Delayed Gratification

In this episode, D Burke comes back off hiatus and is back with a big announcement for the brand. He then shares some big take aways from the past few months while he was away. Moving to things circulating currently, he touches on the Jay-z's upcoming shows at yankees stadium and shares how he feels about the ticket prices + more!  

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SPEAKER_00 0:01

Yeah we back We back gotta knock the rust off out here tighten up the jumper get the skills back in order get the timing right I miss this shit man I tell you I miss talking my shit I miss talking my shit but we back to do just that today talk some shit and about some real positive things coming up exact as well but you know a lot of shit talk back to motivate inspire being a living example of everything I aspire to be in front of y'all people but hey man if you came and joined us for the D Burks three piece spicy it's pre-part time a lot of talk recently my man dropped the dates it's a big summer we're gonna talk about them ticket prices and all that shit in a minute but y'all know what time it is big hove on the way in let's get it yeah I know you just ripped the packaging off your CD I know you just put your headphones in reading the credits right now you ain't heard from me in a minute talk to him over energy on the way in let's get it hello it's over that's right young in the wake it's over the new millennium is the pumpkin the album is here before we get into the shit we got the two things here rap with things on their way very slow we're talking about it when we get there let's get it Kevin Bacon this is the murderous version Jigging the shit even when we run the third person over the gun I should be rapping with the turban waiting to turn wait a case turbo Mike Jordan the rap outside Jay workin' now watch how quickly I dropped it double on tolls by the way I'm playing it went over your head niggas kidnapped might have to wanna kid get me swimming at the ruffle wanna leave it spin with me I consistently take him up a pup like Ken Griffey if you believe it's over to God it is success to the shot we're gonna do not I gotta kill it one time I'm gonna big hustle energy today gotta knock the rust off but keep the confidence high the unsuccessful too moving up friends let's talk to 'em I got these niggas breezy about it breathe let it breathe I used to give a fuck now I give a fuck less what do I think that sucks test too much stress like the strings I grew up with a lot of planning but I'm not in my nuts big they thought I was down they threw dirt on your boy I'm not to be fucked niggas know I rise like the Phoenix baby let that bitch breed I'm waiting to above to be talking about it. I am asking me for a portion like asking for coffee broad daylight I'm off you're on twitch your night too bright good night long kiss bye bye my reply blah blah blast burning and pass burning the tie tie finish my breakfast why I got an appetite for distress and you're small fry talk to him y'all all the hustlers all the entrepreneurs all those willin' make something out of nothing you know the vibe let's get it we in a big bag and tryna explore up 2026 now give a shit more sometimes it gotta pivot when I was sometimes the plans change on the We arrive nonetheless sometimes the road just takes a little bit longer to get there. All I'm interested I got at this big house couple cars I'ma bring half of them shits out all the states made out of straight out mean I like stay myself six hours how many times can I go to Mr Dows pals? No boo hold up let me move about y'all niggas OD tell me about the chip on my nigga I got watches I ain't clean in months apartment at the drop on the flipping once might as well sell that I know you sold that a long time ago hold fuck that apartment on a bunch of money you ain't got nothing for me. They don't Nas let that bitch breed shout to Nas but we outta here on that one man it's one more time for the big energy big hustlers one of the illnesses that stuff in the world I look for two airports today different vibes different stock different airports to one time that you can follow this topic talk to the last day software today now for the five things y'all stay on the main status levels. Oh we might just let this two rock out to the end it's been a while we got a spin of stuff the fuck the 1020 stall 90 seconds tax 4500 ain't no one to be back for the stuff to be tax somebody would have told them that open stuff closing fuck not in this lifestyle what's in my right mind that's another difference that's the 20 million now it up open the market up one building two building three million four with eight ten months eighty million more now add that number up with the one I said before one time for the hustle now looking at one smart black boy mama ain't raised no fool put me anywhere on God's green earth I triple my worth motherfucker will listen man we just gonna cut it short right there right there we got shit to get to we got shit to talk about again knocking it rust off it's been a while energy has been all over the place trying to get things off the ground trying to keep things moving but we are back when I tell you we back we back and trust me the future's looking bright and we'll talk about it when we get there man but if you came into pre-part I appreciate you pulling up for the D-Burgs three piece spicy a little energy shift to energy boost on the way in and then we right to it man we'll get to our part and get to all the topics and discussion I'm gonna hit y'all with a quick one today.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

Quick one it ain't gonna be too long I'm here for a good time not a long time and we're gonna make this thing happen.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

