How Much Truth Are You Ready For? (2388)

In this episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros talk about the kind of truth that helps you grow, not just the kind that makes you feel better for a moment. They look at the difference between healthy encouragement and honest feedback, and why both matter if you want real progress. They also get into self-awareness, discipline, ego, and what happens when you lose touch with reality through either false confidence or constant self-doubt.

If you’ve ever wondered when to push harder, when to give yourself grace, and how to stay grounded while still aiming higher, this episode offers a more honest way to think about growth. Listen now before your blind spots start charging rent.

____________________

Episode References:
#25 - Focusing on What You CAN Control, What You Do HAVE, and a Brighter Future
#26 - Danielle Murr - Prioritizing Yourself and Not Creating an Identity from Failures

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

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

_______________________

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

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/

_______________________

Show notes:
(1:25) How much truth are you ready for
(4:17) Why competence can distort self-perception
(6:31) How early success creates false confidence
(11:26) When to challenge versus encourage
(14:17) Why does your state change the right feedback
(18:20) Why self-awareness must replace external validation
(21:36) Discipline as rationing emotion
(23:52) 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 jokingly say this fairly often in front of and behind the scenes, but if I knew what this journey was going to take, if you sat me down and said, hey, this is the truth. (0:10) I'm going to give you every single ounce of truth. (0:12) I'm going to give you all the ups, all the downs, all the pain, all the anxiety.(0:17) And then I had the opportunity to choose. (0:18) I genuinely don't know if I would have chosen to do this. (0:22) And I think it's a good thing that I didn't know in the beginning.

Alan Lazaros

(0:24) Having your bubble burst brings you to a metaphorical rock bottom. (0:30) That can be the new foundation to build upon to get to the next level. (0:36) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:39) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:40) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus. (0:44) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:50) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:57) 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

(1:12) Self-improvement in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:19) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:25) Next Level Nation, today for episode number 2,388, how much truth are you ready for? (1:31) What are you talking about over there?

Alan Lazaros

(1:32) Just every now and then, when you and I are podcasting together, I just think we're saying words. (1:41) What did I just say in that intro?

Kevin Palmieri

(1:43) You were talking about bursting the bubble?

Alan Lazaros

(1:45) Right?

Kevin Palmieri

(1:46) I don't know.

Alan Lazaros

(1:47) Were you listening?

Kevin Palmieri

(1:48) I was listening, but I was also adjusting the thumbnail based on what you said, so 50%.

Alan Lazaros

(1:54) Okay. (1:55) I think it was fire, but after I was done saying it, I was like, I think I just said a bunch of words that I've never said before.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:05) Have you ever said something and then in the middle of it, you realize what I'm saying now does not make any sense? (2:11) You just finish it with confidence and start nodding?

Alan Lazaros

(2:15) I've done it on podcast less lately than ever before. (2:20) I do feel like the reps are paying off in that regard, and again, speaking of bubbles bursting. (2:26) I was going to say, the truth is, that's par for the course.(2:29) Well, this is the point already, because I know I opened with zero points. (2:36) The moment you start thinking you're good at something, I think is when you start sucking worse than you could. (2:43) You have to stay at five.(2:45) We talk about this all the time. (2:49) You asked me that question, and I said to myself, no, not that often anymore. (2:54) Very rarely do I trail off, realize what I'm saying makes no sense, and then have to end it with confidence, knowing that it was suboptimal, but I get better and better and better at communication.(3:07) My goodness, at communication, when I don't believe I'm good at it. (3:14) I don't know if that's unique to me or not. (3:18) There has been a lot of discussion in the peak performance space, for lack of a better phrasing, about imposter syndrome and how some people who are actually really, really, really good actually don't feel like they're that good, because they're so aware of how much they suck, but beginners actually think they're good.(3:39) It's this fascinating thing where, on the macro, you and I are way more confident in our ability to effectively communicate than in the beginning, but we don't necessarily come off as more confident than we used to. (3:54) I watched episode 25 or 26, way back, of the Hyperconscious podcast, shout out. (4:00) You and I sounded more confident in some ways, because we weren't that confident deep down.(4:07) It's almost like deep down we have a lot of confidence now, but consciously it's like, I can't believe I'm good because I'll stop being optimal if I believe that.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:17) The Dunning-Kruger effect, google it, I cannot explain it, but there are studies that talk about how the less you know, the more you think you know, and the more you know, the less you think you know, because you know how much you didn't know. (4:27) That's the easiest way to sum it up, but that makes total sense for sure.

