The Entrepreneur Who Lost It All and How He Built Back Stronger | Shawn Finnegan (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:00) I remember coming on one night. My (00:00:02) little girl was in her crib and I (00:00:04) remember just looking at that little (00:00:05) girl. I felt like such a failure because (00:00:07) what's going to happen to her if I can't (00:00:09) provide? Nobody's coming to save you. So (00:00:12) you build and grind and you rise. From (00:00:16) struggle to breakthrough, from pressure (00:00:19) to legacy. These are raw, unfiltered (00:00:22) stories of entrepreneurs, leaders, and (00:00:25) dreamers who refuse to quit. (00:00:30) Welcome to No Rescue (00:00:33) sponsored by Proto. (00:00:36) >> No rescue family. Uh we are back with (00:00:38) another episode. You guys just had an (00:00:40) opportunity to be a part of in in my (00:00:44) opinion one of my favorite day in the (00:00:46) life because of what you've built, Sean. (00:00:49) But I am super excited to really dive (00:00:51) into really you right. We've gone (00:00:53) through all the business. We've gone (00:00:54) through all the antics and everything (00:00:56) that you've built. (00:00:57) >> Um you You you (00:00:59) >> you let me be a a pyro for a day. (00:01:02) >> I mean, I'm surprised you have your (00:01:03) eyebrows after that, right? (00:01:05) >> Dude, that thing that thing, you know, I (00:01:07) I was taken it back when you were (00:01:09) thinking like a foot maybe of a flame, (00:01:11) but that thing is like five, six feet. (00:01:13) Yeah. Tons of heat. (00:01:14) >> I was coming out like a dragon, man. So, (00:01:16) it was awesome. But I I appreciate you, (00:01:18) brother. Like, I really was such a blast (00:01:21) this morning, man. (00:01:22) >> Yeah. (00:01:22) >> Yeah. It's an honor. (00:01:23) >> And you've done such incredible work. I (00:01:25) uh I'm I'm really excited about this (00:01:27) piece because we're really going to (00:01:29) really get into honestly the the more (00:01:32) intimate moments kind of the more of (00:01:34) what's going on here because we both (00:01:36) know that (00:01:36) >> mindset is everything when it comes to (00:01:38) this game of entrepreneurship. Yeah. (00:01:40) >> Um and so I'm really excited for this (00:01:41) time. So to start, I kind of want to go (00:01:44) all the way back, right? I think people (00:01:46) want to know like where did where where (00:01:49) did Sean grow up? Where did that (00:01:51) upbringing look like? I'd love to talk (00:01:52) about your parents and everything like (00:01:54) that and we'll kind of progress there (00:01:55) but let's start there. Let's start (00:01:56) childhood. (00:01:57) >> Yeah. So going back I had the example of (00:02:00) two different kinds of parents. So my (00:02:01) dad was a bookstore manager actually at (00:02:03) BYU for 40 years. Oh nice. (00:02:05) >> He graduated from BYU and stayed there (00:02:07) for 40 years. So if you can imagine a (00:02:08) bookstore manager that was my dad, (00:02:11) right? Just even kill knew how much he (00:02:13) was going to make down to the penny. And (00:02:15) in our family we had five kids. (00:02:17) >> Okay. So, as a kid, I learned really if (00:02:20) I wanted to go get allowance, I wasn't (00:02:22) going to go to my dad and say, "Hey, (00:02:23) dad, give me five bucks." I always (00:02:25) resented my friends. It was like, "Your (00:02:27) dad gave you five bucks? How does that (00:02:28) work?" Right? (00:02:29) >> So, I had to go figure out how to make (00:02:31) an income. And I did that by selling (00:02:34) things on the on the streets pretty (00:02:35) much. So, I would go buy pencils, I (00:02:38) would buy candy, I'd sell them on the (00:02:40) playground. And uh there's there's a lot (00:02:43) to be said for a teenager standing there (00:02:45) selling you pencils on the doorstep. (00:02:47) You're going to get a lot of yeses. (00:02:48) >> So, if you're watching this, (00:02:50) >> you're a teenager, go sell something (00:02:51) because a lot of I got a lot of yeses. I (00:02:53) actually made (00:02:54) >> pretty good allowance by just selling. (00:02:56) >> Yeah. (00:02:57) >> Right. And so then, so that's one (00:02:59) example of my dad. My mom is a side (00:03:01) hustle immigrant from Scotland. (00:03:04) >> Strong Scottish accent. She's like (00:03:07) >> incredible in business just naturally. (00:03:09) And so she had to support five children. (00:03:12) >> Oh wow. (00:03:12) >> On a bookstore pay. M so she started (00:03:16) multiple businesses uh between um she (00:03:19) was babysitting and then she ended up (00:03:21) doing a preschool and she did everything (00:03:24) in a side hustle format in order to pay (00:03:26) for the family. (00:03:27) >> Oh, that's awesome. So your mom was (00:03:28) really the entrepreneur that kind of got (00:03:30) it all started. (00:03:31) >> Yeah. For me that was my early (00:03:33) inspiration. I was like my dad's (00:03:34) amazing, the most faith of anyone I (00:03:37) knew, but my mom that's the side hustle (00:03:40) buttkicking mom that I want to I want to (00:03:42) follow that path. Yeah. (00:03:44) >> Right. (00:03:44) >> Well, I love uh I love kind of those (00:03:46) early lessons because they it lays a lot (00:03:49) of the foundation that we've talked (00:03:50) about and we'll continue to talk about (00:03:51) it, but um I want to kind of dive a (00:03:54) little bit deeper. Right. Your mom is an (00:03:56) immigrant from Scotland. (00:03:58) >> That's interesting. Right. And we've had (00:04:00) now quite a few immigrants onto this (00:04:03) that have immigrant parents or immigrant (00:04:05) themselves. a lot of life lessons, (00:04:07) especially as it pertains to (00:04:09) >> that journey that they saw their parents (00:04:11) come from into the American dream. So, (00:04:14) I'd love to kind of you to dive into (00:04:16) that with your mom being from Scotland (00:04:17) and kind of your heritage there. Like, (00:04:19) how did that play? (00:04:19) >> So, my mom was born and raised in (00:04:21) Scotland. She was actually raised a (00:04:22) member of the Presbyterian faith. Oh, (00:04:24) wow. At the time. And her minister (00:04:26) taught her that God was in the form of a (00:04:28) cloud. So, he's a mystical being. (00:04:29) >> Okay. (00:04:31) >> So, a certain faith knocks on their (00:04:33) door, teaches her (00:04:34) >> Yeah. uh you know that that God is in (00:04:37) the image of man and it kind of changed (00:04:39) her whole life because the truth shall (00:04:41) set you free. And in my mom's case, it (00:04:43) did. So she could now close her eyes. (00:04:45) >> Yeah. (00:04:46) >> And pray to a loving heavenly father. (00:04:48) >> Yeah. (00:04:48) >> And when she made that decision, all of (00:04:50) her family, some of her family turned, (00:04:53) but all of her friends shunned her. She (00:04:55) was a 19, 20 year old girl. (00:04:57) >> They all completely rejected my mom. (00:05:00) >> Yeah. (00:05:01) >> And so she knew that she had to do (00:05:02) something. And so literally by herself, (00:05:05) she got sponsored by a family and moved (00:05:07) to America. (00:05:08) >> Wow. (00:05:09) >> And that was the how she came into her (00:05:10) faith in Christ and it changed the whole (00:05:12) course of our lives, right? (00:05:14) >> Yeah. Yeah. (00:05:14) >> Yeah. (00:05:15) >> That's awesome. (00:05:16) >> Yeah. (00:05:16) >> So, um I'd love to kind of tap into, you (00:05:20) know, your Scottish roots. How I mean, (00:05:23) for me, right, my grandparents are from (00:05:25) the islands of Tonga. Yeah. There's a (00:05:27) lot of honestly frankly like I feel a (00:05:30) big sense of obligation to that (00:05:33) community to be able to (00:05:34) >> you know build what I built right and is (00:05:37) that the same in the Scottish you know (00:05:39) in your Scottish you know heritage like (00:05:40) I'd love to talk about how (00:05:42) >> how does that and come knowing that your (00:05:44) family comes from that how has that (00:05:46) affected your journey? (00:05:47) >> Yeah. So my grandpa was like a he was a (00:05:50) semi-pro in about everything. So, (00:05:52) semi-pro rugby player. (00:05:54) >> The story goes that he actually was (00:05:56) trying out for one of the big Scottish (00:05:58) Premier Leagues and uh he was on a (00:06:00) train, stopped at a bar and didn't make (00:06:02) the tryyouts, (00:06:04) >> but he was always this semi-pro (00:06:06) everything. And so, I learned so much. (00:06:09) He move he came to America just to visit (00:06:12) and to see his work ethic. This is (00:06:14) coming from you're talking about going (00:06:17) this is a depression error (00:06:20) >> guy, right? So he was like I remember (00:06:21) like early on in my in our backyard he (00:06:24) would gather up garbage, make bins for (00:06:26) us, like hard hard work. And what I (00:06:29) loved most about him is he taught me how (00:06:31) to golf. (00:06:31) >> Yeah. (00:06:32) >> Um and I still remember him screaming (00:06:35) >> he down, you know, like cuz I kept (00:06:37) lifting my head, you know, and I and (00:06:39) every time I golf now, I hear my great (00:06:42) my grandpa screaming in my ear to keep (00:06:45) my head down. But he felt it was that (00:06:47) important to teach me that discipline (00:06:48) and everything else. But I just learned (00:06:50) hard work. I mean, you're talking about (00:06:51) my my grandma was also a hardworking, (00:06:54) you know, it's just it's it's one of the (00:06:56) greatest generations for a reason. (00:06:58) >> Absolutely. Right. I love it, man. (00:07:00) >> So, you come from this very rich (00:07:02) Scottish heritage. You obviously have (00:07:04) examples of entrepreneurship at a very (00:07:06) early age. (00:07:08) >> What what what was the early stages of (00:07:10) actually being an entrepreneur after (00:07:11) childhood? Obviously, you you know, (00:07:13) knocking door, selling things like did (00:07:14) you start a business? Uh like where did (00:07:17) that all start? (00:07:17) >> Yeah. So 2009 I decided to start a (00:07:19) business and you're a real estate guy. (00:07:21) So you know what 2009 was all about, (00:07:23) dude. I wish I would have gotten a time (00:07:26) machine and shaking myself and say, (00:07:28) "Hey, don't start a business right now." (00:07:29) Right? (00:07:30) >> So I just I started business 2009. At (00:07:32) the time I'm not employed. (00:07:34) >> Okay. (00:07:34) >> So I'm bootstrapping at this moment and (00:07:37) I'm going to a sandwich shop every day (00:07:40) with a couple of dudes and we have a (00:07:42) spreadsheet in front of us and it was (00:07:43) all about doing live events is what we (00:07:45) came up with. Hey, we want to sell (00:07:47) tickets. We want to promote great (00:07:48) brands. We want to do these amazing (00:07:50) events. (00:07:50) >> And this is a sandwich shop, though. (00:07:51) >> Sandwich shop is where we're doing it. (00:07:53) I'm sure they were giving us the eye, (00:07:54) but we're just sitting there with our (00:07:55) spreadsheet. And according to the (00:07:57) spreadsheet, after we did all our (00:07:58) projections, what we're going to do in (00:07:59) sales, I was going to become a (00:08:01) multi-millionaire. (00:08:02) >> You know what I mean? So, I call my (00:08:04) spreadsheet millionaire, right? Yeah. (00:08:06) >> And I could show you in that spreadsheet (00:08:08) where man based on my sales and what (00:08:10) we're going to do and we're going to (00:08:11) make an impact in the world and we're (00:08:12) going to love customers and we're going (00:08:14) to go out and promote and and so from (00:08:17) there uh for the first time in my life (00:08:19) I'm young but I'm I'm I'm going to go (00:08:21) raise money. (00:08:21) >> Yeah. (00:08:22) >> I'm not going to call my dad, right? I I (00:08:24) didn't come for money and I also had (00:08:26) very limited money in the bank. So I'm (00:08:28) like no job, no income (00:08:30) >> and I make that leap of faith where I'm (00:08:32) going to start my first company ever. (00:08:34) >> I love it. And uh so I go and meet with (00:08:38) networking is everything. So I met with (00:08:40) 70 investors all angels and I convinced (00:08:44) 23 of them to give me 1.5 million. (00:08:46) >> Okay. (00:08:47) >> So lots of rejection, lots of nos. (00:08:49) >> I mean I I if I would have filmed that, (00:08:52) I'm sure it would have been some of the (00:08:53) biggest train wrecks. My first pitch is (00:08:55) I was like sweating pits are sweating uh (00:08:59) sweating profusely trying to say, "Hey, (00:09:00) how do I pitch this? I've never done it (00:09:02) before." And and re really quick because (00:09:04) I want to unpack this while you're going (00:09:05) like where because that's actually (00:09:06) really impressive, right? I mean, you (00:09:08) had like to be able to just start and (00:09:10) then to go raise capital. People that (00:09:12) people that have never raised money (00:09:13) don't understand what it actually takes. (00:09:15) It is a specific skill. (00:09:17) >> So hard. (00:09:17) >> And so what where were you finding (00:09:19) these? Like how were you doing all this? (00:09:20) >> Yeah. So I had certain friends that had (00:09:23) access to lots of angels. And that's (00:09:24) what I always tell people. Hey, start (00:09:26) with the your phone. (00:09:27) >> Yeah. (00:09:28) >> Start with your contacts. You've planted (00:09:30) seeds or you've nourished these seeds. (00:09:32) start there because they're like, "Where (00:09:34) do I go to make money?" (00:09:35) >> Well, hey, I have Lame and he isn't my (00:09:37) contact. So, reach out to him. You're in (00:09:39) real estate. You probably know where (00:09:40) some funding sources are. I'm going to (00:09:41) go to this person. And that's how I was (00:09:43) able to get in front of that many (00:09:45) investors. (00:09:45) >> Okay. Awesome. So, you're you're you're (00:09:47) pitching them. You're you're you get 1.5 (00:09:50) million. (00:09:50) >> 1.5, (00:09:51) >> which is incredible. (00:09:52) >> Yeah. (00:09:52) >> What happened to the business? (00:09:54) >> So, that that was a happy day at 1.5 (00:09:56) because in my operating account, I could (00:09:57) show you 1.5. You know what I mean? I (00:09:59) still remember going on LinkedIn putting (00:10:01) that I was a CEO. (00:10:03) >> Yeah. (00:10:03) >> And so literally my friends were proud (00:10:05) of me and my family. Well, my friends (00:10:07) thought I was baller and my family my (00:10:09) parents were like my our son's done it (00:10:12) >> and and then you know I was so I was (00:10:14) really stoked in that moment. (00:10:16) >> Well, mind you this 1.5 in 2009. (00:10:18) >> Yeah. Right after the recession. That's (00:10:20) impressive. (00:10:20) >> Yeah. Trying to raise it in the (00:10:21) recession was my biggest concern like do (00:10:23) they really want to give it? Um, (00:10:25) >> and so, uh, we're partners at Tax High (00:10:28) with Kevin Olri, and one of his quotes (00:10:30) is in in business, poo poo happens. (00:10:33) >> Yeah. (00:10:33) >> And over the next 12 months, I made (00:10:36) about every mistake you can possibly (00:10:37) make in business. If you've made a (00:10:39) mistake in business, I've made something (00:10:41) similar in sales, operations, marketing. (00:10:45) My first event was with David Bach, the (00:10:47) automatic millionaire. I paid him like (00:10:49) 50 grand or something. And I sent out (00:10:52) all my direct mail. My direct mail gets (00:10:54) hit