Adjust Yourself Or Adjust Your Goals (2472)

What if the goal is not the problem, but the person pursuing it has not caught up yet? In this episode, Kevin and Alan break down the gap between desire, expectation, and execution. They talk about why bigger goals demand clearer thinking, higher standards, and daily choices that actually match the outcome you say you want.

Through examples from business, coaching, fitness, and performance, they challenge the belief that success should come quickly or feel convenient. Shortcuts can make the path look easier than it is. Discipline tells the truth. If you want the next level, stop trying to lower the cost. Adjust the goal, or adjust yourself.

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

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Show notes:
(2:34) The real cost of business ownership
(5:24) Why bigger goals require bigger sacrifice
(8:40) The work behind the win
(13:06) Michael Phelps and extreme consistency
(17:23) The empty parking lot standard
(19:14) Aligning behavior with the goal
(21:24) Why shortcuts rarely build greatness
(25:18) 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) You've heard me say this many times When your desires become your expectations you're in trouble if you think it's going to be easy Your desire is it's gonna be easy. (0:10) It's not gonna take much of me probably just do the same thing I'm doing right now that becomes your expectation. (0:15) I think that's when things get wonky (0:17) I think that's why when you get like a get-rich-quick scheme a get-fit-quick scheme (0:21) Your desire to get rich quick becomes your expectation and when it doesn't happen (0:25) You feel like shit about yourself when in reality it was never gonna happen that way because it's not supposed to

Alan Lazaros

(0:30) The size of your goals is gonna determine the size of the sacrifice necessary to achieve them (0:36) I tell this to my clients all the time (0:39) Either we lower the goal or we level up.

Kevin Palmieri

(0:42) Welcome to next level University (0:44) I'm your host Kevin Palmieri and I'm your co-host Alan Lazaros at NLU (0:50) We believe in a heart-driven but no BS approach to holistic self-improvement for dream chasers

Alan Lazaros

(0:56) Our goal with every episode is to help you level up your life

Kevin Palmieri

(0:59) Love health and wealth we bring you a new episode every single day on topics like (1:07) confidence self-belief (1:08) self-worth self-awareness (1:11) relationships boundaries (1:13) Consistency habits in defining your own unique version of success self-improvement in your pocket

Alan Lazaros

(1:20) every day from anywhere

Kevin Palmieri

(1:24) Completely free welcome to next level University next elevation today for episode number (1:33) 2472 adjust yourself or adjust your goals. (1:36) I was golfing last Sunday But the gentleman named Sal, I never I didn't I've never met Sal's first time ever met him I caught eyes on Bruce, by the way, and you caught up.(1:47) Yeah, you're so your social media story Bruce was doing the 60-pound dumbbells today on Slight slight slight incline press for chest 80 years old. (1:58) He's cranking his birthday last week. (2:00) No calls today from Bruce So I know there's a lot of you out there that are wondering whether or not Bruce called me today He did not no calls yet from Bruce So I was golfing with Sal great, dude always 50s coming up on 60.(2:16) Nice. (2:16) What do you do Sal? (2:17) I have an HVAC business heating ventilation air conditioning, right?(2:21) We we do that a little plumbing that type of thing. (2:24) Cool. (2:25) Nice.(2:25) What do you do Kev? (2:26) This is what I do awesome blah blah blah Loved him huge fan. (2:30) I should have got his number good, dude I'd love to go off with him again doesn't run some social media support.(2:34) He may this company. (2:36) I gotta find him We're on the 13th hole picks up his phone And he said oh boy got an emergency. (2:42) What do you got?(2:43) I said one of our clients is without AC and I said you have somebody on call that can fix it He said yeah, you're looking at him. (2:49) I'm the guy So he finishes the hole and he just leaves in the middle of the middle around He's like gotta go gotta take care of this point respect. (2:57) I said dude good for you Nobody talks about that That's the stuff that people online say like you shouldn't that you should never get to that place You should never get to that place If you're at that place, you don't have it.(3:07) You don't have a business you have a job It's like well, yeah for for most of the time when you have a business you have a job too. (3:12) It's both It's both. (3:13) That's part one.(3:15) What would you think real quick?