Alan Lazaros

(4:32) How do you feel? (4:34) You know what's interesting? (4:37) Because lately you've been around a lot of people who are not strong communicators, so you probably feel really good.(4:45) I'm comparing to my potential, so I am not sure if I'm good at all anymore, but I also know that I am when I compare to others.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:54) It depends on where you compare. (4:58) I think I'm way better than I ever thought I would be, so that throws a fucking kink into everything. (5:03) Honestly, again, I met somebody golfing this weekend.(5:06) They said, what do you do? (5:07) That's always the thing. (5:08) I said, I'm a podcaster.(5:09) I said, yeah, we have 2,400 episodes. (5:11) They're like, what? (5:13) I was like, yeah, it is a lot, huh?(5:14) It's a lot of episodes. (5:15) I don't really think about it. (5:17) I usually forget the number.(5:18) Right after I say it, I forgot it. (5:19) Now we're on to the next thing. (5:22) I don't know.(5:22) I don't know, but the point of all this and to connect it is in the beginning, I had somebody ask me the other day, they said, were you ever afraid? (5:33) Did you ever not like your voice and did you ever not feel good? (5:36) I was like, of course.(5:37) In the beginning, I fucking hated all of it.

Alan Lazaros

(5:39) I hated all of it, but- We should talk about stuff like that more. (5:43) I hated my voice in the beginning. (5:45) Oh yeah.(5:45) I think that's normal, right? (5:47) Everybody does. (5:47) I think that's normal.(5:48) Yeah. (5:48) Everybody does. (5:49) Not everyone admits it, but I think that's normal.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:51) Is that seriously what I sound like? (5:54) Then the whole like, that's what you sound like to you. (5:56) I don't know if you sound like that to everybody else.(5:58) That's a whole other fucking thing.

Alan Lazaros

(5:59) Well, there's a, you're feeling the vibrations of your own voice. (6:03) Wow. (6:04) Not to mention there's a feedback loop of, you know what you're going to say before you say it.(6:07) So there's that. (6:07) It's like when you get a massage from someone else versus you try to massage your own leg. (6:11) It's that sort of feedback loop of, you know you're, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:14) Anyways, I got to cut out here early. (6:17) I'm going to go get myself a massage.

Alan Lazaros

(6:19) I got to take off myself. (6:20) It's just rubbing your own thighs, you know? (6:23) That sounds terrible.(6:26) The point of that though is, where were you going?

Kevin Palmieri

(6:31) In the beginning, I was kind of delusional. (6:35) It's weird because I didn't think I was good at all, but then people said I was good and then it created inaccuracy in the way I thought about how good I was, but I think it was good for me because it made me keep going. (6:46) Would you have stopped if you, I don't know, maybe.(6:50) The second speech I ever gave, I've told this story before, but it is funny as shit. (6:54) Second speech I ever gave. (6:56) Well, let's do this.(6:57) First one, I prepared for two weeks. (7:00) I did like seven dry runs and I knew at 14 minutes and 50 seconds, this is where I'm supposed to be in my presentation. (7:06) So this was not a speech.(7:08) This was a presentation and it went way better than expected and I got, it was great. (7:13) People clapped and they said, you're amazing. (7:15) Amazing.(7:15) Awesome. (7:16) Second one, I was arrogant. (7:19) I gave myself five flashcards and I was like, this is going to be fucking nothing.(7:24) This is going to be nothing. (7:25) And I hammered through my five flashcards in like five minutes and I was like, oh shit. (7:31) This is not good.(7:31) Yeah, that was brutal for me to watch.

Alan Lazaros

(7:33) Watching you, watching you jacked because you jacked in that. (7:38) That's about all I had going. (7:40) On the camera you're using now, we've recorded it and it's a good, good recording.(7:44) We did a decent job at that. (7:46) But it was tough to watch you because I knew, I don't think anyone else could tell, like I could tell, but I could hear it in your voice. (7:55) I was like, oh, he's going down hard.

Kevin Palmieri

(7:56) Especially then, like my, there was a lot of, when I got nervous, my voice would flutter. (8:03) It would be like up and down. (8:04) Like I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.(8:07) So at number one, I was like, does anybody in here want to be a speaker? (8:10) Speaking is awesome. (8:11) You're all, you're all, you've all experienced life.(8:14) You all have stories to tell. (8:15) And there was a kid who raised his hand. (8:16) I said, get the fuck up here.(8:17) Give a speech. (8:18) Let's do it. (8:19) Awesome.(8:20) Crowd participation plus one. (8:22) And then we did a pushup competition with me and several of the other, other kids. (8:27) I almost lost to one of them.(8:28) He was resilient.

