Holla B.L.A.C.K.
Building community through conversations and motivation. We can all be Brave Leaders Accountable to Communicating Knowledge. When we know better there's no excuse but to do better. How do I grow if I don't have the knowledge of things necessary in communicating better, striving towards success, taking action, reading, listening, and Developing to become better for my community and future. Please give this podcast a rating and review and let us know what you think and help others in their journey to grow consistently. About Ronnel: Ronnel Blackmon is the owner of Morethanme and Host/Creator of the Holla Black Podcast; He is a public speaker, trainer, and aspires to motivate others to do their absolute best in achieving the goals that they have personally and professionally. As a part of More Than Me, he has created a podcast “Holla Black”. This is a podcast for those wishing to influence and encourage others through action and mindset development. He Believes that we can all be Brave Leaders that are Accountable to Communicating Knowledge, and develop each day by becoming better than the previous. Our goal is to build community through conversations and get the necessary information to our listeners that will help them become better each day. We have a passion to build Brave Leaders that are Accountable to Communicating Knowledge no matter your background or past circumstances. Moving forward is what we are doing and it starts with one step at a time.
Holla B.L.A.C.K.
Your Best Life Is Waiting on the Other Side of Comfort
Stepping beyond the familiar isn't just about adventure—it's about transformation. Ronnell Blackman dives deep into how our most meaningful growth happens when we dare to experience life beyond our comfort zones.
Drawing from personal stories like his exhilarating cliff jump at Rick's Cafe in Jamaica and completing the grueling Dopey Challenge (running a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon on four consecutive days), Ronnell illustrates how these moments become the cornerstone memories that shape our identities and connections with others.
The science is compelling. Research from the National Institute on Aging confirms that challenging ourselves with new experiences increases brain function and neuroplasticity while reducing cognitive decline. Studies show people who invest in experiences rather than material possessions report significantly greater happiness, and those who regularly participate in social activities live an average of 2.5 years longer than those who don't.
But perhaps most powerful is the podcast's central message: "Your best life is waiting on the other side of your comfort zone." Ronnell explores how embracing new experiences allows us to develop broader perspectives, build stronger relationships through shared adventures, and minimize the regrets that haunt so many later in life. As he wisely observes, "Life is a one-time offer, so we should be making it unforgettable."
Whether you're contemplating a major life change or simply looking for motivation to try something new, this episode provides the inspiration and practical wisdom to transform from merely existing to truly living with passion and purpose. The choice is yours—will you play it safe or embrace the unknown?
Subscribe to the Holla Black podcast and follow Ronnel @Ronnelblackmon on social media to continue the conversation about living boldly and embracing life's adventures.
Ronnel Blackmon - Your Favorite Host and Emcee
IG: @ronnelblackmon
FB: @RonnelBlackmon
WEB: www.ronnelblackmon.com
well, ladies and gentlemen, once again, again, we're back. I'm your favorite host and MC Ronnell Blackman, and I'm super excited to be here with you with the Holla Black podcast, where, yet again, we have an opportunity to provide for you another great episode. This one right here is going to be one of my faves. I can feel it. I can feel it and hopefully yours as well. Please make sure to go ahead, like, subscribe and also share. Drop some comments.
Speaker 1:We want to make sure that we help more and more people continue to be brave leaders that are accountable to communicating knowledge. That's what Black stands for, and we, too, believe that meaningful conversations will help bring us all closer, will help allow for us to be the absolute best that we can be and actually be better today than we were yesterday. So let's just go ahead and dive into this episode where we want to talk about life experiences. Okay, living life without regrets, right? So is your life about, you know, defending, about defending or getting away from scary moments or the unsurities, or staying within your comfort zone? Or is your life about trying new things, doing different things and being the absolute best version of yourself just by knowing the different spaces that are out there. So today we're going to talk about, I'm going to go through a few ways, a few things that I myself have personally seen. You know me challenging myself, but then also me stepping outside of my comfort zone and enjoying life and what it actually brought to me the development, the health, the, what I believe is wealth, but then also the environment that I was able to create. Okay, now, think about this when you are creating great life experiences, it enriches your life, it helps you to grow in so many meaningful ways, and I want to share with you this.
