[Transcript starts at 0:39]
Hello, hello, hello. My podcast people and thank you for joining me for yet a another episode of my favorite podcast. If you're watching this right now, then perhaps you see I have a very big smile on my face. I just felt something under my legs. It's Rupert. You can't see any of this 'cause you're under the desk.
Rupert under the desk and I got moose behind me 'cause I'm apparently Dr. Doolittle today and I got both of the kids. Uh, but if you're listening, watching, tuning in on the day that it drops, it is Monday, March 24th. Welcome to almost the end of March. You got one more Monday. In March, my usual message.
Enjoy each day, live each day. Do the things now because shit goes fast. So today we're talking about something that you can do right now, right? An action item you can do right now regarding all the shit that's happening in the world. Uh, and I will tie into business. I know that the reason I started this night actually wasn't the reason I started this podcast, but the slant of this podcast is business, online business.
And so I'm going to pepper that in. Um, but. Life is lifeing and life is part of business. So we're gonna be talking about that. Um, but first I got four life updates for you. Number one, I started a new lifting program. Oops. That's Rupert just kicked him. Sorry. Uh, I started a new lifting program. It is a DIY hypertrophy program from Aaron Schreker.
I have mentioned his name before. Um. If you don't know, it's fine. We'll link his stuff in the, in the show notes. Um, we'll link his, uh, Instagram and his website. Thank you Courtney. Um, he hosts a podcast with Brian Borstein. I have brought Brian Borstein onto the podcast. Um, we can link that episode as well.
Thank you, Courtney. Uh, but they host a podcast called Eat Train Prosper, and I brought that up before 'cause I don't really listen to a lot of podcasts. Um, but that is one that I listen to every, actually watch it on YouTube every week. Um. But we can link the program as well that he, uh, that I'm doing from him.
Um, I usually program for my, for myself. I actually really enjoy it. Um, I find it fun. I use Excel and I, I like doing it, but I am looking, was looking for some new intensity techniques. And when I say intensity, I mean increasing the difficulty, uh, not just increasing my heart rate, right? So like. I'm trying to, I'm not trying to do like fucking hit or anything like that.
Um, basically I am at a point lifting wise where I can't just add more sets. Like I don't have time. I'm already down there for a long time and I, I, I do think there's diminishing returns with that, just from a evidence-based perspective. Um, and adding more load isn't super ideal for me. Um, and my body doesn't handle it very well.
If you've met me in person, you know, I'm not a very big person. Um, I tend to, it tends to be disappointing for people. Um. I'm a, I'm a pretty petite person, right? I'm five six, but I weigh 124 pounds on like a good day. Um, so just adding more and more weight, that really isn't great for me. I do have change, especially, you know, just in general, not even like body part specific, but I do have change plates as I'm saying this because I do have smaller, uh, like fractional plates for that go on my dumbbells so I can uh, you know, increase that, um, accordingly and go up, you know, in these small jumps.
But. My knowledge around increasing the stimulus and continuing to, to go after a progressive overload tells me that I need a new stimulus, a different stimulus. So on their podcast, E Train, prosper, they talk about evidence-based approaches to hypertrophy training. And one of the things that they talk about is this concept of myo sets.
They also talk about length and partials, uh, both as techniques to increase intensity. And honestly, I don't know how to fucking program that. I was like, I have no. I don't, I don't know. I could guess, but like why guess when I can just buy this program. Um, so Aaron has had this, he's had this program up for a while and then he just recently put out the second, uh, level two, if you will, of it.
And it's called No Man's Land. And I was like, great. I am No man, perfect. It, it was felt very reminiscent of if you're a Game of Throne, I'm not, excuse me, if you're a, uh, uh, what is it? Um, wow. Uh. Lord of the Rings, uh, fan, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Um, when she takes her ma her like face mask thing off, it's like I am no man.
Um, but I am currently starting week two. After I finish recording this, I will go and lift and be the week day one for of week two. And I'm stoked. I'm honestly super excited to lift each day. Like I, all last week I was excited. I was sore as well. Um, but it's done really well, right? It's, uh, the program itself, very smart.
Done very well. It was like $37. Also. I was like, Aaron, Aaron, um, but also thank you, but also Aaron. Um, I don't need coach. I, I don't need that. Like I, I know the benefit of it, but I don't, I don't need that. I was like, I, I just need the programming. I don't need to like check in with you and ask for things.
Like, I just need the, the programming. Um, and it's been so good. I. Um. I'm also really proud of the home gym that I've built, right? Because I can do this programming at home. It does like, yes, it's designed for like a global gym, but I'm like, I have all this stuff here. The only thing that I don't have is a true lat pull down.
