Honestly, No One Really Makes Good Decisions… (2391)

In today’s episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros challenge a hard truth about growth. Strong decisions are not made by perfect people. They are made by people who are honest enough to face reality, aware enough to learn, and disciplined enough to adjust. Drawing from coaching, client patterns, and lessons from their own lives, they break down how overthinking slows progress, how identity can cloud judgment, and why real feedback matters if you want to improve.

If you want to make better choices with more clarity and less ego, this episode will give you a more grounded way to think about growth. Listen before your next decision turns into your next habit.

_______________________

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:
(2:33) The danger of thinking you’re always right
(4:51) When overthinking replaces action
(6:52) Shame identity and why people stay stuck
(12:41) How to judge feedback without losing yourself
(17:30) The right way to make better decisions
(24:45) Why objective measurement matters
(25:37) 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 have made some terrible decisions, and I am currently making terrible decisions, but the terrible decisions I am making today are only compared to the good decisions I'm going to make in the future, and that is the case for everybody. (0:12) There is not really any such thing as being a good decision maker, you're just trying to be better than you used to be, but if you continue getting better, you will be bad now, in the future.

Alan Lazaros

(0:26) I call myself Alan version 3.7. Alan version 3.7 makes better decisions than Alan version 2.7, and way better decisions than Alan version 1.7. The same is true for you.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:38) Welcome to Next Level University. (0:41) I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri. (0:42) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazarus.(0:46) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven, but no-BS approach to holistic self-improvement Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth. (0:59) 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

(1:14) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:21) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:27) Next Level Nation, today for episode number 2391. (1:31) Honestly, no one really makes good decisions. (1:35) And that, my friends, is a paradox.(1:38) Because in an ideal world, you will be making the best decisions you've ever made because you have more awareness, you have more understanding, you have more experience, you have more wisdom. (1:48) But it doesn't mean it's a good decision. (1:51) It just means it's as optimal as you currently understand.(1:55) And I think you wanted to do this episode, so I'm going to kick it to you. (1:57) But that's my strong hotel opening.

Alan Lazaros

(2:02) Well, I just taught a finance masterclass right before this. (2:08) So I'm in a financial mode mood. (2:10) Well, we're doing that tomorrow.(2:11) We're doing the three buckets of expenses tomorrow. (2:13) So that's going to be nice. (2:15) I taught that.(2:16) Shout out to anyone who came, by the way. (2:18) Realized I had a masterclass on Tuesday. (2:21) 11 people registered in like zero time, zero whatsoever.(2:26) Yeah, it was pretty good. (2:28) I've been focused on other things. (2:29) So shout out to you guys who came.(2:31) Thank you. (2:33) The point, though, for the listeners is, I think there's a paradox here where people who want to believe that they make good decisions actually don't. (2:47) And you would actually be better off, paradoxically, if you just owned the fact that you make bad choices.(2:53) I find it fascinating how I was with someone not long ago. (2:58) She said, well, I don't make bad decisions. (2:59) I've never made a bad decision.(3:00) I said, excuse me? (3:03) And this is someone I know deeply, and I know her to have made many, many, many atrocious decisions. (3:11) But I had this moment with myself, and I talked to you about this behind the scenes, because I don't want to air anyone's dirty laundry out.(3:18) But I said, isn't it fascinating how the people who make the best decisions sometimes think they make terrible choices? (3:26) And the people who make terrible choices often think that they're making great choices. (3:31) Another really good paradox that is a metaphor for this is I've noticed some parents who think they're great parents are like not great parents at all.(3:43) And then some parents who think they're awful parents are wonderful parents. (3:46) And I think that's sort of the paradox of if you admit the admittance factor. (3:54) I told you this years ago.(3:55) I said, Kev, I'm never fully right, but I'm definitely not fully wrong. (4:00) And I might be more right than you, right? (4:03) That last part's important.(4:04) I knew you'd laugh at that. (4:05) But the truth is no one's fully right. (4:08) No one makes fully great choices.(4:10) You just make better choices than you used to. (4:12) And choices are predicated on your awareness, and your awareness is predicated on failing forward. (4:17) So there's two ways to look at this.(4:20) You can think, okay, I always make optimal choices, and I'm already amazing. (4:23) Good luck with that. (4:24) You're not going to change anything.(4:26) Or, okay, I make suboptimal choices. (4:30) I fail forward. (4:31) I learn, and I do better over time.(4:34) And one of them, the trajectory is up and to the right. (4:36) It's a business thing. (4:37) Up and to the right?(4:38) Is it up and to the right? (4:39) Is it up and to the right? (4:39) That's what everyone says.(4:40) Up and to the right? (4:42) Yes. (4:43) Yes, it's up and to the right.(4:45) It's just a trend line thing. (4:47) But in life, it's the same way.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:51) The problem... (4:53) Dramatic ending. (4:54) The problem is the other side of that also exists, though, where you spend so much time looking for the right answer that you don't ever do anything.

Alan Lazaros

(5:03) Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:05) I'm dealing with that a little bit. (5:06) I was with a client today, and we literally spent... (5:10) We probably spent four hours just masterminding about things.(5:15) And it got to the point where I was like, look, there is no right answer. (5:19) We don't have an actual answer. (5:20) We have a more optimal answer that we need to do, and then we'll get more feedback, and we can rinse and repeat that forever.(5:26) But we gotta shit or get off the pot here. (5:30) At some point, we gotta start taking shots. (5:32) Ready, aim, fire.(5:34) Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready, fire. (5:36) Aim, ready, fire. (5:37) We've talked about that before.(5:38) Fire, fire, fire. (5:39) That's just an example of somebody's decision making when it comes to this. (5:44) But I don't know.(5:47) Based on all of the humans in the sessions you've done, most common. (5:52) What's the most common version of this that you've seen?

Alan Lazaros

(5:55) This is good, man. (5:57) I'm frying right now. (5:57) You're having a hotel.

Kevin Palmieri

(5:58) What's happening, brother? (5:59) I am fried. (6:00) What was the question?(6:01) I'm sorry. (6:02) You had me smiling. (6:04) If you were to break into percentages, where have you found most people?(6:11) Do they think they make terrible decisions? (6:13) Do they think they're fairly accurate? (6:15) Do they think they make wonderful decisions?(6:17) What's the breakdown?

Alan Lazaros

(6:18) This is the problem. (6:19) It depends. (6:20) Well, yeah, but that's not it.(6:22) That's it and not it. (6:23) You'll see. (6:25) Who someone is socially is different than who someone is behind the scenes.(6:29) But I mean behind the scenes. (6:31) Oh, okay. (6:32) I don't care about social scenes.(6:34) This is a subset of people who get a coach, dude. (6:37) So fair. (6:40) I'm these are people who hired me to help them make better choices.(6:47) Okay. (6:47) I have it.

Kevin Palmieri

(6:48) Okay. (6:49) Pivot trash. (6:49) Boom.(6:50) Gone. (6:50) Why don't people? (6:52) I have my own answer for this.(6:53) But from your perspective, why don't people admit when they make bad decisions faster? (6:59) Shame. (7:01) You think that's what it is?(7:02) Yeah, for sure. (7:05) Yeah, I think let's just let's hear a little bit about me. (7:09) Yeah.(7:09) I think one of the reasons is you have so much momentum going in the other direction that it seems impossible to stop it. (7:17) So like you identify. (7:18) Okay.(7:19) Oh, my God. (7:20) I can't. (7:20) You're such a good parent.(7:22) No, thank you. (7:22) Thank you. (7:23) I appreciate that very much.(7:24) Start identifying as a good parent. (7:26) Everything you do now, no matter what has to stay in the bucket of I'm a good parent. (7:29) And it gets to the point where you couldn't possibly break that identity without cracking.

Alan Lazaros

(7:35) That is why we're doing this episode. (7:38) This is good. (7:39) You and I are trying to get in flow here.(7:41) That's it. (7:42) You're there. (7:44) You're there.(7:46) Don't move. (7:47) Don't say anything. (7:48) You're there.(7:49) What I mean by that is the ego death thing. (7:54) The ego death. (7:56) Identity and behavior are linked.(8:00) You with the baseball thing is a good metaphor for this. (8:02) I was an all star baseball player. (8:05) It's you at the circus.(8:07) I got something. (8:08) I got something.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:08) I got something vulnerable I can share right now. (8:11) I love it. (8:13) I don't even want to share it.(8:14) If you don't want to, don't do it. (8:15) No, I have to. (8:16) I have to.(8:16) All right. (8:17) Remember how I said I was super nervous? (8:19) Oh my God.(8:20) I had the most humbling moment maybe of my life last night. (8:22) I swear. (8:23) I swear to you.(8:24) Whoa. (8:24) Yeah. (8:25) Remember how I told you I recorded a rap to be in a potential video and I was nervous?(8:30) Yeah. (8:31) There was a snippet of my in the worst category. (8:35) It was in the fucking worst of the worst category and I saw it and I paused it and I said, oh my God.(8:43) And it was in that moment I decided I will never rap again most likely. (8:47) It's just not worth it. (8:48) It's not worth it.(8:49) It's not worth the time investment. (8:51) Okay. (8:52) Okay.(8:53) That might be rational. (8:54) I don't know yet. (8:55) We got to sit with it.(8:56) But I had a moment where I woke up- Can we give it more than a minute? (8:57) This happened last night. (8:59) I woke up this morning- I will never rap again.(9:00) And I just started laughing. (9:01) I was like, oh my God. (9:04) Dude, you want to talk about- I can't even be on camera.(9:08) I'm so embarrassed for you. (9:09) You want to talk about an ego death? (9:11) I was in the fucking worst of the worst category.(9:16) Worst of the worst. (9:18) I started sweating.

Alan Lazaros

(9:19) I was like, oh my God. (9:20) That's either the beginning of you becoming a world-class rapper. (9:25) The thing is- Or it's the beginning of the end.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:28) It's not worth it. (9:29) It's not worth it to, you know what I mean? (9:31) If somebody, because I had a moment where I was like- 15.(9:34) That would be different. (9:35) But if somebody- It would be worth it? (9:36) Yes.(9:37) If somebody said that about podcasting, I would be like, okay, I'm going to prove you wrong. (9:42) For sure. (9:43) When rapping, it's like, dude, I see what these people can do.(9:46) I can't do that. (9:48) I can't. (9:49) I don't think I'm- Do you think you ever could?(9:51) If I think if I started when I was super young. (9:53) But I also didn't think I was going to be in the first fucking category. (9:57) So I don't know about anything.(10:00) I'm quite- You know what? (10:01) This is the truth. (10:01) I'm questioning everything now.

Alan Lazaros

(10:04) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:04) Every time I wrote something and I was like, that's good. (10:07) Every time anybody ever DM'd me and said, this is so good. (10:10) Were they fucking wrong?(10:13) Were they blowing smoke?

Alan Lazaros

(10:16) Well, this is the data point thing. (10:19) Maybe. (10:21) I know.(10:22) This is one of the things who- Someone recently. (10:27) Keep it anonymous. (10:28) I know who it is.(10:29) You know who it is. (10:30) I know you're listening. (10:32) He's like, dude, I get it.(10:34) I get it now. (10:35) I get it now. (10:36) What you and Kevin went through.(10:38) He's trying to start his own thing. (10:40) And he's cold calling up a storm email. (10:43) It's atrocious.(10:44) The dude is rejection after reject. (10:47) Like just, just taking L's. (10:50) And it's not who you're thinking of.(10:51) It's someone else. (10:52) Okay. (10:53) Love it.(10:54) I think as if I know who you're thinking of. (10:56) But this person said, now I understand. (10:59) And he's like, I thought I understood it.(11:00) Before, but I didn't. (11:03) And I'm like, well, first of all, you're like six months in dude. (11:06) You know, so you really don't get it.(11:07) But I understand that you are trying to get it. (11:10) And by the way, I know you're listening. (11:11) The point that I'm making with that is.(11:16) How do you know if you are actually good? (11:20) How do you ever know? (11:22) It has to be a long timeline.(11:25) Has to be. (11:27) The timeline has been 20 years, brother. (11:32) But you never actually put skin in the game and rapping.(11:36) Well, I never, I never went all in. (11:38) Not to mention big fish, small pond. (11:40) You're well, I think that's wrapped with anyone who's that good.(11:44) I couldn't.

Kevin Palmieri

(11:45) What do you mean you could? (11:46) I don't think I was actually good enough. (11:49) I think that's the delusion is I was again.(11:52) I don't even want to say this because it's like Kev. (11:54) You were in the fucking worst cat. (11:56) You can't even talk about rapping anymore.(11:58) You're no, no, no. (11:59) You've been, you've been. (12:00) But this is the point you can have your identity.

Alan Lazaros

(12:03) Yeah. (12:03) And external feedback. (12:05) We should.(12:06) That's a, that's a framework. (12:07) Interesting. (12:07) Your identity is in the center.(12:09) Your behavior attaches to it. (12:10) And then feedback you get attaches to it. (12:12) So you can't even call yourself a rapper now because some fucking category.(12:16) I feel like a fraud. (12:18) Dude, fuck that. (12:19) I lost fitness shows.(12:20) It doesn't mean I'm going to lose them all. (12:22) I'm just going to lose most of them. (12:24) Yeah, but you're still in shape.(12:26) I compared to who?

Kevin Palmieri

(12:28) You see what I mean? (12:30) It's all the other people. (12:31) Well, I know, I know.(12:32) And again, the reason I share it is because of this, like it, it doesn't have to do with decision-making necessarily, but it has to do with getting the bubble burst. (12:39) And then what do you do?

Alan Lazaros

(12:41) You decide what it means to you. (12:43) Yeah. (12:44) And you decide whether, but here's the thing.(12:46) If you make the wrong choice, your future's fucking Jeff. (12:49) Like, and this is one of those things that I don't know. (12:54) I, this is one of those things that I can only do in coaching where I would just tell people at this point, like, listen, okay.(13:01) If I was your client, your coach, and you were my client, I would say, brother, you're 36, man. (13:07) You're 36. (13:09) Are you going to dedicate the next 10 years to being even reasonable by 46?(13:14) Nope. (13:14) And you would say no. (13:15) And I would say, don't be a fucking rapper, right?(13:19) The chances are very, very, very low, but it is possible by 61, you could be making it rain. (13:25) Like, but I don't know rap well enough to know, but I would look at data. (13:31) I would look at your credentials.(13:33) I would look at what you did, not credentials, body of work. (13:37) I'm coaching an actor right now, and I'm looking at his IMDB. (13:41) I'm looking at his Instagram.(13:42) I'm looking at his reels. (13:43) I'm looking at, and I'm looking at the, what are the casting directors saying? (13:45) I'm taking in all the data.(13:47) You can't make a decision on one data point, but you also can't be 15 years in, like I'm the best rapper of all time and you have zero success, right? (13:57) So there's a, there's a, like if you and I weren't at all successful, like I knew it took longer than I thought for us to be where we are in business, but the proof is in the pudding somewhat. (14:11) Are we as successful as I thought we'd be?(14:14) No, but we're not nine years in with zero success. (14:18) I mean, we are more statistics. (14:22) How successful are we as podcasters compared to the statistical norm?(14:27) I'm actually asking. (14:28) You're the podcast guy.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:30) The very, very, very, very, very highest end. (14:34) One in 10,000. (14:34) Again, we're not, yeah, for sure.(14:37) At least, yeah, at least. (14:39) Again, we're not, we're not the 1% of the 1% of the 1% of the 1%.

Alan Lazaros

(14:41) What about you for rap?

Kevin Palmieri

(14:43) God, now? (14:45) Pick anybody out of, pick anybody out of a crowd.

Alan Lazaros

(14:48) You're looking at one data point. (14:50) Remember your last success or your last failure? (14:52) You can't look at just this.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:53) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(14:53) Who even does this category?

Kevin Palmieri

(14:55) His name is Kyle beats. (14:57) He's very successful. (14:58) He's a very successful producer.(15:00) He's seen. (15:01) How do you know that he even did due diligence in looking at these clips?

Alan Lazaros

(15:05) I don't, but I will assume it is law.

Kevin Palmieri

(15:08) You can't make a life decision on a fucking potentially inaccurate data point. (15:11) The reason I even, whatever I'm happy to talk about it, it's just because I'm, that's not what I'm going to do. (15:16) If that was with podcasting, I would be losing my fucking mind.(15:20) Yeah. (15:20) And hopefully you wouldn't decide not to podcast. (15:22) I don't think I, I don't think I would.(15:24) You'd decide. (15:24) If anything, it's like them wrong. (15:26) I shouldn't be spending my time.(15:27) I shouldn't be investing my time doing that anyway. (15:30) I did. (15:30) Yeah.(15:31) I know that it was for a different reason. (15:33) Now I don't know if I'm going to even enjoy it. (15:36) That's, that's, that's overly tying.

Alan Lazaros

(15:39) Well, again, it's been, it's been those people who are like, you should 23 hours steam to anyone else's perspective. (15:44) It's like, okay, how do you walk the line with this? (15:50) If I'm not a, if I can't help people be successful ever.(15:55) Yeah. (15:55) You had one client. (15:56) You're like, dude, I don't know if I'm a good coach.(15:58) And then you got other clients. (15:59) You're like, no, no, wait, it's not me. (16:01) It's not me.(16:02) Well, if you had 50 clients and none of them got any results, you suck as a coach. (16:06) It's fair. (16:07) But you can't have five and determine whether or not you're a good coach on that.(16:10) You need some data. (16:11) That's why life is so frustrating. (16:13) You need some fucking years.(16:15) You need to put some years into something to figure out if you're actually any good. (16:18) And if it's going to actually fulfill you, like the art of impossible by Steven Kotler, he has a great line. (16:23) I'm going to butcher it.(16:24) Probably. (16:25) He says something along the lines of, you don't want to be two and a half years down the line from your massively transformational purpose to realize it was a phase.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:34) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(16:35) But how do you know? (16:37) How do you know? (16:38) I mean, dude, I was a gamer.(16:41) I was a, right? (16:42) You don't know. (16:43) You just, you just find in hindsight, it's obvious.(16:48) I was always coachy as fuck. (16:50) Super coachy. (16:51) The most coachy friend you'll ever meet in your entire life.(16:54) It's obvious now. (16:55) But at the time I wish someone had said, Hey, have you ever considered being a coach or a trainer? (17:00) And I would have been like, no, why?(17:04) And they'd be like, I don't know. (17:05) You're pretty fucking coachy. (17:06) You know, you help all your friends do their resume.(17:09) Apparently that's not normal. (17:11) I wish I never told me that's not normal. (17:13) I've done more of my friend's resumes than anyone I've ever met by far, right?(17:18) Career development. (17:19) I was obsessed.

Kevin Palmieri

(17:21) I don't know. (17:22) So I don't know. (17:23) How do we wrap this up?(17:24) Because I feel like this is one of those ones where it's essentially. (17:30) If you make a decision today and you base it on all the experience you have and your awareness and the understanding that you're not actually making a great decision, but making the most optimal when you can, that's a really good place to start. (17:42) I want, I want a feeling of empowerment when it comes to decision-making rationality by Steven Pinker.(17:49) Alan is holding up.

Alan Lazaros

(17:50) We've read 25 books in book club. (17:53) This is, this is why I value this book because this rationality, this book is how do you make rational decisions? (18:08) Jumping off a cliff is wildly irrational.(18:13) That's like an extreme version of irrationality. (18:17) Okay. (18:17) Jumping out of an airplane with a parachute and a guide, statistically speaking, you're going to survive that only one in a million probably die or something.(18:26) I don't know the stats. (18:27) You'd have to look at how it's probably one in 10,000. (18:29) What is it?(18:29) What is it?

Kevin Palmieri

(18:30) I don't know. (18:30) I don't know, but it's, it's not one in a million. (18:34) It might be brother straight up.(18:36) How many people you think jump out of a plane every year?

Alan Lazaros

(18:40) I don't know, but I do know there's people who do it their whole freaking life.

Kevin Palmieri

(18:46) Base jumping is like exponentially more dangerous than skydiving. (18:51) Yeah. (18:52) Well, that's like, I think that's like the most dangerous thing in the world.

Alan Lazaros

(18:54) I don't know. (18:54) We'd have to research this pretty heavily and you can't just, just ask one of the AIs because they, where did you get that information? (19:01) You know, just make it up.(19:02) Yeah. (19:05) So I'm, it's lower than you think for sure.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:09) Well, I have researched, I just don't remember the number.

Alan Lazaros

(19:11) Yeah. (19:12) It's one in a million is still 350 deaths a year in the U.S. There's 350 million people in the U.S. Well, I know that, but, but is that how, so. (19:26) One in a million.(19:27) Yeah, it's only 300. (19:29) She gave me this distinction. (19:30) She said, when you say top 1%, everyone assumes of rappers.(19:35) Yes. (19:36) Like look at, you just did that too. (19:39) When I say top 1%, I mean of humans, not rappers.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:42) Yeah. (19:43) But being top 1% of humans in rapping does not mean you're in the top 5% of rappers. (19:48) I know.(19:49) So that's the, that's the conundrum.

Alan Lazaros

(19:52) Yeah. (19:52) Well, when I always say you need to be at least top 20% in your field in order to even think it's your thing.

Kevin Palmieri

(19:59) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(20:00) Like if you're not out of the gate, reasonable at communicating, don't do it because you're competing with really good people. (20:06) And Amy was like, but say the thing. (20:10) What the fuck are you talking about?(20:12) She said the statistics thing. (20:17) What she meant for me to say is she doesn't mean out of podcasters. (20:22) He doesn't mean out of podcasters.(20:24) So I mean, out of human beings, if you're in the top 20%, like if I take a hundred random humans on earth, I am in the top 20% of cardiovascular health. (20:35) I am in the top 20% of podcasting. (20:37) I am in the top 20% of, uh, height.(20:41) Right. (20:41) Like she, she thinks, I think when, when I communicate top 20%, people think other podcasters.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:50) Industry specific. (20:51) Yeah. (20:51) I would say so.

Alan Lazaros

(20:52) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:53) Yeah. (20:54) Because I think that's what matters more in the long run. (20:57) Not, I mean, in the beginning, obviously, if you're not in the top X percentage of humans in the thing, it's going to be hard.

Alan Lazaros

(21:03) Like a little kid being in school and it's career day. (21:06) And one of them is a podcaster. (21:07) We went to a career day once that didn't go so well.(21:10) Uh, but you need to be top 20% of all humans just to consider it as your thing. (21:17) Would you say you are in rap? (21:19) For sure.(21:20) Yeah. (21:21) I don't know. (21:22) You don't know anymore.(21:23) No, because now I'm now. (21:25) Yeah, but yes. (21:26) And you're like that actor who gets one negative review as a critic and they think their career is over.(21:32) Well, critics, they're terrible. (21:33) They don't know what the fuck they're talking about. (21:34) How do you know this guy is not a critic?

Kevin Palmieri

(21:38) I trust it. (21:39) I trust the source. (21:40) Do you really?

Alan Lazaros

(21:41) I think you're just saying that.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:42) No, I do. (21:42) I think it would be arrogant for me not to weigh it in.

Alan Lazaros

(21:45) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:45) Imagine if I just get off, get off here. (21:46) And I was like, fuck that guy.

Alan Lazaros

(21:48) I always weighed it in. (21:48) And then I don't think I can call myself a rapper anymore.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:51) I don't think I can ever rap again. (21:52) He's only worked with like some of the most successful artists on the planet. (21:54) Like fuck him.(21:55) He doesn't, he doesn't.

Alan Lazaros

(21:56) No, no, no.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:56) That's delusion. (21:57) I had a moment where I was like, I think he just, I don't think, you think he got the point? (22:03) I don't think he got it.(22:04) I had a moment where I was like, I think he, he just must've missed it. (22:07) He must've missed the point. (22:08) He must've missed the point.(22:09) Run it again. (22:10) Run it again. (22:11) Play it back.(22:11) Play it back again.

Alan Lazaros

(22:12) For the listeners, I know we got to go.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:14) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(22:15) Make better and better and better choices knowing there is no perfect choice. (22:19) It's almost like you have to make the optimal choice. (22:23) The optimal stopping problem algorithms to live by.(22:25) I just got the hard copy of that book. (22:26) It's a computer scientist's approach to decision making. (22:29) And it's boring as shit, but it's really valuable.(22:33) And they use going to a concert. (22:36) The closer you get to the venue, the less likely there's a spot to park, but you don't want to park it in the very back. (22:44) So you, you give it, when do you park?(22:46) That's the, that, when do you park? (22:47) When do you park? (22:47) And 37% is the mathematical answer.(22:51) So you got to make a choice.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:53) From the venue.