Alan Lazaros

(8:29) How many did he get to? (8:30) It got to like 30 plus.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:31) He got up there and I was like, oh geez, we are in trouble. (8:35) We are, we are in trouble here. (8:37) This is, this is going from bad to worse to worst, but I get arrogant.

Alan Lazaros

(8:42) You would have died before you would have stopped doing pushups.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:45) Of course, of course. (8:45) I'm not losing this. (8:47) But what I say all the time is if that was my first speech, I don't know if I would have kept going because that, that would have burst my bubble of like, Kev, this whole podcasting thing is much different than speaking.(8:57) And this whole podcasting speaking thing is much different than coaching. (9:00) And this, everything is a little bit different. (9:02) And that's the problem is you take one bubble into another bubble and you think it's a direct parallel, a direct relationship, but it isn't always.(9:13) So that's the point. (9:15) And then I think, so I think the main point of this, cause I know we, we have like 13 minutes here. (9:20) The main point is over the years, we have plenty of time, man.(9:24) I hope this is a good point. (9:26) I'm kidding. (9:27) Well, no, I know.(9:27) I just want to make sure we get to the, I know I value your time. (9:30) You're out there. (9:31) Alan might not value my time or yours, but I value it.(9:34) I promise. (9:34) No, no, no. (9:34) I value your time very deeply.(9:36) I also value mine. (9:37) And it's, uh, over the years, over the years, you, I would say started off less than optimally with how you would burst or not burst people's bubbles. (9:50) It's two ends to that pendulum.

Alan Lazaros

(9:52) You get uncomfortable when you tell me shit like this.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:55) Yeah. (9:56) I think I'm just in a good mood. (9:57) I think that's a piece of it.(9:58) Okay. (9:58) Do you not like to tell me when I suck? (10:00) No, I love telling you when you suck.(10:02) Okay. (10:02) Not publicly. (10:03) You don't like telling me in front of other people?(10:04) No. (10:05) Okay. (10:06) No, I don't like telling you in front of other people.(10:08) I feel like enough people have like, tried to, and I always get weirded out. (10:12) It's like, Oh, this is so fucking uncomfortable. (10:14) We had a conversation.(10:15) We, we were on a podcast together and the guy was like, trying to give Alan advice. (10:18) And I was like, dude, this is, let me the fuck out of here. (10:21) This is brutal.(10:22) I can't be here for this. (10:23) This is fucking terrible. (10:24) Oh my God.(10:24) You should have jumped in.

Alan Lazaros

(10:26) What would you have said?

Kevin Palmieri

(10:27) I'm a coward.

Alan Lazaros

(10:28) If you jumped in, what would you have said?

Kevin Palmieri

(10:29) I probably would have said, listen, dude, I love you. (10:31) I respect you. (10:32) I respect what you're trying to do here.(10:34) Alan, we've been through this. (10:35) This is not fucking new. (10:37) It's not the first time he's ever thought of this.(10:39) We've been having conversations about this for nine fucking years.

Alan Lazaros

(10:43) Oh, I had never thought of that before. (10:45) Thank you so much. (10:45) Random Citizen.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:46) Have you ever thought about the fact that you didn't have any positive male role models? (10:51) Never. (10:52) No, never thought about, no, I have a fucking tattoo of my, my absentee father on my arm.(10:58) No, I've never thought that before. (11:00) But what have you learned about popping bubbles, pouring into, like, how do you know when to pour into a bubble versus pop one? (11:08) And what, from your perspective, is a telltale sign that you shouldn't burst the bubble?(11:16) Like it's too much truth too soon.

Alan Lazaros

(11:19) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:19) Uh, yep.

