Choices And Consequences (2366)

Why do small choices today quietly become the life you are living years later?

In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan examine a principle most people overlook. Outcomes rarely appear overnight. They grow from the decisions repeated day after day. Many habits seem harmless in the moment because the consequences take time to surface. That delay is what makes them powerful.

This episode looks at how daily choices shape long-term results and the patterns that influence identity and performance. When you start to see cause and effect more clearly, the way you make decisions begins to shift. Press play and take a closer look at the habits shaping your future. Your next result may already be forming.

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

Website: http://www.nextleveluniverse.com

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

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Show notes:
(1:15) How small choices shape long-term outcomes
(5:39) The compound effect of habits over time
(9:39) Why adversity teaches the long game
(12:23) Choices create consequences
(14:32) Next Level Live event announcement
(15:06) 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.

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) The problem with bad habits is the same exact problem as the problem with good habits. (0:06) Nothing happens immediately. (0:07) But every single one of our choices has consequences, either good or bad.(0:12) And unfortunately, it just takes a long ass time to see what those consequences are.

Alan Lazaros

(0:16) I've said to my clients, fall in love with cause and effect. (0:20) The effects you want are a byproduct of the causes you do daily. (0:25) We're going to talk about that.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:25) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:29) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:30) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.(0:33) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:40) 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. (1:09) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:15) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2,366, Choices and Consequences. (1:21) I happened upon a picture of somebody that I used to go to high school with. (1:27) Happened upon.(1:28) Happened upon. (1:29) Alan sent it to me. (1:31) And I, so I want to make it abundantly clear.(1:32) This is not like a judgment thing. (1:34) It's, we're always, um... (1:37) Re-analyzing our past.(1:39) That, and like, in detective mode. (1:40) Like, what's going on?

Alan Lazaros

(1:41) What hap, what led to that? (1:42) All that stuff. (1:43) I sent him a photo of, uh, someone that we both went to high school with, and middle school.(1:49) And I said, isn't it wild to see how much time changes things? (1:53) That was it. (1:54) And it wasn't to bash anybody.(1:55) It wasn't to hurt anybody. (1:56) It was just to assess privately with Kev how different people's lives can turn out depending on their choices.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:03) And for me, so my, my thought was, it's not, it's not, it's not what they did yesterday. (2:12) It's not what they did last week. (2:15) It's not what they did last month.(2:17) It's what they've done over the lab. (2:18) We graduated in 2007, 19 years ago. (2:20) Are you shitting me?(2:21) Are 20 year reunions going to be next year?

Alan Lazaros

(2:24) Yeah, actually.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:25) I have to get, I have to find a way to be more successful for sure than I currently am if I'm going to attend this thing. (2:30) I'm not successful enough.

Alan Lazaros

(2:32) Are we going to go?

Kevin Palmieri

(2:33) I've been thinking about that.

Alan Lazaros

(2:34) No, no.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:35) You and I should go. (2:36) I don't, I have zero interest. (2:37) Unless I can get hammered.

Alan Lazaros

(2:39) You can do whatever you want, man.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:41) You're a grown ass man. (2:42) I don't want to go. (2:42) We'll see.(2:44) Just, yeah, that's what we should be doing on a Saturday night. (2:46) Go to fucking our 20 year class reunion. (2:50) What are we doing here?

Alan Lazaros

(2:52) Yeah, I've been thinking about it. (2:53) It's like, would I regret not going? (2:56) You know?(2:57) Maybe. (2:58) I don't know. (2:59) We'll chat.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:59) Or would I regret going? (3:01) Either way, there'll be some regret, I'm sure. (3:05) So, the other reason...(3:08) You went to the tenure with me. (3:10) Yeah, I didn't go to 15.

Alan Lazaros

(3:11) You and I went to the tenure together.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:12) I didn't go to 15. (3:14) Huh? (3:15) I didn't go to 15.(3:16) There is no 15, man. (3:18) Of course there was.

