Why Answers Come From Digging Deep (2465)

The answer lives beneath the excuse. In today’s episode, Kevin and Alan examine why real progress starts with finding the constraint, not defending the symptom. Kevin uses a simple fitness and sleep example to show how quickly the mind reaches for easy labels, while Alan connects root cause analysis to coaching, performance, money, and relationships.

With thousands of episodes and years of client work behind them, they make a grounded case for deeper thinking, clearer goals, and honest self-awareness. The goal is not to overthink. It is to think accurately enough to solve the right problem. Stop negotiating with symptoms. Find the root before it grows a personality.

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Kevin: https://www.instagram.com/neverquitkid/
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For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below. 👇

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

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Show notes:
(3:43) Overthinking Vs. Constructive self-awareness
(6:31) Constraint theory and goal clarity
(9:37) Finding the real constraint beneath the surface
(11:15) Root cause analysis as a life skill
(16:24) Critical thinking and cause-and-effect thinking
(20:36) Honest ownership in fitness and behavior
(23:50) Targeting the constraint instead of the symptom
(26:25) 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 dated a young lady one time when I was a younger man, and I'll never forget, it didn't work out, and she got very frustrated with me, and she said, Kevin, do you have to think so much all the time? (0:12) Why can't you just be okay with what is? (0:14) I was like, I don't know, I don't know, I want to be hyperconscious, and that relationship was never going to work out based on that.(0:20) Great question, I guess, but you gotta dig, you gotta dig. (0:24) I can't say like, oh yeah, it's fine the way it is, and I don't have to know why it works that way, and I have to know why it works that way, that's the way I am. (0:31) Respect.

Alan Lazaros

(0:32) If you understand why things are the way they are, and how to improve them, you're going to have a much better chance of getting to the next level. (0:43) Welcome to Next Level University, I'm your host, Kevin Palmieri.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:48) And I'm your co-host, Alan Lazaros. (0:51) At NLU, we believe in a heart-driven, but no-BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers.

Alan Lazaros

(0:57) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life, love, health, and wealth.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:04) 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

(1:20) Self-improvement, in your pocket, every day, from anywhere, completely free. (1:26) Welcome to Next Level University.

Kevin Palmieri

(1:32) Next Level Nation today for episode number 2465, Why Answers Come From Digging Deep. (1:39) I woke up today, so we're recording this on Monday. (1:42) I woke up today and I was like, I do not want to go work out.(1:50) So I did cardio at home, I did an hour on the treadmill, fine. (1:52) And then I was like, getting ready for the shower after, and I was like, why not? (1:56) Why did I not want to go to the gym?(1:59) And I was like, well, I didn't sleep well. (2:00) I was like, okay, why didn't- What did your brain say? (2:01) Because I'm a lazy bastard.(2:03) That's always the start, yeah. (2:04) It's like, no, you're fucking lazy. (2:06) Of course.(2:06) Okay. (2:07) What's next? (2:07) Then it was, well, you didn't get good sleep.(2:11) No, no. (2:11) It was, you stayed in bed 10 minutes longer than you should have. (2:15) You stayed in bed 10 minutes, I get out of bed at 6.10 instead of 6. (2:19) Okay. (2:19) Why? (2:20) Because you are a lazy bastard.(2:22) That's one, for sure. (2:22) You could have. (2:24) I didn't sleep well though.(2:25) Yeah. (2:25) Like, I got a 60 sleep score or something. (2:27) Okay.(2:27) Why? (2:30) Um, my best guess is it wasn't cool enough in here yesterday. (2:36) So 68 is usually the temperature to which I like to sleep, but it's been like 90.(2:42) It's been extremely hot.

Alan Lazaros

(2:43) Yeah, yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(2:44) So I'm believing my upstairs didn't get as cool as I thought. (2:48) But like, this is an example of what we're talking about. (2:51) I want to know why.(2:53) Got to. (2:53) Got to. (2:54) Because when next Monday comes, I don't want the same thing to happen.(2:58) And I, and think like, I don't know. (3:03) I went golfing on Sunday. (3:05) I went golfing at 6.40. I was back by 11 o'clock. (3:08) The only reason I decided to do that is because Tara and I were talking and it's like, I can't be gone all day on Sunday. (3:14) Why? (3:15) Why not?(3:15) Well, because that's not good for my relationship. (3:17) Why? (3:18) Because that's essentially the only day we have together where we can like wake up together and then go do things.(3:25) But like, okay, why? (3:27) Because the, this, the podcast, the business, the mission, like it obviously takes a lot, right?

