Next Level University

No Sacrifice Needed Is A Lie (2304)

• Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros

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Success costs more than people are willing to admit. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan challenge a widely accepted belief that quietly limits growth, consistency, and long-term results. They explore what happens when ambition meets reality and why real progress demands clear decisions instead of comforting narratives. This episode speaks to those who take personal development seriously. It centers on discipline, self-respect, and the often-ignored cost of avoiding hard trade-offs.

The focus is not on motivation or inspiration, but on clarity, standards, and sustainability over time. Listen with intention. Then decide which commitments you are willing to honor when no one is watching.

Learn more about:
Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session

Where learning turns into action. “Next Level Book Club”  every Saturday:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkcuiupjIqE9QlkptiKDQykRtKyFB5Jbhc

Join our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700

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NLU is not just a podcast; it’s a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.

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

Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com

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Alan: https://www.instagram.com/alazaros88/

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Alan: https://www.facebook.com/alan.lazaros
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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:
(2:02) The law of trade-offs and emotional maturity
(4:36) Choosing the mission over relationships and comfort
(6:04) The five S’s of long-term success
(8:07) Matching sacrifice to the level of ambition
(12:17) Conscious sacrifice Vs. Autopilot regret
(15:17) Growth-driven reconnection Vs. Nostalgia
(22:24) Truth, self-honesty, and real leadership
(24:27) 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) We once had a mentor who used to talk about sacrifice and he essentially said, well, if it's worth it and you believe you're doing it for the right reason, it's not a sacrifice.ot a sacrifice. (0:10) And I never agreed with that. (0:11) I think that's just one of those, like, you're tricking yourselves into thinking there isn't sacrifice.27;t sacrifice.(0:15) I don't think that does anybody any favors.vors.

Alan Lazaros

(0:18) I think it's very emotionally mature to admit the law of trade-offs.offs.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:25) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:28) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri.ieri. (0:30) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.arus.(0:33) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:39) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:46) We bring you a new episode every single day on topics like confidence, self-belief, self-worth, self-awareness, relationships, boundaries, consistency, habits, and defining your own unique version of success.

Alan Lazaros

(1:02) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:08) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:14) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2304, no sacrifice needed is a lie. (1:20) Just like no assembly is required is a lie. (1:23) You get a piece of furniture, it's like, yeah, it's just together. together.(1:25) No, it's not. not. (1:26) There's no way this dresser could fit in this box. box. (1:28) Never.

Alan Lazaros

(1:28) Look at the size of the box. (1:29) Look at the size of the dresser. (1:30) Never is.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:31) Not possible. (1:32) So I had a dream the other night. (1:35) And I'll give context, but I want to keep anonymity.mity.(1:39) When I first started this journey, 2017, I had a very small, tight core group of friends. (1:46) And over time, I stayed friends with one or two of those people. (1:52) Alan came back into my life, so Alan and I got closer.(1:55) And then I essentially stopped talking to all of the rest of the crew. (1:59) And there were some other stuff, like, I wasn't good at giving feedback.back. (2:04) So one of my friends was just doing disrespectful things that I never, I never sat him down and said, hey, man, like, what the fuck?(2:11) What are we doing here? (2:12) We're grown adults.ults. (2:13) Please start acting like an adult and respect my space and all that I try to do for you.(2:18) With love, obviously, with love. (2:20) So I ended up drifting away from this person. (2:23) And I don't even know.know.(2:25) I mean, it has been 2019, maybe 2020. (2:31) It's been like six years, seven years, probably since I've talked to this person.is person. (2:36) And I had a dream.(2:38) I told Taryn when I woke up, I was like, I just had a fucking nightmare. (2:40) I had a dream about this person. (2:43) And I ran into them and we reconnected and I went and saw his family.(2:49) And he's like, ah, I need a little bit, a little bit more time before you see my family.mily. (2:52) Cause you know, you know what happened before I was like, oh Jesus. (2:55) And it was just, oh my God, it was just a heavy dream.(2:59) And when I woke up, I was like, I should, I should like rekindle that for sure. (3:04) Like, that's definitely something I need to do.o do. (3:06) That was like, as I wiped the sleepies out of my eyes.(3:09) And then I had this very humbling, honest moment with myself of there's no fucking way that would work.work.

