeah, he did. He was a teacher for me, a math teacher, and a soccer coach in middle school and high school. And did you and then you went on, you got some scholarships to go on to play in college? I did at Brevard College. I did, yep.
And, you know, I was there for basically a year and I figured out pretty quick, you know, for me, I really wanted to be an engineer, and that was a liberal arts school. And not that there's anything wrong with that, but I just felt like I'd be. all dressed up after graduation and nowhere to go.
Well, and I and I've got yeah, and I've got two sons that are engineers and and my understanding is the the level of focus and the time and attention it takes to get those engineering degrees is pretty taxing. It is. And I did both of those degrees at night while I was working during the day and paying for school.
So the good news is I graduated debt-free. The tough part is it took me 10 years to get both those degrees. Wow.
Well, hey, even though it took you 10, we used to joke with some: hey, are you on the seven-year college program?
So 10. But hey, congratulations on the two engineering degrees. And I know that's led you to some pretty high-profile positions, including not only being the president of companies, but being CEO of companies and sitting on the board of directors of companies. And I know you got family as well. I think you told me going on 30 years you've been married?
Getting close, yeah, right at 29 years of marriage, and got a daughter, Brittany, that's 25 and a son, Christian, that's 21. Nice. Through your business acumen, it has taken you and your family o overseas, right? Where are some of the places you've traveled and Yeah, that's a great question.
So we've been very fortunate to live quite a few places, not only in the United States, but international, like you mentioned.
So in Germany and Czech Republic. And when we were in Germany, it was really a good age for the kids. They were both five and seven at the time, but they really got an exposure to different cultures and so forth, which I think has served them really well in their older age. What do you think what do you think for them? Like like You know, uh when kids get to experience m more of of the world other than what they see through s social media or through television, what what do you think one of the would you say was one of the biggest benefits for for your family.
Yeah, you know, I would think, I would say maybe just two quick things. One is just the appreciation for diversity, for sure.
Okay. But I think it also naturally, you know, as they got that exposure and experience to different cultures and so forth, because they went to an international school, so you got to imagine that, you know, or realize that it wasn't just the German culture, it was all over the world because we were right there where Mercedes and Porsche was.
So you had people from every continent and country just about that they had exposure to. But really, it makes them really inquisitive. I mean, even to the day, because they know that there's more to life than just where they were born and raised. Yeah, no, that's great. I mean, I always have taken.
Taken a number of my some of my daughters just on overseas trips or escorted them back in their youth group days. We went to, I know, we went to Singapore, went to Moldova, part of my former homeland. I know, I was going to say. Part of the former Soviet Union. Yeah, you know.
Yeah, I forgot. You can break character now. That's true. That's right. That's right.
That's right. And Colombia, Bogota, Columbia, were just some of the places I took took my South Africa, took my kids to South Africa. Very nice. Yeah, so they got to experience a number of things.
Now, speaking of which, did you grow out of curiosity, grow up in Asheville, North Carolina? I know the Civic Center there was a real high point for the mid-Atlantic wrestling back in the days. Did you ever attend any live matches or were you even a fan of it? I did. I did.
Not as many as Bill Murdoch. I don't think he missed one. Right, right. But uh I did attend I did attend a few. And so I'm talking about when I was young, I remember Paul Jones and Uh I mean, uh seen him wrestle quite a bit, and then uh actually your uh haha uncle Ivan.
Wink, wink. That's right. Yeah, wink, wink. But yeah, so I remember them. But yeah, no, the atmosphere was always really neat, and it was exciting.
Well, Civic Center, the Asheville Civic Center was a fun place to wrestle. And I know I always kind of remember, obviously, it had the ringside, but also the balcony. We had like a second tier there, as I recall in the Civic Center. And, you know, yeah, you mentioned he was gone, I think, number one, Mr. Paul Jones, which he had a story career here in the Carolinas back in the 60s, 70s.
He was a manager when I came in. He'd managed like the barbarian, I think, Rick Roode, ravishing Rick Roode for a while. I mean, he has some pretty good names in his stable there back in the days.
So you were an accomplished athlete. You've got a beautiful family, 30-year, almost 30-year marriage, pretty amazing. You've excelled in the marketplace through those two engineering degrees. What would you say is one I'll let me ask you this way. What would you say is one one high two questions, maybe or maybe two part.
What's one of your your highest achievements in in the marketplace? And then tie your faith into that just briefly. Yeah, that's well, that's a very thoughtful question. You know, uh a lot of people would just you know take a step back and just say, Hey, look, it's the accomplishments of uh growing uh a business uh from X to Y or lifting the profitability of a company. And all all that's real, right?
I mean, uh all that's that's it's good stuff and it enables you to go do a lot of other things. But for me, it's really Connecting with the individuals that are in the organization, you know, walking a mile in their shoes, so getting out at the point of impact is what I call it.
