The Reason People Villainize Discipline (2151)

Is it discipline that’s too harsh or the discomfort it brings to those unwilling to change? In this soul-stirring episode, Kevin and Alan uncover why discipline is often seen as the enemy when in truth, it’s the doorway to your highest self. They share how setting bold goals reshapes your world, shifting your habits, your circles, and even your sense of identity. The more aligned your discipline, the more resistance you might face, but also, the more freedom you’ll find. Tune in now and honor the path your future self will thank you for.

Learn more about:
Next Level University Monthly Meetup #44: “Top 10 Reasons People Aren't More Successful” - https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/NzwOxCMxTDyRJg4CLJS1qg#/registration

Free 30-minute Business Breakthrough Session with Alan -https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-free-breakthrough-session?month=2025-04
Free 30-Minute Podcast Breakthrough Session with Kevin -https://calendly.com/kevinpalmieri/free-30-minute-podcast-breakthrough-session-with-kevin

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For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇

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Show notes:
(3:18) Raising standards impacts relationships
(6:16) Big goals demand big sacrifices
(9:11) When goals shift your identity
(14:45) At NLU, your success is our purpose. Join our Monthly Meet-up every first Thursday of the month for tools, insight, and the spark to move forward. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/NzwOxCMxTDyRJg4CLJS1qg#/registration
(16:10) Boundaries and self-worth connection
(21:05) Misaligned goals Vs. True discipline
(23:27) Why success will upset some people
(26:12) Outro

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros

Next Level University is a top-ranked daily podcast for dream chasers and self-improvement lovers. With over 2,100 episodes, we help you level up in life, love, health, and wealth one day at a time. Subscribe for real, honest, no-fluff growth every single day.

Chapters

• 3:18 Raising standards impacts relationships
• 6:16 Big goals demand big sacrifices
• 9:11 When goals shift your identity
• 14:45 At NLU, your success is our purpose. Join our Monthly Meet-up every first Thursday of the month for tools, insight, and the spark to move forward.
• 16:10 Boundaries and self-worth connection
• 21:05 Misaligned goals Vs. True discipline
• 23:27 Why success will upset some people
• 26:12 Outro

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I cannot get on board with the whole discipline doesn't work thing, I think that is a cop out for the vast majority of people, but I do understand why discipline is as villainized as it is because it takes a lot out of you and it puts you in some weird potential situations.

Alan Lazaros

(0:17) The stats show that only 3% of people have clear written goals, I've talked about that a lot. (0:22) I think one of the main reasons why that is is the moment you set a goal that you really intend on achieving, everything else becomes more difficult.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:31) Welcome to Next Level University, I'm your host Kevin Palmieri. (0:35) And I'm your co-host Alan Lazarus. (0:38) At NLU we believe in a heart driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:45) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:51) We bring you a new episode every single day on topics like confidence, self-belief, self-worth, self-awareness, relationships, boundaries, consistency, habits, and defining your own unique version of success.

Alan Lazaros

(1:07) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:14) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:19) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2151, The Reason People Villainize Discipline. (1:27) I have a different take than Alan in today's episode. (1:31) I think one of the reasons, I think one of the reasons people villainize discipline is because when the people around them are disciplined, it affects them in the ways, I would say in ways that they don't want to be affected.(1:46) So if you're dieting and I want to rage, then you dieting is directly in conflict with me raging with you. (1:55) A hundred percent. (1:56) And now I'm going to say, come on man, why are you such a hard ass?(1:58) Why can't, you can't just have, you can't just have one drink or you can't do this or you can't stay up a little bit later. (2:03) I think one of the reasons that discipline is villainized so much is because of the way it affects other people as opposed to the way it affects the person being disciplined.