Alan Lazaros

(3:16) Yeah Yeah Back nine years ago when we first started this. (3:21) What would you think of that candor? (3:24) Versus now because you and I both are like respect back.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:27) I would have been like that's Tara. (3:28) It sounds terrible Sounds terrible and it honestly like it does it does sound terrible.

Alan Lazaros

(3:33) That is the risky run. (3:35) I've totally lost sight to me It doesn't sound terrible. (3:37) It sounds accurate Sounds like the best decision ever.(3:42) It sounds like he's gonna be a very successful man and probably is yeah Um, I don't know second one.

Kevin Palmieri

(3:47) I'm not sure You know, I'm not sure What's right? (3:51) What's your take? (3:53) I can understand Okay, if you hear that and you're like fuck that that sounds terrible being an entrepreneur is not for you That's all agreed because that's exactly what he should have done.(4:05) That's exactly So a couple weeks ago you saw the episodes where I was recording for the kitchen We did group coaching Alan at a speech. (4:13) You couldn't make it Mom and memes I love you. (4:17) It's 85 degrees in that fucking apartment.(4:19) I mean it is unbearably hot It is I don't understand how any human can sit in there without sweating. (4:24) It does make any sense to me I recorded my grandmother's bed. (4:27) We did the group coaching call in my grandmother's bedroom It's somehow hotter in there than the rest of the house.(4:31) No, I would go by the way. (4:33) Oh crushed it Gosh, I think nice humbly. (4:36) It's only something a humble man could say Afterwards, I have a client.(4:40) It's I'm cooked. (4:41) It's been a long ass day. (4:42) I'm sweating.(4:43) I haven't eaten I am ready to be done. (4:46) I have a client a sauna right there full day So laws lose five pounds a day a client that calls me and says hey Can you chat real quick? (4:54) Give me a call.(4:54) I got an opportunity. (4:56) I need to run by you It's like yeah for sure, whatever I that's I don't want to do that. (5:00) I'm gonna talk to this person I'm sweating profusely.(5:03) I need a shower. (5:04) I'm not I'm right off a group coaching. (5:06) I have other stuff I still haven't eaten all day great call this client got $15,000 worth of opportunities after this call awesome You don't have to do that You could say no, I can't talk.(5:19) I'll talk tomorrow, but you're by doing that you're adjusting your goals, right?

Alan Lazaros

(5:24) You're adjusting your goals success podcast. (5:33) I 80% of them 60 70% of them are business owners the most successful amongst my 38 clients Pretty much every one of them would have left that hole Got it. (5:49) They're done.(5:51) I would have supposed to play a teen done Can we? (5:56) the the the fear that Kevin and I have Kevin more than me because I'm leaning into this not saying you're not but The people who are listening are thinking Hustle culture Whatever people are referring to as red pill nonsense That's not what I'm talking about At all. (6:16) What I'm talking about is it all depends on the size of your goals and by the way Why would someone be more committed to growing your company?(6:28) Than you are Why would somebody be more committed to growing your company? (6:38) Than you are That's not really how leadership works. (6:42) And I think we make it seem like it works that way because we have a Chairman of the board and we have a board of directors and we have a CEO and we have chief officers and then we have Presidents and VPs and then we have regional managers district managers Branch managers.(6:58) I'm basically giving the org structure of a bank right there. (7:01) But the point is You don't see How committed the people are at the top and they aren't all by the way But the top of the hierarchy, whatever you want to call it The top of the champagne tower is what I call it Because a lot of times you don't see them doing the work. (7:20) You don't witness it and You're telling the story but How many times has that happened where no one told the story?