Alan Lazaros

(3:32) It takes a lot.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:33) And then why?

Alan Lazaros

(3:34) Because this is the best thing in the world. (3:36) Damn straight. (3:37) Love it.(3:37) The best thing in the world. (3:38) And again, you could have gone deeper, but yeah, of course. (3:40) Yeah.(3:40) But there's always, this is called root cause analysis, man.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:43) Well, that's what we're talking about. (3:44) And I think, I don't know, there's a fine line between overthinking and constructively learning about yourself and your processes and your blockades and your excuses and the constraint, what we're talking about today. (3:57) We're talking about the constraint.

Alan Lazaros

(4:00) So I've also had women that I've dated in the past say the same thing to me. (4:05) Like, why do you, I can imagine. (4:08) Why do you think so much?(4:09) Like, I know I can imagine. (4:10) Why do you, why do you care? (4:11) Like why can't, why can't you just be, and I remember thinking, oh no, I never said this, but I wanted to.(4:21) Why don't you think more? (4:25) I should've. (4:26) But anyways, if you ever get, why do you think too much?(4:28) Why don't you think ever? (4:31) You assume I think too much. (4:32) What if you think too little?(4:34) And maybe your life wouldn't suck if you thought a little more. (4:37) I'm joking. (4:38) All right.(4:38) So, but seriously, goddamn, right? (4:40) It's like, uh, because it's the most important part of our species is thinking. (4:45) I would love someone to argue with me on that.(4:48) Like take away thinking, where would the human race be? (4:52) It's rolling around in our own filth. (4:55) 100%.(4:56) Probably.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:56) Well, I don't, who knows? (4:57) We wouldn't even.

Alan Lazaros

(4:57) Everything of value is created by thinking.

Kevin Palmieri

(4:59) We wouldn't be this.

Alan Lazaros

(5:00) Yeah. (5:00) It's like, there would be no mics. (5:02) There'd be no stream yard.(5:03) There'd be no hat that Kevin wears to, why do you wear your hat indoors? (5:07) It's supposed to be against the sun because of these damn bright lights. (5:10) No.(5:10) So I think why is the best. (5:12) It's the who, what, when, where, why, and how. (5:14) The most important questions in the world, who, what, when, where, why, and how.(5:20) And we talked about this off air, and this is what I wanted to make the core of the episode about. (5:25) And Kevin opened with, I dated a girl one time and I always know those are the stories. (5:30) I'm like, that's not where I thought he was going to go, but it's true because I've also felt that way.(5:33) Like you and I think a lot. (5:34) We talk a lot. (5:35) We ask why a lot.(5:36) We're very curious. (5:38) That has definitely been critical to us building a life that we love because from where we started to now, it's, it's very different. (5:48) Very different in a positive direction.(5:50) It's been a rocky fucking journey, but it's, it's shaping up. (5:56) Not because it was meant to, not because the day we were born, not because we manifested it, but because we figured the fucking game of life out through massive pain and failure and contemplation. (6:10) We figured out how to not be massive failures, right?(6:15) Awesome. (6:15) Still working on it, but yeah. (6:16) Yeah, of course.(6:17) Still working on it. (6:18) Always, right? (6:18) Always.(6:18) We figured it out to this extent and we have a long way to go. (6:22) Okay. (6:24) So who, what, when, where, why, and how.(6:26) Why is the most important. (6:28) Next I think is how. (6:31) This all came about because I had a client earlier.(6:33) We were talking about constraint theory and this, I'll just take you through it. (6:37) So constraint theory is based on the premise that you already can be successful. (6:45) The reason you're not is there's a constraint.(6:47) However, you can't identify the constraint until there's a goal. (6:52) So if the goal is to get the temperature to 68 degrees, no. (6:58) If the goal is to get great sleep, then that means one of the micro goals underneath that needs to be to get the temperature to 68 degrees.(7:04) Okay. (7:05) That means the constraint, if you can't, is getting it to 68 degrees, which means you have to buy an AC unit or call an HVAC person or whatever. (7:13) Get central air.(7:14) The point is, is that the moment you set a goal, there is immediately a constraint. (7:20) So the current constraint to my mile time is my left knee. (7:24) Okay.(7:25) Why? (7:25) I don't know. (7:28) I don't know.(7:29) And that's the fucking problem. (7:30) I don't understand. (7:32) I've never had a problem with my left knee.(7:33) What is the deal? (7:35) Now you can either stop there or YouTube research or ask AI or get a physical therapist or keep trying things, ice it, rest it, see if it goes away on its own. (7:51) You know, that's usually the one I try first and then two or three weeks later, it's like, nope.(7:55) At the end of the day, I think one of the reasons people don't have goals is because the moment you set a clear, specific, meaningful goal, immediately everyone and everything becomes a fucking constraint. (8:06) That is the truth. (8:07) You want to make a hundred grand this year?(8:09) Awesome. (8:09) There's a constraint. (8:10) You want to make 200 grand?(8:11) There's a constraint. (8:12) Bigger constraint. (8:13) You want to make a million dollars a year?(8:15) Now there's an even bigger constraint. (8:19) All goals, the height of the goal, the rarity of the goal, determines the amount of constraints and the size of those constraints.

