What’s It Mean To Live A Principle-Based Life (2292)

Long-term success is built on what you refuse to compromise. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan down why principles, standards, and integrity are not optional if you want real fulfillment and sustainable performance. This conversation cuts through shortcuts, surface-level success, and false wins to examine how identity, decision-making, and self-trust are shaped over time. Drawing from decades of experience, thousands of episodes, and real-world coaching, they explain why many people win fast but lose themselves in the process.

This is a grounded look at what actually holds up under pressure, scrutiny, and time. Build something you can stand behind, then press play and lock it in.

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

Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com

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Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
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LinkedIn:
Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-palmieri-5b7736160/
Alan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllc/

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Show notes:
(3:54) Why integrity beats short-term success
(6:37) How people rationalize compromised values
(9:54) Insecurity as the root of ethical drift
(11:09) Integrity, self-trust, and long-term performance
(17:24) Principles as your internal compass
(25:22) Defining and living by core values
(27:01) Raising standards as life strategy
(29:08) 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

• 3:54 Why integrity beats short-term success
• 6:37 How people rationalize compromised values
• 9:54 Insecurity as the root of ethical drift
• 11:09 Integrity, self-trust, and long-term performance
• 17:24 Principles as your internal compass
• 25:22 Defining and living by core values
• 27:01 Raising standards as life strategy
• 29:08 Outro

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I think core values might be one of the most important things in the world, but they also are one of the biggest pains in the ass in the world, because when you are committed to staying in alignment with something, you have to say no to all the things that are outside of alignment, and sometimes that's a faster path to success. (0:16) If you have a principle-centered life, your life will always be more challenging, but also way more meaningful. (0:24) Welcome to Next Level University.(0:27) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:29) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus. (0:32) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no-BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.(0:38) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth. (0:45) 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. (1:01) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free.(1:07) Welcome to Next Level University. (1:13) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2,292. (1:17) What's it mean to live a principle-based life?(1:20) I was listening to Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 BE 2.0, and Jim Collins was talking about how core values, again, it's from a business perspective, but it's from a human perspective at the end of the day. (1:36) Core values are extremely important, and they're so necessary to have, and they also are a giant potential pain in the ass. (1:44) Because if let's, okay, for Alan and I, one of our core values is honesty.(1:50) We want to make sure that we're taking care of the people that are clients of ours, so we don't ever rip people off. (1:55) We don't want to do that. (1:56) That's not fair.(1:56) That's not the way we do business. (1:58) I think to myself all the time, and we talk about this all the time behind the scenes. (2:01) How are there people on the internet that are totally fine with just ripping a bunch of people off?(2:06) Their core value, their principle is make money no matter what that takes. (2:13) That's a shitty way to live life. (2:15) And if yours is humility over everything, if yours is I want everybody to feel included, if yours is I want to be charitable, you might have a harder life in terms of the climb, but it's going to be a more rewarding, fulfilling journey for sure.(2:33) It just, at times, it's really, really hard. (2:35) We had this conversation. (2:37) I did a podcast pre-call with someone one time, and they said, hey, is there anybody that you know that could help us with this, this, this, and this?(2:45) And I said, yeah, me. (2:46) I got you. (2:46) I can help you with all that.(2:47) They said, you can? (2:48) And I said, yeah, I got you for sure. (2:50) Ended up signing up with us, and I said, can I just take, I want to take a look at your stuff so I can go in with an accurate understanding.(2:58) And whoever they were paying to help them with their YouTube channel was blowing up their views inauthentically. (3:06) They were not, they were paid for views. (3:07) They weren't real people watching these videos.(3:10) And I was on the deck with Tara, and I said, I have to tell them that they're getting taken advantage of, even if that means that they decide not to work with me, even if that means they get pissed off at me, even if they think I'm lying or I'm wrong, I have to tell them. (3:23) And they've gone on to be one of our bigger clients. (3:25) But I had to face the fact that they might say, you know what, fuck you.(3:30) We know this is happening, but we don't want you to know that we know this is happening, and we're not going to work with you anymore. (3:35) But I get to sleep well that night. (3:37) And I think that's, that's maybe the most important thing, probably the most important thing, honestly.(3:42) I want to believe that having a principle-centered, core value-centered life brings more long-term success. (3:54) I think you can only rip people off for so long. (3:57) And so two things I want to share.(4:00) Number one is I do believe long, long, long, long, long term, being principle-centered with high integrity is the more successful strategy. (4:13) However, there have been some things on the internet that have got me questioning that as of late, because I see so many people winning that are shitheads. (4:30) Okay, so that said, regardless of whether or not it is or isn't the best long-term success strategy, it is the best life strategy.(4:41) And so you orient around principles and meaning and honor and integrity, and you can sleep at night. (4:48) And I don't believe that you can be fulfilled. (4:50) I do believe you can be successful through being a shithead.(4:54) I do not believe you can be fulfilled, deeply fulfilled on the heart, mind, and soul level internally, while also being a shithead. (5:05) I believe virtue is a universal language. (5:08) And I believe that virtue, being a heart-driven, compassionate person who is working and doing all they can with all they have toward a bigger, better, brighter future, not just for themself, but for others.(5:22) I think that's how, I think fulfillment comes as a byproduct. (5:25) I do.