Speaker 1:First thing that really hits the nail on the head, so to speak, or really hits home to me, is that personal growth. I've always desired to be better. I've always had a desire to you know, hey, I'm good here, I'm stronger here, I'm faster here, but I know that there's space for me to be better. I know that there's an opportunity that I can, you know, create an experience, not just for myself, but for others. Matter of fact, the more I think about others, the better or the more opportunities will come to me. It's kind of like that win-win mentality that I like to have. I think about the fact that new experiences, they push us outside of our comfort zone. They allow for us to learn more, not only about ourselves, but also our capabilities.
Speaker 1:I think back to you know the opportunities that I had to model with Ebony Fashion Fair and how this was a tour that was traveling all across the country I didn't know how many dates, I didn't know how many cities, I didn't know anything about it and I was fairly new to modeling, but I got a chance to experience. They flew me out to Chicago. I had an audition with many other gentlemen and many other ladies as well, and there were just a few of us chosen to be a part of such a monumental, such an impactful experience, not only for us, but also for others as well. It was a fundraiser, actually, so it was a fashion show, which is why I think me and my wife do that now. Right, we help out with fashion shows and fundraising events and, you know, help to create some excitement, some awareness around nonprofit organizations, but we also get a chance to raise much needed money for these different groups.
Speaker 1:I think about when you say personal growth, when you say stepping outside of your comfort zone, when you say learning more about yourself, learning more about your capabilities oftentimes, I do believe that we get into a state of you know, hey, I'm comfortable where I am, nothing more is, you know, desired from me, but then also nothing more is really achievable. But it's possibly because you're not stepping outside of your comfort zone or you're only doing things and saying things and going places that you're familiar with, right, but you don't even understand and know all the many different things. And that was, I believe, the number one most important thing that I got from being on that tour was the friendships, was the exposure to the rest of the world outside of Akron, ohio, where I grew up, you know, was the opportunities to you know, meet different people, shake different hands, have different conversations of different, you know upbringings, but then also different beliefs, different thought processes and how you know the thought process that I grew up in, whether good, bad or indifferent, in whether good, bad or indifferent, we're located in that area, right. But for me to be able to grow and go out and experience different things, it allowed me to live life. It allowed me to recognize that life isn't just meant to just be lived, just settle, just exist, it's meant to be experienced. I want to experience the best of be experienced. I want to experience the best of the best. I want to experience the best of the best not only for me, for my marriage, for my kids, for my friendships, for all of my relationships, matter of fact number one for my business. I want to make sure that this personal growth, that I have this opportunity while I'm here because time is very limited, as we know I want to make sure that I'm challenging myself with new experience each and every single day and recognizing that it can increase even the brain function. Matter of fact, I got this little stat from National Institute on Aging and it talks about challenging yourself with new experiences can increase brain function, neuroplasticity, reduce cognitive decline. I don't know about you, but I want to live and be as young as I can, as long as I can, and guess what Personal growth, experiencing different things, will allow for you to do just that? So I do believe that we all have an opportunity. I do believe that we all have a responsibility as well to continue to grow so that, yes, we can be the very best that we can be. We can live and not just exist. We can experience life to its utmost, to the fulfillment that it provides us.