Alan Lazaros

(11:23) Yep. (11:24) Yep. (11:24) Yep.(11:26) So what I've started to do, and this is, I don't know if I have the best answer, but this is what I try to do. (11:35) Okay. (11:35) I'll give you a good tangible example.(11:37) Client comes in recently. (11:39) Huge smile on her face. (11:41) Had a great night with her boyfriend.(11:42) I can tell. (11:43) I can tell. (11:44) I've been coaching her for so long.(11:45) I can tell you're in a good place. (11:46) I fucking throw the hammer down when she's good. (11:50) When she's struggling, it's all, it's like a percentage on the right hand.(11:56) I lift you up on the left hand. (11:59) I pop your delusional bubbles and get you to get better. (12:03) And they're all based on accurate truth.(12:05) Like I could easily right now, no bullshit. (12:07) I could literally tell Kevin five things. (12:09) He's fucking up royally right now.(12:11) That wouldn't even be hard, but I also could do the same in a positive direction. (12:15) I could tell you five things. (12:16) You're doing wonderful.(12:19) My percentage will depend on your state. (12:22) Now the problem is, is when people are faking their state, which I used to be bad at, people would come in as if they're the best thing since sliced bread. (12:31) That turns out was their ego.(12:33) And deep down, they actually were really, really, really insecure. (12:37) And I think that I've learned over time how to figure out what's authentic fulfillment. (12:42) The client I was talking about came in with very high self-esteem.(12:46) I could feel it all over. (12:47) It's like, you're, you're in a great place. (12:49) Let's fucking go because I have a lot of shit I've got in the tank to tell you.(12:53) Right. (12:54) But, but she was having a couple of tough weeks before that. (12:56) So I was keeping those in the holster.(12:58) And as a good coach, that's what you're supposed to do. (13:01) I believe that you have to find that sweet spot for every person. (13:05) That's actually why I fucking hate podcasting a little bit, because if someone is out there in a negative state, I'm going to trigger you in the wrong direction.(13:15) But if you're flying high right now, listen, you are not that great. (13:20) Don't get a fucking big head. (13:22) You, you are barely scratching your true potential and you're probably fucking up in many areas and not looking at it.(13:29) So it all depends. (13:31) Like if I knew that everyone was in a really good place right now in a peak state, I would be able to tell you a lot harder truth because I'm trying to get people to five. (13:42) This is the thing that really pisses me off.(13:45) There are some people who only yell at you and say that you suck and you need to do better and you need to sleep less and you fucking suck and you could be better and you got to reach your full potential. (13:55) And then there's some people who only validate you. (13:58) You're amazing.(13:59) You're already enough. (14:00) No, you're not. (14:01) No, you're not.(14:03) No one is. (14:04) Can you imagine Michael Phelps? (14:06) You're already enough, man.(14:07) No, I'm not, bro. (14:08) I just fucking lost intrinsically. (14:11) I think that's what people are.(14:12) I know, but desire nobody. (14:14) That's not actually what's happening though.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:16) I know, I know, brother.

Alan Lazaros

(14:17) There are, there are some podcasts that literally just get you to feel better about yourself regardless of external circumstances. (14:26) And I want you to tether to reality. (14:28) And that's why podcasting is so difficult because some people out there right now are having a tough time and some people are coming after a good night like that client who really need to like, yo, go to your whiteboard, write down a fucking number, days left until, you know, 10 pounds, 10 weeks, whatever it is, get it together, track your fucking finances.(14:47) How hard you are on someone is predicated on their personal development set point, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and their current state. (14:55) Emilia, like in the gym, there are some days when she's, you know, in her menstruation phase and she's not as strong and she, I'm like, yo, get it together. (15:05) Come on, get it together.(15:06) But there's other days where I can tell she's in it and she's struggling. (15:10) And, and she like says like, I'm, I'm having a hard time. (15:13) There's a look we give each other.(15:14) Like, I can't, I'm just trying to survive today. (15:17) But when she, when I know she got good sleep, she's in a great part of her cycle, like she's strong as shit. (15:22) Like I'm going to be harder on her.(15:25) This is the thing, the paradox. (15:27) When you're in a good place, people celebrate. (15:30) Worst idea ever.(15:32) Life is so paradoxical. (15:33) When you're in a good place, do not celebrate. (15:36) Get to fucking work because it's going to be hard.(15:38) One of these days, it's going to be hard to even get out of bed. (15:41) When I feel great, dude, the last thing I'm going to do is go celebrate. (15:44) I'm going to go and challenge myself.(15:46) When I feel terrible, I'm going to have compassion for myself and I'm going to try to like hit my minimums. (15:52) And I think that the world has that opposite. (15:55) It's like, you just get a new car and people celebrate you.(15:58) It's like, no, now that you have a new car, ride that fucking high and get to the gym and prepare yourself so that when the wind blows, it doesn't knock you over.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:07) Every time I have bought leased, I don't, I didn't buy them. (16:11) I leased them. (16:12) The two times I've leased nice cars, I got super anxious after because it was like, oh my goodness, this high is going to go.(16:20) And then you're going to have to pay for this. (16:23) And that was the first time, like I was so naive before I was so naive. (16:28) I remember when I got my first, my first new car, 2000, secondly, 2011, but that one ended up exploding and I got a new car.(16:38) I got the engine. (16:41) Yeah. (16:42) And not by my picture, get like exploding and you know, the turbocharger blew up and it was not my fault.(16:49) I drive like a grandpa, but I remember getting my, the, getting the car. (16:54) I pull up, it's there, it's in the front. (16:56) There's like people are, it was like a scene from a movie.(16:57) And again, it was a Subaru WRX. (16:59) It wasn't fucking Bentley or anything, but I remember leaving and it was, it was 400. (17:05) How much was it?(17:07) It was like 400 bucks a month. (17:08) And I was like, that's a good deal. (17:09) I never once thought about what would happen a year from then.(17:13) I never once. (17:14) And I, but I wonder if somebody sat me down and said, Kev, like I, just so you know, this is five years. (17:19) Like I know right now you feel really good because you have a job, but if you want to do anything in terms of flexibility and you want to take any risks in the next five years, like this is going to be an anchor.(17:28) I probably would have told that person like, fuck off. (17:30) Like, let me feel good for a minute. (17:32) And I think that other, that other advice would have probably been more accurate.(17:36) That's part one. (17:37) Part two. (17:38) I think there is, there is either content and or advice and or people that burst the bubble or that continue to fill the bubble.(17:48) And you just have to figure out that that client, for example, their feet were off the ground because they were flying, they were flying high. (17:56) So yeah, you need to, you need to shoot a BB into a couple of those bubbles and come back down to earth. (18:00) Right.

