The Most Valuable Lessons Learned from Real-Life Experiences with Scott Mallon

In this podcast episode, Chris and Scott Mallon explore the origins of the "Zero Degrees" brand, emphasizing the value of real-life experiences over formal education. They discuss resilience, the determination to succeed as entrepreneurs, and the concept of organized chaos. Chris shares his journey of hard work and perseverance despite financial challenges, while Scott highlights the importance of acknowledging weaknesses and learning from failures.

They encourage embracing challenges and discipline, and stress the significance of small wins and maintaining routines to prevent burnout. The episode also includes personal anecdotes from their college days and the impact of supportive teachers on their growth.

 

Follow Chris HERE! IG - @ChrisTarta 

 

Chris (00:03:13) - We're here, and, uh, Scott and I were talking. You guys remember Scott from last time? Uh, lifelong friend, licensed marriage family therapist. Where you work. Tricky health resolutions or something, and we just kill that, uh, try America. Health and wellness. That was close. Um, tricky was the name of the the name of the, uh, at the end of Arlington Ave where we grew up. Was the name of the, uh, the guitar lesson. Took one lesson there, man. I walked all the way from my house three blocks to that guitar place. I took one lesson and quit. Um. That was. That's funny how that plays into my life right now, but it is what it is. Um, anyway, we're here, we're going to actually talk about a little bit of the genesis of the Zero Degrees, uh, brand that I have and that I've made that that Scott's playing a part in, which has been awesome. Um, maybe we'll get into a few few stories, a few different, uh, anecdotes.

Scott (00:04:07) - We'll see where. Yeah, we'll see where it goes. But, you know, I never really explained the thought behind this. I kind of started the Facebook group and started the, uh, the conversations. And we have a name and, um. The thought behind that there actually was thought behind that. It was for a little while, and I considered what to do and what the what my brand or movement was going to be based on, and a lot of different things played into it. But where do you want to start with that? Well, I you know, I found it like super ironic because I knew the origin of the genesis of it. And like, here I am sitting here and people wouldn't know that I have a bunch of degrees, um, and a bunch of licensure and letters after my name. And it was kind of ironic, you know, company exactly. Coming on here and, and, you know, got the background, uh, in the back, which, you know, as someone that's known, Chris, a long time, I was able to kind of make some sense out of, uh, the stuff that's up here.

Chris (00:05:05) - Um, and I think it's funny because I think where, you know, we lead very different. Lives. Um, but yet there's a lot of parallels. And I thought that was, like, a good thing to maybe, you know, sort of work in there. Um, because I think, you know, you're, you're sort of mindset is go, go, go, right. Like, you thrive in chaos. You love chaos. I, I have chaos tattooed on me. But it's it's yeah. Like it was a different kind of chaos. Chaos when I was younger. But I do feel like sometimes I probably create chaos because it puts me back against the wall and helps me push. Um, probably not the healthiest way to, to to approach things, but, um, I don't know. I think, you know, in my line of work, you know, so much goes into healthy versus unhealthy. But I think if it's effective, it works. It works. Right.

Chris (00:06:01) - You know, and effective. I think, you know, people fall short on like weighing what's effective. They just look at like their bottom line or their business. For me, effective is kind of like. The whole picture. You know, family, your relationships, you know. Your money, of course, is is important. You gotta like what you're doing. I think, you know, being effective and, you know, being successful is a lot bigger. Picture. Picture? Yeah. It's funny because when I was a chef for 20 years and, um. You know, I worked in restaurants growing up, and I always felt like at home when it was like yelling and screaming and pots banging and peoples, you know, there's action and there's, you know, we call it organized chaos, right? And like, you kind of got to cut through the calmness in the dining room and the communication with the servers and, you know, but you get to yell, you got to make, you know, 50 or 60 meals at once or like.

Chris (00:06:56) - And there's there's no like telling when it's going to come. Right? Because it could be like a boring Sunday. And then next thing you know, you know, you're on fire. So one of the one of the craziest days I'll always remember this was 911 because I was at the restaurant and, you know, you're watching the news all day and you're like, oh, man, this is not going to be. It's just going to be a day for like, it's just sadness and like, you know, and not thinking, not forward thinking enough, realizing like, man, no one's going to want to go there. And the amount of people that came in that day. We were totally unprepared. And we ended up, you know, you run around, but that's when you make it happen. You want to know a sidebar? So, um, after nine over 11 in the New York and New Jersey area, there was a tremendous spike in pizza sales. I don't I don't know, like, why I know that.

Chris (00:07:43) - Um, but, you know, pizza, I think for people was warm. It was simple comfort. It was comfort. Exactly. And so after nine over 11, people were seeking that sort of American comfort. And it's an American. No, it's not. It's an American comfort, but we've sort of adopted it. Um, so that's that's interesting that you sort of were on the where the rubber meets the road and got to witness it. But yeah, that was one of the things that we talked a lot about where I, where I find that interesting, I do because I lived through it and it was busy. It, it turned into a busy time for us. And, you know, you get a sense of like. You're helping in a way. You know, the little the little thing about cooking somebody's dinner. But, you know, if you know the nightmare of not knowing where a family member is or what's or what's going on there, and everybody felt so connected. Yeah.

