The Networker Zone
The ultimate podcast for networkers in direct sales, network marketing, MLM or any sales side hustle. You’ll learn the skills for the how to and the mindset to make it work.
From the author of over 20 best selling books and over 25 years in the business here’s your host Keith Schreiter.
To get awesome networking tips delivered directly to your inbox or for more information about books, audiobooks, online training including zooms and MasterClasses make sure and visit BigAlBooks.com
The Networker Zone
Creating online and offline connections for sponsoring with Akwasi “AK” Kuffour
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Head to the direction you want to go
Provide positivity
Can help at least one person, it’s worth it
In person events exposes you to positive leaders
Videos get easier with experience
Personal development creates confidence
Unplug and reset
Making your business fun vs pushing
Solving problems vs sampling
Here is the short story
Would you like to do something about it
Free Magic Words for Prospecting audios
Networkers. Networkers directly. Network marketing. And the mindset to make it work from the author of over 20 best-selling books and over 25 years in the business. Here's your host, Keith Strider.
SPEAKER_01All right, today in the zone, I have one of the most positive networkers. Uh stood in the industry. Can't say enough about this gentleman. Welcome, aka Kafour. AK, welcome.
SPEAKER_02Uh, thank you, Keith. I'm glad to be a part of this show. I'm glad you reach out to me because I've been a big fan of this show and it has helped me a lot. So I'm just glad to be a part of this. So thank you for inviting me.
SPEAKER_01Oh, you bet. And I was going to give you a long introduction, but I was like, man, we got to get right into it because you have so much knowledge and really uh a mindset that most people are attracted to because there's so much negativity out there. Or it's more top of mind because it's everywhere. And you have just I I look at your videos or your reels, you know, Facebook reels, things like that, and I go, wow. He's just giving value, spreading positivity. And of course, it may not be right away. What comes around, goes around, however you want to say it, reciprocity. There's there's plenty of you know, um biblical versus everything you could do, but by just giving value and giving positivity, it's it's it's cranking away your business. The big thing is like, did you always have that mindset, or was that just something that was there something that changed, or how did you come about it?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it always always didn't have that mindset. I always been one of those negative Nancy at some point in my life, but I kind of figure where that was taking me wasn't where I want to go. So eventually, if you're heading towards the direction you don't want to go, you need to pivot and go to a different direction. So, like I said, once I got a hold of you and your dad's book and I started reading, and I'm like, well, it's so much negativity in the world. Why contribute to that? And not why why not just go the opposite way and start providing some positivity? Because I mean, so much negativity that you can find. So it's just if I can put a video out there that can help one person have a good day, I think that that makes me happy. So I figure I just go that way and just kind of you know be different because we have so much negative stuff going around. Let's just spread positivity. Because at the end of the day, like I was saying earlier, when when when God gives you lemons or whatever you want to say when you get a lemon, just make a lemonade and just go about your day, right? Because if you can't control it, why get mad about it? So that that's the way that's my philosophy now. So not but I wasn't always that way, Keith.
SPEAKER_01So well, everybody's had you know ups and downs, good and bad. Was it something where you said, okay, is it the the environment or the uh the people I'm listening to or the people I'm hanging out with, or just the things I'm spending my time on, or like how did you like it? Might have been a fast shift, might have been a gradual shift. Like, what was it, or was it something that you read? They're like, oh wait, that that makes that that uplifts me more, that gives me more energy. Like, what was it? Or I know it's it's probably like a combination of a lot of things, but just a couple of tips that people can go, okay, I can do that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think for me, I didn't start. Well, if I look back, I didn't start being serious about the way I am now until I got into the this industry. So once you get into network marketing, you start doing these personal development and all these stuff, you just kind of start seeing things differently for me, because it's like, okay, I see the way my life has been before this, and I don't like it. So what do I do? I need to change. Like I said, once I start reading your dad, you and your dad's book, once I start thinking uh thinking grow rich and all these other books uh that are out there, Jim Rome, and just all these other great people that are out there that say if you want your life to be this way, this is what you have to do. And of course, one thing that stick with me about uh Jim Rome is you are the average of five people that you hang around. So I had to look look at the people I hang around, was like, is this how I want my life to be? And once I said, nah, I don't want it to be, then what you gonna do about it? So that's when I started to kind of change and move to the other side. So yeah, that's what really changed it. Once I I got into the industry, because before that I wasn't reading books or anything, I was just watching TV and what binging on Netflix like everybody else does now. So yeah, that's what changed it for me.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, it is it is a a wake-up call. And sometimes there could be family members and family gatherings, like we can kind of you know limit our time and and things like that. Or did you go to like online events or in-person events where like, well, okay, these people like want more out of life, or these people want like what were uh what were some of the people? Was it in-person, online? Like, how how did that go about?