Alan Lazaros

(2:12) Agreed. (2:12) Take, Emilia has upped her standards on her micronutrients. (2:18) Okay.(2:18) Big time. (2:19) She gets produce. (2:20) That's what she calls it.(2:21) She's the procurement specialist and she gets produce every week. (2:26) Kale, not a fucking fan. (2:28) Not a fan.(2:29) She does make a mean kale salad. (2:32) Now keep in mind, this has crumbles on it, croutons, dressing. (2:39) A cheeseburger right on top of it.(2:41) Nuts, two cheeseburger. (2:43) No, but it does. (2:44) She makes a mean kale salad.(2:46) And during this 10 pound in 10 week fucking challenge, I'm not allowed to eat as much as I would like. (2:53) But the truth is, yeah, it's, I always thank her later because I always feel better. (3:00) She makes a really good kale salad is as good as a kale salad can be.(3:04) Let's be real. (3:05) And I always say, thank you. (3:07) You know, even though I would never make my own kale salad, I'm not interested, but she makes me one and then I eat it.(3:14) And I do always feel better. (3:15) I sleep better. (3:16) I train better.(3:18) Everything's better. (3:19) She also does these shakes that are the amount of stuff she puts in these smoothies. (3:24) And you do, you feel like a goddamn superhero.(3:26) It's great. (3:28) And so when someone raises their standards, so when someone sets a new goal, they have to raise their standards. (3:36) And I think that's why your social life tends to suffer.(3:40) I playfully joke. (3:41) I say, you're not going to walk into apple headquarters and have a bunch of people just hanging out. (3:48) Maybe.(3:50) No, no, not, not maybe. (3:52) I, I have a client who has a client. (4:00) Oh no.(4:01) My therapist, Carol, that my therapist, Carol, we do IFS consulting together and. (4:07) IFS is internal family systems for anyone who isn't aware. (4:10) It's kind of like inside out the Pixar movie, that sort of thing, but inside your own brain.(4:17) She said, yeah, Alan, I have a client who just got fired from Amazon because they were five minutes late three times. (4:26) It's my kind of organization right there.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:28) That's my kind of organization.

Alan Lazaros

(4:30) Well, at the fulfillment center, you cannot, I've ordered things on Amazon and had them come like two hours later. (4:40) There's also a fulfillment center in Massachusetts right near me. (4:44) How in the hell didn't I order that earlier today?(4:47) It's on my doorstep. (4:48) This is unbelievable. (4:49) And in the past that would have been impossible, but automation robotics.(4:54) I used to work at a company that did all the barcodes and all the procurement stuff. (5:02) Anyways, my point of this is Amazon has goals. (5:07) Amazon is right now, I do believe the most successful company in history.(5:12) By the way, I found out last night, Amazon in 1998 bought IMDb. (5:16) Do you know that? (5:18) I did not know that.(5:19) Amelia told me that last night. (5:20) She said, Hey, I think you probably know this. (5:22) I was using IMDb back in 1998 for sure.(5:25) IMDb was, I was one of the first IMDbers, internet movie database. (5:32) And yeah, I found that out. (5:34) It's like interesting.(5:35) And you want to know why they were going from books to DVDs. (5:38) They wanted the data on that. (5:41) They also did another acquisition at that time too.(5:44) So anyway, side tangent, but the point I'm making is Amazon has goals. (5:47) They are one of the most successful companies in history. (5:49) And the reason why is they have high, high, high standards.(5:52) I said to my therapist, I said, what are your thoughts on that? (5:56) She said, well, it sucks, but I also get it. (5:58) I said, honestly, I understand.(6:02) You have to be on point to work there. (6:04) I have a friend who is actually also a WPI grad who works there as well. (6:10) You can't fuck around there.(6:13) And there's something good about that. (6:15) What's my point of this whole thing? (6:16) When you set a goal, whether you're a company or an individual, you immediately can't mess around.(6:21) You immediately have to raise your standards. (6:23) And when you raise your standards, all the people around you who don't have that same goal, you kind of become somewhat of a pain in the ass too. (6:31) And if you don't have a good relationship with that, you're either going to have to be in lonely land and be alone, which we talked about in the last episode.(6:39) But as someone who has increased his goals tremendously and is shooting for, I posted a Michael Phelps video on my Instagram earlier today, Instagram story. (6:52) And he says to an audience, he said, if any of you tell me that you want to wake up every day and you're excited to go to work, I'm immediately going to call you out and call you a liar. (7:02) There are days I did not want to get in the pool, but it didn't matter.(7:06) I had to go. (7:07) You can't be an Olympic gold medalist without discipline. (7:12) And Michael Phelps talks openly about his mental health challenges because from 13 to whatever age, he had no friends.(7:20) He had to put mayonnaise on his pizza to get enough calories because he was in the pool for, you know, six hours a day, whatever it is. (7:28) And I think that this idea that you can achieve great things without sacrifice is just plain old fashioned unintelligent. (7:37) And the point of this episode is we have a goal right now to hit a certain growth of the company.(7:45) 30% year over year growth is what we're shooting for. (7:49) Dude, if we want to do that, it's doable, but we cannot miss a goddamn trick. (7:54) We might do everything we can every single day and still not hit it.(8:01) And I don't know about you, man, but I don't want that. (8:03) I want to give it all we have. (8:06) And I talked to Amelia about this.(8:08) And I think one thing for the listeners is try to recruit the people in your life. (8:13) Try to get them to understand why you're doing what you're doing. (8:15) Because if it's for something in the future, aka a goal, they might not know how to support you.(8:20) You might have to say, listen, I need... (8:22) Amelia always asks, like, how can I support you? (8:25) I have nine back-to-backs today.(8:26) She says, how can I support you? (8:27) I said, you can please make sure when the UPS truck comes, you're available. (8:33) I said, sign my name if you have to.(8:35) Tell them you're my wife, whatever you gotta do. (8:37) Because I'm gonna be podcasting, coaching, training all day. (8:40) And they won't give me these AirPods.(8:44) I did find the other ones, by the way. (8:46) So if anyone's in the market for AirPods, reach out.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:48) There you go. (8:48) We'll sign them. (8:49) We'll get you the signed AirPods and a signed 8x10 of Alan Lazarus.

Alan Lazaros

(8:54) They're already signed. (8:58) I'll erase that off for you. (9:00) No, I think I already have someone I'm gonna sell them to.(9:02) But, and it's gonna be cheap. (9:04) I think it's gonna be like 100 bucks. (9:05) The point is, the moment you set a goal, your life in the now immediately starts to suck.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:11) If anybody, I now think of this as a compliment. (9:14) Somebody on the team posted something about this. (9:16) I didn't read the whole post, so I don't know what it was all about.(9:19) But if somebody ever says you've changed and the reason you've changed is because your goal's changed, that's a good thing. (9:24) It's not a bad thing. (9:25) That's a necessary thing.(9:26) That is the necessary requirement. (9:29) That's what happens when you set a goal. (9:30) You have to change your beliefs.(9:33) You have to change your behaviors. (9:34) You have to change what you do. (9:35) You have to change what you don't do, what you say yes to, what you say no to.(9:37) All of that stuff. (9:38) I love that stuff.

Alan Lazaros

(9:40) Everything. (9:40) Is there anything that you don't have to change when you've set a high goal? (9:45) It depends on what the goal is, I think.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:48) And it depends on what you value. (9:51) I think some... (9:53) I don't know.(9:54) I imagine that some people when they set bigger goals, it actually helps them in some ways because they don't have to do things they don't want to do anymore. (10:00) Certain things, not blanket statement. (10:02) But like if you're anti-social, you don't want to spend time with people, set a big goal.(10:06) You'll be good. (10:07) You'll be good. (10:08) Yep, cool.(10:09) You don't have to see anybody unless it requires...

Alan Lazaros

(10:11) You don't have to see anybody, but you're going to be shit on for it for sure.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:13) Yeah, but you don't have anybody in your life anymore. (10:15) So they won't... (10:16) There's nobody to shit on you.(10:17) That's not true.

Alan Lazaros

(10:19) They'll find a way.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:20) It depends. (10:20) Well, it depends on what you're doing, right? (10:22) Again, I think it's easy for us to...(10:24) It's easy for me. (10:25) I'll say it's easy for me. (10:26) To forget...