Alan Lazaros

(3:15) This happened to me recently too, man. (3:17) Did it not with the same person with a different person? (3:21) I had this moment and I don't mean to take the, no, you're good.7;re good.(3:24) It's important though.ough. (3:25) Cause I had the moment of, I should really get lunch with this person. (3:34) I would probably regret it if I never saw this person again.(3:38) And then two days went by and I was in my office and I was like, on what fucking planet? (3:45) There's no way that's going to happen.to happen. (3:47) And even if it did, you're not going to do that regularly.arly.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:50) Well, that's the, that's always my conversation is for what? for what? (3:55) It's not, this isn't going to be a thing.e a thing. (3:57) One of the main reasons I stopped talking to my dad when he tried to come back into my life is because I knew it wasn't sustainable.able.(4:04) I'm not going to try to teach him. him. (4:06) Well, Hey dad, you can't really text me.t me. (4:07) You definitely can't call me in the middle of the fucking day. day.(4:11) And I have a business to run. (4:13) Like what? (4:14) You think I could just call you whenever?(4:17) Or you get frustrated when I don't see you on a weekend?kend? (4:19) I just saw, I saw mom and Mima for the first time since, I don't even know, months.nths.

Alan Lazaros

(4:28) I see them like once a quarter at this point.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:30) Right?

Alan Lazaros

(4:30) So like that really is. (4:32) We're going to get villainized for this episode.sode. (4:34) I'm okay with it.h it.(4:35) I'm okay with it.h it. (4:36) At the end of the day, Kevin and I have chosen the mission and our goals and dreams above a lot of other things. (4:47) And that is by design.(4:50) That is a choice that was not made lately. (4:53) It was not made all at once either. (4:54) It was made in this slow maturing realization over the last nine years in business.(5:01) You get from level one to level two, level two to level three, all the way to level nine at this point, nine years in business, just metaphorically. (5:09) And each level up, you realize, hmm, a lot of the stuff that I had on that previous level, I have to let go of. (5:20) For sure.(5:21) Persons, places, things, and ideas. (5:23) I ran into the person you're talking about in the gym. gym. (5:28) And I saw him and I put my hood up, locked it in.(5:35) When you pull the strings and you just, you lock in. (5:37) And if he were to talk to me, I wouldn't be unkind by any means.eans.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:40) Of course not.

Alan Lazaros

(5:41) But I'm not going to go out of my way. way. (5:43) And as much as I know you and I will be villainized for this, the truth is, if you were in my life, you would know why. (5:53) I don't have any extra time to the point where I'm going to tell a story on this episode that I actually think is going to make me sound a little nuts.ttle nuts.(6:00) And I'm okay with that.that. (6:02) But you have to decide for yourself. (6:04) We have the five S's of next level success.cess.(6:08) Sacrifice is the first one. (6:11) Sacrifice, struggle, suffer, success, and then guess what? (6:16) You're not done.done.(6:18) Sustain. (6:19) And then you go back to the first one. (6:21) Sacrifice, struggle, suffer, success.(6:26) Instagram post. (6:27) We did it. (6:28) We did it.(6:29) Sustain. (6:30) Now we got to keep it. (6:31) Yeah.(6:33) And so the story I want to share briefly here, Emily and I went to the lake this weekend in the Berkshires. (6:40) It was beautiful. (6:41) It was wonderful.(6:43) And I had this really, back in the day, dude, I used to make eggs. (6:48) That was my thing. (6:49) Big breakfast was my favorite.(6:51) Eggs, the whole nine. (6:53) And I had this idea. (6:54) I'm like, Sunday, I worked all week.week.(6:56) I'm going to make us eggs.eggs. (6:57) We're going to go get food and I'm going to make it.o make it. (6:59) The worst idea ever.(7:01) Terrible. (7:01) Right? (7:03) Now again, they were delicious.(7:07) And afterwards, Emily and I talked, and we're very optimized.ized. (7:12) We're both business owners.ners. (7:13) We are very careful with where we invest our time.(7:16) And we have to be quite frankly, dude, that was like a three or four hour endeavor. (7:24) We have group coaching launching tomorrow. (7:28) What the fuck am I doing?(7:30) Making eggs in the Berkshires? (7:31) Like, dude, no. (7:33) And Emily and I had a conversation.(7:35) I said, okay, that was great. (7:37) And we're never doing that again.gain. (7:39) Now, again, that's our thing.hing.(7:41) I know that sounds a little nuts. (7:43) You don't have to dial in at that level, but the truth is that no one will tell you. you. (7:48) Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, Tom Brady, these people that are the best of the best of the best of the best of the best of the best of the best at what they do, do not waste time.(8:00) They don't.27;t. (8:01) And Emily and I intend to be the best at what we do. (8:05) And so you don't have to be that intense.ense.(8:07) But what I do know is if you have level 10 success that you want, which is the Michael Phelps metaphor, Serena Williams metaphor, then you're going to have to have level 10 sacrifice.fice. (8:18) And if you want level two success, you only have to have level two sacrifice and you can get lunch with whoever you want. (8:24) And that's the truth.ruth.(8:25) And that's what this podcast is about.bout. (8:28) That's what this episode is about.bout. (8:29) And I see clients.(8:30) I have 25 now. (8:32) I'm very excited.ited. (8:33) Shout out to Barrett.(8:34) Just jumped on. (8:35) Listens to the show. (8:37) Shout out to Barrett.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:38) What's happening?ning?