As always what up y'all we back for another audio occasion it is a podcast for self-starters and those willing to make the most out of any situation happy to be back with y'all man as we open up for episode number 73 and as always we got our audio on the way in long audio it's been a while so bear with me on the way in good messaging great great perspective for people you know who getting up their the aka dinosaurs and stuff like me like I proclaim to be but here we go let's get it what happens you need to work on your knees it's not telling you you're old but another thing cats who turn 40 be like I'm old I'm getting 40 and I was I spoke to these like men recently at this men like this um health wellness thing and I was like dude said he's 42 or 43 he old now and I was like okay so people who die at 40 didn't they die young? Even if you die at 60 you die young so why profess do what you want to with your own self if you want to like you say if you want to play the spell on yourself that you're 40 and old go for it. You know it's less traffic that way like get out the way anyway type shit but but really if anything comes from this that people watch this it would be wonderful for people to ideologically like shoot for that shoot for um control of that aspect for sure Nick like don't make yourself old at 30 40 and 50 you're 50 I told a motherfucker I said man listen like whatever you was doing to have fun before you did adult shit like drinking scrolling ball maybe smoking weed drinking sex and things like that adult oriented things what did you do for fun if you go back into that world you you like you pull a nostalgia back into yourself and it's a it's like youth preserving energy right yeah because you know you're only as young as shoe now you ain't shoot hoops in 15 years because you was old when you was 30 yeah now you 40 plus and now now now it's like atrophied on you and shit like rust like yeah so keep yourself available to be young keep yourself available keep yourself available that's the biggest gem right there keep yourself available to be young to be youthful to be lively and keep yourself available as we get back to this part you know keep yourself available for all things especially another episode from the EFS podcast as we get this thing rolling theme music is queued up I need a couple air horns on the way in give me one two three four a whole abundance of air horns as we open this thing back up let's talk to them it's in the wild just happy to be here man just grateful drop my shit listen man we are here for episode number 73 of the EFS podcast so as always if you've made it to the audio slash visual do not forget to like comment share subscribe hit all the buttons hit all of everything to let you know when we dropping what we got coming and then just stay in tune I am your host the man the myth the legend Mr 1% 2 times up Mr.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Living Example I'm D Burke from the biggest brand that you don't know about yet the EFS brand and like I said we are back for episode number 73 of the EFS podcast feel like I want to let my shit run for a while you know let the energy settle back in get back to the spirit of this whole five bang it bang vibe with me we here and we got a lot to talk about man some exciting things coming up some real real really big announcements on the way but also a couple things in the social media the news world etc etc etc all that other good shit man but listen man I am very very excited to be back on this mic took some time off episode 72 was a while ago so as we fade this thing out let's catch this thing up to the current what you doing where you at where you been Mr D Burke couple people telling me you don't pard no more they saw my shit bit to dust they thought it was over they thought I hung it up I had a good run before I took a break but niggas was tripping if you thought I was ever going to shut this thing down completely. So yeah man just to catch y'all up and where everything's been at man I had to take a break just to keep myself in a in a a good mental space and as always you know I'm always trying to take inventory of just where I'm at mentally physically spiritually and all things in between and uh as y'all know how from the last episode the episode before that the project I've been taking on and just getting into a a space of having a location a facility all that other stuff that we've spoken about before it's been a whole undertaking. We'll talk about the specifics a little bit more in a moment with all that as well as an announcement to go along with that. But either way man shit has just been heavy heavy heavy you know not to make it heavy you know on the way in but this is one of them times where you just live and you learn a lot man and you know emotions and everything wrapped up in in the just working hard and just making sure that you're putting yourself in position to execute your plans, your goals, your visions sometimes it takes a real toll and you don't really want to do shit else but see the vision through. And you know not to say that this platform isn't important to me not to say that you are who have been committed to and follow the platform aren't important to me just because you know I appreciate everyone that is along for the ride in anything that I do in life, you know but you know to prioritize my own mental space as for as well as output of things I've been having to do to to just get to the overall goal it was it was wise that I took a break man. And you know I I also support people knowing what they need to do to keep themselves level and balanced and knowing when to not put too much on your plate, you know especially when you're in the midst of a lot of things that you know are travel troubling, stressful and again your emotions get wrapped in uh into because then again you're just spinning the wheel and just going and going and that's where burnout happens. That's where you lose uh a sense of yourself that's where a lot of things can come into play to kind of take you off balance from you know just being a solid individual and that's one thing that I try to pride myself on being in a lot of ways in life. And sometimes you gotta know again when to take a little bit off your plate in order to keep the shit moving forward and putting one foot in front of the other and just prioritizing certain goals over another. So not to get too long winded on that I'm back man. Fuck all that you know we here to talk our shit like I said on the pre-pod and we will but wanted to make a big announcement I know that you guys have been um well the ones that are you know following me to the ones that are really paying attention what I'm doing I've I've got a lot of uh interest a lot of inquiries and just people just really you know checking in to see you know where I'm at with the goal and as you guys know we talked about the EFS training center uh and uh looking forward to bringing that to the public and you know getting to the space to now where we have an actual date for the people um so we'll talk about everything on the back end as far as how we got to this point but wanted to lick a couple air horns and let y'all know to wake y'all ass up. We are here and we are at the point of opening the Engineered for success training center to the public. The date will be April 11th coming up pretty soon um and if you know me I've had to put my foot in my mouth a couple times as far as pushing the date back uh but listen man we are here as I told you I'm gonna look you in the face on this one the Engineer for Success Training Center is on the way April 11th