Um, but I do have those two. I have three actually. 'cause Lex brought one. Um, I have. We have three anchor units now. I had two and then, and she brought one. Um, and I will link to the episode where I brought on Isaac. He's the founder of, of Anchor. Um, I still believe in that product so much. Um, and I, we will link the video review that I did on YouTube, um, of it.
Thank you Courtney. Um, but I'm excited, but I was really proud of my home gym. I'm like, I can do all this stuff here. This is literally, I have a, a linear hack hack press. I got a leg extension machine, leg curl machine. 'cause it's one and the same. Um, I have all the dumbbells. I have a row machine, like an actual, like a plate loaded row, get all the things.
I have safety squat bar and such in the back. I have a, I have a GHD in the backyard, so I'm like, I can actually do all this stuff. So really excited about that. Um. It's really, again, it's really intelligent programming and I'm loving the new techniques, right? Old exercises, same, same exercise. This is new intensity techniques, new stimulus.
Um, but the business lesson here is don't be surprised if it takes years for someone to buy from you, right? Or if they buy it all, many, most people in the audience will not buy. Um, but keep showing up. I've known about Aaron since about, I guess 2020, right? I started with Paragon, um, using their programming, and that's Brian programs for them.
Um, I brought, you know, I brought Brian on. I brought LCK on. Um, but I knew about Aaron because of Brian's podcast that he does with him. Um, and I've been following them literally since 20 20, 20, 20, 25 now, and I just bought something. So that is very typical for a bit of a, you know, a sales cycle for your customers.
So keep fucking showing up. Second life update. I went to a new dentist last week. I said a smile. You can't say, but I just, or if you're listening, you can't say, um, her name is Dr. Beatta Dian. As you can tell by the name, she is Brown. And as I am telling you right now, she's a she, um. Which I'm fucking stoked about.
I've been looking for a new, a new dentist business lesson incoming here. Um, the last one that I went to just tried to fucking sell me on too much shit all the time. And I was like, this is the fucking worst. I don't trust that you actually have that benevolence factor. I think that you just wanna make more money, right?
So I am actually gonna go for cleanings every four months. They tried to push that on me at the last place, and I really felt like it was because they just wanted more money. The both doctors at this place sat down. You know, they talked about everything and they're like, this is why we would do it this way.
If you wanna come every six months, you can. This is why it's traditionally done. Six months, four months is easier for us. And that damaging admission, quote unquote, is great when they're like, yeah, it's easier for us, it's better for us, uh, in terms of like, there's less work to be done 'cause you're coming more frequently.
And I was like, I get that and I would love to see you every four months. The last place I was like, no, I don't even fucking wanna go ever. 'cause you're gonna sell me on some other shit. Right? So don't do that. If that's your business, do what Dr. Beatta, Dian is doing. Um. I also knew that I wanted a female doctor.
I wanted a female dentist, and preferably a brown one. I am not trying to go to another old white man. Like yes. My last place was actually a young Asian guy, um, and the woman who like did most of the work, Charlotte really liked her. Um, she was Asian as well, but like I. They kept trying to sell me shit, Charlotte, not as much is why I actually liked going to her.
Um, but he was like the head guy and I was just like, I don't, like, I would just, I would just cancel my appoint. I would make them, and then I would just cancel them, uh, and like, you know, cancel 'em enough that there was no charge. I was just like, I'm gonna get the fuck outta here. Um, so I stopped going and then I, I found this new one.
I, my friend sin. Posted in her stories about her and was like, she was hyping the fact that she was a woman, that she was brown and the entire staff was female. And I was like, yes, sign me up. And it's actually fucking down the street from me. I could walk there if I wanted. It took me a little bit of time, but I, it's literally a straight shot from where I live.
So like, all around, amazing. Um, so I finally went and, and scheduled an appointment. And, uh, I've actually recommended two people since then, and they, this was literally last Friday. Um, and they've, they've since called and booked, um, you know, business lesson here, a solid product and word of mouth referrals will always be the backbone of a, of a business, always, right?
They have no social media. They're not on Instagram, and their website literally looks like from 1999. I was like, what is happening here? But. The recommendation that I got the word of mouth referral from my friend, I trust that a hundred percent. And all of the reviews that she did have online were fucking raving.
Like people were just like obsessed. And I was like, no brainer. Right? So the last take home lesson from my dentist appointment is start an acting change right now, right? Change how you spend your money. Change who you're supporting, right? In your day to day, right? It does matter. These, these things do matter.
We can start building the world we want. Right, right now. Alright. Third update here. The weather here in SoCal has been tornadoes and rain. It's raining right now, actually, which is why I got all the light. You can't tell I have all the lights on, but I got the other lights on 'cause it's fucking raining.
Uh, it was not raining when I started writing the outline for this and now it's raining, which I actually don't really mind. Uh, and why am I updating you on this? Because I can, I really enjoy when I listen to podcasts and they give me life updates and I know what's going on, so I'm doing the same. Um, but.
