EPISODE 34 - The Curt Shewell Story Part 1

On this episode of Free for All Friday;

This episode would be a best seller if it were turned into a book! 

Jimmy is in Mexico as we welcome Curt Shewell into the studio as a special guest. Being surrounded by billionaires, it's no wonder Curt is the most successful person in any room he walks into. It is mind-boggling how many gold nuggets he dropped just by answering "hello". 

We conclude with Curt's hilarious and humble story about being invited to Grant Cardone's villa. 

If you enjoy our content, please like, subscribe, and share. You can also catch the show LIVE @ facebook.com/freeforallfriday and make sure you stick around after for "the afterburner"

Transcript

INTRO: 0:02

You're listening to the number one live question and answered podcast for real estate agents all around the world. Broadcasting from Zee studios.

Johnny Awesome: 0:14

You're on free for all Friday. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. I have been a blessing for my greater positive positive energy, a seeker of greatness within all my kids domains. Daddy, my wife knows me is the greatest man alive and let it be known on this day, I will live my purpose to stop the changes complacency, put out the fires of mediocrity. And that's every person I meet. Why have good when you can have awesome and if you noticed, I skipped an intro. And that is because Jimmy is currently traveling down to Mexico. But we have a guest today. That is so important to both of us that Jimmy didn't want to miss the opportunity to introduce him. So Jimmy, if you will.

Jimmy Fantastic: 1:00

Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. This is Jimmy fantastic. Listen, guys. I'm sorry that I'm not in studio today. But given our special guests means so much to me. I was not going to miss my chance for the grand introduction. our very special guest today is someone that does not get the recognition deserved. And the person that doesn't even want the recognition they're deserving of a very dear friend of mine and someone that I look up to both personally and professionally. A business mentor, realtor investor coach, exp Realty attraction series instruction of the year, someone that is so selfless and giving to all of us who get to be around him. He has the attention of so many of the biggest players in the industry because he is the most genuinely giving person we all know when the likes of Glenn Sanford Jean Frederick Brent, go Chuck Fazio, Curtis Johnson and so many others, including Grant Cardone asked you to come and speak at events. You know, you're very special, a person that started out just like most of us, just a person with a dream and the drive and determination to be successful. Mr. Curtis, she Well, thank you for your guidance, care and true giving spirit to all those around you. We're blessed to call you mentor, leader, but most importantly, friend. Everybody helped me welcoming Kurt.

Curt Shewell: 2:11

She well. Jimmy, holy smokes guys. Already, hopefully. Wow, that was that was very nice. I appreciate that.

Johnny Awesome: 2:25

So for those of you joining us live on the call, when me and Jimmy got together, I said, you know, you know, I get the chance. I've jumped in on webinars that you've done. And I've seen the videos on Facebook. And one of the things for the people that listen to us live, they get to be around you all day long, right? And they they like it's I told Jimmy I said, we even take advantage of the fact that you're just here, right? Like, we don't take the time to just sit and appreciate. So I said, So Jimmy said, You're right. And I said we want to I want to do an intro with everything that's there. And Jimmy said, I want to do the intro. I said, perfect. Do the intro so that we can know. Because again, you don't you don't get that opportunity. Right. And we do appreciate you. And I am very glad that you came on the show today. And I'm very excited for the show. Because again, you spend the time not not only are you hanging around with the big wigs, but you're recognized as one of the big wigs when you're hanging around with the big wigs. You're in a room full of people. And they're saying, by the way, curtsy wells here