Kevin Palmieri

(7:29) Every day all over the place way more common than I think most people care to admit And I feel like that those stories aren't told because they're not as cool No, yeah, what's cool? (7:43) We had a really cool story told I thought it was cool at the time (7:46) I still think it's cool where we interviewed Peter Taunton and he was talking about how he checked his bank account (7:53) While on the golf course while on the golf course (7:55) And he had 43 million dollars because he got a big wire from one of his business businesses that he sold anything

Alan Lazaros

(8:00) yeah business he sold snap fitness and his percent equity of (8:06) That sale was 43 million. (8:08) That's really cool.(8:09) I got a text from one of my old mentors Old mentors not old in age, although he is older and he he's like Sent me some message along the lines of I think he was golfing too I'm like pretty sure he was golfing too. (8:28) No, there isn't Just happens to be golfing. (8:32) I'm just joking for all of you golf lovers.(8:35) I'm I'm being playful relax. (8:38) Okay, and he texted me. (8:40) What was it?(8:41) This is years ago five years ago Said I Came to this country from Germany Grew up in like abject poverty and I just had millions of dollars wired into my account and it's Wild that I've gotten here and here's the part of the story you haven't heard yet. (9:08) I've seen his career Four years here six years here Seven years here eight years here Twelve years here eight years here like his career was like 30 years 35 years straight not and that's not including the little odd jobs. (9:26) He did as a kid right, so his career started when he was what 12 and Then that moment happened when I think he was 58 So 12 to 58 46 years 46 year career so but you you you heard a 46 year career condensed into a 46 second story And that's what we hear What do you do you so this is my thought?

Kevin Palmieri

(9:55) When you use Michael Phelps as an example, I don't think it lands Okay but I also believe that if What you think it will take to be Michael Phelps is probably more than anybody could imagine Most people would imagine I know there's some people that are tapped in like yeah, it makes it. (10:11) Yeah, but like even What are the odds? (10:19) That Anybody out there right now is on the right path to the level of success that they actually want Like isn't that fucked up that like almost nobody actually is Because how could you know whether or not you actually are?

Alan Lazaros

(10:34) Yeah, I guess math however. (10:36) I do think they are on a path to some version of success (10:42) Very few are on a path where the exact trajectory at the exact date like if he had mapped out (10:49) Okay, I'm gonna start working at 12 (10:50) I'm gonna I'm gonna be on the golf course at 58 46 years from now, and I'm gonna have (10:55) You know 15 million dollars wired into my account (10:59) and (11:00) By the way, he was the CEO of a company that they sold so he had a certain percent equity (11:06) It's not like someone just gave him you know I mean (11:09) I just want to make that clear so no one has 15 million dollars wired into their bank account like (11:13) For like a paycheck. (11:15) It's it's the company was sold okay, so anyways uh The chances of him mapping that out at 12, and then having it happen is zero unless he's an absolute genius however What's more effective is okay?(11:33) You start working at 12, and then by 13 you? (11:36) understand a little more of What it's gonna take and you get some sort of mentor at that first job and then from 13 to 15 you? (11:44) learn a little more of how to run a business and then from 15 to 18 you you start to (11:50) consider going to college and then from 18 to 25 you're working and going to college and (11:58) You have an even better mentor, and now you're in a corporation instead of a liquor store or something and then and then from (12:06) 25 to 35 those are like (12:09) You actually have responsibilities, and you are fucked if you screw them up and from I studied his whole career and (12:17) from (12:18) 25 to 35 he ran an entire business unit and (12:25) Then he ran a bigger business unit, and then he got promoted to COO (12:31) of a billion-dollar company and (12:36) What that means is (12:39) He learned how to run a business by learning how to run a business unit (12:43) And then he ran the whole company (12:45) And then he left that company to this other company (12:48) And he was the CEO and then he's that company got sold and he had equity okay equity means you own a percentage of the company (12:56) But to answer your original question about the Michael Phelps thing it isn't I know exactly what it's gonna take when I'm 13 (13:02) And I decide to win eight Olympic gold medals because Michael Phelps.(13:06) I've studied his career as well deeply actually he's won 24 23 Olympic gold medals 28 Olympic medals total 23 gold Which is fucking wild? (13:21) I just watched a speech from him 24 minutes long and he was the least Pulling of punches I've ever seen this speech was hardcore as fuck it was thank you Thank you so much for not talking about only the mental health challenges Thank you for telling me what it actually took right obviously. (13:42) I'm frustrated that He was very soft before he's like, I'm just a kid with a dream No, you weren't you weren't just a kid with a dream You were the best swimmer in the history of the fucking world and tell me what it actually took.(13:54) You know, obviously I'm not salty about it. (13:58) But anyway, so this speech is the best unbelievable and he said he said that he loved to compete he hated losing and every time he lost he would work 10 times harder and He said that he was six years straight in the pool six It wasn't five six six years straight in the pool without missing a single day. (14:17) No Christmas.(14:18) No holidays. (14:19) No birthdays (14:20) nothing in the pool six years straight 365 times six and (14:25) That was when he won all the Olympic gold medals (14:29) Most and he kept doing it obviously because then what you don't know is one of his competitors (14:33) I don't know the guy's name (14:35) but one of his main competitors said no one will ever win an Olympic gold medal in swimming past the age of 30 and he (14:41) was like done so then he did that too, but (14:45) No, there's no chance that does the next Michael Phelps know (14:49) That he's gonna be the next Michael Phelps. (14:51) I would say yes in yes, it's gonna be extreme Huh, you know, they know it's gonna be extreme.

