Ideas Are Useless If… (2372)

What if having too many ideas is the real reason you are not making progress?

In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan challenge a common belief in personal development. Many people think success comes from creativity and new ideas. But without execution, ideas quickly turn into distractions that stall real growth. They break down why chasing the next concept can feel productive while quietly preventing long-term results.

This conversation explores the psychology behind endless ideation, the dopamine hit of talking about goals, and why the uncomfortable middle of execution is where most people lose momentum. If you feel busy but not moving forward, this episode may explain why.

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Episode Reference:
#632 - The Art of Impossible With Steven Kotler

Learn more about:
Book Alan’s Business Breakthrough Session. Your first 30-minute coaching call is FREE. Learn how to prioritize success and let your quality of life become the byproduct - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-session

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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:
(1:12) The trap of constantly chasing new ideas
(3:32) Why fear of failure fuels endless ideation
(8:55) Dopamine, validation, and talking about goals
(16:42) The illusion of progress in personal development
(25:53) Choosing fewer ideas and executing consistently
(28:08) Outro

🎙️ Hosted by Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros

Next Level University is a top-ranked daily podcast for dream chasers and self-improvement lovers. With over 2,100 episodes, we help you level up in life, love, health, and wealth one day at a time. Subscribe for real, honest, no-fluff growth every single day.

Transcript

Kevin Palmieri

(0:00) I am an idea man, and while that is beneficial in many, many, many regards, it is also very easy to just go right off the rails with that and end up very unsuccessful, unfortunately.

Alan Lazaros

(0:13) Ideas are important and they are not everything. (0:18) Execution is also critical.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:20) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:23) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:24) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.(0:27) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:34) 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

(0:56) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:03) Welcome to Next Level University. (1:09) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2,372. (1:12) Ideas are useless if you have too many of them and not enough time to implement, is probably the best way to put it.(1:20) I was talking to a client recently, and every time I talk to this client, and I love them, I don't mean this in a negative way, and this is something they are aware of and self-aware enough to understand. (1:30) Every time I talk to them, they have five new ideas. (1:36) And we had a chat today, and it was like, we need to pick some ideas, and we need to plant them.(1:43) Every time I see you, you've got five new seeds, and then we throw them in the dirt, and then you just run off, and you just let them die. (1:51) And you have five new ones that you're planting over on the other side of the field, and like, who is going to tend the crops, baby? (1:57) Who is going to water the seeds and till the dirt?(2:05) Till, nice. (2:05) They're not going to grow. (2:07) That's my cat's name.(2:09) Tilly. (2:09) They're not going to grow, because we're not actually cultivating them. (2:14) And I think the hard part about this is, I also know people on the other end that don't have enough ideas.(2:22) So that's a piece of it too. (2:23) I'm not saying, if you're somebody out there right now, who you struggle with coming up with ideas, I'm not saying not to try to get to this end, because I think you will find five. (2:33) But I know too many people that have, every time I...(2:35) Kev, I fucking got it, man. (2:37) I got it. (2:38) I know exactly what it is.(2:39) Here it is. (2:40) You said the same shit last week. (2:43) You said the same shit.(2:44) It was, you know what? (2:45) Nope. (2:46) It's not a blog.(2:47) It's a book. (2:48) Now I know. (2:49) And then you get 15 pages into reading the book, writing the book.(2:52) It sucks. (2:52) You know what? (2:53) Nope.(2:54) Nope. (2:55) I actually realized this. (2:56) I'm going to make a life-size version of myself with AI that's going to coach you.(3:02) It's like, all right, cool. (3:03) Love it. (3:03) Then two weeks later, it's something different.(3:05) I love the ideas. (3:07) I love them. (3:08) I love the creativity.(3:09) I love them. (3:10) The problem is you have to give them enough time to cultivate, because if you don't, they are essentially useless. (3:16) And I'm not saying you run out of ideas, but I think you get to the point where you're so down on yourself, because none of your ideas have worked, when the strategy was wrong the whole time.(3:25) And I just don't want anybody to experience that. (3:28) Yeah, nice.