Alan Lazaros

(5:26) I think short term it sucks.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:28) I think it, even in the short term, it's not actual success because I think you know you're not, you know you're cheating the system. (5:38) Well, I think some people delude themselves into believing that they're doing good. (5:43) So there have been people on stages in the past at events I've been at that said, well, if you're not convinced of the value of this thing, then you're not going to sell it.(5:53) Just because you convince yourself. (5:57) Remember we had a mentor who said he could sell a bag of air? (6:00) Yes.(6:01) Who was also a dingus, by the way? (6:02) Yes. (6:04) But, and I was furious.(6:06) I was so pissed off that day. (6:08) You remember? (6:09) I was like, that's not the fucking point.(6:13) And this person was like, well, this person's making more money than you guys. (6:17) I said, I don't give a fuck. (6:19) That's because they're lying to people.(6:23) I'm not willing to do that. (6:24) Now, here's my point. (6:28) I think some people delude themselves into believing that what they're selling has value, even though it doesn't.(6:37) And you think about a cigarette company or whatever. (6:40) It's like, how do you live with yourself knowing that you're making the world a worse place? (6:45) And again, that's their prerogative.(6:47) I'm always in a conundrum with that, because I believe everyone should have their own choices. (6:53) I believe in freedom and freedom of choice. (6:55) But I also believe that the virtuous path is one that's good for you, good for others, good for the world.(7:03) Good for you, good for others, good for the world. (7:05) How do you align all that? (7:08) At NLU, it's good for me, good for Kevin, good for the clients and customers, good for the team, good for the earth, good for the world, good for the communities, good for everyone.(7:18) It's a win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win, win scenario. (7:24) That's way harder than let's sell something that's a win for us. (7:29) That's way harder.(7:30) But it's also how you make the world a better place. (7:33) What else are you going to do? (7:36) You and I could easily go get day jobs.(7:39) Fuck that. (7:39) Yours would be better than mine. (7:41) Yours would be higher paying than mine, for sure.(7:43) I do believe that's probably true. (7:45) Although you might be surprised what you can get nowadays.