Kevin Palmieri

(14:58) Yes. (14:59) I think that's the difference is like it extreme is a spectrum. (15:02) So like That might seem extreme to somebody who's just spent 90 or $100 to go golfing You're halfway through somebody calls you just leave on the drop of a hat like that might sound extreme at all To me, it doesn't sound extreme either.(15:14) But like at one point it probably would have (15:17) In and I'm assuming at that point you weren't very successful

Alan Lazaros

(15:20) I was successful through my my nine-to-five job because I was very lucky (15:24) No, but let's talk about that because I know we're being playful here (15:27) But like if that sounds extreme to you, there's no way you're that successful at least not by your own

Kevin Palmieri

(15:32) Yeah, yeah, but that's what I mean is like if you I think most people have been lied to about what this is gonna take (15:38) yeah agreed and I think I have been like on the very opposite front of like (15:45) Yeah, you have you definitely have you've tried to be pretty honest about it.(15:49) Yeah, it's like fucking terrible. (15:51) I But I but I but I don't want and I don't want to not do it It's like what you say about the gym It's like I my workout today was I had a great workout But it was I don't you know, it sucked like during yeah, that's brutal. (16:05) But it was but I liked it.(16:07) I enjoyed it I feel like I'm making progress. (16:09) I don't know how you can accurately You're either gonna overshoot it or undershoot.