Alan Lazaros

(3:32) You've heard me say things are created twice. (3:35) Once in your mind, and then once in reality. (3:37) The second part's critical.(3:40) It is the most critical, I would say. (3:42) Really important. (3:43) Ideas are great.(3:44) Let's say you have 100 ideas. (3:46) Pick three of them. (3:47) This is the hardest part, dude.(3:49) For people who believe in themselves a lot, this is really hard. (3:52) And for people who think they believe in themselves a lot, they do this a lot. (3:55) This is my thesis.(3:56) I'm scared to share it, but I got to, because I got to be courageous. (3:59) The people who have a lot of ideas that rarely execute them, I think it's a protector. (4:06) I think it's...(4:08) I feel good about myself when I have ideas, but I'm avoiding actually doing them, because if I do them, I'm going to get disappointed again and fail, and I don't want to feel failure. (4:18) And going back to the Paradox episode of yesterday... (4:21) Going back to the Paradox episode of yesterday, I didn't enunciate that at all.(4:27) I think the people that are willing to fail and be embarrassed actually end up successful, eventually. (4:34) If you are avoiding the middle that's terrible... (4:41) The beginning...(4:42) Okay, 10 pound in 10 week challenge. (4:44) Perfect example. (4:45) The beginning is exciting as shit.(4:49) Spring is coming, 10 pounds in 10 weeks. (4:51) Let's rock and roll. (4:52) Weigh-ins February 1st.(4:53) The middle fell off a cliff with enthusiasm. (4:57) Myself included, by the way. (4:59) Middle sucks, but it's going to pick back up soon.(5:02) We're 30... (5:03) 29 days out? (5:05) 29 days out?(5:06) 28 days? (5:06) 28 days out?

Kevin Palmieri

(5:07) As of today, 20... (5:09) Yeah, 20-something. (5:10) I think it's something like that.

Alan Lazaros

(5:13) The chasm in the middle from idea to failure... (5:18) I've been failing. (5:19) The middle part, I realized I was like, oh shit, I'm only two pounds down.(5:23) I'm in trouble. (5:24) That was terrible. (5:25) That felt horrible.(5:26) That's when I think those people come up with a new idea. (5:29) And that's why I keep posting shit. (5:32) Don't quit.(5:33) I keep saying if you... (5:35) I don't care. (5:36) I'm actually going to read this because it's really important for anyone who is in the 10 pound in 10 week challenge.(5:40) I know there's 28 of you. (5:42) And I keep posting this same sort of thing. (5:44) It's similar.(5:45) We're 30 days out, next levelers. (5:47) Let's keep it rolling. (5:49) Kevin and I don't care if you're doing this cut or bulk perfectly.(5:52) Don't care. (5:54) Don't fucking care. (5:55) I'm not.(5:57) I'm not running a mile a day because I like running. (5:59) I'm running a mile a day because I'm not going to make my weight and I want to have good cardiovascular health too. (6:05) All right.(6:05) We just care that you stay the course and don't give up on yourself. (6:09) I would rather you get to the end date, weigh in heavy or light, depending on your goal, than quit. (6:17) Because when you become someone who doesn't fucking follow through, you teach your brain it's okay to not follow through.(6:27) Our private next level fitness accountability group has been on fire and we're so grateful as it's helped us all keep accountable and motivated. (6:34) Homestretch squad, now's the time to make the necessary adjustments to your diet and training program. (6:37) I've added additional time to mile to my training regimen every day to increase caloric output, which I've done for five days straight, which isn't in the post.(6:44) But my point is, is if you are one of those people who has ideas but doesn't execute, there's something you're avoiding about embarrassment or failure or pain or suffering or struggle. (6:56) I easily... (6:58) I can't because we publicly accounted it.(7:02) Let me think of something in the past where I could have just bailed and no one would even know. (7:06) We did a triathlon. (7:09) Kev bailed.(7:10) Bailed. (7:10) Yeah, bailed. (7:11) Immediately.(7:12) The reason I did it, I didn't want to be there. (7:15) I wanted to bail like you did, straight up. (7:17) But I don't want to be the type of man who bails on anything, which is why I have to be very careful for what I sign up for.(7:25) I started doing a time mile five days ago. (7:27) I've been trying to beat my time every time and I realized I'm going to burn to the ground if I keep this up. (7:31) So last night I had an easy day, hard day, easy day, hard day, easy day.(7:35) I'm doing a mile every day. (7:36) My point is, you got to figure out which end you're on. (7:39) Are you really good at ideas and never execute or do you only ever execute and you never pivot?(7:43) I got a question for you.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:44) Also, I bail all the time on shit. (7:49) The shit that's not aligned. (7:50) That's my frame.(7:51) Look, that idea got sold to me when I was drunk on my 30th birthday. (7:55) I woke up the next day and I was like, I'm not fucking doing this. (7:58) This is dumb.(7:59) If I was going to do it, it wouldn't be for me. (8:01) It would be for other people. (8:02) I know.(8:03) I'm not saying you shouldn't have bailed.