by a hurricane. (00:10:56) >> Oh jeez. (00:10:57) >> And so the direct mail doesn't get (00:10:58) delivered till 2 weeks after the event. (00:11:00) >> Oh jeez. (00:11:01) >> Which isn't isn't a good thing. Just so (00:11:03) if you're keeping score, that's a bad (00:11:05) thing, right? Cuz here's this (00:11:08) high-flying CEO promoter. (00:11:10) >> Yeah. (00:11:10) >> And I have 500 chairs in this ballroom (00:11:12) that I've spent tons of money for, as (00:11:14) you know, doing events. (00:11:16) >> And here he comes in a limousine (00:11:20) and I have like 20, 30 people in the (00:11:22) room. Oh jeez. (00:11:24) >> I mean, you want to dig a hole and jump (00:11:26) in. (00:11:26) >> Yeah. (00:11:27) >> And and and also you're like, I'm (00:11:29) hemorrhaging this 1.5. (00:11:31) >> Yeah. Yeah. (00:11:32) >> You still you see it going out the door, (00:11:34) >> operating cost, king, everything. Yeah. (00:11:35) >> You have overhead, you have all this (00:11:37) expense. (00:11:38) >> Yeah. (00:11:38) >> Painful painful times and like you know (00:11:41) that gut (00:11:42) >> where you get the punch in the gut (00:11:44) sometimes and many of those (00:11:46) >> where I'm like what what am I doing? Why (00:11:49) didn't I (00:11:50) >> You just beat yourself up. You question (00:11:52) everything. You overanalyze what you (00:11:54) just did and how you do it and what (00:11:55) where it went wrong. And that's how it (00:11:57) was for literally a year. (00:11:59) >> Yeah. (00:12:00) >> And at the end of a year, um, I lost the (00:12:03) 1.5. (00:12:04) But it was actually worse than that (00:12:06) because I had leveraged my house and my (00:12:07) only car. (00:12:08) >> Oh, shoot. Yeah. (00:12:09) >> And I remember at the time my wife's (00:12:10) like, "Hey, you know, you know Bob down (00:12:12) the street, (00:12:14) >> he goes to a job and uh it's like 9 to5 (00:12:19) and uh he has benefits and and you know (00:12:22) he makes a salary." (00:12:23) >> Yeah. (00:12:24) >> Have you ever thought you know about (00:12:25) that, you know, and of course us we're (00:12:27) like, "Oh no, this thing is this thing's (00:12:29) going to hit. This thing's going to go." (00:12:31) Right. But that that's really how it (00:12:33) was. As for me, a rock bottom was on a (00:12:35) Thursday night because I had 2500 bucks (00:12:37) in the bank (00:12:38) >> and I'd leveraged everything to the hilt (00:12:40) and I had payroll that was due on Friday (00:12:44) and payroll is around 3500. So, I didn't (00:12:47) have $1,000 in the world. (00:12:48) >> Yeah. (00:12:49) >> I had nowhere to get it. (00:12:51) >> Yeah. (00:12:52) And that night, I remember just lying (00:12:54) down in bed and looking at the ceiling, (00:12:58) making shapes out of the ceiling, just (00:13:00) like, "Tomorrow I have to wake up and (00:13:03) tell people." (00:13:04) >> Yeah. (00:13:06) >> That you had faith and confidence in me (00:13:07) and you believed in my spreadsheet plan (00:13:10) and I've failed and I can't pay you. And (00:13:14) so for me, it was really painful. (00:13:16) >> Yeah. (00:13:16) >> And it was um I was there's a difference (00:13:19) between problems and pain. (00:13:22) like problem is hey I had a failing (00:13:24) business that's a problem but then (00:13:26) there's on this hand I'm I'm like real (00:13:28) pain pounds per square inch pain because (00:13:31) I have three levels what about socially (00:13:35) >> what about my neighbors that thought I (00:13:36) was a baller about my parents that now (00:13:39) my parents are stressed out of their (00:13:40) mind (00:13:41) >> my poor son is going through this right (00:13:44) what about the people at my office (00:13:48) what about them now their families are (00:13:50) being fed from this business. What about (00:13:52) 23 people that gave me their hard-earned (00:13:54) dollars? And I that's all I thought (00:13:56) about. I thought about those three (00:13:57) things over and over and over again. (00:14:00) >> Yeah. (00:14:01) >> So, I didn't sleep. I woke up in the (00:14:03) morning and I'm praying for a miracle. (00:14:06) Literally, I'm like praying to God, (00:14:08) please give me some kind of deposit. (00:14:09) There's no deposit. (00:14:12) So, I go to lunch with my partner and I (00:14:15) was like, hey, have we overturned every (00:14:16) rock? Have we looked everywhere? where (00:14:19) can we just we can't find a,000 bucks. (00:14:21) Like we couldn't put on a car at this (00:14:23) point. Nothing. (00:14:24) >> And uh I I go to stand up to go back to (00:14:28) the office to I've did all the math at (00:14:30) lunch to say, "Hey, I'm going to give (00:14:32) 10% off, but I'm hoping to make it up (00:14:34) next week." And and as I'm leaving, I (00:14:37) get a phone call from my controller. And (00:14:38) she's like, "Hey, Sean, I was digging (00:14:40) through the safe and I found 3,000 bucks (00:14:42) in petty cash." (00:14:43) >> Oh man. (00:14:44) >> This close. (00:14:45) >> Yeah. So, she's like, "What do you want (00:14:48) me to do with it?" And I was like, "Hey, (00:14:49) I want you to hang on to that." And I (00:14:51) screeched my tires and I picked up the (00:14:53) cash. I went over here to the bank. I (00:14:56) walked into the teller and I gave the (00:14:57) cash. And as we know from college days, (00:14:59) the money clears instantly, (00:15:01) >> right? So, you instantly clear. And I (00:15:04) remember cutting physical checks for (00:15:05) every member of my team. Hand wrote (00:15:07) those checks. And that check is like (00:15:09) stuck in my mind. I know the shading. I (00:15:11) know what exactly the color of the (00:15:13) check. It was so emotional. And I went (00:15:16) back to the office and I presented that (00:15:17) check to every member of my team that I (00:15:20) I followed through on the contract of (00:15:22) their employment that week. Right. (00:15:23) >> Yeah. (00:15:25) >> And (00:15:27) it was just a tough miserable time. Um (00:15:30) that afternoon I think I became an (00:15:33) expert on failure. (00:15:34) >> Yeah. (00:15:35) >> And I love I love the whole premise of (00:15:36) what you're talking about here which is (00:15:38) no rescue. Like there was no rescue for (00:15:40) me. Yeah. (00:15:40) >> I wasn't calling someone in my family to (00:15:43) bail me out. (00:15:44) >> Yeah. (00:15:44) >> There was no going back. (00:15:46) >> Yeah. (00:15:46) >> And I think in those moments, we make (00:15:48) the most action. (00:15:49) >> Absolutely. (00:15:50) >> It could spin us out or we can say, (00:15:52) "Hey, I'm going to run into the I'm (00:15:55) going to run into this storm." Right. (00:15:57) And (00:15:58) >> so for me, I became an expert that day (00:16:00) and I started breaking down all the (00:16:01) things I'd made a mistake in and I (00:16:04) started rank orderering them. And what I (00:16:06) found is my biggest mistake I made over (00:16:08) 12 months is I didn't build (00:16:10) relationships in business. (00:16:13) There was many times I was like looking (00:16:14) back and I was like there's many times (00:16:16) the lames came into my life during that (00:16:18) time was like hey why don't we get (00:16:19) together? (00:16:20) >> Yeah, (00:16:21) >> you can promote your product to my (00:16:22) people and I'm like oh no I've got this (00:16:24) thing over here and I just didn't do it. (00:16:26) I put my head in the sand. I tried to do (00:16:28) it myself because I was the high-flying (00:16:30) CEO that was supposed to be the (00:16:32) buttkicker and I didn't do it. And I'd (00:16:35) made a determination that day that I was (00:16:38) going to build relationships and (00:16:39) business. (00:16:40) >> Yeah. (00:16:41) >> And that's what changed my life from (00:16:42) there. (00:16:44) >> Man, what there's