Speaker 1:Another thing I think about is you know all the memories that I have. I know you have them, I have them. We all have these memories of good, bad, again or indifferent. But like life experiences allow for us to have memories, memorable stories. I remember growing up and you know my mother working tirelessly to make sure that we had not only something to eat but also roof over our head, making sure that, you know, christmas was fulfilling, making sure that we had people that cared for us, making sure that we were in an environment that was safe. I have these memories, but then I also have memories of being in, you know, some tragic situations where there might have been a car accident, there may have been, you know, a run in and you know, unfairly, or me not knowingly getting pulled over, or you know having some instance or experience that now triggers me to hey, when I see the police, I'm holding on to the steering wheel, making sure I check my speed, make sure, hey, am I in the lane, I'm not sweating. You know all of those things where you want to make sure that you're above reproach, so to speak. Right, you want to think about memorable stories as this life's collection of stories, these unique experiences that can create lasting memories Now, and I'm not just going to speak about the bad ones, because for some reason, I think we hone in on all the bad memories that shot I missed for the game, winning that time I pulled a muscle, or missed a tackle on a football field, or missed a shot, or I came in, I didn't come in first place in that race, right.
Speaker 1:These are all memorable stories. But what about the memorable stories about, you know, the successes of life and how can we build on those? Right? How can we, you know, create more of those memories, focus on them and cherish and share those same things? And I think a lot of times and oftentimes, we get bogged down with the negative that are, that's in our mind, and we share the negative continuously, without creating a circle, creating an environment that will help us to share so many more positives, so to speak. Right Now, think about this the best stories come from saying yes, especially when it comes to new adventures, new opportunities, new things that come about.
Speaker 1:And you know, one of the things that I most recently experienced was the Dopey Challenge. I shared that on social media, I shared that on another podcast previously, and me thinking about saying yes to this new adventure Now. Yes, I wanted to help out with the Cowpeas Foundation. Yes, I wanted to. You know, extend and push myself to. You know, run new lengths and you know, try different things.
Speaker 1:But, man along the way, the experiences, the adventure that I had, the memories right of me running a 5K, 10k, half marathon, then full marathon, four days in a row. I know that sounds crazy, gave me anxiety leading up to it, trust me, trust me. But the crazy thing is. Crossing that finish line, I was like I think I want to do this again. You hear me, I think I want to do this again. Matter of fact, I know I want to do it again.
Speaker 1:I got to figure out again how to get back down there, for you know Disney's Marathon weekend, but you know the memories of, during that 10K, me running behind a friend and seeing them and saying, oh my goodness, like is that Jackie? And then I said it out loud and she turned around right now, oh my goodness. And then I said it out loud and she turned around right now, oh my goodness. So then we meet up and then we're talking and then she's like giving me the lay of the land because she's experienced with this. She has some life experiences, so now she gets to share them with me and I get to go on some new adventures. And let me tell you, I can talk to you one-on-one because I can go forever about my dopey experience. But, like that marathon day, matter of fact, that entire weekend was such a phenomenal experience, a memorable experience and such a new adventure, so we like to call those magic miles.
Speaker 1:All right, now just think about this and I'm going to go, you know, quickly to the Journal of Psychology, psychological Science, and talks about how research shows that people who spend money on experiences rather than material things report greater happiness. Are you looking for greater happiness? I know I am. I'm always looking for ways that not only I can create a greater happiness, but I can create it for others as well. I mean, that's a part of more than me. That's the experience that myself, my team and all the different people around me you know. I do believe that's the value that I add is the fact that we can create greater happiness, even more than the material things. Now, I'm not saying anything is wrong with the material things, I'm just saying the focus of material things. Could we spend money on these experiences right and enjoying them, some things that we truly is worth the investment like that Invest in your happiness.
Speaker 1:So another area or space of life and living experiences and life's experiences and how we can personally, you know, grow but then also be more effective professionally is building stronger relationships. Like, are you building the relationships that you can share the experiences that can deepen the connections with your family, with your friends and your loved ones? I think about how, you know, so many negatives were going on during COVID-19 and during the pandemic and folks were shut down, locked in and there were a lot of stressors that were going on. But then I think about the relationships that grew with my core group, with a few men that I had great conversations with, with my families, with my friends, right, that we all agreed and went to each other's houses, you know, once a week or how many ever, and just sat around and just talked about life, got to know each other, got to laugh, got to live boldly, love deeply, laugh often. That should be our focus or our aspiration. That's what we should inspire to do is learn from others, but then also, you know, learn to build ourselves and how it develops our own very character, right, I think about the fact that you know adult development finds strong relationships and meaningful experiences.
Speaker 1:They're the biggest predictors of long-term happiness. Think about that as I'm an adult, right, I've lived my life, I've had my different experiences throughout. I find deeper, stronger relationships because now I know the type of relationships I do want and the type of relationships I don't want, and they can create themselves to be predictors of long-term happiness. Because you know how to now shut it down. You know how to create those boundaries Talk about boundaries in multiple podcasts in the past. Please make sure that you go check them out. But, like, it allows for us to be the absolute, very best versions of ourselves. But the long term, because we recognize that these experiences, these relationships, these shared experiences OK, ok, I got one. I got one real quick, so with a buddy and him and his wife were renewing their vows in Jamaica and we got a chance to go to Rick's Cafe. I think I'm gonna have to like post this, but on social media, because this was such an experience.
Speaker 1:Rick's Cafe, if you don't know, they have this nice little drop off or you know where you can kind of step off this cliff and fall into the water, right, ocean, salty water, whatever you want to call it, sea, whatever, right. So we all the friends, are there. Everybody is, you know, excited. We're talking about doing it. I've never done that before. I've never jumped off of a cliff into a body of water, right Like you. And the water is very clear. So it looks like the water is shallow. Oh, trust me, it is deep. So we're having some fun.
Speaker 1:We go by and then we all read the caution, right, we all read the. You know, hey, you know this could happen, you could, this could be all read the you know, hey, you know this could happen, you could. This could be fatal, whoa, fatal. The fear of it, right. But me and a few other guys say, hey, I mean, we're seeing other people do it, they're able to do it, like, why not, let's try it out, let's test it out, let's experience this thing.
Speaker 1:One person jumps off, boom. Second person jump off, boom. Third person jump off. And here I come, right, I'm stepping up to it, I'm sweaty palms, I'm nervous, right. I'm looking around, folks are recording and they're like go, right now go. And I'm like, okay. And so the guy is, you know, kind of giving me instructions. But then he's also like trying to make sure I'm paying attention and, trust me, I am paying attention, right, but I'm also looking at my friends and their experience of it. You know, people cheer me on and I'm like, well, let's do it right, I'm excited about this, let's go.
Speaker 1:I step off, boom, hit the water, come back up and I'm like the exhilaration but the bond that now me and those other fellas, me and those other folks, had after that we talk about that almost every time we meet up, right, like it connects us even stronger again, creating that long-term happiness that we all want, that living boldly, that laughing off I mean you should have seen everybody laughing at me, like right now. You look like you were afraid, but you also look like you weren't going to be defeated. And guess what? I was not. I was not going to allow that to happen, allow that to defeat me, allow that to you know, take me away from experiencing something that I knew was going to be a phenomenal thing. So from there I want to think through, you know. Okay, hey, living life experience was another thing.
Speaker 1:Right, speaking of happiness, speaking of long-term happiness, happiness and fulfillment, think about the fact that when you live through life's experience, you get fulfilled, you become happy, right, because now you know the things that you will and won't do, and the things that you do, you're now engaging in exciting, meaningful activities, boosting your overall life satisfaction. I mean, for me, I don't just exist, I live with passion, I live with purpose, and I want to ask you to do the same thing. I want you to write down don't just exist, live with passion and purpose. What does existing mean? Existing means kind of you know going through the day, not making any changes. Not you know making any waves, not you know doing anything new. Same old thing. And you know, for a certain amount of time, that might be necessary, right, but for fulfillment, for true happiness, like you should be living with passion, you should be affecting lives, you should become world changers, right, and it should be through your conversations, your actions and the things that you are learning. Should be fulfilling not only you but also others.