Alan Lazaros

(7:47) I don't know.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:47) As the chief sales officer. (7:49) I'd like to see. (7:49) I'd like to go see.(7:51) Let me send out some resumes and see what happens. (7:54) Send out some resumes. (7:56) But the truth of the matter is, fulfillment, I don't think...(8:00) I think when you delude yourself, I think deep down you know you're full of it. (8:06) You know, the other hard part, I think a lot of people delude themselves into, well, everybody else is doing it too. (8:11) Yeah.(8:12) Everybody else is. (8:12) So it's less not okay, right? (8:13) Everybody else.(8:14) I mean, that's... (8:15) We just talked about that. (8:17) Yeah.(8:18) And I also have a belief that people assume everybody will forget eventually. (8:27) For some reason, I'm obsessed with finding out who's done what to get to where they've gotten to. (8:34) That's always kind of been my obsession.(8:36) I like knowing the past. (8:38) I like knowing people's history. (8:40) Because very honestly, I don't trust what they say if they cheated to get there.(8:45) Because why wouldn't you just lie about everything then? (8:47) It doesn't make any... (8:49) If you lie to get to where you are, why should I believe what you say when you get to where you are?(8:53) It doesn't make any sense to me. (8:55) Oh, so you only lied so you could get a platform to then tell the truth. (8:59) Oh, okay.(9:00) That makes zero fucking sense. (9:02) That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. (9:03) It's called being a sucker.(9:05) It doesn't make any sense to me. (9:06) That's called being a sucker. (9:08) But my thought is many people have the principle of success over everything.(9:14) Many people have the principle of, I get to get mine no matter what. (9:21) No matter how many people it hurts. (9:23) And I think...(9:24) I don't know. (9:25) I don't know how you... (9:26) How do you rebuild principles?(9:28) How do you go through that process? (9:30) I've always wanted to see people win. (9:32) And I've always...(9:33) Of course, I've made some fucking mistakes for sure. (9:36) But I don't want to lie, cheat, and steal. (9:40) I'm probably honest to a detriment.(9:41) We've talked about that behind the scenes. (9:43) I'm very honest about a lot of stuff that I don't know. (9:45) But I don't want to lie.(9:47) If I have to lie in order to get to where I'm going, I don't want to go there. (9:52) Like, that's not where I want to go. (9:54) You know what it is?(9:54) It's a fucked up priority. (9:56) The priority is success over who you become as a person. (10:00) Where does that come from, do you think?(10:02) What's the root? (10:03) Probably insecurity. (10:05) Probably, right?(10:06) Because, okay, I regret this. (10:13) When I cheated on vocab tests back in the day. (10:16) I was the math and science guy.(10:17) I didn't care. (10:18) Malign. (10:19) I don't care.(10:20) Look it up. (10:21) I'll google it. (10:22) But I do wish that I had not cheated.(10:27) Yeah. (10:28) Genuinely. (10:29) Now, do I think I should be put in jail for cheating on a vocab test?(10:34) No. (10:35) The punishment needs to fit the crime. (10:36) And am I stuck in shame every day about it?(10:38) No. (10:38) But I do think that there's an accountability with self that has to happen. (10:44) And I do think that whether we're aware of it or not, we have shame around these poor choices.(10:49) We just do. (10:51) And I think with all the inner work I've studied, internal family systems, cognitive behavioral therapy, all these different things, I think what I realize in hindsight is that our relationship with our self goes down when we make choices that are out of integrity. (11:09) And I don't mean integrity because people are like, well, that's not out of alignment with my core values.(11:14) But there is a universal virtue that we all know what the... (11:20) Who can do the... (11:21) Aristotle used to say, who can do the right thing in the right way, at the right time, in the right amount, with the right people, for the right reason.(11:27) First of all, there's no such thing. (11:30) But there is an optimal choice at the optimal time, for the optimal reason, for the optimal circumstances, in alignment with the optimal core values, for the optimal goal that is optimal for yourself, others, and the world. (11:45) There is a fucking choice that is optimal.(11:48) Just because we don't choose it doesn't mean we couldn't have. (11:51) And it doesn't mean we shouldn't try. (11:54) What is a role model, if not that?(11:57) You and I have checked each other when we made poor choices. (12:00) Well, I think a role model... (12:01) To reach for higher virtue.(12:03) A role model is as much owning their mistakes as not making them. (12:07) To a degree. (12:08) Now, again, so Alan version 2.6 did or said something that Alan version 2.7 knows is not as awesome as...