open to the public come on rock with your boy and let's get to it man I've been very very much in the trenches trying to get this thing off the ground and this process started I want to say about a year ago um and being a little bit naive to the whole process and what it takes to get to where you want to in this kind of scenario um has been something that has been a huge learning lesson. And in a moment I'm gonna deliver some of my biggest takeaways from getting to this point. As always because I like to share everything with y'all. Well not everything excuse me but uh a lot of things that you know I'm doing and I like to share in on the process with y'all so y'all see that you you know if you're someone who can be motivated motivated by it and just get along for the journey then you know let's do it. Let's rock. But so we'll share some of the things that I've been really going through to to get to this point. But again we have the Engineer for success training center coming on April 11th April 11th we are open the doors are open to the public the community um been open in some kind of fashion already just because things haven't been the uh the most checks and balance T's cross odds dotted situation but you know we're here now I've been working on this for a long time and I'm very excited to tell y'all man that the Engineer for Success Training Center is here and that we will be offering our general fitness services to those who are just looking to live life from a healthier more vibrant and just lively way you know with all the things that I bring to the to the table as far as the mobility training as far as the functional strength and as far as the power and performance. Those will be the three things that we are focused on and delivering to people on a daily weekly monthly yearly basis going forward because the plan is to make this thing grow as best as we can and outside of that we will be offering services to the athletes man the people that are you know the up and comers the the ones grinding to get to the next level to their sport uh whatever sport that may be uh so we'll have uh services for athletes that means guys from all the way to the to the professional level down to the young you know so I've been in the space of working with them for years now so I'm looking forward to having a space to uh again bring those people in and just make my own uh and just make myself a staple with the with the again athletes being someone who's a bit a pro athlete into my life having been through the struggles of just grinding to get to that to that point and you know um on the basketball side of things uh but also now helping people understand that the strength and conditioning side of things is important for the young athletes just because there is a a chance to get to the next level a little bit better than you know others now especially in basketball and we'll talk a little bit about that later um but again all that wrapped into the engineer for success training center we got athletes working out there we have everyday people working out there we offer recovery services there as well and a lot more coming up man so not to bark out down with the details too too much because it's literally going to be a a marketing flood going forward as far as me getting the facility off the ground and letting y'all know what's going on with it because promote promote promote is going to be a huge thing for me in the next stage in my my steps as an entrepreneur, business owner, all that so you know be on the lookout but we know April 11th is the date and we're gonna launch this thing off in a big way man and look to grow as big as we can man. Like for real for real. Really really happy really excited if you guys know how hard I've been working to get this thing to the point where we can open to the public and to be this close to the finish line enough for me to announce a date y'all would understand man like it it's been a a big journey a big big big time of learning and time of uh self-awareness and introspectiveness and just making sure that I'm okay for the next things that are coming in front of me as far as where I want to be mentally physically and spiritually all the three things that you know we talk about on this podcast all the time man. So along with that you know that topic what have I really learned to get to this point um a lot of things but I'm gonna give you guys a few of my biggest takeaways to get here just because for anyone who has been to the point where they've opened up their own space, started their own business have a physical location and all that stuff you kind of know the process. I've I've really been in contact with a few different people that have helped me along the journey to keep myself pushing, you know and those who have been there and have you know dropped a little game on me or just helped me to figure out what I'm doing or just keeping me in a a good again a good space mentally by dropping positive vibes my way. I appreciate y'all um but the biggest takeaways from this thing man is patience number one patience patience patience and letting things happen y'all know I'm big on just doing the work to get to the goal but sometimes when you set a date for whatever timeline you think you're gonna achieve the goal it is going to get pushback you know and that's one thing I've learned with this whole process and I don't want to go too too much into the details because I want to keep respect to the people that have kind of slowed things up but I just know now even more so than before that you know having things in the right order to where you are clear to open as far as permits you know building codes uh business codes and having all the T's crossed and I's dotted like I said a little bit earlier is TDS as a motherfucker. And sometimes you know when you're going through the process in real time not having any guidance or not really having anyone to coach you through it. Not to say no one because again I gave love to some people that helped me out a lot of different ways but when you you really just got to go through th go through things in real time sometimes and that's how you learn that's how you get the experience and that's how you put yourself through the fire you know because I'm a huge believer that in anything that you want in life if there's no kind of struggle to get there if there's nothing that alters the path that you have to work around or work through in order to achieve the initial goal then it ain't really something that's worth it you know and I'm big on putting in the work but having my ass kicked multiple times with this process has tested the F out of me you know and to keep it 100% honest I had planned on having this