Next Level University

Having Your “1 Thing” Isn’t Enough (2298)

• Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros

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In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros challenge the belief that finding one clear focus is enough to create a meaningful and successful life. They break down why clarity without structure often leads to stalled progress and why discipline, standards, and consistency matter more than motivation.

This episode cuts through common self-improvement shortcuts and reframes what real growth looks like across health, wealth, and relationships. It speaks to anyone who feels focused but stuck, informed but inconsistent, and ready for a more grounded approach to personal development. Press play and ask yourself if your daily actions actually match the life you say you want to build.

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

Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com

Instagram:
Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

Facebook:
Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
Kevin: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.palmieri.90/

Email:
Kevin@nextleveluniverse.com
Alan@nextleveluniverse.com

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

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Show notes:
(3:21) The pyramid of priorities explained
(5:24) Clarity Vs. Oversimplification
(6:30) How purpose changes over time
(11:24) Why most self-improvement fails
(13:21) Standards as the real lever for change
(16:54) Macro clarity before micro execution
(18:35) Becoming the type of person who grows
(26:54) The real promise of daily self-improvement
(34:38) Outro

Send a text to Kevin and Alan!

🎙️ 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.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I've never written a best-selling book, and you've heard me many, many times complain about the titles and or the content of best-selling books.ing books. (0:09) Today is going to be no different, but I mean it with love and the goal is always to help you.

Alan Lazaros

(0:14) I've said it many times before, one is too few, five is too many, three is just right.ight.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:21) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:23) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri.ieri. (0:25) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.arus.(0:28) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:35) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:41) 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

(0:57) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:04) Welcome to Next Level University. (1:09) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2,298. (1:14) Having your one thing isn't enough.ough.(1:17) There's a book called The One Thing, and I've talked to a lot of people who they say, oh, this is my favorite book, this changed my life, and all that stuff.hat stuff. (1:24) And I'm not saying it's not of value, I'm not saying, I'm not saying any of that. saying any of that. (1:29) What I am saying is, having your one thing isn't enough.ough.(1:34) Because what goes into making your one thing your one thing is a long list of other things that you have to understand, and you have to practice, and you have to be aware of. (1:43) You've lost the book.book.

Alan Lazaros

(1:44) I know I have the book, I'm certain.tain. (1:50) I just don't think it's behind me.behind me. (1:56) The one thing is, I can't find the book.book.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:58) The one thing is, you can't find the book.book. (1:59) What would you rate the book? (2:02) And again, I am not a prolific author.(2:06) I listen to audiobooks, I don't read them.them. (2:08) So it's not like I'm the guy to tell you which books are great and which aren't.ch aren't. (2:12) I just feel like it's oversimplified.fied.(2:17) I feel like it's oversimplified.fied. (2:19) We're going to talk about that in tomorrow's episode.s episode. (2:20) We're going to go deeper into that.that.(2:21) But yeah, what did you think when you first read it?

Alan Lazaros

(2:32) The book, and this is the thing with all books, but all learning, you have to know it's not the whole equation.tion. (2:40) Every time you pick up a book, you have to know that this is not the entire equation. (2:47) This is one piece of the puzzle.(2:49) You have to know that. (2:50) So I think the book is really important to read. (2:52) I highly recommend everyone reads it.(2:54) I do. (2:55) I can't, but it's not the best book ever written by any means, because it's not the whole formula. whole formula. (3:01) It's one piece of the puzzle.zzle.(3:03) Now, when I say one is too few and five is too many, Jim Collins, Kevin and I are rereading all the Jim Collins business books. (3:12) He says, if you have more than three priorities, you don't have any. any. (3:16) I do agree with that.(3:17) But it's this weird thing.hing. (3:21) So picture a pyramid. (3:23) At the top of the pyramid is your one thing.(3:26) And then next is three priorities underneath that. (3:30) And then after that, it's, you know, five and then seven and then nine and then 15.n 15. (3:34) So because you can zoom.(3:35) So let's say my one thing is business.ness. (3:38) Okay, let's zoom into business.ness. (3:39) What is branding, marketing?(3:40) What is your one thing? (3:41) What is your one thing? (3:42) Reaching my full potential and helping others do the same.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:45) Okay, well, okay. (3:47) What are the three things under that? (3:49) Health, wealth, and love.(3:51) Okay, what are the three things under health? (3:53) Three things under wealth? (3:54) Three things under love?(3:55) Well, health is physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. (3:58) So it's four.four. (3:59) And then there's a bunch under that.that.