Chris (00:08:31) - Um, you know, being on the inside of that is, is, you know, when you think back, it's it's pretty cool to think that way. Yeah. I mean, I was on the inside. Shortly thereafter in a different way. You know, I worked for the fire department. And I know that's like one of the things that like we held on to after, it was like, we want to go back to the days and weeks and months after nine over 11, especially like in today's world where everybody is so divisive. It was such a community support. Um, you know, there was American flags everywhere. There was, you know, there's a very there's a lot of people that remember that time, as hard as it was, as sort of a very fun time to because of the unity and stuff. And I don't know that we really achieved that sense, which is sad, like, and it sucks that it takes that. Exactly. You know. But. I think unity is like so sewn in now, as is a form of, uh, fear, you know, and that's probably a whole different episode.

Chris (00:09:31) - But I think that's very, very sick how that happens now. Um. Unity is not good for. The leadership. You know. Exactly. It's not you know, either side. There's no money in the cure, right? Yeah. Exactly. Yeah, exactly. So, you know, I just wanted to sort of go back to, you know, the zero degrees thing. So for me, I found that, like, really ironic in. You know the name of your podcast, and I don't know if people know why it's named Zero Degrees. So I came up with the idea because I have no. Degrees. Zero degrees. I didn't finish college, I. I squeaked through high school like I went to multiple different. I went to multiple colleges. Person in your high school class at Bosco to get accepted to college? I do the scholarship. Yes, I do remember that. Yeah. And? And I have no idea how that happened. I have different theories at this point, but like I do, I was they put a sign up, you know, when you get accepted, they.

Chris (00:10:32) - Yeah they put your, your, your card like in this in the hall. And I was the first one there. And it was the first school that I applied to. And it was actually the school, I think I ended up going to Loyola in New Orleans and, um. I was the first one, but I was. It was really funny because I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to graduate, because I had to pull off a 70 on my pre-college math final exam, and I got a 71 or 72, which again, they probably like, get this, get them out, get them out. 71 is fine and he'll be on his way. Um, but. After high school began a, you know, kind of a spiral in the wrong direction from, for me in my life. But again, I did not accomplish graduation. Well, I got through high school, right. But it got real, you know, after high school and, um. I talk about this a lot because I think the bad experiences or the experiences that I had, I don't know if I want to call them bad or not, gave me education in life that I believe, you know, everybody gets this education, right, but I believe you can't teach these things.

Chris (00:11:38) - You know, these are these are experiences that I've learned for real firsthand. And and that's what I use to I use those experiences and not lessons in school to. Give my opinion on. Right. That's my education. So it's zero degrees. That's where it came from. Um. There's going to be a lot of different things coming out about it. You know, I have big plans for, for, for the brand and for the, for the idea, but, you know, it's tagged here. I have a free group and you're welcome to join it. It's kind of, uh, recovery based is not necessarily only drugs and alcohol to any. Everybody is in some form of recovery and personal development. Yeah. I was going to say like I think that. Um, there's a lot of stuff that can be taken out of the talks. I've watched, uh, some of your interviews with, you know, Castellano and some of the other people you've had, uh. Um, education is not something that we have to necessarily formalize.

Chris (00:12:34) - Right. For me. I did not want to go to college. Um, which is ironic that I went and kept going back. Um, but the way that I sort of got forced into that was my dad was like, oh, you don't want to get a college degree? No problem. Come work with me. I said, right. He was, I think, delivering milk in New York City at the time. So I'm like, what time we got to go to work? He's like, get up at like 330. I was like, what? And we went, we work. You know, the whole week we had the week off and it was in the summer, like like spring break probably. And so we had baseball practice after, and I remember coming home, my hands were bleeding. He was like, all right, get your bat. We're going to batting cages. And I'm like, fucking beat. You know what? Um, and so he made that like a I think he he didn't tell me this.

Chris (00:13:22) - But knowing my father, I think he played this game where he would always get me the worst jobs for the summer that you could possibly have, um, putting in sprinkler systems and digging trenches. Hammering. Yeah. Tamping. Um, so I remember doing that. I remember I went to one, it was at the quarry and I was home on, I was in college and I had screwed up, so I was taking the summer class and he's like, I got you a job. And I showed up and the guy gives me, like, a Tyvek suit, and I had to sign a waiver. Why am I signing a waiver? And he's like, oh, because, you know, you're going to be working with cancerous material. It's like, are you fucking serious? Like. And, uh, I went home and complained to my dad's like, well, you know, if you don't want a degree, this is what you got to look forward to. Finally, fast forward. I met my first internship.

Chris (00:14:10) - I worked at a federal prison that housed federal inmates and stuff like that. Um, the lab in Newark, which I don't know if you know about, but right next to it's the water treatment facility. So I show up first day and I had to sign another waiver. So he lied to me, but, uh. But it worked. Um, knowing Bob Mallon, though, like that, he definitely planned that out. You know, he that's his way to send the message. Yeah, because that's a guy that, you know, out of zero degrees, but it has worked. He's got a lot of knowledge. Yes, he has real knowledge and he's worked every day of his life. You work through you work through a stroke. Literally stayed on the job site like three days left side of his body, paralyzed and like, you know, um, stuff like that. That's a guy with full of wisdom, you know, who a lot of people probably discount, you know, like, no way.

