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Category: leadership

Focus on your strength…

Written by jessesantoyo
Friday, 09 September 2011 09:03
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Focus! Focus on the lyric with most potential. Focus on the melody that keeps looping in your head. Focus on the chorus that makes your life feel like a movie soundtrack. Focus on your strength. Too many times we walk away from our strongest efforts to save those not ready for the public eye or ear. But if you focus on your strengths, it is inevitable… In due time, your weakest ideas will gain momentum and rise to the top. Often times your strength is someone else’ weakness and vice versa.  That is where collaboration is a beautiful thing! Focus on what you know, rather then beating yourself up for what you don’t.

It’s not about knowing everything, it’s about doing something with what you know. Fuerza!

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A Pro in the making

Written by jessesantoyo
Friday, 29 July 2011 08:53
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At just 15yrs old, my nephew CJ is already creating a buzz amongst several baseball programs in Chicago. He’s already played on multiple travel teams, attends various training camps throughout the year and plays for St. Rita HS.

Seems like just yesterday CJ was walking around in diapers with a Football helmet on his head, a winter glove in one hand and  a baseball glove in the other. Early on we knew there was something special about him. Sports was encrypted in his DNA. It wasn’t something the family forced on him, but rather a passion he was born with.

CJ is a lefty and plays all outfield positions.  The one position that has stood out for many coaches and trainers is CJ’s pitching ability.  CJ’s target and precision is impeccable with speeds ranging from 70-85mph. Velocity is always great but  the technique and mechanics CJ has  for his age is all the reason for conversations about College offers and a potential career in the Major Leagues someday. CJ will be a Sophomore this fall at St. Rita high school where he has excelled academically and athletically. This Summer CJ tried out for St. Rita’s varsity team, but it is still too little early to determine if he will choose to play varsity or not.

We all witnessed early on in childhood that CJ had a passion for baseball. Going into his 2nd yr of high school CJ already has his heart  set on going to Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN to continuing his athletic journey and career. If I were a recruiter or a Pro Scout,  I’d be all over this kid now!

My brother Carlos has done an amazing job at leading CJ in all areas of this life. My brother is a teacher for the Chicago Public School system but is also a Pastor of a church in the South side of Chicago. My brother himself has an amazing story of never giving up on your dreams and CJ is a reflection of his Dad’s leadership. I expect nothing but great things for them all! I’m super stoked and proud for my nephew CJ. It’s always surreal for me to see him play. I begin to think how once upon a time I held this kid in my arms and fed him is milk bottle and now he’s traveling city to city displaying his God given athletic talent on the baseball field.  I’m a tough love type of dude so I keep it real with CJ every time I see him. My pep talks consist of the following,

“You have to really want this! There is always someone out there who wants it more then you. He’s practicing more then you. He’s running more then you. So what are you gonna do?” I’m tough on the outside but inside I’m leaping for joy for him. I believe God gives us all special abilities and talents. He gives us a blank canvas, and let’s us create a masterpiece story…

Below is an email I recieved from CJ describing the past few weeks of his traveling team & tournaments.  He said he got small taste of what in his mind being a Pro is like…

“The coach just called me and said I was already on the team! I played all three outfield positions and pitched. We beat St Louis, Milwaukee and Minnesota. lost to the White Sox. making us go 3-1 in the tournament. We had to beat Minnesota in order to go to the championship so coach told me I was pitching. I pitched giving up 2 hits 1 walk, and 2 runs but i struck out 12. I pitched the whole game and took the team to the championship by winning 10 to 2 but then in the championship we lost to the White Sox again 5 to 1. We stayed at the hotel where they gave us new hats new uniforms and practice clothes. At the end of the game a guy from St Louis came up to me and asked if I could sign a ball for him. This is the first time someone actually did that to me. It was awesome! I got the taste of being pro for a weekend. I got back to the hotel and after I showered the coach of the older team called me over and told me he wants me to practice with his team so I can play for him next year. He told me when we win next year the team goes to the world series and we get to play at a Pro stadium where College coaches and Pro scouts attend.  He said he’s gonna get us a Pro tryout next year, the first day we get there. Then he left it by saying that he’s never seen a 15 year old throw the baseball the way I did, and that was it. I’m returning next year with the older team to play and hopefully  get exposure.”-CJ


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Cigarettes, Updates & Transitions.