Alan Lazaros

(8:39) 300 plus episodes. (8:40) I needed to know because that tells me he knows us enough to know he's not going to hate me in coaching.hing. (8:45) I'm excited for it, brother.ther.(8:46) But honestly, the people who sacrifice the most are the ones who will be the most successful. (8:53) Well, I think again, I think that I think discipline, I think a lot of that stuff gets a bad rap because people regret it after because they think they, you know, when they're already very successful and achieve all their goals and dreams, they say, well, if I could go back, I would do it.o it. (9:08) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:09) Okay. (9:09) The question should be if I could go back and everything was different and I didn't, I wasn't able to stand here and sit here and say, if I could go back, because you're not going back from anything. from anything. (9:19) What do you mean?(9:20) Nobody would ask you for advice because you didn't, you didn't end up where you ended up today. up today. (9:24) Yeah. (9:24) Can you go into that?

Alan Lazaros

(9:25) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:26) Go into that. (9:26) That's great.reat. (9:27) Um, geez, the things that give people the opportunity to be listened to are oftentimes the things that they villainize and say they would do differently, but they don't understand.tand.(9:40) That's the only reason they are where they are. are. (9:42) Now, if they don't want to be there and they say, if I could go back and trade all in and I wouldn't have any wealth and I wouldn't have fans and I would do it differently.it differently. (9:50) That's a, that's a different conversation.versation.(9:52) If that's, if that's your prerogative.erogative. (9:54) Sure. (9:54) I mean, I know there's, I'm guessing there's a lot of celebrities that did not understand how famous they were going to get.e going to get.(10:00) In fact, they can't even go outside without people badgering them.them. (10:04) Yeah. (10:05) But that is a sacrifice.(10:08) That is the sacrifice associated with being one of the most famous people on the planet.

Alan Lazaros

(10:12) That is one of the most successful actors or actresses, right? (10:14) Sports athlete, whatever it is. (10:16) Right.(10:16) That's what comes with it.h it. (10:17) Pros and cons. (10:18) I watched a conversation.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:20) I enjoy it. (10:20) I enjoy it very much. (10:21) I watched a little documentary on Leonardo DiCaprio and how after Titanic, yeah, he, I don't know if he did a movie right away.away.(10:32) You probably know better than I, but he went into like hiding for several months because he got like too famous.

Alan Lazaros

(10:37) Yeah. (10:38) He, so from my understanding, people were like, no, you don't understand.tand. (10:42) Like, this is the biggest movie in the world.(10:43) And he was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. (10:45) That's great.reat. (10:46) That's awesome.some.(10:47) That's, it's going to be a big success.g success. (10:48) Like, no, you don't understand.tand. (10:50) Like everyone on the planet has seen this movie.(10:52) That's wild.wild. (10:53) I remember when I went to see it, we had to sit on the ground because it was so full.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:57) I literally, I don't know if this was the first movie I ever saw in theaters, but I thought, I was like, wow, that guy died for that movie.ovie.

Alan Lazaros

(11:03) You were 11. (11:04) I swear. (11:04) You were 10 or 11.(11:05) I left that.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:06) I was like, wow. (11:06) I was young.