Chris (00:14:58) - How could he know, right? He knows a lot. I can remember my first day in business class, and the guy was teaching, and I asked him what businesses he ever owned. He said, I never owned a business. I never went back to that class, you know? And that was just the punk in me being like being an asshole. But like, I just didn't believe he could know that was just looking for a reason to to. Yeah, exactly to that class. Right. I think that that's the reason why now I fuck this guy. But that was like, um. Yeah, the stupid looking back. But you know, it is different what you learn in the classroom and what happens in real life. You know, especially like in the restaurant business that I, you know, I went to culinary school, almost finished that, but, uh, they asked me to leave a little, little prior to graduation, but, um, I didn't learn how to run a business.

Chris (00:15:44) - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very politely. He was asked to leave. I had a choice. I could go back and get escorted out or I could, I could comply. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Always take the. Yeah to just leave them by yourself. Right. But um. Yeah. So that's where it came from. And this mural behind him was painted and that was painted by, uh, you know, her name was Courtney. Um. She asked me for inspiration about it, and I just talked to her about my life a little bit, and I gave her some art that I like Banksy, some of these other things. And she came up with this because, um. She used my life to make this painting behind me. And this is one of a kind, you know, encapsulates sort of organized chaos. Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's me. And when I look at it, I on the bike, I used to race BMX when I was a kid, but that's me.

Chris (00:16:40) - No hands. Just kind of like, let's go. We'll figure it out. You know, let's build this plane as we fly it. And I still kind of take that approach. I'm taking that approach here. Um, just sharing my opinion on stuff, you know? So that's that's what it is. Then, of course, there's the house, because I'm a realtor, then there's a Bitcoin. And I'm a big believer in crypto. But it's also like the. It's anti culture kind of thing and then go against the grain. Right. And there's the money that's on fire because of uh you know I've different views about money as well. You know it's good and bad. Um. And. The drips came from a Banksy painting where there's a little kid holding an umbrella and it's raining a rainbow. And. The kid has the umbrella and, uh, or the dad has email. The kids walking in the rain. I think I gotta look at it to remember, but it's like, you know, fuck it.

Chris (00:17:34) - Like it's going to rain sometimes get wet. It's just going to happen. So like, you know. Figure out how to enjoy it or how to work through it or whatever it is, like clouds are going to show up. Yeah, like it's funny because I can relate to a lot of this stuff. I mean, I was around for a lot of the year, therefore learning lessons. Yeah. I don't know how I. Sort of skated by. But I think that's like one of the things that's committed to me. Yeah, I think that's one of the things that we've kind of shared is. We both find the. Way to get through, right? Whatever's going on with our strengths and shitload of weaknesses. Yeah. Um, I had, like, even to get through grad school. Some of the things that that I did, you know, to help me, you know, get through. I mean, I can remember the. I got straight A's in my, uh, both of my graduate courses.

Chris (00:18:32) - I have two master's degrees. I got a four row and have A39. And in my other one I had, um. And I got one b. And that B was in graduate math like statistics. And I didn't I could I mean, math was never like a strong suit of mine. And, uh, I mixed up. I realized, like, I mixed, like, flip numbers on all of my problems. And so I went up to my teacher and I said, uh, I'm sorry, like, I'm dyslexic, which is a terrible thing to have done because I'm not. Uh, like, I wasn't even, like, fully serious, you know? And he's like, me too, huh? I got an automatic B+ in that class and and and again, like, not the proudest of moments, but I think it's just like one of the many where it's like, I don't know how to get out of this situation I'm in. I'm going to use like some personality skills and people skills to call that what that was.

Chris (00:19:32) - Um, but always finding a way to kind of survive, um, I think has been something that like. Right, like many people get. What are we calling it? Asked to leave? Yeah, yeah. Many people get asked to leave. You know, many different places. How many are here? There's a few. Like three. Two, three. We're not really fit. Um, but many people would take those losses and just fuck it. You know, but you didn't. And I can remember when we were, you know, 24 sitting in your, uh, explorer whenever you drove back. Then you and one of our other buddies, and you were like, I got this job I really like. And I found out they're selling the restaurant, and, like, what are you going to do? And you're like, think I'm going to buy it? I was like, wait, what? Um, you're like, yeah, I think I'm going to buy it. And I remember thinking like, he's nuts.

Chris (00:20:28) - Yeah. You know. Um, but you bought it and you worked it, and you built a second restaurant out of it. Um. You know, I don't think that many people can sort of stay committed. Especially like you're an entrepreneur. And that's one of the things they say about entrepreneurs. Like people give up before they succeed. Yeah. And for those of you that don't know Chris as well as I do, there's no quit. Um. At all. And Chris, even probably at times when I should quit, he should quit. Yeah. Um, you know, and it's funny because, like, I have that same thing, like, you can make me do whatever you want to do, but you're not going to make me quit something that I don't already want to quit if. And if you try to, then I'm just going to, you know, dedicate every ounce of energy I have to beating that thing. Has a lot of teachers when I was a kid. Tell me, you know.