Speaker 1:I think about the opportunities that I get whenever I'm at a fundraising event. Whenever I'm at a fundraising event, the opportunities that I get to, you know, get up on stage and to create an ask, talk about the mission of an organization, talk about the needs that are out there, whether it be you know, hey, we need more ambulances, buses, computers, tables, chairs, right, I was just working with the um Walton County boys and girls club just this past week and they had an amazing boxing match and it was all to raise money. And I looked around and the people in the room and how willingness they were to give, because they live with a purpose of much more than just themselves. They live a full life knowing that, hey, I've worked hard, I have overflow, to much is given, much is required, and now I have an opportunity to give back. Right Now, I have an opportunity to, you know, change the life of another through just my financial deposit, right, my investment back into my community. That's living with passion, that's living with purpose. And even if it's not a financial give back, it may be a time give back. Think about it. We talk about this all the time. Time is even more valuable than the money that you give Now. Granted, we need them both. Can't have fun without raising some money. That's why we call them fundraiser.
Speaker 1:But no, you want to make sure that you are again living life with passion, with purpose, and not just existing on a day-to-day aspect. You want to live life to its fullest. You want to get all the experiences and with that, it allows for us to reduce the level of regrets that one might have. Right Like, think about the fact that when you live a full life, you're helping to minimize the what ifs, the thoughts that happen later in life. Right, what if I now am? It affects me 20, 30, 40 years from now. Think about the fact that your best life is waiting on the other side of your comfort zone. Let me say that again. Your best life is waiting on the other side of your comfort zone. Let me say that again your best life is waiting on the other side of your comfort zone. So, get out of your be. I love this. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, get into uncomfortable situations and grow, expand your boundaries, grow to become a person that lives a more fulfilled life, a person that lives a more satisfied life, not only for yourself, but also for others. I think about you, know, personally, right Like?
Speaker 1:I love family, I love to get folks around, I love large groups. My wife would often, often, say that a little too much. Right Like I? Really, if we're talking about going on a vacation, I'm hitting everybody up Like, do you guys want to go? Do you want to go? Like let's go as a group? And my wife is like, well, I mean, what about us? I'm like, ok, babe, I'm sorry, like my bad, everybody vacation for the group is off, it's just me and the wife. But no, you know, like I am a group individual, hey, we're going bowling, or hey, we're going to Topgolf or hey, we're going wherever the case may be doing whatever it's like.
Speaker 1:I love bringing folks together, I love groups and I love, you know, kind of really experiencing things together and it allows for me to feel and to have a lifestyle of living outside of my comfort zone because I'm constantly having conversations and wanting to grow and develop not only myself but also the people around me. Again, I'm reducing the regrets of life. So where I was going with this, with the whole, you know, bringing people together, like I remember when I bought my first house scary, scary moment I was like man, I want a place where people can come Right, sold that house, bought our second house, second house it was scary. We jumped from like a level two house to a level 10 house to me, right From where I grew up. That's where it was, and actually first house was scary as well, but, like, again, keep throwing myself into or outside of my comfort zone, knowing and believing that number one, my faith, is going to carry me in order to have the life's experiences that I would like to have. But also I want to live the life that God has given me, right, like that God has like put around me and if it can work, it works. If it doesn't, okay, no problem.
Speaker 1:But I don't want to. I don't want to live life with regrets. I want to reduce all the regrets that might be around and live the absolute best life that I can and grow to a broader perspective. Right, think about this. When you live, when you, when you have great life experiences and you know you it allows for you to just think bigger, right, because now you're experiencing different things. You're like whoa, that was a change, this was a change I thought so, smallly on here, also smallly on there, like, think about the fact that when you travel, whether it be out of the country or different city states, whatever you're experiencing different cultures, different places, different foods it expands your ideas, your worldviews, it allows for you to really capture the time that you have on this earth. Think about it. Life is a one-time offer, so we should be making it unforgettable. Life is a one-time offer, so we should be making it unforgettable. Life is a one-time offer. Make it unforgettable these moments that we have. They aren't just swaying with the wind, right, they come to us and we got to grab on and enjoy the moments that we have. So, ladies and gentlemen, I want to continue to encourage you. Continue to encourage you.