so much gold in there. (00:16:47) Like first off, thank you for sharing (00:16:49) that. That is uh and I you know I I (00:16:52) personally in listening to that there's (00:16:53) and I'm sure a lot of you know people (00:16:55) listening especially entrepreneurs (00:16:57) >> that's a very real feeling you know that (00:16:59) no rescue moment that you had of like (00:17:02) >> I don't know what's going to happen and (00:17:03) I got to figure it out. Yeah. (00:17:05) >> Yep. (00:17:05) >> And uh this in that moment I want to (00:17:08) unpack that right and I want to kind of (00:17:10) because (00:17:11) >> you know the unfortunate thing about (00:17:12) being an entrepreneur is that's probably (00:17:14) not the last time you felt that right. (00:17:15) >> No no not at all. I have more. (00:17:19) >> How long can we go now? Three hours. (00:17:20) >> Exactly. And we're going to dive into (00:17:22) more and that. And I I want to continue (00:17:23) to highlight some of these because (00:17:25) there's gold in them. (00:17:26) >> But let's let's let's go back to this (00:17:28) moment. (00:17:29) >> You're married, (00:17:30) >> have a child. (00:17:31) >> Yeah. (00:17:32) >> What what is home like life, right? Like (00:17:34) what is like and what are some of the (00:17:36) rocks and like because obviously you (00:17:38) know there's that one day that you you (00:17:39) highlighted, but (00:17:41) >> yeah, (00:17:41) >> you've been feeling it for weeks. You (00:17:43) were smart enough to see it coming. you (00:17:45) know, like there's there's other pain (00:17:46) points here. (00:17:47) >> How are you getting through it? What you (00:17:48) know, what are the things that are your (00:17:50) rocks, right? (00:17:51) >> Yeah. So, I have I'm a girl daddy. So, (00:17:53) at the time, I have three little girls. (00:17:55) Kind of like your family. It's awesome. (00:17:57) Just three little girls. (00:17:58) >> But we've been taught our whole life is (00:18:00) you're supposed to you're supposed to (00:18:02) provide for our family. Yeah. (00:18:03) >> Like literally since you're birth, (00:18:05) you're like, I'm going to be a dad. I'm (00:18:06) going to provide for my kids and I'm (00:18:08) excited about that. And then when you (00:18:10) can't do that or you're facing that, I (00:18:14) remember coming on one night and I (00:18:16) remember my little girl was in the (00:18:18) literally her crib and I remember just (00:18:20) looking at that little girl and I'm like (00:18:22) I felt like such a failure because I was (00:18:24) like what's going to happen? You know, (00:18:26) your mind plays tricks on you during (00:18:28) that time. It's what's going to happen (00:18:31) to her if I can't provide. And that's (00:18:35) ultimately what happens because (00:18:37) what if is a a very painful question you (00:18:40) end up asking yourself. What if this (00:18:42) happens? (00:18:44) What if? And I had a great friend give (00:18:47) me advice and turn that if into an is. (00:18:50) What is the potential? What is something (00:18:52) I can do? But for me during that moment (00:18:54) was what if? (00:18:55) >> So you're looking at this little girl in (00:18:57) the crib and you're like what if (00:18:59) >> what if I'm literally on the streets and (00:19:01) I can't provide for this little girl, (00:19:03) right? And that was part of the the (00:19:06) stress. And I think what happens if if (00:19:09) you want to know what's going on in a (00:19:11) man's mind, this is some of the stuff (00:19:12) that we're born with and that we think (00:19:15) about is how do we provide and give that (00:19:17) child a great life. (00:19:19) >> Yeah. Yeah. I love that. That's (00:19:21) beautiful. So we So I I kind of want to (00:19:26) hear more of these and I I want to kind (00:19:28) of progress because obviously there's (00:19:29) still a huge gap. (00:19:31) >> Yeah. from I love hearing the story (00:19:33) because it's the start of Sean Finnegan, (00:19:34) right? It's the start of the X room. It (00:19:36) really is, right? (00:19:37) >> And so, and there's still so much Delta (00:19:40) from then to now. So, like let's let's (00:19:42) move on from 2009. So, you you get out (00:19:44) of it, you kind of figure this out like (00:19:46) what (00:19:46) >> So, so yeah. So, two about 2010 is when (00:19:49) I determined I'm going to build a (00:19:50) relationship with others. And um I I (00:19:53) literally pull out my phone and I I (00:19:55) recommend anyone to do this if you're (00:19:57) building. I went old school and I made I (00:20:00) went to a spreadsheet and in my phone I (00:20:02) pulled out all the ones that I should do (00:20:05) business with. Yeah. In a partnership (00:20:06) way. (00:20:07) >> Yep. (00:20:07) >> And then the other one is is who should (00:20:09) buy my product? (00:20:10) >> Yeah. (00:20:11) >> And I had a buy my product uh list and I (00:20:14) had a let's do business together list. (00:20:17) >> Yeah. (00:20:17) >> And I had two people on the top of that (00:20:19) list. One of them was the most genius (00:20:22) guy I knew and I was like, "Man, if I (00:20:23) could just work with him." And I called (00:20:27) him up that Friday and I was like, (00:20:28) "Hey," (00:20:30) I was as vulnerable as vulnerable gets. (00:20:32) I was pouring my heart out to him and (00:20:34) he's like, "Hey, (00:20:36) >> let's go get sushi. Let's talk." (00:20:39) >> And at sushi, I broke down all my stuff (00:20:41) and he's like, "Have you considered (00:20:42) this?" And he starts doing it out. And (00:20:44) ultimately, I partnered with him. And (00:20:46) then I saw what the value of (00:20:48) relationships is because he had tons of (00:20:50) relationships. I was like, (00:20:52) >> dude, that's what I was missing. He he (00:20:53) brought in this person, this (00:20:55) relationship. Dean Graciosi was one of (00:20:58) his relationships. Brought him in, (00:20:59) brought him in. Like, and I just saw (00:21:02) this build in front of me. I was like, (00:21:03) that's how empire builders build. They (00:21:05) build relationships. Yeah. (00:21:07) >> And because of him and a couple others I (00:21:10) brought into my community, my fold, um, (00:21:13) we were able to go on a run and we were (00:21:15) able to pay off the 1.5 plus interest to (00:21:18) all of them. And my call my calls to (00:21:20) those guys was like, "Hey, look, I was (00:21:21) at death's door six months ago. I wasn't (00:21:24) going to give you anything. I need to (00:21:25) get you." Because I didn't want I didn't (00:21:27) want to have to face that again, not (00:21:29) being able to pay them. (00:21:30) >> And so I got them all out. It was like (00:21:32) 2.1 or 2.2 by the time I paid them all (00:21:34) off over a payment plan. and and got (00:21:37) them all out. But it was only because So (00:21:39) that's why I've lived it. (00:21:40) >> So if anyone asks like, "Why do you go (00:21:42) out and do these things that are like (00:21:44) random stranger rooms?" And (00:21:46) >> it's because I've seen it firsthand. (00:21:48) Yeah. (00:21:48) >> And that's why I say, "Hey, if you want (00:21:49) to scale, (00:21:51) >> don't forget that's the door number (00:21:52) one." (00:21:53) >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. Well, I think it's so (00:21:55) interesting and fascinating because (00:21:57) >> every time you hear, you know, like (00:22:01) successful entrepreneurs that have built (00:22:02) something very special like the X room, (00:22:05) like Hive, right? (00:22:06) >> Yeah. (00:22:07) >> And you hear kind of the early (00:22:08) beginnings, you see a lot of the lessons (00:22:10) that they've learned translate and you (00:22:11) see the end product of it. Because now, (00:22:13) as I'm putting it together, you're (00:22:14) talking