Chris (00:21:29) - I would be very much right. Um, and they were right. You know, they were right when they were talking to that 14 year old, 13 year old, 12 year old kid. Um. But what they don't know is that they fueled in me, you know, a desire to prove them wrong. Um, and I think you have that. Part of you too. Like a lot of people said, you couldn't do a lot of stuff. And, uh, that's not something you were willing to settle for. So, uh, that's the one thing is that I never I it's almost a, it probably is to an extreme, but like I don't listen, you know, like it's, it's and that's I've taken a lot of losses that way. Right. But wise people telling me that I should do this or do that, and I just couldn't see it. And I hired consultants in my restaurants and thought I knew better. And like, you know, it cost me lots of money and I made bad moves.

Chris (00:22:24) - But like, I always needed to take that loss to to move to, to another stage or another. You needed to find that out on your own. Well, yeah, exactly. Because I don't know what that is, but it is it's a stubborn thing and it's it could be very unproductive for a long time. But like applying that to entrepreneurship, that's exactly what you mean. You have to have like a blind faith almost thing in yourself. And whatever your skill set is to make things happen and make moves happen and make. Um. Businesses, relationships. It's really about relationships help things grow. Yeah. And when and there's there's those days in that restaurant where I didn't get paid for weeks and months, you know, and thank God for and you know, but you know, that changes, you know, then you make half of your salary on Christmas week, you know. But I wouldn't go home. Yeah. Sleep an hour at the restaurant for a week straight, you know, like I just wouldn't stop, you know? And and I can remember the staff even.

Chris (00:23:21) - I think Oscar's watching, like, I would just continue to take orders and take orders, like, what are you doing? Dude, we can't even do this. I'm like, no, where's Marshall? We get Marshall on Marshall. I don't know what he is now. Yeah, I don't know where he is. Dude. I don't know if he's in America or back home. You know, there's a whole list of people. I'd love for them to chime in here, but I have to get a thing that raises up for Marshall. Yeah. Your seats are good. Yeah, yeah, it's like a booster. Um, but those aspects of my life have, like, put me through a lot of pain and into a lot of challenges. But they also. Taught me so much about myself and about people around me. I don't know how people can get better at. I had this conversation with my 11 year old, um, actually yesterday. Uh, she's a pretty good athlete. And, um, you know, I told her, I said, you know, you've got to start working out.

Chris (00:24:14) - Um, so I took her to a we have a gym where I live. I took her to start working out with me, and she was like, you know, this sore, this hurts. This. Why do I have to do this? You know, complain kind of the whole time. And we're walking back. I said, you know, you know, all the kids that you see that you're like, oh my God, they got so much better. This is how they got so much better. You know, and I tried to explain to her, like whether it's sports, whether it's school, whether it's, you know, personal life, uh, relationships, the people that work the hardest get the most. You know, if you have natural talent. God bless you. Um, hard work beats talent. Yeah. And if you can have both, like, nothing stops you. I've never been the person that had talent in just about anything I did. I was never the fastest.

Chris (00:25:01) - I was never the strongest. I was never the smartest. I was never. I've never been any of that. But I know that, right? I know that if I want to catch up, I gotta get up at 6 a.m.. You know, I know that I have to spend more time doing certain things than than other people do. Things don't come as naturally for me. And sometimes, you know, I have to find a way to meet my goal without. You know, not doing the work, but sometimes you put the work in and you're like, shit, I'm still. I'm still at a deficit. Yeah. And you got to figure out a way to make that work. And that's like one of the things in therapy that I. It really burns my ass because. That's the one thing that doesn't cost anything. Yeah. You know, like, you know, like David Goggins does that thing with weight loss and he's like, you know, he, uh, people ask him all the time how he lost all that weight, and he doesn't answer.

Chris (00:26:00) - He just says, kind of like, what have you done? And he's like, I know the answer before you answer. It's nothing. What you did was come here to ask me how to do it. I'd rather work with you after you've tried some stuff. Hit a plateau. And I feel like that. You know, in therapy, my goal is to try to get people to recognize, like, their strength, um, and their weaknesses. And we've made, like, having weaknesses, like a bad thing. Um, to me, they're just, you know, opportunities to grow. Uh, everyone has them. And if you recognize them, then you're ahead of the game a little bit. Because you know what you have to work on where you have to kind of point yourself. You know, there's a. So everybody knows about, you know, some of the elite, like special force, um, men that that sort of protect our country. Um, there's a badge that you get when you go through one of they don't give it out every year.

Chris (00:26:59) - So every year there's one school. Um, I'm not going to say which one, because if you're listening, you know, you know, if you don't, you can look it up. Um, they give out these these two things at the end. One, they give out to every class. For the people that survive, it's called honor man. It's usually the person that's helped their team get through. Um, maybe they were the best performer. Maybe they were. Then they have another one called First Time every time, which for every training excursion that you undertake, you pass on, you have three, three attempts to pass and then you get kicked out. Um, but mostly and these are type A top 1% of us alphas and mentally, like, everyone thinks they're just like knuckle dragging Neanderthals. They're not. They're very intelligent. Um. And they don't hand that out in that group. But maybe once a year now and they do three training, uh, elements a year. They start three different classes every year.

