Some People Talk About It… Less People Actually Do It (2312)

Your reputation is your follow-through. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan break down why motivation, intention, and public commitment do not build credibility. Consistency does. This conversation reframes personal development around execution, identity, and long-term standards.

The focus is self-awareness, accountability, environment, and the habits that quietly compound into trust and authority. This is not about inspiration. It is about alignment between what you say, what you do, and who you are becoming. Listen with discipline. Let your actions speak.

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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

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

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:
(2:35) Body of work as the only real proof
(4:22) Motivation does not create identity
(8:05) When saying it creates accountability
(9:20) Reference groups and environment effects
(10:38) Accountability requires self-belief
(13:03) Why long-term streaks actually work
(15:09) 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

• 2:35 Body of work as the only real proof
• 4:22 Motivation does not create identity
• 8:05 When saying it creates accountability
• 9:20 Reference groups and environment effects
• 10:38 Accountability requires self-belief
• 13:03 Why long-term streaks actually work
• 15:09 Outro

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I have a quote that I used to say often, it was, some people think about it, some people talk about it, some people act about it, some people are it. (0:08) There's a lot less people that are it than I originally thought.ught.

Alan Lazaros

(0:12) When you do something long enough, and commit to something long enough, you, it becomes a part of your identity.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:18) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:21) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri.ieri. (0:23) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.arus.(0:26) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven, but no-BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

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

Kevin Palmieri

(0:39) We bring you a new episode every single day on topics like confidence, self-belief, self-worth, self-awareness, relationships, boundaries, consistency, habits, and defining your own unique version of success.

Alan Lazaros

(0:55) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:01) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:07) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2312. (1:11) This might be like, we used to have something called Motivation Monday, this might be similar to that, it won't be, but it'll be a throwback on Motivation Monday for those of you that were around for that. for that. (1:19) Some people talk about it, less people actually do it.(1:23) Alan and I were having a conversation today, and for whatever this is worth, I don't mean it in a negative way, but one of the things we talk about often is, oh, remember that person, and they said they were going to do this, and they said they were going to do that, and they just like stopped, they just packed it in one day and decided they weren't going to do that anymore.t anymore. (1:40) And I just think I'm used to hanging out with people who talk about it.t it. (1:44) I think I'm just used to, when somebody tells me they're going to do something, I don't expect them to do it almost at all. almost at all.(1:50) Seriously? (1:50) Yeah. (1:51) It's so easy to talk about it.t it.(1:54) Yeah. (1:54) It's so easy to talk about it.t it. (1:56) I don't even want to talk about it.t it.(1:58) I'd rather just go do it.o it. (1:59) I don't want to talk about it.t it. (2:00) I have no interest in talking about it.(2:03) That's how you inspire people, you talk about it.t it. (2:05) That's how you inspire some people.ople. (2:07) Some people, they fucking hate you.(2:08) Really? (2:09) For sure. (2:11) I think it's about context.text.

Alan Lazaros

(2:12) I feel like you've got to live it, breathe it, talk about it, speak it, do it, everything.hing. (2:15) It has to be your entire world.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:18) I know, but I think, and again, this is a unique thing to me, I don't, I think I'm just better at just turning it off in certain arenas.in arenas. (2:27) You know?

Alan Lazaros

(2:28) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:29) And I don't know why, I don't know what that means, I don't know if that's a good thing, I don't know if that's a bad thing.ow if that's a bad thing. (2:33) How do you know when someone means it? (2:35) I look at the body of work.(2:38) I look at the reaction. (2:39) I look at the, we had somebody, uh, I don't know.know. (2:47) We had somebody a long time ago that we worked with as a video editor, and he reached back out, I don't know, six months ago, maybe?aybe?(2:55) And he's like, hey man, it's your video editor from the past. the past. (2:58) Hope you're doing well.well. (3:00) Wanted to see if you had any work.(3:02) Like, you got anything going on? (3:03) I said, yeah, here you go. (3:04) How fast can you get it back?(3:06) He's like, dude, I'll have it back to you tomorrow. tomorrow. (3:07) Nice. (3:07) Cool, man.(3:08) Welcome aboard. (3:09) Welcome back. (3:10) That.(3:11) Now, is this person perfect? (3:12) Do I know who you're talking about?bout? (3:12) Yes.(3:13) Is this person perfect? (3:14) No, they make mistakes. (3:15) Everybody makes mistakes.(3:16) Everybody makes mistakes. (3:17) I'm not saying they're perfect.e perfect. (3:18) I'm not saying they're infallible.nfallible.(3:19) I'm not saying they don't make mistakes. mistakes. (3:21) You said you were going to do it, then you do it. (3:24) That.(3:25) I look for that. (3:26) I look for somebody whose follow through is as serious as the words that they say in the beginning. (3:32) And then I look for somebody who takes ownership when it's not. not.(3:36) That. (3:37) And then body of work. (3:39) I think that's.27;s.(3:41) If we just started the podcast today and we talk the way we're talking, I don't think a lot of people would, would believe that we are, would be where we are in terms of episodes, but we have a lot of episodes. episodes. (3:52) So if you've come across this podcast and you look back and say, wow, they haven't missed a day in whatever it is, 1600 days, body of work helps, right?ps, right?

Alan Lazaros

(4:00) Yeah. (4:00) You said I would be, I would be seen as less and less arrogant forever. (4:05) Yes.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:06) In theory, in theory, in theory. (4:08) Yeah. (4:09) Because you have more and more and more proof.

Alan Lazaros

(4:11) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:12) I think that's happening.ning. (4:13) Yeah. (4:13) I think that's a, I think that's a really big piece of it, but there, it's very easy to talk about it. talk about it.(4:19) It's very easy to have a moment of motivation and say, I'm going to do that.o do that. (4:22) And, but I, that doesn't matter.tter. (4:24) I don't think that matters.ters.(4:26) I see people that post, they post stuff on Facebook all the time. (4:29) Like, yeah, I'm going to, I'm going to do this and I'm going to do this.ing to do this. (4:31) I'm going to turn it around, save the fucking energy and just go do it.o it.(4:34) Just go do it. (4:36) Nice. (4:36) You don't have to post about now. now.(4:38) I know you, you're looking, maybe you're looking for accountability or maybe whatever. whatever. (4:41) I used to post a lot of stuff. (4:42) I understand.(4:43) I'm not saying, but like, go do it.o it. (4:49) And by it, I'm not saying you got to go do the whole thing.hing. (4:53) Go YouTube it, go buy a book, go.(4:56) You know, any fucking questions I've been asked that are like, just go, you could just Google this and it will probably give you a better answer than I will.will. (5:04) How dare you? (5:05) It's facts.acts.

Alan Lazaros

(5:07) That's facts.acts. (5:08) But that. (5:09) I think it'll give you a thousand answers and I doubt it'll give you a better answer than you, depending on the area. the area.(5:13) It depends. (5:14) Depending on the area. (5:14) It depends.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:15) Cause there's a lot of crap.crap. (5:18) But, but I mean, it's going to get you enough to go.o go.

Alan Lazaros

(5:21) Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:21) To the next step.

Alan Lazaros

(5:22) You can't be looking for someone to save you. you. (5:24) You can't, you can't be looking for someone to.omeone to. (5:28) I love it.(5:29) I love the enthusiasm you have about this.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:32) Well, I get, I get frustrated slash sad because talking about it, it's so easy and it feels good.good. (5:43) It feels good to talk about it. (5:46) Last year I was like, dude, we're going to do 10 pounds in 10 weeks.eeks.(5:50) I'm going to do 15 pounds in 10 weeks.eeks. (5:51) Felt good. (5:53) When I got past, I think I got 12, I think I was 12 or 13.(5:56) I don't think I got to 15 cause I was like, this is fucking terrible.ible. (5:58) Like this is miserable. (5:59) But when I was talking about it, it felt great.(6:02) It felt, it was like, fuck it, I can do this. (6:04) And I could do it, but I didn't want to, I didn't want to suffer anymore.r anymore. (6:08) Feels good.

Alan Lazaros

(6:09) Have you ever talked about things you didn't intend on doing at the time?time? (6:12) Of course. (6:14) Okay.(6:15) Yeah. (6:16) I've changed my mind many times.imes. (6:19) I've changed my mind about the titles of my books.ooks.(6:21) I've changed.nged. (6:22) I know, I don't, I know I don't have any books yet.books yet. (6:25) That's a future thing.hing.(6:26) It's going to happen.ppen. (6:27) Okay. (6:28) I don't even talk about it anymore because I realized that most people are like, where's your books?our books?(6:32) It's like I meant like in the future.ture. (6:34) Yeah. (6:38) I don't think I've ever done anything without brainstorming at first. at first.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:44) I think that's very unique to you. you. (6:49) I think that's very unique.ique.

Alan Lazaros

(6:53) Everything starts with a conversation or a thought or a, every action begins with a thought. (6:59) You think about it before you do it.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:02) Yeah. (7:02) But you think about it to the degree that you can understand it. (7:08) You know, remember I was drunk one time and somebody like sucked me into doing a triathlon.(7:14) You ended up doing it. (7:15) I woke up the next day. (7:16) I was like, I'm not fucking doing that.that.(7:16) Yeah dude, I said I would.

Alan Lazaros

(7:18) I always honor my word with that stuff. (7:21) I thought I'd run 25 miles without stopping.ping. (7:23) I nearly died, but I did it.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:25) But you also, yeah, but it's like, you knew it was possible for you. you. (7:30) 26 miles. (7:30) Yeah.(7:31) What'd you say? say? (7:31) You knew it was possible for you. (7:34) There's something to that.that.

Alan Lazaros

(7:35) Well, you thought it was, you thought it was possible. (7:38) Half marathon was a fucking joke. (7:39) Honestly, I was running backwards.(7:40) Not the whole time, but I was in a video. (7:43) I was very cocky. (7:44) And then by the end it was atrocious.(7:46) It was exponential decline for sure. (7:48) And high noon. (7:49) And again, I don't even want to tell that story.tory.(7:51) What I want to do, do that. (7:54) I think you say it and then you do it. (7:59) I don't think you just do it.o it.(8:01) I think you say it. (8:02) Think about it. (8:02) You ruminate on it.(8:03) You, you, and, and you do it. (8:05) And then you rinse and repeat. (8:06) It's like, it's like, think, say, do., say, do.(8:08) Think, say, do. (8:09) I think I'm going to, yeah, I think I'm going to do a cut. do a cut. (8:12) Okay.(8:13) I'm 215 at the beginning of this cut. cut. (8:15) I'm of course, I'm going to lose 10 pounds.10 pounds. (8:17) Abso-fucking-lutely.(8:18) It's already done.done. (8:19) When are we starting? (8:22) I was doing this on my own.(8:24) What do you mean? (8:25) I didn't, we're, we were going to do a 10 pound in 10 week challenge, but I don't want to, I didn't want to have everyone start in the middle of winter.he middle of winter. (8:32) Why?(8:32) You want to do it together? (8:33) Yeah, of course. (8:34) I'd be happy to do it.o it.(8:35) Yeah. (8:35) Let's do it.o it. (8:35) I would love to.(8:36) I'm doing it anyway.yway. (8:37) I just, this is the first I'm saying it out loud.loud. (8:39) Yeah.(8:39) What, what WTF? (8:40) Were you going to do the 10 pound in 10 week?

Kevin Palmieri

(8:42) No, I was just going to cut because I'm getting over more body fat percentage than I would like.like. (8:48) We'll discuss.cuss. (8:48) But I, yes, I'm, I'm almost ready.ost ready.(8:50) I'm after the move.move.

Alan Lazaros

(8:51) I'm ready.eady.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:52) 100%. (8:52) If you want to do it right now, I would say. (8:53) No, I don't want to do it right now. now.

Alan Lazaros

(8:54) I need to do it end of, beginning of February. (8:56) All right. (8:57) Just say the word because I'm cutting for the next foreseeable few months.nths.(9:01) For sure. (9:02) For sure. (9:03) I got to get it back around probably 205 or lower.(9:08) Yeah. (9:09) Uh, what was my point of that? (9:10) You say it and then you do it.(9:13) I think saying it might hold you more accountable.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:20) I think so too, but I also, it depends on who you hang out with. (9:25) You, if, if you hang up and this is like, this is why reference group, and this is why this is so freaking important. (9:32) If you hang out with someone who's doesn't care about what you say, you're going to do, that's not going to be helpful.going to be helpful.(9:39) It's not. not. (9:39) If you hang out with people who always say, like, I'm going to go do this, then I'm going to do this when this happens and they never do it.ver do it. (9:44) Like that's holding you back.back.(9:45) Whether you know it or not. (9:46) Okay.

Alan Lazaros

(9:46) Let's both think of the person who we think is the most full of shit.shit. (9:53) It's taking you a while.hile. (9:55) I got one came up right away.(10:00) This is just for you and me. (10:01) We're not going to share who it is.t is. (10:02) Who's the most full of shit person you've ever met? ever met?(10:04) Oh, ever met. (10:06) All right. (10:07) Just think of someone who is full of shit.(10:08) It doesn't have to be the goat of full of shitness.ness.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:11) Okay. (10:11) I guess.

Alan Lazaros

(10:12) Okay. (10:13) I have someone too. (10:14) It's not the most full of shit I've ever met, but it's someone who definitely talks more than they walk by a significant margin.ificant margin.(10:20) That's what being full of shit is.t is. (10:22) Yeah. (10:22) You talk more than you walk.(10:24) So I don't think, I think it's good to get leverage on yourself. yourself. (10:28) Say things out loud. (10:29) Now I'm a hypocrite.rite.(10:30) If I don't lose 10 pounds, it's extra necessity.necessity. (10:34) I was going to do it regardless, but an extra necessity, baby, here's the problem.blem. (10:38) If you don't have self-belief, you're not going to do that.o do that.(10:40) You're going to risk looking like a hypocrite.rite.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:42) No. (10:42) If you don't have people around you that like support it either.ther. (10:46) That's why a lot of people don't say it.;t say it.(10:48) We remember we did an episode on that a while ago. (10:50) It's like one of the reasons people don't say their goals out loud is because the people around them.ound them.

Alan Lazaros

(10:55) Yeah. (10:55) Agreed. (10:56) I had one person, you know, this person, they won a bodybuilding show and they had another person in their life who was a bodybuilder who said, you couldn't do it.o it.(11:04) You don't have that kind of discipline.line. (11:05) I said, good, you should go thank him. (11:07) Cause I see the fire in you.(11:08) Like you wouldn't believe let's go.#x27;s go. (11:10) And he won the whole fucking thing. (11:12) The overall two.(11:13) And I was like, good, you should go thank that prick. (11:16) I don't know about you, but that fires me up.e up. (11:18) Tell me I can't do it.o it.(11:18) Let's fucking go toe to toe. toe. (11:20) Get on the line. (11:21) Let's go.s go.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:21) Because I tell myself I can't do it more than anybody else ever has. has. (11:24) So for me, that's probably why no one tells you, you can't do it.7;t do it. (11:27) Yeah.(11:27) You couldn't possibly believe less in me than I have a good luck.luck. (11:30) Now you can.

Alan Lazaros

(11:31) Now you can, but I want to, I want to do a social experiment and we won't do this, but let's do it in our heads where you start talking with the level of belief you have now and see if people start to knock you down and like shit on you.it on you. (11:45) I'm sure they, I'm sure.27;m sure. (11:47) Yeah.(11:48) Sounds like you always said everyone believed in you more than you believe in yourself. (11:53) Never for me. (11:53) Never once.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:54) Yeah. (11:54) Well, people root for the underdog. (11:57) Yeah.(11:58) Until the underdog isn't the underdog anymore.more. (12:00) And then it's like, ah, I'm fucking kind of sick of, sick of seeing you win.g you win. (12:05) It was a lot more fun when, when you were a fucking loser.(12:09) Yeah. (12:09) It was a lot more fun.

Alan Lazaros

(12:11) Save the trophies for other people. (12:13) Fucking loser. (12:13) That is, that is human nature.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:14) I think we'll, we'll have to do a part two on this because it's not going to be as long as, again, we, we only had a little bit of time to do the second episode, but I don't know.t I don't know. (12:23) Have we talked about this before? (12:23) This is the first, I think.(12:26) Talking more than you walk. (12:27) Probably. (12:27) I'm sure we have.have.(12:28) I don't know if we've done like a full episode on it a long time though.me though.

Alan Lazaros

(12:31) Because it's just easier.sier. (12:33) People say you got to walk more than you talk. (12:36) I would say talk and walk.(12:38) You need both. (12:39) Because if you don't talk, you're not going to get the extra necessity and accountability.ntability. (12:42) I'm not saying to tell everyone.yone.(12:43) You don't have to tell your entire podcast community that you are going to do 10 pounds in two weeks, but you, two weeks, 10 pounds in 10 weeks.eeks. (12:49) Whoa. (12:51) But you do have to tell somebody you need some accountability, baby.(12:55) Got to. (12:56) I tell Amelia, she's my fucking best accountability partner in the game.game. (13:00) Her and I decided to exercise every day.(13:03) She said, I'll do it with you. you. (13:04) We passed the best I'd ever had, which was four months.nths. (13:06) And now we're coming up on four years.ears.(13:08) Like I would not have done that alone. (13:11) I might've been able to, but I doubt it.t it. (13:13) I mean, I probably could have, I don't think I would have.have.(13:17) Because once you have an accountability partner and once we got to a year, she's like, let's just do this for the rest of our life. our life. (13:25) And I was like, I'm not that nonchalant.lant. (13:27) I'm not joking.king.(13:29) And I was like, do you know what you're asking?king? (13:31) Right? (13:31) I can't say this.this.(13:32) And I told her this, I said, I can't say this unless you mean it.n it. (13:35) She's like, I know.know. (13:36) Let's do it.o it.(13:37) And I was like, if I'm going to say this out loud, I have to do it.o it. (13:41) I have a sickness with this. (13:43) I have to do it.(13:44) She said, I know. (13:45) I said, all right, let's do it.o it. (13:47) And we haven't missed since.ince.(13:48) Four years, coming up on four years. (13:50) But my point is, with the accountability we have together, what am I going to do? (13:55) Miss and say, Hey, sorry, screwed it up.(13:58) My bad. (13:58) I know we almost did.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:59) I'll start a new streak tomorrow.rrow.

Alan Lazaros

(14:02) Now, at the end of the day, that is possible. (14:04) It is possible to miss. (14:05) I've said, I'm going to do streaks and missed before.ed before.(14:07) This one, I haven't, and I don't intend to.intend to. (14:10) This podcast, same deal. (14:11) We've never missed.ssed.(14:12) You can't have 50 of these.hese. (14:14) That's the thing.hing. (14:15) You can't have 50 of these, but you can have a couple and you can get accountability by speaking it into the world.orld.(14:21) You've got to speak and walk.walk.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:24) You just can't speak more than you walk tomorrow for tomorrow.rrow. (14:27) What I would like to do. (14:28) Let's try to remember this.this.(14:29) I'll forget it.t it. (14:30) I use that golden memory. (14:33) What happens?(14:34) How do you take something from something you're talking about?bout? (14:36) Something you're actually doing?oing? (14:36) Like what are the actual steps?(14:38) Bring your steps. (14:38) I'll bring my steps because it seems relatively unconscious, but I don't know.27;t know. (14:45) Let's do that.that.(14:46) I think that'll make for an interesting episode.sode. (14:48) If it's not of value, you can throw tomatoes at your TV.r TV. (14:53) I wouldn't.27;t.(14:54) Don't throw tomatoes at your TV.r TV. (14:55) Throw them at Kev. (14:55) Yeah, you can throw them at me on your TV, or you can put them into your cell phone speaker.(15:00) I wouldn't suggest either of those because you're going to wreck your technology.echnology. (15:04) Production team, throw some tomatoes right on YouTube. (15:06) I'm kidding.ding.(15:08) We got to get out of here. (15:08) I have a coaching call. (15:09) As always, we love you.(15:10) We appreciate you. (15:10) Grateful for each and every one of you, and if you are as committed as you sound, make sure you tune in tomorrow because we will be here every single day to help you get there.

Alan Lazaros

(15:18) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential, Next Level Nation.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:23) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (15:27) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(15:29) We mean it when we say family. (15:31) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (15:35) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:38) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.