Alan Lazaros

(18:01) But when you're really poor, the balloons are not real and they're there. (18:05) Yeah. (18:05) And then you shoot a couple, just a couple of balloons.(18:07) Just a couple of them.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:08) Yeah. (18:08) Just a couple. (18:09) Some of them are valid.(18:10) Some of them are just a couple. (18:11) Yeah. (18:11) Just put on the days where you only have one.(18:14) That thing is leaking. (18:15) Like you gotta, you gotta put some other ones up there and let it, let it lift you up a little bit, but it is, it is a constant. (18:20) And that's why I think that's why self-awareness is so important because not everybody has somebody that's going to do this for them.(18:26) Most people don't have somebody most, not, not everybody. (18:29) Most people don't have somebody that's going to do this for them. (18:31) And you have to figure this out for yourself.

Alan Lazaros

(18:33) Everyone is really good at one or the other. (18:35) I think you're better at lifting people up than knocking them down. (18:39) You usually, when someone has an ego, you usually avoid them.(18:42) Yeah. (18:42) I just run. (18:43) Best of luck.(18:43) Best of luck, friend. (18:45) Best of luck. (18:45) Good luck.(18:46) Life will, life will pop those bubbles for you.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:49) I believe they will better than I will.

Alan Lazaros

(18:50) But if you really do care about someone, and this is the disclaimer, like I do disclaimers all the time before my coaching now is like, you, you, I'm not joking. (18:57) I will be able to tell if you actually don't want me to tell you the truth. (19:02) I'll be able to tell because some people, Oh, you couldn't offend me.(19:05) If you tried motherfucker, I could offend you easily. (19:09) Actually, you know, you haven't been to the gym in fucking six months. (19:13) Is that going to offend you?(19:15) Right? (19:15) Of course you could. (19:16) The people who say that it's all ego.(19:18) Um, all of us dial this in for ourselves, because if nothing else comes up this episode, you have to coach yourself. (19:25) When I'm flying high, Alan, I know you ran a seven 27 mile on a whim. (19:31) Awesome.(19:31) You're so fucking cool. (19:32) People do four minute miles regularly for an entire fucking marathon. (19:35) What are we doing?(19:37) Big fish in small pond is ridiculous. (19:39) There's someone I'm thinking of right now. (19:40) I'll keep it anonymous.(19:41) He is such a big fish in a tiny pond. (19:44) You think you're fucking brilliant dude. (19:46) And you're around people who have never read you're around people who are way below the average.(19:53) And because you're slightly into growth, you think that you're fucking amazing. (19:57) And you, you don't realize that you're like, you're amazing at level one, at level 10, you'd be eaten alive. (20:05) You're a big fish in a small pond, but in the ocean, you're a fucking guppy.(20:09) And you need that perspective. (20:10) You do, you need that perspective. (20:12) That's good for you.(20:14) Because when you're too far over your suboptimal, we say this all the time, the zeros don't believe in themselves enough. (20:21) Don't believe they're worthy enough to get a mentor. (20:23) The tens don't think they need one.(20:25) And we all fluctuate. (20:27) We all fluctuate. (20:27) I'm just trying to get closer and closer to five and stay at five.(20:31) Like you, you have to call yourself out. (20:34) You don't, if you're wicked high self-esteem and you're feeling yourself be hard on yourself, be hard on yourself. (20:42) If you're struggle bussing and you're really just try to look at some of the wins and try to get your self-esteem back and try to do your minimums.(20:50) And you have to coach yourself because no one else is going to do this for you. (20:54) The world is like almost the opposite. (20:57) It's like you get a new car or a new home and people are celebrating you.(21:02) It's like, yo, that's not the time to celebrate. (21:04) The time to celebrate is when you're just surviving and need a little piece of cake at the end of the night or something, or give yourself some Reese's cups. (21:12) Like for me, I love Reese's, but Whole Foods Reese's cups are unfreaking believable.