Alan Lazaros

(4:01) Well, yeah. (4:02) Wealth is how you earn your money. (4:05) Is it meaningful work for you?(4:07) How much you earn? (4:08) Is it increasing or decreasing with where the future economy is going? (4:11) And then where do you invest it?(4:12) Shout out to one of my clients. (4:14) We, we, he invested $32,000 into the stock market in one shot, within one hour. (4:20) Nice.(4:21) I messaged him the next day. (4:22) I said, are you good? (4:23) I was like, I was a little outside my comfort zone.(4:28) Good for you, man. (4:29) I said, you, that was really something. (4:31) That was one of the coolest things I've ever done on a coaching call.call.(4:34) And by I, I mean, they did it, but I was part of it and we diversified and everything. (4:39) But anyway, so that's wealth.alth. (4:40) And then love would be intimate relationship, immediate family.(4:46) And then it breaks out from there of team, clients, customers, friends, acquaintances.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:54) That is my point. (4:56) That is my point where it gives you the, it gives you like the tip of the spear. (5:04) Yes.(5:04) But you still have to figure out how to do, it's like a recipe book.book. (5:07) You can go buy a recipe book and it's going to say, this is what you're making.re making. (5:11) And here are all, even that, like a recipe book at least gives you the ingredients.(5:15) And then you know how much I think having your one thing. (5:20) How do you have your one thing? (5:22) If you don't have all the other things that go under.nder.

Alan Lazaros

(5:24) Well, this is it, right? (5:25) So if my one thing was not reaching my full potential and helping others do the same, this podcast would be different. (5:32) My whole life would be different.(5:34) And I think that that's the value of having clarity on your one thing.hing. (5:38) Because everything does fall under it. (5:39) What you do and don't do falls under it.r it.(5:42) I don't know what my one thing is.g is.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:44) Podcasting. (5:45) You think that's my one thing?hing? (5:47) I do.(5:49) Isn't it deeper than that?that? (5:51) Why is yours reach your deepest potential and mine's podcasting?ting? (5:55) This is exactly what this podcast is supposed to be.

Alan Lazaros

(5:59) This is exactly what it's supposed to be, right?ight?

Kevin Palmieri

(6:00) I think mine is...

Alan Lazaros

(6:02) Being the person you need at your darkest moment.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:04) That. (6:05) But guess what? (6:06) My one thing was different before I had the darkest moment.(6:09) It changes. (6:11) What was your one thing before? (6:12) Make money, baby.(6:14) Probably. (6:15) I don't know.know. (6:16) No, being a good person, but not really.(6:17) Like I want to be a good person, but that wasn't the...he... (6:21) That wasn't the lighthouse that guided me in every decision I made.made. (6:25) Well, that's exactly it.y it.(6:26) That's why you hated your life, brother.ther. (6:29) It's a part of it.f it.

Alan Lazaros

(6:30) Yeah, I think it's a part of clarity on what you wanted to achieve.ieve. (6:37) Lack of clarity on your goals and dreams, I think is why you were so miserable.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:43) I think it was only lack of clarity when I got that, the stuff and realized it wasn't.27;t.

Alan Lazaros

(6:49) You know, that's the hard part of the delusion that you'd be happy when, and then...nd then...

Kevin Palmieri

(6:53) 100%. (6:54) But I don't know what it was back then.then. (6:58) I don't, very honestly, I'm not sure what it is today. is today.(7:01) It's not podcasting.ting. (7:02) I love podcasting. (7:03) I think if you said, hey, what are you supposed to be doing in the world physically, podcasting and speaking?(7:07) Okay, then why do you podcast? (7:11) Why do I podcast? (7:12) Because this was my dream.(7:14) It was my dream to be able to do this. (7:14) Why is it your dream? (7:18) Because for most of my life, I just did what was accessible to me.(7:23) And what is accessible is not always what's enjoyable.able. (7:27) It often is not what's enjoyable.able.

Alan Lazaros

(7:28) All right. (7:29) I still think, and I want the listener thinking of themselves, but I still think you and I, back in the day, I had the Conversations Change Lives podcast, which is have great conversations with great people, what you'll never learn in school, but desperately want to know.know. (7:42) And I think you change the way you think, change the way you act, change the way you live, hyperconscious, acutely aware, get off fucking autopilot.(7:50) I still think we're running those same paradigms, those same one things.ings. (7:55) Mine has shifted to reach my own unique full potential and help others do the same, but it's still what you'll never learn in school, but desperately need to know.d to know. (8:02) You don't learn this in school.hool.(8:03) What we're talking about right now, dude, I was, I saw one of my best friends in high school, her name was Tara.Tara. (8:11) She was like my sidekick in AP Calc. (8:17) And we would have these existential debates.(8:20) And she just went to New Zealand and I saw her on Instagram. (8:22) And I said something, let me just pull it up. (8:24) Let me, I was telling Emilia about this yesterday.(8:29) Cause I like, Tara was just fucking awesome. (8:33) Huge fan. (8:41) Taralini.(8:42) There we go. (8:44) Okay. (8:45) I put her smiley face and high five hands.(8:48) Are those high five hands? (8:51) Uh, these? (8:52) No, no.(8:53) They're like, ah, I don't know.27;t know.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:55) I have to take a class on emojis.