So, whether they're on the production floor, which I've been there before in my earlier years, and just getting to know them and understanding what drives them to work, why they're at work, you know, what needs are they providing for their family from that. But also, understanding what their dreams and aspirations are and helping people achieve being and doing their best, right? And so, for me, that's really important because you can really see the difference it makes. uh inside people's and fam people and families. And I would just say, you know, that sort of leads with my Christianity in that aspect because it is.
From my heart. It's very sincere. There's nothing disingenuous about me seeking to understand and helping people. I don't always go out and just have that initial conversation around, I'm a Christian, I'm here to sort of help you. I want them to sort of look at me and observe me through my actions, not necessarily my words.
And then they typically become inquisitive, they see something different, and then that will init or eventually turn into a question they may have or a conversation. And then that Christian relationship takes on and blossoms. And it's been really neat to see that happen worldwide. That that's pretty cool. It's funny you you referenced the heart because I was just making a note.
Um and and uh and knowing the time I've I've uh spent around you and or and or watched your actions, you might say, w there is without question a servant's heart. You have a servant's heart. I literally wrote that down before you even Reference to that. You're very generous.
Well, and it's true. And, you know, I could just envision you as a CEO or president of a company with that attitude and with being grounded in your faith and your love for the Lord, how being a servant leader has played a major role in your success. And, you know, your list of successes is too long to say on air today, but you are so well accomplished. And I congratulate you on all of that, Patrick.
Well, thank you. If I was sitting there and tell you I did that all on my own, I wouldn't be truthful.
So it's working with a lot of great people and achieving great things together. That's what it's all about, right? And we're working together all careful. You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Nikita Koloff here, and I am excited.
Did you hear the huge announcement, the big announcement?
Well, maybe it's a minor announcement. Anyway, Facebook, go look up my new fan page, Nikita Koloff Fans, and like it. and follow today. If you are a business owner and would like to advertise your company or product on the Man Up Show and/or QA with Koloff. Contact me directly, Nakita Koloff at Koloff.net.
The Man Up Show is honored to have Dr. Johnny Gayton as one of our longest-running supportive sponsors. Dr. Gayton is regarded as one of the world's leading elite eye surgeons. He is motivated by his faith in doing all things heartily as unto the Lord.
His desire to do his best has contributed to success in his eye care practice, performing over 70,000 eye surgeries. In addition, he's a world-renowned speaker, writer, and author. Go to iassociates.com for more information. It is QA with Koloff. I do want to give you the chance to Asked me a couple questions, so let's flip the script here.
And if you want to fire away with your first question for me, you want to open up that email I sent you with the 50 question? We'll have to dedicate another show. And I really appreciate the opportunity. But, you know, look, I mean, you just mentioned about a servant's heart, but I tell you, I learned that from, you know, we talked about Bill Murdoch. You know, he's more of a brother to me than anything.
And I've known him since a child because he went to school with my older brothers and sisters. But been watching, you know, look, people like you, right? You know, being young and impressionable and getting to know you. Think about that. I mean, I was just around 20 to 22 years old when I really got to know you and to watch you and to see where you had been and your Christian entity being worn on your sleeve.
So my question is, being a Christian in the WW, you know, And WWE and everything else. I mean, how did that, I mean, how did you carry that, right? Because that is an industry that, you know, it's almost like a mix between Hollywood and professional sports and so forth and so on. I mean, how was that to be walking around being a Christian, but also being in the midst of probably some really tough situations that, you know, that you're dealing with? Good question.
And The way you phrased it, that was a good way to phrase it. Because what's going through my mind, even as you're asking the question, is it can be a, you know, it can be sometimes or viewed as a very dark industry, so to speak. You know, you mentioned Hollywood. You know, Hollywood can be viewed as a very dark industry. You know, temptation at every turn, you know, anything and everything at your fingertips.
And certainly that was the case in pro wrestling. You know, there was a lot available to the guys. And And so how I can speak to that is uh personally so I'm going to go back to a guy named George South who was uh What we would call an undercard.
Okay. But an incredible, great talent. And looking back on it, because I, for the record, Was not a Christ follower back in my wrestling days. I will, for the record, say I was a believer in God. I just had yet to establish a relationship with God.
With God. And some would say, like Don Cronodo, one of my original partners, along with Uncle Ivan Koloff, he'd always say, man, you know, you weren't a horrible guy. You weren't a bad guy. You weren't rude and mean. You were a nice guy, you know, and just had, you know, try to have good morals, but just without the spiritual aspect of it.
But a guy like George South, it was, you know, he was not shy about his faith, and everyone knew that he was a Christian. And so I want to say that may have even contributed to me, you know. 11 months after leaving wrestling, giving my life to the Lord in Seeing how George lived his life, because that can be a very challenging industry or business as a believer, right? I mean, Again, just every temptation at your fingertips. And so I guess I would say the key to success there in that particular industry and maybe anywhere else is just being very grounded in your faith, of which George was.