Speaker 1:Matter of fact, there's a study, expedia survey. I've seen it, I found it. Studies indicate that 57% of Americans regret not traveling more when they had a chance. Okay, wifey, you were right. You were right, we need to travel more. I'm not the one for chance. Okay, wifey, you were right, you were right, we need to travel more. I'm not. I'm not the one for travel. Okay, I feel like, hey, I got a mortgage, I got car notes, right, I got food here, I got clothes here, like heat, light, all of that. Why do we need? Just give me a day off, right?
Speaker 1:But I love the fact that I'm challenged to experience different things, to get outside of my comfort zone, to live these unforgettable moments, and I often laugh at a friend of mine that every year she goes out of the country somewhere different. She goes out of country and just submerges herself into the culture, like she doesn't stay at the Ritz or any high end, high level thing. She's like, hey, I want to go where the people are, I want to go to the culture. Like she doesn't stay at the Ritz or any high end, high level thing. She's like, hey, I want to go where the people are, I want to go to the culture. Um, shout out to you Jenny, jenny C. Uh, but yeah, like she takes that opportunity and that chance to create an unforgettable moment. Right, and what does that do?
Speaker 1:When you live life and you go through life experiences, you increase the level of confidence that you might face the challenges, the different challenges that, through new experiences, it builds. Right, we're all looking to build resilience, we're all looking to build self-assurance. And guess what? Living life's experiences, having those healthy, those new, those great life experiences, matter of fact, I'm about to go experience some exciting times with my team. Right, we're going to, you know, a VR spot and we're going to, you know, kind of all line up, team up and have a great time. Right, think about the fact that great experience, they just don't happen by chance, they happen by choice. You choose, you choose to have great experiences and, man, you want to know what I think, this increased confidence, this life experience. I think that that quote right there great experiences don't happen by chance, they happen by choice. That might be my next podcast. I need to highlight that.
Speaker 1:Make sure that we come back to that one, because you make the choice, you make the decision, you make the um, the idea comes, the situation comes to you and then you act. The choice, you make the decision, you make, the idea comes, the situation comes to you and then you act upon it. But you have to make a choice. You can't just wait around for others to choose it for you. They don't happen by chance. They have a bad choice. You're given options whether to do or not to do and you make the choice. Once you make that choice, you live with the results, you live with the consequences, and some are good, some are bad. Right, there's no wrong way, but there is a wrong way when it comes to the thing that you want.
Speaker 1:You get me, you hear me, okay, with that being said, ladies and gentlemen, let's grow, let's have better mental health and, gentlemen, let's grow, let's have better mental health, physical health. Let's grow to be the experiential life learners. Right, that we have an opportunity to do, and that is by engaging in enjoyable activities. Right, that's reducing stress, that's increasing our emotional well-being, like, think about the fact that people who participate in social, recreational activities, they live an average of two and a half years longer than those who don't Think about that. Two and a half years longer. I don't know about you, but I want to live the absolute longest that I can within this life. Well, ladies and gentlemen, with that being said, hey, remember, increase your confidence, broader perspective, reduce regrets, happiness and fulfillment, stronger relationships, memorable stories and personal growth.
Speaker 1:We're talking about life experiences right here on the Holla Black Podcast. Please make sure that you like, please make sure that you comment, please make sure that you share and also subscribe to our YouTube channel, holla Black Podcast on YouTube. Make sure you find me on social media, that's at Ron L Blackman, two N's, one L Blackman M-O-N. Have a wonderful day, holla Black.