Alan Lazaros

(8:56) Yeah. (8:58) I think they're, for me, they're high five hands.ive hands. (9:00) Okay.(9:00) Put them up like, bam, you know, I honestly don't know.know.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:04) Same, but I thought I've been using them wrong on the red. red. (9:06) I thought the other ones were like high fives and that's like praying hands.ands. (9:09) So I've just been like praying to people often somebody who's not at all religious.religious.(9:14) Is praying to people often.

Alan Lazaros

(9:16) Yeah. (9:16) So I said, so wonderful to see you so happy, Tara. (9:20) You're often in my thoughts.ghts.(9:21) And those crazy high school existential convos we had with like a laughy emoji. (9:26) She said, hashtag never forget. (9:28) LOL.(9:29) And I said, same with a brain and heart. (9:32) I, in AP calc, we would talk about conditional love versus unconditional love. (9:38) We would talk about the global economy, how it all works.(9:42) We would talk about government. (9:43) We would talk about private versus public. (9:46) I was, I realized now that I was the one catalyzing a lot of that.(9:50) And I remember arguing like it was her and Mrs. Pryor against me. (9:53) They believed unconditional love existed. (9:55) And back then in my mathematical young mind, I was like, no fucking chance.(10:01) Because Mrs. Pryor was like, Alan, I unconditionally love my husband. (10:04) I was like, no, you don't.27;t. (10:06) If he woke up every day and slapped you in the face first thing, you would eventually fall out of love with him.(10:10) We had these great conversations. (10:12) Now, I obviously have shifted a little bit, but I also do. (10:15) Unconditional versus conditional love.(10:17) What do they exist? (10:18) You know, all these existential conversations I've been having my whole life.life. (10:21) What's my point of all this?this?(10:24) My purpose was there. (10:27) My calling was there. (10:29) My mission was there, even when I didn't know it.w it.(10:32) I was always helping people reach their goals and dreams. (10:35) I was always coachy. (10:39) No comment.(10:40) Straight up. (10:42) And I was always helping people reach their full potential. (10:45) And I was always having meaningful existential conversations.(10:48) Always. (10:49) And the same is similar. (10:51) Not the same, but similar to you.(10:53) You were always having deep conversations. (10:55) You and I did that back in the day before.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:58) Excuse me, before we even had a podcast. (11:00) Well, and I've always enjoyed helping people.ople. (11:03) But like the thing is, I think we get convinced that that's enough.ough.(11:07) It's like when you find your one. one. (11:08) No, fuck. (11:10) I think life's probably harder after you find your one thing, because then you've got to go all in and figure out how to make that sustainable.stainable.(11:16) You know, you know, the weird thing. (11:19) This is a very, this is a very, very strange thing. (11:21) I don't even know if I know how to explain it or if it'll land.7;ll land.(11:24) Self-improvement is the opposite of how not to succeed, essentially. (11:30) Right. (11:34) But many self-improvement principles are not guaranteed to help you succeed, even though they're supposed to be in the opposite of you not succeeding.ding.(11:41) A lot of them aren't actually going to work.work. (11:44) Or they're not going to work the way you think.hink. (11:47) Like just because it just because it's labeled as success or self-improvement does not mean it's actually going to help you succeed or improve yourself. yourself.(11:54) No, bullshit.

Alan Lazaros

(11:55) This is good.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:56) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(11:57) They do, the principles do work, but you might not do them long enough. (12:02) Yes. (12:02) Or well enough.(12:03) But the principles also should be rated. (12:07) Yeah, is what I'm saying.ying. (12:08) In terms of value.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:09) Yeah. (12:09) We're going to do an episode on that tomorrow.rrow.

Alan Lazaros

(12:11) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:12) But that's, I don't know.27;t know. (12:13) I just, a huge, Evan Carmichael is a friend. (12:17) You're one word.word.(12:18) I love it and I think it's simple.mple. (12:21) It's just simplified.fied. (12:23) I, that's like my thing is I want to make it as simple as it needs to be.o be.(12:27) But not overly simple to the point where it loses its value.

Alan Lazaros

(12:33) I, to bring all the listeners behind the scenes here, Kevin and I were discussing what we wanted to talk about and what we think is important. (12:43) And I said, what's your one word for 2026?2026? (12:46) And he was like, I don't know.know.(12:47) Let me think about it. (12:48) And he said, discerning to be more discerning. (12:52) I think it's a great word.word.(12:53) I appreciate it. (12:53) Mine is standards. (12:54) I want to get back to just focusing on having the highest standards of any human on earth.(13:01) And we were going to do an episode on it. (13:03) And Kevin's like, no, I think the one word is dumb.dumb. (13:06) It's too simple.mple.(13:07) And you just said it kindly.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:09) It's simple.mple.