Alan Lazaros

(12:15) Yes.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:16) And then Alan version 2.7 reflects on that and makes sure that he or she is better. (12:21) And I think that that's what we're all doing. (12:24) You better be a better person at 37 than you were at 27.(12:27) If you're not, you're doing this wrong, for sure. (12:29) I think it's common... (12:30) I would kick my own ass if I could go back in time.(12:33) Well, you have very high standards for yourself. (12:34) I think that's what this is built on, right? (12:37) I mean...(12:37) I agree. (12:38) And character over everything is what we used to say. (12:43) I'm excited.(12:44) Like, we're going to be very successful. (12:45) Awesome. (12:45) I'm so pumped.(12:46) I think I'm always going to be the most proud of that. (12:49) Character? (12:49) Yeah.(12:50) Yeah, but you know what's interesting? (12:52) Again, it is. (12:52) It still is character over everything.(12:54) We just don't say it as much because... (12:56) I don't know why. (12:58) Honestly, I don't know why we don't say it as much.(13:00) Brother, I think it's because we worked on it so much. (13:02) It's one of those... (13:03) There's so much good stuff we used to talk about that we don't talk about anymore.(13:06) We don't talk about mindset anymore. (13:07) We barely talk about habits. (13:09) You know why?(13:09) Because we're dialed in. (13:10) It's like a habit now. (13:12) Well, and the other thing is I do have a...(13:14) I have a very firm belief that if you listen to us for long enough, then you'll know kind of what we stand for. (13:22) You know, I don't... (13:24) Again, pumping...(13:25) I do think we should bring back some of those fundamentals. (13:27) We used to talk about questions all the time. (13:29) Well, I do too, but it's hard to talk about all the things we used to talk about because there's so many things we used to...(13:34) I don't know. (13:35) It's hard to remember all that stuff. (13:36) You have a better memory than I, for sure.(13:38) So bring it back. (13:39) Questions, mindset, self-belief, self-worth, keeping the promises to yourself, self-esteem. (13:45) Yeah, I know.(13:45) I'm trying to bring them back. (13:47) I am. (13:47) But I do think that one of the reasons we don't say character over everything anymore is because we...(13:52) It's like a pyramid we're building and the bottom is... (13:54) That was the bottom of the pyramid. (13:55) We set that foundation and now it's running in the background, kind of.(14:00) I think it is. (14:01) And then I also think so many of our decisions are based on that, that we hand-pick who joins the Next Level Podcast Accelerator. (14:12) If you're not a good person, we don't want you.(14:14) I don't want your money. (14:14) I'm not interested. (14:15) I don't want your money.(14:16) Also known as group coaching.