Kevin Palmieri

(8:28) You know how, maybe you didn't think this way, I don't know, I always really resonated with when you have money, it's easier to make money. (8:39) Did you ever resonate with that? (8:40) I think from a make money with your money, yeah, I think that's because the constraint is no longer having money.(8:47) When you already have money, I think it's easier to make money because you have money to do things that...

Alan Lazaros

(8:51) But that's not true for everybody because some people are better, some of my clients are better in scarcity.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:01) But like, I have a buddy who wants to do real estate investment and you give him X amount of dollars, it gets invested into a property and you make a typical return based on whatever. (9:10) But you need X amount of dollars to do that.

Alan Lazaros

(9:13) Yeah, yeah, yeah. (9:13) Yeah, there's a lot of investment vehicles that you can't get access to without $10 million.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:18) Right, so that is not the constraint.

Alan Lazaros

(9:22) I think the minimum is like $300,000 to even start. (9:24) Right, right. (9:25) Well, that's an example.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:26) I think that's an example. (9:27) That's a constraint, yeah. (9:28) Yeah, I think that's a constraint.(9:30) But that's why certain things, I think, get easier in time because in order to...

Alan Lazaros

(9:37) Well, maybe not. (9:38) But let's go deeper than that though, too, because the constraint is usually different than what someone thinks it is. (9:45) That's why I like the iceberg metaphor.(9:46) The constraint is always at the bottom of the iceberg.

Kevin Palmieri

(9:49) But isn't it the longer you do something, the more you start to recognize your own patterns so at least you know, like, you ever had a shitty car? (9:57) Thing won't turn on. (9:58) It's like, oh, yeah.(9:59) Yeah, no, you have to roll the window down one quarter, you got to put the radio station on 100.7, heat on medium, not high, medium, and then I need you to hammer the gas while you jiggle the key. (10:12) Right? (10:13) You ever had a piece of shit car like that?(10:15) I've had a piece of shit car, not that bad. (10:16) Well, you see that in movies, right? (10:18) But the first time the car breaks down, you have no clue what to do.(10:21) You have no idea. (10:22) You're just sitting there. (10:23) And then eventually you start to figure it out and eventually you get close.(10:26) I think that... (10:27) I don't know.

Alan Lazaros

(10:27) But that never identified the root cause. (10:31) You shouldn't have to turn the radio on for this thing to work.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:33) Look, I'm not saying you should or you shouldn't, right?

Alan Lazaros

(10:36) You do realize that in that metaphor, as funny as it is, they obviously didn't get to the root cause.

Kevin Palmieri

(10:41) Yes, but what I'm saying is they did figure out the pattern over time. (10:44) They band-aided the shit out of that to make it keep running. (10:47) Don't logic me.(10:48) Just the pattern, though, is over time they recognize the pattern. (10:54) So if you're out there, maybe the constraint is lack of sleep. (10:59) Things go really well.(11:02) You start crushing it. (11:03) You start getting opportunities. (11:04) You start saying yes.(11:05) You start getting abundance. (11:06) And then you fall back into like, oh my God, I've gotten successful to the point where I just don't sleep enough and it's fucking things up. (11:13) Just recognizing patterns, essentially, is what I'm trying to say.

