Leadership Ethos - Be Authentic, and Create Opportunities

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Austin leads Talbot Companies with a principles focused philosophy that starts with authenticity. Being honest about the realities and focusing on how to make Talbot a more effective business for our clients and team members is central to Talbot. This creates a mindset that is constantly reflecting, evaluating, and improving. The company mission is “to improve lives by improving properties.” Austin is guided by his strong faith in Jesus Christ and lives his life every day in an effort to follow the word of God to the best of his ability. Below is Austin's powerful testimony in his faith.

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The Testimony of Austin Talbot

How the Lord Used Extreme Accountability to Save Me

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For most of my life, I was surrounded by Christianity–Christian school, church, Bible studies - but it was all form and no substance. I was an inward rebel, a hypocrite, and a skilled actor. I proclaimed faith while living in complete contradiction to it.

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In the spring of 2015, during my junior year at Charleston Southern University as a student-athlete, my teammate DJ asked to move into my two-bedroom apartment to save on rent. DJ had a past reputation for being “wild,” but he claimed the Lord had recently transformed him and he was now walking in obedience to Scripture. I was skeptical, but I agreed - little did I know this decision would change everything.

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Sharing a room with DJ quickly exposed the vast difference between my shallow “Christianity” and his genuine faith. He began noticing my sin and hypocrisy and gently but firmly challenged me. One day he asked, “Hey bro, if you profess to be a Christian, would you mind if I held you accountable to that?”

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I hesitated. Saying yes meant inviting exposure I didn’t want. Saying no would make me look like I wasn’t a Christian at all. Reluctantly, I said yes - convincing myself it wouldn’t be a big deal.

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I was wrong.

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DJ’s accountability was intense and granular. He asked questions like:

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● Who are you texting?

● Why did you say that?

● Can I go through your phone?

● Why were you out so late?

● Was that comment completely true?

● Why haven’t you found a church yet?

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Every question peeled back layers. I got angry, exasperated, and tried to avoid him. But I had invited this scrutiny, and the truth was catching up. For the first time in over a decade of professing faith, I started reading the Bible - not out of devotion, but to find ammunition to argue back. I began in Matthew, sure I’d prove him wrong. I didn’t make it to the end before the Holy Spirit convicted me: my faith was fake.

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If this was what being a Christian meant - repentance, holiness, surrender - then I wasn’t one. I broke down, confessed my hypocrisy and sin, and begged God for forgiveness and true salvation. My whole identity was exposed as counterfeit. I went back to DJ and told him what I’d discovered. He encouraged me to keep reading, invited me to a solid expository church, and shared sermons.

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In the months that followed, I devoured Scripture and sound teaching. I broke up with my girlfriend, got plugged into church, and began learning truths I’d never grasped before:

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● God does not hear the prayer of those who love sin (Ps. 66:18).

● Christ had to die on the cross because God demands perfection (Hebrews 10:14).

● If we willfully continue in our sin after coming to the knowledge of Christ, we ought not to

expect forgiveness and eternal life (Hebrews 10:26–27).

● Those who practice immorality will not be granted eternal life (Ephesians 5:5).

● A Christian must live a pure life—not because of some scorecard, but because of the

overwhelming sacrifice of Christ. A holy life is our proper response and obligation (2

Corinthians 5:14–15).

● Church is not optional; it is a critical aspect of the Christian’s life and one of the main

instruments God uses to bring about His will in the believer’s life. This forever changed

my perspective on church (Hebrews 10:24–25).

● God specifically lists out what He hates and will not tolerate (Proverbs 6:16–19).

● God does all things to put His character on display and for His own glory (Isaiah

48:9–11).

● God does not regard the opinion of man and cannot be questioned (Daniel 4:35).

● God loves to use those who seek Him and are humble (Isaiah 66:2).

● God has an intimate and specific love for His people and restores those who love Him

(John 21:15–19).

● The critical importance of godly mentors and friends (Proverbs 13:20).

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Over ten years later, I’m still amazed at what I continue to learn in Scripture - and still humbled by how prideful and ignorant I once was.

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Today I thank God for surrounding me with godly mentors, pastors, deep friendships, and an incredible godly wife. The Lord used extreme accountability and close scrutiny to expose my deception and draw me to His truth. I now see the priceless value of relationships that invite inspection, honesty, and mutual accountability - because the alternative is self-deception and false security.

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Glory to God for His amazing grace in saving an undeserving sinner.