Alan Lazaros

(14:17) Group coaching.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:18) By the way, any podcasters out there, Next Level Podcast Accelerator round 21. (14:24) Group 21. (14:26) That's wild.(14:27) That means four times a year. (14:29) It's five years. (14:31) Five years.(14:31) We've officially finished five years. (14:32) Tonight's the last session for group 20. (14:34) Shout out to Team Hypecast.(14:36) If you want in the next round, 10 people at a time, every quarter. (14:40) We've done this 20 times. (14:41) This is a dialed-in program.(14:43) This is a 12-week boot camp. (14:46) Start, grow, scale, monetize your podcast. (14:48) Level up yourself.(14:49) Level up your podcast. (14:50) Level up your business. (14:52) Let's get it.(14:54) There's a lot. (14:57) But there's a YouTube channel I have in mind that I see their thumbnails and I don't know how they live with themselves. (15:04) Yeah, I don't know how they live with themselves.(15:06) Like this one liquid melts body fat off in one day. (15:12) That's not fucking real. (15:13) That's fake.(15:15) So I'm not even interested in seeing... (15:18) I've said this before. (15:19) You know this.(15:20) I have a chat GPT prompt. (15:22) It's a project called Morality. (15:25) And I will literally...(15:26) I have one chat in there that's... (15:28) It's the BS meter. (15:29) And I will literally take the entire transcript from a YouTube video and I will put it in there and say on a scale of 0 to 10, how much bullshit is this?(15:36) Because I want to know how much of this is actually based in reality. (15:41) One thing, side tangent for all of our listeners. (15:46) I think you would do so well.(15:48) I made this decision a while back. (15:49) I want to say it was probably seven years ago or something. (15:51) It was right around when I first found the compound effect.(15:54) So seven, eight, nine years ago. (15:56) I forget when. (15:57) But I remember after I read that, the opening page is...(16:01) There is no silver bullet. (16:02) There is no quick fix. (16:04) There is no...(16:05) Just stop looking for the quick fix for success, happiness, and fulfillment. (16:09) Just stop. (16:10) There is no microwave fucking anything.(16:16) I gave up. (16:17) We're going to do an episode tomorrow on giving up, letting go of things. (16:21) I did, dude.(16:22) I'm telling you. (16:22) I remember driving in my car, listening to that book, going... (16:26) I'm done with all gimmicks.(16:28) I'm done with any... (16:31) I'm just going to do the fundamentals. (16:34) Even in fitness, I remember this supplement and that.(16:36) It's like, you know what? (16:37) Fuck all that. (16:38) I'm just going to fucking do the fundamentals.(16:41) And from that moment till now, we've created a lot of success. (16:45) And I'm telling you, I don't waste a lot of time and effort looking for the next fucking thing. (16:51) But to be honest, could we be more successful if we were more about...(16:57) If we were less integrity driven in the short term, yes. (17:00) But I do think you can make up for that by being focused. (17:03) Because think about like...(17:04) Okay, Clubhouse. (17:07) Everyone and their mother, for lack of better phrasing, was on Clubhouse. (17:10) And I said, nah, fuck that.(17:12) And you were like, well, I don't know. (17:15) And I said, it's a fad. (17:16) We just did an episode on fads, so I don't have to go deep.(17:20) I don't let the world dictate the set of my sail. (17:25) That's why I talked about COVID. (17:26) And we didn't change because of COVID.(17:29) We changed because it was where we were headed. (17:31) This is a good metaphor. (17:33) I've only sailed once, so take this with a grain of salt.(17:36) But this is a great metaphor. (17:38) The wind and the rain and the storms are out of your control. (17:41) What's in your control is your boat, with your team, with your rudder.(17:47) And the set of the sail is your philosophy, your beliefs, your mindset, your habits, your systems, your structures. (17:54) I do think that one of the things that's very much an unsung hero of our success at NLU, and I do believe long term this will continue to compound, is I'm just always worried about that. (18:08) You've come to me like, hey, what do you think about this and that?(18:10) And it's like, nope. (18:12) And I know that in the short term, you're right, it does hold us back. (18:15) But long term, it doesn't because we're not a wandering generality who's floating in the fucking wind when the tide goes.(18:23) We are steadfast. (18:25) This is who we are. (18:27) This is our core values.(18:28) These are our goals. (18:29) This is our mission. (18:30) And we are not for everyone, and that's okay.(18:33) We're going to be who we are, and who we are is great. (18:37) Not because anyone else says it is, but because we know it is from the inside out. (18:40) I do.(18:41) I think NLU is built from the inside out. (18:43) I'm certain if anyone were to be a listener, and you were to come and study NLU from the inside out, there would be a moment where you're like, what the fuck? (18:52) Holy shit.(18:53) And I've had people actually say that. (18:55) Amy Lennius, shout out to you. (18:56) She's like, from the outside in versus the inside out.(18:58) It's insane. (19:01) And I have people who have worked with the NLU team go to other companies, and they come back and go, you guys are playing a different game. (19:09) And I do think that that's built from these principles.(19:12) We have certain mantras we've been saying from the get, and we really have done a good job not straying. (19:19) I do think we've swung the pendulum, and we've overswung at times. (19:21) We're definitely not perfect.(19:23) But I do think we've done a good job staying true to our true north compass. (19:27) I would agree. (19:28) I don't think we don't really do anything outside of self-improvement, personal development, success.(19:35) It's always kind of been the same. (19:36) Even when it was hyperconscious, it was the same thing. (19:38) It just wasn't...(19:39) You see what I posted? (19:41) Yeah. (19:42) Throwback.(19:43) Still crazy to me, whoever designed that made Alan so much more jacked than I was. (19:48) I was definitely more jacked at that time. (19:50) I don't understand.(19:51) Crazy. (19:51) They knew who was making the decisions.

Alan Lazaros

(19:53) Yeah, right?