Curt Shewell: 3:31

is pretty wild. I gotta be honest, it's, it's it's a lot out of my comfort zone. Yeah, and I've never had a loss of words I you know, I talk a lot. And, you know, I enjoy people. I love people. I love interacting with people. I think the most amazing thing on this planet are just the different people and the personalities. And it's, it's been amazing to me and my, my life to go through a lot of different phases. You know, I've had people that don't think I'm the greatest kind of plan. I've got people that think I'm the most wonderful guy on the planet. I've got, I've I've got the I've got the luxury and the pleasure to have friends that I'm still super tight with today. I have a friend of mine that when I was a little kid, my parents bought their first house in Royal Oak. And so when I was born, I was born in Hyde Park. And at one we moved to Royal Oak, so I don't I remember obviously before that, but so I grew up where I look. Well, the kid who lived next door to me, Johnny, and literally Johnny, of course they're always Johnny's right, Johnny as well. He is still good friend of mine today. You know, we're looking at going up for up to his property up north, you know, next month for the weekend. And, you know, I'm 56 years old and you know, it's funny that I'm still very good friends with somebody that I literally that's literally the oldest friend I have because he's from when I was, you know, basically one. So we grew up next to each other And then I moved away as a kid. And, you know, I met friends at the next place next place next place, who I'm still very dear friends with today. So my best closest friends, my inner circle of friends, these are people that I've known since I can ever remember. You know, so the core group of my friends when we moved. When I was a kid, we ended up in Roseville. And so I grew up and went to high school and such there and I got, you know, half a dozen friends that I literally speak to on a weekly basis that are my closest friends, and they're still from then, as my business career, you know, went through, I've always been a salesman of sorts, you know, start off selling shoes at Tom McCann shoe store when I was in high school and just out of high school and going to college. And I have a couple friends, two friends from there that I am still very good friends with today. And it's funny, because my wife and I were talking about this just recently, and she's like, it's weird. I've never met anybody that has friends from every single facet of their life that are still friends with them today. Yeah, you know, 50 years later, 40 years later, 30 years later, 20 years later. And it's it's a pretty amazing thing. And then you start realizing, maybe there's something to that, right. And I talked to people too, like I've talked person from high school or ever I've ever talked people I used to work and I don't this and I don't that I don't I don't I don't. And it's probably the word that's probably never comes out of my mouth very often. Very rare things to say don't or I won't hear you know, and I used to be that I would never do that. And of course, we do it all the time. No, I would never go there. Of course I go there. And you know, I would never you know, I remember the days when you know, there was no cell phones. Right. And I remember working in Highland appliance which again, some of my, probably the place I learned how to sell the most was working those years at Highland appliance and the group, my buddies from there, which coincidentally, a whole bunch of them are now real estate agents who work here, right? So these are still very good friends of mine, dandy Acker and John D. Piazza, no kidding. Yeah. Oh, that's interesting. That's all them when I was 1819 years old. Oh, cool. Yeah. So I've been friends with him since then. And now we're business partners. And we've worked together. And it's the most amazing thing. And I think if you if you just remember not to take yourself that serious, right? If you're if you're truly stay humble, even though I mean, don't get me wrong, you know, we all beat our chests. And we all you know, say stupid stuff, and we do stupid things. And, and I've got people that aren't the biggest fans of me, you know, that are in love with Hershey? Well, that's for sure. But you know, I'm okay with the fact that not everybody on the planet is going to like you, not everybody's gonna fall in love with you. It's alright. You know, my wife does. So I kind of liked you know. And I found, you know, I found that, if you're true to who you are good, bad, right? Wrong, you know, people are gonna take you for who you are, but you got to be consistent of who you are. And I don't try to be something I'm not. And I've done that, you know, it's not that I didn't remember every single thing that we do, that we're successful at, or we have success in is because we've had so many times that we failed at doing it the wrong way. And it's funny, one of the probably one of the things that sticks out of my head with my wife, and we've been together, you know, 20 some years and it's been wonderful. Don't get me wrong. There's, there's all kinds of pieces in that. And she tell you the same thing. And I think that that's healthy, and I think that's very good. But she challenges me all the time. She's always she always has. And I challenge her and you know, obviously, man, you are not these are some of the plan to live with. She's like, go look in the mirror man. Go, look, are you stalking her? And it's really funny, because I've, of course, I think, No, I'm the easiest guy to live with. She's like, are you nuts? You are not an easy guy to live with. And it's funny, because you remember, it's always it's how you see yourself versus how others see you. And probably one of the best things that ever happened to me was, I was forced to take a DISC profile. Okay. And I wasn't, I didn't even know what it was, you know? And, you know, I'm like, Okay, what are these psychological things? Yeah, whatever. I know who I am. This is who I am. So what was really cool about the first time I ever took a DISC assessment test was the manager at the time that had me do it. He said, you know, write down who you think you are, you know, and it literally has a form and you really just checked all the boxes of you know, I'm this, I'm this and this and this. And what that really what was great about that, because that's how you see yourself, this is who you think you are. Then you do the profile test. And then we had the whole room. There's probably like, 30 of us in the room. And we literally had to we did the assessment and then we had to read the assessment in front of the group. This is what this says. And of course the second I read it, I'm like, that is not me. None of these things are right. This is crap. No way. And everybody in the room is looking at me like Are you nuts? That is exactly you that describes you to the tee and I'm like, You gotta be kidding me. And I think that was a very big aha moment to me, you know, in my professional career that I'm not who I think I am. I'm who they think I am. Oh, interesting. And it was like, that's actually who I am. And then I, cuz you get angry, right? And you go back through it and I'm gonna take you back a little further and we're getting way deep into the roots. So far, I've just said hi, but yeah, it's great. It's just when I was going out here, I'll share this. One of the worst moments of my life, which became one of the best things that ever happened. But at the time, it was like, it was it was just mortified to me. I was in high school, right? We didn't have you know, big computers, we had Amber screens, 19 screens, you know, an MS DOS back so as fast as colon colon slash this, that the other not the right, slash the backslash. You know, it was all this crazy stuff. And I'm like, What is this good floppy disks. And, you know, this is all this high tech stuff, because they started coming out with computers. And you know, there was no such thing as a home computer. And were in school while my my senior year of high school at the beginning of year they have you do this aptitude test that tells you what you're going to be. And everybody's very excited about it. Right. And I'm like, Yeah, I think, I don't know. I'm going to be a sports caster on the radio, and I'm going to be doing play by play and that's what I'm gonna be. That's what I had my hat I'm gonna be at the time. Brett Musburger was the biggest TV sports announcer on the planet. He was the first guy to get a million dollar contract. So I'm like, that's gonna be me. I'm gonna be the next Bretton Musburger. And I really believe that. And that was my path. And what I thought my head you know, it was a senior in high school. So we take this test, everybody in there is coming out of there. Oh my god, I'm gonna be an engineer. I'm going to be a lawyer. I'm going to be a doctor. I'm gonna be a nurse. I'm gonna be this you know? And I'm just like, wow, cool. Cool. Cool. Yeah. Well, you know, I had a big mouth. So I had a lot of friends and people that either liked it or didn't. And so they're What are you going to be in mine came out. And mine came out and said I was gonna be a salesman. Interesting. And again, I never saw myself that way. Because salesman came with that stigma of your use care of scars. So you're slimy. You're selling snake oil. You know, salesman did not have this. Wow, I'm going to be a professional salesman. Hell yeah. This is awesome. Love it. It was oh my god, I'm a loser. And everybody laughed. And I remember that being like a psycho scene in a movie, like a Carrey movie where you're up there. And the whole place is like you think the world's laughing at you and throwing things in pointing at you, and you're losing your mind? I literally, you know, had to play it off and smile. Yeah, it was. I was in the bathroom and I bawled my eyes out. And I was in high school. And here I am in a bathroom. And yet, I remember the stall with about that there didn't have any doors. So I went into it. I sat down at a toilet seat, and I've just sat in there am I you know, my hand, my face in my hands. And I was just crying. And this kid walks in, who didn't care much for me. I didn't care much for him. He walked in, and he saw me, which I thought, oh my god, if this couldn't get any worse, this kid he doesn't like he's gonna go tell the world. I'm gonna cry like a little girl. And he was he was so nice. He goes, it's alright man. And I like looked at him because I was, like, mortified, again, that there's somebody see me sitting there doing this. And he just told me, he said, he goes, Yeah. And he knew he knew that's what I was in there. And I was crying. And he goes, You didn't see mine. And I looked at him, I go what you know, because first had to play off, like, I don't know what he's talking about. And I have to act like my cat died or something. And, you know, he's like, it's alright, man. It's cool. You didn't see mine. I wish I was yours. And I kind of died did that I was looking at this kid, of course, made me stop crying, like like a dummy. And so I went home, and I talked to my dad, and I told him I see is I'm gonna be a salesperson, or son. That's wonderful. And I'm like, Dad, that's like, I'm a loser. And he's like, Are you kidding me? Do you know the salespeople at my office, or the place I work? My day was a trade. You know, he's a refrigeration engineer. And he's like, those are the guys who make all the money. And I literally was like, What are you talking about? And again, it's because I just didn't know, right? So anyway, I don't want to make this a whole as long as no, this is great being, you know, feeling horrible. It's a child. And it took me down this path. Well, becoming a salesman was the absolute spot for me. That's exactly what I was gonna be there. I just didn't know it. And again, it's because I saw myself as something different. But yet the world sees you as what you are. And we get caught up into who we want to be in our minds who we think we are, we think way too big of ourselves. And so long intro into answering your question for real about, you know, being in a room with with, you know, billionaires being in a room with, you know, multimillionaires, not that it's because of the money and that's what's so weird to me. I always thought that's what it would be about, you know, when I became a