about these relationship you (00:22:16) didn't have, you created, and then you (00:22:18) learned this guy to where now (00:22:19) >> you're partners with Kevin Oly. You know (00:22:21) what I mean? And like the X room like (00:22:24) you know this is one event that you've (00:22:25) thrown over a series of many and there (00:22:27) was 250 you know there last week right (00:22:30) >> and so I I'd love to like let's talk (00:22:32) about Kevin Olri how that one come about (00:22:34) was (00:22:34) >> yeah so Kevin you know he's everyone's (00:22:37) seen especially lately he's been all (00:22:39) over the place the news and everything (00:22:40) else he's been crushing (00:22:42) >> so u years ago part of our live event (00:22:45) business is we're like hey what branch (00:22:47) should we do and we came up with the (00:22:48) sharks we like we love Shark Tank and it (00:22:50) is in the world of business And it's the (00:22:52) most successful business show in (00:22:53) history. Been around forever. So we're (00:22:56) like, and our favorite shark at the time (00:22:58) was Mr. Wonderful Kevin Oly. We just (00:23:00) loved his he was tough, (00:23:02) >> right? He was had an edge, but at the (00:23:05) same time, he had like a genius part of (00:23:07) him. (00:23:08) >> And so we came up with Kevin as a brand (00:23:10) that we would love to promote. And so my (00:23:12) job was to go pitch Kevin. (00:23:15) >> And he's from Toronto. So (00:23:17) >> we literally worked it out with his (00:23:19) agent where I had 30 minutes to pitch (00:23:21) him. Okay. (00:23:21) >> And so I fly up there. It's the middle (00:23:23) of winter. It's 20° degrees below zero (00:23:27) and I have 30 minutes to pitch the (00:23:29) shark, right? So I'm terrified at this (00:23:32) point, right? And uh and it's like his (00:23:35) appointment is like 7 in the morning or (00:23:37) something cuz it was free. It's still (00:23:38) dark. I remember going out (00:23:40) >> and and it was freezing and my head was (00:23:43) so frozen that I felt like I couldn't (00:23:45) even talk. (00:23:46) >> Yeah. (00:23:47) And so I remember dipping in, lots of (00:23:50) prayers, dipping into this 24-hour ATM (00:23:53) spot just to warm up my brain because I (00:23:55) was like, I got I got to make this. (00:23:57) >> Yeah. (00:23:57) >> And I was like, what am I going to pitch (00:23:58) him on exactly? What am I going to say? (00:24:00) And I the thought came to me in in my (00:24:03) mind, uh, Stephen Arvy, first seek to (00:24:06) understand. Yeah. (00:24:07) >> And then to be understood. (00:24:08) >> Yeah. (00:24:09) >> Because I think a lot of times we make (00:24:10) the mistake in sales to say, "Hey, (00:24:12) here's my ecosystem. Why don't you come (00:24:13) over here?" (00:24:14) >> Yeah. (00:24:14) >> And why don't you look at my vision? Why (00:24:15) don't you come over to my side of (00:24:17) thinking (00:24:18) >> versus trying to unpack their (00:24:21) >> ecosystem? (00:24:22) >> Yeah. (00:24:22) >> And how can I fit into your world? How (00:24:24) can I provide value to what you're (00:24:26) doing? (00:24:26) >> Yeah. (00:24:27) >> So, I walk in, he's standing there and (00:24:30) it's like there's not a lot of small (00:24:31) talk. He's just like getting out of (00:24:33) business. So, I sit down and my first (00:24:34) question to him is like, Kevin, I follow (00:24:36) all your stuff. I'm a huge fan, but (00:24:38) where are you taking this brand in the (00:24:39) future? What does the future of Kevin (00:24:41) Olri Mr. Wonderful look like? and he (00:24:44) started unpacking all this stuff. At the (00:24:46) time he was running for prime minister (00:24:47) of Canada. (00:24:48) >> Yeah. (00:24:48) >> He was doing a book. He was doing this. (00:24:51) He was and as he started his whole (00:24:54) ecosystem unfolded in front of me and I (00:24:56) wanted to promote him on live events. (00:24:58) >> Yeah. (00:24:58) >> So I was like by the time he was done I (00:25:00) was like Kevin and by the way it was (00:25:01) like his answer was 30 minutes. (00:25:03) >> Yeah. Yeah. (00:25:04) >> Talking the whole time. Yeah. (00:25:05) >> Yeah. And we ended up going like an hour (00:25:07) but I was like this is how we can help (00:25:10) you with your vision. do what you want (00:25:12) to do better. We can add fuel to this (00:25:14) fire by doing live events here. We can (00:25:17) promote your book. We you're in Canada. (00:25:19) We can help you go raise. We whatever we (00:25:21) need to do, we can plug into yours. And (00:25:23) it was a Yes. (00:25:24) >> Yeah. (00:25:24) >> Right. And so we built a relationship. (00:25:26) So he ended up speaking on our stages (00:25:28) like maybe two or 300 times. (00:25:29) >> Yeah. (00:25:30) >> So I traveled with Kevin personally, got (00:25:32) to know incredible things for years, (00:25:35) went to hotels, and him and I were (00:25:37) travel buddies for years. (00:25:39) >> Yeah. So that was the first interaction (00:25:41) with him (00:25:41) >> and I love it because that is you know I (00:25:44) I just love that you're sharing both of (00:25:46) these stories back toback because it's (00:25:48) the start of it right. Yeah. (00:25:50) >> You know people always ask me they're (00:25:52) like hey how and this is synonymous to (00:25:54) your journey. It's like you know people (00:25:55) always ask me l how did you build such a (00:25:57) big empire in 5 years and my response is (00:26:00) always (00:26:01) >> I didn't I did it in 15 you know cuz (00:26:03) these early lessons these early lessons (00:26:06) that's why I love seeing because it's (00:26:07) like you know this is you Kevin but you (00:26:10) went through the fire (00:26:12) >> 100% (00:26:13) >> and you learned everything to be able to (00:26:14) get there right (00:26:15) >> yeah and you really you understand the (00:26:17) value of a relationship going through (00:26:18) all that (00:26:19) >> yeah yeah (00:26:20) >> so I I want to kind of shift gears a (00:26:23) little bit and unpack fact, more of the, (00:26:27) you know, the Sean at home and more of (00:26:29) the rocks there because (00:26:31) >> every entrepreneur (00:26:33) >> has, and we've talked about this off (00:26:34) camera, they have those rocks, right? (00:26:36) And they have those people in their (00:26:38) lives and the relationships that frankly (00:26:41) are necessary to be able to get you (00:26:43) through. (00:26:44) >> Yeah. (00:26:44) >> Who who are those in your life? (00:26:46) >> So, I have a I'm a girl daddy, got a (00:26:48) family, and um and it's the greatest (00:26:51) joy. I, you know, early on I'm a 23 year (00:26:54) old dad. (00:26:55) >> Yeah. (00:26:56) >> Got married at 21, right? So I have my (00:26:59) first baby at 23 and I'm in college and (00:27:01) I'm terrified. (00:27:02) >> Yeah. (00:27:03) >> It is. It hits you and you don't know. (00:27:06) Yeah. (00:27:07) >> You don't go through a a year course (00:27:09) before you have a child, right? I wish (00:27:11) they had it. (00:27:13) >> And I I was raised with three other (00:27:15) brothers that we just beat the crap out (00:27:16) of each other. I had one older sister. (00:27:18) She's amazing, but she was way older. (00:27:20) So, I didn't really interact Yeah. (00:27:22) >> a lot at home. So, I had zero clues (00:27:25) >> on on how to raise a little girl because (00:27:28) I'm a girl daddy. And I go into the (00:27:29) ultrasound and I see this girl on the (00:27:32) screen and (00:27:34) >> it is like in that moment it's on one (00:27:37) hand you're terrified, on the other (00:27:39) hand, you're like so excited to bring (00:27:41) this little girl into the world, right? (00:27:44) And that's I learned so much raising (00:27:48) little girls. They've taught me more (00:27:51) than anyone in business ever