Alan Lazaros

(22:53) When you were talking about that client earlier, you went past 37%. (22:57) For sure. (22:58) Yeah.(22:59) What did you go to, you think? (23:01) Uh, 37%. (23:02) What do you mean?(23:03) From the venue? (23:04) Yeah. (23:04) Oh, imagine there's 22 jellies and you and I need PB&J.(23:07) We're in the grocery store, me and you. (23:09) Okay. (23:10) All right.(23:10) So to make it easier, there's 30 jellies. (23:14) Okay. (23:14) 30 jellies.(23:15) When we get to 33%, when we get past 10 of them and we tried 10 of them, it's time to pick one.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:20) Oh yeah. (23:21) We were at night. (23:21) We were at night.(23:22) We were 90% into the jellies.

Alan Lazaros

(23:25) No, there's 30 jellies. (23:26) We're 10% into the jellies.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:28) No, no.

Alan Lazaros

(23:28) 10 jellies in, which is 32%. (23:30) Yeah. (23:31) Today with the client, we were 90% into the jellies.(23:32) Oh, I got you. (23:33) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:34) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(23:34) You took a hell of a logical leap there. (23:37) I thought you'd pick it up for sure. (23:38) I thought so too.(23:39) I'm also cooked as well. (23:41) I see. (23:41) Yeah.(23:41) This has been a long day.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:43) I've been at it since 4am, seven at seven o'clock. (23:47) However many hours, I haven't stopped, baby. (23:50) I haven't eaten anything.(23:51) You should do a rap after this. (23:52) I did. (23:52) I might.(23:53) I'm just joking. (23:54) I'm going to send it to Kyle Beets. (23:55) No, shout out Kyle Beets.(23:59) Worked out at 4.30, haven't eaten. (24:00) Did heavy chest.

Alan Lazaros

(24:01) Wasn't good.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:01) Not an ounce. (24:02) Strong work. (24:02) I appreciate it.

Alan Lazaros

(24:03) Thank you. (24:03) I appreciate it very much. (24:03) Yeah, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:03) Mean. (24:04) Not an ounce of protein in the kid. (24:06) Yeah, you got some abs coming in.(24:07) Nice work. (24:09) I might be the most dialed in I've ever been. (24:11) Dad bod university is behind us.(24:13) I'm waiting to see the abs of you.

Alan Lazaros

(24:15) I'm working on it.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:17) Working on it.

Alan Lazaros

(24:17) I need you to work faster. (24:17) Mile a day, every day for 25 days, baby. (24:20) He goes.(24:20) The kid goes right to the process.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:21) Show me the pictures.

Alan Lazaros

(24:22) This is one of the reasons why I love measurements. (24:24) Because it objectifies and rational. (24:27) That's not an objective measurement.(24:29) Abs. (24:30) No, no. (24:32) Mr. Beets. (24:34) His name's Kyle.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:35) Kyle Beets is nice.

Alan Lazaros

(24:37) No, it's subjective. (24:37) It's not an objective measurement.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:38) Yeah, it's very subjective. (24:39) Yeah. (24:41) All right.(24:41) What would you want to leave the wonderful community with before we go?

Alan Lazaros

(24:45) Try to measure yourself objectively. (24:48) A 727 mile is an objective measurement. (24:53) Whether or not you think I'm a good runner.(24:56) Based on your fucking opinion is not an objective measurement. (24:59) Don't make your decisions based on someone's opinions. (25:03) Aren't subjective though.(25:04) That's the hard thing.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:05) I know, but you got to unsubjectify it. (25:08) Unsubjectify it. (25:08) Okay.(25:09) My takeaway would be if you feel like you used to make better decisions than you're making today, you're going backwards. (25:14) Yeah, agreed. (25:15) You're going backwards.(25:17) Just like if you feel like you used to be more deeply in love. (25:20) You used to be in better shape. (25:21) You used to read more, whatever.(25:22) That is not a sign of progression. (25:24) It is a sign of regression.

Alan Lazaros

(25:26) Well, you know as well as I do, Kevin.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:29) Go ahead.

Alan Lazaros

(25:29) That used to be's, ought to be's, want to be's, and nice to be's don't produce no fucking honey. (25:35) No fucking honey.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:36) All right, we got to go. (25:37) As always, we love you. (25:38) We appreciate you.(25:39) Grateful for each and every one of you. (25:40) And if you are as committed as you say you are to getting to the next level, make sure you tune in tomorrow because I will not ever rap again.

Alan Lazaros

(25:46) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential. (25:50) Next Level Nation.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:51) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (25:55) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(25:58) We mean it when we say family. (26:00) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (26:03) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.(26:07) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.