SPEAKER_02No, I have to say it was definitely in-person. I think when I went to my first ever national convention for our company, that's what blew my mind. Because it's like you have so many people in one room that are so positive, so uplifting, and I'm like, wow, so this actually exists. So I think from there, just my mind just took off and was like, this is how I want to be. And I just kind of made that made that pivot and just went that way. So yeah, it was definitely live, just being liable people and just saying, wow, this many people are this happy. That's that's the way I want to live my life. So that's what changed for me.
SPEAKER_01There you go. There's a plug. Everyone, go to your company event. Five senses are right there. If you can't make it, just plan on the next one. All right, yeah, it doesn't have to be a big one, just just go to uh go go somewhere.
SPEAKER_02It's worth the money, definitely worth the money.
SPEAKER_01So oh, yeah, uh absolutely. Um, and you know, set the intention or everything that that we could uh talk about events, but I want to uh get to your videos. Is now uh is it something that just pops up in your mind or something that you've read? Like, I want to share this to the world. Are you doing this like a it's it's a regular basis, but it's not like you know, some people like every six hours or every six days, like is it something you just like I want to share this, I want to get back to like how are your what's your schedule like when you post?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think you you just hit in the head. Usually it's something if I'm reading something and it just hit me in my heart, and I was like, wow, if it if it touched me this much, maybe somebody else might need it. So usually when I record the video, truly I record it for myself so I can go back and play it again whenever I'm feeling out of place or I'm not feeling as positive as I should be. But I figure if it helps me, maybe it might help somebody. So I just go ahead and post and say, Yeah, I just do it when I feel it, so I don't force it. If it comes to me, then I just go out there and just share the message. So that's the way I usually go about it.
SPEAKER_01Was it hard to do at first, or were we always just outgoing?
SPEAKER_02Oh no, no, it was it was very hard. It yeah, because I talked to your dad. We do the Wednesday, which anybody that's listening to this, if you don't, you're not part of the Wednesday uh book club, you need to be a part of it. But I talked to your dad all the time. He thinks I'm a blue person. I told him I wasn't always this way. It just took personal development eventually. I found out that I could be this way, and I say, Oh, I kind of like this. So yeah, but he always said, Yeah, you just so blue and we so green. I'm like, I just happened to discover it. It wasn't always this way, it just happened to be when I'm doing personal development eventually. I'm like, oh, I can't do this. But the first time, yeah, it was nerve-wracking. But I put it out there and just l let whatever happened, happens. And I saw people was giving it uh I was getting a p positive feedback. So I figured, hey, maybe I should keep going. Why not? You're supposed to get out your comfort zone anyway, right? To be somewhere you want to be. So I just kept at it and now it's just it's part of me now. So it's not as hard as he used to be. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01So you ever scroll back to the ones you did years ago and go, oh, okay, I don't know.
SPEAKER_02Yes, sir. Terrible. So oh yeah, but that's part of growing. So I mean, I I take it. It's just it shows me the level of growth I've had since when I started to now. So yeah, I actually it's it's it's not something I like to go back and watch, but I do watch it every now and then just say, wow, I was terrible. But yeah.
SPEAKER_01Well, and I and I bring it up so people go, okay, I can never be like AK, but you know, okay, everybody starts somewhere, or or you know, a lot of people like they delete it, like, no, no, that's the but those are the best ones. The best one when we first start and you just want to put yourself out there, that is so cool. I'm glad you uh kind of have like a uh video diary of uh personal development. Uh uh really neat one of the things that that you would mention that really I mean, a lot of stuff that you share is awesome. But one thing that really uh stood out to me uh uh maybe last couple weeks ago was kind of like the um, you know, we're not machines, but even machines you you unplug, you resets. Uh, even the other day my phone was acting up. Have you tried turning it off and turn it back on? Of course. I mean, that's that's what yeah, that's how we did electronics since the 80s. Uh, you know, silent notifications unplug, and I think that was really cool. Can you kind of go through that? You know, just just unplug for a while. Like, I mean, if people look at their screen time on their phone, it's probably mind-blowing. Uh how how good and bad, you know, there's good good and bad of phones, but you know, uh can you kind of go through that mindset of just unplugging, uh, resetting, uh, turn stuff off for just a little bit and then get back into it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, for me, also my other trade is I'm in IT. So usually if you ever call for any kind of help, there's the first thing we're gonna tell you that you turn it off and turn it back on. Because that fixes like 90% of your problem. It's like usually when you turn it off and turn it back on. So as I was reading something, I think I can't remember where I was reading it from, but I remember it was saying that just like your machine, you have to turn it off and turn it back on, and you see it tends to run a whole lot faster. Even though we're not machines, we technically kind of build that way. So if you just give your time, yourself time to unplug, turn off your phone, turn off all TV, social media, just be in a space where you can be there even 10, 15 minutes, just to kind of just be there with no destruction at all, and you see how better you feel once you come out of debt, and you know, you see you see that you start to feel a whole lot better. So I can try it, and I'm like, oh wow, this actually worked. So I decided, hey, why not again create a video that can help somebody because somebody might be going through stuff and they're saying, How can I just unplug? How can I reset myself? Because so much going on, especially with everything we have going on in the world. So I figured it was a good video. So I just posted it and I hope if it touched one person, like I said, I'm happy because that's what I try to do for just give back.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, yeah, that's pretty neat. And everybody, you know, live and learn. A lot of times people go to social media and it's uh, you know, all about their company or all about their product, and uh you know, you're giving value, and then okay, by the way, you know, kind of a you know sprinkling in uh your product and so forth, and I think that's you know, it's it's a good ratio. And uh now, was that always the way, or did you uh did you find out the hard way?
SPEAKER_02You know, and it's funny that you I should bring that up because I was just we uh me and your dad, I think, was having a conversation in a book club about this, and I always used to tell him I had diarrhea out of the mouth. You better not even say hello to me, because I can go 30 minutes telling you by everything that I have, because I feel like if I can pour everything into you, it might be something that just hits you and you'd be like, Oh, yeah, yeah, you know, okay, I can do that. But mostly also people was running away from me. You know, they were saying things that your daddy even says like, yeah, I gotta go change the air of my tires, or I gotta go talk to my pet first and see how he thinks if this is great or not. And of course, you know, they never call you back. So yeah, no, I'll I I I didn't used to be that way. But I figured that if what I've been doing hasn't been working, then maybe it's time to shift to trying something else. That's how I came across your dad video on YouTube. And ever since then, I started following him, started getting the book. I'm like, wow. So we can do this business just by talking regularly, like we talk with people. And this worked better because then it doesn't set off the salesman alone versus me coming to you and just saying this is the best part in the world. Oh, you got to get this. I'm telling you, the scientists went up there for six months, they prayed all day, and then they harvested and then they sent it to us. So why would you not want this? You'll be crazy not to want this. So, yeah, now that I shifted now it's actually more fun to do the business than it was before. Because before it's like people see you coming, they say, Yeah, so and we always talk about it. I tell them I'm still in the NFL Club, no friends left behind club. So some people won't even take my call until they get some counseling. But yeah, I don't have to destroy a lot of people. So to be able to do it this way now, I'm just I'm just so happy that I discovered you and your dad. Because I don't know if I'll still be in this industry if I didn't, and now it's just more fun. I just have fun with it. So yeah, it wasn't always like that.
SPEAKER_01So well, and and and I get it too. Like you go to company events, you go to industry events, and you're like, you're just excited, and and yeah, we should tell everybody, but in a way that they're receptive to to the voice, of course. But I like how you said, you know, it's it's regular conversations. That's how we do everything in life, and then I don't know what changes, or we just get too excited, and we've all done it, you know. If not, you should just do it and get it over with. So so the regular conversations. Um, are you and obviously you're you're with a coffee company, and I've I've had other coffee company reps on here. I've had Nam Do a couple times and uh a couple things that that you know everyone does different things. Are you kind of more focused on uh like a sample approach or more of like a solving problems approach or seeing if they have a problem? Like what is kind of your go-to when seeing if there's a need for your product?
SPEAKER_02Uh, like you said, usually uh uh from an issue or a problem standpoint is where I try to go now. I used to do the sampling, but some some people you give it to them, they might not need it, which means they probably ain't gonna take, they probably not gonna take it. But if they have a problem or issue that they're trying to solve and you can provide the value of what they can take to solve that problem, I think for me, that's a better approach, at least what works for me, usually through testimonies or through some other, you know, stories or stuff like that. Here's a short story. And then once you tell them that and they can kind of see that relate to what issue they're having, I think that makes it an easy sale because they want it, you have it, and that's usually what it's about. Not forcing somebody to buy something, but actually letting them get something that they actually want. So, because people buy what they want, not what they need. So once you figure that part out, life started to become easy, especially if you're in this industry. So, but yeah, usually I just go for the problem approach. Yeah, if they have an issue, I say, Would you like to do something about it? Like your dad always say, Yes or no. If they say yes, we do. If they say no, I say, How's the weather where you at? So usually that that's the way I go now. It just try not to talk too much. So because I've lost a lot of sales that way, so yeah, but yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we all have it. I like it. Yeah, here's a short story, would you like to do something about it? If you if people remember these two things and they're they're good, you know. Here's a short story, tell the short story. Short would you like to do something about it? Like it just uh it saves us time, it doesn't waste our time, it saves them time, it doesn't waste their time. I mean, how could you not love this industry where we could just do that and sort?
SPEAKER_02Yep, yep, I love it, I love it.
SPEAKER_00You're in the networker zone with Keith Schreider.
SPEAKER_02And it's crazy I even got into the industry. I know this is probably not part of your question, but Oh, I love it, yeah, absolutely. Yes, a short story might be long because I'm kind of short, so usually I try to keep my story long to kind of you know balance it out. But uh, you my my my senior partner told me about it. He happened to be my neighbor. He told me about this amazing product, and I'm like, yeah, not interested. I don't I don't know what this stuff is, not interested. Nothing is wrong with me. I'm good. And usually it was a pain, something for pain, pain crane. And I was like, oh no, I'm good. He was like, CBD is the nicest thing. I'm like, yeah, I'm fine. Thank you though. So one day, which was crazy, that's how I knew. I mean, if somebody's religious, I knew this had to be something I had to explore because I was minding my own business. Usually I'd go out there, my wife said, Don't you go out there and do nothing? I hurt myself. But this day I took it easy because my birthday was coming, I was supposed to be going to the mountains to go hike and stuff. So I was like, Don't do nothing, don't go play soccer, don't do nothing. And one day I just woke up, my back just started hurting out of nowhere. And I'm like, oh, this is crazy. I went to the chiropractor, they did everything, nothing was nothing was helping. Unless you know, when you go to the chiropractor, they crack your neck. And every time they crack my neck, I'm like, Well, I'm not a cat. What if they accidentally came one day and crack it too far? And that was that was it for me. So I couldn't keep going because it wasn't helping. So my wife was like, Well, why don't you just go next dog? Ask our neighbor, the product he was talking about. At this point, you you don't you tried everything, nothing worked, try that and see how that worked. I'm like, Well, you you got a good idea. And I tried to keep before I went there, my pain level was out of eight. When I tried it within 30 minutes, it was out of four. I'm like, okay, this can't work this fast. I'm my mind must be playing trick with me. She was like, you know what? You tired, go to bed, and then the next day we figured it out. I'm like, okay, I went to bed, woke up the next morning, pain is completely gone. So I went up to her and I told her, Well, the pain is not there no more. He was like, Are you sure? I was like, Yeah. And I asked her, Was I in pain for real? She was like, Oh no, you was in pain. So you know how the women are, you know, they do they the best thing the world. So she was like, she's been trying to get me to get this bulky TV from the back room to the curve, but I always make an excuse. I always say, Yeah, it's a square out there. I need to go tell, get off the fence, or I need to go change the air in the tire. I gave her every excuse not to take it, but that day she was like, Look, she gave me a, I can, she gave me a proposition I couldn't refuse. She was like, take that TV to the curve. If you drop that TV down, and I don't have to come pick you up with the wheelbarrow, we know the stuff worked. Because once you put that TV down, if you if your pain is still there, you're gonna feel it. I went out there, put the TV down. I'm expecting to get up and be in pain and scream, come help me, bring the wheelbarrow, come scoop me up. No pain. So I came back in and I say, I don't have any pain. And she was like, Well, you know what to do. And from there, Keith, I just went next door and I said, What do I need to do? I don't care about price, I don't care about nothing else. Tell me how I get in, because a lot of people are in pain, and this can help them because the way it helped me, I know it's a lot of people that it can help. And ever since then, seven years ago, I've been doing it and I I've been I've been loving it. So that's the story. I know I told you it was short, but it ended up being long. So, but yeah.
SPEAKER_01It was a story, it didn't feel long at all. That's that's great. That's awesome. I mean, yeah, it's it's a timing. There you go. And uh I guess the the big take back is uh always listen to your wife. Uh I think that's the best thing that that's I'm learning, Keith.
SPEAKER_02I'm still learning.
SPEAKER_01I hope mine didn't hear that from the other room.
SPEAKER_02Great advice. Listen to your wife.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow, that that yeah, that's that's neat. And I I could see where yeah, you would get excited because like, oh, everyone needs it. Wait, does everyone want it? Or or you have to just go around and tell people to move TVs and then then see. Uh whatever works, you know.
SPEAKER_02Whatever it takes, Keith. Whatever it takes, yeah.
SPEAKER_01So my goodness. Okay, so yeah, you uh, you know, ups and downs, found, you know, books and positive people and everything else like that. Was there anything else that like really said, okay, this this changed my career? Was there anything that else that was like, okay, or it could have been a slight change, or anything that was like, okay, I I'm glad I did this.
SPEAKER_02Uh for me, I think just being able to see people who are who are doing it now, where they started from and where they are now, where they have the time, money, freedom that we're all looking for, and to see them traveling around the world, that's what really motivated me. Because it's like if they can start off from here and they can get here, I can do it too. Right? All I have to do is follow the proper steps, do what I need to do, make sure that I'm actually, like you said, conveying, giving people value and not just trying to sell people. Because I feel like in our industry, the biggest reward is referral. Referral is what's gonna get you to where you want to be. So yeah, once I figure that out and saw people who started from where I'll say, you know, below where I'm at, and then to be where they are now, I I just felt like this is something I can do. Because I felt like I'll be working 10 years anyway. So if I can even if I stay in this game for 10 years, and 10 years from now, uh I'm retired and I can do whatever I want, it's worth it. So yeah, that's what that's what really pushed me to to go hard. And it was at a national con convention where I got to talk to people and it's like wow, and they share their stories, and it's just it just blew my mind.
SPEAKER_01Well, so so what's your reason for building business? So you don't have to work again, so you want to travel more? Like what's what's like your your next type thing you're like, this is why?
SPEAKER_02Oh, the why is there definitely uh to be able to like you said, travel to not to worry about anything. Just I want to pick up and go to Italy, just say, yeah, let's go pick up p pack the bags, family. We're going, we're going. Yeah. So just to be able to control my own time, basically. Uh just to be able to go out there and spend more time with the family. Of course, at the end of the day, I think that's one of the most important things to me. So yeah, and to be able to also help people, to be able to let people know that that's a better way. So yeah, but that's the key. Just waking up every day hoping that if I help one person, I think I've done my job. So that that's what keep keep me moving in this industry.
SPEAKER_01All right, helping people in time. I mean, you can't get anything better than that.
SPEAKER_02Yes, sir.
SPEAKER_01I was watching an interview with Seinfeld. He said, Yeah, back in the 70s, it's like it's all about you have the coolest job, and now it's all about money. And I'm like, none of those things I could care less. Like, I'm very uh do I have time to hang out with the people I love? That's it. And I help people along the way. Yeah, yeah. I mean, money's great, but you know, it's it's it's worthless if if you don't have a worthwhile life.
SPEAKER_02Yep. So and I think I heard I I'm trying to remember which one of y'all uh guests said it. I want I I want to say wasn't I want to say wasn't Nasser? I'm trying to remember yeah, who said that, but it's like if you have money and you don't have good health, then guess what? It doesn't matter, right? Because you you in bed you can't enjoy the money. And the same thing, if you have good health and you have no money, you in the same thing. If you don't have no time, then it doesn't matter. So to have that health, time, money, freedom is the I think that's what. Everything should everybody should go for. And like you said, to be able to spend that time with the family. At the end of the day, I think that's that's one of the most important things to me. Just being able to spend time and money. Because time is m time is something we cannot get back. So we just have to enjoy each and every day. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01And you'll be pain free too. So there you go.
SPEAKER_02Most important thing. If you need like I said, if you're not pain free, it doesn't even matter.
SPEAKER_01So but even even in the in the in the macro uh you know health, when a negative mindset will eventually drag you down. Right away. To me, it's right away. But uh you know, and I just like you know, just like by plugging in and giving back, like you can't you can't not be excited or healthy by giving healthy information, like in a mind like giving in the real side. Even if people would just record for themselves, it's better than nothing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it is 100%. So yeah. But that's why I try to tell people just just just take a moment to read something positive. I mean, so much negativity, just go find something positive and just see how you start to grow from the person that you are to a different type of person. Because I've been there, I started there. I mean, I didn't want to hear nothing positive. I just want to get on Netflix and Facebook and just look at stuff that just dragged me down. But now it's like I go there and I'm looking for something that's gonna uplift me so I can pass it on to the next person.
SPEAKER_01So okay, so you get you got books, you got events, uh, you said you know, book club. I know you've been in master class, like all these cool things. Is there anything else that uh is your go-to? Obviously, you said uh, you know, obviously with YouTube, it's algorithm-based. So once you start listening to positive stuff, they'll recommend more positive stuff. Yep. Any other go-to's you have?
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, the Bible. That's that's the first thing I start off with. Without the Bible, I don't. My day just don't start off right. So, yeah, if you're religious, yeah, start off with the Bible because history, I really believe history repeats itself. So whatever is in the Bible that's happening, it's gonna repeat itself. So once you read that, kind of give you clarity and usually once that start off. I start off with the Bible, it just kind of leads me to other places. Sometimes I just run into stuff that I wasn't even looking for, and then I nest in or I find myself down a rabbit hole of looking at all these other positive stuff. So, yeah, that that's the biggest one.
SPEAKER_01All right, awesome. And also have to ask about uh obviously you you live in Georgia now, and there's a Georgia Bulldogs uh Avenue going on there.
SPEAKER_02I bleed random black. That's that's that's my school.
SPEAKER_01Dominating football the last couple years. Are y'all are y'all football? Are you doing other uh following any of their other sports, or are you mostly football?
SPEAKER_02Uh we just mostly football. Uh football is the biggest one. So yeah. I mean, I follow basketball, but football is the one that we have been able to so far, like you said, be able to got we got it pegged down and we we good at it. So I think football is the biggest one, so yeah. After football season, we might basketball, but mostly and of course we used to gymnastic. We used to do pretty good in gymnastics as well, but yeah, football is the biggest, we are football school, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, definitely. It's just dominating uh football. Uh obviously, you know, I'm I'm not I am I live in Texas, but I'm not a UT fan, but you know, it does represent your state a little bit, and then they just absolutely choke every time Georgia even uh comes within a hundred mile radius.
SPEAKER_02We do the same when Alabama come around. So yeah, yeah. We know the feeling. We we feel you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so uh well there you go. Yeah, they probably have a really good coach uh mindset going on there. Yeah, I kind of wonder, I always want to go into like listen to some of those coach speeches. If you're like all the original coaches, uh you look at the you know the Dallas Cowboy coaches, uh the guy with the hat, you know, back in the 70s and stuff like that. Like we could just I mean, we the the term coach has been diluted a lot, but uh there's something there where people are just you know, it's it's a mindset. The physical body's the bonus.
SPEAKER_02Yep, it is. It starts with a mindset, like you just said, I think you hit it right on the head. Without the mindset, the physical body is just the physical body. So that's why you have all these great players that can be on one team, and then they still end up losing to a team that they shouldn't lose to, right? Because the mindset wasn't right. So being a soccer player, I understand that. I mean, if you're gonna be out there with limb players and your mindset is not right, you have a team that's supposed to be be mediocre, come in and beat you. So yeah, mindset is everything.
SPEAKER_01Wow, okay. So that's okay, there you go. That's how you're staying fit and physical. All right. Trying to.
SPEAKER_02After the kids come, yeah, it's like uh I I need some pain cream to put on my knee to be able to hang out with them. So yeah, trying to stay fit.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow, man, that that that's awesome. Well, I appreciate you uh you giving back, and it's always uh time flies when you're when you're having fun.
SPEAKER_02Oh, it does when you're having fun, yes, sir. It's been great.
SPEAKER_01Oh my goodness, I'll definitely have to back back on because there's a ton of stuff that I could have asked, but I didn't ask because uh we're just kind of gotten to the the stories and the things that we you know things lead to to amazing um learn uh teachings and uh sound clips and things that we can everything from you know, here's a short story, would you like to do something about it? Like things like that you could just take and just do it, and it's gonna make a huge difference in your career. No, that's that's cool. Well, uh yeah, but man, I appreciate it. And but before I let you go, of course, you know me, I got the uh the three lightning round questions. AK are you? Yes, sir. I'm ready. I know we've kind of discussed this, and you probably know this question already, but you know, go back you know, seven, eight years ago when you started out. What advice would you give yourself?
SPEAKER_02I wish I'd have started early. Like truly, I wish I I would have started a whole lot early because I think I'll be much further in my career than I am. And I also wish I would have found you and your dad's book early, because then I wouldn't have uh mouth, diarrhea, diarrhea out of mouth, which way you want, whichever way you want to face it. And I think I would still have a whole lot of friends than I have now. So I mean, it's just yeah, I would have started early and definitely would have done a whole lot more pub uh personal development by reading these books and making sure that I'm learning what to do and what not to do. Because I I feel like experience is the best teacher. So if you can learn from somebody who I've done it like you guys, you know, your dad 40 plus years that knows the right way to make it feel like a conversation, not like a sales uh tactics, I think I'd have been part in my career. So yeah, I wish I would have started a whole lot earlier, but like I always tell people, you can't go back and start over. So the best time to start is right now. So I'm just glad, at least I started, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and the timing too, and we didn't really mention I didn't really talk about this, but you had mentioned something that are a key takeaway is that uh you start your day off with something versus oh I'll get to it, and then that never happens. Start your day off.
SPEAKER_02Start your ugly day off right. Always eat the ugly flog first, and then move on to the next one. So, yeah. Ah, even better.
SPEAKER_01Double duty. All right. Well, you also mentioned this by question number two: where's your favorite place to travel, or one of your favorite places to travel? Sometimes it's hard to find the the very favorite.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Anywhere in Florida, really, anywhere by the beach, because usually I I just like to they like to my my my family like to go to the beach and swim and stuff. I just want to go in there and take a nap and read you know, read a nice book. So anywhere by the beach, you you you can you can find me there. So yeah. But I don't really have a specific place to go. I just I just actually came back from Panama City Beach, which was amazing. I didn't think it was gonna be as good as it was, but yeah, so anywhere in Florida is preference.
SPEAKER_01There you go, white sands, and it exceeded your expectations. There you go. That's true, there's something for everybody, whether they're swimming and you're just chilling and reading and uh resetting, whatever. Yep. Yeah, it's one of my favorite things too, is just uh turning off you know, do not hit the do not disturb on my phone. Love it. Yes, sir. Do that, yep. They can leave all the messages they want. That's that's fine. Get to what I can I can do about it.
SPEAKER_02Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Oh wow, and of course, uh obviously uh athlete staying healthy, uh giving back to the industry, positive mindset, but hey, we all have to live a little bit. So, what is your uh favorite cult culinary guilty pleasure?
SPEAKER_02I I I I gotta take Keith, I think the ribs are starting to get to me. Yeah, this belly's starting to puff up a little bit. Yeah, so it's been ribs and Mexican food. I think ribs and burrito has been getting to me now, so that that's been my my favorite thing to do. So now it's like a family tradition. Every time we go to another place, we have to try Mexican down there. We have to find the best Mexican restaurant or the best barbecue place, and we have to just go out and just have a good time with it. So, yeah, Mexican and barbecue are kind of neck to neck right now.
SPEAKER_01So okay. I mean, uh so yeah, Mexican or and then also there's Tex-Mex and then there's Pacific, uh, you know, coastal Mexican. But let's talk about barbecue. So, like you uh scare ribs, baby back, what are you looking at?
SPEAKER_02Or beef? Uh mostly mostly baby back that's been here. I see baby back has been my favorite thing to get. So maybe I need to venture out, but that's use my go-to.
SPEAKER_01So okay. Well, if you ever make it down to Texas, let me know. I'll give you uh plenty of uh places to go.
SPEAKER_02Just know I'll be I'll be letting you know in advance so you can line them up for me.
SPEAKER_01So I'll meet you there, man.
SPEAKER_02Let's go. Oh, that would be that would be that would be even better.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, we'll we'll definitely uh stay in touch and let me know when uh when you're traveling, and uh I'll definitely let you know when uh Georgia or just meet in Panama City. That's even better. How about that?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's perfect. Yeah, so uh usually that's why we meet right there down the line, Jacksonville, Georgia, Florida game. Every every year we go telegan and have some have a good time. So yeah.
SPEAKER_01Oh my goodness, yeah, it's gotta be some good eating at those, you know. Those people tell you they they show up two days early. I don't know what's up with that.
SPEAKER_02You gotta give yourself time, you gotta build up. So by the time that the time comes, you'll be ready to go. So you gotta you gotta show up to it two days early, usually. Yeah, so by the time the game comes, you're ready to go. You m you move you you focus and ready to you know cheer on your team. So yeah, it's a must to be there two days two days early.
SPEAKER_01Well, there we go. There's another uh soundbar right there. Yeah, just gotta be there early, focus. And uh hey, conquer. Awesome. Well, aka again, appreciate you and uh look forward to uh connecting with you at an upcoming episode.
SPEAKER_02Amen. Thank you so much for the invitation, Keith. Like I said, being a big fan, I'm I'm I'm glad this was great. So whenever you want to do it again, just let me know and we'll make it happen.
SPEAKER_01All right, you betcha. Thanks again.
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