IF You’re Looking For The One Thing… You’ll be Looking Forever (2161)

In this episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros shatter the myth of quick fixes, showing that true growth begins with tackling your greatest challenge today. With wisdom from legends like Tom Brady and Michael Phelps, they reveal how to spot what’s holding you back and ask the one question that clears the path forward. A must-listen for anyone ready to trade shortcuts for lasting success.

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Show notes:
(3:09) The real “one thing” you need
(4:30) Lessons from the best in the world
(6:01) How to identify your biggest constraint
(9:59) The question that solves future problems
(14:20) Meet your people. Chase your dreams. Level up your life with Next Level Group Coaching. https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/group-coaching/
(17:38) Wins and celebrations look different
(21:35) Growth is a never-ending climb
(27:04) 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

• 3:09 The real “one thing” you need
• 4:30 Lessons from the best in the world
• 6:01 How to identify your biggest constraint
• 9:59 The question that solves future problems
• 14:20 Meet your people. Chase your dreams. Level up your life with Next Level Group Coaching.
• 17:38 Wins and celebrations look different
• 21:35 Growth is a never-ending climb
• 27:04 Outro

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) There is no magic bullet, there is no one-size-fits-all fix. (0:04) If you are looking for the one thing that's going to fix everything, you are in a lot of trouble.

Alan Lazaros

(0:08) One of my favorite books of all time is The Art of Impossible, and there's a quote by Stephen Kotler, we've interviewed him, and he says, very little is impossible given a decade.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:19) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:21) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:23) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.(0:26) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no-BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:33) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:40) 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

(0:55) Self-improvement in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:02) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:07) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2,161. (1:12) If you're looking for the one thing, you'll be looking forever. (1:15) I was on a world-class podcast today.

Alan Lazaros

(1:18) Nice.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:19) With a gentleman named Justin. (1:20) I saw it come through, green, super green. (1:21) Super green, great.(1:23) Dude's an actor, just great, great questions, great prep. (1:27) And he said, we were talking about, he said, what's the thing that just pisses you off the most about being on other podcasts? (1:34) And I said, when people don't prep.(1:36) Brother, I can't tell you, I literally said, Alan and I went on a pre-call yesterday. (1:42) Oh, it was brutal. (1:44) The guy was trying to sell us something.(1:46) He's like, oh, what do you look for in guests? (1:49) We haven't had guests in 1,500 episodes, sir. (1:51) More than that.

Alan Lazaros

(1:52) It's been a minute. (1:53) I've been listening to your show.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:55) You haven't.

Alan Lazaros

(1:55) If you have been.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:56) We haven't. (1:56) You just lied. (1:57) You just lied right to us.

Alan Lazaros

(1:58) You just lied right to our face. (2:00) How many times do you think you lied on that call? (2:01) Many times.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:02) Many times.

Alan Lazaros

(2:03) How many? (2:04) Five? (2:04) Five.(2:05) Five. (2:06) Five. (2:07) So I said people that don't do research.(2:09) Real quick. (2:09) Yeah. (2:10) At one point he's like, well, I'm kind of an investor in it.(2:12) Okay. (2:13) Yeah. (2:14) Okay.(2:14) Yeah. (2:15) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:16) Hey, going back to the previous episode about self-worth, we're still going on the podcast though.

Alan Lazaros

(2:21) Real quick, real quick. (2:24) The reason why is because I shield bumped the hell out of it. (2:27) I shield bumped the hell out of it and he handled it reasonably well.(2:31) And I said, listen, is this still aligned? (2:33) First of all, I said, have you ever done a three-person interview?

Kevin Palmieri

(2:35) Yes.

Alan Lazaros

(2:36) Number two, we're here to serve and practice our craft. (2:41) Who's your listener? (2:42) How can we help?(2:43) And then he handled it with some respect. (2:46) So that's why we're doing it.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:47) I feel like he handled it with respect.