Alan Lazaros

(8:04) No, no, I know, I know. (8:05) But that's the conversation we should have.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:07) I bail on stuff all the time that's just not aligned.

Alan Lazaros

(8:09) But you don't bail on the things that are important to you. (8:12) Because you've not missed a single PGU episode. (8:14) No one's holding you accountable to that.(8:16) I have missed BGU episodes and it drives me nuts every day. (8:19) Bothers me every day. (8:21) I'm going to catch up.(8:23) And I know it's not the same, but it matters to me. (8:26) Here's my point. (8:27) That's awesome.(8:29) You don't have me in your corner making sure you're doing that. (8:32) You haven't missed a week.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:33) Good for you, man. (8:33) I will not miss a week. (8:35) I appreciate it.(8:35) I'm going to ask you a question. (8:39) Maybe you've been waiting your entire life for this. (8:42) I don't know.(8:42) Maybe. (8:43) Maybe. (8:43) It's possible.(8:44) Maybe. (8:46) Is there any science and or studies that connect dopamine to creating new ideas? (8:55) Absolutely.(8:55) Or like saying ideas? (8:56) Without a question. (8:57) I think that's a big piece of this.

Alan Lazaros

(8:58) As a matter of fact, in Peak Performance, it's actually in The Art of Impossible. (9:03) I'm reading both those books right now, so it's confusing the hell out of me. (9:07) But in The Art of Impossible, Stephen Kotler, who we interviewed, YouTube 632.(9:14) I can never remember. (9:15) Just Stephen Kotler, Next Level University. (9:16) It will come up.(9:17) It was a good interview. (9:17) It was like 435 or something, wasn't it? (9:19) I don't know.(9:20) Yeah, same. (9:21) I should really figure that out. (9:21) I think it's in the sixes.(9:23) Maybe. (9:23) Yeah. (9:24) Anyways, Stephen Kotler, Next Level University.(9:26) It's out there. (9:27) You can watch it. (9:28) It'll be a very younger version of us.(9:30) But anyways, the book is world class. (9:32) Unbelievable. (9:33) Love it.(9:34) Reading it again, listening to it. (9:37) And he said, don't tell people your goals. (9:40) Now, I disagree.(9:44) And I'm going to explain why. (9:44) But I agree with this point. (9:47) He says, don't tell people about what you're going to achieve because it gives you the dopamine in advance and the social validation in advance to talk about it rather than to be about it.(9:57) It stops. (9:59) The Molecule of More is a book that I recommend everyone read. (10:02) And it talks about how people who have a high dopaminergic set point.(10:07) I'm someone who's very intense and who's always like very. (10:12) When I'm in the gym, for example, with Emilia, some people are low energy. (10:15) They're kind of timid and they're doing their thing and they're methodical.(10:18) I'm like extremely high energy, statistically speaking. (10:21) Anyways, in the neuroscience of this, it means that my dopamine receptors are very, very, very good. (10:28) And I always am an achiever.(10:30) It's exhausting for people. (10:31) But for people like me, it's awesome. (10:32) So my point is you don't want to say things because it gives you the dopamine to say it rather than actually do it.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:42) You think the inception of ideas is similar? (10:44) Like, what's the difference between an idea and a goal?