Alan Lazaros

(16:16) I feel like most people undershoot it agreed unfortunately, and I think That's the thought for me is like just assume it's gonna be harder than you want And if it's not you'll be pleasantly surprised and this is meant to be funny not to come off Pretentious I When we left the studio we had like a moment before we Put everything Unpacked we unpacked it and we had a moment. (16:46) I said, what are you gonna remember? (16:51) I'm sorry.(16:52) I just got a memory No, so we had some fun in the city but That feeling I don't like so that I don't want yeah, I don't know Yeah, it's not as bad as you think or is it I I don't know what mine was. (17:09) I remember what yours was well, I Think yeah, we should share that and I think the joke that I wanted to make is after this But my favorite part was I told Kev the the empty parking lot. (17:23) Yeah Every there was a summer.(17:26) I'm not kidding every weekend I stayed in the hotel across the street a few times, which I should have done because it costs a lot of money anyways Every single weekend for an entire summer and these were beautiful days Like these were gorgeous and and one of the places that I used to party at at WPI For my 21st birthday. (17:48) I was there's called Ralph's and the studio parking lot It was on the other side and everyone was there Barbecuing and live band and everybody was having fun in the Sun, right and I would just be every weekend the entire fucking summer From when I woke up to basically I'll never forget. (18:10) I went to Chipotle Every night and I would watch a movie.(18:13) I'd get a full cow coke and I'd get nachos and and burrito bowl and The empty parking lot was my favorite part because every Saturday and Sunday The parking lot was empty and I was the only one there Every single Saturday and Sunday and I remember that summer. (18:31) I'm like, this is making the difference (18:32) This is what's gonna make the difference and next year (18:34) We're gonna be a lot more successful and we were we were like way more successful (18:37) We tripled our company the year after that and it's not just because I worked the weekends, but it's definitely part of it for sure (18:44) It's definitely part of it (18:47) it's like a big part of it and (18:50) The (18:51) Joke that I wanted to make on that is can you imagine if I was like Kev?(18:57) You know brother I know we want to change the world We want to build a successful company and and and but I don't really I'm not really feeling like coming in today I'm gonna I don't really feel like working the weekends. (19:08) It's it's comical to me (19:12) Because if you set a goal (19:14) There are certain behaviors that must align with it and this is what I do with my coaching you you set a goal and then (19:20) you have KPIs key performance indicators that you track in alignment with that goal and (19:25) The moment you set a goal there's immediately a constraint and the constraint is you (19:30) Internal or external either you're not courageous enough or you're not dialed in enough and you and I can say this wholeheartedly over the last (19:37) Nine years the clients that win at the highest level are the most dialed in for the longest (19:44) and (19:45) Dialed in means in alignment with what is necessary in terms of behavior not thoughts (19:52) Behavior your daily behaviors are moving the needle (19:56) Toward your goal and the longer you can do that and the more you can do that the more successful you will be (20:02) That's why I tell the Michael Phelps story (20:04) It's extreme and you don't think it lands which I'm learning but the reason I tell it is because it's extreme (20:09) It's impossible to win 28 (20:11) Olympic medals 23 gold if you don't stay in the pool every day for six years and he'll be the first to tell you that (20:17) That's what it says in the speech. (20:19) It's like I didn't want to go.(20:21) It doesn't matter like I had to Get a little better every day. (20:25) Otherwise, I was gonna lose the most prepared athlete will win now (20:28) There's also natural talent, but that's not in your control (20:32) what's in your control is your own fucking behavior and and (20:36) Yeah, I can't even with that I don't even know why we've been not taught that like (20:42) Your behaviors in will create results out over time (20:46) And if your behavior is outside of alignment with the goal you want you cannot mathematically scientifically (20:52) You cannot achieve the goal.

Kevin Palmieri

(20:54) You can't I think that's why the hustle culture hustle porn thing is what it is because if you I Feel like most people would rather overshoot And go to extreme and that but they regret it. (21:08) I think that's why it's a thing (21:10) Yeah, that makes sense because the under is like you're you're you might not regret it as much (21:16) But you don't know what you left on the table because you don't have it (21:18) But like you do know what you had (21:20) I think that's a big fucking piece of it that and last thing before we go cuz I know you have a coaching call (21:24) there was um (21:26) You and I talked about the enhanced games, I think right? (21:28) Yeah, you you did behind the scenes I don't know if you talked about it on the show.(21:31) There was I don't know a ton about it (21:33) I saw it on YouTube and I was that's interesting there (21:35) Essentially it was a competition where it was sprinting and there was swimming and there was a bunch of other stuff (21:40) I don't think there was anything like hand-to-hand type sporting events, but essentially you said they could take whatever steroids (21:47) They want that if they're not gonna test you take whatever you want (21:50) Not a single world record was broken.

Alan Lazaros

(21:52) Yeah, and one of the big reasons is The compound effect the compound effect a natural talent It's like yeah, if you are one of the best 0.1 percent over decades versus like that Hey, try to break this record and you can die yeah, and also the mentality of that's a piece the mentality of trying to take the easy road of It takes away the ability for the mind and body to adapt.