Alan Lazaros

(11:15) Yeah, but root cause analysis is one of the most important skills in the world. (11:26) And then once you do identify the root cause, you have to recognize that you did get to the root cause. (11:32) And the reason they call it root is because it's the deepest one.(11:35) So you have to get to the deepest root cause. (11:38) And then you have to create a game plan to actually solve it. (11:41) So everything, and that's actually what films are based on, it's like set the stage, identify the problem, present the solution.(11:50) Every book, every movie is built on that same premise. (11:56) So if you come to one of my masterclasses, I'm going to set the stage. (11:59) Why does this matter?(12:00) Why does productivity matter? (12:03) Produce, farm, the more you produce, the more you make, the more you invest. (12:07) And then identify the problem.(12:09) The problem is you're not productive, but you think you are. (12:14) Time it. (12:14) You're not.(12:15) You're not on task. (12:16) You're not focused. (12:17) Nobody is, including me.(12:19) What's your current, what's the, my current bottleneck?

Kevin Palmieri

(12:23) The current constraint. (12:24) I keep forgetting the word. (12:25) I can never remember the word constraint.

Alan Lazaros

(12:27) My current constraint.

Kevin Palmieri

(12:29) Like, number one, obviously there are many.

Alan Lazaros

(12:31) Yeah, this is it. (12:33) That's the, that's what we gotta talk about. (12:35) Because there's so many, but there's one really big one.(12:39) So the biggest one in my life right now, it depends on the goal. (12:43) Are you talking fitness goal or are you talking finance or are you talking family?

Kevin Palmieri

(12:46) Whatever the most obvious to you, whatever the best example would be, I would say that worst freaking question.

Alan Lazaros

(12:52) Probably a knee. (12:53) Probably the knee. (12:54) Yeah.(12:54) Fitness goal. (12:55) Yeah, for sure. (12:56) Right.(12:56) Probably the knee. (12:57) The knee, the left knee right now. (12:58) And it was the right knee before.(13:00) It's like, what the fuck is going on here? (13:02) So the right knee caused my left knee to overcompensate. (13:05) And then the mileage, 99 miles, 99 days in a row.(13:09) And a bitch ain't one. (13:10) I'm kidding. (13:11) Sorry.(13:12) Cut that out. (13:12) I'm just joking. (13:14) What is it?

Kevin Palmieri

(13:14) Like a Jay-Z song or something. (13:16) Yeah. (13:16) 99 problems.

Alan Lazaros

(13:17) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(13:17) What are the, so what are the implications of that? (13:21) Like the left knee affects fitness in what way?

Alan Lazaros

(13:24) I can't run my mile as efficiently and effectively as normal, which causes it to take more time. (13:36) And my biggest constraint is time. (13:39) I don't have, I have 168 hours a week and I don't have enough time to do all the things I need to do.(13:46) So how do you solve that? (13:48) You delegate. (13:50) Okay.(13:51) Well, now the constraint is money because it costs money to delegate. (13:55) Right. (13:55) So, and then you reinvest that time to make more money.(14:01) And this is the reason why I think it's so hard to explain to people, like we are quote unquote successful now and I'm very grateful. (14:08) That's not, but I'm frustrated with it because now we make no sense. (14:12) Like I have a 24 person team.(14:16) I have housekeepers. (14:18) I have a chef. (14:19) Like I'm very grateful.(14:21) That's awesome. (14:22) I'm very grateful. (14:23) I've worked very hard for that.(14:24) I work every day, every day. (14:25) It's not about that. (14:26) It's just now my advice is not good for people that aren't like in a position where they can do that.(14:33) Yeah. (14:33) Which is most people. (14:34) Which is most people.(14:35) So it makes my life harder. (14:36) So the biggest constraint in my life is my inability to effectively communicate from a place of where other people are. (14:44) Because I've either never been there and or haven't been there in so long that it, none of my, so, so my biggest constraint is my ineffective communication.(14:53) For sure.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:54) Again, this is, I don't know if you can answer the question because it's a very specific question. (14:58) In retrospect, looking back, was there a constraint that hassled you, whatever, held you back for a long, long time that you just couldn't figure out? (15:08) Yeah.