We've had, like last week it was like 40 mile per hour gusts and like two earthquakes. And I'm like, I get it. Mother nature ain't happy. And I was like, I wouldn't be happy either. Look at what the fuck we're doing, I wouldn't be happy. Um, but I don't really mind the weather to be completely honest. Um, I don't, I I can't go anywhere when it's like this.
'cause I don't have a top, the top of my Jeep. I could put it on and have Lex help me. But like, I, I also, we have her car, but it's just nice for chilling out, doing work, getting shit done, hanging out with, you know, both kids as I have them now. Um. But I will say, fuck this time change. Fuck this time change.
I am old and I don't need it. Alright? But I know that I felt like this for quite a few years now. How do I know that I felt like this? Because, you know, I, I write shit down in my little journal in my phone that I'm writing in the weather and things like that. I write down how I'm feeling about things and I didn't like the time change last year or the year before, or the year before that, or the year before that.
All right? It doesn't need to be light at 8:00 PM What are we doing? What? What are we doing? Go home. I, I don't even be getting up early like that. I'm not a morning person. I get up twice, you know, actually now it's just once, uh, for volleyball on Wednesdays, but the rest of the time I wake up at 7, 7 30, 8, I don't care.
But I would still like to wake up and have the sun be there ready for me greeting me. Right. I don't need, I don't like this time change. I don't want. Okay. Fourth update and the segue into the, the meat and potatoes of this episode, uh, this past. Weekend, this past Sunday, uh, my, my friend Pam hosted a little get together at our house.
Um, she had reached out to me and she's like, Hey, what do you think about? We invite like a group of people over and we talk about what's going on in the world. And I was like. Yes, I think that's great. And she was like, we can talk about and just share our feelings and, and maybe, you know, could see what we can do, but like, let's just get together.
And I was like, yes. It was really cool to see Pam in action too. So Pam has a background as, as a CEO for big companies. And it was really cool just to see her in action running the meeting. Um, that's not really what I like doing, to be honest. Not, not, not, not in that kind of setting. Um, but I am a connector, y'all know that.
Um, and so. She asked me to do, to do my connecting thing and she was like, Hey, who would you wanna invite? Who would be a good idea to start off with? Tell me. And then I'll invite him. And so I did that. Um, there was five of us brought fruit. I brought shrimp. I love a little shrimp cocktail. I. Uh, I brought shrimp.
We went for a walk. We had big talk. We went for a walk around. She literally lives on the street, um, in the neighborhood, and it was just really fucking good, right? There was five of us. It was really fucking good. And that is what has inspired today's episode, right? So today's episode is, uh, what did I, what did I call this?
Something you can do right now. So. During the session that we had on Sunday, Pam asked two questions and I thought they were fucking great and I wanted to share them with you, right? Pam being Pam and that CEO brain. At the end of the se at the end of our session, she was just like, how do we grow this very CEO of her?
Uh, and yes, we absolutely talked about commerce versus capitalism. Uh, but for me, I told her I know I'm not concerned with growing that particular group. I know how we could do it. I'm not super concerned with that. Um, but I also know that we can grow the impact of it in other ways. Right. And largely the ripple effect of things.
And we can do, each of us do that in our own ways. And for me, one, you know, one of, for me one of those ways is this is this podcast. It's you fine folks. Y'all be listening. Y'all be tuning in and I am so grateful for that. It means that I have the ability, you have afforded me the ability and the opportunity to leverage the attention that you so generously offer me.
So that's what I want to do. So what I need you to do, get a pen and paper so that you can, well maybe go home first if you're listening to this in the car or something like that. Please don't do it now, but make a note then to get a pen and paper when you go home. And then you're gonna write this down 'cause right.
I'm gonna share with you the two questions and I'll talk about some of the facilitation, uh, suggestions, right? So the two questions that Pam asked, number one, what are your biggest fears? And then number two, where do you go for comfort slash intel slash information? That is helpful. All right. That makes you feel good.
And this is, both of these questions are in relation to what is going on right now in the world. Some facilitation suggestions borrowed from Pam. I, she ran the shit out of this session. Some facilitation suggestions is if, then these are, this are, these are suggestions for if you're gonna do this with, you know, at least one other person or a group of people.
Uh, so number one, start small, right? One other person is, is fine. Or a handful of other people. You don't need to have like 50 million people. We had five people total. Number two, start safe. Alright. When I mean by safe is that I knew that the people that I told Pam to invite, we were all politically aligned.
We all wanted to be talking about this. We all had like the same kind of disposition, similar disposition, um, and the same general values. I, this is actually very valuable. I establishing that that unquote safety, that familiarity, that sameness is actually very valuable and you will still have different answers, which is the coolest part.
One of the things that came up, one of the people there, she brought this up and she was like, I thought that, you know, having discussions with like-minded people wouldn't actually be that beneficial or really do that much. 'cause it would kind of just be like an creating an echo chamber, right? And that's not the case.
I promise you that is not the case. Have this discussion, answer these questions and, and talk with, you know, you, that one other person in that group. And you're gonna find that it is incredibly eye-opening in the best way possible. 'cause you're like, wow, I didn't think that. Or now I get to know more about what really matters to you.
And the thing that they bring up still matters to me as well. It's not like, oh, that's like fucking so I don't even care about that. You're gonna find overlap, right? And it is o eye-opening in the best way possible. And it's also incredibly comforting. Because of those shared values, and you're like, now I know I have this other group of people to, to reach out to, to talk to, to know that they're experiencing things at the same time that I am.
Okay. The third, uh, suggestion here for facilitation is have a piece of paper and a pen for everyone that's, that's coming. And then you're gonna have them write at the top of the paper their name. Why do we do this? Pam was like, Hey, grounds the paper. And I was like, yes, I love it. In the bottom, bottom right corner, you pick a corner, have them write down their age.
And what Pam did first was she was like, is everybody okay sharing their age? And everyone was like, yeah, okay. Um, but write down their age. And the reason she had to do this, and I was like, I totally agree, is that age. Impacts everything. Right? And it's worth noting and it can serve as a talking point, right?
So Pam, I, I think is in her fifties. I'm in my forties, that the people that were there in their thirties and like, you're in different places in life, different things, uh, you know, are important to you. You're experiencing different things. And it is worth sharing that, and worth having discussions around that.
And it, it doesn't have to be a central talking point and perhaps it doesn't come up at all. Um, but it is nice to have that there. And then the last thing is write down those two questions and write down the answers, right? Write down your three answers, your three things for each, right? What are the questions where, what are your three biggest fears?
And where are three places that you go? Three places, three people that you go to for comfort to find information. I. Uh, and it could be online, it could be in person, your choice, that, that second one's largely kind of to share resources with people. Uh, from there, Pam went around and asked us to share, right?
You run the session however you want. Uh, if you're listening to this and you're like, oh, I'm excited about it, then you know how to run a meeting like that tells me that that's your role in life. Um, that's great. So run it however you want. To me, effective facilitation does call on people. Doesn't call people out, but it's like, Hey, you haven't said anything.
Or like, Hey, what's coming up for you? And then like, if they wanna move on, you can. Alright. And. Effective facilitation does share your, your own answers as a facilitator, right? It's not just like everybody else talk and I'm just, you know, here to like run it. No, you're part of it as well, but you are guiding that conversation.
Um, to me, effective facilitation also asks questions, whether it's like, tell me more and not just like in a, like a, like a fake therapy kinda way, but like, I don't understand, do you understand like what's coming up? It does challenge things, right? It does. It can be like, like it was great having conversations with, with Pam, right?
Pam is very much in the corporate world and loves it, and I was like, this is great, right? It takes all kinds, revolution, change, growth, takes all kinds. So it was really cool to hear what, what's what. You know, she valued most important to her and so she's sharing that for, and then I bring something up or you know, someone else in the group brings something up and she's like, wait.
I don't understand. And I was like, this is great. 'cause we all get to see what we really stand for. Believe, explain things, see how the same things are, you know, manifesting differently for different people. Just it's great. Ask the questions, right? Curiosity. As for sharing our own answers, I'm gonna share mine next week with You'all because I don't wanna influence your answers.
Everyone did write down their own answers right at the um. Session and then we went around so we could see, you know, and we, and then we went around and, and everyone said, said their answers. But, um, we got to see in doing that, like how some answers were similar, some, but they already had different words.
Um, we also had some folks that were like, oh, after hearing that, I would like to add that to my list. And I'm like, yes, I want additions, not omissions. And I fear that if I go first, you're gonna be like, oh, I'll just like, kind of like hear it and it'll influence you. So I'd rather you just write down your own things, share with your people, share with me if, if.
If you'd like. All right, so my homework action item for you, for those of you wondering what can you do right now is to set up a date with your friend or your friends. And then answer these three questions and just talk. You don't need to walk away with marching orders. You don't, you know, the biggest value to me, in my opinion is, is having the conversation at all, right?
Knowing you, my audience, you probably will walk away with action items, but there's no need to go in to the hangout expecting you're gonna like identify a list of things and like solve the world problems. Okay? Just go in to have the conversation. Alright? That's all I got for you. As always. Endlessly, endlessly appreciative for every.
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Watch this episode on YouTube!
Connect with Aaron Straker: @aaron_straker
Aaron’s training programs
My review of the Ancore unit
MOTM #311: Do the Most to Be the Best with Bryan Boorstein
MOTM #308: Making Strength Accessible with Ancore Training’s Isaac Lewis
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