thing opened in the first month of the year. We already about to head into April now. So you know my own timeline with everything that has come along with this process has really been something that I had to really be something that I checked in with myself a lot, you know? And when it got to the point where I realized I was gonna have to push back pretty much indefinitely which was at the top of January it really tested me at the start of the year. You know coming off the whole new year, new me thing I'm looking forward to 2026 we're gonna open we're gonna make a big APAC we're gonna take over et cetera et cetera I got slapped in the face. January 6th I found out that you know I needed to do some things with the physical space that I had uh in order to be up to standard for you to receive permits and licenses and you know able to operate Within the town. Because, you know, when you're doing things from a business perspective where you're either online or, you know, not having a physical location, there's a lot of things you can kind of skate around, a lot of things you kind of don't have to deal with, which now I've realized even more so why certain people, um, and you know, keeping it funky, trainers and people who are either fitness professionals or, you know, strength and conditioned people, or people who just, you know, are offering those kind of things uh from an athletic or again fitness perspective to consumers and people who come work out with them. I understand even more so now why people don't open their own space, you know. And I've realized a lot of things about myself through this process, you know, patience and having to be patient is one of the biggest things, but even more so, I know now that I'm a little bit different mentally, you know. Um, but patience, again, is one of the biggest things, man. And I believe that you will be tested to get to any goal that you have that's worth achieving. And I've been through the tests, been through a lot of different struggles with this whole thing, man, from having to hire people that I never thought I would have to hire in my life, as far as contractors and people to have construction and things, you know, to set the facility in the right space. Again, to get permits and licenses. And again, just learning along with it, you know. So having to go to the town and apply for different business permits and different permits for the permits that you need to construct things and permits for this and permits for that, man. They don't really make it easy on new entrepreneurs. And I wish that there was a little bit more of a guideline, you know. Um, not to say that it's gonna make the the biggest difference in the world, because like I said, some things you need to just go through in real time. Um, but again, patience is one of the biggest things, understanding that God's plan is God's plan, and that's not the one that you might have written up for yourself. Um, and you just gotta go along with it. So after January took me on an emotional roller coaster, I really had to check in with myself to make sure that I am good with what's ahead of me and the process that's to come, just because I was irate for about two weeks all of January, just waking up pissed, waking up mad as hell that I'm not, you know, sticking to my original goal, and then it throwing my energy off so much that I felt like I was getting like physically sick, you know. And if you've been there, you've been there, but stress sick is a real thing, and you know, having to go through that really put me in a space of like, yo, bro, check in with yourself because right now you might, you know, put yourself in a position to get to where you want to go and then not be even mentally ready to get there just because you're going through too many emotions right now, you know. And again, if you're a business owner, somebody's been through it, you understand. So I'm only really talking to people who can be motivated by this situation or understand, you know, the the rigors that you have to put yourself through in getting there, man. Um, and number two, and one of the biggest takeaways I have with this whole process is that delayed gratification is going to open up more room for self-doubt. Um, and I'll say that again, delayed gratification is gonna open up more room to self-doubt. Uh, just because if you have a goal and say the goal is two weeks from now, and then you got to push it back maybe two months from now, that offers more time for all the negative emotions and negative self-talk to seep in to where you really start second guessing what you're doing. Like, you know, why isn't this happening now? You know, the pivot that I'm gonna have to make is gonna put me in a bigger, like, you know, strain to even get to the uh the the goal, which is opening the doors. Like all those little negative thoughts that come into your head as far as you know making you think that what you're doing isn't where you need to be right now, and that's when things, you know, can put you out of you know the right space again, as I keep saying, you know, uh that delayed gratification of just having to wait and wait and wait is something that you really need to take on mentally in a great way, just to keep yourself again, next step, pushing forward and just getting to the goal, you know. And like I said before, your timeline might not be what you think it is, but along you having to extend things and just you know sit and wait in the moment where you don't really know what's gonna go on and going happen, gonna happen. Keep yourself strong throughout it, man. And like I said, just know that you will be tested. But anything that you really, really want to work for, the test is gonna be worth it, you know, at the end. Um, third thing that I've learned from this whole situation as I, you know, move into this new space is that people are fickle, man. Really, people are fickle. And I always knew that, but you know, it just exposes itself even more, which is why this is why there's number three on my list and not number one. Um, and people aren't always gonna go along for the ride with you, and that's okay, you know. Uh, I've had people who have one I've either championed or, you know, helped in a in a big way in in past years or very recent years in my lifetime kind of flip up on me and switch when you know I distance myself in a certain way to to start what I'm doing, you know, or the people that you know were really just so excited about what you're doing and so excited about you know the things that you may have coming originally, and then as things take a little bit longer and longer and longer, maybe the you know the excitement dwindles a little bit for them, they kind