Kevin Palmieri

(19:54) My goodness. (19:56) Well, I think, yeah, this is a good conversation. (19:58) Sit down and write out what are your principles?(20:00) If somebody said, hey, what are the guidelines that you live your life by? (20:04) Invisible. (20:04) Nobody sees them.(20:05) Most people might not even know about them, and that's fine. (20:07) Do you and Taryn have some? (20:10) Principles?(20:10) Yeah. (20:12) What are some? (20:13) If you want to share, you don't have to if you don't want to.(20:15) I think together... (20:16) Like this year, we supported a family for Christmas. (20:20) We didn't buy each other gifts.(20:21) We didn't... (20:22) We're not doing that. (20:23) We supported a family.(20:23) Somebody that she knows. (20:26) I don't know them personally, but that was her idea. (20:30) I don't know if I've ever met a human who...(20:33) She'd rather... (20:34) She wanted to support a family instead of you two get each other gifts? (20:37) Yeah.(20:38) Way to go, Taryn. (20:39) And you know I'm all... (20:40) I've always wanted to do that.(20:42) Good for her. (20:43) So being... (20:44) I think the simplest one is...(20:45) Next year, it'll be that little kid's family probably. (20:46) For sure. (20:47) If I have my way, it will be.(20:49) And it will be more than it should be financially probably, but that's, again, that's one of my principles. (20:55) My principle is not do the thing that's most sustainable. (20:58) It's never been.(20:59) Well, luckily it's mine. (21:01) I know. (21:01) I know.(21:02) The simplest one for us, we were talking about this the other day. (21:05) I don't know if I've ever met a person who, to the degree Taryn does, never says bad things about people. (21:14) I've never once heard her make fun of somebody.(21:16) Ever. (21:17) Not once. (21:18) Good for her.(21:19) Ever. (21:19) It's one of my favorites. (21:20) She has the kindest heart.(21:22) It's incredible. (21:22) It's incredible. (21:23) And that's definitely rubbed off on me for sure.(21:26) In really, really good ways. (21:27) So that's one for sure. (21:29) And then, obviously, we talk about our principles all the time.(21:31) Self-improvement every day, and consistency, and reliability, and... (21:36) I told Alan the other day, like, I want to be... (21:40) If we're hosting an event or something, I want to be the first person there, and I want to be the last person to leave.(21:45) Always. (21:45) Always, always, always. (21:46) That's a principle of mine.(21:48) Like, that's always... (21:49) I don't want to be the... (21:49) I don't want to leave early.(21:51) Oh yeah, everybody else, you know... (21:53) Clean up, let me know when everything's done. (21:55) No.(21:55) Or set up, let me know what's done. (21:56) That was tough for me.

Alan Lazaros

(21:57) I can imagine.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:57) I said it to you guys. (21:58) I said it to the NLHF team privately. (22:01) I said, this is going to be hard for me.(22:03) Come in, roll in, and then leave early. (22:05) That was the first time I've ever not, like, helped clean up. (22:08) But I think, I think...(22:09) And of course I was working. (22:10) It's not like I was... (22:11) Yeah, yeah.(22:11) I think you're supposed to... (22:12) You know, I got to catch my tea time at noon, you know? (22:18) Shots fired.

Alan Lazaros

(22:19) Yeah. (22:19) Shots fired. (22:19) No, no, no, I didn't mean to...

Kevin Palmieri

(22:20) No, I know, I know, I know, I know. (22:21) I'm teasing, I'm teasing. (22:21) That just happens to be a saying.(22:23) I have one hobby I'm very okay with. (22:25) It wasn't about that.

Alan Lazaros

(22:27) No, no, I know. (22:27) I wasn't saying it.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:28) Okay, okay. (22:28) I know, I know, I know. (22:29) Kevin's a golfer now.(22:30) I am a golfer. (22:31) I have... (22:33) I'm not a fan.(22:33) I'm not a fan of the sport. (22:35) I worked at a golf course.

Alan Lazaros

(22:35) I understand. (22:36) It was a terrible time in my life.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:37) There's some PTSD stored in there for sure.

Alan Lazaros

(22:39) For sure.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:40) And some just can't have it.