Kevin Palmieri

(22:15) That's a piece and there wasn't that much time There wasn't enough time. (22:17) I think it was like they only had like three months. (22:19) So like yeah, that's not enough That's not if you gave them the 30 years They would break some records To the to this point right like I don't know if that type and I don't know these athletes well enough it's just an example, but like I Don't know would Michael Phelps do that?(22:34) I don't think so. (22:36) I don't think you'd be like, yeah I'll fucking train for three months to take steroids. (22:38) See what I can do I think he'd know say I want to be the best to ever do it and that is what we're talking about Yeah, I don't I don't know if any of these people are famous and or well-known and or if people remember them I have no idea.(22:51) I have no idea. (22:51) I just think that's a really good example of (22:55) Michael Phelps versus somebody who might (22:59) Have adjusted their goals in a different way and they didn't want to adjust themselves (23:03) Now again, they'd all beat me in a race for sure and I can't swim worth shit (23:07) So they would beat me there too, but just as an example, this is a parallel

Alan Lazaros

(23:11) Okay last piece for me you I do think there's a level of let me see how far I can take this that there has (23:17) To be that you have to want to see how far you can take something (23:21) And if your goal is to make things easier you are doing the opposite of what's called deliberate practice, which is purposely (23:27) Making things harder so that you get better you and I have someone in our fitness group (23:32) Named Justin who I coach and he he can do (23:35) eight to twelve (23:37) pull-ups (23:39) With 45 pound weight and I was like dude and from the moment I coached him and he told me that I was (23:45) Like I got to get on that level and I love it.(23:48) I was like love it. (23:49) This is good a little friendly competition Let's get it. (23:51) I can't do that right now, and I'm gonna so There is something to be said for Getting around people who make things harder not easier And the reason he did it by the way is because I said if you want real humble pie You start doing with pull-ups and he's like dude.(24:07) I did them eight to twelve and I'm like what? (24:09) Yeah, it's a hologram. (24:10) So I converted it you get 45.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:12) What'd you say?

Alan Lazaros

(24:13) You got belief. (24:14) You didn't get humble. (24:14) No, no Justin if you're listening, he did he got belief but he still got humble pie cuz it's still brutal.(24:21) It's not like it was easy Right, he didn't do 12 and then feel good about himself He probably was nearly dying but yeah No He definitely did better than he thought and so I have to step up my game and that's the fitness accountability group 10 pound and 10 Week challenge July 1st join us. (24:35) We have 15 people signed up as of today.

Kevin Palmieri

(24:37) Well people are coming out of the woodwork So if you're out there like it again, it's a great. (24:41) It's a great opportunity. (24:41) Download.(24:42) What's up? (24:43) Reach out to Alan and myself We had two people joined today that messaged me on Facebook. (24:46) We'd love to have you where I'm excited I'm getting like we have to put the go fund me.

Alan Lazaros

(24:50) We have our next level Hope Foundation Father's Day event this weekend We're halfway to goal. (24:55) We're trying to raise $1,000. (24:57) Thank you for everyone who's donated.(24:58) The link will be in the show notes We literally have not promoted this once on the podcast yet. (25:02) No, this podcast is free. (25:04) Please donate it's for the kids It's gonna go to the YMCA and food and arts and crafts and shirts and it's it's a really special Father's Day event We do that and holiday event the all the information will be in the show notes.(25:15) It's a go fund me Thank you. (25:16) Thank you in advance

Kevin Palmieri

(25:18) All right (25:18) As always we love you appreciate you grateful for each every one of you if you are as committed as you say you are to (25:22) 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

(25:27) Keep leveling up to reach your full potential next elimination

Kevin Palmieri

(25:31) Thanks for joining us for another episode of next level University (25:35) We love connecting with the next level family

Alan Lazaros

(25:37) We mean it when we say family if you ever need anything, please reach out to us directly (25:43) Everything you need to get a hold of us is in the show notes.

Kevin Palmieri

(25:46) Thank you again, and we will talk to you tomorrow