Alan Lazaros

(10:27) Hey, Alan, happy birthday. (10:28) Oh, by the way, where the fuck you been? (10:30) It's like, goddamn it.(10:31) Yeah, let's take my birthday off Facebook.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:34) Well, I think there are some things that probably get, quote unquote, easier. (10:38) But most of it gets way harder. (10:40) Yeah, I don't think anything gets easier when you set a goal.(10:43) Ever. (10:44) I think for me, it's easier for me to say no to things. (10:48) But again, I don't have...

Alan Lazaros

(10:49) How? (10:50) What do you mean? (10:52) I go work.(10:53) It's easier. (10:54) You don't have to do anything. (10:55) People know that.(10:57) I do have to. (10:58) That's why people take so much offense to it. (11:00) Because when you set a goal, you're choosing the goal over them and they get offended.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:05) Well, I think the real truth of it is you're choosing yourself over them because the goal is for you. (11:11) Agreed. (11:12) But it might not be.(11:13) It might be for the world. (11:15) Well, yeah. (11:16) But it's still for you.(11:18) It's fulfilling to do it. (11:20) Yeah, it's a win-win. (11:22) But it's not just for you.(11:23) No, no, it's not like, if I really close out the week strong this week, I'm going to get a check for $50,000. (11:31) This is the goal. (11:32) No, it's not that.(11:34) There's way more layers. (11:36) But I think it's one of the reasons people villainize it is because it makes them feel unseen and underappreciated. (11:41) And they don't want to be that example to somebody else.(11:49) I think that's a big piece of it. (11:53) I think that's a really big piece of it. (11:54) When I was doing my bodybuilding shows back in the day, I, of course you didn't, you don't want to, nobody want to spend time with me.(12:01) I was boring as shit. (12:05) I'm no fun. (12:06) I was no fun.(12:08) Well, I can't, we can't go out to eat. (12:10) I mean, we can, but I gotta bring my Tupperware. (12:11) And I'd rather just not.(12:13) I'm tired as shit. (12:14) I gotta work out in an hour. (12:16) So like, we can't go anywhere anyway.(12:17) Of course you don't want to spend any time with me unless you're a bodybuilder. (12:20) Then you're like, fuck yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(12:21) That doesn't resonate with me personally. (12:24) It might with our listeners. (12:25) I feel like even when I was doing a fitness show, people wanted to hang out with me more.(12:31) People wanted to hang out with me more, but it was easier for me to say no.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:35) It was a built-in excuse. (12:38) I was joking with- It's not justifiable in their mind. (12:42) Oh, again, this goes back to what we were talking about before.(12:44) I don't give a fuck. (12:46) I don't care. (12:48) Look, I set the goal.(12:50) I said I was going to do it. (12:51) I'm the one who's going to show up every day. (12:54) You say it so easy.

Alan Lazaros

(12:56) Leave me alone, baby. (12:57) Is there anyone else you know who doesn't struggle with social peer pressure? (13:00) No, no, but- Uh, no.(13:03) I have social peer pressure. (13:04) Name me one person. (13:06) Name me one person who deals with it as well as you.(13:09) I don't know anybody off the top of my head.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:11) I don't know anybody off the top of my head.

Alan Lazaros

(13:14) I don't know anybody. (13:15) How many people you met? (13:16) In your lifetime?

Kevin Palmieri

(13:17) A fair amount.

Alan Lazaros

(13:18) Six thousand? (13:19) A good amount. (13:20) Not a single person.(13:21) There is no one on planet Earth who doesn't struggle with peer pressure. (13:25) I struggle with peer pressure. (13:26) I just think I struggle with it less.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:28) Why? (13:29) Because I'm stubborn. (13:29) Give us the secret, Kevin.(13:31) One, I'm stubborn. (13:34) Two, and here's the- Okay, stubbornness has a massive downside. (13:38) When my mind is made up, it is almost- I mean, it is an issue in my relationship.(13:42) If Tara and I say, what are we doing this weekend? (13:45) Oh, we're not going to do anything. (13:45) And then Friday night, she's like, I'd really like to do a date day Saturday.(13:48) I have to unwind so much. (13:52) Like, so much. (13:53) It's like, okay.(13:55) I need a minute. (13:56) Just give me a minute. (13:57) I got to back out of this imaginary world that I've already created in my brain about what's going to happen.