Chris (00:28:00) - And of the, you know, say. 60 people that maybe make it through. Maybe they handed out once in a year. So I think that just shows us like how most people like, you're not getting it right the first time, and that's okay. Yeah. Um, I actually prefer to do things over and over again and get better at them. Um, hopefully one day to master some of them, but, um, well, that goes to something I tell, like the guys that work with me. It's like. The work is the gift. Like like, forget about everything else. It'll show up if you attach yourself to that and you realize, oh, I gotta have processes. I gotta know what to say. I don't know what to do. Like, and you study that and figure your craft out. You don't have to worry about the rest to worry about getting paid. You don't have to worry about that stuff because it'll just start. The problem is believing in that, having that faith that, yeah, when it's dark and cold and and doesn't look, you know, you feel like you're all alone.

Chris (00:28:58) - That's when, when you have to have faith. And I think faith is something that, um, people tend to think means, you know, um, not spiritual, sort of religious god. But faith is just the belief in something that you can prove or see. Right. You know, and I think having faith is, is probably one of the bigger things for, for people learning, um, or addressing areas of weakness, like you have to believe in yourself that you're going to get this, this done or that things are going to work out. If you have a template that's, you know, that you're going to work hard and that you're going to get up and you're going to you're going to put the effort in and you're going to do whatever it takes. And that's what it's all about, right? And that, I think, is something that, you know, I think we've both been the last two to kind of pick up. I don't know where we picked it up. Um.

Chris (00:29:56) - You know, I think we both probably had a lot of teachers trying to get through to us. Oh, yeah. Much younger. Um, I remember being in, like, sixth grade and torturing our, our poor math teacher, and their solution was they were going to separate us, which I'm kind of pissed about because I've now realized, like, I was the one that they dropped in the math class and I went into like the lower level math class so we wouldn't be in the same class. Um, and then and then in eighth grade, they combine the classes and we just, you know, two teachers in there, but instead of us torturing one, we tortured both. And, um, Mr. Titmus. Yes? Mr. Titmus died of a Rogaine overdose. Yes. It's, uh, his tombstone at the Halloween party. That was. That was us. That was our, uh, creative art. You know what's funny, though, is math has like. Like I told the story about grad school.

Chris (00:30:56) - That was sixth grade. In high school, I failed, I think in algebra, I got a 59, I think first marking period. Miss Barbara Lewinsky was her name. And I've never felt like as much as I didn't succeed all the time, I was like a steady B student, but I never failed and that pissed me off so much. I remember going to extra help every day after school from that point on, and I eventually took like, advanced math. My senior year was in like calculus or whatever. I couldn't tell you a thing about calculus now, but I remember in my head being like, I'm not going to take this l. I'm going to make this a positive. I remember going every day after school when I didn't want to, um, getting extra help and then eventually, you know, in my senior year, taking, like, the advanced math and feeling, like, so proud of myself, uh, even though I couldn't tell you one thing that I learned. But you don't use it.

Chris (00:31:50) - That's why I don't even know what they use it for. I mean, who the hell needs this stuff? But it's crazy because I have this discussion with my daughter. She's 14 and she's in all all honors classes, and she loves math. She loves science. Takes after in that one does. Yeah. And like it. She tells me what she does, and I can't even I can't even understand it. You know, I have to my my last week, my wife was away for work and my my youngest, she's nine. She asked me to help her add fractions on like, oh like we have a calculator, I don't know, like Kamiya. And we came down and knew exactly what to do. And so in my middle one that's like they helped her out, but I don't like I don't use that stuff, you know, and like you said, like I over when I would hear that stuff, I'm like, I knew in my gut like, I won't need it. Maybe I do need it, I don't know.

Chris (00:32:39) - But like, I can do percentages as far as commissions very quickly. But like the, the, the it never even was a thought to me like that. I would need it. Right. So I ignored it. Yeah. Like I think that mentality right. Like especially in school was like. I'm not. I did think back then like I would get into something in psychology. I thought I would do something where I got paid a little better, you know, maybe, you know, work in advertising or some other area. I never thought I saw myself going back to school, um, so many times to achieve this, but. Uh, again, right. It was like, I think knowing what you're going to need, what you're not going to need, um, allows us to to be able to work through things, concentrate the energy and effort in the stuff that's important, and then also know what is it that you just have to get through versus what is it that you have to kind of retain? Um, I had a guy, you know, he was a.

Chris (00:33:41) - Um. Very important person in the world. Um, they say, um, he was a danger. He would. I would love to sit down with him. Yeah. Yeah. Fascinating guy. Fascinating case study there. Um, no, he was he was a very high performer. I'll just say, um, like, the highest that you could possibly be. And what you know is a friend of mine. And so we were just bullshitting one day, and he was telling me about how he was in one of the academies. Um, you get, like, these room inspections. And he was like, I never pass my room inspection. And tomorrow I have a chemistry test. Fuck my room inspection. I'll just take the punishment that comes with failing the room inspection, so that I don't have to take the punishment that comes with failing a chemistry test. Because that's going to be more important. And I think sometimes in life you have to be able to pick right. Like. Where is it that I just have to, you know, get by, get enough, get through versus what is, like, really important in life? Um.