of switch up on you too, you know. And it's okay, you know, it's okay to understand that people are not always gonna be along for the ride of your journey, and that's why your journey is individual to you, and not everybody deserves to be a part of it, and not everybody is gonna want to be a part of it, and you know, everyone to each his own in that way. You as a uh a person who's taken the the path of you know making things more difficult on yourself, or just taking a path that not many people go on, not everyone's gonna understand that, and not everyone is gonna be along for the ride in every single step of the process. Because a lot of people just want that instant gratification too, you know, when you hot, you announce something, you say something's coming, then they really, really jump on board with it at that moment and they want it right now, and things don't take uh things start to take longer than they expected, they're gonna hop off the ride too. But knowing that those people have a right to make whatever decision they want to make as far as how they support you, and realizing that they may not be along for that ride with you is just a place that you gotta take it, you know, and be okay with it. And be okay with it. Because if you start looking around and and one either expecting people to support you or getting mad when they don't support you, then you're putting yourself in a in a negative space as well, you know. And your journey's your journey, not everybody's gonna be on board for it. You gotta really understand that and be okay with just being alone in some ways and also appreciating the ones that do support you because leaning into those people, you've heard me say it before, it is one of the more fulfilling experiences for me just because I know they're really there for the right reasons, you know. And I've had a great network of people since I started this journey, even before I really started the journey and opening my space and people even knowing that I was working towards that. I've had a great network of people that have been supportive, you know, the ones that show up and the ones that have really breathed life into me along the way. So, you know, you gotta understand that not everybody's gonna be that. And that's cool, you know. Really, really cool. And seeing the people that kind of switched up that you know you supported, or that you thought we were more than just a transaction for them, it can be painful sometimes and make you feel a way, but you gotta shake it off. That shit ain't gonna mean nothing uh in the in the long term. And those people are double back, you know. You gotta know that. The double back is gonna be crazy when you get to the goal, and then people, oh you know, congrats and this is that, whatever. And I ain't heard from you in months and months and months and months. And that's cool too. Take the congratulations, take the praise, take all the admiration when it comes, but also know that that shit comes, that shit should be taken with a grain of salt, you know, sometimes from certain people, you know, which is why I get uncomfortable when I get too much praise, despite what people may think or have thought in in my recent years about, you know, myself, my my ego, my whatever, my confidence in myself. I don't really like to hear praise because it also makes me start to wonder if people are really genuine and where that praise is coming from. And I really got to look at you different as a person at that point. So let them do what they want to do, man. If they support you, they support you. If not, that's cool. It's alright. You know, I've seen a lot of talk on lately on social media about you know friend support, and you know, if you really support me, you this, you that, like, okay, cool. So if they really support you, then really, really lean into it. And if they don't, then just let them do what they want to do. Because again, your support isn't gonna alter my vision to where you not having it is gonna make me, you know, get offline. And that's as simple as I can put that, man. Um so that said, man, the Engineer for Success Training Center is on the way. We know it's coming. Data's out there, holding myself to this. And anybody who's watching this, man, I really appreciate y'all coming out and and helping me further my brand, further the the influence, further the impact, because I'll I I all go back to always go back to impact as being one of the things that I I want to do most in this world in a positive way. And again, I'm really looking forward to opening up the doors and getting this thing rolling. Um, and as exciting as it is to open, it is also as exciting to look at the work ahead of me to make this space what I want it to be, you know, and more, you know. And I'm a big dreamer, a lot, a lot of plans, a lot of you know things that I want to work towards, but I know that as I go into this next version or or transition of myself, that is gonna be hard work, you know, and it's been hard work to get here to this point, and I I don't, you know, neglect or take for granted the experiences that I've been through to get here, but I know more is coming, and you really just gotta grind through it to get to the point where I feel like this thing is an actual success, and I'll take the little successes on the way as far as being able to get to the point where the doors are open. So come rock with me, man, and let's do it excited for what's to come, man. And I can't keep I I can keep saying that forever and ever and ever just because that's how I really feel nothing but excitement for my future, and and it's giving me confidence to know that I'm I'm ready for these next steps. And I can say that 100% in front of y'all. I'm looking forward to showing improving as we do roll things out. So that said, facility talk out the way. I'm gonna get to a couple quick hitters before we get out of here, man. I just really wanted to start to open things up uh to make sure that y'all are hearing from me consistently again um uh and build up the following, you know, and gain people's trust back in the platform being consistent and then bringing new people along for the ride. Uh, we're gonna kind of switch up how we do this thing going forward, uh, just because, you know, learning a little bit more about uh podcasting and content creation and the space where it's at and just realizing that I was kind of spinning my wheels before in a way that was good as far as grinding things out, but you know, I also want to be more of some uh someone who's more in line with ownership and being able to figure out how to monetize my situation a little bit better. Um, so I'm gonna open this thing up to a new platform. So I guess another announcement, we're moving over to Patreon, man. We're moving over to Patreon, and y'all know I'm a big supporter of uh another podcast, the biggest one on Patreon, the Joe Button podcast, and the and the things that they've done and kind of the model that he's created uh for how you know he presents his content and how you know he builds his business off of content. And I ain't got a drop in the bucket compared to you know what they're at right now. But I do know that going forward with the work that I want to put on myself and my art and the things that I that I put into the world, it's gonna have to be, you know, in a way that you know I take ownership of it. And again, that I I let y'all know that what I'm doing, what I'm what I'm presenting is quality and that you guys are along for the ride and and can support me in the ways that I'm looking for, man. So the way we can go forward is on Patreon. We will be doing video um on YouTube, but we'll figure out you know how that works out as far as what I want to do with it. Um and you know, the the typical Spotify and Apple will be there, but we're not doing video on Spotify no more. Just being 100% honest, not really too happy with how that platform has kind of handled some things in the past year or so uh since I've been podcasting, almost two years now. Uh so yeah, we're gonna reprioritize and move things forward accordingly with that way in that way. So, you know, I guess another little tidbit of an announcement as far as the EFS podcast and where to find it. We'll talk about it more as we go forward, we'll show it more as we go forward, but that's that on that. So I guess the next thing I wanted to hit up real quick, it is uh March, the end of March, almost April now. We in the middle of college basketball madness and just basketball madness in general. And y'all know I'm a I'm a hooper uh at my core of my nature, you know, and uh one good time for me to get off my feelings because I've also been quiet on a lot of things, not podcasting that I've seen going on in the past couple months and uh just where the industry is at in general, and wanted to, you know, talk my shit a little bit, man, and and just tell y'all where I'm at with some things, man. So Sweet 16 is coming up this weekend. I would say the first weekend of competition uh as far as the March Madness NCAA championship tournament was amazing. So some upsets, saw some dominant victories, and people really put themselves in position again, keep on moving forward and fighting for the crown in this next weekend, and you know, the next weekends after that. So Sweet 16 is upon us. I'm not going to deliver no picks. That ain't, you know, come to me for that. You know, I'm not the picks guy. I'm not the, you know, support who you support, rock with who you want to rock with. Uh, but just seeing it has put me in a very, you know, introspective and I guess looking backspace because it's seeing it's something I experienced myself in my college career. And having been around my alma mater, Marquette University, shout out to y'all. We didn't make the tournament this year, but we'll get it back together. You know, we'll we'll hope for better days uh coming forward with that. Um, but being around the alma mater a couple times this year and just getting back into the college back college basketball in more of a deep way, you know, I've just been seeing the game for what it is now and having feelings about it. We've talked about a little bit more on the podcast earlier uh with the whole NIL thing and just the player empowerment, the financial empowerment of players, and even now going all the way up to the NBA, you know, because my belief currently is that basketball itself is in a very bad space, you know, and a game that I love, a game that I grew up playing, a game that I made money off of, a game that I've devoted a lot of my life to. Um, just seeing where it's at now, it just makes me feel like it makes me feel negative things. Like I like I don't even know, you know, what to what to call it exactly, but I just know we're in a bad space on the basketball side of things, man. And I know that it sounds like an old hater, and you know, the perspectives that I put out there in the past may paint me in one way, but listen, I really just am more of a purist of basketball, and what I'm seeing right now looks like a bunch of bullshit, you know. And respect to the NCAA as far as the competition side of things and you know how the game is played. They these young boys play hard. I've seen a lot of very, very intense competitions recently, especially, you know, in the conference tournaments, all the way to the NCAA tournaments and going forward these next few weeks. Like these young boys is playing hard, you know, and I respect that part of it, you know. But when you go up to the next level, the NBA, we have the flip side of things to where people think players do not actually give a shit about, you know, the presentation of the league, you know, not the game itself, because you got to give a shit about the game to get to that level. You gotta devote yourself, you have to work very, very hard to be an NBA player. Something that I've never been in my life, and I worked very, very, very, very hard at the game of basketball and still didn't get there. So I do understand it would never disrespect the work that it takes to get to the NBA. Uh, but right now, what we are seeing is a bunch of shit that makes the people look at the NBA and really turn away from it because they think y'all is a bunch of entitled, emotional, little fucking babies. And you know, that's just the way I I gotta put it as raw and as you know, honest as possible. And again, I love basketball. I'm a person who has devoted my life to it again. So to see it in the space now, a league that I looked at so highly at one point to now be wondering if this shit is all going to implode upon itself over the next five years, it's a real weird space, man. And it trickles down all the way to the high school level, you know, from my perspective. Like it's up the chain, down the chain, basketball is just in a shitty space. If you want to talk about high school, we got people who's worried about more money than anything. We got people who uh don't really have uh experience or credentials like that teaching kids a bunch of shit that ain't gonna work, you know, or just getting them more into highlight culture than being actual players who can make an impact on teams from level to level to level. And that's again up the chain, you know. And again, I'm all for players being skilled, I'm all for players being versatile, I'm all for that. But right now on the high school level, I think we got a bunch of dudes with egos and not enough people who are like doing it for the love of the game and guidance youth in the right direction. Um, and it all gets somehow money is kind of all wrapped up into it. Excuse me. And now going up to the college level from there, we know what it's like now. We got these young boys making millions and millions and millions of dollars to play the game of basketball on a college level. And again, I know what it's gonna sound like from someone who's about to be 40 that played college basketball and never made a dime off of it until I play professionally. Um, but again, I know it looks and sounds like I'm being a hater. I'm all for the young boys getting your money, but this shit is crazy now. And the way the NCAA is handling things on the, you know, just letting these players come back from the pros and playing college now, on top of the money they're paying kids to, you know, play the game and think and hope that they're gonna be, you know, people who produce in the social media era to where these kids ain't really as tough as they used to be now and they crack under pressure. Like now it's like it's a lot. It's a lot to view that and and feel okay with where that is, you know, and then going up to the NBA again. These guys are making generational wealth money, and now we got to have conversations about them shortening the season, you know, or adding expansion teams too when the product ain't really good as it is now, and now's the time you want to expand. Like, you ain't even got the the the stove, the fire level is down. You're not even burning hot to want to add two more teams. And now you're talking about, you know, cutting games, and and the shit just puts me in a a nasty, nasty space when it comes to basketball, man. Like, I do watch, I do still love to watch because again, it is something that I've loved from the time I was a young, young boy. But seeing it now and just knowing everything that's going on with it, again, it makes me feel like basketball in a way is gonna implode in a few years. And what that implosion is gonna look like, I don't know, but I think we at crisis level for the future of basketball, at least here in America. I'll say that. At least here in America, you know. Overseas, we know what they've been doing recently with the level of players they've been putting out to come over here and dominate. I think that still kind of will be the case going forward, but we'll see. But in general, just the just the industry of basketball needs to check in and fix some shit, like up and down the chain because it's getting a lot further away from the purity that I saw, you know, when I was young, the shit that made me fall in love with the game, you know. And just seeing it now again is just it's just something that I gotta say on my platform because it looks nasty, man. It looks nasty. But shouts to y'all, for real, for real. Shouts to y'all and do whatever y'all gotta do to to make the most out of the game. Again, I look to help some people make some, you know, something out of themselves in the game, but you know, just on the principle side of thing and just on the the rules and regulations side of thing, uh we're in a bad space, man. We in a bad space. So all the basketball purists, I feel for y'all hanging there, something gotta give, and we're gonna try to get this shit turned around at some point, or hopefully they try to get it turned around at some point, because then I'm gonna just start watching a bunch of a bunch of other sports and not even tuning in to the bullshit no more. But that being said, man, we will move forward to another topic of discussion today, which is on the music side of things, and and big shout out to the the legend that we you know showcased on the pre-pod, Jay-Z, as far as the summer that he's looking to have, you know, popping back out and performing. Announced the show at the Yankee Stadium, announced the the roots picnic, and it's it looks like a real Jay summer, and I'm happy for it, man. But what I'm not happy for is the goddamn ticket prices that you might have to pay to go see this man in person. If you know me, you know Jay is the guy for me on the rap side. You can argue about where he's placed as far as you know, best rapper alive, career, da da da. We ain't talking about all that right now. We know Jay is a legend, we know Jay is a staple in the culture, and we know Jay has contributed a lot to the culture in general. So, you know, me being someone who's a Brooklyn native supporter of him for a long time, has spent my dollars to show that I'm a fan of Jay, bought the albums, bought the merch, showed up for things, you know, put my money where my mouth is as someone who supports him. Now to think about having to pay $850 to sit up in the nosebleeds to come watch this man perform, it kind of turns me off to even wanting to go. You know, not to say that if I had it, I wouldn't do it, but right now I'm I'm a broke business owner. If we're just gonna keep it 100% funky, my dollars are tied up in a lot of other things, and you know, even If they wasn't tied up in those things, like those tight ticket prices is fucking insane. Like, it's insane. And I understand why. I understand who we're looking at, and I understand what we are doing here with Jay. Like, this is the guy. So I'm not going to say if it's not worth it, if it is worth it to you, pay the price. But you ain't going to see me out there not to sit in the eight bleed, eight nosebleeds for $850. I'm sorry. My money ain't, you know, I want a lot better experience than that if I'm going to pay that kind of money to go see somebody. And no shade. I'm sure the show is going to be amazing. I'm looking forward to watching them shit on TikTok or watching them just on Instagram and seeing, you know, all the posts because y'all gonna record the whole shit anyway. But I can't do it, man. I can't. I'm sorry. It ain't in my budget. It ain't, you know, and I love Jay. He's on my wall. He is one of the guys for me as far as motivation, as far as people to aspire to in business and just, you know, how to do shit cool as you grow older and how you, you know, age, like we talked about in the opening with the audio. I'm all for that when it comes to Jay. But right now, I ain't for them kinds of ticket prices. I'm sorry. I see the memes all over the place. I gotta get a job in the concession stand just to go see the show. I see the memes about people, you know, going to all different kinds of hustles to get their money up to go to the Jay show. Like just being in that position right now in this economy, too, is is kind of nuts, you know. And I understand what it is. It's all these uh, you know, aftermarkets and ticket masters and stub hubs and those people just buying up all the tickets and hiking the prices up, which to me is even nastier because I believe there should be some kind of federal regul federal regulation uh to stop that shit from going on, especially now. Country ain't in a good space, gas prices is up, up, like up, up again, and this shit is crazy. So, you know, I understand they're trying to make concert viewing a a I guess a high-ticket experience, but to me, the experience is the experience one way or another, but what you pay for it is up to you. But again, I'm not going to pay all that money to sit up in the top where, you know, niggas got gum on the bottom of the seats, and it like that ain't an $850, $1,000 experience to me, you know. And anybody that's up there who's saving up their money and might not even have like that to begin with with, but they want to go see Jay, like that ain't a thousand dollar or whatever you pay for the experience either. You know, you're just being duped right now. And again, pay the money if you want to pay the money, go see the show if you want to go to see the show. Count me out. I'm gonna just continue to knock the music. I can't do it. Them ticket prices is way too high. Let's be sensible about what we're doing with our dollars here in this economy, you know. But shouts to Jay. Love Jay. You know, again, I support a lot of things that you've done in your career, and I stand by a lot of things that you've done in your career, but I can't really with these costume prices, not now, bro. So, as a normal everyday person and consumer, you know, I I feel like I gotta say that, man. I feel like I gotta say that. And those who ain't got it, be a little bit more mindful about what you're putting up your money for in order to go see uh, like I know, YOLO, live your life. You're only gonna get one chance to do this, this, that, whatever. But some things gonna put you in a bad spot later. And you gotta kind of know that too for yourself. But to each its own, rock out, do your thing. Again, I don't want to sound like a hater. Shouts to Jay. Love, salute. But that said, man, uh, we'll get to the point where we're wrapping this thing up and we'll deliver my real talk for the day or my walk with me for the day. Um, uh, just because most recently I've had the experience of uh trying to motivate some youth. And, you know, I want to deliver some gems that I gave to them uh in person uh at a panel that I just spoke at recently at a local high school. Uh was invited over there. It's an employment skills high school in the area, and uh, they were having a panel of business owners and entrepreneurs coming to talk to the kids uh about you know their stories, their their life, you know, the adversity they've had to go to get to, you know, get the things they were trying to do, and to just kind of, you know, put the put the game in front of the youth. So, you know, had a chance to do that recently, and I was asked a question during that um that was specifically about what is the number one thing that you do to handle adversity or like or that you do while you handling while you handle your adversity. I forget exactly how it was phrased, but on the like on the spot, wasn't expecting that question because it came from one of the youth in a Q ⁇ A, you know, part of the part of the segment. Um, and it put me in a space where I'm like, damn, like, you know, what do I normally do to handle adversity or what you know what happens around me mentally again and while those times are are are in front of me. Um and what I really realized is that even more so now in my life, I'm a person that embraces those moments or the the struggle in a way. And I know it sounds as cliche as you know a lot of other people have said it, but you do have to kind of live in a space of enjoying discomfort and figuring things out in order to get through things because life is always gonna throw something at you, and not to say that you shouldn't have happy times, not to say that you shouldn't be at peace, but you know, understanding leaning into the adversity is a positive thing, is something that I had to kind of you know hit them with on the spot, you know, because it was the first thing that came to my mind, it's like shit, I love it, you know. When things get uncomfortable, it it wakes me up in a in a way that like really, you know, motivates me to get through it and and figuring things out. And you know, even along with this whole process that I've been through most recently with opening up the space, like having to figure things out has really changed who I am as an individual, you know, just because this is like big shit that I'm doing, you know. And my lady Queen Christine, she we had a conversation the other day, and she was like, you know, like you're you're getting to the point where like you're really a business owner now. So the way you move, think, and operate has to kind of change. But also owning that as a business owner, you're gonna get your ass tested at some point, and you have to kind of love that shit is the next level of like crazy that they they talk about with the people that are like super, super, super successful. Maybe some that are not, you know, but if they are successful in some kind of ways, like you kind of gotta love that shit because the only way you are able to be, you know, someone who gets past the adversity, past those things, is to lean into them and be okay with the struggle that you're gonna go through and understand on the other side of that struggle is everything that you're looking for, you know. So my real talk is just a motivation in that way. Like there's people going through a lot of different things out there in this world and things that are maybe even worse that I've had to deal with. But you know, if you're safe physically, or if your life is not in danger in that kind of way, lean into those uncomfortable things, man. And I say this all the time just because it does mold you to be better, stronger, and all the things that you want to be in life, and you can't go through, go to excuse me, your original goal without going through the fire, you know? And that's just that, man. And no real quote today. I'm doing a lot of motivation, doing a lot of thinking, and and just getting back to just speaking to y'all in a way that you know makes the makes sense and that I can present from the experiences I've been in. And again, you guys know I strive to be a living example, so I'm just that, you know. And and with that said, if you made it this far through the audio slash visual, please do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe. I will holler at you on the next one. The EFS Podcast, episode number 73, is out. Peace later.