Alan Lazaros

(14:02) It's an issue. (14:03) I must drive you nuts.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:04) Pivots have to happen. (14:05) Oh, I fucking hate it. (14:06) Yeah, yeah, yeah.(14:06) You don't like pivots. (14:07) Not a pivot guy. (14:08) I'm way better than I used to be, but I am not a natural pivoter.

Alan Lazaros

(14:11) Emilia and I had challenges too. (14:13) She doesn't pivot well. (14:14) When something's on her calendar, dude, she can't not do it.(14:18) And I'm like, babe, can't move it, change it. (14:22) We got to adapt. (14:23) You got to plan, but you got to adapt.(14:25) Simultaneously, you got to adapt. (14:26) I've gotten better at that over the time too, but I'm very, very dirty. (14:29) You can be overly adaptable and you can also be overly...

Kevin Palmieri

(14:32) For sure. (14:34) I'm very stubborn. (14:35) Yeah.(14:36) I'm very, you can be overly adaptable, but you can also be overly stubborn. (14:38) I am a very stubborn human being, which has its upsides in discipline and productivity.

Alan Lazaros

(14:46) NLU listener, what is happening? (14:49) I just wanted to jump in here and let you know, if you want to get to the next level faster, we have a free virtual monthly meetup at the first Thursday of every month. (14:57) You can connect with like-minded people and become a bigger part of this amazing global community.(15:03) The link to register will be in the show notes. (15:07) What's a more positive way to frame that? (15:10) Stubborn...

Kevin Palmieri

(15:10) My boundaries are fucking locked in. (15:14) And my boundaries start with me. (15:17) And that is why I think I am better than...

Alan Lazaros

(15:21) Zero to 10, how good are you at boundaries?

Kevin Palmieri

(15:26) Statistically. (15:29) Eight. (15:31) Eight.(15:31) I'm not a 10. (15:33) Yeah, I'm not a 10. (15:33) Who's a 10?(15:35) I don't know if I've ever met a 10.

Alan Lazaros

(15:38) Honestly. (15:40) Honestly. (15:40) That means that you're more than eight.(15:42) That's what that means by definition. (15:44) My mind... (15:44) Of the 6,000 person sample set, you haven't met a single person with better boundaries than you?

Kevin Palmieri

(15:49) I would say there's definitely people that have better boundaries, but it's because they have delusionally high self-worth. (15:53) So it's not real boundaries. (15:55) It's not, they're not really setting boundaries.(15:56) It's based on something else. (15:58) Based on what?

Alan Lazaros

(16:01) Ego? (16:01) Growing cap today.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:02) For the listeners. (16:03) Maybe ego.

Alan Lazaros

(16:05) Inflated self-worth, I think is ego.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:06) Yeah, I think it's just that.

Alan Lazaros

(16:08) I think it's that. (16:09) Give me an example. (16:10) Someone with inflated self-worth.(16:11) Anonymously. (16:12) Anonymously. (16:13) Give me an anonymous, entitled, spoiled brat.(16:16) Talk to me. (16:17) I don't know. (16:17) I would not have...(16:18) My least favorite type of human.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:20) Spoiled fucking brats. (16:21) I wouldn't have a good enough data set to know what they actually are like when they set boundaries because I don't spend time with any.

Alan Lazaros

(16:26) I don't know. (16:27) Yeah, you have... (16:28) There are certain people in our past, anonymously, where Kev would be like, fuck that.(16:32) I don't have time for it.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:33) I'm done.