has, any (00:27:53) leader has. Seeing how these girls (00:27:55) operate has been the greatest joy in my (00:27:58) life. (00:27:59) >> Yeah. And how So you have Walk me (00:28:02) through all of your kids. Yeah. So (00:28:04) >> So I right now I have two married (00:28:05) daughters. I have uh one left at home. (00:28:07) She's 19. Just graduated from Lone Peak (00:28:09) going to UVU. (00:28:10) >> Love it. Early on when I was having (00:28:12) those girls, I was like, I I didn't know (00:28:14) how to do it. I I went and met with (00:28:16) Brian Tracy. Have you ever seen his (00:28:18) stuff? He was a girl daddy. So, I met (00:28:20) with him. I (00:28:21) >> said, "Hey, how do I raise girls?" (00:28:22) >> Yeah. (00:28:23) >> And he's like, "I'm not going to I'm not (00:28:25) going to give you the answer. You're (00:28:26) going to go you're going to go do the (00:28:27) research." So, they gave me 10 books. (00:28:29) >> Oh, well. (00:28:30) >> And I studied all the books and what I (00:28:32) found in reading that is that the father (00:28:34) can actually make a really big impact on (00:28:37) the daughter and her confidence. (00:28:39) >> Yeah. You hear about fathers giving (00:28:42) father approval. (00:28:44) That's a real thing. (00:28:45) >> Yeah. (00:28:46) >> And I determined these little girls, I'm (00:28:48) going to build them up all I possibly (00:28:51) can. (00:28:52) >> Yeah. (00:28:53) >> And everything I read was it has to be (00:28:55) specific mentally, (00:28:58) physically, like their smiles. I mean, (00:29:02) they need to hear from their dad in ways (00:29:05) that you can put on some of their armor (00:29:06) as you build them up and you make them (00:29:09) strong girls by building them up, not by (00:29:11) tearing them down. (00:29:13) >> Yeah. And how like I mean in today's (00:29:15) society that we've talked about this, (00:29:17) right? Like (00:29:19) >> it's interesting that that is being (00:29:22) challenged nowadays, right? Like what (00:29:25) what are (00:29:26) >> what are some of your thoughts and how (00:29:27) you've navigated that in today's society (00:29:29) especially, right? (00:29:31) >> Yeah. So, I did this post about my (00:29:32) daughter and I've done tons of business (00:29:34) posts and (00:29:34) >> yeah, (00:29:35) >> the post starts ticking and we're (00:29:36) looking at going what's because my posts (00:29:38) whatever, you know, it's like (00:29:40) >> all of a sudden it turns into 100,000. (00:29:42) We're like, this is crazy. How'd this (00:29:44) hit 100,000? And then this post ends up (00:29:46) going crazy viral because this is a big (00:29:48) issue for society. I ended up seeing (00:29:50) like 20 million views on this video. (00:29:52) >> Oh man. (00:29:53) >> And then I was like, man, I'm crushing (00:29:54) it. I'm going to do another video right (00:29:56) back to reality, you know, but this (00:29:58) video like 3 months ago just went nuts (00:30:01) and and and there was a lot of (00:30:03) controversy because I talked about how (00:30:06) fathers trying to do the right thing out (00:30:08) of love. (00:30:09) >> They'll tear down that daughter and they (00:30:11) won't say anything nice to them because (00:30:12) they want them to be tough. And I I (00:30:15) understand their perspective, but I (00:30:16) think it's a mistake. I think as a (00:30:18) father the greatest way especially to (00:30:20) build girls up and and boys is you (00:30:24) remember you're specifically remember (00:30:26) your dad saying something about you (00:30:29) >> on the football field when you came out (00:30:31) of a play and you crushed it and your (00:30:33) dad told you that thing that's been a (00:30:35) lot of years ago (00:30:37) >> and it makes such an impression in these (00:30:39) children's minds that the father has (00:30:41) such a big role in building up the (00:30:43) confidence. (00:30:44) >> Yeah. (00:30:44) >> Right. (00:30:45) >> Yeah. Yeah. And so that's that's what I (00:30:47) try to do every day with my daughter. (00:30:48) Still do. (00:30:49) >> That's beautiful. And as you say that, I (00:30:51) get emotional because I (00:30:53) >> I know those moments, you know, I (00:30:55) remember them clear as day. I know (00:30:57) exactly what he said to me. You know, I (00:30:58) shared with you kind of a quote I had (00:31:00) from my father, right? That's been the (00:31:01) pinnacle of our business. Yeah. (00:31:03) >> And our culture. So, (00:31:04) >> I love that, too. (00:31:05) >> That's beautiful. (00:31:05) >> I'll give you a quick example, please. (00:31:07) So, (00:31:08) >> I I have my youngest, this little this (00:31:11) little girl. She's so cute, so (00:31:13) beautiful. and we decide that we're (00:31:15) going to take my dog for a walk. Simple (00:31:16) walk right over here. And so we come (00:31:20) around the corner by the tennis courts. (00:31:22) We're headed towards the street. We hear (00:31:23) this loud metallic bang. And I'm with my (00:31:25) daughter, our dog. And this these two (00:31:28) cars collide right pretty close to us. (00:31:30) As we're approaching the street, we're (00:31:32) watching the scene. This lady gets out (00:31:34) of the car. She doesn't seem to be (00:31:36) physically injured, but she sits down (00:31:39) the the sidewalk and she starts to cry. (00:31:43) And it's really traumatic. (00:31:45) And right then we're about five yards (00:31:48) from this lady. And so Ella and I, our (00:31:51) dog, we make our way around this lady (00:31:52) and pass by. And I'm like, "Wow, (00:31:56) sweetie, that was really hard. I mean, (00:31:59) that was wild. Are you okay?" And I look (00:32:02) over and my daughter's gone. And I start (00:32:05) looking around and I look back and (00:32:10) um my daughter's sitting down next to (00:32:13) this woman on this sidewalk (00:32:16) and she has her arm around her (00:32:19) and she's saying (00:32:22) super encouraging, nice things to this (00:32:24) lady to help comfort her, right? (00:32:28) And I was like, it just made this uh (00:32:31) this image in my mind that's engraven of (00:32:34) my little girl sitting next to this (00:32:35) woman with her arm around her on that (00:32:37) sidewalk. I can't drive past the (00:32:39) sidewalk and not think about it because (00:32:40) in that moment, she taught me what it's (00:32:42) like to be like Christ and and to do (00:32:44) things right. Right. And I I should have (00:32:47) been I was the adult. (00:32:48) >> Yeah. (00:32:48) >> I should have gone back there. (00:32:50) >> Yeah. (00:32:50) >> I could have asked the lady and like (00:32:52) what a teaching moment. I'm supposed to (00:32:54) be the mentor dad, but like what did I (00:32:56) learn in that moment? Yeah. (00:32:58) >> Right. (00:32:59) >> I love that. Thank you for sharing that. (00:33:01) >> Yeah. (00:33:03) >> I kind of want to stay here a little bit (00:33:05) and um this is where I really want to (00:33:07) pick your brain and finding these (00:33:09) parallels because I me we both know that (00:33:13) >> it's these moments of uh and you said it (00:33:15) yourself in this podcast that your (00:33:16) daughters have taught you more about (00:33:17) entrepreneurship than anything else, (00:33:19) right? (00:33:20) >> What are some of those lessons? What are (00:33:21) some of those parallels of fatherhood (00:33:23) and being an entrepreneur? (00:33:24) >> Yeah, you know, it's it's a challenge. I (00:33:26) um I think early on I grinded so much (00:33:30) and I did it to try to help, but my (00:33:33) whole perspective's changed cuz I have (00:33:35) two married daughters at this point, (00:33:37) right? (00:33:37) >> Yeah. (00:33:38) >> And and I've been surprised how much (00:33:41) during those years where I was grinding (00:33:43) and I have a fair amount of guilt of not (00:33:46) being there because like I was trying to (00:33:49) get things going right. (00:33:51) >> Yeah. I hate the conversation of balance (00:33:53) because at certain times in your life (00:33:55) it's not in the cards. Yeah. (00:33:56) >> You can't balance. You just if you got (00:33:58) something to do, you got to go out and (00:34:00) get it, right? (00:34:02) >> So, I've just been amazed like I've seen (00:34:04) my now my adult daughters do such great (00:34:07) things and they refer back to the times (00:34:09) when they didn't I didn't even say (00:34:11) anything to them, but they saw me (00:34:12) >> Yeah. (00:34:13) >> working or they saw me out with people. (00:34:15) They saw me on a stage with people. They (00:34:17) saw me do this. And I'm amazed (00:34:19) >> cuz at the time I was like I don't know (00:34:21) if they've got anything cuz I'm not I'm (00:34:22) not present enough right now. (00:34:24) >> But you'll be shocked when you see it (00:34:27) later, especially if you have little (00:34:28) kids and you don't know. All of a sudden (00:34:30) years later they're like, "Dad, when you (00:34:32) when I saw you get up and give that (00:34:34) presentation in front of that room, I (00:34:36) picked like what? (00:34:38) >> I thought you were just in your back (00:34:40) back there on your iPad." (00:34:41) >> Like you just mentioned you brought your (00:34:43) your you bring your kids in here. (00:34:45) >> Yeah. (00:34:45) >> This is the best thing is like you (00:34:47) should let Oh, my dad lame. He's there (00:34:50) working hard. He's doing real estate (00:34:51) deals. He's crushing and shortterm. I (00:34:53) mean, I think that's so that's so (00:34:55) valuable for them. They should be (00:34:56) included. You should educate by (00:34:58) including them in your business. (00:35:00) >> Yeah. (00:35:00) >> Right. (00:35:00) >> Yeah. (00:35:01) >> I mean, you have a kid's room here (00:35:03) >> at your office. (00:35:04) >> It's exactly how cool is that? (00:35:06) >> Yeah. Oh, man. I love this. I love this. (00:35:09) >> This podcast is sponsored by Proto. With (00:35:12) Proto, taste comes first, but trust (00:35:14) follows. It's clean. It's grass-fed and (00:35:18) it's made with standards you can feel. (00:35:20) This is protein for people who expect (00:35:22) more. Bougie, not basic. (00:35:26) >> I uh we've talked a lot about the rocks, (00:35:29) your you know, your little girls, right? (00:35:31) Um (00:35:32) >> I want I want to get to know a little (00:35:34) bit more about Mama Rock. (00:35:36) >> Yeah. Right. (00:35:37) >> Right. Because as entrepreneurs, they're (00:35:39) >> they're the ones there from the (00:35:41) beginning. (00:35:43) been there time and time and time and (00:35:45) time again. So, I'd love to I'd love for (00:35:48) you to dive into kind of your (00:35:50) relationship with your spouse (00:35:51) >> during these hard moments, what that was (00:35:53) like and and that support system there. (00:35:55) >> For the first time ever, we got you a (00:35:57) podcast together about a month ago and (00:35:59) it was she's never done one. She was (00:36:01) terrified, you know, like (00:36:03) >> wait a minute, what what go what do I (00:36:05) got to see? You know, she was like she's (00:36:08) losing sleep on this thing. But we (00:36:10) talked about some of these experiences (00:36:11) of going through the trials and hard (00:36:13) times. And one of those is I I moved her (00:36:16) down to Tucson, Arizona. (00:36:18) >> Okay. (00:36:18) >> And this was in an ancient company (00:36:20) called AOL (00:36:21) >> back then. It was a dial up. You (00:36:23) remember the CD ROMs? That was my first (00:36:25) start in business. Right. (00:36:27) >> And I was this this woman had these two (00:36:31) little girls, no friends, no family down (00:36:34) there. and I drag her from her (00:36:37) incredible relationships here and drop (00:36:39) her off there and then I proceed to work (00:36:42) 70 hours a week (00:36:44) >> and I I enjoyed it. I was moving up and (00:36:47) I thought this place was awesome and (00:36:50) >> and but she was going through some real (00:36:52) struggles (00:36:54) >> and um one of the greatest things that (00:36:57) she came to me and said, "Hey, I need (00:36:58) help." and she's going through having a (00:37:01) after having a baby and you're cooped up (00:37:03) and I didn't understand this as a young (00:37:05) dad. I'm 25 24 (00:37:07) >> trying to figure this out. Well, what (00:37:09) what's you know how can I and she said, (00:37:11) "Hey, I need something. I need to get (00:37:12) myself going." And so she started (00:37:14) writing books at the time. It's been the (00:37:16) greatest blessing for her. (00:37:18) >> But going through this time at at AOL, I (00:37:20) was loving it. Thought it was crushing. (00:37:22) >> Yeah. Um, and I remember driving down (00:37:25) there's this the street there called um (00:37:27) a Speedway (00:37:29) >> and you know, you hope you hope you can (00:37:30) listen to God in your life a few times, (00:37:32) but (00:37:33) >> for me there's a few times where you (00:37:35) know, and it's probably because we're (00:37:38) hard of hearing or I'm hard of hearing. (00:37:40) It's like sometimes he's got to shout at (00:37:41) you. And I still remember driving down (00:37:43) that freeway and I remember feeling from (00:37:46) him like, "Hey, this isn't I have an I (00:37:48) have something else for you in store." (00:37:51) >> Yeah. (00:37:52) And I I was actually upset because I was (00:37:54) like, "No, I'm I'm I just got promoted (00:37:57) and now I'm making 70,000 a year. I (00:38:00) mean, I've hit the pinnacle, (00:38:01) >> right?" And this is going good. (00:38:04) >> Pinnacle. (00:38:05) >> Yeah. But but he knows that it's my my (00:38:08) family's struggling and (00:38:10) >> and there's something different for me. (00:38:12) And two days later, I got laid off. They (00:38:13) they laid off laid off their whole the (00:38:15) whole department. man. (00:38:17) >> And (00:38:18) I was actually terrified because I had (00:38:21) no prospects. I wasn't shopping. I (00:38:23) didn't have another job lined up. I had (00:38:25) nothing. I I was in Tucson by myself (00:38:28) with no family or no infrastructure, no (00:38:30) no support. (00:38:32) And uh I remember getting laid off and (00:38:35) walking out on the street corner and (00:38:36) calling my wife and I was balling my (00:38:38) eyes out. I was like so scared, right? (00:38:41) And I was like, "How do I tell her?" (00:38:44) because I just lost my job and the (00:38:46) severance was like 1,000 bucks or (00:38:49) something or two grand or some tiny (00:38:50) severance. (00:38:52) I was like, "So, we have a,000 bucks." (00:38:55) So, I call my wife and I'm standing out (00:38:56) on the corner (00:38:58) and I was like, "I don't know how to (00:39:00) tell you this, sweetie. I just don't (00:39:02) know what to say, but I just got laid (00:39:04) off. I don't know what we're going to (00:39:05) do." And um she's like, "Okay, we'll (00:39:09) figure this out. We'll make it work." (00:39:12) And it like immediately like put me at (00:39:14) ease because I was like, "Okay, yeah, we (00:39:16) can get this right." And we ended up (00:39:20) literally uh putting a U-Haul together, (00:39:23) moving back here. On my drive up, I (00:39:26) called uh my contacts and I got a job (00:39:28) offer by the time we hit Utah. (00:39:32) Um but in that moment, you couldn't have (00:39:34) convinced me it was the best thing ever. (00:39:36) >> Yeah. But it was the greatest thing for (00:39:38) me in my life cuz got her back here with (00:39:41) her family and her support system. She (00:39:43) was doing so great raising her kids (00:39:45) here, everything else. So, but I could (00:39:47) tell