Alan Lazaros

(2:48) Yeah, he did. (2:49) He handled, he took the humble pie. (2:51) He knew that we called him out.(2:53) And he's young as shit too, man. (2:54) He's like 18 years old or something.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:56) I don't know the age of the man, but I do know that that ties nicely into what we talked about yesterday. (3:01) Okay. (3:02) So we were going on this, we were going on this journey of me explaining sometimes the things I get frustrated with.(3:09) And we were talking about how I said, you know, the other thing that's hard at times is people will be like, what's the one thing that made the biggest difference? (3:17) Your business partner. (3:18) My business partner.(3:19) It was me, me three times. (3:20) And I'll say, I oftentimes, I think, I think that question is more for a, like a teaser clip than it is me three times than it is anything else. (3:34) Because the truth is, how do I condense?(3:36) If somebody said, how did you guys get to 1000 episodes? (3:41) Give me one sentence. (3:43) Pure pain, failure, and suffering.(3:45) That's it. (3:46) We just showed up every day. (3:47) That's it.(3:49) There is no, I can't give you one answer that's going to encapsulate anything. (3:52) And I can't really give you one answer that's going to be that valuable. (3:56) And I think a lot, we're in this weird space where I think a lot of us are looking for that one, that one thing now to Alan's point.(4:04) And I think where Alan is going to go with this is there is one thing you should be focused on right now that will unlock the next thing for you to focus on. (4:11) But there is not, if there are three things, it's self-belief, self-worth, self-awareness. (4:16) If I could say, just pick one thing, what do you got?

Alan Lazaros

(4:20) Pretty good. (4:20) Not bad. (4:21) Pretty good.(4:21) Undying self-belief has to be the one. (4:23) If there was one, which there isn't. (4:25) Well, we're going to talk about that in a couple of episodes.(4:30) T. (4:30) Brady, TB12. (4:33) I don't even know if arguably is the case.(4:35) Best quarterback in history.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:37) If you break his career up into three different segments, he is, I think he's like close to the best player three times. (4:47) How wild is that? (4:49) Unbelievable.

Alan Lazaros

(4:51) He said this, he said, if you want to be successful, you have to do a lot more right than wrong. (4:58) I like that a lot. (4:59) He also said, what you know is very limited, what you don't know is limitless.(5:06) He's the one that said that? (5:08) Yeah. (5:10) I like to learn from, I watch a lot of content from the very best in the world.(5:20) You ever seen the CrossFit games, dude? (5:23) Rich Froning. (5:25) That was 2024.(5:26) 2025 was recently. (5:28) I just, I needed motivation this morning, so I put one in. (5:30) I don't know who the latest, unbelievable what these people do.(5:34) They're jacked. (5:35) It's insanity. (5:36) It's so motivating.(5:38) That's why I blew my knee out a little bit this morning.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:39) Shout out to all the young ladies doing CrossFit who would wipe the walls with me. (5:43) Shout out to you.

Alan Lazaros

(5:44) Good for you. (5:45) Good for you. (5:48) So, I talk about Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, all these people.(5:51) Why? (5:52) Because they found a way to be the best in the world at what they do. (5:56) Now, that doesn't mean you have to want to be the best in the world, but you can learn from those people.(5:59) So, back to this. (6:01) There is no one thing. (6:02) If there was a one thing, it would be undying self-belief.(6:05) That will get you farther than anything else. (6:07) However, we did an episode two weeks, three weeks ago, something like that, on targeting the constraint. (6:14) At all times, there's a constraint in your life.(6:16) So, in my fitness goals, my biggest constraint is my right knee. (6:19) Okay, what's the solution? (6:21) Foam rolling, mobility, hydration, better sleep.(6:24) Awesome. (6:24) Okay, go to work on that. (6:26) The moment my knee is better, it's going to be my right shoulder.(6:29) And then the moment my right shoulder is better... (6:32) Dude, of course, you know the deal. (6:34) At all times, there's a constraint.(6:36) 24-7, 365. (6:37) My body feels good. (6:39) Brother, there's a fucking constraint.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:41) I know, I know.

Alan Lazaros

(6:41) If you haven't found it yet, it's because you're not lifting heavy enough or enough.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:44) It's sleep. (6:44) First of all, you come at me lifting heavy.

Alan Lazaros

(6:47) You better fucking watch it.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:48) That's first of all. (6:49) It's sleep? (6:50) Sleep, yeah.(6:50) My body feels great. (6:51) Shoulders great. (6:52) Knees great.(6:53) I don't know. (6:54) Mobility, I think, is a hoax. (6:56) I do.(6:57) I think there's a big mobility out there has gotten everybody to believe.