Alan Lazaros

(13:09) So Kevin was watching, you know, Kevin said it, not me. (13:14) I'm joking.king. (13:15) No, but the truth is I do think it's important, but it's, it's a start.#x27;s a start.(13:19) That's it.s it. (13:19) It's a start.tart. (13:20) Yes.(13:21) Like, why does that one word matter? (13:23) I have it written right over here on my whiteboard. (13:25) 2026 standards.(13:26) It's underlined.ined. (13:27) Why does that matter? (13:28) Because I think that's the root cause of why I'm not living my best life.best life.(13:33) I think I've let my standards fall in fitness, in tracking calories, in certain arenas, in building strength, in lifting heavier weight in we're 1400 days in a row of exercise. exercise. (13:48) And that's great.reat. (13:50) But sometimes we would do two days in a row where we were like walking instead of lifting.(13:57) And I told Amelia in 2026, we need to lift every other day. (14:02) Minimum, minimum every other day. (14:05) And she's game.game.(14:06) We haven't missed.ssed. (14:07) We're doing every other day weight training.ning. (14:09) We haven't missed that in weeks.eeks.(14:11) Why? (14:12) Because I held the line. (14:13) I'm not missing.sing.(14:14) We went last night late. (14:15) It's like, fuck, but I don't care.27;t care. (14:17) We're not missing.sing.(14:19) So everyone has a different, this is the thing that I think sucks for people. (14:26) Yes. (14:27) Life gets harder when you have clarity, but it isn't, it's, you know, what's really terrible is drifting around aimlessly, feeling like your life has no meaning.has no meaning.(14:35) You know, like, what is your life about? (14:38) Make a decision consciously. (14:41) What is your life going to be about?(14:42) Go to the end of your life. (14:43) What's, what's, what's the one thing that's going to, for me, it's going to be, wow, that dude really fucking did everything he could to reach his potential and help as many people do the same. many people do the same. (14:55) Like, I know that that's not going to be the words people use, but that's the thing.the thing.(14:59) No one is ever going to be like, well, you know, he really didn't try that hard.hard. (15:04) He wasn't really that hardworking.king. (15:05) He wasn't very focused.used.(15:07) Think about it. (15:08) What are people going to say about you? (15:10) Oh, he's kind of lazy.lazy.(15:12) Fuck that. (15:13) I want to know that I did everything I could every single day for the rest of my life to do all I could with all I had every second of every day to reach my full potential, because I believe that's what the world needs.eeds. (15:27) That's the truth.ruth.(15:28) It's deeper and it's bigger than anyone can see on some podcast episode.t episode. (15:32) Well, I think maybe that's the biggest piece of it, right?ight?

Kevin Palmieri

(15:35) Is what it takes to actually have your life revolve around one thing is fucking almost impossible. (15:48) It's possible, but it's very challenging.allenging. (15:52) And I think that requires a certain level of, okay, if you find the right book at the right time and you have the right skills and you have the right commitment and you have the right resourcefulness and you have all the right things, then the book's going to be way more valuable.able.(16:06) But it's drastically different than just reading a book and then saying, all right, my one word, my one thing, my one thing is helping other people.ople. (16:13) Fuck yeah. (16:13) It can't be that vague.ague.(16:15) But that's where I think a lot of us start.tart.

Alan Lazaros

(16:18) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:19) Your one thing now is different than it was. (16:21) It's the same, but the label's probably different.different. (16:24) Well, there's the vehicle too. too.(16:25) And the vehicle.

Alan Lazaros

(16:27) Yeah. (16:28) It's reaching my own unique potential and helping others do the same in health, wealth and love.love. (16:31) But the way I do that is through coaching, training and podcasting.(16:35) Right. (16:35) Coaching is one-to-one, training is one-to-several, podcasting is one-to-scale. (16:41) That's a lot of clarity, but it took me 37 years to have that level of clarity.rity.(16:46) Right, right. (16:46) And then my theme for this year is standards. (16:51) So there's a micro and a macro clarity too. too.(16:54) I think if you don't, if you're not clear on the macro, it's very hard to get clear on the micro.r on the micro. (16:58) And what I mean by that is you need to know what you want your life to mean. (17:02) You have to, what do you want your life to be about?(17:04) You have to answer that question first. (17:05) It's a heavy question.tion.

Kevin Palmieri

(17:08) It's a heavy, that's the thing.the thing. (17:09) Like these are all, I think you and I have lost sight to a degree on how many life-altering questions we ask ourselves, how many life-altering conversations we've had, and then how quickly we just go to the next thing.hing. (17:24) Like the next day just happens and it's like, that was yesterday.rday.(17:28) Now today's Monday or whatever.ever. (17:31) And I think maybe the best thing ever, how sustainable is this? (17:36) Fairly sustainable, probably all things considered.(17:39) Imagine if you just read the same 12 self-improvement books every year for your entire life. (17:47) I wonder what would happen. (17:50) Okay, first of all, where are you going with this?

Alan Lazaros

(17:54) What do you think would happen?