you maybe a big chunk of those (00:39:50) times going through those hard times (00:39:51) where she said the same thing. Okay, (00:39:53) >> we'll figure it out. (00:39:55) >> We'll make it work. Right. (00:39:56) >> And that's like it's not talked about (00:39:59) enough how much (00:40:00) >> that means to an entrepreneur to have a (00:40:03) supportive person, you know, backing (00:40:05) them. (00:40:05) >> Yeah. Right. (00:40:06) >> You know, I always tell people one of (00:40:08) the greatest business decisions I ever (00:40:11) made was marrying my wife. (00:40:13) >> Yeah. (00:40:13) >> You know, (00:40:14) >> that's close to your life, bro. (00:40:15) >> Absolutely. Tell people I was like, (00:40:17) "Hey, you know how I'm a good salesman? (00:40:18) Look at my wife." You know, she married (00:40:20) up. (00:40:21) >> For sure. We all did. (00:40:22) >> But just having that somebody to, you (00:40:25) know, that that has the confidence in (00:40:27) you, right? To believe in you at times (00:40:29) where you frankly don't believe in (00:40:30) yourself is everything as an (00:40:31) entrepreneur, (00:40:32) >> right? you know, and you've talked about (00:40:34) two rocks, right? And there's a third (00:40:36) one that you've mentioned. (00:40:38) >> Yeah. (00:40:38) >> Multiple times in different ways that I (00:40:40) really want to (00:40:41) >> kind of understand more your perspective (00:40:44) on and hear more of that. But, um, you (00:40:46) know, your your daughters as well as (00:40:48) your wife (00:40:49) >> um, and heavenly father. (00:40:51) >> Yeah. (00:40:51) >> You you've talked about, you know, God (00:40:53) and (00:40:54) >> I I think that's another massive asset (00:40:58) in business contrary to what others (00:41:00) would say or believe, (00:41:01) >> right? But I I'd just love to get just a (00:41:03) little snippet of like, you know, how (00:41:06) has your faith, you know, helped you in (00:41:09) navigating the seas of entrepreneurship? (00:41:12) >> I think my faith has grown going through (00:41:14) hard times. Unfortunately, I wish I wish (00:41:16) I could say that during the great times, (00:41:19) I was like really faithful, but I feel (00:41:21) like my greatest faith is during the (00:41:22) darkest times. (00:41:23) >> Yeah. (00:41:24) >> Right. And and you find yourself on your (00:41:26) knees in those moments, right? And (00:41:30) there's certain times that I know I (00:41:31) could not have made it through all that (00:41:33) without all three rocks, right, between (00:41:36) your family and God in your life. (00:41:38) >> Yeah. (00:41:38) >> And there's so many times I turn to him (00:41:41) and just ask for help as we all do. (00:41:43) >> Yeah. (00:41:43) >> And you know what? It's been amazing to (00:41:45) see him. You know, you don't know it in (00:41:47) the moment, but all of a sudden you're (00:41:48) like, how did this person come in? How (00:41:50) did I think to call this person after (00:41:53) getting laid off? and that person (00:41:55) happened to have an incredible position (00:41:57) that I really needed in that time in my (00:41:59) life. And then you look back and you're (00:42:02) like that that happened for an a (00:42:04) absolute reason. That was not a (00:42:06) coincidence that you think do you think (00:42:08) that we're smart and everything all you (00:42:10) look back you're like you know what (00:42:11) >> yeah maybe maybe we're more dependent (00:42:14) than we think that he's putting those (00:42:16) people in our place for certain reasons, (00:42:17) right? (00:42:18) >> I'm sure that's how you feel in in your (00:42:20) world. (00:42:20) >> 100%. And I uh you know I I once heard (00:42:24) and I can't even remember I wish I could (00:42:25) give credit where it's due. I can't (00:42:27) remember where I heard it from but you (00:42:29) know someone once said that (00:42:30) entrepreneurship is probably one of the (00:42:33) greatest acts that you can take one of (00:42:36) the greatest paths you can take on in (00:42:38) the journey of faith because it (00:42:40) constantly brings you to your knees. (00:42:42) >> Yeah. (00:42:42) >> Right. I've had that experience (00:42:43) >> and that's exactly what it is, man. (00:42:45) >> Yeah. (00:42:46) >> Sean, this has been incredible. like (00:42:48) I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know (00:42:50) you, hearing the insights. Um, obviously (00:42:53) this is the No Rescue podcast where we (00:42:55) highlight those moments (00:42:57) >> where you realize nobody's coming to (00:42:59) save you. (00:43:00) >> Um, and in that breath as we (00:43:02) >> as we kind of bow out of this podcast, I (00:43:05) just want to ask you one last question. (00:43:08) in those moments that you've had (00:43:10) multiple times, you have these rocks, (00:43:12) you have, you know, these experiences (00:43:14) you've talked about where you realize no (00:43:16) one's coming to rescue you, (00:43:18) >> what is the one piece of advice that (00:43:19) you're telling yourself, right? These (00:43:21) people that are watching this and (00:43:22) they're in the moment, what are you (00:43:23) telling them? (00:43:24) >> Yeah, I I you know, I I I work with (00:43:26) people and a lot of them that I talk to (00:43:28) are struggling and and different (00:43:31) seasons, right? (00:43:32) >> Yep. We have seasons we go through and (00:43:34) they and and and so as I'm talking to (00:43:36) them, what I found is a lot of times (00:43:38) when they're going through their (00:43:39) struggles, they start closing themselves (00:43:42) off and it's kind of the worst thing you (00:43:43) can do. And what I found that get help (00:43:46) me through all that stuff is spending (00:43:49) time with people. And the more authentic (00:43:52) you can be, if you're talking to a savvy (00:43:54) person, be authentic. Be real. Cuz that (00:43:57) person's been through wars, too. And (00:43:59) they've been through no rescue moments. (00:44:02) And if you're real with them, you're (00:44:03) going to get real advice and you're (00:44:04) going to get real relationship. (00:44:06) But the greatest way to scale anything (00:44:09) is to scale relationships in business. (00:44:11) Period. And I've lived it. I've um I I (00:44:16) preach it. And so if you're watching (00:44:18) this and you're struggling in any way, (00:44:19) shape, or form, start reaching out to (00:44:21) people in your community. Reach out to (00:44:23) your phone. Start putting your stuff (00:44:24) together. Go to live events like we did (00:44:26) last week. start really building that (00:44:29) that community, you know, and that that (00:44:31) will determine your altitude of what you (00:44:33) can do in business. (00:44:35) >> Sean, this has been an incredible (00:44:37) moment. I appreciate the time. A lot of (00:44:40) nuggets in there. Thank you for spending (00:44:42) the day with us, for letting us to (00:44:44) >> kind of pull the curtain back. Um, this (00:44:46) has been incredible. (00:44:47) >> When I saw the schedule, I was like, six (00:44:49) hours. (00:44:50) >> This is so awesome. One, it's (00:44:52) dedication. You're thinking things (00:44:54) different. You're putting out content. (00:44:55) And this flew by. I mean, this was an (00:44:58) absolute blast and and it's such an (00:45:00) honor that you invited me. (00:45:01) >> Well, I appreciate you being here. This (00:45:03) has been incredible for the No Rescue (00:45:04) family. I know they appreciate you. (00:45:06) Thank you so much. Please let me know if (00:45:08) you need anything. Appreciate you being (00:45:10) on. (00:45:10) >> Thank you, Lame. Appreciate it. (00:45:16) >> Sponsored by Proto Flavored Protein, not (00:45:20) protein flavored. Discover our 20 plus (00:45:23) luxury flavors at photoshop.com.