Alan Lazaros

(15:08) Human beings. (15:09) Being around people who don't believe in themselves and bully, bullies. (15:13) Yeah.(15:14) Bullies. (15:14) My biggest constraint in my entire life, I would argue is insecure bullies. (15:19) So would you say most people have like one deep, deep constraint?(15:24) Everybody. (15:24) That's actually one of the reasons my coaching works so well is I am able to see the root cause of their inability to be successful. (15:31) Sometimes it's self-belief.(15:33) Other times it's you need to leave that person. (15:35) Like I have a new client. (15:36) I'm very excited.(15:37) She just left her partner and I'm excited for her. (15:39) I think her partner was awful. (15:41) That's my truth.(15:42) I think her partner was genuinely terrible. (15:44) And I would go as far as to say is if you want to be successful in the goals you've shared with me, you cannot do that and be with her. (15:52) My biggest constraint was believing I could date that person and be successful.(15:56) It isn't true. (15:59) It's a story I told myself and you helped me with that. (16:03) You are fucked.(16:05) I didn't say that.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:05) I said it doesn't have to be this person.

Alan Lazaros

(16:07) Yeah. (16:07) And if it is, I'm also screwed. (16:09) So please leave her.

Kevin Palmieri

(16:11) How does one who is hearing, I mean, you've obviously we've talked about it before and we've talked about bottlenecks. (16:17) We talked about all that stuff, of course, but how does one find the constraint?

Alan Lazaros

(16:24) You develop the skill of cause and effect and the ability to, okay, the highest level is root cause analysis. (16:35) How do you get better at that? (16:37) You, yeah, you basically learn.(16:41) This is where it gets really wonky. (16:46) Critical thinking is what underpins all, I'll give you an example. (16:50) So our HVAC went out last week, okay?(16:54) I had to spend $585 to get someone here to take care of it. (16:59) That's because I didn't know enough and didn't have the supplies to fix it. (17:07) Which drives me nuts because I would love to know everything and just go fix it and just be like, oh, this is what's wrong.(17:15) This is what's wrong. (17:16) You know, change the capacitors out, change the blower, you're good. (17:20) And then also like duct tape this, you know, I'll put a little putty around here, dude, my freaking HVAC, I genuinely, I know this guy, to anyone in HVAC, I don't know shit.(17:34) To anyone who, like, I know way more than I did before. (17:37) I know 10X more. (17:38) I know where the vents are.(17:39) I know every one of them is open. (17:40) I know exactly how I've opened it. (17:42) Like, I know 10 times more than I did before.(17:45) So next time, ironically, I won't have to call someone. (17:48) I can procure the right shit. (17:49) I can install it.(17:51) And I still might call someone because of the leverage piece. (17:53) But back to the point, critical thinking underpins all root cause analysis. (18:00) And critical thinking skills, like, I used to be good at tests, not because I knew the material, but because I knew what they were trying to hoodwink me.(18:08) I have a client who's doing a finance certification. (18:12) I actually have several. (18:14) As a matter of fact, I have two clients who, three clients, four clients who are doing finance certifications.(18:19) One of them's CPA, one of them's in Canada, one of them's doing a much higher level, series 25. (18:24) The point is, I don't believe that I could pass these tests because I'm so smart. (18:29) I believe I can pass these tests because when I'm studying with this person, I can tell what they're trying to hoodwink him to choose.(18:38) So I can pick A, B, it's ABCD. (18:40) I can just do the process of elimination, like, oh, they're trying to get me to pick this one because they gave me this misinformation. (18:46) So I think it's this one.(18:47) And when you think from both sides of the table like that, you have a huge advantage, right? (18:52) Like, I'm not going to... (18:53) Okay.(18:53) So the HVAC person who came, you're not going to hoodwink me. (18:56) Dude, I'm a business owner. (18:58) You know how he goes out to the truck?(19:01) He's like, I think I have the part in the truck. (19:03) Yeah, I'm sure you do, right? (19:05) Grab a little Sharpie, cross out 250, write 350, you know, it's like, this cost me 350.(19:13) It's like, dude, I'm on Google right now, right? (19:14) Just be honest. (19:16) He was kind.(19:16) I'm fucking around. (19:18) We didn't get ripped off. (19:19) It was good.(19:20) But easily, if I didn't know anything, you could easily just throw 550 on that and I would just be like, oh, yeah, thank you so much for overcharging me. (19:29) But my point of all this is knowledge is power if behavior change is power. (19:37) Okay.(19:37) Knowledge is not. (19:38) But knowledge allows you to connect the dots. (19:40) Like, dude, I know more about finance than you.(19:42) So when there's a financial problem, Emilia and I are considering a new property. (19:48) I sent her a list of all the numbers I need of hers and of mine. (19:52) And it's like, yeah, we could swing it.(19:53) It's no one else would know. (19:57) Not no one. (19:58) It would take a finance expert to know that we could easily swing that.(20:02) And easily, I say loosely because it's not going to be easy, but it's going to be easy compared to not knowing. (20:07) Like you got to know the difference between gross and take home and expenses and net and assets and debts. (20:14) And you have to know what it all means.(20:16) You have to know the difference in interest rate, 30 year loan versus 20 versus 10 percent down. (20:21) You have to. (20:23) That's why when people say knowledges, you and I argued about this for eight years.(20:26) Knowledge is power if. (20:29) If it helps. (20:30) Dude, it's root cause analysis.(20:31) But by the definition, if it's like, yeah, that means it's not. (20:36) But in fitness, when you're not losing weight, what is it? (20:39) What's the root cause of why you're not losing weight?(20:41) I'm not in a caloric deficit.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:43) Okay. (20:43) Okay. (20:43) Perfect.(20:44) Why? (20:45) I'm either eating too much for me. (20:47) It's I'm eating too much.(20:48) It's not because I'm not exercising. (20:49) It's because I'm eating too much. (20:50) Okay.(20:51) Okay. (20:51) Why are you eating too much? (20:52) Because I want to.(20:53) And I'm and I want to. (20:55) I want. (20:55) It's not because I know it's not because I don't know.(20:59) It's because I've chosen to eat more than I'm supposed to.