salesman, it just happened, right? It wasn't like I was like, Alright, I'm going to this piece of paper says I'm your salesman. Here I come. I'm a salesman one on one. There's no class for salesmen one on one. And what happened was I started off selling shoes at time again, shoe store. And then I sold a pair of shoes to a guy, I'm going to school and I was working at Taco Bell as well, because I had eaten, right. And I was a big Taco Bell fan, it was always my favorite restaurant. And so as a kid, I worked there, because you got free food. So I thought I was a great if I'm gonna work at one of these fast food joints, you know, I'll have all the other kids the cool kids went and worked at McDonald's, right? I went worked at Taco Bell, well, I love to talk about food. So that was perfect for me. And so you start, you know, getting friends and things from that. And then you start working there, you eating there. And next thing, you know, you know, they're trying to promote you up and make an assistant manager or shift manager and whatever it's called at the time. And so you do these things, but then you're going to school? Well, school is becoming less important, you know, the college experience was a blast doing me wrong, it's just becomes less important. And then you don't have the money and your parents aren't gonna be able to afford to put you through college and pay for it. So my dad's like, Hey, I can't pay for this. And so I had to literally skirt around in Eastern Michigan and kind of hide, they can come in to me for the money. And I kept playing it off and get remember, this is back early 80s. So you could get away with that a little bit. And my roommate was there on a scholarship. So he was cool. He was cool, really cool guy, and he was great looking guy. So all the girls liked him. So you know, I get to hang out with all these pretty girls because they liked him. And I got to act like you know, that was part of the gig, right? And that's kind of what happens in life is you put yourself in positions to win. And I found myself always doing that. And I found myself, you know, resonating to the people that were like, what I want it to be. So what I was able to do is by being a salesman, you know, I started working at selling the shoes, this guy comes in, he sells some shoes, and I sell them socks, and I show him I sell them the shoe trees and I sell them the polish and I sold one of these little white rag things that you know for six bucks and and those are the things that you actually got paid good Commission's on, right, because you could sell a pair of shoes and you made like 65 cents on a pair of shoes. Well, when you sold the little shoe shine kit thing? Well, you know, it's like six box when you made $2. And it was like, Oh yeah, you gotta sell one of these, every, every pair of shoes, and then the shoe trees. There's a holy grail, right? The shoe trees like 10 bucks. You got five blocks, you got to have the money. And it was like, Oh, I gotta have that. And we got all kinds of cool noises. So the studio is pretty badass, guys. So anyway, to make this long story way log, everybody put everybody to sleep on your show, Johnny. Oh, man, I think we were not what happened was I sold this guy, all this stuff. And he didn't realize, you know, this guy's he's basically interviewing me. And he offers me a job. He's like, You got to get out of the chute, and you got to come work for me. I'm like, Well, what do you do? And he's like, Well, I sell appliances. And I'm a district manager for Highland appliance. And at the time, it was like at ABC warehouses today, or whatever. They were the second largest appliance chain in United States at the time. And it was a great place to work. Because the guys working there made some money, there are people making 100 grand and back then nobody. Yeah, so my dad, you know, he made $50,000. And he was at the height of his game. I mean, you know, he's at the top of the food chain, when it came to what these these guys were making in this trade. So I realized, Okay, well, I got to make what my dad makes, I should be able to make more than that. And that was kind of again, it was my gauge, right? If I could make what my dad makes, then I must be, I must be making it right? Well, what happened was I took that job because this guy, and then I worked there, and I worked my way up. And I became the youngest store manager and all this kind of cool stuff. And, you know, I made 60 grand, as a store manager there, you know, and I was in my young 20s. And I was like, wow, this is really cool. I'm like making bank because none of my friends were making 60 grand. Yeah, my friends, were all just getting out of college because I had, of course, in drop out of there when the valley caught me. So I had great experiences. But I always found that I had to struggle, I had to work hard to get past and get through things. Nothing was easy, nothing came natural. Nothing just was there, you had to really work through each piece. And as I was able to do that, what I found was I worked really hard to get in the rooms where the people were at that were in the rooms, I wanted to be that were doing the things that I wanted to do that were at the level I wanted to get to. And my dad told me from as a little kid, you know, you've you know, son, you if you hang out with a bunch of bums, you're going to be a bum. Got to hang out with the kids aren't bumps, and I was just thinking they can't be a bomb. You can't be a bum. And it's it's funny because I understood it as a kid. And my dad was very serious about that. And my dad wasn't too serious about a lot of stuff he but he was very serious about that. You know, you hang out with losers you're gonna be a loser, you know? And he's right you know, you hang out with you know, with nine broke, broke friends, you're gonna be the 10th broke friend. And if you hang out with nine successful friends, you're gonna be the 10 successful friend. It's by proximity you don't realize what's happening right? You don't realize that you're you're getting into the club, right? You're in the room. And what happens is we get caught up in and a lot of people to this day I still I coach and help and train agents and such. I tell them listen And you've already got the date could ask you for the date, you're on the date, be in the date, right? You got the job, stop interviewing for the job, you got the job, right now be that be everything you're supposed to be, you got the job because it hurts you because they think you have the potential to be that person that that hired you for. Yeah. And everybody thinks that they're still trying to prove that they're, they deserve that job, you've got the job, or to give it to you, right? Now do the job, right, be the best version of you in that job, create something, take whatever that is, and go to another level with it. So as I sold appliances, of course, the day comes where I sell this guy who comes in and he buys, you know, a whole bunch of stuff this guy reloads in while the guy hangs out of my store for the whole day. This is the day when you could get instant credit, which means it took about 667 hours. And you could feel this long credit app six pages long, and then you could get approved for financing out stuff. And he did. And then of course, by the end of that he spent all day with me on a Saturday. And here I'm managing appliance store and I moved my desk to the front door right next to the front door because no one was allowed to leave the store without buying something. Okay, now there was no such thing as be back meaning Oh, we'll be back. Oh, no, you won't. You're buying now. It's gonna take what's it gonna take? What's it gonna take? So I really learned a lot of high level sales skills from working at hotplates. And I worked with again, here I was this 19 year old kid thinking I'm all that very confident. But yet, I'm in a, I was in a room of sharks. And these are some of the best salespeople on this planet. And I really had to learn quickly and you had to fight for yourself and you had to you had to hold your own. And it was not an easy task. But you had to be up for the challenge. And you had to bring it every single day, there was no day to lay off, you lay off, they're gonna eat you up. So I wasn't gonna let that happen. And I had just enough edge where your border on that line of being confident and cocky, right, and I had to learn, stop being cocky. Bring the confidence they love seeing the confidence don't cross the line of cockiness. Right? So I used to same thing and what I would as I got older, right? I could see other agents and younger agents and things like that or salespeople that I was coaching and mentoring or managing and things like that. And I tell them same thing, hey, always confident, never cocky. So I you know, I brought that up with my kids. You know, because I wanted them to be very confident what they do. I believe in yourself, believe in what you do. And sometimes it's great until your kids start rebelling on you right? Back. And on your left. Hey, easy with that, right? But you want them to do that. So it's a really funky fine line thing that you got to kind of massage it and work through it. But you got to work through it with yourself. And then what happened was, this guy ends up offering me a job says, Hey, come out of the appliance thing. Gotta get a real job here in this retail crap. Well, the retail crap taught me a massively great lesson one it taught me a extremely good worth that work ethic. It taught me that I you know, you work from morning till night, right? When you're working retail, you're there at nine in the morning, the store opens at 10 You're there till nine at night when the store closes, you got to clean up you got to replace all the price tags are back in those days, you put the price tags on every single item in the store, where you had to take all these tags off and put just tomorrow's to Tuesday sale. The next day. Well, it's big Wednesday, we got the Wednesday sale. And then Thursday's no sale. So you take all the tickets off. And then Friday, it's the weekend sale this week only right? Because everything's a big deal. So you're running around the store, putting the tags on so you're not getting out of there tonight. 3945 every day, so you're working 12 hours a day, well, you're fine too, is you're spending all day with the same people. So you start realizing Okay, well, everybody realizes Eat quickly. It's like Lord of the Flies, you start realizing who elevates up and you know who's the cool kids who's not, it's no different than high school, we just get become adults acting like kids. And so you keep playing that same game? Well, you have to just recognize, right, you've got to have just a little bit of wherewithal. So pay attention and stop thinking you're the most important thing in that room. You're the least important thing in that room. Remember that if you go into that room is knowing you're the least important person, at least important thing in that room. You're going to one resonate with the right people. Because the people who are at the highest levels aren't running their mouth. That's the people who want to be them. They're running their mouths because they're still interviewing for that job. They're still trying to prove their worth to be in that room. And they're going to tell you why they belong in the room and how they're the best when they're on don't you talk to me I'm gonna buy buy buy buy buy beat their chests. And those are always the people that what we all go gotta can't stand it. Yeah, right. But but because they're so overbearing and because they're so boisterous. It goes against such a big mouth. You kind of play up to some of them. Well, it's a dance right? Don't be afraid to play the game. Right smartest smartest person in the room. Keeps your enemies closer, right? Why? Because I can't have this guy get in my way I can't have this guy stopped me from getting where I want to go. I can't have this guy be my my stumbling blocks. Skirt right around him. All I gotta do is get him to like me. That's all I don't have to challenge this idiot. Right? He's he's made himself liquid for already. And I don't have to act like I'm his best friend. I just gotta make sure that this guy doesn't do dislike me? Let's look at his staff his radar, stay just firing off outside. Right. And that outer ring ring. He still thinks he's better than you LATAM and laugh your way over to the bag. Right? You'll just sign in here, Johnny, right? I always say never see at the club. And he's done. Well, I never see at the bank. Yeah, well, they used to see me at the club. Why? Because I needed to get into the club. I needed to be there. It's part of that process. So I used to get into the club. I never liked being in the club. But I liked the people in the club. And I wanted them to think I deserved to be in the club. So the humbleness is always I'm not that important. Because there's always somebody in that room better. Well, what happened is I started elevating up a little bit, and I start realizing, okay, these people look at me better than they look at them. But not like they look at them. So then it's like, okay, so now I gotta get in this group right now. Okay, I gotta be, I gotta keep working hard. I gotta keep working hard. I gotta keep working hard. So that when these people start to see me up at this level now, so now I'm at the level twos, I'm above the level threes, fours and fives, they look at me as better than these guys. Well, that's really cool. A difference is make sure that you still remember and hang out with a level five to level four is the level threes only hang out with them in the sense of show them the same respect that they showed you. Don't forget where you came from. Right? And then always remember, and this is what Dan Deandra did for me when I was back in the appliance game when I was 19. Danny was 21. He's two years older than me. And he put everything he just liked me. And him and I hit it off really well. And he was like, the coolest kid, because he was the best salesman in the whole place. He's 21 years old. He was the best salesman in the house. And there's people on 4050 years old that are doing this for a living making 70 80,000 $100,000 and Danny is 21 year old kid is the best salesman in the room. And it was like, wow, I gotta I gotta be friends with him. But he just liked me. Because why? He was nice to everybody. He never treated anybody like he was better than them. And he was by far the best salesman in the room. And everybody knew it. And everybody knew it. Everybody always resonated to him called him and to to him to help him closer deals. And what happened was, I started realizing, wow, this guy really likes me. I like him. And we're hanging out. Well, wow, all I have to do is not be a jerk. Well, that doesn't seem to be that hard, right. But sometimes it's hard not to be a jerk, because you're trying to you're trying to find your place, you know, but the good news is good. People recognize that. And Danny always gave me kind of that hand up, never gave me a handout. But he gave me a hand up. Like, he looked out for me. He was like, hey, you know, come on over here, hey, let's go to the sales go do that. And he kind of guided me a little. Not that he was like consciously Oh, I gotta help guide this kid. He just liked me. So I made sure again, the top guy in that room. He liked me. Well, good, that's gonna be helpful. Because when we went out, he's when going, Hey, come with us. Now I get to hop in his car. Right? Now I get to go with that group. Or instantly, you're in the room with the right people. Now the key to that, shut your mouth. Don't beat your chest, you're in the room where you're the littlest dog in that room. Don't go bargain. Right? Don't go back and certainly don't bite or you're not still kicked out of that room real quick. So that was kind of the key. And again, it just I learned it by it happening. But I was I was good enough to recognize that. Wow. And I always felt that I don't deserve to be in this room. And it was no different than dating. Right? I used to get people like, Man, how do you get these pretty girls to go out with you? You ain't that pretty. I'm like, I don't have to be that pretty. I just have to make sure that they know that. I think they're that pretty. If I make them feel good about them, they're gonna like me a lot. And I realized that in life as you're going through, especially when times are the hardest. make other people feel the best. And you'll get all the help you're looking for. But if you go in there with you know, conniving, lying, cheating, stealing, trying to con these people into shit. People can sniff out a con rough quick, right? We all can we see a common doesn't even mean that they won't do it. Because sometimes people's personality types, right, that you can push through them. And you can get them to do things that maybe they wouldn't or didn't want to and you can get them to do things for you that you probably shouldn't and you're doing it in a bad way. Well, what happened was a lot of a lot of difficult things happened through my life, just like everybody who's got story. Well, every time bad things were happening to me, good people appeared. And I didn't forget them. And that's I think the thing that I if I if I died tomorrow, I would look back and say, the people that really did me so well. I never forgot them. I never ever, ever would say no to helping them. I would never ever not do something to help them if I could. And I think what they taught me was not that I owe them anything because none of them wanted anything. But what they taught me was I needed to do the same thing for others. You start doing that and you do it because it's just the right thing to do. And maybe you find someplace to figure that out. I went to church, right? My parents made me go to church until I had when I was Catholic. So I had my first communion. I made my confirmation. Well, once I made my confirmation then they said Our church is up to you. You want to go you go if you don't want to go we don't care. And my parents did. Go, very rare for them to go to church, if it was a wedding or something, they might go for a funeral. But otherwise they didn't go to church. Well, what I found was, I don't have to go to church to school. I knew what I want. Well, every time I kind of got away from that a lot of things in my life, were never really that good. And then I would go to church, because I was, you know, when you're down and out, you look up and you're like, Hey, can you help me out? Yeah. And he's like, yeah, why don't you come and give me an hour of your time? Right. And it's not about you have to go to the church. But you know, God's everywhere. I believe that. But the thing was, and I believe God, I talked to him all the time. And then we have a very good, you know, very good relationship. And he's, he's, he's as fair as you can be. Which means Yeah, he comes down to me with a hammer all the time, right? Because I don't deserve a lot of this stuff. Because when you screw up, you got to pay the price. Right? You know, there's no way around skirting that. So I found that when I kept going to church, and here, I was going to church by myself. And I'm realizing, wow, and I went to, and I would drive across town to the church I grew up going to because it was, you know, comfortable familiar, and I could walk in and feel, you know, feel comfortable. Well, I started realizing some of my friends were in there. And then I was up, you know, and then you started sitting with them. And then you're like, Hey, I see you next. See you next Sunday. And it wasn't about oh, yeah, we're gonna be Holy Rollers and do all this stuff. It was, it was just, if I can give God one hour of my time, he'll give it to me tenfold. Right? And every time I would go to church on a regular basis, my life just got in line. Right? It's again, because you're feeding your mind with the right messages. And I don't care what church go to, I don't care what that what that is for you. It's find it, find it, and then stay true to it. So that was my piece. And that gives you the integrity, you know, that I ever do something I shouldn't have done? Of course, I did. You know, I'm human. And I'm stupid. Right? But I always realized, I know that was wrong. Right? So ethics, were probably the one thing that always stood out to me that I always knew. Because when I did the wrong thing, I knew I was doing the wrong thing. Even when I did it. It's not like I did something like, Oh, God, I didn't realize that was the wrong thing. No, no, no, you knew damn well going into it. You just chose to, I'm going to do it anyway. Right? Because simple pleasures, you know. And then as things move forward, and I kept doing this next thing, you know, I told that guy, you know, all those appliances, the golfer gave me this job. And next thing you know, he's like, Hey, you want to make 100 grand? You know? He was what are you working retail? Are you making 6080 grand? And I was and I was like, Yeah, cuz I wasn't in the 100,000 Club yet. Yeah. Right. And this guy is like, you want to be on a grant. I'm like, Oh my God, this guy's like speaking right to me. And all I had to do was treat this guy incredibly well. Like I did every other client. I didn't treat him any I didn't know who he was. Well, it turns out well, this guy's this guy's the frickin he was the president of, you know, city Management Corporation, which is garbage company back downtown from city waste, which 20 Suave owned at the time, which he sold out the waste management, all this good stuff. Anyway. So he offers me this job. And I thought it was going to an interview on the Monday. So he's like, yeah, come on in my office. Here's my car. Come see me Monday. I'm like, Okay, I'll go talk to this guy. See, he's talking. He's talking to 100 grand. I gotta see what the hell that means. I didn't know I started. I went down there, thinking I'm going to interview and talk to this guy. And he's like, Alright, here's your desk. Here's your keys. Here's your this your shirt that I'm like, what are we talking about? Here? Your shirt? Pants? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I was blown away. And he's like, Alright, so we'll get you the eight grand eight G's. It was like eight grand eight G's. Right eight, I'll get to the eight G's. And I'm like, he is he cheese? That's 1000. Right. Okay, 1000. He doesn't want it. He's like, Yeah, we'll get you the eight G's. And I'm like, eight. What does that mean? I thought it was about 100 grand, then I'd had to do the math, eight times 1296. And I was like, Oh, shit. I'm gonna make 100 grand. Right. So that was my salary. And then you made commissions on top of it. And he's like, Yeah, I'm gonna have you manage this office, and you do this. And I was like, holy smokes. This is crazy. So what ended up happening? You know, again, you just treat people the right way. And the doors just constantly open. You just have to recognize the doors open and stuff in the room. And I think a lot of people's fears, fears of being uncomfortable fears of Who Moved My Cheese. Well, don't be afraid of move. Don't be afraid of change. Don't be afraid to look at the best opportunities for you. Because this is really about you. I as I got older, I again, I had a lot of friends and such and I know I'm taking this whole thing about my life story. All right, but Johnny, but this is what happened. So I constantly kept getting myself put into these right rooms at these right people. The next thing you know, I'm sitting in a room with Tony suave. Well, at the time, this guy is one of the richest guys in Michigan. And here I am getting to talk to this guy. And all I had realized at the time and I by accident, was I don't know what to say to these guys, right? And we've said You know, my dad always told me as a as a kid, you know, hanging out with doctors, you start talking like a doctor, lawyer, you'll start talking like a lawyer. And again, it was the life lessons my dad used to say these things over and over and over. I'm like, Yeah, Dad, whatever, whatever, whatever. But they all sunk in. Right? So that's, that's What really happened? And when those things happen, I started realizing all I had to do is ask these people questions, and they would tell you everything. So I started off going the other way. Of course, I wanted to tell them how smart I was right? I wanted them to think I'm smart. Well, if you want people to think you're smart, ask them about them. Ask them how they feel. How did they get there? What you know, what did it take for you to get them? And I think what you're doing is amazing. Ask them questions, and you'll be shocked at how much they'll tell you. You just got all the answers.

Johnny Awesome: 35:31

That Wow, that's, it's no surprise that nearly any room that you walk into, I can say especially with around here, you're probably the most successful person in there. And your story. Just think about all the stuff the nuggets you just laid from parenting to marriage to religion, all based off of an intro. Yeah, but that's how I see the world. But that's that's amazing. That's I have so many follow up questions. The first one is, did the kid in the bathroom ever show you his? No. So you don't know what he

Curt Shewell: 36:04

said? No. Somebody had told me because I had inquired to somebody one of my friends. Like, he's like a garbage man or some interesting. Yeah. So he didn't. He didn't specifically tell me to be honest with you. Yeah. It'd be better for the story if he did, but he didn't know him. And I did not become friends. But I never treated him shitty again. Yeah, when I saw him in the hallways, I always given that nod like, hey, you know, which acknowledgment like, Hey, you're cool. And I gave him that respect? Because he did that for me. You know, and he didn't have to.

Johnny Awesome: 36:32

Interesting. Was there ever any time early in your life before you took that test? That was a hint that you would be good at sales? Like did you ever have any other experience before?

Curt Shewell: 36:44

Okay, I was a paperboy. So whoever was back here, I was a paperboy. And what are those again, that's where you actually go door to door and deliver a newspaper to somebody's house. So I was always in sports, I was very competitive. So I was an athlete, and you know, high school level and stuff like that I was a pretty good athlete. And so we I played in all the sports and such, well, the only way to do all that you had to you couldn't work a job right after school. So you had to do something. Well, I needed money. So I delivered the Detroit Free Press. So I deliver the newspaper in the morning. And on Saturday, you had to run around and collect your money. What a pain in the ass was to collect$1.10 out of people, you just it was amazing how many people were like, Well, I gotta pay the whole dollar 10 You're like, it's $1.10. Like, come on, right? And then dollar 50 be crazy. Give me a tip 40 cents would be like, amazing. So what, what I found was, I was working hard for tips. So I wanted my people delivering their paper to tip me, so I'd make some money. So I was able to do that for you know, a lot of years as a kid. And I bought my first car from my paper about money. While while I was collecting, a lot of times, you start interacting with your clients, and your clients. And now here, you're just a kid. And yet a teenager and these people are treating you really well, like you're somebody important because, believe it or not, so many people started their day off with their coffee and that newspaper, it was a big freaking deal. So it's got to be in the in then on their mailbox here. But their mailbox doesn't have the papers too big doesn't fit the mailbox she had put inside the door, close the door, because rainy days and stuff, you can't have their paper wet and all this stuff. But when you did this, and you went that little extra mile, we did it for the people that treated you good. You know, it's just like anything in life, you know, do unto others as you want them to do to you, right. So treat people the way you want them to treat you. And you'll be shocked at how well they treat you. Some of these people, I would really go way out of my way to make sure their newspaper didn't have one dropper, and it'd be pouring outside. And I made sure their paper was perfect, because these are the people that treated me nice. They were nice to me when I collected from them. They always paid me on time and they always give me a tip. So I made sure that these people's papers were always perfect for them. And they appreciated that. And I started realizing, well, if you do things for others first, it'll come back. Now not everybody was great. Not everybody tipped something. We had to chase him for weeks to collect your lousy buck. But and they didn't tip you, you know, and you're like jerks. But I still gave them their paper the right way. I still did the right things on the hopes that hey, maybe these people wake up realize I'm doing this for them. And if you continue on that path, and so, kind of that salesy part of that, if you will, started me understanding the kind of work in people a little bit, and then what happened was I was I was collecting one Saturday for these these people and they had asked me, they belong to the same church I went to and they they were part of the parents church group, and they said, hey, you know, we're having a New Year's party. We need a DJ and their daughter went to my high school. She was a year younger than me. Why did the announcements on the PA at school so every day I was good morning and here's today's announcement. That guy, right? Yeah. And it's because I did that. So I got coined the voice of Roseville, and then what ultimately happening, we had continental Cablevision was our first cable TV company in Roseville at the time, so I played all the sports with basketball and you see the size of my hands, not very big, just being small gloves, by the way. So what happened was, I didn't play basketball so was the only sport I didn't play in other major sports and And they asked me to do the play by play for kinda Cablevision for the high school basketball games. Because I knew a lot of the kids because most a lot of the kids played football, I played football. I don't play baseball, I play baseball, and then they play basketball. So I knew all the kids and I knew kids from the other a lot of the other schools. So I ended up being the guy that did the TV for more que pasa about that. Yeah. And that's why I always felt that was my call. Okay. A funny thing was just a little fun. Don't waste any time here. But one of the little tidbits was I used to always mess up and I would say, the field, you know, to the court, and I'd say, Oh, they're moving right down the field right now, you know, that I'm gonna have an outfield card. That's court. And I remember the guy was telling me the producer, he's like, Hey, member of basketball court. And I was like, Sure. I'm a sport junkie, right? And I'm like, I'm calling it a field. So I learned that one. And I still remember today, because it was embarrassing. I screwed up like that. Well, I did that. So these people that I've collected from, they said, Hey, we have this church, robbing our New Year's party, and we need a DJ. And our daughter says that you do the DJing for the school mic. DJ, I'm doing the announcements, you know, microphone like we're doing now. And I said, and I'm literally trying to figure out how to politely say, no, no. And I'm like, and they're like, you know, because well here, you know, it will pay. Yeah. And I was like, Oh, wait, what? Like, yeah, well, we'll pay you. You know, we were thinking like, 50 bucks. And I was like, holy shit. 50 bucks. Yeah, many months, where the dollar newspapers is like, 50 bucks. Yeah, I was just like, Oh my God, that's my car fund. Oh, my God, this is gonna get me there. And I was like, Absolutely, you can make I would love to sounds great. And the funny part was, I was big into music. And I did have a lot of records. And music was always a big thing to me. So I wouldn't did that. And then I realized, Wow, here I am this, you know, 13 year old kid, 14 year old kid. And I'm DJing this, this New Year's Eve party, all these people that like my parents. And it was just kind of cool. And I was like, God, these are fun. People. These are cool. And the more fun they were having more fun I was having the more fun I was having more fun they were having. And then I realized, man, I went home and my dad talked when I say he's like, how are you? How was that? You know, I'm like, I don't know, Dad was really cool. You know, his need is the more fun I had seemed like, the more fun they and he's like, the DJ, the band, you're it. You're the entertainment. He goes, You are the most important person there. And, wow, that's okay. Okay. And again, alright, then I have to really then do your job. Well, they immediately from that we had these people that were asking me, you know, hey, can you do our wedding? Can you do my kids wedding? Can you and I was just like, holy shit. I'm gonna what? So I started the answer. And they're like, you know, at the time, you just make like 500 bucks for a wedding. And I was just like, holy shit, I do one of these. I'm buying my car. And that's all I kept thinking, you know. So that's how I got into that. And I realized the salesmanship came from kind of doing a lot of that. So once I started DJing, weddings and things like that I was 15 years old, and I'm doing my first wedding. And it was pretty cool. And my Buddy Rich Johnson had a better stereo system than I did. So we he had in what I did, I had to go to RadioShack and buy a mixing board. And so I can mix the two turntables together. That's how I started it. So I realized that wow, this is pretty cool. And I was pretty good at it. And I could talk and I wasn't afraid to talk and you're always nervous, you know, just like us on the show. You know, you start off the first minute you're nervous, right? Like, oh, God, I had not do what I'm doing right now rambling everybody false story, biggest single person as though that's that's where it started, you know, and that's what I found myself doing so that I have a calling as a salesman, I think so I think I was always built for this right bill to talk and, you know, so to get you guys, you know, for the end of this show here. So I can not waste all your time. But what ended up happening is each job I ever had was because I had sold somebody something who offered me a job as a better job, better job, better job. And that's how I got in the garbage business is my first outside sales type job not outside of retail. But retail gave me a huge, great work ethic. My dad beat that into my head. You know, work harder, harder, harder. He just always told me I'm gonna teach you how to work smarter, not harder. While he kept doing this teach me to work harder. Get two jobs get three jobs, it'll do two paper out said oh, it was like Holy smokes, I'm dying there. And I was just trading time for money. And I learned that okay, you know, and it's kind of, you know, the jewelers, the school of hard knocks, we have to I think, you know, there's got to be challenges in your life to overcome or else you're never gonna grow. And I always remembered every room I went into. I was the least important person in that room. And I never thought I wasn't I never thought I was you know better than everybody else. Don't get me wrong. You have times where you like yeah, I'm better than you and I'm you know, in the new saying do stupid crap. And I used to kind of judge myself based on the girls that I would date. It sounds weird, but the hot girls that really you know that top of the line girls, when I was a nice guy, they wanted to date me. When I told them how great I was beat my chest. I'm so cool. I love that top top. Girls didn't want to do that. You're a jerk. And one girl was honest enough to tell me that. And I always remembered it. And I was like, wow. And she's like, I always liked you. I always wanted to date you. But now that I got to know you, you're kind of a jerk. And I was like, What are you talking about? No, I'm really not. And she was like, like, I was acting like a fool trying to impress her. And she's like, You are being you? No, not at all. She likes me. Yeah. Didn't like me. I can like her.

Johnny Awesome: 45:22

Interesting. to you really? Were Yeah, she's pretending to me.

Curt Shewell: 45:26

Yeah. And I thought, who I really was wasn't good enough, right? Yeah. And I had said that to her. And she said, Wow, I guess you're not. I was like, wait, what? No, no, no, I didn't mean that. I mean, can I take that back? Because I thought you'd like feel sorry. And I realized, don't play the guilt game. Yeah, nobody likes that shit. And it hit me right then in. I was like, wow, don't do the guilt. Crap. Yeah, garbage. It's garbage. Right. So I learned at a younger age, and again, and I thank that girl who treated me horribly bad. But she was honest with me. And again, it's not that she treated me bad. She was honest. And we can't handle the truth. Right? And that's why there's that saying, you know it because it's so true. And it was like, wow, so I started realizing I do like a dose of the truth not all the time. You don't be brutally honest. But it I do like the truth. And it was like, wow, and every single time in my life as I went on and on and on I you know, again, you keep you do great things and you screw up just do stupid crap. And then you did great things, you screw up, you do stupid crap. You know, but every time if you do somebody wrong, it just it haunts you. Don't do people wrong to people, right? Do it because it doesn't matter. And you'll be shocked at how much comes to you. Right? And there's people that are like, it'll open up yourself to the universe universe opens itself to you. It's very true. It's very true. And I'm not getting all you know, Scientology type stuff. But the truth is, just be you. People will like you or they won't and that's okay. Because you'll find a lot of people like there's a lot of great people out there. Most people are really good. But there are people who aren't right. And you'll find that all the good people, they're attracted to you. Good people attract good people, make yourself open. So for whatever reason, and again, I didn't know what I was doing at the time. But it was working. And I just didn't know that I was I wasn't consciously thinking I'm gonna do this. What I did was, and it was because of again, the uncomfortableness, right. So I was, I was uncomfortable. And I'd go into rooms where I only know one person's room and they're over there and they're talking to them. I don't know a single person. Well, if you're the one who stays awkward and looks at people and like looks away when they look at you and looks and looks away, and then you look down, and then you're fidgety and yeah, people are like, whoa, something's wrong with that guy.

Johnny Awesome: 47:35

You're the weird one.

Curt Shewell: 47:36

You're the strange one. Yeah, here you're thinking I'm just gonna kind of play it cool. Yeah, over here. Yeah, no, you're the weirdo.

Johnny Awesome: 47:42

Like, the dude that stands up against the wall was a dance while everybody else is having fun. And he's kind of like, look at how silly they look dancing. Yes, but everybody out there is having a good time. They're looking at him. They're like, wow, miserable standing up against the wall. It's because