Alan Lazaros

(22:42) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:42) But would you say, statistically speaking, there are any golfers ever that stick their nose up and think they're better than others ever, you think? (22:48) Statistically speaking, I would say there are some, yeah, for sure. (22:51) A couple.(22:51) I'm not one of them though. (22:52) Yeah, yeah, exactly. (22:53) I'm not one of them.(22:54) You're not. (22:55) Maybe the sport's taking a turn for the right... (22:56) It's not.(22:58) It's not. (22:59) Definitely not. (23:00) But I promise to be a good one out there for sure on the course.(23:04) I know we gotta get out of here, but the point of this is what are your core values? (23:12) What are your principles? (23:13) What are the unsung, unwritten rules?(23:16) The unwritten rule... (23:17) Maybe they are written. (23:19) For Emile, it's optimize, align, and erudite.(23:23) Optimize means we are, at all times, improving everything. (23:27) We're optimizing for reaching our full potential, okay? (23:31) A good question to ask is what are you optimizing for?(23:33) Right now, I'm optimizing for the listeners. (23:35) This isn't about Kevin. (23:37) Kevin and I will occasionally make it about us, and then the other person subconsciously is like, hey, we gotta get back to the listener.(23:43) I think we're always trying. (23:43) It's just hard because I don't have any other good examples, right? (23:46) Of course, you gotta use...(23:48) We'll lead by example is one of our mantras too. (23:49) Yeah, I think that's the best example. (23:51) If you ever think we're talking about us because we want to talk about us, it's just because I don't have a better example potentially at the time.(23:58) Yeah, I've worked through that. (24:00) Do you hear how different our voices were on that episode seven years ago? (24:06) Yes, my thing was I just screamed.(24:10) That was it. (24:11) And the more insecure I am, the louder I get. (24:14) Well, here's the problem.(24:15) We sounded so confident. (24:16) I know, but I wasn't. (24:18) We probably don't sound that confident.(24:20) I am. (24:20) I feel great in this chair right now. (24:22) Back then, I didn't know I had to.

Alan Lazaros

(24:24) Welcome back to another episode of the Hyperconscious Podcast. (24:27) Today, we're chatting with Alan Lazarus. (24:29) Alan, what's up, brother?

Kevin Palmieri

(24:32) Brutal. (24:33) It's brutal. (24:34) One thing I haven't shared with you yet, but I have with Emilia is you gotta be the tip of the arrow, meaning you have to go into battle first.(24:44) That is one of my new... (24:45) Lead from the back is stupid. (24:48) I hate it.(24:49) You know the generals back in the day, they're like planning and everyone else is going out into battle and they're sitting there on their high horse, literally? (24:56) Yep. (24:57) Not for that.(24:58) Same. (24:59) Tip of the arrow means I'm going into battle first and I'm really hoping everyone's coming with. (25:05) I just picture me running full steam by myself.

Alan Lazaros

(25:08) By yourself.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:09) Into the fray. (25:12) But that's the tip of the arrow I think is a powerful metaphor. (25:14) And I do think that everybody needs to have core values and principles that you live by because...(25:22) And I don't think that you choose them. (25:24) I think you uncover them. (25:26) I used to think, oh, you choose and then...(25:28) No. (25:29) No, no, no, no. (25:29) I think you are born a certain way with certain natural inclinations, certain genetics, certain everything.(25:35) And then you uncover what you value. (25:39) And then what does it mean to you? (25:41) Make sure you define what they mean.(25:42) So potential is one of my core values. (25:45) A deep belief in what human beings are truly capable of. (25:49) I've defined it.(25:50) So you got to have them and you got to define it and then you got to stay true to them and that's the hard part. (25:54) Anyone can have core values. (25:56) But can you hire and fire based on that?(25:58) Can you make all your decisions filtered through that? (26:02) That's why Alan and I are so different. (26:03) We have many in common, but we also have different ones.(26:06) Like my potential to me is not nearly as... (26:08) It's not... (26:10) Because...(26:10) That must be hard for you. (26:12) It's like everything to me. (26:14) I don't know.(26:14) I think it probably was in the past. (26:16) But now at least I understand. (26:17) I know where it comes from.(26:18) Right? (26:19) Just like for me, like I don't... (26:22) I don't want to make the most optimal decision with money all the time.(26:26) Especially when it comes to people. (26:27) I don't care. (26:29) Would you care though if you realized that you could be more generous long term?(26:33) I don't think so. (26:34) Word. (26:35) I like the boats.(26:36) I like the feeling along the way. (26:39) It's like when I'm just gonna like... (26:41) Just hold off to like I'm a hundred.(26:43) No, I think you... (26:44) Then I make it rain.