Alan Lazaros

(11:07) By the way, we talked about pros and cons. (11:10) Did Kate Winslet really know what she was signing up for? (11:12) Well, she has said many times before that she, it was not a good experience.(11:16) Yeah. (11:17) And ultimately there's someone in my life who is a very successful entrepreneur, who I respect deeply.eply. (11:27) And I actually have a bunch of really successful entrepreneurs in my life now.(11:30) So yeah, it's cool.cool. (11:32) But this person is much older and they are very wealthy. (11:39) Statistically speaking, they are the 1% of 1% of 1%.(11:42) And I mean this with all the love, if that person was out there listening and you know, I respect you deeply, but this person thinks I work too much. (11:52) And I would say verbatim, knowing that you might be listening, that it's easy to say that in your Ferrari.rari. (11:59) The truth of the matter is, if I could go back, I would do it different.(12:04) And I appreciate the wisdom. (12:06) I do. (12:06) I appreciate the wisdom.(12:08) When you were 37, you might've invested more than you. you. (12:11) You might've paid a price.rice. (12:12) You wish you didn't.27;t.(12:13) I get it. (12:14) But trust me, this is by design. (12:16) It's not like, this is the difference.ence.(12:17) I'm not an autopilot, man. man. (12:19) I think about this every goddamn day. (12:21) I'm not working hard and going to regret it one day. day.(12:24) I'm working hard questioning it every single day. day. (12:28) You and I are existentialists. (12:30) So it's not like we're going to wake up in 20 years and go, wow, I didn't spend any time with my kids or I didn't spend any.dn't spend any.(12:37) It's like, these are conscious choices.ices. (12:39) We have a podcast called the Hyperconscious Podcast. (12:42) That's where this was built.uilt.(12:43) So one of the things that's been hard for me with mentors, they are older.lder. (12:47) They do know. (12:49) They've been there.here.(12:51) Take it from me. (12:51) I've been there.here. (12:52) That was his exact words.(12:54) Yes. (12:54) But it's not like I'm on autopilot and you might've been, certainly more than me.y more than me. (12:59) You don't do this for a living.ving.(13:00) You don't contemplate for a living.ving. (13:02) And so Emily and I, the eggs thing, it makes us sound a little crazy. (13:06) It's like, you can make breakfast.fast.(13:07) Yes, we can. (13:08) We can. (13:09) But that time could have been invested elsewhere.(13:12) And when you work out 60 minutes a day, every day for 1,406 days, you have to be very careful with your time. (13:20) And the truth of the matter is at the end of the day, it's all depending on the goals that you set. set. (13:26) Because if you don't care to reach level 10, then you don't have to commit at level 10. level 10.(13:33) And that's totally fine, genuinely.nely.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:35) But that's where the regret comes from.from.

Alan Lazaros

(13:37) I would regret not doing it. (13:39) I would regret not achieving my dreams.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:43) Yeah. (13:44) I think that's where the regret comes from is you don't really know.ally know. (13:48) And I think that's a really good point.oint.(13:49) We do. (13:50) We think about it all the time. (13:51) The reason I don't want to reach out to this person is because I would just hurt them again.gain.(13:55) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(13:58) We're not going to see each other every week.week. (13:59) The only reason why I think you and I could and maybe will, I don't know, we'll continue to contemplate as grown ass men.n ass men. (14:07) We're going to continue to come because I might go get lunch with this person I started at the top of the episode with.with.(14:12) Love it. (14:13) I hope you do if it's aligned.gned. (14:14) Yeah.(14:15) Yeah. (14:15) And thank you. (14:16) And ultimately, thank you for your permission, Kev.(14:18) I'm messing with you. you. (14:19) You may go. (14:20) Yeah.(14:21) Can I come? (14:22) You know, are you making eggs? (14:23) I'm kidding.ding.(14:24) We have fun. (14:25) No, the truth is, I thought about this a lot, obviously. (14:31) If it's for growth, maybe I should.ould.(14:34) Not to go back to where, I mean, we used to hang out all the time. (14:38) Okay. (14:39) We would see each other every week.(14:41) That ain't happening again.gain. (14:43) There's no fucking chance that is.t is. (14:45) Some of my favorite people on planet earth I don't see once a week.week.(14:47) I don't even see you once a week.week.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:49) Well, virtually, but not in person.