Alan Lazaros

(3:19) There was one I didn't go to. (3:20) Really? (3:21) Yeah.(3:21) No, you didn't go to five. (3:23) I went to five because we got kicked out. (3:27) Because they don't serve shots at that establishment anymore because of me and some of our friends.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:31) One of yours?

Alan Lazaros

(3:32) Matt. (3:32) I was working. (3:33) Me and Matt.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:33) I was working.

Alan Lazaros

(3:34) We're ripping shots at that. (3:35) I was working. (3:36) I was grinding in 2012, baby.(3:38) What are we doing here? (3:39) There was a five and a ten. (3:41) And you went to the ten.(3:42) I went to the ten. (3:43) Matt and I went to the five. (3:45) Kevin's friend, Matt.(3:46) Our friend, Matt. (3:48) Matt. (3:48) The Matt.(3:49) That's what we'll call him. (3:50) The Matt. (3:50) The Matt.(3:52) Yeah, they're no longer allowed to serve shots at that establishment, apparently. (3:55) I don't know if that was a rumor or if it's true. (3:57) But it was a night.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:59) I wouldn't put it past the squad of 2007. (4:03) All right. (4:03) The reason we're even talking about this.(4:06) Alan sent me the picture. (4:07) Made me think. (4:07) I was thinking all night.(4:08) I was cooking last night. (4:09) I was just thinking. (4:10) I had music playing.(4:11) I was thinking. (4:12) And the other thing that jumped off the page for me is. (4:18) Bad habits.(4:20) Are invisible until they're not. (4:24) And good habits are invisible until they're not. (4:26) But bad habits are way fucking easier to do.(4:29) So it doesn't really surprise me when 10 years after I see someone. (4:33) I see somebody again. (4:34) And everything is different because.(4:37) You just kind of took the easy road. (4:41) Or the. (4:43) Unconscious road.(4:45) And you spend time with people who do the same thing. (4:48) That's a big one. (4:51) The people you sent.(4:53) If we think about their friend group. (4:56) A lot of them do the same shit they did in high school. (5:00) And that is a key.(5:02) Right, that's that's a thing. (5:05) I don't know, man. (5:06) That type of stuff is heavy.(5:09) And I said this to Alan a long time ago. (5:11) I said, dude, wait until we get like when we are like 40. (5:14) It is going to be abundantly clear.(5:17) And it's going to make you probably more than me. (5:20) Because I'm expecting it really sad. (5:23) When we when we're 40.(5:24) That's like 25 years out of high school. (5:29) That's an entire different life. (5:31) You don't have the young testosterone.(5:33) And the young hormones anymore. (5:34) Your habits matter way more as you get older than they. (5:38) I think they did when you're younger.(5:39) And get away with it.

Alan Lazaros

(5:39) No, they matter a lot when you're younger. (5:41) But you can't see them. (5:44) It's like the investment account that you start young.(5:47) So one thing I wanted to share. (5:50) That I think is of value to everybody. (5:52) That you and I can talk about.(5:53) There was someone we grew up with who was very bullied. (5:57) He had a rat tail.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:00) Yes.

Alan Lazaros

(6:00) Okay.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:01) That's always that's always. (6:02) I had a rat tail too when I was young. (6:04) So first of all.(6:04) I was the first. (6:05) But then one time my mom said if you swear again. (6:09) I'm going to cut your rat tail off.(6:11) And I said do it bitch. (6:12) And then she cut my rat tail off. (6:13) Oh my god.(6:14) And then she put actual liquid dish soap into my mouth. (6:19) And it was terrible.

Alan Lazaros

(6:22) Fair enough. (6:22) I deserved it. (6:24) That is one way to look at it.(6:26) That is one way to look at it. (6:28) Kevin and I had an interesting upbringing. (6:30) In case you haven't noticed that.(6:31) But anyways. (6:32) So we're going to go right over that abuse. (6:35) All right.(6:36) So he had a rat tail. (6:39) And he was bullied. (6:41) Okay.(6:41) He was a close friend of mine. (6:45) And he got me working out. (6:47) Now here's my point.(6:51) Because he wasn't popular. (6:54) And nobody liked him. (6:55) And he was bullied.(6:56) He tried to find other ways to be valuable. (7:00) And I think that so. (7:02) And I'll share this.(7:03) So when I was in middle school. (7:05) I was like the Nick Carter Backstreet Boy bowl cut guy. (7:09) And I remember I literally would get 20s on Valentine's Day from girls.(7:12) Like no joke. (7:13) Like a $20 bill in a card. (7:15) I mean this was the 90s.(7:16) It was weird. (7:17) It was a weird time. (7:18) And my locker would be full.(7:20) The 8th grade girls weren't allowed to come down to the 5th and 6th grade wing. (7:23) And in our middle school. (7:24) Literally because of me.(7:26) My teacher wrote me a letter saying. (7:27) You red face social butterfly or whatever. (7:29) Something like that.(7:30) And it was a whole fucking thing. (7:31) Doesn't matter. (7:32) But everyone else became a man.(7:33) And I didn't. (7:35) Okay. (7:35) In high school.(7:37) And I remember having the acceptance moment to the last episode of. (7:42) I am fucked. (7:43) These girls that used to love me.(7:46) And I you know. (7:47) They used to literally. (7:48) Remember Hab dances?(7:49) Of course you do. (7:49) Of course the Habitat dances. (7:51) The Habitat is a place where you get to play sports and big dance.(7:55) It's awesome. (7:56) And there'd be a list of girls that wanted to slow dance. (7:59) And I remember in the middle of tackling them with the ball.(8:02) Which by the way was ridiculously rough. (8:04) I doubt they let kids do that anymore. (8:06) We were bad to each other back in the day.(8:09) And you're playing with the 8th grade kids. (8:11) And you're a little 5th grade boy. (8:12) And you're just bloody noses.(8:14) And it was a whole thing. (8:16) But anyways. (8:16) So you know.(8:17) Someone named Brittany would come over. (8:19) Like Clarissa's crying again. (8:21) And I'd be like what?(8:22) You know. (8:23) What the fuck is she crying about again? (8:25) You know.(8:25) She's like you missed a slow song. (8:27) Right? (8:28) Or Amy.(8:28) Amy's crying again. (8:29) You know Amy. (8:31) So anyways.(8:31) I love that we went to high school and middle school together. (8:33) I do.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:33) Not Amy on the team.

Alan Lazaros

(8:36) Just first names only. (8:37) Anyways. (8:38) My point is.(8:40) Everyone else became a man and a woman in high school. (8:43) And I didn't hit puberty. (8:44) Till like fucking way later.(8:46) And I remember having the moment of. (8:48) I have to find a different way to be valuable. (8:51) Than being like attractive and good at sports.(8:54) Because in middle school I kind of was. (8:56) But in high school I wasn't. (8:57) Because everyone else became a man.(8:58) I went from playing against boys and beating everybody. (9:01) To now I'm playing against men. (9:03) And I'm still a boy.(9:04) Like a little five foot two boy. (9:07) Right? (9:07) And everyone else has beards.(9:09) They're shaving. (9:10) I remember asking my friend Ian like. (9:12) What is shaving like?(9:13) You know. (9:15) And he's like. (9:15) Well when you get older.(9:16) You know. (9:17) I used to like actually ask. (9:18) So anyways.(9:19) And I remember Kiki. (9:20) My best friend at the time. (9:21) All of a sudden he was a grown ass man.(9:23) He had pit hair. (9:24) And he was jacked. (9:25) And I was like.(9:26) What the fuck? (9:27) Man. (9:27) Last year we were the same height.(9:30) You know. (9:31) And he was like a track star. (9:32) He fucking crushed it.(9:34) And I was just this fucking loser. (9:35) Basically. (9:37) So my point of this is.(9:39) You. (9:39) You have to. (9:41) I think that the popular people in high school.(9:44) Never had that moment of. (9:46) Oh fuck. (9:46) I gotta play the long game.(9:48) I had the moment of. (9:50) I have to play the long game. (9:51) Because I remember thinking to myself.(9:54) These popular girls and boys. (9:57) Are like. (9:58) They kind of just got popular.(10:00) Because they got hot quick. (10:02) Honestly. (10:03) Some of them like.(10:04) Really didn't have to do anything. (10:05) To. (10:06) They didn't have to like.(10:07) Construct positive compound effect habits. (10:09) In order to become popular. (10:10) They just.(10:10) Some of them were like. (10:11) Gorgeous. (10:12) With no effort.(10:13) And Emilia was one of those people. (10:15) We joke like. (10:16) You were popular in high school.(10:17) I was a loser. (10:18) But my point is. (10:20) I remember thinking.(10:22) Some of those people. (10:23) Are never gonna have the wake up call. (10:25) That I had.(10:26) Where they have to play the long game. (10:28) And one of the things. (10:29) When my stepdad left.(10:30) He took all the money. (10:31) Like the income. (10:32) He didn't take our money.(10:32) He had most of the income. (10:35) And I remember going from like. (10:36) Pretty well off.(10:38) Financially to. (10:39) We are fucked. (10:41) Like I can't go to college.(10:42) Like we're fucked. (10:43) And I. (10:44) Now as a 37 year old man.(10:45) Look back on that and go. (10:46) Good. (10:47) That was my like.(10:48) Oh. (10:49) I have to do it. (10:50) I have to do it.(10:51) I have to build it. (10:52) I can't just. (10:52) Because before that.(10:53) We had ski trips. (10:54) In the 90s. (10:55) And we had a yacht.(10:57) Like deep sea fishing. (10:58) All kinds of stuff. (10:59) And you know.(11:00) All our. (11:00) All their friends were kind of rich. (11:01) And the 90s was a wild time.(11:03) But. (11:04) After he left. (11:05) It was like.(11:06) Oh. (11:07) Not only am I not. (11:08) A man yet.(11:09) I'm a little boy. (11:10) But now I also am screwed. (11:12) My family like.(11:13) We're not going to be able to. (11:14) Afford much. (11:15) If I don't like step up.(11:16) So. (11:17) And back to the friend of mine. (11:19) Who was bullied.(11:20) He also like. (11:22) Really crushed it. (11:23) In college.(11:24) When he left our town. (11:25) He like. (11:26) Did very well with the ladies in college.(11:28) And he was like a really attractive. (11:30) Really in shape guy. (11:31) Statistically speaking.(11:32) Because he had. (11:33) He got into lifting. (11:34) Not out of.(11:35) He didn't get into lifting out of desire. (11:37) He got into lifting out of. (11:39) Pain and suffering.(11:41) That's why I think I'm so pro pain. (11:43) Pro pain. (11:44) Pro suffering.(11:45) Because dude like. (11:46) Suffering is where all the. (11:49) That's when you like.(11:50) Retool. (11:51) And re-equip. (11:52) And I realize.(11:53) Some people don't. (11:53) Some people don't. (11:55) For me.(11:55) Whenever I was down and out. (11:57) That's when I like. (11:59) Rebuilt myself.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:01) There's memes online. (12:02) Of somebody that's like. (12:03) Super jacked.(12:04) Like a super jacked dude. (12:05) It's like somebody broke his heart. (12:06) For sure.

Alan Lazaros

(12:06) For sure.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:07) Somebody broke his heart.

Alan Lazaros

(12:08) 100%. (12:08) Stomp all over that thing baby.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:10) You don't get mad jacked for fun.

Alan Lazaros

(12:12) Yeah exactly. (12:13) Someone.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:14) Or he's an abusive father. (12:15) That's usually one of the cases. (12:17) That's also fair.(12:18) Very abusive father. (12:19) You gotta hop. (12:20) Because you gotta go to book club.(12:21) This is my takeaway. (12:23) You kind of highlighted this. (12:25) Choices create consequences.(12:27) Consequences create choices. (12:29) All right. (12:29) So if you had something really bad.(12:30) Happen to you. (12:31) You might have made different choices. (12:32) If you had a really great upbringing.(12:34) And everybody told you you were the best. (12:36) The consequences maybe weren't enough for you to change. (12:39) The choices that you made.(12:40) So reflect on that. (12:41) That's my takeaway.

Alan Lazaros

(12:42) Yeah I would say that too is. (12:44) If things came really easy to you. (12:48) Seriously.(12:50) If you were popular by default. (12:52) If you were naturally gifted by default. (12:55) If you didn't have adversity at home.(12:58) Like I would argue you are probably statistically more lazy. (13:05) Usually greatness is germinated in pain. (13:09) It usually starts there.(13:10) My car accident. (13:11) Your suicidal ideation. (13:12) Dude you and I.(13:13) We had chips on our shoulders. (13:15) If we didn't there's no way we would have gotten here. (13:18) This is not normal.(13:19) What we're doing is very abnormal statistically. (13:22) Like I know for a fact that it was you and I feeling worthless. (13:28) Early in our life without dads.(13:31) That started us on a different path than other people. (13:35) And not everybody obviously. (13:36) But there's something to that.(13:39) Like you not having a dad and being angry about it. (13:41) And feeling like you weren't good enough. (13:43) And me like having my stepdad leave.(13:45) And having to like face the fact that I'm still a little boy against all these giant men. (13:51) Like you know me against the world. (13:53) Like you had that shit.(13:54) I know you did. (13:55) That's why you and I didn't get along in high school. (13:56) Because we both had chips on our shoulders.(13:58) And we wanted to fight each other. (14:00) It's more you wanted to fight me than I wanted to fight you. (14:02) But ultimately I just think.(14:04) I told Kevin this early on. (14:06) I said don't you dare take the chip off your shoulder. (14:08) Just don't let the chip run you anymore.(14:10) You know don't take it off though. (14:12) That little Kevin and little Alan. (14:14) That was like whatever it takes.(14:15) I'm going to find a way to make it happen. (14:18) Because I'm in so much pain right now. (14:20) Like I'm going to use that.(14:21) And use that as fuel to my own unique flavor of greatness. (14:25) That is 100% a fuel that is just super powerful. (14:30) Assuming you don't let it drive you nuts.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:32) Cool. (14:33) All right. (14:34) We gotta hop.(14:34) Next Level Nation April 11th. (14:36) Next Level Live 2026. (14:38) Totally virtual.(14:39) We're going to have it at Casa de Palmieri. (14:41) We will have more details. (14:42) I believe the landing page is already up though.(14:44) All right. (14:45) Yeah. (14:46) Nextleveluniverse.com.(14:47) Just go click under events. (14:48) It'll be there. (14:49) Next Level Live.(14:49) So yeah. (14:50) We'd love to have you. (14:50) Tickets are 47 bucks.(14:52) It's going to be awesome. (14:53) It's going to be a full day event. (14:54) Like you can't even get a freaking...(14:57) I don't know. (14:58) A couple burgers and fries and a Diet Coke for $47 anymore. (15:00) You can get a full day event that's catered to success.(15:04) That's all we're going to be talking about. (15:05) We'll have the link below in the show notes. (15:06) As always, we love you.(15:07) We appreciate you. (15:08) Grateful for each and every one of you. (15:09) If you are as committed as you say you are to getting to the next level, make sure you tune in tomorrow.(15:13) Because we will be here every single day to help you get there.

Alan Lazaros

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

Kevin Palmieri

(15:19) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (15:23) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(15:26) We mean it when we say family. (15:28) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (15:31) Everything you need to get ahold of us is in the show notes.(15:35) Thank you again.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:36) And we will talk to you tomorrow.