Written by jessesantoyo
Friday, 22 July 2011 11:47
1 Comment

2 nights ago I worked on the set of a TV film Pilot for FOX called “Outlaw Country.” We were shooting in a remote area in Watertown TN. Basically out in the middle of nowhere. It was a ton of fun though. The production on a Pilot like this one is pretty darn amazing. We were out in the country wilderness surrounded by Trees, but because the set was so well lit, it felt like we were in a stage set.   I can imagine the location is usually pitch black when a massive Film crew is not inhabiting it. Without giving out details pertaining to the scene I will say this, I was asked to be smoking a cigarette as a prop. After about 5 takes, I was tired of puffing that darn cigarette.  I think the last time I smoked a cigarette was in High School…It tasted just as bad as I remembered it would. It was one of the longest night shoots I have been in. I left my apartment at 5pm and got back home from the shoot at 530am. The life of a dedicated & aspiring actor, functioning on 3hrs of sleep.

My EP process is moving along. 4 songs have been tracked and there is 1 more to go. My good friend Jeremy Larson has done an amazing job writing and composing Live strings. The EP vibe will be quite simple yet complex…at least I think so.  My acoustic guitar, my vocal and an ocean of live strings behind them. 1 track out of the 5 will have a totally different vibe then the rest! You’ll just have to wait to listen to it… You’ll dig it, I promise! :) We’re looking at a Fall release date. Details coming soon.

Jesse Santoy0 LIVE. I’ve started to do a few live shows in town and testing out my EP songs. Thanks to the world of social networking I met Erika Hastings. Erika is a talented Cellist here in town. We met thru mutual networks and within a day or so from our initial contact, we were already rehearsing together. We’ve managed to put a few shows under our belt already and plan on doing some more & a potential tour next year. The chemistry is been very natural. The songs sound awesome with just an acoustic guitar and Cello. It’s made for a unique  & eclectic experience thus far. Our plan is to continue rehearsing together, sharpening out the details and really crafting out these tunes.  You should definitely plan on being at our next show.

When Reina and I moved to Nashville the 1st thing on our to do list was to find a church community we could connect with. It’s always difficult with so many churches and so many options. Kind of like the menu at the Cheesecake Factory. That probably wasn’t the best example.  We knew about Cross Point Church way before we lived here. So when we arrived to Nashville we gave it a shot a few times and The Santoyo’s felt like this was a community we wanted to be apart of. Cross Point is a pretty big church, so for a while it felt overwhelming and we felt lost in a sea of white people. :) It felt like we were probably the only Latinos at Cross Point for sometime. Nevertheless we enjoyed it and our boys did too. Within a few months of making Cross Point our home we started a community group and that was the best thing we could have done. The church we knew as a huge multi site church now became a small community of people just like us. We’ve made some great friends in the process.

After being at Cross Point for about a year I was asked to serve as a Campus Coordinator and help launch the new Downtown campus at Rocketown! So now I wasn’t just attending and volunteering, I was actually part of the staff! It has been a journey I could have never orchestrated on my own! We took on the role and did our best to help create a Cross Point Community in Downtown Nashville for College students.  From day one of the launch to taking a summer break, it has been an amazing learning experience and journey. The friendships we made?  priceless! The young community in the making? Beautiful! First time  Christ followers & baptisms? Amazing! The Cereal Bar? kick Ass!

With every new and fresh opportunity comes a tough decision.  During the summer break was when I felt in my heart the need to transition out of the Downtown Campus Coordinator position.  A decision that was insanely tough for me. I love the church, I love the staff, I love the DNA of community, but I felt I needed to refocus on the direction I was taking my personal journey & our family during this season. For weeks  I battled on making the decision but I knew it had to be done sooner then later. Working for Cross Point church was a huge blessing for our family on so many different levels, we can’t thank them enough for making us part of that season. I don’t know if this was a good decision or a bad decision…Maybe both…But at this point and time it feels right. I never thought I’d be working in Churches. With Cross Point being the 2nd ministry job, it totally reconfirms alot for us as a family and our future in full time ministry. I am start prepping for it!  The Santoyo’s are so grateful for Jenni Catron who’s been an amazing leader and support as we made the decision. Special thanks to Justin Davis for helping us fall in love with Cross Point when we knew no one.  We are not planning on leaving Nashville nor leaving Cross Point. Cross Point is our Casa and we’ll continue to devote our time to serving the Nashville & Downtown community.

Since my trip in 2009, my heart has been locked to return to the country of Cambodia. After countless hours of sharing the story of Cambodia with Reina, she’s fallen in love with a place she has yet to see. When she finally see’s it I know it will surpass any expectations she currently has! We are passionate about music and art and are finally in the works on finalizing a collaborative effort with a Nashville organization in Cambodia. We’ll give you the scoop on them very soon!!! Reina and I have established “The Anthems Project.” A movement of art & love for the people of Cambodia. Everything starts with movement! We’re taking our talents and efforts and working  on making a difference in beautiful country  We’ll have details very soon, and how you can get invloved with us too ;)

Thanks for Reading!

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