Alan Lazaros

(26:45) Yeah, here you go.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:47) This year and this is... (26:48) Whatever you and Taren did this year, increase it by a certain percent next year. (26:51) And then you increase sustainable giving.

Alan Lazaros

(26:54) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:55) Yeah, that I'm for. (26:58) That I'm for, for sure. (26:59) And I'm working on that.(27:00) And that's the last question here. (27:01) I know we gotta go. (27:02) Your core values and principles need to evolve.(27:05) They're supposed to. (27:06) Yeah. (27:07) If you were reprogramming yourself, if X happens, then Y, you would reprogram a better version.(27:13) Like you have to constantly be... (27:15) Every... (27:15) 2026, my word for the year is standards.(27:17) I have it written over here. (27:19) I just want to get back to my... (27:22) The highest standards humanly possible.(27:23) I want to be the most dialed in human being on planet Earth. (27:26) And that's... (27:27) I don't care if anyone else thinks that.(27:29) I care that I... (27:30) Me. (27:30) I think that.(27:31) I think that's meaningful for me. (27:33) So what would be meaningful for you? (27:34) Nobody else gives a shit at all.(27:37) They already think I'm dialed in. (27:38) I told one of my clients this. (27:39) He's like, dude, I think you already are.(27:40) I was like, don't you fucking tell me that. (27:42) No, no, no, no. (27:44) I don't care.(27:45) I can't think that. (27:46) I'm going for more. (27:47) I want more.(27:49) Well, if anything, it might make life for other people a pain in the ass. (27:52) That's a whole nother thing. (27:53) I've had to overcome that.(27:55) Well, it's going to make my life more of a pain in the ass for sure. (27:57) In a good way. (27:57) In all the good ways.(27:58) In the best ways. (27:59) In the best way. (27:59) Okay.(28:00) Is there any upper limit to that? (28:01) Is there ever a time where that'll cross? (28:03) A hundred percent.(28:04) Yeah, a hundred percent. (28:04) How close are we? (28:06) Oh, we got a ways to go.(28:07) Nice. (28:07) Another five years. (28:09) Check in in five years.(28:10) See what happens. (28:11) I don't know. (28:12) Sounds good.(28:13) Well, because in theory, my standards are raising too. (28:15) So the contrast shouldn't be as much. (28:17) Right?(28:18) Agreed. (28:19) That's the rubber band snaps when one goes and one stops. (28:26) I appreciate it.(28:26) I've been pleasantly surprised. (28:28) I thought for sure you'd tell me to... (28:30) I mean, I've told you to fuck off for sure many times, but never like with finality.(28:35) Yeah. (28:35) It's been nice to be the pain in the ass that you really do appreciate. (28:40) I'm a good number two.(28:41) I'm not a good number one. (28:41) I will drive this thing right off a cliff. (28:42) But number two, I got that.(28:44) I can be in the second officer's chair. (28:48) Co-pilot. (28:49) Hey man, I feel like we're flying a little close to that iceberg over there.(28:53) What do you think about taking a hard left? (28:54) What are your thoughts on that? (28:55) All right.(28:56) You've definitely done that before. (28:57) We definitely have. (28:58) If you're looking for a group of amazing humans who are also focused on getting to the next level and you don't have that community yet, we talk often about how important community is.(29:05) We'll have the link below for Next Level Nation, our private Facebook group. (29:08) As always, we love you. (29:09) We appreciate you.(29:10) Grateful for each and every one of you. (29:11) 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 will be here every single day to help you get there. (29:18) Keep leveling up to your true potential.(29:21) Next Level Nation. (29:23) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (29:27) We love connecting with the Next Level family.(29:29) We mean it when we say family. (29:31) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (29:35) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.(29:38) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.