Alan Lazaros

(16:34) I don't... (16:34) We're not going to work. (16:36) Yeah, agreed.(16:37) Because they won't respect your boundaries, essentially.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:41) Because my... (16:42) Them trying to... (16:44) We had...(16:45) There was a... (16:47) We had a friend who I don't really... (16:49) Yeah, I don't consider this person a friend.(16:52) And I was... (16:53) I got a call from them and they left me a voicemail and they met... (16:55) They texted me like five times and they sent me a Facebook message.(16:58) It was like, hey Kev, trying to get a hold of you. (16:59) It's something important. (17:00) Oh yeah, I just want to make sure we could use one of your quotes that you and Alan said in my book.(17:06) But you couldn't have fucking emailed me like a month ago. (17:08) Like, why do you have to call me and... (17:10) Oh, I hope you're doing well too.(17:11) It's like, no, you don't. (17:12) You don't care. (17:14) And we don't have to pretend.(17:15) What's the truth under that? (17:17) They needed me for something. (17:21) And they reached out because they needed something, which is fine.(17:23) I don't have any issue with that.

Alan Lazaros

(17:25) But let's not...

Kevin Palmieri

(17:25) Yeah, but don't mask it.

Alan Lazaros

(17:26) Yeah, let's not mask it.

Kevin Palmieri

(17:26) Don't mask it. (17:27) And don't... (17:28) Don't try to like low-key guilt me into like, well, I reached out to you on several different platforms.(17:33) I'm on... (17:34) I'm in fucking Vermont. (17:36) Leave me alone.(17:37) Leave me alone. (17:38) I'm on my phone 24-7. (17:40) I'm on my phone 24-7.(17:41) I don't... (17:42) 100%.

Alan Lazaros

(17:43) I wouldn't get mad at you if you didn't get back to me. (17:45) This is one of the reasons you and I work so well. (17:47) I never call you.(17:50) How many times have I called you in eight years?

Kevin Palmieri

(17:52) You called me not five days... (17:54) Not four days ago. (17:55) True.(17:55) It was so interesting. (17:56) I was in the car with Taron and I got a call from Alan. (17:59) I was like, oh no.(18:00) Oh no, something's broken down.

Alan Lazaros

(18:02) In eight years, how many times have I called the kid?

Kevin Palmieri

(18:05) Yeah, probably 50. (18:06) Something like that. (18:07) Yeah, but it's been...(18:08) It was like 30 the first year, 20 the second year. (18:11) Or no, 18 the second year. (18:12) And then it just trailed off.

Alan Lazaros

(18:14) Unless in 2025, I get one...

Kevin Palmieri

(18:16) Something is going really wrong or really right, that's the only time you ever call me.

Alan Lazaros

(18:19) 100%. (18:20) I have to rephrase something. (18:21) I know we got to jump.(18:23) I said my least favorite people are spoiled brats. (18:26) It's not true. (18:27) Bullies.(18:28) Least favorite people are bullies. (18:30) And a lot of times the bullies are spoiled brats, but those are the two. (18:34) The only two people that I am not all for, spoiled entitled brats who think the whole world revolves around them and fucking bullies.(18:44) And a lot of times those go hand in hand. (18:45) And I am for human beings. (18:48) I believe in humans so deeply.(18:50) I am not about it with that. (18:53) See? (18:53) You guys, not interested.(18:56) And we, NLU listeners, I know you guys feel that way too. (19:01) It's... (19:01) I can't stand when...(19:03) I had someone... (19:04) We talked about this a while ago. (19:05) I know we got to jump.(19:06) Hey, it's so-and-so. (19:09) Call me. (19:10) Phone number.(19:11) I haven't talked to you in 16 years. (19:13) I messaged them back. (19:15) I said, hey, just curious.(19:17) Got a crazy schedule today. (19:18) What's this in reference to? (19:20) Very respectful.(19:21) Very kind. (19:22) On a plane. (19:23) Period.(19:24) Never got back to me. (19:26) I do believe that was an unconscious test. (19:30) Because this was a boss of mine way back in the day.(19:32) That was an unconscious test to see if he could say, jump and I'd just say how high. (19:38) And I think he wasn't interested in someone who isn't willing to be fawning. (19:47) Fawning is appeasing.(19:48) Someone who's not going to appease him. (19:49) Because in the past, when I was a kid, I did appease him. (19:52) And that's over, son.(19:53) Absolutely over. (19:54) By the way, I've reflected since. (19:57) I should never have been listening to you, sir.(20:00) Holy shit. (20:02) And when you become an adult, you realize how much, when you were a kid, you looked up to people that never earned it. (20:09) I don't know if you feel like an adult.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:11) Definitely. (20:12) I feel like absolutely. (20:13) I feel like a kid all the time.(20:14) There's certain things that I thought would just like go away. (20:16) Like internally. (20:17) Nope.(20:19) No, I'm pretty sure that's just my shit.