(21:17) 140 calories, every two of them or something like that. (21:21) 70 calories per, it's insane. (21:24) But that's my point is when you're starving, give yourself a Reese's cup.(21:27) When you're fucking flying high and life is good. (21:30) The last thing you need to be doing is slugging Reese's. (21:33) I think that's discipline.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:36) Like discipline is, uh, discipline is rationing emotion. (21:40) That is discipline. (21:41) When you only have a little bit of it, you got to ration it for the, for when you need it.(21:44) You can't just take it all and spend it in one, one fell swoop because you're gonna end up Jeffed and this is a long fucking journey. (21:51) It was a long journey. (21:53) Yeah.(21:54) All right.

Alan Lazaros

(21:54) What's your stuff up for the long game? (21:56) Absolutely. (21:56) Set yourself up for the long.(21:57) What's your takeaway coach yourself. (22:00) Get a coach. (22:01) Definitely a good one.(22:02) A good coach is not someone who's going to validate your every move and it's not someone who's going to be toxic and make you feel horrible inside. (22:09) It's someone who's gonna keep you, who cares enough about you to tell you the truth about you, to give you honest, accurate feedback. (22:18) And I'm constantly like, okay, with Kev, Kev's in a good space.(22:23) Okay. (22:24) Where do I give him the love and the recognition and the appreciation? (22:27) And Hey man, you're really crushing this.(22:30) Honestly, not, not fluff, not bullshit. (22:33) You're crushing this. (22:34) These things you're actually winning in like unbelievable.(22:36) And, and come on, man, the fuck are we doing over here? (22:41) And, and, and it's an end. (22:44) Very few people have both and you have to have both for yourself.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:49) I would say the further you get away from the truth, the harder it is to get back. (22:53) Like if you get your bubble burst a little bit, I'm not saying to get it burst immediately again, but like if you run away from it, it's really hard to come back to that discomfort because you remember how bad it stung. (23:02) Like, it's just, I'd rather have a few paper cuts and give me a paper cut and I can come back for another paper cut rather than like some sort of deep wound because I wait too long to get it.

Alan Lazaros

(23:12) The bigger the delusion, the bigger the bubble, the, the, the worst, the suffering, I think.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:18) Well, we've said this, get the feedback along the way, get the feet. (23:20) We've said that so many times, no matter what, you're going to get the feedback. (23:23) You can either choose to get it along the way, little by little by little, or you can get it all at once at the end.(23:27) And that is when it is devastating. (23:30) That is when it's, Oh wait, you, you don't want to be married to me anymore. (23:33) Like what, how did this happen?(23:35) Well, there was this sign and this sign and this sign and this sign and this and this and this heavy one, obviously. (23:39) All right, cool. (23:40) If you're looking for a coach, reach out to Alan, best in the business, I would put all of my money on that.(23:44) And then if you're looking for a group of amazing humans who are also into growth and next levelness, we have our private Facebook group, Next Level Nation. (23:51) We'll have the link in the show notes for that. (23:52) As always, we love you.(23:53) We appreciate you. (23:53) Grateful for each and every one of you. (23:55) 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

(24:01) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential. (24:04) Next Level Nation.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:06) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (24:10) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(24:12) We mean it when we say family. (24:14) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (24:18) Everything you need to get ahold of us is in the show notes.(24:21) Thank you again. (24:22) And we will talk to you tomorrow.