Kevin Palmieri

(17:56) What's your hypothesis there?here? (17:57) I think it would be incredibly valuable because some of- Only if it's the right books.ooks. (18:02) Well, obviously, right?(18:04) You can read Harry Potter, read a different Harry Potter and then read a different Lord of the Rings. (18:09) That probably ain't it.t it. (18:11) But like the one thing, if you read that when you were 18 and then you read that when you were 38, I guarantee a 38-year-old version of you is going to find something dreadful.(18:19) And you're going to have so much perspective.tive.

Alan Lazaros

(18:22) I think you just, I don't want to say stumbled upon, but you just got to a deep truth, a deep objective truth, which is the goal isn't to read the right book.ight book. (18:35) The goal is to become a reader. (18:37) That's fair.fair.(18:38) The goal isn't to run a mile.mile. (18:41) The goal is to become a runner. (18:44) Yeah, I mean, that's not the point I'm making necessarily.cessarily.(18:47) It's to meet the love of your life and then commit to a deeper, meaningful relationship.ship.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:52) But all I'm saying is if you read the one thing when you're 18 and you never read it again, and you also have a very good memory, so you remember almost everything you read. you read. (19:03) When I go through books for the second or third time, it's like, oh yeah, I forgot.rgot. (19:06) I completely forgot about that.(19:08) Fuck yeah. (19:09) Okay. (19:09) Selfish question.

Alan Lazaros

(19:10) What the fuck is that like? (19:12) I had a client- It's normal, so I don't know.27;t know. (19:14) And brother, I can right now close my eyes and I can be in the studio with you.(19:22) We're sitting on the chairs.airs.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:24) I have that. (19:25) I could do that. (19:26) But the book thing, it's like you'll learn something in a book and then you'll teach it like a day later.ke a day later.(19:31) And it's like, I don't know how the fuck you remember everything you just learned already.d already. (19:35) That's been really hard for me.r me.

Alan Lazaros

(19:36) I adore my therapist. (19:41) I think she's great.reat. (19:42) Carol.(19:42) I feel sometimes like I went deeper than other people in their thing, like very quickly. (19:51) And she's still helping me and don't get me wrong. me wrong. (19:53) She's amazing.zing.(19:54) But there was a point where I was like, oh, I might understand this more than you. (19:59) I get that point all the time. (20:01) This is why mentors and coaches are so hard for me.(20:04) I very quickly realized that I'm much more intelligent than them.them. (20:09) That's been very hard for me.r me. (20:10) It's been very sad. sad.(20:12) I've been coaching with my or working.king. (20:15) It's technically consulting with my therapist for she's been teaching me IFS for three years.ree years. (20:20) And we've been doing IFS as well, you know, with me.h me.(20:22) I probably should call her a consultant rather than a therapist, but she is a therapist by trade. (20:27) She's a consultant with me because I'm out of state. of state. (20:29) But dude, I learned IFS at a deeper level than I ever expected.(20:40) There was there's a point in every relationship where I reach a point where it's like, oh, I know this better than you do.an you do. (20:47) Fuck. (20:48) And that that really sucks.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:50) I can only imagine. (20:52) I can only imagine. (20:53) But I think that's why, like, you'll read a book and I think you're able to take it and put it into practice very quickly.e very quickly.(21:03) You know, because you know what to do with the information. (21:07) You know where to put it. (21:07) You know what to sift through.(21:09) You know what's actually valuable.able. (21:12) Where I never did learning loop.

Alan Lazaros

(21:14) Good. (21:14) You have to see it. (21:15) You have to hear it.(21:16) Yeah. (21:17) You write it. (21:18) You study it.(21:20) You practice it and then you teach it. (21:21) It's called the learning loop.loop. (21:23) That's why my masterclass.lass.(21:25) I think masterclasses are more valuable than this podcast because I tell people, bring your notebooks and I'm writing it and you can see my screen and you can see my remarkable I'm writing live.ting live. (21:35) And if you write it too, it sinks deeper. (21:38) So if you see it, hear it, write it, practice it and teach it, you learn it very quickly.(21:45) And one of the benefits you and I have selfishly here for a moment is we get to learn way faster than everyone else because we have to teach it. (21:55) Yeah, but our brain retains it more.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:57) I think that's that's another important fact about this is my my relationship with any book I've ever read is based on existing beliefs for the most part. the most part. (22:09) Like I'm I'm just somebody who thinks most stuff is overly simplified to a detriment.detriment. (22:14) Of course, I'm not going to like anything that says the one anything.hing.(22:18) How you do one thing is how you everything dumbest shit I've heard in my life.life. (22:22) I hate it. (22:23) Can't stand it.d it.(22:23) I think it's stupid.upid. (22:24) Well, let's unpack the layers.yers.

Alan Lazaros

(22:27) The layers of that saying are your identity needs to be more than what you do. (22:33) The way I wash dishes is masterful. (22:35) That's a great that's a great quote.eat quote.(22:37) Why can't we do that instead?tead? (22:38) Because it's not as fucking pithy.ithy. (22:41) There you go.(22:41) Yeah, I'm with you, you know.know. (22:43) But dude, like. (22:45) Unless so.(22:46) Okay, do I just words don't encapsulate life as well as mathematics, in my opinion.nion. (22:52) That's a lot of rabbit hole.hole.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:53) But mathematics don't encapsulate anything for me because this that.that. (22:57) How dare you? (22:58) I'm saying personally because I don't understand it.rstand it.(23:00) I'm not saying it's not valuable. valuable. (23:02) Not really decent. (23:03) Give me some geometry or some.(23:06) We're in trouble.uble. (23:07) Okay. (23:08) Yeah, math ain't it.t it.(23:09) It's hard.hard. (23:10) When I say a sentence.

Alan Lazaros

(23:15) You're taking the words.ords. (23:18) We're going to say also work.work. (23:20) And you'd be like, what the hell are you talking about?bout?

Kevin Palmieri

(23:22) We have gone very doesn't mean anything.hing. (23:23) Very meta on this part. (23:25) We have gone very meta.

Alan Lazaros

(23:28) The when you say the one thing you have to title the book something. (23:32) What should be? (23:33) What should the book be titled?(23:35) Once you have clarity on one thing, then you actually can succeed. (23:39) If you make sure everything you say, think, do feel and believe falls under that. (23:43) That's a fucking terrible, terrible title for sure.sure.(23:46) I don't know.know. (23:47) I don't know what it should be titled.tled. (23:50) Try Mr. Titleman. (23:54) I do. (23:55) I think I'm bringing a more argumentative version of me to the to the table because I think this is important.tant. (24:00) I think you and I doing a healthy discord, a healthy debate.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:02) I don't I'd have to like a value literally sit down and read the whole thing and take notes and then I could give you a title and I'm not saying that's probably the best title.ably the best title. (24:10) Look, people get paid. (24:12) Tons of money to title books, so it's probably the best title.itle.(24:16) That's probably the best title to get people to buy the fucking book, just like the four hour work weeks, a great title to get people to buy the book.book. (24:24) That's not the that's not a great way to succeed.o succeed. (24:27) It's a terrible way to succeed.ceed.(24:29) That's the worst idea.idea. (24:30) We're going to go much deeper into this in tomorrow's episode, so if you enjoy what we're talking about today, you'll definitely enjoy that.finitely enjoy that. (24:36) I don't know.know.(24:36) I think I'm already if you're somebody out there and you're of the belief that everything is overcomplicated, you probably like a title like that and you'll you'll probably love a book like that.ly love a book like that. (24:47) I think things are I think people try to just oversimplify things, and I've always been on that end of like six minute abs is not real.real. (24:55) The one diet that fixes everything is not real.(24:58) None of that shit is real. (24:59) If it sounds too easy, if it sounds too simple and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is false. (25:06) Yeah, unless it's just simple, unsexy repetition, but that's most people don't go there.x27;t go there.

Alan Lazaros

(25:17) Yeah, the thing that I think is a value about reading books is you need to read a bunch of them and then decipher the fundamental principles underneath each. (25:32) I'm creating something called the 100 success impact points, and I'm eventually going to teach this, but I'm basically just creating and compiling a list of all the 100 things that if I took someone at the very beginning of their journey, let's say they're 20 years old and they just got clarity on their dream.t clarity on their dream. (25:51) I would take them through this 100 point checklist to make them an elite level success best on planet earth, and there's 100. 100.(26:02) Narrowing it down to 100 is going to be hard. (26:06) See, and this is why you can't succeed listening to a fucking podcast, but you can succeed if you listen every day for 10 years.ears. (26:17) That's why I know you set up the way that it is, brother, because I am frustrated that you know, I listened to an interview of Matthew McConaughey and there's some insights and it's, you know, whatever.know, whatever.(26:28) It's great, but I'm not going to suddenly achieve my dreams because I listen to Matthew with his great southern drawl.ern drawl. (26:36) This podcast actually will bring you to your goals and dreams, but you have to listen every day. (26:42) That's the promise.mise.(26:43) Yeah, I was on a podcast recently. (26:45) He said, well, I want to make sure we deliver on the promise. (26:47) I was like, yes, yes.(26:49) What's the promise?mise? (26:50) What's the promise for NLU? NLU? (26:53) This is my promise.(26:54) If you listen to this show every day and actually implement what you learn, your life will be far more successful in health, wealth, and love. (27:02) That's my promise.mise. (27:03) I got nothing else for you.(27:05) Kevin and I, way back, we had someone who had listened to 500 episodes and he, I coached the man and I realized that he was an absolute failure in most regards and I was very upset and I came to Kevin. (27:20) I said, our podcast sucks. (27:24) I think that, yeah, of course, obviously it's his responsibility.lity.(27:28) His life is his responsibility. (27:29) But if you listen to 500 episodes of our podcast and he doesn't have a lick of clarity, dude, we suck.suck. (27:35) We're the worst leaders ever.ever.(27:37) Do better. (27:37) And we have, I think we've gotten better since then.then. (27:40) And I'd be pleasantly, I would be, not pleasantly, I would be unpleasantly surprised if you could listen to 500 episodes of NLU and your life wasn't measurably better.ly better.(27:49) If you listen to 500 plus episodes of this podcast and your life is not measurable, measurably better in health, wealth, and love, we have fucking failed you.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:00) Or you have completely and utterly ignored us and everything we've ever said.said. (28:03) I got a question for you before we get out of here. (28:04) How many, uh, how many self-help slash personal development books do you think are published annually in the U.S.? Annually?

Alan Lazaros

(28:17) Oh, jeez.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:18) Put them on the spot.

Alan Lazaros

(28:20) Uh, 30. (28:24) Hold on, hold on. (28:26) There's 350 million people in the U.S. 30.. 30. (28:32) No, there's no way it's 35,000.;s 35,000. (28:34) 3.5, 3.5 thousand. (28:36) 15,000.(28:37) 15,000.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:38) Okay. (28:39) 15,000.

Alan Lazaros

(28:42) Yeah, it's pretty brutal.utal.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:44) There's no shortage.tage. (28:45) Well, that, but there's no shortage of, there's no shortage of information.formation. (28:49) Now, how many of those are actually good?(28:51) Who knows, right? (28:51) How many of those are by accredited authors who have the experience? (28:54) We should do an episode at some point about what makes a great book.

Alan Lazaros

(28:56) I think it's objective truth.ruth. (28:58) If a book is rooted in reality, it's a good book.book.

Kevin Palmieri

(29:02) Objective truth is only objective truth if you understand it.

Alan Lazaros

(29:06) But the, how do you know? (29:09) That's not true.true. (29:10) It's objective truth regardless of whether or not you understand it.d it.(29:13) Gravity is 9.8 meters per second squared regardless of the fact that you didn't know that, and I know you did know that.that.

Kevin Palmieri

(29:17) But what, I've only known that because you say it in every fucking other episode.sode. (29:20) That's not true at all. all. (29:21) How dare you?(29:22) I haven't said that in years.ears. (29:23) No, that's not true.true. (29:24) That's not true.true.(29:25) You say that at least monthly, depending on what kick you're on, depending on what kick you're on.x27;re on. (29:29) Yeah. (29:30) But that, all I'm saying is if I listen to a business book, I get, I mean, if they're using facts and figures, there's X amount of people, there's X amount of people online.nt of people online.(29:40) Sure, that's objective, right?ight? (29:44) But I think the hard part is a lot of people are using evidence and anecdotal evidence, evidence for lack of better phrasing. (29:52) We'll do an episode on it.n it.(29:53) What's your favorite book?book?

Alan Lazaros

(29:54) What's, what do you, no, not, dumb question.tion. (29:56) What's, better question is, what is the most valuable book you've ever read?ever read? (30:02) Mindset by Carol Dweck.(30:04) Okay. (30:04) It's a heavily researched book.book.

Kevin Palmieri

(30:06) That's probably why you like it.e it. (30:07) No, I like it because- It's not anecdotal.otal. (30:09) There was parts in it where I literally was like, holy shit, I am the before.(30:15) I resonate. (30:16) And now you're the after baby.baby. (30:17) Well, now I'm the after, but the only, I resonated because it was like, you're talking directly to me.tly to me.(30:21) Oh my goodness. (30:22) How do you know that's how I felt in school?hool? (30:24) How do you know that's how I felt in sports?orts?(30:28) That. (30:29) So maybe that's the whole main, that's the takeaway for me.ay for me. (30:35) If, if you feel like you have so many things dialed in and you just need the last block of clarity, the one thing's probably going to crush for you. you.(30:45) If you have no idea what you want, maybe the one thing's also going to crush for you because it's going to help you find clarity.d clarity. (30:52) If you're somewhere in the middle, I don't know.27;t know. (30:54) Maybe when I read it, I already had a lot of clarity and I didn't realize I did. did.(30:58) So I didn't find the value in it as much.much. (31:00) And I just, I just know how hard it was to get the clarity in the first place. (31:06) So I don't know if a book, we all know we have to be clearer.arer.(31:09) We all know that. (31:10) You don't have to read a book to find that.that. (31:12) Right.(31:13) You get to the end of the book. (31:14) It's like, ah, just need your one thing.hing. (31:17) Okay.(31:19) Thank you. (31:20) And what else? (31:22) What else you got for me?(31:23) So I don't know.know. (31:24) What if your expectations are wrong on books? (31:26) I very honestly.

Alan Lazaros

(31:28) I'm not expecting to get life's answers from one book. one book. (31:30) I'm expecting to get life's answers from books and then contemplating books.ing books.

Kevin Palmieri

(31:34) One of the reasons I haven't written a book yet is because I don't think I know how to make it as valuable as I want it.I want it. (31:40) Same. (31:41) I don't, I don't want to release a book.se a book.(31:43) You know how many people I, we work with publishers. (31:45) We have clients that are like book publishers. (31:47) We could get us.(31:47) They wouldn't be hard to get published.shed. (31:49) I don't want to do it.o it. (31:51) It's not time.time.(31:52) It's not time.time. (31:53) I don't.27;t. (31:54) What's going to be the title of your book?book?(31:55) I don't even, I don't even want to say it because I might change it.change it. (31:58) Okay.

Alan Lazaros

(31:59) The marketing title listeners know you get to change things.

Kevin Palmieri

(32:02) It would be the million dollar podcast playbook, but I don't know if I want to fucking have that in there.here. (32:07) I know I should. (32:10) Nice.(32:11) But I don't know if I want to.t to. (32:14) There's a part of me that I just don't, I don't even want to write a book just despite the fact that that's what you're supposed to do.u're supposed to do. (32:21) You know, there's a piece of me that's like, I'm not even, I don't even think I'm going to write a book just because everybody else does.ause everybody else does.

Alan Lazaros

(32:27) Interview style audio book or something.

Kevin Palmieri

(32:29) Maybe.

Alan Lazaros

(32:30) Maybe. (32:30) I don't know.know. (32:31) I'm kidding.ding.(32:32) I do think you should have a book. (32:33) I really do. (32:34) I feel like the pyramid we built for podcasters, man, I think that's good shit.shit.

Kevin Palmieri

(32:38) Yeah. (32:39) Speaking of which, if you're a podcaster and you want to grow, scale, and monetize your podcast, maybe eventually you want to write a book.book. (32:44) I can't help you with that, but I can definitely, and Alan can definitely, and Amy can definitely help you grow, scale, and monetize your podcast.cast.(32:50) We have the next round of the Next Level Podcast Accelerator starting next week. (32:54) So if you're listening to this, it's Wednesday, December 31st.mber 31st. (32:58) It's starting on the 6th, I believe.ieve.

Alan Lazaros

(33:00) January 1st, 5 p.m. January 6th. (33:02) No, no, January 6th. (33:03) It's January 6th, 5 p.m. That's the master class.ter class. (33:04) Yes. (33:05) That's the master class.lass. (33:06) The Next Level Podcast Accelerator, January 6th, 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 12-week program. (33:14) Yeah. (33:15) The most affordable coaching in the game. (33:17) NLU Listener is the promo code.(33:18) It comes to less than $25 per session. (33:21) Boom. (33:21) For three coaches.(33:22) It's a bargain.gain. (33:23) It is. (33:24) It is a bargain.(33:25) The most affordable coaching you will ever find. (33:26) And we have done this 20 times. (33:29) We've never presented the same thing twice.wice.(33:31) We've made it better every single time.time.

Kevin Palmieri

(33:34) And that's the thing too, is we go really deep.deep. (33:37) That's the beauty of this, is it's very deep.very deep. (33:40) It's interactive.tive.(33:41) You will leave calls questioning your existence in a good way. (33:45) Not a bad way. (33:45) And then you get to come back next week and revisit that.(33:47) So we'll have the link below.elow. (33:48) We'd love to have you if you're a heart-driven, humble, honest, good person.od person. (33:54) We love working with those types of humans.(33:56) 100%. (33:56) Cool.

Alan Lazaros

(33:57) We have a new book in book club. (34:01) We've really promoted books a lot on this.this. (34:04) Yes, make sure you join book club.(34:06) No, in book club though. (34:07) Seriously. (34:07) Great discussions with great people.(34:09) Next level books with next level people. (34:11) Every Saturday, 12 30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. (34:13) The link is in the show notes to register.(34:15) Totally free. (34:16) We are doing a new book. (34:17) We just finished Rationality by Steven Pinker.(34:18) We're doing Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg.Fogg. (34:22) And it is all about changing your behavior. (34:25) You can change your perception or your behavior.(34:27) Kevin and I are on the very high end of change your behavior. (34:30) You can't just tell yourself a new story every day. day. (34:32) You have to change your behavior.(34:33) You have to get yourself to do shit that sucks. (34:35) This book will help you do that. (34:37) Join us.

Kevin Palmieri

(34:38) As always, we love you. (34:39) We appreciate you. (34:40) Grateful for each and every one of you.(34:41) And if you are as committed, 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.

Alan Lazaros

(34:49) Keep reaching and leveling up to your true potential. (34:52) Excellent nation.

Kevin Palmieri

(34:54) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (34:58) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(35:01) We mean it when we say family. (35:03) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (35:06) Everything you need to get ahold of us is in the show notes.(35:10) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.

Head Shot

Alan Lazaros

Host
Head Shot

Kevin Palmieri

Host