Alan Lazaros

(20:21) Stuff I got to work on. (20:23) I feel extremely adult. (20:24) Very professional.(20:25) Very adult. (20:26) I playfully, I'm very playful with Emilia. (20:29) We have a lot of fun.(20:30) And with YouTube behind the scenes. (20:31) But dude, yeah, adulting hard for sure. (20:34) All right.(20:34) I did payroll earlier. (20:36) It's like, Jesus, this is a whole thing. (20:39) I feel the same.(20:39) I'm a grown ass man. (20:42) 18 person team, 23 clients. (20:45) It's definitely a lot of leadership.(20:46) It's a lot of dude. (20:47) Yeah. (20:47) We're adulting very hard.(20:49) Almost to the point where it's so much responsibility. (20:51) Sometimes I wonder. (20:53) It's a lot.(20:54) It's a lot. (20:55) That's all.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:56) It is a lot. (20:56) Okay. (20:56) This would be my, this would be my, my takeaway.(20:58) I'm trying to be more honest and I want to be more. (21:01) I don't want to be more hardcore in the sense of just say shit to say shit. (21:04) I don't want that.(21:05) I think one of the reasons people villainize discipline is because they don't have the courage to take ownership for the fact that the goal was misaligned in the beginning. (21:13) It's really easy to say no discipline put me in a bad situation. (21:16) The goal puts you in a bad situation and maybe a lack of self-awareness puts you in a bad situation.(21:21) I think aligned discipline is the best thing in the world, but I also think misaligned discipline is a potential for a disaster. (21:28) This don't, let's not blame discipline. (21:30) Let's blame misaligned goals.(21:32) Let's blame short time perspective. (21:35) Let's blame maybe a lack of self-awareness, whatever it is. (21:37) Discipline is wonderful.(21:38) You want a disciplined relationship. (21:40) I do. (21:42) Same.(21:42) A hundred percent. (21:43) I don't want to be with someone who's not, who's out gallivanting with other people. (21:47) That's undisciplined.(21:48) That's not a disciplined relationship, right? (21:49) So I think it's easy to, to villainize the label when oftentimes we create the label.

Alan Lazaros

(21:57) I promised Amelia when she started evolved movie club that I'd be at every single one and Kevin and I were deep in a deep conversation and we had to record. (22:05) And that's one of the reasons we recorded late. (22:07) I said, I gotta, I won't break the promise.(22:09) I have to. (22:09) And she, and I talked about it last night. (22:11) She, it was one of her gratitude.(22:12) She said, thank you so much because I've been let down too many times by men who make promises they don't keep. (22:18) And I don't make promises to myself or others almost ever because when I do, I really need to keep that. (22:27) And it's very, you have to be very careful because there's only so many promises you can make.(22:31) There's only so many non-negotiables you can have. (22:33) This podcast is one of them. (22:35) We'll never miss an episode.(22:36) That's a promise. (22:37) You can't have 50 of those. (22:38) I've tried.(22:39) It's terrible. (22:40) Don't do it. (22:41) You got to have a couple.(22:43) And so when you set a goal, it's going to require a promise right on a dotted line. (22:49) You know, Alan, I'm going to do this and it's going to take away from these other things. (22:53) So be expecting resistance, be expecting people to be upset with you unless you're Kev apparently joking.(22:59) No, they are upset. (23:00) I just, it's, I don't care that much. (23:03) The truth comes out.(23:04) I love it. (23:05) Good. (23:05) Well, that's, I want some of that, but I actually think I'm getting there to be honest with you because yeah, as you get older, you realize on what planet do we not work every day?(23:17) We have to make a living and it's really something to revere. (23:21) You know, you can't act like you're 20 for the rest of your life and it's important. (23:27) So my takeaway next level lesson is when you set a goal, everything in your life will have to shift a little, say, think, do feel, believe, and it will be very challenging, particularly if you have goals in conflict or core values in conflict or relationships in conflict, you're going to have to raise your standards and it's not going to be pretty.(23:47) Sometimes it's, it's really, it's really difficult. (23:50) I always say this. (23:50) It's really easy to be nice.(23:52) It's very difficult to be extremely focused toward achieving meaningful goals and be nice. (23:58) I want to be nice. (24:00) Always.(24:00) I want to be respectful. (24:01) I want to be a good person. (24:02) It's much harder when you're under fucking pressure constantly.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:07) That is fair. (24:08) That is fair. (24:09) Also, I'm pretty sure today is our 1500th episode in a row, like seven days a week.(24:15) I think today might be, it's 1498 or 1499.

Alan Lazaros

(24:17) How the hell do you know that?

Kevin Palmieri

(24:18) Why would you know that? (24:19) I was putting together some stuff for the Next Level Podcast Accelerator that we're doing tonight. (24:23) Ah, nice.(24:24) And it was, I asked ChatGPT and it was like 2050 episodes. (24:29) I was like, definitely not. (24:31) Nope.(24:31) ChatGPT is not good with numbers. (24:33) For some reason you, I mean, I had a calculator that always gets the numbers right. (24:37) You'd think they'd figure that out by now, but yeah, I think it's like 1499th episode in a row without missing an episode.(24:44) So shout out, shout out to you, shout out to the team, shout out to the production team. (24:49) Grateful for all of you. (24:50) All right.

Alan Lazaros

(24:50) We never missed an episode. (24:51) We never, that was every day. (24:54) That was when we started daily.(24:55) Because at first it was once a week for the new listeners. (24:57) Once a week, then twice a week, then three times a week, then five times a week. (24:59) We did miss in the beginning, I'm telling you.(25:01) I know you don't believe it. (25:02) You missed. (25:03) No, we missed.(25:03) I did not miss. (25:05) We can go back and look. (25:06) I need proof.(25:07) I'm certain of it. (25:08) Show me proof. (25:09) I will show you proof.(25:09) You deleted episode 16 and I agree with you, but that counts. (25:14) It was, that's not, that wasn't it. (25:15) Oh.(25:16) When we, you and I partnered up, we missed. (25:18) At 19. (25:19) We partnered up on 19, son.(25:20) You go look. (25:21) You missed. (25:22) I did not miss.(25:23) We missed together. (25:24) I do need proof, genuinely.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:26) I'll get you proof.

Alan Lazaros

(25:26) That's the case. (25:27) I'll get you proof. (25:28) Meet up tomorrow.(25:30) Yes. (25:31) The meet up tomorrow? (25:32) Tomorrow.(25:33) Yes, tomorrow. (25:34) Strong work. (25:35) Because this is Thursday.(25:37) Meet up 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. (25:42) He says with absolute certainty. (25:43) The top 10 reasons people aren't more successful.(25:46) Most people are not going to achieve their goals and dreams. (25:49) Statistically speaking, it makes me very sad. (25:51) It's an unfortunate truth, but it is a fact.(25:54) Don't be one of them. (25:55) We can learn all the bottlenecks that hold people back. (25:59) Distractions.(26:00) Boom, boom, boom. (26:00) We're going to top 10. (26:01) I am going to crank on that.(26:03) It's come prepared to be poured into. (26:06) And yes, it's going to be hard fucking core. (26:09) Okay.(26:09) It's free. (26:10) The link will be in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:11) As always, we love you. (26:13) We appreciate you. (26:13) Grateful for each and every one of you.(26:15) And if you are as committed as you say you are to getting to the next level. (26:19) Make sure you tune in tomorrow because we will be here every single day. (26:22) Promise to help you get to the next level.(26:25) Keep it next level. (26:27) Next level nation. (26:30) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University.(26:34) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(26:36) We mean it when we say family. (26:38) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (26:42) Everything you need to get ahold of us is in the show notes.(26:45) Thank you again. (26:46) And we will talk to you tomorrow.