Chris (00:34:55) - I think we both have sort of. Yeah. You figure it out. Figured that out? Yeah, right. Like, how do we work through this, work around this or go through it? Um, and I think what that thing is in your life. Is what, uh, informs kind of the process by which you get through it. So. And that's, you know, for people listening, hopefully you have people that are, you know, that have a bunch of degrees. Hopefully you have people that are self-made, you know, all that stuff. We're all alike. Whether you're a doctor or, you know, some high functioning military personnel or you're somebody that's just getting through. We're all built the same. You know, we have a lot more in common than we do. And, um, my what I would tell people is to start to pick good models of things that you're not good at and just, like, follow how they do it and try to, you know, take a little something out of each relationship that you find yourself in.

Chris (00:35:59) - Yeah, that's that's good advice, I think, because like, you know, going back to the, to the zero degrees thing, I just figured I have this knowledge. Right. And like it's real knowledge and it's real experience. And I don't think a lot of people share these things because you got to be a little bit vulnerable and accepting it and also accepting that, like, all right, some people aren't going to like this message. And okay, so fine. But. I know there are people out here that want the message that I'm sharing or needed and aren't saying anything because of whatever reason shame, judgment, or yeah, it's fear really, right? There's all different kind of subcategories. But like, I think most things that prevent people really all get especially men really get traced back to fear, shame, sadness. Those to me are what, like make up the I call it like the dark triad, right? But those are the things that are beneath everything else. What drives people? Um, and so if you can sort of navigate that fear.

Chris (00:37:04) - And navigate that shame. You know, it clears an obstacle. Um, life always puts obstacles in our way to keep the people out who don't really want it. That's kind of the way I see it. It's funny because I always talk about a quote and it's, um. The obstacle is the way. Mhm. Like, if there's an obstacle, there's you can't go around it really. You have to go through the obstacle becomes the path, you know. And, and. That my. My thinking is if I have some knowledge about some specific obstacles that can help somebody else through it. I got to share it. You know, you have to share it. And you got to tell people like, well, look, this is what work for me or this is how I see it, or this is what I learned. So. Um. There's a lot of fluff out there. A lot of highlight reels, you know, and, um, I social media, you still post stuff like that, right? Like successes and business successes.

Chris (00:38:03) - And not many people post their failures. But that's where the reality is because we all have them, you know, and. Who gives a shit when I post those? We sold this and just listed. Yeah, it's good for business and that's why I continue to post it. But that's not a real message. It's not a real honest message saying, look, this is you know, when people also what's problematic with that is people don't see, you know, a call like the iceberg of success. Yeah. Right. So like, you know an iceberg is three fourths hidden. Right. So like the fourth that you see is the achievements, the sales, the bottom line of, you know, degrees or whatever it is. Those are the successes. What people don't see is the three fourths that are underneath it. Right. Which is the hardware, the sleepless nights, the trying to keep faith when it looks dark and hopeless. Um, all of these things, the early mornings, the late nights, the not eating, the not sleeping, the that's what real success takes, right? Um, there's no shortcut.

Chris (00:39:10) - And the thing is, is the bottom line is why people don't. Do it in certain areas is is really simple. It's fucking hard. Yeah. And. I think it's important. I saw George Sedaris, uh, last name. Right. Um, if you're reconsider, is, uh. You're close. So, uh, he posted something about, like, excuses and how, like, excuses are valid. Um, and I actually love that because I think it's true. I think so many people find excuses as to why they don't do things well. This excuse then becomes the problem, right? So how do we solve that excuse or solve that problem? Um, and George is definitely someone I see from his videos and stuff that he posts that like, he's kind of leaning really leaned into that. Um. It's funny because that's like an area for me, and I think this is one of the ways we're really different is like, you love that chaos. My whole life is about creating peace and order.

Chris (00:40:21) - Um, and I think the way we go about it is pretty similarly. I know my motivation sucks at times. I get tired, I get drained. Friday, you know, I had a crazy Monday through Thursday. Friday I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with the shades drawn. Um. But I have, like, a tremendous sense of discipline. So you got to be able to do shit no matter what your feelings tell you, right? And again, that's hard. It's hard to get up when you're tired. It's hard to do these things, you know, when it's cold. For me, the only way I've ever been able to teach myself that is to make my situation the most miserable that I can. So, you know, if I'm going to work out in the winter, I tend to try to do it when it's dark, when it's cold, and you don't want to get out of bed just so that when life hands me something where I need to to, you know, pull from that, I already have laid the groundwork.

Chris (00:41:24) - Um, I think I was Jocko willing. That's, uh, I don't remember. I saw it on one of the podcast, but, like, if you're helping a buddy move and you're always picking up the light box, like you're going to pick up the light box in life all the time, right? And there is a time, like I told you, like, we're I'll find my way around that stuff. But for the most part, I got used to picking up heavy boxes. Um, and now, like, sometimes I get, like, crazy with it. Like, all park is far away from the door, and the rain is possible just to walk like it's stupid and it's not stupid, man. But like, we're. You know, I won't take it out. I remember, like, when I had your dad's, uh, when I was working out of your dad's office. Like, I never took the elevator. Like I didn't care how much I had to carry what I was doing.