Alan Lazaros

(14:51) Yeah. (14:52) So, at the end of the day, goals and dreams require you to be subservient to them. (14:57) And that requires you to trade off things.(15:00) However, I do encourage people to go back to the past and revisit persons, places, things, and ideas if it's for growth.owth. (15:07) Like, I think it was big that you went and saw your dad. (15:09) For sure.(15:10) I think it was big that I texted my stepdad to get lunch. (15:12) Those things, I think, are important. (15:14) I think you have to go back and face your past.(15:17) So, if you're running from your past, definitely go back and try to face it.e it. (15:20) Do it intelligently. (15:21) But if you're not running from your past, then you're just trying to rekindle nostalgia.nostalgia.(15:25) It's time to grow up.w up. (15:27) So, I downloaded the book by John Akaf.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:32) What's his name?name? (15:33) Yeah, yeah. (15:33) What do you think so far?(15:34) It's okay.okay. (15:35) I don't know.know. (15:37) Give me the business shit, man.(15:40) Talk to me. (15:41) Yeah, yeah, right. (15:42) It's a little light, but I like his energy.ergy.(15:46) And I like the fact that it's not boring, monotone.tone. (15:49) He's got a lot of personality.lity. (15:51) He's got really good stories.ries.

Alan Lazaros

(15:52) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:52) And there's some good frameworks.orks. (15:54) I enjoy it. (15:55) It's just not...ot...(15:56) I want to learn about business.

Alan Lazaros

(15:57) What's it called again?gain?

Kevin Palmieri

(15:58) I couldn't even tell you. you.

Alan Lazaros

(16:01) All You Need is a Goal. (16:03) Something like that. (16:05) John...(16:05) Is it surprising that we never heard of this man? (16:07) I know of him. (16:08) Oh, you did?(16:09) He's from Massachusetts.etts. (16:11) New England guy. (16:13) What do you mean you know of him?(16:15) Social media. (16:16) Social media. (16:16) I didn't know.know.(16:17) This is the first... (16:18) Dude, I've been...en... (16:19) Sorry.(16:20) I've been in the studying the personal development, self-improvement, personal growth space for 11 years.ears.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:26) He's newer.ewer.

Alan Lazaros

(16:26) He's a newer age. age.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:27) I think he's newer age. age. (16:29) What does that mean? (16:30) What are you talking about?(16:31) He came up after the Gary V's and after the...he... (16:38) He's just...st... (16:39) And he's not that big on social.cial.(16:41) I don't know how many followers he has now, but like...ke...

Alan Lazaros

(16:44) Yeah, but there's a lot of people I... I... (16:46) As far as authors go, there's not a lot of personal development authors that I don't know.27;t know. (16:50) I was a little surprised to...(16:52) Yeah, that's fair.fair. (16:53) It's like Morgan Household isn't famous either, right?er, right? (16:56) So...(16:57) Yeah, that's fair.fair. (16:58) He's a little more financed than personal development.ment. (16:59) But anyways, did you get to the part where he talks about your past and going back for the bright spots?(17:05) Yeah, yeah. (17:06) Is that what this was about?

Kevin Palmieri

(17:07) Is that where you're going?oing? (17:08) No. (17:08) This was how he said, if you're ever...er...(17:11) I think it was this book. (17:12) If you're ever stuck between two thoughts, flip a coin and you'll know.7;ll know. (17:15) I haven't said that for years.ears.(17:17) That was always my thing is if you don't...;t... (17:19) You know. (17:20) Flip a coin and if you regret it, you want it to be the other one.(17:24) If you're excited, you want it to be that one. one. (17:25) It's pretty simple.mple. (17:26) It's pretty straightforward.ward.(17:28) Real quick. (17:28) Don't fucking interrupt me.t me. (17:29) Real quick.(17:30) That is, I think, a really good test. (17:34) Do you think you'd regret it?t it?

Alan Lazaros

(17:37) That. (17:37) Go ahead. (17:39) But.(17:39) But. (17:39) You have the other side of the coin. (17:41) This is the point, right?(17:42) Listener, this is NLU where we debate so that you get both sides. (17:48) Is that our new tagline?

Kevin Palmieri

(17:49) No. (17:50) What? (17:51) Is that our new tagline?(17:53) The success podcast where we debate and you always get better. (17:57) We might not get better. (17:59) I might get torn apart in these debates, but you'll get better whether you watch or listen.sten.

Alan Lazaros

(18:02) No, I think you'll get better too. too. (18:04) Sharp minds sharpen one another, man. (18:05) That's true.true.(18:06) That's true.true. (18:06) Come on now. (18:07) Okay.(18:09) What was I going to say? (18:10) Both sides of the coin.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:13) We're going to debate, so you must not believe or agree with what I said.said. (18:16) And what you said, the flip a coin thing.

Alan Lazaros

(18:18) Yeah, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:18) Yeah, regret. (18:19) Here's the problem.blem.

Alan Lazaros

(18:22) I think your fears trick you into thinking... (18:27) Okay, let's say you flip a coin of whether or not you should go back and rekindle this relationship.ship. (18:32) What if you're afraid to do it because you're a coward? a coward?(18:35) I'm not saying you are. are. (18:36) Then you flip the coin and it lands on heads and you're like, damn, I don't want to do that.o do that. (18:41) You know.(18:42) There's a big difference between I don't want to do it and I shouldn't do it.n't do it.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:46) Yeah, but you know.

Alan Lazaros

(18:47) You know deep down. (18:48) You know deep down. (18:49) I think you know deep down and I think you're projecting.ting.(18:53) Maybe. (18:54) Sometimes it's hard to know.know. (18:56) Can you think of an example where you're like, I should do this?this?(19:03) I think that it's hard to reverse engineer regret when there's a lot of fear.t of fear. (19:08) Because it, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:11) Maybe I'm not a good character study.tudy. (19:12) I don't know.know. (19:13) I'm afraid of a lot of things, so it's not like I'm not afraid of things.raid of things.(19:15) But for me, I'm just very honest about like, this is...is... (19:19) Of course I should do that.

Alan Lazaros

(19:20) I said this behind your back in book club. (19:22) Oh boy. (19:23) I said, Kev, I open a lot of masterclasses at book club with, hey, I say all this to Kevin's face.face.(19:31) I said, if you haven't listened to the podcast lately, like, trust me, he knows all this.this. (19:34) And that's true.true. (19:35) That is definitely true.(19:36) Exactly. (19:36) I said, I say worse. (19:37) I actually said, I made a joke.(19:39) I said, I say worse to his face behind the scenes. (19:41) I promise. (19:42) And Emilio thought that was kind of mean, but it's all good.good.(19:45) So, uh, why was I saying that? (19:49) Oh, sharp mind. (19:53) I said this behind your back in book club.(19:57) I said, Kevin's very honest with himself.self. (20:00) Now I don't say that about everybody.body. (20:01) I think most people are lying to themselves all the time.(20:05) My coaching might as well be, Hey, let me find out where you're lying to yourself and keep it real with you. you. (20:10) You, I think have been pretty honest with yourself. (20:13) I remember one time I said, Hey, did you realize that where you grew up was, you know, sub optimal?

Kevin Palmieri

(20:18) And you're like, mother, are you kidding me?g me? (20:21) I remember Alan was like, I think your childhood is probably worse than you think. (20:24) It's like motherfucker.cker.(20:25) No, it wasn't.27;t. (20:26) Trust me. (20:27) I'm very aware of my childhood.hood.(20:29) I don't, I think about it every day. day. (20:31) I've been thinking about it for years, but that's not normal.ot normal. (20:34) I don't know what, I don't know what is normal.is normal.(20:38) I don't know.know. (20:39) I I'm always thinking about, honestly, this is my, this is the layer.ayer. (20:46) If I was to try to rekindle this, that would be for my ego to know that I could, and it would be selfish of me because the person would just get hurt again anyway, because clearly I'm not as invested.sted.

Alan Lazaros

(21:00) Yes. (21:00) And how do you know this? (21:02) Isn't you being a coward?ward?(21:03) I'm not saying you are, because I want to do it.o it. (21:06) That's why. why. (21:07) Nice.(21:08) Because I want to, I agree. (21:09) It's almost always, we used to say this all the time.time. (21:12) You on the hyperconscious podcast, it's what you want versus what's best.27;s best.(21:15) It's the right thing versus the easy thing.hing. (21:17) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:18) The right thing. (21:19) Yeah. (21:20) Get the fucking quote right.(21:22) I get your quotes right all the time. (21:24) I'm on podcasts and it's, it's like, uh, well, I, you know, Alan, my, my, uh, mentor and business partner once said, said there's a big difference between, and then I'll butcher it.hen I'll butcher it. (21:33) It's like something about walking up to the plate or swinging.ging.(21:36) You get the drift. (21:38) Do you want to swing? (21:40) Do you want to walk up to the whole point is, I don't know.know.

Alan Lazaros

(21:44) It's about the plate in book club.club. (21:47) I said this, I said, uh, and by the way, I want to make this reference when, whenever I'm in masterclasses or book club, I say the reason I'm picking Kevin is because you all know him. know him. (21:57) I'm not just trying to talk behind Kevin's back and I can handle it.handle it.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:01) Yeah, exactly.

Alan Lazaros

(22:01) I'm trying to use him as an example that we all know.know. (22:05) I can't just talk about, Oh, so I was with John Smith the other day. day. (22:08) You guys all know, John, it's like you need to use exam.exam.(22:12) People always say, don't talk about people, by the way, dumbest thing ever.ever. (22:16) Don't talk unfairly about people, but you need to learn from people.ople. (22:20) You need to talk about things.(22:21) Don't talk about somebody behind their back.back.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:24) If you wouldn't say it.y it. (22:25) Exactly.

Alan Lazaros

(22:25) Yeah. (22:25) But you need to be able to talk about human beings.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:28) Like I have to use you as an example for sure. (22:30) Let me give you some credit. (22:31) I think one of the reasons I'm good at owning the truth is because since you and I have started working together, that is the only way. way.

Alan Lazaros

(22:38) Nice.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:38) That's the like only acceptable.able. (22:40) It's not a bad thing to say like, Hey man, I fucked that up.t up. (22:42) That's on me.n me.(22:43) You already know that. (22:46) So me saying it, if anything is like, fuck yeah, I respect that person more for that.

Alan Lazaros

(22:50) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:50) That what if I didn't know that you would then know that.that. (22:54) And you might respect me a little bit less. (22:56) I don't know.know.(22:57) I know you're always looking.king. (22:58) Truth is everything.

Alan Lazaros

(23:00) Truth is everything. (23:00) I agree. (23:01) We should do an episode on it.(23:02) I agree. (23:02) Speaking of which I got to go. (23:05) That's the truth.ruth.(23:08) Great. (23:08) So speaking of which we have masterclasses, we've got book club.club. (23:13) We are starting a new book by BJ Fogg.(23:16) It's our podcast, right?ight? (23:17) It's awesome.some. (23:18) Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg.(23:19) Great showing. (23:20) Thank you to everyone who came to the masterclass and everyone who came to book club. (23:23) It's awesome.some.(23:24) If you want to start 2026 off strong, this book is going to help you start small and build, which is what we do with NLU. (23:32) Shout out to all the team members.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:34) They're about to be team members that joined group 21 of the Next Level Podcast Accelerator.ator. (23:38) We are super excited to have another cohort, I believe is the word people use. (23:43) Starting up super excited.(23:44) Again, this was like a dream come true for me. (23:47) These aren't team members.bers.

Alan Lazaros

(23:48) These are, you mean like group 21? (23:50) Yeah, yeah, yeah. (23:51) It's a team.team.(23:52) When we say team though, that means NLU team typically.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:57) Well, this is a Next Level Podcast Accelerator group cohort, not connected to the Next Level University business on the team, but amazing people. (24:08) And yeah, we're super excited, super excited.ited. (24:10) All right, cool.(24:12) Next Level Nation, private Facebook group, all this stuff. (24:14) Go to the website if you're interested in any of the things we do.e do. (24:18) Also happy 2026, crush it.(24:20) It's not a new year.year. (24:21) It's just a new day. day. (24:22) So just get a little bit better.(24:23) You have to get a year better in a day. (24:25) That's not realistic anyway.yway. (24:26) All right, cool.(24:27) As always, we love you. (24:28) We appreciate you. (24:29) Grateful for each and every one of you.(24:31) 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.

Alan Lazaros

(24:37) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential. (24:40) Next Level Nation.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:41) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (24:45) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(24:48) We mean it when we say family. (24:50) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (24:53) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.(24:57) Thank you again. (24:58) And we will talk to you tomorrow.

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Alan Lazaros

Host
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Kevin Palmieri

Host