Alan Lazaros

(21:01) This weekend, a lot of people would say, what do you mean, Kev? (21:04) You're choosing to eat more, even though you know you shouldn't. (21:07) Yes.(21:08) Okay. (21:08) Let's go into why.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:09) Because I'm willing to delay the goal because the goal is not that deeply meaningful. (21:13) And we haven't fucking decided. (21:16) Still waiting on Alan to let me know what the what the 10 whatever body fat percentage.(21:22) I don't think we should do body fat anymore, dude.

Alan Lazaros

(21:24) I've got some. (21:25) I know that. (21:26) I know.(21:26) You know, what do you want to do? (21:27) You want to do another 10 pounds in a week?

Kevin Palmieri

(21:29) God.

Alan Lazaros

(21:29) In a heartbeat. (21:30) No, I can't. (21:30) I don't have 10 to lose.

Kevin Palmieri

(21:33) Why not? (21:34) Because I was a little. (21:35) I'm like 177.(21:37) I get seven. (21:38) You get to 167.

Alan Lazaros

(21:40) I don't know if I think. (21:41) Yeah. (21:41) But I think I'd be pretty miserable.(21:43) I would do 10 pounds in 10 weeks. (21:46) I don't know if I want to do 10 or we can do 12 pounds in Q3. (21:49) I feel like 10 pounds in 10 weeks works.(21:51) What do you people were game? (21:52) The body fat percentage thing doesn't work. (21:54) Okay.(21:54) Why? (21:55) Because it's not a goal that people are excited for.

Alan Lazaros

(21:58) Okay. (21:58) Why?

Alan Lazaros

(21:59) Because it's too complicated.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:00) Okay. (22:01) Why?

Alan Lazaros

(22:01) Right. (22:01) And so all of this is root cause analysis.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:04) That's so Alan said to me, he's like, dude, let's do a body fat percentage. (22:07) We'll do a body fat percentage. (22:08) I knew the constraint was lack of understanding and or lack of motivation and or especially lack of measurement, but context like nobody.(22:20) It's very hard to get somebody motivated and inspired to win. (22:27) It's something they've never actually tracked before. (22:28) Like most people just don't know what they're understandable.(22:30) It's like it's very hard to find out what it accurately is.

Alan Lazaros

(22:34) Yeah.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:34) So yeah, I don't know. (22:36) That's a constraint.

Alan Lazaros

(22:36) That's a constraint. (22:38) I don't think, I think that my biggest constraint is not knowing any of that because for me, I would never, I mean, yeah, I would just. (22:51) Well, I didn't want to do it.(22:54) And then we would go into why and why and why. (22:56) And it can get exhausting. (22:57) A lot of people, I do think that some people think too much and they ruminate.(23:02) But I think the majority of people don't think enough. (23:04) I think you, or maybe you're thinking in the wrong direction. (23:06) Instead of contemplating what so-and-so tweeted or X or whatever, you need to contemplate your own problems in your own life.(23:13) And I think the biggest constraint is if you don't have self-belief, you won't have a goal. (23:16) And if you don't have a goal, you won't ever do this. (23:19) There's no reason to target the constraint if you don't have a goal.(23:22) If you don't have a goal, there is no constraint. (23:24) Think about this. (23:25) If your goal is to wander around aimlessly, there are no constraints, even if it's unconscious.(23:33) If your goal is to have fun, yeah, there's a few constraints. (23:35) One is where's the packy at? (23:36) We just have bad goals.(23:41) If your goal is to be liked by everyone, okay, you're probably doing it, but you're also losing yourself. (23:47) Because if the goal is to be liked by everyone, you're suppressing everyone.