Alan Lazaros

(7:01) All of a sudden, Kev's going to not do mobility five years from now. (7:04) He's going to completely blow everything up.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:06) I think foam rollers are fake. (7:07) I don't even think that's real.

Alan Lazaros

(7:08) Nope, pliability is real.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:09) I don't even think that's real. (7:10) Big flexibility out there has got people believe in it. (7:14) It's not real.

Alan Lazaros

(7:16) Kev, I can't get behind you on any of that.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:19) Okay.

Alan Lazaros

(7:19) I have no idea what kind of freaky shit you're doing over there to not do mobility and be totally fine. (7:24) No idea. (7:25) We're not going to go there.(7:27) I could tell you. (7:28) It's not a fit. (7:28) No, I'm not interested.(7:29) We already went through your entire fitness regimen two episodes ago. (7:32) Well, we left out the one thing, the one thing that everybody needs to know. (7:38) I'm kidding.(7:38) Go ahead. (7:39) One of our new clients, I'm helping him in fitness. (7:42) I'll read this anonymously.(7:44) Shout out to you, brother. (7:47) I just think it's really funny and I'll make a point. (7:50) I promise.(7:51) He said, hey, man, can you please explain to me the science and process behind the lower protein diet? (7:58) Goes against what I've been learning and I need answers. (8:00) Oh, well, thank you.(8:02) I said, brother, they're trying to sell you protein. (8:04) Yeah. (8:06) All these supplement companies, they don't make money on sleep, hydration.(8:12) They make money. (8:13) Okay, so here's the pyramid sleep, hydration, nutrition, training, mobility, breathwork and supplementation. (8:18) All of those are free except for supplementation.(8:21) So every protein company on planet Earth is like, hey, I think you need three grams of protein per pound of body weight. (8:28) So Kev, what's your body weight?

Kevin Palmieri

(8:29) Uh, I was 180, sorry, 178 pounds today.

Alan Lazaros

(8:34) 178 times three. (8:35) I'm going to need you to get 534 G's per day of protein. (8:40) I'm going to need you to botch your kidneys and then come to us for a supplement to help you with your kidney.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:46) Don't forget the liver and kidney detoxifier.

Alan Lazaros

(8:49) Exactly. (8:49) Obviously. (8:50) So the point is, is you, I do 0.6 times your body weight. (8:54) I don't think you need any more than that. (8:55) I think it's bullshit.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:56) We're off the rails here.

Alan Lazaros

(8:57) All right, here we go. (8:58) There's a constraint at all times. (8:59) Yes.(9:02) And there is no one quick fix that's going to fix everything. (9:06) However, there's a question that I ask constantly to Kev, to myself, to the team, to my clients. (9:13) What is the one thing we can do today that could solve a thousand future problems?(9:18) People think I exercise every day because I'm out of my mind. (9:22) It's not the reason.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:23) The reason is because that's the one thing that solves a thousand future problems. (9:27) Do you, do you think people should work on, I'm going to use a golf, I'm going to use a golf analogy. (9:32) I know you fucking hate it, but it, look, I don't have anything else that other people do.(9:38) One of the issues is you overthink and then you over research and then you have too many fucking variables. (9:47) So it's like, well, you got to do this and you got to do this and you got to do this. (9:51) And then, then you forgot what the first thing was.(9:53) And you don't even know what you're doing in the first place. (9:55) Do you suggest that you focus on one thing at a time? (9:59) Yeah, a hundred percent.

Alan Lazaros

(10:01) That's why I break everything into quarters. (10:04) So we set the high staircase, the big dreams, 10 plus years. (10:08) Dream statement.(10:09) Every client has one. (10:10) Some of them are very specific. (10:12) Some of them are vague.(10:13) I'll give you mine. (10:14) I hope you're thinking of yours. (10:16) I, Alan Lazarus, am here to reach my own unique potential and help others do the same in fitness, personal development, and business through the vehicles of coaching, training, and podcasting.(10:25) Boom. (10:25) That's it. (10:26) That's my whole life in a nutshell right there.(10:28) Now, that's the dream. (10:30) Great. (10:31) Now, how do we get there?(10:33) This quarter, I have three goals that are underneath that. (10:37) And everyone has a most important skill, MIS, most important skill, every, every client. (10:42) One of them is staying focused.(10:44) One of them is sales. (10:46) Mine is social media marketing because I fucking blow at that.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:50) Yours is, I don't know what yours is right now, but you have one. (10:54) You made it up. (10:55) I think you wanted mine to be social media marketing as well.(10:57) I was like, fuck that noise. (10:59) What is yours right now? (11:00) Do you know?(11:01) I don't have that. (11:01) It's literally social media, I think.

Alan Lazaros

(11:03) There is no one quick fix for anyone. (11:09) There is one next bottleneck and one next solution to that bottleneck. (11:14) And then I used to say, there is no candy land.(11:16) You're never going to wake up in the morning, do your morning routine, have an amazing day, and then go to bed fulfilled. (11:22) Like, that's not real. (11:24) The most productive human being I know on planet earth is Emilia Smith.(11:28) She never goes to bed like, I'm awesome, ever. (11:32) Now, she has self-worth and self-respect and self-love and self-trust and self-discipline and she has self-belief, but she never is like, killed it today. (11:42) No, because she's shooting.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:43) I still think you can, though.

Alan Lazaros

(11:43) You can't, brother. (11:44) You can't. (11:45) It's not real.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:45) I do. (11:45) If that's the case, you're not shooting high enough, in my opinion. (11:47) I don't agree.(11:49) I think you guys are always going to feel that way because you're always thinking about maximizing your potential and there's no such thing. (11:57) That's the goal. (11:58) The infinite game that's impossible to win.(12:01) I know, but I have days where it's like, I get a lot done. (12:04) I feel pretty good about it. (12:06) Well, you could have done more then.(12:07) For sure. (12:08) But you can always do more. (12:11) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(12:12) You don't celebrate, ever. (12:15) I don't. (12:16) No, no, hold on.(12:18) I celebrated 54 last week. (12:20) How so? (12:22) I said it to you.(12:26) I did. (12:26) I said it to a couple clients. (12:28) I said, so I did 54 coaching sessions, trainings, and podcasts last week.(12:31) I think, did I send you a message? (12:33) No. (12:33) I sent you a message with a screenshot.(12:35) Yes, I did. (12:35) Where?

Kevin Palmieri

(12:36) I don't think so.

Alan Lazaros

(12:36) I think this was somebody else. (12:38) You got me confused. (12:38) You got me fucked up with somebody else, man.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:40) Hold on. (12:40) Here's my point. (12:41) Here's my point.(12:42) Respectfully, I want to respectfully push back. (12:44) It's right there. (12:45) A message to Kevin Palmieri.(12:47) In WhatsApp?

Alan Lazaros

(12:47) Unless there's another Kevin-CSO.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:49) Yes, there is.

Alan Lazaros

(12:49) It's a screenshot.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:50) Just brought him on. (12:51) Just brought him on, actually, this week. (12:53) Great kid.(12:54) Great kid.

Alan Lazaros

(12:54) I said I knew it.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:56) Most productive week I've ever had last week. (12:58) Hold on. (12:58) Quick question.(12:59) Is that above or below the 11-minute audio message you sent me? (13:03) Below. (13:03) Thank you.(13:04) It's marked as unread. (13:05) I haven't got there yet. (13:07) Oh, okay.(13:08) 11-minute audio message. (13:10) CEO of the company. (13:11) I know.(13:11) I'm going to get to it. (13:13) It's Thursday. (13:14) I understand.(13:15) It's been Mayhem.

Alan Lazaros

(13:15) I sent this shit on Monday.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:16) I know. (13:17) I understand. (13:19) I understand.(13:20) We sort of had an unspoken agreement. (13:22) I'll send Alan a five-minute audio. (13:24) Then I see him and he's like, dude, do I need to listen to that after we catch up?(13:27) We haven't got there yet on this one. (13:29) I think you need to feel accomplished based on how much you need to celebrate. (13:36) That's my thesis.(13:37) I agree.

Alan Lazaros

(13:39) I think that the right amount of celebration is good. (13:41) So you can feel good. (13:43) If you have big goals to the point of the last episode, you're not going to go to bed every day feeling good.(13:49) How many days in the last eight years? (13:50) I'm not saying every day. (13:51) I'm not saying every day.(13:52) Real quick. (13:52) Yeah. (13:52) How many days in the last eight years have you gone to bed like, hell yeah, I'm the man.(13:57) I did great.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:57) When I have made truly meaningful progress on one of my most important priorities. (14:02) How many days out of the eight years? (14:04) More than you think.

Alan Lazaros

(14:06) 2,000. (14:08) 365 times eight. (14:09) 2,920 days.(14:11) How many of those days? (14:12) I mean. (14:13) Let me ask you a better question.(14:14) How many of those days did you go to bed very, very disappointed in yourself?

Kevin Palmieri

(14:21) Next Level Nation, what is happening? (14:23) If you've thought to yourself, I want to try coaching, but you don't really know where to start. (14:29) Group coaching would be a wonderful place for you.(14:31) That's really why we created it in the first place. (14:33) We start a new round every 90 days. (14:36) So if you're hearing this, go to the website, nextleveluniverse.com, and we have the landing page where you can actually hold your spot right now. (14:44) Even if there's a group going on right now, you can still lock your spot for the next one. (14:49) The biggest thing that we've seen is as we get closer and closer to the date, unfortunately, some people end up missing. (14:55) The group fills up and they can't do it, and then they end up regretting that.(14:58) So please head over to the website. (15:00) The link will be in the show notes, and we would love to see you there. (15:05) This is a tough question because I am more successful than I thought I was going to be.(15:09) Well, then just be honest. (15:11) It's okay.

Alan Lazaros

(15:12) There had to be at least 30% of the days where you're like, yeah, I would probably say 50-50.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:19) Nice. (15:20) I'd probably say 50-50. (15:21) It's a good balance.(15:22) But I think yours is like 99-1. (15:25) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(15:28) It's not 99-1. (15:30) I think it started out 80-20, and then it was 81-19, and then 82-18. (15:37) Because you need it less.(15:38) Agreed. (15:39) Because you need it less. (15:39) And same.(15:40) I don't need a birthday party because I did 50 sessions last week, right? (15:44) It's okay. (15:45) On to the next one.(15:45) On to the next one. (15:46) But in the beginning, when I was a little kid, I probably needed a little more.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:50) The reason I say that is because sometimes when you say it, it makes it sound like... (15:57) I don't know. (15:57) I think just sometimes it makes it sound like it's not going to be good, and it's going to be terrible.(16:02) But it makes it sound a little bit more terrible than maybe it's going to be. (16:07) Okay.

Alan Lazaros

(16:10) You don't think that... (16:12) Okay. (16:12) Okay.(16:13) We're talking to Kevin eight years ago.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:14) Yeah. (16:15) If you said you're never going to go to bed happy or feel accomplished or feel fulfilled in what you got in the day, I would have been like, dude, what the fuck's the point? (16:24) Really?(16:24) Yeah. (16:25) But you'll feel good about yourself in life. (16:28) I don't.(16:29) But my life is horrible right now. (16:31) I can't imagine it not being horrible. (16:32) I need to feel decent about myself sometimes in the process.(16:36) Fair. (16:37) Yeah. (16:37) I think I would have pushed back on you.(16:41) Well, that's good. (16:42) I think the value of this podcast... (16:44) I didn't.

Alan Lazaros

(16:44) That was just like, tell me what to do. (16:46) Tell me what to do. (16:47) I'll do it.(16:48) So in hindsight, would you have...

Kevin Palmieri

(16:51) Remember... (16:51) Because you had panic attacks and all kinds of stuff. (16:53) It was fucking terrible.(16:54) Alan and I were in Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway. (16:57) And I was like, dude, we should really go out to a nice dinner tonight to celebrate. (17:01) Like, I need to lock this shit in.(17:03) And you were like, dumbest idea ever. (17:05) Dumbest fucking idea ever. (17:06) We're going to get roadside burritos from this food truck.(17:11) I was nicer than that, wasn't I? (17:13) No, I think you were pretty coarse at me. (17:15) Not in a bad way.(17:16) You weren't mad at me. (17:16) You were like, dude, that's dumbest shit. (17:18) We're not going to spend $200 on dinner to say we did.(17:21) We're going to go to this taco truck on the side of the road. (17:26) And it was good. (17:27) Food was fire.(17:28) It was delicious. (17:29) But... (17:29) But real quick.(17:30) Okay. (17:31) We didn't have that kind of money back then. (17:33) We're not going to spend money on this.(17:34) We were in Malibu. (17:35) We could have thrown it on a credit card. (17:37) Of course, we could have.

Alan Lazaros

(17:38) It was $200 to discover. (17:40) So here's the truth underneath all this. (17:42) For you, that would have been a win.(17:44) For me, that would have been an L. (17:45) Yes. (17:45) I don't need to do that, dude.(17:48) Like... (17:48) But I think more people than you think... (17:49) Now that I know...(17:50) Yeah, now that I know that, I probably would have done it because you do change after you experience certain things. (17:56) For sure. (17:56) Like after the infinity pool and Scottsdale and Malibu and...(18:01) Changed my life. (18:01) You did change. (18:02) Yeah, you changed.(18:03) Because you were exposed to things and you experienced things that were once only in your imagination.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:10) There is a song. (18:12) It's called Life Got Crazy by Mike. (18:14) There's a part in it where he's talking...(18:15) It's a song about grinding through it and making it, quote unquote. (18:20) Nice. (18:20) I remember when we went...(18:22) Huge fan of that type of music. (18:24) We were in Florida for an event. (18:26) It was a terrible event.(18:27) We wasted our time and money going down there. (18:29) Technically, Alan paid for everybody, which respect. (18:31) I did.(18:31) I appreciate that so very much. (18:34) Which I'm sure I had to pay for in some way, shape, or form. (18:37) But...(18:38) You did. (18:39) But I remember one morning, I got up early before anybody else was up and I walked down to the beach and I was listening to the song. (18:46) And I was thinking.(18:46) I was like, imagine. (18:48) Imagine in a couple years, I'll be listening to this in a really nice car, hopefully. (18:52) And now that's the case.(18:53) Nice. (18:54) There's something about that for me.

Alan Lazaros

(18:55) Yeah, you got a nice car.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:56) There's something about that for me. (18:58) Locking it in.

Alan Lazaros

(18:58) And it's actually practical, man.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:00) It is practical.

Alan Lazaros

(19:00) I hated that old BMW. (19:01) Too small. (19:02) I fucking hated it.(19:02) Yeah, too small.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:03) Too small. (19:04) Can't find it.

Alan Lazaros

(19:04) Four doors now. (19:05) Yeah, four doors in the way. (19:06) Four doors.(19:06) Okay, I know we got to jump. (19:07) Yeah. (19:09) Wrap this up.(19:10) How do we... (19:11) What's the takeaway? (19:12) What's the point for the listeners?

Kevin Palmieri

(19:15) The takeaway is, from my perspective, there are principles that cover a lot of different specifics. (19:23) So I don't know. (19:26) Give more than you take.(19:27) Great principle. (19:28) Give more than you take. (19:30) Add more value than you get in response.(19:33) Awesome. (19:33) Great principle. (19:34) But that's not the one thing.(19:37) Habit track. (19:38) Great fucking principle. (19:40) One of the best.(19:41) One of the best. (19:42) But that's not the one thing, because you can habit track yourself right off a cliff if you don't know what you're focused on. (19:47) So I think some of the...(19:50) Is that why you don't like the book, The One Thing? (19:52) I fucking can't stand it. (19:54) Really?

Alan Lazaros

(19:55) Yeah, I don't like it. (19:56) I think it's dumb. (19:57) It's a duality.(19:58) There's one thing at all times, and then after that, there's a new one thing. (20:03) It's a duality.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:04) I don't like the way people market books. (20:07) Yeah. (20:08) The One Thing's a really powerful book.(20:10) As long as you don't take it at face value. (20:12) I know, but I think most people... (20:14) And again, I'm not saying you out there.(20:17) It wasn't a mentor. (20:18) He was a guy. (20:19) There was a guy.(20:22) And he said the only person that got rich off the four-hour work week was Tim Ferriss. (20:27) It's like, that's... (20:28) I think that's accurate.(20:29) It's a dangerous book if someone wants to work less. (20:32) Well, I think that's... (20:33) It's smart if you want to do leverage.(20:35) That's who it's catered to. (20:37) Remember 8 Minute Abs? (20:38) You ever buy 8 Minute Abs?(20:39) Of course not. (20:41) Same. (20:41) Because it wasn't fucking catered for me.

Alan Lazaros

(20:43) It was catered for somebody else. (20:44) The only thing I ever got hoodwinked on with businesses is the Banjo Minnow. (20:48) The Banjo Minnow.(20:49) Dude, I remember... (20:49) It caught one fish. (20:50) I couldn't...(20:51) I didn't have the funds. (20:52) You and I went fishing once where I grew up. (20:55) Yeah.(20:55) We each... (20:56) I caught nine, you caught seven or something?

Kevin Palmieri

(20:58) I don't know.

Alan Lazaros

(20:58) We caught a combined 16 bass. (21:02) It's a good amount. (21:03) Banjo Minnow.(21:03) One bass. (21:05) Ever.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:06) That marketing was world-class. (21:07) Oh, that marketing was world-class. (21:08) How did they starve these fish?(21:10) They're probably not nice people. (21:13) Yeah, they're probably not nice people. (21:14) But the fish looked big.(21:15) They looked like they had big bellies. (21:17) They must have like... (21:18) They must have injected them with some sort of hormone or something.(21:20) We're getting dark here. (21:22) Seriously, I bet you... (21:23) I wouldn't put it past them.(21:24) I mean, this was also like 1996, so... (21:28) People are, you know... (21:29) Who knows what was happening at that point.(21:31) Fair. (21:32) You wrap this in a bow and then we'll get on out of here. (21:34) All right.

Alan Lazaros

(21:35) Right now, there is one thing that's holding you back more than anything else. (21:41) You have to identify that constraint, target the constraint, find the root cause of it, and then work on that. (21:51) Then you're going to get to the next level.(21:54) And then there's going to be a new constraint. (21:57) Rinse and repeat. (21:58) Rinse and repeat forever.(21:59) And there is no candy land. (22:02) There's no fairy tale land where you don't have constraints. (22:05) You're never going to be fully healthy or fully capable or fully feel good or fully self-worth or fully self-belief or reach your full potential.(22:13) You're supposed to climb. (22:15) It's a mountain you climb every day for your entire life forever. (22:20) And Base Camp 1 is cool.(22:21) Base Camp 2 is better. (22:23) Base Camp 4 is better than that. (22:24) Base Camp 10 is better than that.(22:25) But there is no end. (22:27) The only reason Kevin and I look the way we do right now is because we're shooting higher. (22:31) We're not done.(22:32) There is no done. (22:32) Life is an infinite game that you play for your entire life and you see how much you can do. (22:38) I just don't understand why anyone would ever...(22:41) Like we did 10 pounds in 10 weeks. (22:43) We're not done now. (22:45) My life actually got harder after it because I was like, shit, I lost some muscle mass.(22:49) I want to try to get stronger here. (22:52) Not to mention I've been watching CrossFitters who would eat me. (22:54) So it's just important to realize that there's never going to be a finish line.(22:59) The horizon keeps getting farther and farther away as you get closer and closer and closer to it. (23:03) And that's okay. (23:04) That's the best that it gets.(23:05) Dream chasing and living the dream are the same fucking thing.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:10) That's why we say dream chasers, not dream catchers. (23:14) Exactly. (23:18) Also, if you want to read the one thing, read the one thing.(23:22) I'm not telling you not to. (23:23) It's a great book. (23:23) Just don't take it at face value.(23:24) Yeah, we gotta... (23:25) It depends on what your intentions are. (23:27) That's all.(23:29) Look, I was... (23:29) What were your intentions when you read it? (23:30) I didn't read it.(23:32) I won't read it. (23:33) Why? (23:34) I'm not interested in it.(23:36) It's a great fucking book, man. (23:38) I don't want to read it. (23:40) Because you're afraid that it's gonna...(23:41) Probably. (23:42) Screw you up. (23:43) Yeah, I'm afraid I'll get an idea.(23:44) It's like, ooh, Ellen, have you ever thought if we... (23:51) Oh, interesting. (23:53) Have you ever thought?

Alan Lazaros

(23:55) You have done that in the past.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:56) It implants ideas in me that I'm not ready to fucking handle yet.

Alan Lazaros

(24:00) Dude, I don't think I've ever recommended a book without going, now, here's the thing.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:04) You can't. (24:05) Dude, you can't read any book or watch any... (24:07) The 12-week year, whatever.(24:09) I remember reading that book and I was like, get this out of here. (24:12) You gotta get this away from me. (24:14) I can't.(24:15) It's a cool concept. (24:16) I understand, but so isn't... (24:17) Why do you have to get it away from you?(24:18) Because it gives me ideas that aren't necessarily constructive. (24:23) What do you mean? (24:24) Oh, I don't remember.(24:25) It's been a minute since I picked that book up. (24:27) Okay.

Alan Lazaros

(24:28) But it's just like... (24:30) Every podcast, every medicine, every book should have a disclaimer. (24:35) I agree.(24:36) May cause harm if not used appropriately. (24:39) No books do. (24:40) That's a great point, actually.(24:42) But all the medication you hear on television... (24:44) Every mentor needs to come with a warning fucking label. (24:46) Right?

Kevin Palmieri

(24:47) 100%. (24:47) Us included. (24:48) Us included.

Alan Lazaros

(24:48) Agreed.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:49) I went on a podcast today...

Alan Lazaros

(24:50) What is the warning label for this podcast?

Kevin Palmieri

(24:50) Well, the guy today said, look, I know you guys have been swearing a lot lately. (24:54) Keep it PG on here. (24:55) Noted, sir.(24:56) I got you. (24:57) Really? (24:57) Yeah, it was like...(24:58) Damn. (24:59) You're totally, totally fine. (25:00) Damn.(25:02) So... (25:02) We'll take in the feedback. (25:03) We'll see.(25:04) We'll see. (25:04) I like it. (25:06) I do too.(25:07) I'm 36 now. (25:08) I'm 36 now. (25:09) I turned over a new leaf.

Alan Lazaros

(25:11) We grew up in a small town.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:13) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(25:13) There was some swearing where we grew up. (25:15) You know, I think it's a little authentic. (25:16) This is who I am.(25:18) Same. (25:19) This is who I am.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:20) I want to keep it respectful. (25:21) Yeah, of course. (25:22) But every now and then...(25:24) He did ask me with respect. (25:26) He said, look, I can edit it out. (25:27) And I was like, ah, dude, you're good.(25:28) I'll make your life easy. (25:29) It's all good. (25:31) I don't have to...(25:32) It's not going to hurt me if I don't get to... (25:34) Yeah, you got to respect the platform. (25:35) Yeah, of course.(25:36) All right. (25:37) What do you want to talk about before we go quickly? (25:38) You have one minute.(25:40) No, no, you're good. (25:41) I've said all that I needed to say. (25:43) Nice.(25:45) For this episode. (25:45) For this episode, at least, right? (25:47) Okay, cool.(25:47) Next Level Nation, a private Facebook group of amazing humans who are focused and hyper focused on getting to the next level. (25:53) Next Level Book Club, every single Saturday at 12.30 Eastern time. (25:57) They are reading Willpower by Roy F.(26:01) Bomeester and John Tierney. (26:04) What is the one-liner for that? (26:06) For the book?(26:08) Willpower. (26:08) Yeah, what would you say the one-liner is?

Alan Lazaros

(26:10) I got you.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:10) Oh, yeah, you're giving me actuals.

Alan Lazaros

(26:12) I got it.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:13) Nice. (26:15) Rediscovering the greatest human strength. (26:18) Rediscovering the greatest human strength.(26:19) All right, cool. (26:19) That's every Saturday. (26:20) And then we have the Next Level Dreamliner, as always.(26:22) We'll have that in the show notes. (26:24) Quick fun fact, please.

Alan Lazaros

(26:27) The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. (26:30) Go ahead. (26:31) Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.(26:33) Straight up. (26:33) Gets bigger the more self-discipline and willpower you use. (26:40) I sent to book club, who else here wants to sneakily have the most jacked dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?

Kevin Palmieri

(26:48) Imagine if you could see people's brains instead of their bodies. (26:52) You can, just not legally or in a way that would be of construction. (26:56) You know what I'm saying, man?(26:57) You're ruining my metaphor. (26:59) All right, we got to go. (26:59) That would be awesome.(27:00) I would love to see that. (27:01) I would love to see that as well. (27:03) I think.(27:03) Let's take off. (27:03) We'll take off. (27:04) All right.(27:04) As always, we love you, appreciate you, grateful for each and every one of you. (27:07) And if you are as committed as you say you are to getting to the next level, make sure you tune in tomorrow because we're going to be here every single day to help you get there. (27:14) Keep reaching for your full potential.(27:16) Next Level Nation. (27:19) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (27:23) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(27:26) We mean it when we say family. (27:28) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (27:31) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(27:35) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.