Chris (00:42:10) - It's just like I'm always taking the stairs, and these are just little stupid things that I know you said I'm not stupid, but to me, they're. They're little inconsequential things. But those things lay the foundation to to make sure that I'm always prepared. Um, when you're stacking little, little wins and you're overcoming those feelings that say, I'll just hop in the elevator, just do this, and I'm going to do it the hard way. Like I'm not worried. Yeah. Like the hard way could come and I'm ready. Yeah. So like for me it's it's about being ready as opposed to getting ready. Yeah. Stay ready so you don't have to get ready. Exactly right. Exactly. I was told to. And I don't know if it's just right. Maybe you would know. But like, the more you do shit like that and ignore your feelings and do shit you don't want to do, there's actually a spot in your brain or in your mind that will, like, strengthen and becomes a little bit more resilient.

Chris (00:42:56) - Yeah. Like it's like, no, like these things are no longer a challenge or it's no longer an issue. It's just how I do things. Well, it helps you change the way that you see them. Yeah, right. Like anxiety, which is just a fancy middle class word for nervous. Um, to me, there's two sides of it, because I feel that same feeling when I'm about to go out with my buddies and hang out or go to a jet game or it's excitement. Right? And so what changes in your brain is kind of just how you look at it, you know? And if you start to look at things with dread, it becomes work. But if you start to look at things as this is just a part of my life, right, it just kind of falls in line. Um. Again, I keep a super small world, so I minimize distraction. I minimize the amount of um. Stress that can come externally, simply because I know how much stress comes from my daily work and stuff like that.

Chris (00:44:00) - So I have like a stopgap for that. So I think that's why you're dealing with problems all day. So for me, like the your mindset, the organized chaos, I, I recognized early. If I, if I took that approach in this line of work I'd burn out. Yeah. And I've seen colleagues that I started with or got licensed with or they're they're done now like they don't they don't practice anymore. And then you know I see you know, this week I think I got 38, uh, sessions, but which is like a lot for this line of work. And, um, I just keep going, you know, because my life is a routine. You know, I know that between. Yeah, you're you're organizing your routines, and you have habits, and you stick to them, like, pretty much at all costs. I mean, I eat the same stuff every day. I. I eat at the same times if I can, every day. Um, and I actually will look at my schedule in the morning and go, oh, shit, I don't got time to eat today.

Chris (00:45:02) - Like, so I'll prep food and I have snacks and stuff like that. So yeah, for me, I'm very much laid out, orderly, um, very militant in that. That approach. And that's the way that I. I stay ready. Right. Yeah. If you if you have to skip a meal, it doesn't throw you off. It doesn't kill your day. You're not like no it doesn't. Or like if I, if I miss like a workout like this morning to come here, I didn't, you know, I slacked I didn't get up early. I set my alarm and went off and I said, not, not today, not today. And as soon as I got up, I made my coffee. I got my schedule on the calendar, found, you know, a two hour gap later, which is rare in my day that like, all right, I'll just go to the gym then. Um, so. As much as I'm structured, I try to find a way to even keep that structure when when life, you know, you make the adjustments.

Chris (00:45:59) - Yeah, that's something I know I need to get better at. Like, that's something that like, you know, when I'm going through something, I usually you're one of the people I usually call to get advice from. Um. And what's that? Pretty funny. Well, I know what I'm going to get. Well, I do, I know what I'm going to get. Um, and sometimes, you know, I kind of tend to be more middle of the road. You're a little bit more extreme. Um, uh, experimentally, I'd say you're more of a risk taker. And then, you know, we have some other friends, uh, some that are very critical. Yeah. Um, skeptical. Yeah. Very skeptical. Right. But, like, I'll reach out to, like, the three of you guys. Really? And it just helps me reaffirm where I'm going to be. I know, you know, you're going to be a risk taker. I know one of our other buddies is very conservative.

Chris (00:46:48) - And then I know one of our other buddies is just going to find holes and and everybody's approach. Um, and I need to hear those, you know, to kind of remind me why I do what I do and how I do what I do. Um, but it doesn't stop me from making the phone call, even though I know what I'm going to get. Uh, look, you gotta have a, like, a mastermind, like a sounding board around you and take take the message from everybody and say, all right, well, this is what makes this up and find a way. So if any of my clients are listening, you know, I don't. And, you know, Chris, I really don't want you to think. Yeah. I don't want you to think he is my therapist, but I turn street therapist. Yeah? Yeah. Street. All right. That's about 45 minutes. So, um, put the comments in there. Watch it. Check us out. Scott's going to be back on.

Chris (00:47:35) - We'll probably do this on a regular basis. We'll figure it out. If anyone wants to hear stuff about, you know, young Chris and his BMX bike days or, uh, when we get into that shit, man, where do we get into, like, I'm a little worried to wild times. Yeah. We got it's funny after, um, so I shared this video, like, again, I'm not really a social media guy, but. So I shared this video and I had, like, college friends, um, reaching out, like, dude, like our stories. And it's like, you know, from when I was in college, um, I got some of those, too. Like, I, I've been very lucky in my whole life to be around, like, very fascinating people. Um, well, I think I sort that out, like, I was a bit of a maniac myself. Um, and the fact that, uh, I had people reaching out like, hey, remember the time that we, you know, uh, one of the kids was, you know, we hated, uh, sociology class.

Chris (00:48:37) - And, uh, we used to pay, uh, I was in a fraternity, and, um, we took, like, we would ask the pledges to go to the class before our class was scheduled, and we would make a note that said, like, doctor so-and-so sociology class at, like, 1:00 canceled and hang it on the door. Right. Because then that professor would open the door so they couldn't see it, and then they would close it on their way out. And there would be this notice there, and we got away with it, I think like four times. And then the fifth time, everybody knew it was a hoax and everybody went to class anyway. And me and my roommate didn't go. And that's how they figured out, like, you guys are the ones putting the note on the door. Um, I don't know why I went into that, but yeah, my college friends, uh, and stuff like that, they, you know, we also have a lot of hidden treasures and stories.

Chris (00:49:30) - We'll get into the story time. We'll start. We'll start dedicating some more time to that. But this was about the genesis. We ended up talking about some mindset stuff, which I love. I love to put that out there, but I think the mindset stuff ties into your whole background. Yeah, right. Like the, you know, um, I'm looking at it in the screen, but um, I do I think you look at it, you get a picture of Chris, you know, you get there is some organized chaos in there. Uh, I don't think many people knew about the BMX bike thing. Um, no, that used to be like it used to be really good. I should have stuck with it, man. It could have been, uh, motocross. Yeah, yeah, I've been jumping out of the Red bull half pipe, uh, snowboarding, things like that. Right? Yeah. So you do that. You've been sort of extreme for a while. Um, but, like, the other stuff bores me.

Chris (00:50:18) - I don't know why you know that. So anyway, I hope people get an idea of why you're you're doing what you're doing and and what it means, and, and kind of people can see the big picture of, you know, and those people that know you from, you know, grammar school, middle school, high school. Um, I don't think those are teachers. I, I don't think that people would be shocked like that. You're as successful as you are and have made it out, you know. Right. Um, because I think you've been sort of the same exact person. You know, you were Zack Morris. You know, a lot of a lot of teachers would speak to me, and they saw a potential I never saw until later. Yeah, I think that's one of the things I realized, too. Like I told stories about most of them being math teachers, um, which I guess was an area I sucked in, but like. Looking back on it at the time, it just felt like I'm just some little punk that they're, you know, trying them ruining their lives, you know? And so they were going to sort of influence, influence my negatively.

Chris (00:51:24) - But looking back, like, I'm so thankful for all of those teachers, the one that failed me and, you know, yeah, I really am. Because what they don't know. And if they're listening, hopefully they'll hear it. Um, they unlocked something in me throughout that time. It took. Many, many times. But eventually they unlocked something in me where I did see the potential that, uh, I hope that's why they were doing it. Um, I think I was able to see the potential and and, you know, my dad would always tell me, like, Scott, if they're picking on you, it's because they see something in you. Yeah. You know, you know, like, uh, because the other they don't care about the ones that it's not worth their energy. And looking back in high school and stuff, like, I remember those kids like the kids that the teachers just let go, right? Um, I don't I don't know who they are or where they are or any of that.

Chris (00:52:17) - So maybe it didn't work out the way the teacher wanted it, hopefully. But um, I do. I think that, uh, that's, that's really important, you know, for, for people to have someone or to see when people are showing them that they believe in them. Yeah. All right. Thanks for watching. Um, obviously this video is going to stay up for a while, so put some comments or questions. Let us know what you want to talk about. Next time we'll start doing some story time. But, uh, we like to always tie in the personal development. And, you know, I'd like to guess I'd like to get on here with another guest and, uh, you know, kind of put it out there. Who I don't know. Well, Sedaris, I think, would be a fun conversation. Let's do it. He's supposed to come in Friday. Okay. If you can make it happen, you could probably join us. I think I'm working on, um.

Chris (00:53:04) - What time? Friday, I don't know. Good morning. I think I'm pretty booked Friday morning, so we're planning, but, uh. But. Yeah. No, he's he's someone that, um, I think would be a plus. I know him, you know, and, uh, he'd be a fun, fun conversation because he's a different cat to. In fact. George, if you're listening. Say something. I, George, is my financial guy too, and one of the reasons that I use him is because George used to be like an MMA fighter. Yeah, George has a real good mindset. And, um, you know what? Nothing made more sense in my life than hiring a guy that used to punch people for a living, uh, to to handle it. He owned it. Mm. Really? Yeah. The one where, uh, it was a tiger showman's, I think one of the franchises. The one where. What's his name? Uh, Lyman. Yeah, those guys are.

Chris (00:54:09) - I, I may be that some may be having those, like I saw on Facebook again. I don't know if it was linemen or, uh, you know, horse and probably butchers last name, but, uh, he's getting them ready for an upcoming fight. It's awesome. All right. I got an 1130 appointment. We gotta. We gotta roll. Put your comments. Put your questions. Share this if you can. And, um. Just so you know, we're going to be upping the production value. We're going to be on Spotify, we're going to be on iTunes, we're going to be looking for downloads and stuff like that. Um, we're going to have edited videos being posted, so stay tuned man. Looking for looking for some sponsorships. Zin if you're listening. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We need some sponsorships. Sign us. So yeah, I know.