Alan Lazaros

(10:48) And I think when you have an idea, you get social validation, which creates dopamine, which gets rid of it basically gives you the reward without having to do the work. (10:57) And I do think some people are all talk and no walk. (10:59) There's facts.(11:01) However, I do need to share this. (11:02) And I know I want to let you talk in a second. (11:04) I actually think public accountability can flip that on its head.(11:09) If you sign up for a marathon and invite all your friends and family and you put it on the calendar, you're going to run more likely than someone who didn't tell anyone. (11:17) So there is a way to flip this on its head, which is why I never talk about it because, OK, well, then why do you announce your stuff? (11:23) Because I want to hold my fucking self accountable at an even higher level.(11:26) I want to put skin in the game socially so that I'm a goddamn hypocrite if I don't follow through.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:31) Yeah, but you also aren't doing it for the dopamine. (11:33) You're doing it to become the type of person. (11:35) I think that's different, too.(11:37) You do? (11:38) Yeah. (11:38) Yeah.(11:38) Of course. (11:39) Yeah. (11:39) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(11:40) Dopamine feels good, though. (11:42) Yeah. (11:42) But do you really care?(11:45) I try not to tie my dopamine receptors to anything that is not of value. (11:49) But that's a different episode.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:50) Yeah. (11:50) I think I think what happens for people is they come up with an idea and then they unfortunately and again, I I've told you I was going to have the most successful cell phone case business in the world. (12:03) I had a great fucking idea.(12:05) I ordered.

Alan Lazaros

(12:06) Say that out loud.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:07) No, but I thought it was going to be pretty easy. (12:08) Let's get all these total. (12:10) No, I only had like three friends or something at the time.(12:12) So nobody knew about it. (12:14) I was in a reclusive state at that time for sure. (12:16) No, nobody knew about it.(12:18) My girlfriend at the time knew about it, but I don't think she cared. (12:20) Understandably so. (12:21) Because who knows however many things are however, how, however many, how many other one of the bigger thing we get in dopamine from that?(12:29) Oh, yeah, man. (12:31) Brother, we, oh my God. (12:34) Yeah.(12:35) I had the house picked out when I was, when I was like in high school. (12:39) No, not even in high school. (12:40) I was in like middle school.(12:43) My buddies and I were convinced that we were all going to be professional baseball players. (12:47) And every year, I don't know when this was going to happen because baseball players essentially practice year round or play. (12:52) We were just going to have Winnebago's and we were just going to like drive around the country and we're going to have like houses in various areas of the country.(13:01) And did you tell any adults this dream? (13:04) I don't think so. (13:06) Probably, probably not a bad thing.(13:08) But you know how much dopamine that gave me? (13:11) For sure. (13:12) I felt so good.

Alan Lazaros

(13:14) Well, now this comes into, and I don't want to steer us too far, but I also think we should talk about that. (13:21) Because talking, talking about walk, people think dopamine is something you get after you achieve something. (13:27) It's actually anticipatory too.(13:33) So you, what book was it where you said people tie themselves to something they're supposed to do and they can't let go of it?

Kevin Palmieri

(13:40) Oh, it wasn't a book. (13:41) It was a, it was a YouTube video from a channel. (13:45) I believe it's called A Healthy Gamer, which is weird because I'm pretty sure he's like a doctor, like some sort of psychology.(13:53) I don't know. (13:53) But it was one of the ways to make yourself be more consistent is to hold the, what's the word? (14:06) When you pull a string, it gets tight, but it's not hold the tension, tension, hold the tension of the idea.(14:16) I do this all the time. (14:17) When I want to order food, I don't allow myself to turn the switch from no to yes. (14:23) I stay on no.(14:24) And I try to give myself reasons not to do it. (14:27) I try to hold the tension, hold the tension, hold the tension. (14:29) So it was that the people that are really good at not being consistent are really good at just cutting the tension immediately and letting it go.(14:37) And, and, and I'm sure it was said way better in the YouTube video, but that's my, I mean, I watched this video several years ago and it blew my, that part blew my mind. (14:47) I was like, oh my goodness, that makes so much sense.

Alan Lazaros

(14:49) I'll speak from my experience with Emilia because she's in my opinion, the best I've ever seen at this. (14:55) She doesn't let herself off the hook almost ever. (15:00) She will not lower the standard or lower the target on anything.(15:05) Like when I want to pivot, like when we're going to record Conscious Couple's podcast, she never moves it. (15:10) Never. (15:11) If it's on the calendar, I'm always like tomorrow, like, listen, we're not going to miss a Monday, but like it's only Friday.(15:18) So my point is she's the best I've ever seen at this to the point where when we went for a run last night, she couldn't not run on the very edge. (15:29) And I, I'm always observing things like that. (15:31) This woman cannot take a shortcut.(15:32) It's unbelievable. (15:34) And it comes to a downside too, if whatever pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. (15:39) Here's my point.(15:41) She never lets herself off the hook easy. (15:43) I don't either. (15:44) I try not to, but some shit, you gotta let it go.(15:50) This is the thing, but you can't become someone who always lets it go. (15:53) And this is the people with the ideas. (15:56) What ideas do you grab onto and hold?(15:58) Dude, that's a, that's a whole nother episode in and of itself. (16:02) You and I have, we have 16 departments. (16:03) I canned two last week.(16:05) I didn't even tell you. (16:07) Canned them. (16:07) Deleted the folders.(16:08) Deleted them off the impact score. (16:10) I knew you'd be okay with it. (16:12) Speeches and trainings.(16:14) Yeah, those are yours. (16:16) I know. (16:17) See, I told you you'd be fine with it.(16:19) The point is, is I was just like, I gotta let go of these because they're just taking time and effort. (16:23) Listen, if someone wants us to come speak, we will. (16:26) For payment.(16:28) I'm not going to go try to get speeches. (16:30) Like we're doing more of a community-based thing now anyway. (16:33) I'm not looking to go travel around the country unless it's a very particular opportunity.(16:37) Anyways, the point is, those open tabs are just draining me. (16:42) So those idea people, you have to have a bunch of ideas, put them in the trough, shake it up, figure out which ball pops out, and then you have to plant that seed and then nurture it for 10 years.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:55) That's a, there's like a, a group of things that fall into the illusion, the illusion of progress. (17:01) I think ideas are one of them. (17:03) It feels great to have a bunch of like, the illusion of progress.(17:06) That's a great album.

Alan Lazaros

(17:08) Personal development falls into one of them too.

Kevin Palmieri

(17:10) Personal development for sure. (17:11) Cold plunge, that whole thing. (17:14) I can't ever, I've, I would be such a hypocrite if I ever got a cold plunge because I talk so much shit.(17:19) But I don't talk about them because it's not, that's not what's making the difference. (17:22) Well, I know, I know.

Alan Lazaros

(17:23) I just want to shower faster.

Kevin Palmieri

(17:24) I would probably get one and do it, but then I would say like, this is not the magical thing. (17:29) Just FYI. (17:29) Ah, paradox.(17:31) It's a paradox, but I'm probably not going to, honestly. (17:34) I think it just feels good. (17:35) It feels good to have ideas and then it feels good to like, start the idea.(17:40) I had an idea recently to create more value for Next Level Podcast Solutions clients. (17:45) I spent a whole afternoon on it. (17:47) Went deep, spent a whole afternoon.(17:48) And the next day I was like, fuck, I gotta go finish that. (17:53) Ugh, I don't want to do that right now. (17:55) I don't want to do that right now.(17:56) It felt so good yesterday. (17:58) It doesn't feel as good today. (17:59) That, I think I'm as guilty of that as anybody.(18:01) Last piece on this episode.

Alan Lazaros

(18:02) Please. (18:03) I'm going to ask you this. (18:05) You, you used to, you're the, every, I think every champions come in pairs of two.(18:09) That's my belief. (18:10) Sometimes three.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:11) I'm Scotty Pippin, baby.

Alan Lazaros

(18:13) Okay, fair. (18:14) You're the idea. (18:15) I think it's, you know, business mind, creative, art and science, numbers person, uh, uh, good with people, right?(18:26) It's not abnormal what we got going on. (18:28) It is because we're very unique, but there's usually an artist and a scientist. (18:34) There's usually a business person with a creative.(18:36) That's not abnormal. (18:37) That's actually how most companies are actually built. (18:40) You just usually don't know about one of them.(18:43) My point is for you, you would have come with ideas all the fucking time. (18:46) Drove me nuts. (18:47) I still do.(18:48) Okay. (18:49) And I would say like, that's not optimal.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:52) Try again. (18:54) I said something the other day and I'm pretty sure you were like, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. (18:58) Not in a negative, like mean way.(18:59) I don't think I said that. (19:00) If I did, I was playful. (19:01) Yeah.(19:02) Yeah. (19:02) That's what it was said. (19:04) One of my favorite things to say is that's the worst decision in the long sad history of bad decisions.(19:07) Yes. (19:08) That one I don't get. (19:09) I don't get that one often.

Alan Lazaros

(19:11) That's because you haven't done anything that bad. (19:13) That's true. (19:14) One of my clients, if you're listening right now, I've said that shit to you and you know it.(19:19) She's not in that relationship anymore. (19:21) Anyways, the point is, uh, as someone who used to come with fucking ideas all the time and I was like, brother, brother, we don't need to be on clubhouse. (19:31) Like we're, we're fine.(19:32) We have our focus. (19:34) What, what do you, how have you, you don't do that anymore.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:38) I thank you for the question because it helped me think of an awareness, dude. (19:43) I think I had the thought process that the reason we weren't more successful is because we didn't have more ideas. (19:50) I think a lot of the thoughts for ideas were like, I was looking for Mario Kart boosters, you know, looking for quick fixes.(19:57) Quick, I, I don't want to say shortcuts because it wasn't like, maybe. (20:04) Yeah. (20:04) I was looking for, I was looking for kind of angles that hadn't been explored yet.(20:10) That would speed things up.

Alan Lazaros

(20:12) I was looking at paradox. (20:12) You have to do that and stop doing that.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:14) And you can't do that. (20:15) Well, because the thing you're doing is most likely the thing you, yeah, obviously you have to improve the thing and it can be parallel to the thing, but it can't be like parallel in too far away because then you lose all the momentum. (20:26) Can you give an example?(20:32) Um, I still want to have a fucking car YouTube channel. (20:37) Alan is like, dude, it's dumb. (20:38) It's stupid.(20:39) It's the dumbest thing ever. (20:40) It doesn't connect to anything. (20:42) And I was like, dude, I know.(20:45) I know you got me there, but I could connect it. (20:50) We will. (20:51) We could.(20:51) We also have a video production company. (20:55) Yes. (20:56) Watch me.(20:57) The team can work on this and it would be awesome. (21:00) And then this was my next idea. (21:02) I was like, dude, I got it.(21:07) Cause Alan's like, dude, how long is it going to take you to do these videos? (21:09) I got you. (21:11) I'm going to hire a mechanic that will be fulfilled doing this.(21:17) We're going to post the videos and we're actually going to make money with the YouTube channel based on the views. (21:25) And I was like, that.

Alan Lazaros

(21:27) Right out of the gate?

Kevin Palmieri

(21:28) No, definitely not.

Alan Lazaros

(21:29) It's going to take about a decade.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:32) And then I'm going to buy a giraffe and ride it into the sunset. (21:37) So that is maybe too far parallel, right? (21:40) So I don't know.(21:42) I'm still working on it.

Alan Lazaros

(21:43) Okay. (21:44) This is a metaphor, but I love it. (21:46) This is a good example.(21:47) The idea sounds really cool. (21:49) Super cool. (21:50) Yeah.(21:50) Super cool. (21:51) Just like the Winnebago thing. (21:52) This sounds more realistic though.(21:54) A little bit. (21:54) You know what I mean? (21:55) It does.(21:55) It does. (21:56) Just like the cell phone cases. (21:58) That, dude, ideas are great.(22:00) My first company was going to be Rotten Tomatoes meets rate, R-A-T-E, myprofessor.com. (22:07) And instead we did Campus Libre and went out of business. (22:13) I shouldn't have let that happen.(22:15) That's on me. (22:16) Honestly. (22:17) I was like, okay, your idea sounds good too.(22:18) No, it didn't.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:20) Wasn't nearly as good. (22:21) Alan and I reconnected at a party. (22:23) I said, dude, what have you been up to, man?(22:25) What have you been up to? (22:26) And he said, ah, dude, he started a company called Campus Libre. (22:29) I said, I don't know what it is, but I like it.

Alan Lazaros

(22:32) I like the way it sounds. (22:33) You knew what Campus Libre was actually. (22:35) I didn't even tell you the name.(22:36) You came up to me and you were like, I don't know what Campus Libre is, but I like it. (22:39) Look at that.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:40) I did my research.

Alan Lazaros

(22:41) Because you saw it on Facebook. (22:42) I was back when you're doing your better every fucking day, B-F-D. (22:46) Yeah.(22:46) Videos.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:47) That was a great idea.

Alan Lazaros

(22:48) 2016 or something. (22:49) 20.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:50) 20, no, like 2014 maybe.

Alan Lazaros

(22:53) Yeah. (22:53) That was a great idea. (22:55) Early 20s.(22:55) 22 years old. (22:56) 23.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:57) I don't know. (22:57) I don't remember anything. (23:00) Halloween, circa 2012.(23:03) What a strange, dangerous night that was. (23:06) Yeah. (23:07) All right.(23:08) What would you leave the folks with when it comes to ideas?

Alan Lazaros

(23:17) Get out of my head. (23:19) It was a fun night. (23:20) Okay.(23:21) Ideas. (23:22) Ideas, ideas, ideas. (23:24) They're a dime a dozen.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:27) What, hey, what does that mean? (23:29) I have no idea. (23:30) Dude, every time I hear somebody say that- A dime a dozen, it means they're cheap.(23:33) Yeah, but why? (23:35) Because if you cut a dozen eggs for a dime, it's like, that's what it is.

Alan Lazaros

(23:38) They're worthless. (23:39) They're nearly worthless. (23:39) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:40) So it's actually, it costs a dime for a dozen, right? (23:45) They're a dime a dozen, meaning they're not of high value.

Alan Lazaros

(23:49) Also- That's what it's supposed to say.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:50) Real quick. (23:51) One time I was like, dude, fall down seven times, get up eight. (23:55) And this is what you said.(23:56) This is actually what you said. (23:57) You said, Kev, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my entire life. (24:00) How do you, you can't get up more times than you've fallen down, by definition.(24:05) I saw something recently. (24:07) It was like a very, it might've been like a commercial for NBA, like for the National Basketball Association. (24:13) And they said that.(24:15) And I was like, oh, you can't do that. (24:17) You can't do that. (24:19) So there's a lot of weird sayings out there that people- Has been a fun journey, hasn't it?(24:22) People just let fly. (24:23) For me, a dime a dozen, I was like, I don't, yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(24:26) That actually makes perfect sense. (24:27) Now- If I only pay a dime for a dozen eggs, they're obviously not worth that much. (24:30) Yes, yes, yes.(24:31) Every saying is rooted in something, right?

Kevin Palmieri

(24:33) Maybe. (24:35) Fall down seven times, get up eight's rooted in BS, unfortunately. (24:40) Yeah.(24:40) It's not mathematically accurate. (24:42) And then we did it. (24:43) I was like, down one, up one.(24:47) Down two, up two. (24:48) And then when you get to seven, it's like down seven, up seven. (24:51) That's it.(24:51) That's the end. (24:52) It doesn't go any further. (24:54) Oh, okay.(24:55) It's the bread.

Alan Lazaros

(24:57) January, February.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:58) It's the bread. (25:00) Alan and I have done math equations and it's like, dude, I don't understand. (25:03) Because there's the bread, the meat, and then the bread.(25:07) And certain math equations have the bread in it.