Curt Shewell: 47:54

of his insecurities, right? 100% is the problem not Yeah, yeah. And remember, if you ever want to find the problem, look in the mirror. You're looking right at it. It's staring at you. There's your problem. Your problem is you. Right. So what I learned again, and I didn't consciously think of it, it was again out of necessity. And I was standing there and it was at River room. And I was so out of place. And all these people. They were all from gross point. And I was there was with this girl that invited me to come there. And I went there. And here I was this, you know, not gross point, kid. And here, I'm trying to fit into this room and everything. And I thought I have to beat my chest and that I am. And I started talking to a guy that was standing there. He had said something. So I kind of said something jokingly back to when he said he like looked at me. And I go Yeah, I thought that was really great. And it wasn't that great of a thing. But I said that because I needed to break the ice with somebody. And he looked at me and he goes really well. It turns out, it's this kid. It's his event. Right? So he really puts his arm around me like we've been buddies forever as they are. That's great. Really? Oh, yeah. He puts on me, because I liked what he said. Yeah. And I thought it was kind of funny. And I just made a comment. And so then I asked him a question. Right now Hey, what about this or what about that, and all of a sudden, he's like, Oh, my God, Hey, man, boo, boo, boo, boo, boom. And then all of a sudden, like, Hey, you're over here. You say, Hey, come on. Come here. When he grabbed me and grabbed my arm. Hey, come on. And boom. Next thing you know, I'm right. Front and center. Yeah. And now I'm really uncomfortable. I'm like, holy shit. I don't like these people. And then all of a sudden, every single person they're treating me like I was royalty because I'm with this guy. Yeah, I didn't even know this guy. I'm wasn't with it. I was with her. But she's over there. So I couldn't even talk to her because she was busy. And it was one of these really strange type scenarios and I started learning. Wow. All you got to do is start. Go talk to somebody and ask them a question about them. Don't talk about you. least important person is you. Talk about them. Ask them so I started learning by accident, because of my uncomfortableness that I wanted to fit in badly. He didn't want to be not fitting in so I started asking people about them. I would listen to their conversation. Don't say gosh, One thing, you know, everybody knows me as I talked and I talked forever, I can talk long. But the truth is, I listen. I listen to what people are saying, I hear what they're saying. And you see, and you could hear the tones in their voices, I can tell when somebody's saying something really important to them. Just start talking to him about that. Have that conversation. It's not about you. And what you'll find quickly as you start sifting out the people that the minute I say, Hey, Johnny, man, oh, my God. Yeah, I got my new car. And before I can even finish, saying, I have this new car. It's really cool. You're already told, Oh, yeah, I got a car to see when I got my car. And then you want to tell me the story about your car? Yeah, I don't, I don't really want to hear the story about your car. I was telling you, I just got this car I was really excited about and I wanted to show you, but you don't care about that. You want to tell you about your car? Because it's about you. And it's about you. And it's about you. And you everybody listening. Hopefully, you know, people that do this all the time. And you're like, Oh my God. Yeah, well, oh, my god, I love Oh, it's a beautiful day out. It's just Sunny. Oh, yeah. Well, you know, when I was out, it was raining. And it was a shitty day because you know, but I'll do I gotta find do I get a sunny day? No, I don't get us and you're like, What is wrong with you? Yeah. Right. And what happens is you do that. So what I found myself was constantly noticing quickly the difference of people like that. So I found myself being able to get into these rooms, being able to talk to people, you know, my dad always said, you know, son, if you're in a room full of doctors and lawyers, ask them questions about being doctors and lawyers. You'll fit right in, never, ever worry about fitting in. And I always used that for the rest of my life. So to the beginning of your questions, you know, how do I get in this kind of cool kid room and this company we're in, which is an amazing company. And, you know, two days ago, here I am in Phoenix, Arizona, speaking at an event that I get asked to come and speak to I fly out there and speak. And I'm sitting there in my there's a picture that was there, where I'm sitting in, I'm sitting next to Jason guessing the CEO of a company again, it makes several millions of dollars a year running, you know, the largest independent real estate company in the world. And next to him is the guy who's the founder of EXP, Glen Sanford, who's a billionaire. And then next to him is Glenn Stearns, who's a billionaire who did the show undercover billionaire who started Stearns lending years ago, which grid at the time to the second largest wholesale lender on the planet, second largest retail lender on the planet sold it opened up another one. This guy's These are amazing people who live in a very, very high level. These are some of the smartest people you'll ever meet. And the nicest people. The thing is, is for me to go tell them how great I haven't beat my chest. I wouldn't be a fool. Yeah, I am sitting there next to these people that are at the absolute pinnacle of where you could get in our world. Yeah. And to the career path that we're on. I mean, these are the top people this, they're sitting right here. Yeah. And we're having conversations with me. And then Glenn says, you know, hey, we're gonna go to David come to dinner with us right now. Absolutely. Like, oh, my God, yes. And then we go to the restaurant, and there's 18 People at the restaurant. And it's a long table, and we're gonna run and so whenever you're shaking hands, and then Glen, oh, hey, Mario Rickard listed on over here occurs like, Absolutely, the guy tells you how to sit down with you. Yeah, he I sit next to him. And I spent the next two and a half hours at this, you know, great Steakhouse. And the thing was, you know, you're always, I gotta say something profound. I have to impress him. No, no, no, no, no, no, that's, that's the biggest mistake everybody makes. He doesn't want me to impress him. He asked me to sit with him. I'm already on the date. Right? Don't interview for the date. You're on the date be in the date. And what's the most important thing? The other person? him? Yeah. So I started asking him a bunch of questions. Yeah. And he just told me and we talked on a very personal level. Yeah. What do you think happened? The next time you see these people that you're from there? You guys have connections? Yes. You become in their circle? Yeah. Now all of a sudden, they address you. They know my name. He knows my wife's name, right? I don't have to say, Oh, by the way, manuscript history minister. And there's my web. I know. They want to know you. They like who you are. Just stay you stay humble. This guy can't What am I going to beat my chest to this guy? beat my chest to that guy. Are you nuts? I'd be crazy to do that. And I make sure that I constantly get myself into the rooms with these people. And yeah, I'm a nobody. I nobody special. But I make sure that other people feel better when they get done talking to me. And most of the time, I'm pretty successful at doing that. There are times that I'm not there are times that people look at me and like Would you just shut the hell up? Right? No problem. Absolutely. Those aren't my people. Right? Not everybody in the world are your people. Yeah, and don't take it personal and don't go in the corner and cry about it. That person is just not a person that wants me in their world. I don't probably want them in mind. They're probably not a good fit. And then the other piece that I always did that has really launched in the last if I just take my last 10 years and if I look at my last five years even you know i i break him down to small, small groups. What I've been able to do very, very successfully right now and it's really the most enlightening thing in my lifetime again, I'm older so I wanted more knowledge because I've done it wrong so many times, what I'm able to do now is I'm able to eliminate a lot of the negative people in my world that are people that are family members, friends, people that I really care about. I still do I do. I love them very much. However, they're not my people. When you're born, you have a family, right? Your relatives, the truth is, and then this might upset a few people. They're not necessarily your people. Oh, yeah, they're your tribe. Because guess what? You got blood there. So their family and I'm not saying don't have loyalty to them. I'm big a loyal guy. extremely loyal. However, here's the truth. Some of these people, right, I have to be in the room with them. I don't like them. Yeah, they don't like me. But yet, we're forced to do holidays and family gatherings, your cousins, your neighbor, your brothers, just just whatever that may be. And again, I'm not dogging his family and family is important. Extremely. I love my family, love my kids more than anything on the planet. My wife, that's that's where it's at. Right? And you got to remember that they stay first, my wife reminds me sometimes like, hey, hey, you, Hey, you, mister, over here. Remember me? Like, Oh, yes. Right? You got to focus your attention on the right places. Because these are the things that enrich you. Right? It's not about riches, it's being enriched. And it has nothing to do with money. The cool part is if you keep doing the right thing, you keep putting yourself in the right positions, you keep being in the room where these people are, they will ask you different things, and they will open those doors to you. Every job I ever had. I worked someplace and I met somebody who offered me the next job who offered me the next job. The next one that happened my entire career, up till real estate, which that's a whole nother story. I got into real estate, right? I was regional vice president Honeywell, I had no intention of ever being a real estate. But life happens. Things change. In those cases. You know, this became my miracle job. And what it's given me is a miracle life.

Johnny Awesome: 56:48

Speaking of people met Reda natural right up to the end. Yep. Jimmy had a request. Jimmy asked me if I could ask you to tell the full grant cardones story.

Curt Shewell: 56:59

Oh, my God. I know we only have a segment right here. But

Johnny Awesome: 57:04

I think if we ran over, it's definitely worth it. And this would be the first podcast episode that we ever went overtime on. Because he, he shared a bit of it. But I'd love to hear the story. And I think everybody else would too. If you could share the story. I'll do

Curt Shewell: 57:17

it really quick. Because we are we I'm sorry. We use the phone. No, no, this has been amazing. I hope so. I don't know that my life stories that amazing. But

Johnny Awesome: 57:25

it is because let me let me let me say this. Even from listening to what you've picked up from the newspaper, you learn that you sales a service, you learn that people are more important, like these little things that are ingrained into your life, these little life lessons that you learned. That's, that's what's taking you there. And if people listen to the story, and really read between the lines of the principles and lessons there, this is a podcast that people can listen to over and over and over again, this podcast could be a book, and people could go out and be successful, just listening to that life story, just the hour that we had spent with you. And I'm very, very grateful for that time because I took a lot out of it. And again, just just the thought of you know, what we're really in in service. And, and I mean, there's just I mean, there's so much there. There's In fact, there's so much there. Are you available next week? Because I didn't get a chance to ask any questions.

Curt Shewell: 58:23

I know I tend to do that. Sorry about that.

Johnny Awesome: 58:25

I mean, I'm for real. Are you available next week? Yeah, I can do awesome. I'd love to do a part two. But before we can then you

Curt Shewell: 58:31

can ask all the questions. I'll just give you answers. The Grant Cardone started Grant Cardone. So here's a Grant Cardone story. What happened was we were in at our national convention exp con, and it was in November and it ended up falling on my birthday. So the last night of the event, we're at the Draize nightclub right across street from Caesars Palace up on the rooftop and what a cool event we had DJ Jazzy Jeff, he's the DJ for the event. We're having this great time and everybody just had a ball. Well, that spills over till about four o'clock in the morning. Well, I had foolishly not planning ahead not thinking because I'm not that smart. There was a guy from Costa Rica that wanted to meet with me before he went back to Costa Rica about building is, you know, exp brand out there and, you know, taking it there. I said, Okay, great. So I greet him at the beginning of the week. The only chance Alright, hey, we're gonna have to wait till Friday. Only with time I could fit into to meet with you be Friday, like Why leave Friday? And I have to leave at 11 o'clock. He goes, Can we be for that site? Well, I'll meet you Friday morning, eight o'clock. Again, two things really stupid one not realizing that was my birthday. Right. So this is probably not a good day for me to do that. And secondly, it's the morning at 8am Right after the last night of this whole event. And it's going to be this huge gala party blowout party. Yeah, which went till four in the morning,

Johnny Awesome: 59:47

which I'm sure they were offering more than just water at

Curt Shewell: 59:49

they did they had some libations shall we say? We lined them up and boy did we knock them down? Well, my wife is we're just having the greatest time it's because at midnight was my birthday. Everybody's happy Having a blast treating me gray. We're having a lot of fun. So then my wife's got this whole setup for me on Friday morning for this breakfast and in our room and this whole beautiful setup. But I gotta go meet this guy at eight o'clock. Well, we're getting stumbling in it for 430. You know, we didn't go to sleep till after five. And I'm like, Alright, I have to go meet this guy and like, Oh, my God, no less than three hours. She's like, are you not just you know, canceling like he can't, he got to give your work. You got to do it, right. I promise this guy I meet with them. And I got to be true to my word. And now remember, I'm about about 60 proof. This is not a good, it's not a good time to be having a meeting with anybody. Well, I do sleep for the, you know, two hours and 40 minutes I wake up at literally five minutes, I washed my face. I'm not shaving, I'm not showered, I'm not anything. I throw a hat on. I got a t shirt and shorts on. I got flip flops on. And I grabbed my laptop and I stumbled down to the Starbucks inside of the Mirage. And I meet this guy and and sure enough, we're there. And so you can kind of imagine what I look like. And it ain't pretty night that pretty to start with the night really looked like crap. And I'm sitting there and this guy's just thanking me up and down. And he's like, I watched you speaks I'd spoke on stage. You know, a couple days before that. He's like, Wow, you're amazing. You're this, you're that and it was really fun. And I'm like, No, thank you, you know, great. And I'm literally like, talk a little slower because my head's still spinning. I'm still trying to be awake here. I think I'm still still drowning. We're not really sure. And so I'm sitting there and we're going through so I start talking to him going through this little presentation. I have some stuff to show him. And so we're talking and all of a sudden, Jeremy Larson, he's a big, big player in exp this guy's awesome. Love the guy. He's out of California. He goes Riker What's up my brother? How are you bad? I'm like, Hey, how you doing? Oh, you're a little loud. Bring it out of my head. And he's he's flying out. He's grabbing a Starbucks and he's like, Hey, hugs and kisses. See you later, brother. Good seeing you take care of Lee goes over to the Starbucks line to get his coffee. Well, two minutes later, Jeremy Larson comes back and he comes back with Elena CARDONE grant cardones wife. And so I'm like, Oh, great. They're walking right to me. I'm like, why are you don't come here? Don't Okay, he came here. I'm like, great. So I look as absolute dog crap is like, look, I got the Costa Rican guy here who's like, all happy. And I got Elena Cardone. And so Jeremy's like, Kurt, this is Elena Cardone, I'm like, Yeah, I met you once before. Nice to see you again. And she's like, Oh, my God, I'm sorry about memory. I'm like, No problem happens all time. So shake your hand, I see it. And she's like, Yeah, Jeremy wanted me to sit and talk to you. And Jeremy is like Kurt. I Elena was I was just staying in line to get my coffee. And Elena was standing there. And we were talking and she had made a comment about, you know, attracting agents and building her business. And I told her oh my god, there's the guy who's the, you know, the, the instructor of the year for for this. And Kurt. You know, he's the guy. He's the guy. He's the guy. And she co signed you wanted to bring her over to me, you and I'm like, like, Not today? Not today. Like, oh my god. This is like the worst possible scenario I could have. I'm like, okay, great. So I'm standing up, you know, and I said, Hi. And she's like, can I just ask you Have a go? Oh, my God, this I've been so I'm so excited to meet you. And like, oh my god, I really wanted to talk to you and like, Oh, my God. Oh, my God, I got so I'm like, and she's all his high energy and Holy smokes. What are you on? Man? You were like, way too hyped up this morning, which is I normally am in the morning. Not this morning. So I said, Sure. And I asked, you know, Carlos from Costa Rica, I said, Carlos, do you mind if Elena CARDONE sits down and he is like, his jaws just dropped out of the table. He's like, Oh, my God, limit her down. It's so nice to meet you. And hopefully he's, you know, sit with us, you know, oh, my God. Oh, this is a wonder of my dear Curtis, you are as a man, you are wonderful. I let go of what you're doing for me is if I set this up for this guy. Yeah. Right. So I'm getting again, just gives that I'm getting kudos for something that I had nothing to do with it just happened. But you can put yourself in right positions, these things happen. So sure enough, so I said, Yeah. I said, Well, I was going over some stuff with her. But she's like, well, let me ask you this. Let me ask. She just takes right over. And so the shirts asking us to well, I've kind of shown Carlos this on my screen. Let me show you. So I start kind of showing her some stuff on my screens on my computer. And she goes, Oh, did I just hijack like a meeting of you, too? I said, Well, yeah, kinda Carlos is from Costa Rica. He's gonna be leaving. She's like, Oh, I'm so sorry. But listen, I really want to know this. And she just like, yeah, doesn't matter. And Carlos is like, It's okay. You're a little guard down. You know, he's like, starstruck. And he's like, Oh my God, you're beautiful. You're this or that. So it's really funny. So we start going through this. Well, I'm about halfway through and she's like, Oh, my God, this is exactly what I'm dying for. This is what I really needed. Oh, my God, you need to help me. Okay, in my head is like still like, my head is killing me. I'm like, Okay, how can I help you? She's like, Grant needs to see this. Grant needs to see this grant, like grant your husband Grant Cardone grant. And she's grant needs to see this. I'm like, okay, yeah, okay. Yeah, we can set that up, you know, you know, hit me up and maybe next week or some I get on a zoom with the guy. She's like, No, right now. I'm like, Grant wants you want Wait, why? And she's like, Yeah, I need to see this right now. Can you show it to rent right now? I'm like I promised my wife remember who's sitting in a room. My birthday. Yeah, this whole thing set up. And I told her, I'm going down at eight o'clock. I will be back in this room by 830. I am not going to be more than 30 minutes complete start to finish back to the room because I am complete dog crap. I gotta just get back to the. So my wife is sitting there waiting for this to happen. Well, it's now quarter to nine. And now she's like, we gotta go see grant. Now. I'm like, Oh my God. And Carlos is like, oh my god, we're going to drag our dog and Atlanta. Oh my god. This is a wonderful Oh, yes, yes, yes. And um, he's like, try this. Can I come please? Like, well, you are meeting I'm having and she's like, oh, yeah, you can come I'm like, Oh, shit. Okay. Yeah, let's go see grant. So I literally pack up my computer. Okay, grab my cramp. And she's like, we're staying in the villas. Well, that's about a half a mile frickin walked through this casino all across the side when you go through this door. And there's this entire whole world inside there, which I can't believe is part of this property. And you're in this villa setup that is just incredible. It's like it's like a movie where you open this door looks like you're going outside and you go to a whole nother nother world. Yes. What it's like, and I was like, This is amazing back here. Holy shit. I didn't know this exists. And this is for the lifestyles of rich and famous. So oh my god, okay, this is how the better half lives. They're not sitting up in a room like I am looking out you know, hey, I got a review of the strip. How cool is that? Now they're there. They got this whole world back here. So we go down the villas I walk back there with her. Well, while we're walking, she gets on her phone. She's like, Oh my god. Debbie needs to see this. I'm like Debbie who right so she starts going to have to have Listen, Elena, you gotta get you gotta get client. I don't like when Debbie Colette women. Glen Sanford's, Debbie, the founder of our company, his girlfriend, Debbie. And she's like, you gotta get gland. You gotta get it down to our get to our villa right now. Oh my god, you gotta meet this guy, Kurt. He's like, amazing, like, Oh my God, you have to meet this guy. And she's like, Oh, my God. Yes. We'll be right there. She's gonna see right there. Well, alright, I got Glenn and Debbie. Come on. I'm like, God, you have to meet those. He started this company. I'm like, No, I know. I know who. I know, Glen. And she's like, No, you. Oh, they're wonderful people. And we know I guess they are. They're wonderful people. I know. Glen. And so we walked down this long place we anyway, we get to the villa. We go inside and sure enough grants on the phone just laying on the couch. He's on his phone trying to make some deal on the phone. He's there, baby. We got Oh, yeah, we can do this. We do that. And he's driving me. Hey, guys, how you doing? Yeah. And she's like, Hey, Grant, you gotta meet this guy. Just Oh, yeah, baby. Oh, yeah, you got it. You know, he's like, Hey, how you doing, man? How you doing? He shakes you know, the quick little slap hand thing and, you know, bro hug thing and like, Hey, how you doing? And he's like, yeah, and she's, uh, we're gonna go outside and sit at the patio outside. This this condo there in its 3000 square feet condo inside of this hotel that's outside. You go outside, they have their own backyard. They have their own swimming pool. They have their own putting green. He's got a chipping green in the backyard of this villa.

Johnny Awesome: 1:07:58

Wow. Yeah. Where is this?

Curt Shewell: 1:08:00

This is at The Mirage Hotel.

Johnny Awesome: 1:08:02

Where does that even fit?

Curt Shewell: 1:08:03

It's way off the beaten path. And it's like there's this giant wall surrounding this. You can't see inside. It's just like this 10 foot. Yeah. And we look up and you're looking at the site of no mirages here ceases Yeah, well, it actually goes to where the backside of Caesars is and where the, you know, the driveways that come up for all the trucks for deliveries and stuff in the back of Caesars? Well, you can see that that's where it goes. But there's no windows on that suitability. Nobody can be up there like looking down in here. So it's completely private. These things are amazing. And how they design these things is pretty cool. Anyway, so now, I'm sitting out here at a table. It's a beautiful, gorgeous day. You know, now it's nine in the morning. I am already and a half hour late. My wife is still like Where the hell are you? I'm not back yet. I got Carlos here who's just in bliss. And I've got Elena CARDONE like, Oh my God, you're like, amazing. Show me the rest of this stuff. Now, Grant needs to see this so that I set my computer back up. I'm like, okay, here, I'll go back through this. So then she's like Grant, honey, chimeric Amerique. And he's like, Yeah, what do you got? Baby? What do you got? Yeah, maybe we got to 10 Excellent. stickman What do you got? Baby? What do you got, you know, and I'm like, Well, I was just kind of going over some stuff. Yeah, baby. Yeah, you gotta show her man. We gotta get we got to take the secret Allah. We got to kill this thing, man. We got to really like, Wow, you are hurting my head. Wow, you're echoing right through my chambers right now. I'm dying here. And I'm like, okay, yeah, no problem. And I'm literally sitting in for a second like, I am sitting in Atlanta. cardones sitting next to me like just every hanging on my every word. I got Grant Cardone like yeah, baby. Give her the pitch show. Explain this to her show her baby. And I got Carlos, who's just like, here, their greatest guide of when I give the greatest day of my life, you know? And I'm like, wow. And I'm sitting here and I'm like, I'm sitting in Grant Cardone in Atlanta. cardones Villa and waiting for the next ferry grant to join us and then two seconds later, knock on the door. Oh, that's Glenda. Debbie. Here comes Glenn Sanford and Debbie she's glad to have you got to meet Curtis and they both look at me and I know them. Get on. They're like, Oh my goodness. How are you like, yeah, how you doing? Good to see it and like, Oh, hey, girl, how you doing, buddy? How are ya? Good to see you, Glenn thanks. He's like, Yeah, and she's like, Oh my God, you know this guy. She sent us to go and Sandra, isn't he like amazing, Glenn, this guy has to be like onstage for your like whole company. And he has to be the guy explaining all this. And he's like, No, yeah, no, I Curtis was, well, Curtis, you were just on stage yesterday, right? Yeah, yeah, I did my thing on stage and she's like, You did? I missed it. Oh my god, I have to see that. Even Glenn's like Oh, yeah. Curtis. Yeah, he's great. He's looking at me like, why am I here? She got excited. So now you're hearing I'm just like, and now I'm like, Oh my God. I have to turn this on. Because I've got Glenn Sanford sitting here. I got his girlfriend Debbie sitting here. I've got Elena CARDONE grant is gonna come over I got Carlos bliss. And I'm like, I couldn't feel more I just want to go back to bed. I want to pillow. I just want to go back to my room. And I'm missing my breakfast. My wife is up there and I could feel my wife going where are you? 30 minutes my ass and here I am like, Oh my God. Now it's going towards 930 Now everybody's in the room now that like, oh, yeah, let's get she's like, let's do this. So now I gotta do my entire presentation. Absolutely in the most horrific setting for me in this incredible place with Elena CARDONE Grant Cardone Glen Sanford, Debbie Carlos. And so I go through this whole presentation of how I explain everything and how I do it. And so about halfway through, Grant finally gets off his call. And he comes up, which is kind of ironic American recording grant comes obviously standing behind me and grants kind of a hybrid guy, right? So he's standing there, you know, like, you put your hands on somebody's shoulder kind of massage on their shoulders, and he's standing behind, he's like, massaging my shoulders, and he's shaking the living shit out of me. And he's like, Come on, baby. Yeah. Oh, I love it. Yeah. And she's like, how do you look at these like, Oh, I love that. Oh, women you got this. You got that? Oh, yeah, baby. Oh, this is a good pitch right? Yeah, man. Come on my back. Then he kindly reaches rally kind of like starts pounding on my chest. As he's kind of like hugging you thing. You know, I love it. This man and I'm like, please get off me. I am dying. Like, please let go of me shaking my entire body pounding on my chest. It's Grant Cardone. It's so cool. At one side and the other side. I'm dying here. And Glenn's kind of laughing and just like Elaine is like, this is so great. So then she's like, let me try it. So then she's trying to redo part of my presentation. She's pitching it to grant trying to see what I said, you know? And I'm like, Oh, there you go. That's pretty good in Glens girl for Debbie in Atlanta, her friends. And she's like, Oh my God, you're getting this. This is so great. You're like picking this up so quick. And she's like, Oh my god, do you think I can do this? And she's looking at me. And it's one of those moments you're like, no matter what, just say yes. Right? Just say yes. And I'm looking at are like, wow, you're gonna nope, absolutely. You're killing it. You're like, do He really thinks, Oh, my God, you have to coach me. You have to help me. You're gonna have to help me through the unit. Show me how to do this. And coach me. I'm like that? Yes, not today. Now. We need to wrap this. Well, of course then grants like I said about this baby. Love it. This, you know, we got a TEDx event. We're gonna you're gonna help her right. We're gonna do this stuff. And I'm like, Yeah, you do have a private jet. Right? Like, you guys live in Miami. Right? That could be kind of cool. That would be fun. He's Oh, yeah. Hey, we'll get this thing going. Maybe we'll get we'll have to fly you down. We'll have some fun on Lincoln. That would be very cool. Yeah, right. Yes. Goes back to the same thing, right? You put yourself in the right positions, these things open up to you. And these things happen. Yeah. So the next thing you know, it's now about 1030. And my eight o'clock 830 meeting that my wife's been sitting in the room waiting for me is not going to be really

Johnny Awesome: 1:13:35

good. The whipped cream is all melted off. It's not

Curt Shewell: 1:13:39

a premium chocolate chip pancakes. They're not hot. So So we kind of wrap up, and they're thanking me and they're great. And they're gracious and Glennon, Debbie leave and so the grants like, yeah, you know, you're gonna be able to help her with this. I'm like, Absolutely, yeah. I'd love to no problem. Carlos is like, I've got like, 20 minutes after catch plane. Oh, my God, this has been amazing. You are like, Oh, my God, and he hugs me. He goes, you are like, like, a gift from God. And I'm like, I cannot believe that this guy thinks this highly of me. Yeah, just because again, it's it's bringing other people into situations where they never would have had that opportunity. Yeah. And it just kind of fell into place, right again, because Jeremy Larsen, who I think very highly of seems to like me, well, he brings her over to me and talk to me up which turns she's like, Oh, my God, I gotta meet you. And that's really a kind of how it happens, you know? And, and again, I needed to just stay me, right? Don't be anything other than me. I don't know. Anything else. And it was really funny because, you know, my business partner, Mark Z, right. Marks marks, you know, top of the food chain, and he's, Well, Mark, here's the story. And he's like, alright, bro, I gotta be honest. I love you. Because I do I love you, man. I love you back bro. And he's like, No, I love you, man. I've never been jealous of you. I am so jealous you right now. It was really gotten a funny name and I had this fetal funny moment. And as laughing cracking up, he's like, No, seriously, I am so frickin jealous. That is unbelievably we're in their frickin villa. Yeah, you know what would be more cool if I end up getting you know flight as jet one time? Work cool. So that's the that's the Grant Cardone Elena CARDONE story. That's how it happened. It happened to Vegas. You know what happens in Vegas, right? Vegas. The only one who didn't think that was the coolest thing that could have happened was my wife. So when I got back to my room, she's like, I'll be at the pool. And I was like, Yeah, honey. She's like, Yeah, happy birthday. And I was like, Oh, shit, and I look at my room. Just got this room decked out. And I'm like, Ah, here I am. Feeling really kind of cool about myself. Yeah, this goes back to his saying you can't beat your chest, beat your chest for more than a second. Because, you know, I let my wife down. Because I promised her I'd be back and she did all this for me. And then because this other opportunity happened, and don't get me wrong, my wife was great about it. Yeah, she was terrific about it. But it was disheartening to her at the time, because she didn't know what's going on. All she knows is, you know, I'll be back in 30 minutes. And you know, two and a half hours later, I'm not even back, you know, and she's like, really, really, you know, and she did all this for me. So that I had to go down to the pool and really grovel a little bit and, you know, suck up to my wife and apologize to her for, you know, the timing and everything. And she's like, just remember what's important. I'm like, Yeah, this is kind of a once in a lifetime. Or I kind of had to do this and I'm sorry, and no, and her thing was great. It needed to shoot me a quick text. I was like, gosh, damn it, you know, even when you're at the height of what you think is so super cool. You get humbled real quickly that you know what she's right. All I had to do is text her you're not gonna believe this. I happen to be with Grant and Elena CARDONE and their villa, either come and join us. Right, which probably would have been the thing she would have said, Oh, my God, no, I'm just delaying it better. Just getting up. But at least I should have given her the opportunity to at least let her know where I was. And hey, you know, I'll be there. You know, let's just give me give me a little bit of time, and she would have been great with that. But again, I didn't take the time to think of her for half a second caught up in the moment. And that's what always humbles you. Right. So it as much as it was a great story. It made me think of my wife, because I didn't do the right thing by her was here. She was doing something amazing for me. But yes, it's an amazing story. The Grant Cardone Elena CARDONE story is a very funny story. And that's how it all happened.

Johnny Awesome: 1:17:15

So I just I mean, we've we're way over time, but I gotta leave with this. Even in that story. It's very interesting to pick up that you said, with your friend. You said, Here I am. And I didn't do anything. But that isn't the truth. You made the decision. And it seems like that's been your life to make the decision that regular people wouldn't make. Everybody else would have called that meeting off 99.9% of people. They feel like crap, they're not ready to get willing. They're not wanting to go downstairs. I'll just make an excuse the guy who he would have understood, but because you didn't allow yourself to do that. You allowed yourself to push forward and do what you said you're going to do anyway. That is why you were able to get where you were able to get what an amazing all that off of a hello. I can't wait for part two. If if Jimmy was here, and I know he's listening, he would have said that was fantastic. It was beyond awesome. This is one of the best, man. I don't know what I'll say after that. I look forward to part two. Thank you for everybody for joining and we'll talk to you guys next Friday.