So just using him as an example, being very grounded in your faith, no matter what line of work you find yourself in, and no matter how dark it may be, the more grounded in your faith, the more grounded you are in your personal relationship with Jesus, the easier, I didn't say easy, but the easier, Patrick, it's going to be to navigate those waters. And when I say grounded, surrounding yourself. And now there weren't, to my knowledge other than George, quite honestly, that I knew were Christ followers back then.
Now, many of them have come to Christ. I mean, Sean Michael, Sting, Lex Luger, Magnum, T.A., I mean, Tully Blanchard.
So I can go down a list and say a number of guys who have since come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
However,. Um The other part of that equation I would say is surrounding yourself. And again, if there's not a whole lot of Christians out there in your workspace, for those of you out in listening land, make sure you're plugged into a good Bible-believing full gospel church. Make sure you're plugged into a men's Bible study or a couple's Bible study, you know, where you can, small group, where you can live life together and lean on one another. And then, of course, at the very core and foundation, the anchor is Jesus, knowing that you have that personal relationship.
So that's how I would address that question. That's a great question. Never been asked that before. That's good. It's good.
Yeah, well my my fi follow-up question if you if we got time here. Yep. Yeah, is I'm going to reverse that on you.
So, how has being in the professional wrestling? Scene. How does that sort of help you lead as a Christian and in your man camps and everything else? How is the reciprocal of that played out for you? Again, a great.
That's a great question because Looking back on it, you know, the opportunity to be in on microphones and in front of cameras and wrestling in front of large crowds, you know, even though I was there to entertain, was certainly I kind of sometimes tongue-in-cheek joke. Patrick, that God set me up. It was a setup. I don't know if that's tongue-in-cheek or not, brother.
Well, I say tongue-in-cheek, but yeah, kind of on a serious side, I feel like he did set me up in this sense: that wrestling was not on my radar, but a door of opportunity opened up. I walked through that door and was able to, thank God, take full advantage of it and make a name for myself. And then later on, as I mentioned, 11 months after retiring, come to know Christ in a personal way. And then that wrestling, still to this day, has become an absolute platform for me to go out through open doors. Like many of the pastors that invite me into their churches now grew up watching me wrestle.
I believe that. And then they find out: oh my gosh, he's a Christian, and he's an evangelist, and he does men's conferences, and him and Lex Luger do these camps, and right?
So.
So it's opened a lot of doors, but also gained me a lot of experience to be able to now talk on microphones, be in front of cameras, do this radio show and podcast every week.
So all that wrestling, man. Thank you, Lord, for setting it up and thank you for setting me up, you know. Wow.
I love that. Oh, yeah. That was a well put. Wow, pretty amazing.
Well, Patrick Taylor, I appreciate you being on Q and A with Koloff today, and thank you for asking a couple of really excellent questions.
Well, I appreciate it. And I think, like we said, I told you before, I really appreciate you just. Not as Nikita, but as a Christian. I mean, I obviously appreciate you as Nikita Koloff, but really love you as a Christian and appreciate what you're doing. Setting that example, not only for others that are listening here in your man camps, but for me at age 55, I still look to you and others to help me be a better Christian.
So I appreciate it. I appreciate it. I'm certainly humbled by that. And that brings up one final point I'll make, you know, as even at the age of 55, looking up to others, the importance of having mentors in our life. And age-wise, at our last man camp, we set some milestones.
One being the oldest attendee at the age of 81. That's amazing. It was 81, still hungry for God, still wanting to learn, still wanting to grow in his faith. And spoke to him yesterday, and he said, and he drove, Patrick, he drove from Louisiana. He said it took him 16 hours to get home.
But every every minute of it was worth it. And so I believe it.
So thank you.
Well, until next time, I can't wait to see what you accomplish next, and we'll we'll have to get you back on the shows, okay? Absolutely. All right. Keep me in your prayers, and I want to keep you in mine. Yes, please do.
Lord, I just thank you for Patrick, and I thank you for all the open doors that you've given him to be able to go out and make a difference and be light in a dark world out there in the marketplace where Jesus spent most, where you spent most of your time, Jesus. And so I just thank you, your continued blessing upon Patrick. In Jesus' name, amen. And thank you for that. Awesome.
Absolutely. And well, we'll stay in touch. And I look forward towards seeing what you accomplish next. Talk to you soon. All right.
Until next time. Tune in again, QA with Koloff. And hey, if you ever want to be interviewed on the show, maybe love to share your story, just go to koloff.net and submit a request. Until next time, go out and live a God-filled and have a God-blessed day. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God.
and your faithful prayers, support, and generous gifts. May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to kolof.net and donate. Today. Hi, Nikita Koloff.
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