Alan Lazaros

(25:10) This is why Y2K happened. (25:11) This is why, there you go. (25:12) This is why they were afraid about Y2K, because it starts with zero.(25:16) Zero. (25:16) And then you only go to nine. (25:18) That's 10.(25:19) Right. (25:19) You used to say this, from zero to 10. (25:21) No.(25:23) No. (25:24) Nope. (25:24) That's 11 numbers.(25:29) That's 11 numbers. (25:30) It's 11 numbers. (25:31) One to 10, for fuck's sake.(25:33) Zero to nine doesn't work.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:35) I've said it too. (25:36) I've said it too.

Alan Lazaros

(25:36) You've heard me say that. (25:38) Someone's going to send me a clip of me saying from zero to 10. (25:41) Yeah, I do.(25:42) I do. (25:42) It's supposed to be from one to 10, but zero to 10 sounds better.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:45) Yeah, it does.

Alan Lazaros

(25:46) Let's just go with what sounds better. (25:48) Right.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:48) Let's just go with what sounds better. (25:50) All right, what is the point of all this? (25:51) Ideas are useless if.

Alan Lazaros

(25:53) Yeah, yeah. (25:54) Ideas are useless if you don't execute. (25:56) And you have to be very discerning.(25:59) Just because you can do a lot of things doesn't mean you should. (26:04) I think it takes humility to only water a few plants. (26:09) It does.(26:09) It takes humility to know you can't do everything. (26:11) As I've become more humble, I stopped basketball and snowboarding.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:15) I think it's arrogant to think you can do everything well. (26:19) But it takes a lot of belief to know, to believe deeply that one of those plants is going to grow into something. (26:23) That's fair.(26:24) I think that's another reason people plant so many is like, hopefully one of these will fucking go. (26:27) That was my thing. (26:29) Yeah, but you've got to water them for a long time.(26:31) I've got a pumpkin one here.

Alan Lazaros

(26:33) I've got a banana tree over here. (26:35) Yeah, but they die before you even see them. (26:37) Unfortunately.(26:38) But it feels good when you plant it. (26:39) Because you're just planting a bunch of shallow plants that never grow, and you never see the results.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:44) Yeah. (26:45) My takeaway would be, you have to be very honest with yourself about where you are falling into the trap of the illusion of progress. (26:54) Because there is a lot of places, and this is one of them.

Alan Lazaros

(26:56) Can we do that on the next episode? (26:57) Screw whatever we were planning.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:58) Screw whatever we were planning. (26:59) The illusion of progress. (27:00) Let's do that.(27:00) No, we were supposed to do, what should you tie yourself worth to? (27:03) What would you tie yourself worth to? (27:05) Tie it to the illusion of progress.(27:06) I want to do that. (27:07) Can we do that one?

Alan Lazaros

(27:08) Yeah, fine.

Kevin Palmieri

(27:10) That's the worst idea I've ever in my life. (27:11) All right, if you're looking for a coach who can help you figure out whether your ideas are going to work or not, and actually keep you accountable to do them long enough to turn those ideas into reality, Alan Lazarus is your guy. (27:26) Reach out to Alan, and you can get set up with a free breakthrough session if you haven't done one yet.(27:31) Thanks, man. (27:31) You're welcome, man.

Alan Lazaros

(27:32) Kev is a podcaster who tolerates coaching. (27:35) I'm a coach who tolerates podcasting. (27:37) We're both being playful.(27:38) I do love them both. (27:39) But if I had to pick, I would definitely pick coaching. (27:42) And Kev would definitely pick podcasting.(27:44) But we're both grateful to do both. (27:46) If you have never had a coach before, I wouldn't say it's for everybody. (27:52) But I would say if you are someone who will do more for others than you'll do for yourself, it's going to be a fucking game changer.(27:59) And it's more affordable than you think. (28:01) Please reach out. (28:02) Oh, cool.(28:02) My starting price is really low for a reason, because we start small and build. (28:07) Nice.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:08) As always, we love you. (28:09) We appreciate you. (28:10) Grateful for each and every one of you.(28:11) 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 freaking day to help you get there. (28:18) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential.

Alan Lazaros

(28:21) Next elimination.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:23) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (28:27) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(28:29) We mean it when we say family. (28:31) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (28:35) Everything you need to get ahold of us is in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(28:38) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.