Kevin Palmieri

(23:50) Target the constraint. (23:52) We're going to do more episodes on this, obviously, because this is a thing that Alan is coaching on all the time. (23:57) And the more I get into working with people and a deeper understanding of business, solving a problem is just targeting the constraint.(24:07) That's all it is. (24:09) I have a problem.

Alan Lazaros

(24:09) Identify the problem. (24:10) Yes. (24:11) And then the root cause of the problem.(24:13) And then present a solution. (24:15) I want to ask you this. (24:18) Do you think that people's constraints are internal or external?(24:28) I think most of them are probably internal. (24:30) Same. (24:30) I think they're external.(24:33) When in reality, there's something internal that is stopping them from either identifying or solving the external thing. (24:39) They're almost always internal. (24:41) That's been fascinating for me, too.(24:43) It's like, well, I don't have enough money. (24:45) Okay, that's external. (24:46) Why don't you have enough money?(24:47) There's something about money, your relationship with money, that needs to shift. (24:50) And I know that that sounds wonky, because it's actually more than that, too. (24:55) We could have an hour-long conversation about why you don't have more money.(24:58) And I could find the constraint, but it would take me an hour just to... (25:02) And then you'll leave the coaching session going, well, fucking now what? (25:05) Now I know that's the problem.(25:06) Now what do I do? (25:07) Okay, work on that for the next decade. (25:09) Well, and it's like you don't...

Kevin Palmieri

(25:11) Yeah, you don't necessarily do anything. (25:14) You do everything differently, but it's not a specific... (25:18) I don't know.(25:18) Sometimes the unlock is the unlock, and then it's like, now things are available to me that I didn't think were available to me. (25:24) Yeah, it's all fucked up. (25:26) That's why success is so hard, man.

Alan Lazaros

(25:27) All right, we're going to do part two.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:28) We're going to do part two. (25:29) All right, if you're looking for help to specifically target your constraint... (25:33) Because again, on a podcast, there's a million things it could be.(25:35) Reach out to Alan. (25:36) Alan will help you. (25:37) That is what he does.(25:37) He's the best in the world at that. (25:38) And if one of the constraints is fitness accountability, we got you. (25:42) Next Level Fitness Accountability Group.(25:43) Totally free. (25:44) WhatsApp group. (25:44) No strings attached.(25:46) We're going to figure out what type of weight loss... (25:48) Yeah. (25:49) What we're going to do.(25:50) I don't know yet.

Alan Lazaros

(25:51) I don't want to do 10 pounds.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:52) I don't want to do 10 pounds in 10 weeks. (25:54) The constraint for me is I know... (25:57) I've been dieting.(25:59) When you were fucking off... (26:00) 167, baby. (26:00) When you were fucking off...(26:03) Having your coconut rice again, I was not.

Alan Lazaros

(26:07) I've been... (26:07) We're going to do a quick refeed for the next 16 days, and then we'll start at the beginning of Q3. (26:11) We're going to see.(26:12) We're going to see. (26:13) Eat as much as you can in the next three weeks, and then we'll do it.

Kevin Palmieri

(26:16) Two and a half weeks. (26:17) We're going to see. (26:18) All right.(26:19) Regardless, join the Next Level Fitness Accountability Group. (26:21) Again, it's free. (26:22) It's a free WhatsApp group.(26:23) We just want to help people stay accountable. (26:24) You can reach out to Alan and I. (26:25) We'll let you in.(26:26) As always, we love you, appreciate you, grateful for each and every one of you. (26:28) 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. (26:34) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential.(26:36) Next Level Nation. (26:38) Thanks for joining us for another episode of Next Level University. (26:42) We love connecting with the Next Level family.

Alan Lazaros

(26:45) We mean it when we say family. (26:47) If you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly. (26:50) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.(26:54) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow.