September 6, 2023 • 48 mins
Chris Krimitsos is a renowned figure in the tech and podcasting industry and has left an indelible mark with his groundbreaking achievements. He's not only shattered world records with a global podcasting event, but also pioneered the first-of-its-kind blockchain event. Chris is a thought leader who consistently pushes boundaries, having twice etched his name in the Guinness World Records™ for hosting the largest virtual podcasting conference in one week. His dedication to community-building has transformed the Podfest™ Multimedia Expo into an international phenomenon, benefiting countless content creators.
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(00:00):
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very big day ofrapid results episode 50, and this would not be
possible without today's guest, ChrisKrommetzos, he is actually the founder of
podcast Expo.
And the reason why I even have podcast today,along with several other thousand creators and
podcasters around the world.
And in case you're wondering a little bit aboutwho this Chris Commitso sky, besides the guy
(00:23):
with the Greek last name.
He is a renowned figure in the tech andpodcasting industry, and he's left an indelible
mark with his groundbreaking achievements.
Not only has he shadowed world records with hisglobal podcasting event, but he's also pioneer
the first of its kind blockchain events.
He's a thought leader who consistently pushesboundaries, having twice etch his name and the
(00:43):
Guinness World Records for hosting the world'slargest virtual podcasting event in 1 week,
Andrew his journey into the world of dedicationto his community has transformed the podcast
multimedia expo into an internationalphenomenon benefiting countless creators around
the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, Chris Kromitzos.
Chris Tell us what is the biggest and best bestdeal you're most proud of?
(01:06):
Probably delivering my second daughter.
My mother-in-law and I delivering her, whenKatie was in labor in the house because we
couldn't make it out of the house.
So that was the one of the biggest deals, ever.
And being in the room for the first one,especially, as far as business, probably
putting on the 2020 podcast before thelockdowns came around.
(01:28):
It was the most nerve racking and scariest timeI've ever had in the most relieving times.
After we were done Andrew, you know, everybodywas safe.
This was, you know, at the time, not knowingwhat was coming, but knowing it was scary.
So that was that was one of the most relieving,but also taught me to focus on what you have
(01:54):
control over and was a is a big learning lessonas a human being.
How many people were at that 2020 event?
Just out of 2000.
Yeah.
It was a big event Andrew people are comingfrom all over, but also, as you can imagine, it
was so close to the lockdowns.
People are also canceling in real time.
So it was just a very weird time.
We didn't know what was about to happen, but weall had ideas.
(02:18):
No.
That's so cool being at the peek of themountain and Andrew then obviously, obviously,
the the lockdown shut down a lot of businessesthat broke a lot of spirits, but the fact that
it made you stronger and wanna do a virtualevent and, going to break 2 Guinness World
Records.
That that's so incredible.
I'm curious.
So you have you have a TV background, you havean events background, Tell us what do you wish
(02:39):
you knew earlier when it comes to taking lifeby the horns?
Like, you've always been gung ho about thingsit seems, but tell us more about that.
I would say it was just a really goodmanifester.
Like, I I I've always been good at visualizingwhat it is I wanna create or build Andrew then
I was really good at stepping into it, takingaction Andrew living into that vision.
(03:00):
So, I developed that skill by going for walksas a as a kid Andrew thinking out loud,
literally talking to myself and visualizing SoI didn't know what I was doing at the time.
I just knew I liked doing it, and it was vivid.
But at the time, what I was doing wasreinforcing my conscious mind Andrew selling
(03:21):
myself a vision of what I wanted.
And that is something that has served me reallywell.
Since I've had kids and I've gotten older, youhave to really carve that time out, to do that
and to keep that focus because if you don't,negativity could creep in and helped out and
all these different things.
So it's something that I've learned to alwaysdo.
(03:41):
And if I notice that I'm slipping, it'ssomething I have to do more of.
No.
I I love that.
And I think people forget, how simple and howimportant it is to take a walk Was there a
specific, moment or manifestation?
We're like, oh my gosh.
This thing actually works.
All I have to do is walk and manifest in itAndrew it Well,
I also took a lot of action after I wasvisualizing it.
(04:04):
So in order to manifest, you gotta take a lotof action towards that, journey.
Even if you're scared.
So I would say in my late twenties, I startedrealizing, what I was doing unconsciously and
how it worked out in my life.
And, at that time, you know, the the movie, thesecret came out and a lot of things people
(04:25):
could understand what was happening.
And when you put the p puzzle pieces together,I realized from a early age of even 8 or 9, I
was doing little things like that.
Which were helping me and serving me well,throughout my life.
Oh, that makes sense.
And, and thank you again for clarifying thatthat it's more than just manifesting.
It's a lot of action.
(04:47):
And, for those who don't know, Chris and I'mworking together the past 3 years, and it's a
lot of work too.
You just get us sit around and, think all day,unfortunately.
So, Mister Grum, one of the largest communitiesin in the world when it comes to pod casting
and and, helping create these, these wonderful,really families.
What do most people get wrong when it comes togrowing their communities and followings?
(05:09):
They don't listen.
So a lot of people assume that I createsomething Andrew the community shows up and
follows what I create we listen very carefullyto the community.
We take note in their feedback.
We listen to what their needs are.
Obviously, there's things that we think we needto implement because we know through our
(05:30):
experience, but a lot of it is collaborative.
So what we're doing is navigating Andrewcrowdsourcing information within the community
to better serve that community.
And then within that, finding leaders to leadthe charge because, a small team, like, we have
can't fulfill every Weiss, but if you find thewisdom in the community and the leaders within
that community and ask them for help, they notonly rise up in service, what is needed, They
(05:56):
help you grow the community by bringing otheramazing people along, the fold.
So I would just say one of the key things tocommunities, one, never judge it by its size.
So a lot of people don't realize podcaststarted with thirteen people at a meetup, at a
Mimi's cafe.
And then over time, we've grown into thethousands, but we didn't care if there was a
hundred people, eleven people, or thirteenpeople, we're having a good time throughout
(06:20):
Andrew, making sure to listen to the feedbackAndrew also understanding what feedback not to
listen to.
There are some people that complain abouteverything all the time throughout their entire
lives.
So you also have to have an acute listening tounderstand.
Okay.
That person, no matter what you do, they'rejust they're a person that will always find
what bothers them in a situation.
(06:42):
They are good people to have around if you wantto know, like, if something bothered you to see
if it bothers them because they always arelooking at that.
But you wanna you wanna have that could giveyou really good well rounded feedback, and you
gotta pay attention to the signals from certainpeople in your community that could give you
really good feedback.
Yeah.
Is there a way to seek that out of, what'sconsidered good feedback and what's considered,
(07:04):
okay, they're just complaining
I mean, if we produce our community virtuallyAndrew person, we have, you know, we do a
virtual event once a year and then in persononce once a year.
In person, there's a couple things, doing thisas long as I've done that's really important.
In person, If you're if you're done with, like,the education part and people run out of the
(07:26):
room, it wasn't as valuable as you might think.
Doesn't mean it was a valuable.
It's just if people stay after a presenter'sdone to mingle or linger, there's an energetic
thing that happened during that presentationwhere they feel like, there's something there.
So I watch those things.
Obviously, we send out surveys after andsometimes even during events, you wanna do
(07:50):
that.
Some other telltale signs Ungatheringinformation is asking your team correlating
what they saw, what they didn't see, yourvolunteers, asking people, you know, Sometimes
someone can't relate what to do better, butthey can relate what they heard.
That's very important to me.
(08:10):
So I used to have a friend.
Oh, I have a friend that's a valet, and heknows when a Broadway show does well because he
works outside of performing arts.
When someone leaves a performing arts, that'swhen they're telling the truth from the time
they walk out of there to their car.
So if you have volunteers that are stationedthroughout your event, Always ask them what did
people say?
(08:30):
And they'll and I don't and you've seen this.
I don't ask them to interpret what they said, II wanna know exactly what did you hear.
And then from here, you could piece togetherreally honest feedback in real time.
I love that idea.
Just like having strategically plays volunteersjust kinda sit there and listen.
And, you know, my wife, Felicia, she just gotdone with a, Broadway show and the the writer
(08:52):
for the show.
It was doing things like that where every,intermission Andrew bathroom break, he'd just
be hanging out in lobby by himself, pretendinglike he's just looking at the ceiling.
And so he should be like, what's he doing?
And she's like, ah, he he's listening.
Let's see for feedback.
So I I love that.
And tell us, what do most people need tounderstand about what are the most important
(09:14):
components for events to be successful just inin general?
Great education.
Great networking.
And if you have vendors, a great vendor youknow, expo hall experience if you have those 3
things.
So, I I have learned that the connecting of the10.
(09:39):
If you're looking to build a community, so Iwanna be very clear.
There's people that wanna sell their productsAndrew their focus is not building a community
even though they'll tell you they wanna build acommunity.
Their focus is I wanna sell a $1000 product andI have a hundred people and they have a whole
metric Andrew that's okay.
But if someone truly wants to build acommunity, you have to build in networking
(10:00):
breaks.
You have to figure out ways to connect yourattendees, some kind of networking exercises.
And then if you have sponsors, breaks with thesponsors and and utilizing that.
So finding a way to marry all those.
And then Outside, I'm an education junkie.
So I'm the kind of person that could sit there,take notes, see a 100 different speakers.
Take take a nugget from each one.
(10:21):
Andrew I'm excited and happy and I could gohome.
Say that was a great event.
There's half of the audience wants a greatsocial Andrew social is a party.
After the event stuff.
Who doesn't wanna party?
Yes.
So if you don't, you know, and and a lot ofpeople like, well, I don't have the funds or
sometimes it could be as simple as, hey, We'reall hanging out at this place after the event
meet us out here Andrew assigning a place whereeverybody could let off steam.
(10:45):
One of the most popular things at podcast ishow at the moon, which is a dueling piano bar.
We've done it now for the last few years.
We bust people out there, but even if we toldthem, hey, meet up there, think our attendees
would still have a great time, without havingto, you know, cater to them.
Karaoke's fun.
Those those those are those are communitybuilders.
(11:05):
And the reason why that's important, that'swhere people Andrew energy calibrates Andrew
people meet people like themselves Andrew theycreate connections, and then they sync up to me
back next year at your event and probably bringfriends.
To literally hang out at that social event.
Andrew sometimes that might be the propositionthat gets them in for the next year's event.
(11:26):
That's such a interesting thought.
So I never thought about how important that isthat, and that's, that really is a thing that
when you meet and meet people, the same people,multiple locations, you kinda go through these
time loops where you feel more and more bonded,like the more and more experiences and
locations you've been through together.
And so you you said you've been using thatstrategy from the very beginning that what kind
(11:48):
of event you're hosting?
You're making sure that the attendees aremeeting multiple patients together somehow.
Well, we remember I've done a lot of event Soin in a previous community we had, which was a
group of business owners, I never did socialsbecause I saw no value in them because I don't
drink So I'm a totaler.
So for me, it's like, what's a big deal havinga drink at the bar?
But I didn't realize, after the main event,we'd all go down to the bar and hang out at
(12:13):
Shula's was a steakhouse.
And one of the members said, why don't you do asocial once a year so all of us could get
together?
And I go, what what was the education fee?
He goes, there would be no education
No education.
There's no point for me.
So I would hang out after an educational eventbecause I could understand that.
Everybody's excited.
It's all made up.
I I and I remember, was in July.
(12:33):
And within 2 weeks' notice, I created Christmasin July with a taste of tequila.
It was just really cool.
I learned about acronyms Andrew know, havingthings that flow.
And we got over a 110 people in 1 week's timeduring it was July 25th.
Or something like that was around there.
And, it opened my eyes and this one member thatrecommended it would re up every year, and he
(12:59):
would only come to one event every year.
So he paid a membership dues just to come toone event So that's when I would say that
exposed my, thinking to socials.
Podcasts from its inception has always hadsocials after hours.
Because of that learning lesson early on whenin another community of the importance of of
socializing with each other after hours.
(13:22):
No.
That that that's so interesting.
And so that member who paid for the whole yearto only go to one event, would that be the
social event?
Yep.
Correct.
But I I was shocked.
I was like, I was like, are you I even askedhim, and she wanna renew.
You haven't got anything because none of those.
I I I'm renewing because you have that social.
So then we obviously created many more, socialactivities.
(13:44):
And then we even created like a a networkingevent where there was very little to no
education.
Just everybody hung out and just shared whothey were and hung out, you know, at, at a cool
place.
So it just goes to show you how important,everything is in interactions.
Now as far as emotional stacking, people atmultiple venues within a day, That's that's
(14:05):
just how events flow.
And that is a big thing because if you've metsomeone in 5 different venues within 36 hours,
It's almost like you've known them for, like, ayear.
Yeah.
But it all happened in 36 hours.
So that does happen, and I have seen that.
In today's world, your generation, especiallyMost people meet online and they network
(14:25):
online.
So when they're in person, that holds even moreweight than during my you know, my up and
coming because everything was in person for themost part.
No.
It makes a lot of sense.
And, Andrew so I'm curious too.
Like, if you were to be, like, a director ofevents too, like, if you're if there's already,
like, social gathering, would you encouragethem to test out education?
(14:48):
And, of course, if it's like an educationgathering, sounds like you'd encourage them to
do vice versa, or is it is it only, go one wayor another, essentially.
I mean, last year, we did, our pod tour in NewYork City and leeway Hara.
Amazing host.
Hosted us at a co workplace.
And after we said to everybody, let's go it wasin Times Square.
(15:08):
We go, let's go take a group shot, and thenlet's go to the pub.
I'll tell you what, the pub solidifiedeverything that happened in April earlier.
And if you ask me, what was more important thethe education or the pub.
In that instance, they're both so integral ineach other.
I don't think the pub would be as rich if wedidn't just spend 3 hours with, you know, how
(15:30):
many speakers in a cramped little room, right,to New York City.
It's like a tight room, fifty people.
Yeah.
So I I think both enriching each other.
And maybe if you wanna, you know, a heavysocial, having maybe a a speaker share 5 or 10
tips for 10 minutes before I bring networks.
What I've noticed is people, connect aroundcommonalities So if you had someone say, hey.
(15:53):
Where did you grow up Andrew where do you livenow?
Because most people have moved.
I would say, like, 80% people very few peoplelive where they grew up, but you know, they're
they're like a a third maybe or a 4th of thepeople.
And then you ask them to share maybe theirbirthday or their what do you call it?
The signs, you know, Capricorn, whatever.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Astrology.
Yeah.
(16:14):
Yeah.
This may be a piece of a business advice.
A lot of people would think that the The, whereyou Andrew up, where you live now, birthday,
and astrology sign is a weird thing.
But what happens is the birthdays group upbecause they're like, hey.
I'm September birthday commonality number 1 oror in a room of 50.
There's gonna be a couple of have the samebirthday.
(16:36):
So they bond right away.
The the astrology stuff people bond over thateven the people that say, don't believe in it.
They know about it.
You know, there's something.
Yeah.
It's a conversation starter.
And then, you know, if you give them a businessthing or tell me about your podcast or tell me
about your show.
That's another commonality.
So what that does is it creates a hyper bondvery quickly just off of 3 very simple
(17:00):
questions that you're asking.
Because if I know you grew up in your WeissCoast, but now you live East Coast, I might
have a sports team or college team that youmight know.
There's a lot of things that people createcommonalities, or I know what kind of
microphone you use, you know, in a podcastingsetting.
So you just gotta think about the the the groupthat you're dealing with Andrew what the
commonalities might be.
(17:21):
Oh, that makes a lot of sense.
I know listeners are wondering what so what soyour September birthday, what what is your
astrology sign for September 23rd?
I'm a Libra, but it depends on what charts, butI I would say Libra from the.
You would say Libra.
I like it.
Oh, it's on charts has a Scorpio, I think.
I'm not sure, but, Libra for the most, most ofthem.
And I was born on the fall Equinox, which Ilike.
(17:44):
The day of equal light, Andrew equal dark.
Interesting.
You're very balanced.
Let's get cool and start around that day,meaning, not not necessarily daytime, but at
night, things cool down because there areshifts.
Very cool.
I love it.
So tell us, recently, you've been a you'veenjoyed in in a business obsessed with a quote,
(18:05):
consistent discipline.
And so, obviously, for those listening in,we're coming on podcast, 10 year anniversary.
Chris and I both got Podcast shirts on.
I got the 2024.
He has 2023.
On the past in the future.
Yes.
And so it's happening January 25th at 28 inWindham Orlando.
We'd love to be there, but, this is 10 years inthe making and or 10 events in the making.
(18:27):
And so Chris tells where where does it take tohave that consistent discipline to be able to
do this for 10 10 events, 10 years?
It's it's very difficult, and it's very trying,especially with COVID thrown in the middle of
those 10 years.
So It's very rewarding.
I'm very grateful to have people like yourselfthat are, work on the team, Wendy, of course.
It's just, you gotta be stubborn?
(18:49):
You gotta be consistent.
What was the two words?
It was consistent discipline.
Right?
I would say I'm not as disciplined the last fewyears as I can be, so I'm I'm that really
resonated with me.
Like, you really gotta be disciplined.
But consistent, I I I for the most part, youcould count on podcast being consistent.
(19:12):
It's been a difficult road, a very rewardingroad, Andrew it's been amazing to see so many
people connecting and transforming, sharingstories and coming back seeing growth stories
that very few people see across, the globereally, because people from all over the world
show up through our doors, whether it bevirtually or in person.
(19:33):
So it's been an amazing feat to close in at,the 10 10 year mark.
Yeah.
And so how how have you been able to stayconsistent.
And, I know you said you've been better atdiscipline.
I'm sure we call you a better discipline, butwhat has been that that motivating factor or
your your methods to help help stay consistentfor everything?
Well, I feel a a great sense of responsibilityto people in general.
(19:56):
So with podcast, I feel like podcast is notmine or yours or anyone's.
I feel like it the community owns the event.
So that is very easy to feel, responsibilityfor the quality of the event because I see what
What we do at podcast is a privilege.
(20:17):
And the privilege is people entrust us withtheir time, their money, and, time away from
their families to be with us as creators.
So that creates a huge sense of responsibilityin me to make sure that we do the best we can
with the resources we have to create anoutsized experience for our attendees, our
(20:41):
community.
So I would say that's that's 1.
And 2, I I've always been very consistent withmy communities.
I enjoy it.
I mean, I still do the Florida PodcastAssociation every month in Tampa.
People always ask me, how do you get 20, 30, 40people there?
It's like we haven't really missed even duringCOVID, we were doing via Zoom, and then we came
(21:01):
back out live events.
So we're just we're just consistent in in ouran hour delivery.
And I guess if you're passionate aboutsomething, it's easy to be consistent about it.
And, and for this next question, like, maybeyou have a rough estimate.
Maybe you don't, but, obviously, the fact thatpodcast started with just, thirteen people
meeting up at Mimi's Cafe I know a lot of thosethirteen people have become full time content
(21:25):
creators.
And so and obviously, it's thanks to you, it'sthanks the podcast and the shows that, you
actually do know what you're talking about.
Pod Fest does actually know how to help people.
From that, group of 13 and maybe group thefirst 100 for the first ever podcast.
Do you have an estimate how many people you'reable to turn into full time content creators
that after they attended the event?
(21:46):
I I don't know about full time, quite a few onthe full time side, but I know we've helped,
start a few 1000 podcasts through because, youknow, we have the event, but when we did pot
global during COVID, I mean, we were bringingin 6 to 7000 people through those doors.
I know the the way they counted the numbers wasmuch lower.
(22:09):
Because the Guinness World record had so manydifferent stipulation on what counts, but we
had, you know, collectively all those virtualevents, and I think, something like 20 or
30,000 people come through our doors.
So we've helped people all over the world andit's very rewarding.
And I can tell you though, it is interesting towatch someone go from an idea to a podcast.
(22:29):
To then email them and they have an autoresponder Andrew they're like, hey.
I'll get back to you.
You know, here's if you have these Weiss,here's where you go.
Andrew then you have to, hey.
I have a gatekeeper, then they'll have anagent.
And I'm really proud of the fact that I've seenso many people grow for an an idea to a full
time creator.
It's it's an amazing thing to watch, and it'sit's a very fulfilling thing knowing that you
(22:52):
helped an independent creator get out there andcreate something beautiful.
Well, and, I wanna highlight, one example ofthat creator is, the incredible Katie Kromitsa
the the the wife of Chris, you're able to helpturn her into a a full time creator.
And so tell from, the husband, your your sideof you, how you helped her kinda go from a to
(23:14):
b.
I I know, a member I think is a podcast.
Another story she is talking about how just todo her first podcast, she was crying because
she didn't think she could handle doing it.
And now she's passed, what, 120,000,000downloads now.
Uh-uh, quite a few.
So the, Katie is her own.
She's her own planet.
She's an amazing woman.
(23:36):
I was able to have a small piece in it, butpart of it was we would do weekly strategies
around what her goals were how we could growthe show, how we could invest.
So, a lot of times, I'll I'll talk to peopleabout their podcast.
And the one thing they don't wanna do is investmoney.
They'll say, I don't really wanna money or Idon't really wanna put too much money into it.
(23:57):
We saw the podcast, as an opportunity to reachas many people as we can Andrew we saw it as a
privilege to set aside money and invest in thegrowth of her podcast.
And I was able to help put a marketing plan andgrowth plan, but her content just phenomenal
it's very easy to market, and that was able tohelp us go from a very small audience to a
(24:17):
global audience.
And she, you know, has people that she workswith that represent her, and it's been an
amazing experience to watch her go full circlefrom just her.
To a whole team of people and, you know, 17shows across her network.
So she does the women's meditation network fulltime.
There's nothing else that she does.
Andrew it's very fulfilling to watch the emailsand the responses she gets from women all over
(24:41):
the world.
That that's that's incredible.
And and what was that timeline from hercreating her first podcast episode to be able
to say I'm able to do this full time and Andrewa full time content creator.
Well, she already had one when we firststarted.
She started Biz Women Rock, which was forbusinesswomen, and I did the marketing on that.
So it took about 3 years, but that really I hadanother community I was running, and that paid
(25:03):
the bills.
And then shortly thereafter, around 3 years,bizarin rocks started bringing in quite a bit
of income.
So she was a full time business consultanthelping women all over.
Wow.
And then she did that for quite a few years,and then she stopped it, which people were
shocked because, I mean, she was really wellknown for it.
Yeah.
And she created the women's meditation network,and that has that took about 2 years before.
(25:26):
That was, like, really gone, producing somehuge results.
And the reason is we invested quite a bit ofmoney to support the marketing and getting the
brand and the name out there.
And the reason is I see it from the businessperspective.
A podcast to us is not just something.
If you wanna take it seriously, it's somethingthat we we knew that we we were serious about
(25:49):
it.
She was serious about it.
And something we wanted to market and grow.
And, that's what she did.
I love it.
Andrew, Do you do you have an estimate when youthink you'll pass a a 1,000,000,000 downloads?
Are you guys shooting for within 2 years,within 3 years?
He, goals on that?
It's interesting.
The first 100,000 takes, like, forever.
Then a 1,000,000 is quicker than 10,000,000 isquicker than a 100,000,000 is quicker.
(26:14):
I don't know when a billion will happen, but Iknow that, you know, probably in another
200,000,000 is not too far off.
But, you know, that that being said, shestarted with one amazing download, and she just
focused on it, and she expanded on it.
And she grew she listened to the audience.
So if if anyone's wondering, like, how did thateven happen?
(26:34):
She started with one show, meditation forwomen, and she then expanded it to sleep
meditation for women, morning meditation forwomen, and then she just kept expanding her
universe to own that space and deliver amazingmeditations for women all over the world.
No.
I love it.
I love it.
And, the entrepreneurs and small businessowners and, people listening into, like, the
(26:58):
fact that you and Katie, you know, you get tobe called a a power You're both doing amazing
things, amazing entrepreneurs, raising kids.
Tell us what what that's like of how you andKatie navigate the teamwork of raising family
and, growing growing a business together.
Well, yeah.
Yeah.
So that's very that that's very challenging anddifficult.
Like, we do the best that we can, but our 2girls come first.
(27:20):
I would say Katie is an amazing parent, and I'mcatching up.
So I'm learning from her.
One of the things that I try and be home fordinner time, make sure I'm there with the girls
when they're doing homework.
And and, you know, daddy daughter dates is veryvery important to each girl, as well as play
dates with friends in the neighborhood.
(27:40):
So we're very active on the weekends.
As you know, I I usually don't do work on theweekends.
It's a policy.
And then on the weekdays, when I'm in town, Ilike either picking up the girls or spending
time with them.
Every parent knows there's dinner time, bathtime, you know, bedtime story time.
(28:01):
And then in the morning, kids go to schoolreally early.
So you gotta be up first thing in the morningand be ready for them.
And Luckily for me, we trade off Katie does themornings because I'm not a morning person, and
I'll help support at night.
So that that that's the trade off you guys haveis that, yeah, Katie does the mornings and
early afternoons, you do, early evenings, restof the evenings.
(28:21):
That's the team we're getting.
Katie does a lot more, but I do my best to makesure, yeah, that I could support Andrew, pick
up the kids and, you know, be with them afterhours.
And then when Katie needs a break, you know,I'm I'm there.
So I'll take the kids and she could work.
So it's a balance, but it's it's being inconstant communication.
There's times when the flow is really great.
(28:43):
Andrew then guess what?
There's 2 week vacations or there's summervacation, then you have to recalibrate.
So it's an ongoing, calibration.
But the main thing is to be present with thekids because they're the ones that see if
you're present Andrew listening to them.
So I like learning who their friends are,what's going on in class, and they'll tell you
If you listen, they'll tell you all kinds ofstuff, without judgment, and then just
(29:05):
understand, you know, my youngest, there was atime when she's like, hey.
I don't like so and so.
And they're not nice to me.
And at first, you're like, oh, man, mydaughter's getting bullied, but then you
realize, like, Something's going on.
Like, she might have pushed that kid Andrewthen they weren't nice to her, so you gotta get
the full story.
So now we know to ask clarifying questions.
(29:26):
Is that why end up happening?
The reason why another kid wasn't nice to them.
No.
I don't I don't we don't know.
We just know that.
It goes both ways whereas the old if somethinghappens, you wanna check out what happened
because she's a little she's a she's adifferent soul than the younger one.
That's all.
They're all kids are different.
So you gotta calibrate to your kid.
Of course.
That makes sense.
I like that that, seeing what's going on first.
(29:49):
And so tell us, so after you and and Katie hadkids, how did that affect your your your
business and and your relationship, like, telltell us how you, navigated, you know, obviously
before kids and after kids, essentially.
Well, the first business that I own was acommunity, but I would be out pretty much every
night of the week.
(30:10):
Doing events.
Almost always.
So I didn't turn off work till, like, 9 PM atnight, and I didn't I enjoyed it, so I didn't
even realize it was happening.
So when we were getting ready to have our firstdaughter, I actually sold that company because
I just, it wasn't even like, the family stuff.
It was just I was ready.
There's a lot of things that align.
(30:31):
Right?
And then I had a tough time.
The the first 2 years of Sedona's life.
I had a tough time because I sold it to agentleman that then, unfortunately, didn't have
an easy time running it, and he he was notrunning that business properly.
So I I step back in to help.
And then I transition when Sedona was about 2years, and then I started really revving up
(30:56):
podcast.
And I was able to be more present because withpodcast, it's a yearly event Andrew there's
other things that, you know, I was doingconsulting in the early years to make up for
the difference in income.
So All I could tell you is it's always been abalancing act.
What I've learned now is when I'm home with thegirls, you wanna be present with them, You
wanna ask them questions.
(31:17):
If they wanna talk to you, great.
If they don't, just be present.
And eventually, they'll open up and tell youeverything going so it's been a a great
blessing.
And then I'm very fortunate to have a friendthat lives down the street with two girls,
almost the same age as my two girls, Sosometimes we'll do daddy, you know, daughter,
walk around the neighborhood dates where wejust all go and give the mom some some downtime
(31:39):
to do what they need to do.
No.
It makes sense.
So so it's good good teamwork with Katiecommunicating.
And then, and I like what you said too.
It just like, obviously, you guys wanted kids.
You had to, adjust the business accordingly tohelp help make that happen.
So that's, awesome to hear.
So going back into, obviously, you've beendoing events for a long time.
(31:59):
You've met with, thousands of people, tell us alittle bit about besides just being besides
just, like, using Experian folks from resourceshas really helped you read people the best.
Books and resources, that help me read peoplethe best?
(32:21):
Yes.
K.
Honestly, the best resource for that wasrunning 2000 events and meeting people in
person and learning from each interaction.
So I I've developed a a very good emotional IQ.
(32:43):
So, By seeing thousands of situations play out,I've been able to to hone in and read crowds or
individuals.
As far as books, I enjoy.
I the relation books I like are like the 5 lovelanguages.
There's one called the way as superior man.
(33:03):
There's a lot of different things.
And that one just talks about, you know, energyand how how there's different kinds of energies
There's another book.
7 habits of highly effective people.
For whatever reason, by Stephen Covey, I alwayscome back to that one.
It just has so many good things or MichaelGerber E Myth Andrew the reason why those books
(33:24):
are so good, they're written in situations.
Like, they they have case studies, like, withreal life examples.
So you learn about human behavior and howpeople act, but I I would say the the majority
of my interactions Andrew you know this becauseyou helped me.
We see a lot of weird behavior when you'redoing events.
Mhmm.
And when you're dealing with thousands ofpeople, for instance, when I was doing smaller
(33:49):
events Andrew my events would be a hundredpeople.
Let's say it would be a big event for themonth, and the smaller events were 10 to 20 or
30.
When you're dealing with a 1000 or 2000 people,that's like doing 200 person events in 1.
So everything Andrew interaction condenses Soyou get to see a lot of unusual behavior,
Andrew you get to see a lot of exceptionalbehavior.
(34:11):
So you learn a lot.
On what makes some people tick.
You learn on, you know, certain behaviors youwanna be careful of.
It's just an interesting thing, that you learnif you're paying attention to the signs.
And I know you know sometimes I'll warn youabout someone in a behavior, and you might be
like, okay.
And then later on, it'll pan out.
(34:32):
And, you might be like, how did he know aboutthat?
It's from living through that situation andhaving, you know, just memory what do you call
it?
Muscle memory, mind memory of
of scenarios.
No.
It make it makes sense.
It's just, yeah, obviously, it's hard to beatexperience and about how many books and how
(34:54):
many courses you take and how much you read.
I'm sure experience definitely helps trump allthat
Katie said Katie had a saying, during her bizwoman rock day, she had a a guest.
I forgot to guest, but it was such a greatthing.
The greatest personal development course isstarting a business and having to deal with
people, employees, contractors, and the public.
Andrew there's no greater personal developmentcourse than that because you have to build
(35:18):
skills that you probably didn't have, or youhave to develop in order to succeed.
No.
It makes sense.
No.
I I love it.
And, I mean, yeah, I went to University ofOregon Andrew, they, you know, part of the
business program in business school is that,you know, they have you do business
simulations, talk about, oh, let's run asimulation here, but at Oregon States, I heard
(35:40):
that they say, okay, come up with a businessplan and start selling it and see what happens.
And, like, that's that's as real world as itgets.
So sometimes people make $20,000, sometimespeople make $20,000 and so it's definitely
exciting to just be thrown into the fire, but Iagree.
It's just, if you wanna get into the eventsbusiness, throw events.
If you wanna be a speaker, start speaking.
If you wanna be a coach, start coaching.
(36:01):
And so just, I love the importance, like, whatshe said, throw yourself in the fire.
Andrew so to kinda piggyback off of that,obviously, we spent a lot of time with
incredible people Andrew, and and part ofinteracting with thousands of people as you get
pick out all the these are some of the best,the best people I wanna associate myself with
and spend time with.
So tell us who who are some of your mentors andinspirations, and how'd you come across them?
(36:27):
One of the I have a lot of great mentors andinspirations because like you said, I've met so
many great people one of them usually, I valuethe people, I value family because I I don't
you don't realize this Some some people realizeit.
I didn't realize it till I was older.
Growing up in a in a big Greek family withextended cousins and relatives.
(36:50):
You have a family structure that is verysupportive.
Sometimes it could be dysfunctional.
Like, everybody will tell you that, you know,there's some there's some kind of dysfunction,
but I love this function.
Yeah.
There's always, like, but a loving a loving ifthere's love underlying there Andrew grew up in
in homes full of love, not only my home, myAndrew home, by ants, I should say.
(37:13):
I created an environment through my events, andI remember one gentleman.
His name was Jerry.
He would come to the event.
He was seventy two years old.
He'd come to my weekly meet ups, and he didn'the had all the money he needed, and I think he
just wanted to be around other people.
He had just lost his second Weiss.
And I remember at one point, he went to Italyand he had bought a brand new iPad And back
(37:37):
then, if you had the first run of iPads, peoplewanted to see him.
They were cool.
And I remember him sharing pictures on hisiPad, and everybody wanted to see him or him
going through Europe.
Andrew one day, he invited Katie and I out todinner because he really loved us as a couple.
And he he showed her those pictures in Italy,Andrew told Katie, he goes, you know, I love my
(37:58):
second wife.
I love every day with her.
And he goes, I went to Italy Andrew I retracedevery place we sat.
So he would take a picture at the park benchthat he was with with his Weiss.
So, he became A great inspiration because hetold us how much he loved his second wife, how
(38:18):
great their relationship was, but they workedon it and they would talk about things every
day.
He passed away and oddly enough, I saw hisgranddaughter.
He had a granddaughter.
They loved dearly.
She was a nurse, and he would she would visithim, see how he's doing.
He told me, he goes, when I'm gone, she'sgetting everything.
I love her.
You know, she's she's my everything.
(38:40):
And she posted on Facebook somehow she knewsomeone from podcast, so we were connected as
friends outside of him.
And I saw that he passed.
So I sent her a message, and I said, I justwanna let you know, You are your grandfather's
favorite.
And he loved you dearly.
And she said, you know, you are one of thetwelve numbers he left behind to call.
(39:01):
If anything should happen to him.
So, you know, those are the those are therelationships that I built, over a decade of
servicing community that, you know, you don'teven see it it's in it's in the noise, but not
to me, obviously, but it he was someone thatwould show up just to be around other people.
So you realize that we're just part of thishuge ant colony.
We all need a future to live into, but beingkind to one another and sharing experiences
(39:25):
and, supporting one another to me is a hugevalue Andrew I always love Jerry for that.
No.
That's such a wonderful story.
I definitely, definitely was tearing up alittle bit there.
If you wanna talking about, but you definitelywould have seen some, tears flowing.
So it's very, very powerful.
And and so Yeah.
Such a great story to someone who inspires you.
(39:49):
My next question is, as you're around all theseincredible people with, like, Christmas,
credible businesses Andrew relationships andand Andrew things like that.
How do you help battle imposter syndrome?
Know that's one of the the top things that,people struggle with nowadays.
Like, Jesus, do I deserve this lovingrelationship?
I deserve these wonderful kids.
Do I deserve this business success?
(40:09):
How do you help, navigate that?
So that's not nowadays.
That's always gone on.
People love to compare themselves to otherpeople and love to think, like, I'm not there
yet.
I'm less than.
And those are very, limiting beliefs that popup.
So you need to kinda, you know, the stoicism orBuddhism, you need to know that you are where
(40:32):
you need to be, that you're doing great work.
Andrew you need to believe in your mission.
So, not everybody's gonna be Elon Musk.
He's there for a reason doing what he's doing.
Not everybody's gonna be mother Theresa.
So I would just say, compare compare comparingyourself to other people steals your joy.
(40:52):
So, I would find I would find the happiness inwhat you're doing and try and quiet the mind
and not allow your subconscious to steal yourjoy.
And if you could do that, then you need to talkto yourself and get yourself out of that
thought pattern.
(41:12):
And like I said, for me, I walk and talk, soI'm able to program my subconscious by by
thinking out loud.
When I do that, I'm at my best.
I'm focused on the positives and what is, but Ido I do find we have to be careful of better
than bigger certain words are the ego's way oftrying to feel better Andrew doesn't do any
(41:38):
good.
No.
That that makes sense.
And, do you have do you have, like, any, like,go to people that you talk to when you're going
through this, or is it like a go to, like,journal entry you have or, like, exercise that
you do besides walking, like, you, like, be,like, a bunch of push ups because I I think I
heard that, I think Bill Gates at one pointtoo, like, whenever he told himself, he
(42:01):
couldn't do something.
He did a push up for every no he heard in hismind or something like that.
Anything you do like that,
Yeah.
No.
Everything works for everybody different ways.
For me, it would be walking and talking.
So, a walk by myself talking things out loud.
So if most people, like, I need a quiet spacefor me, it's like, no.
No.
If I walk and I get into a rhythm, then I starttalking to myself.
(42:21):
I'm able to think outside of my head and see mythoughts because I'm a visual person.
And then I could figure out, Kinda where Iwanna go and what's going on.
Oh, it makes sense.
I love that.
Plus, we're, wrapping up here.
I have a few more questions Chris, tell uswhat's the next end game or end games you're
(42:42):
working on, you know, being a visionary, beinga a groundbreaker, what what are some of the
and game parenthesis, s are you working on?
Well, you know, podcast 10 year anniversary,that's gonna be huge.
So we're working on that.
A really exciting start to it.
We're we're we're looking like it might be arecord crowd for us, so we're really excited
about that.
(43:02):
As far as Me personally, I'm, I'm building anaviary.
So I'm looking to build an aviary in the backof my house, and that's where you know, I could
keep some sunbirds or, you know, just some moremore of a hobby.
I do a lot of wildlife.
Like, right now, I don't know if you know this,Andrew.
I don't know if I told you.
But there's flamingos in Florida because of thehurricane.
(43:23):
It blew 50 Flamingo Flamingos.
Woah.
They got they went off the Yucatan.
They got lost in the jet stream.
And right now, Florida.
Yeah.
Pinellas County.
So I wanna check that off the list that I sawFlamingo in the US.
Do more wildlife adventures.
I I really like going out into places.
(43:43):
Most people would not feel comfortable, butI'll go into places and explore like the
everglades.
And sometimes when you're hiking in theeverglades, some of those trails are
underwater.
So you just have to be careful.
Yeah.
Have you gotten close to any danger with, anyEverglades, interactions at all?
I was with someone once and they stepped on arattlesnake, so I pushed them off of it once,
(44:05):
but it wasn't, Florida doesn't have, it'sreally weird.
Florida has the largest rattlesnake in Americaand the smallest.
So it was a pygmy rattlesnake.
So luckily, it wasn't big enough to coil, but Iremember seeing, and I was like, I push I was
like, what are you doing?
And I pushed them off.
They weren't looking where where they'rewalking.
Certain trails, you have to look down as muchas you look forward and up.
(44:27):
Oh my gosh.
That's so cool.
And last few questions.
What are the nonnegotiable actions entrepreneurto be successful in your opinion?
You can't have a backup plan.
You you like, I'm not a big opponent of like,oh, when this if this doesn't happen, I'm gonna
do this.
You kinda have to burn all bridges.
So that's a big deal to entrepreneurship.
(44:52):
You need to have a vision of what you wannalive into, and you need to have a way to adjust
your vision.
So you can't be so This you will see this on,like, shows like Shark Tank.
You could see it.
Like, you and I are watching the show.
However, we're all watching the show.
We're like, wow.
That per not gonna succeed because they're noteven listening to the market feedback they're
getting.
Now I'm not saying they should listen to sharksevery time, but when they're all saying certain
(45:16):
things, Andrew it seems like they know a littlebit about a market.
You gotta be able to listen and adjust.
That way you could get to where you wanna go.
Oh, I love it.
Some people, you have to start ugly.
Oh, yes.
So you definitely wanna start ugly.
And and for those listening into, Chrisactually wrote a book called start ugly.
(45:36):
Oh, no.
Thank you for the plug.
I wasn't expecting you.
So definitely checking out Amazon.
Andrew believe that book, loud to be able totravel the country, give a bunch of speeches.
I've read the book.
It's about a 20, 30 minute read, and so Idefinitely recommend checking it out.
Start ugly on on Amazon.
Definitely highly recommend it.
And, it's a lot less few questions is, yeah,when you wake up each day, what what gets you
(46:00):
fired up most about about the day?
I'm working on that because I'm not a wake upguy, but I am I am excited for You know, it's
funny.
When you and I write an email and it's a goodone, I'm fired up to see, like, the result of
that.
Usually, I'm fired up to go outside becauseright now, the weather's really good in
(46:20):
Florida.
It's not as hot as it once was.
It's just to feel the warm sun on the skin, itgets me really excited because it's so
beautiful out.
So that's that's one thing.
And and I have my coffee in the morning and andhead to the office.
Oh, I love it.
I love it.
And then the last two questions are what's howcan we, best contact you and get a hold of you?
(46:41):
People wanna learn more about you and with thelegendary Chris Camitzos.
Yeah.
I don't know about legendary, but Chris atpodcast expo.com or just on Facebook, and any
of the social platforms I'm pretty much on allof them.
Alright.
Perfect.
And then, what's the one takeaway you wantsomeone to have with this interview today?
It's kinda like a painting I have in my house.
(47:02):
I always tell people, keep your feet on theground, your eyes on the stars.
You should always be looking at I I justwatched Blue zones.
There's a Netflix special about the book, andBlue zones are where people live to a hundred
plus years old.
One of the things that was consistent besidesthe the food, the health, it's not processed,
you know, all the things that we think of butone of the things he mentioned is they always
(47:25):
they they had a mission.
So, like, the the sentinarians in Costa Rica,the one guy was still cattle.
He's a hundred years old riding a horse,hurting the cattle every morning.
You know, or the the people in Greece theywere, you know, preparing meals.
Like, they were farming.
So having a a future to live into, and it couldbe as simple as I give you an example.
(47:49):
Let's say you're retired and and there thishappens a lot.
A lot of people lose their juice when they getretired.
They don't have anything to do.
Well, if you picked up a hobby like birding, Idon't know if you know how obsessive burgers
are about, getting the their species on thelist It's like a big deal.
The list.
Have that's a future to live into.
(48:10):
It's a reason to get up in the morning and dosomething.
So if you could find whatever that is as simpleas it might be, that is actually foundational
to the quality of life you're gonna have.
I I love it.
Keep your feet on the ground and your head inthe stars.
Well, eyes on the stars because if you'reedging the star, it's gonna explode because
it's gonna hit star.
I'm
(48:30):
eyes on the stars.
Eyes on the stars.
Alright.
Well, thank you again for the for an incredibleepisode, and, thank you all for listening in.
We'll see you next time from the episode ofRapid Results with Andrew Weiss, and, we'll see
you all then.
Cheers everyone.
Thanks, Andrew.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very big day ofrapid results episode 50, and this would not be
possible without today's guest, ChrisKrommetzos, he is actually the founder of
podcast Expo.
And the reason why I even have podcast today,along with several other thousand creators and
podcasters around the world.
And in case you're wondering a little bit aboutwho this Chris Commitso sky, besides the guy
(00:23):
with the Greek last name.
He is a renowned figure in the tech andpodcasting industry, and he's left an indelible
mark with his groundbreaking achievements.
Not only has he shadowed world records with hisglobal podcasting event, but he's also pioneer
the first of its kind blockchain events.
He's a thought leader who consistently pushesboundaries, having twice etch his name and the
(00:43):
Guinness World Records for hosting the world'slargest virtual podcasting event in 1 week,
Andrew his journey into the world of dedicationto his community has transformed the podcast
multimedia expo into an internationalphenomenon benefiting countless creators around
the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, Chris Kromitzos.
Chris Tell us what is the biggest and best bestdeal you're most proud of?
(01:06):
Probably delivering my second daughter.
My mother-in-law and I delivering her, whenKatie was in labor in the house because we
couldn't make it out of the house.
So that was the one of the biggest deals, ever.
And being in the room for the first one,especially, as far as business, probably
putting on the 2020 podcast before thelockdowns came around.
(01:28):
It was the most nerve racking and scariest timeI've ever had in the most relieving times.
After we were done Andrew, you know, everybodywas safe.
This was, you know, at the time, not knowingwhat was coming, but knowing it was scary.
So that was that was one of the most relieving,but also taught me to focus on what you have
(01:54):
control over and was a is a big learning lessonas a human being.
How many people were at that 2020 event?
Just out of 2000.
Yeah.
It was a big event Andrew people are comingfrom all over, but also, as you can imagine, it
was so close to the lockdowns.
People are also canceling in real time.
So it was just a very weird time.
We didn't know what was about to happen, but weall had ideas.
(02:18):
No.
That's so cool being at the peek of themountain and Andrew then obviously, obviously,
the the lockdown shut down a lot of businessesthat broke a lot of spirits, but the fact that
it made you stronger and wanna do a virtualevent and, going to break 2 Guinness World
Records.
That that's so incredible.
I'm curious.
So you have you have a TV background, you havean events background, Tell us what do you wish
(02:39):
you knew earlier when it comes to taking lifeby the horns?
Like, you've always been gung ho about thingsit seems, but tell us more about that.
I would say it was just a really goodmanifester.
Like, I I I've always been good at visualizingwhat it is I wanna create or build Andrew then
I was really good at stepping into it, takingaction Andrew living into that vision.
(03:00):
So, I developed that skill by going for walksas a as a kid Andrew thinking out loud,
literally talking to myself and visualizing SoI didn't know what I was doing at the time.
I just knew I liked doing it, and it was vivid.
But at the time, what I was doing wasreinforcing my conscious mind Andrew selling
(03:21):
myself a vision of what I wanted.
And that is something that has served me reallywell.
Since I've had kids and I've gotten older, youhave to really carve that time out, to do that
and to keep that focus because if you don't,negativity could creep in and helped out and
all these different things.
So it's something that I've learned to alwaysdo.
(03:41):
And if I notice that I'm slipping, it'ssomething I have to do more of.
No.
I I love that.
And I think people forget, how simple and howimportant it is to take a walk Was there a
specific, moment or manifestation?
We're like, oh my gosh.
This thing actually works.
All I have to do is walk and manifest in itAndrew it Well,
I also took a lot of action after I wasvisualizing it.
(04:04):
So in order to manifest, you gotta take a lotof action towards that, journey.
Even if you're scared.
So I would say in my late twenties, I startedrealizing, what I was doing unconsciously and
how it worked out in my life.
And, at that time, you know, the the movie, thesecret came out and a lot of things people
(04:25):
could understand what was happening.
And when you put the p puzzle pieces together,I realized from a early age of even 8 or 9, I
was doing little things like that.
Which were helping me and serving me well,throughout my life.
Oh, that makes sense.
And, and thank you again for clarifying thatthat it's more than just manifesting.
It's a lot of action.
(04:47):
And, for those who don't know, Chris and I'mworking together the past 3 years, and it's a
lot of work too.
You just get us sit around and, think all day,unfortunately.
So, Mister Grum, one of the largest communitiesin in the world when it comes to pod casting
and and, helping create these, these wonderful,really families.
What do most people get wrong when it comes togrowing their communities and followings?
(05:09):
They don't listen.
So a lot of people assume that I createsomething Andrew the community shows up and
follows what I create we listen very carefullyto the community.
We take note in their feedback.
We listen to what their needs are.
Obviously, there's things that we think we needto implement because we know through our
(05:30):
experience, but a lot of it is collaborative.
So what we're doing is navigating Andrewcrowdsourcing information within the community
to better serve that community.
And then within that, finding leaders to leadthe charge because, a small team, like, we have
can't fulfill every Weiss, but if you find thewisdom in the community and the leaders within
that community and ask them for help, they notonly rise up in service, what is needed, They
(05:56):
help you grow the community by bringing otheramazing people along, the fold.
So I would just say one of the key things tocommunities, one, never judge it by its size.
So a lot of people don't realize podcaststarted with thirteen people at a meetup, at a
Mimi's cafe.
And then over time, we've grown into thethousands, but we didn't care if there was a
hundred people, eleven people, or thirteenpeople, we're having a good time throughout
(06:20):
Andrew, making sure to listen to the feedbackAndrew also understanding what feedback not to
listen to.
There are some people that complain abouteverything all the time throughout their entire
lives.
So you also have to have an acute listening tounderstand.
Okay.
That person, no matter what you do, they'rejust they're a person that will always find
what bothers them in a situation.
(06:42):
They are good people to have around if you wantto know, like, if something bothered you to see
if it bothers them because they always arelooking at that.
But you wanna you wanna have that could giveyou really good well rounded feedback, and you
gotta pay attention to the signals from certainpeople in your community that could give you
really good feedback.
Yeah.
Is there a way to seek that out of, what'sconsidered good feedback and what's considered,
(07:04):
okay, they're just complaining
I mean, if we produce our community virtuallyAndrew person, we have, you know, we do a
virtual event once a year and then in persononce once a year.
In person, there's a couple things, doing thisas long as I've done that's really important.
In person, If you're if you're done with, like,the education part and people run out of the
(07:26):
room, it wasn't as valuable as you might think.
Doesn't mean it was a valuable.
It's just if people stay after a presenter'sdone to mingle or linger, there's an energetic
thing that happened during that presentationwhere they feel like, there's something there.
So I watch those things.
Obviously, we send out surveys after andsometimes even during events, you wanna do
(07:50):
that.
Some other telltale signs Ungatheringinformation is asking your team correlating
what they saw, what they didn't see, yourvolunteers, asking people, you know, Sometimes
someone can't relate what to do better, butthey can relate what they heard.
That's very important to me.
(08:10):
So I used to have a friend.
Oh, I have a friend that's a valet, and heknows when a Broadway show does well because he
works outside of performing arts.
When someone leaves a performing arts, that'swhen they're telling the truth from the time
they walk out of there to their car.
So if you have volunteers that are stationedthroughout your event, Always ask them what did
people say?
(08:30):
And they'll and I don't and you've seen this.
I don't ask them to interpret what they said, II wanna know exactly what did you hear.
And then from here, you could piece togetherreally honest feedback in real time.
I love that idea.
Just like having strategically plays volunteersjust kinda sit there and listen.
And, you know, my wife, Felicia, she just gotdone with a, Broadway show and the the writer
(08:52):
for the show.
It was doing things like that where every,intermission Andrew bathroom break, he'd just
be hanging out in lobby by himself, pretendinglike he's just looking at the ceiling.
And so he should be like, what's he doing?
And she's like, ah, he he's listening.
Let's see for feedback.
So I I love that.
And tell us, what do most people need tounderstand about what are the most important
(09:14):
components for events to be successful just inin general?
Great education.
Great networking.
And if you have vendors, a great vendor youknow, expo hall experience if you have those 3
things.
So, I I have learned that the connecting of the10.
(09:39):
If you're looking to build a community, so Iwanna be very clear.
There's people that wanna sell their productsAndrew their focus is not building a community
even though they'll tell you they wanna build acommunity.
Their focus is I wanna sell a $1000 product andI have a hundred people and they have a whole
metric Andrew that's okay.
But if someone truly wants to build acommunity, you have to build in networking
(10:00):
breaks.
You have to figure out ways to connect yourattendees, some kind of networking exercises.
And then if you have sponsors, breaks with thesponsors and and utilizing that.
So finding a way to marry all those.
And then Outside, I'm an education junkie.
So I'm the kind of person that could sit there,take notes, see a 100 different speakers.
Take take a nugget from each one.
(10:21):
Andrew I'm excited and happy and I could gohome.
Say that was a great event.
There's half of the audience wants a greatsocial Andrew social is a party.
After the event stuff.
Who doesn't wanna party?
Yes.
So if you don't, you know, and and a lot ofpeople like, well, I don't have the funds or
sometimes it could be as simple as, hey, We'reall hanging out at this place after the event
meet us out here Andrew assigning a place whereeverybody could let off steam.
(10:45):
One of the most popular things at podcast ishow at the moon, which is a dueling piano bar.
We've done it now for the last few years.
We bust people out there, but even if we toldthem, hey, meet up there, think our attendees
would still have a great time, without havingto, you know, cater to them.
Karaoke's fun.
Those those those are those are communitybuilders.
(11:05):
And the reason why that's important, that'swhere people Andrew energy calibrates Andrew
people meet people like themselves Andrew theycreate connections, and then they sync up to me
back next year at your event and probably bringfriends.
To literally hang out at that social event.
Andrew sometimes that might be the propositionthat gets them in for the next year's event.
(11:26):
That's such a interesting thought.
So I never thought about how important that isthat, and that's, that really is a thing that
when you meet and meet people, the same people,multiple locations, you kinda go through these
time loops where you feel more and more bonded,like the more and more experiences and
locations you've been through together.
And so you you said you've been using thatstrategy from the very beginning that what kind
(11:48):
of event you're hosting?
You're making sure that the attendees aremeeting multiple patients together somehow.
Well, we remember I've done a lot of event Soin in a previous community we had, which was a
group of business owners, I never did socialsbecause I saw no value in them because I don't
drink So I'm a totaler.
So for me, it's like, what's a big deal havinga drink at the bar?
But I didn't realize, after the main event,we'd all go down to the bar and hang out at
(12:13):
Shula's was a steakhouse.
And one of the members said, why don't you do asocial once a year so all of us could get
together?
And I go, what what was the education fee?
He goes, there would be no education
No education.
There's no point for me.
So I would hang out after an educational eventbecause I could understand that.
Everybody's excited.
It's all made up.
I I and I remember, was in July.
(12:33):
And within 2 weeks' notice, I created Christmasin July with a taste of tequila.
It was just really cool.
I learned about acronyms Andrew know, havingthings that flow.
And we got over a 110 people in 1 week's timeduring it was July 25th.
Or something like that was around there.
And, it opened my eyes and this one member thatrecommended it would re up every year, and he
(12:59):
would only come to one event every year.
So he paid a membership dues just to come toone event So that's when I would say that
exposed my, thinking to socials.
Podcasts from its inception has always hadsocials after hours.
Because of that learning lesson early on whenin another community of the importance of of
socializing with each other after hours.
(13:22):
No.
That that that's so interesting.
And so that member who paid for the whole yearto only go to one event, would that be the
social event?
Yep.
Correct.
But I I was shocked.
I was like, I was like, are you I even askedhim, and she wanna renew.
You haven't got anything because none of those.
I I I'm renewing because you have that social.
So then we obviously created many more, socialactivities.
(13:44):
And then we even created like a a networkingevent where there was very little to no
education.
Just everybody hung out and just shared whothey were and hung out, you know, at, at a cool
place.
So it just goes to show you how important,everything is in interactions.
Now as far as emotional stacking, people atmultiple venues within a day, That's that's
(14:05):
just how events flow.
And that is a big thing because if you've metsomeone in 5 different venues within 36 hours,
It's almost like you've known them for, like, ayear.
Yeah.
But it all happened in 36 hours.
So that does happen, and I have seen that.
In today's world, your generation, especiallyMost people meet online and they network
(14:25):
online.
So when they're in person, that holds even moreweight than during my you know, my up and
coming because everything was in person for themost part.
No.
It makes a lot of sense.
And, Andrew so I'm curious too.
Like, if you were to be, like, a director ofevents too, like, if you're if there's already,
like, social gathering, would you encouragethem to test out education?
(14:48):
And, of course, if it's like an educationgathering, sounds like you'd encourage them to
do vice versa, or is it is it only, go one wayor another, essentially.
I mean, last year, we did, our pod tour in NewYork City and leeway Hara.
Amazing host.
Hosted us at a co workplace.
And after we said to everybody, let's go it wasin Times Square.
(15:08):
We go, let's go take a group shot, and thenlet's go to the pub.
I'll tell you what, the pub solidifiedeverything that happened in April earlier.
And if you ask me, what was more important thethe education or the pub.
In that instance, they're both so integral ineach other.
I don't think the pub would be as rich if wedidn't just spend 3 hours with, you know, how
(15:30):
many speakers in a cramped little room, right,to New York City.
It's like a tight room, fifty people.
Yeah.
So I I think both enriching each other.
And maybe if you wanna, you know, a heavysocial, having maybe a a speaker share 5 or 10
tips for 10 minutes before I bring networks.
What I've noticed is people, connect aroundcommonalities So if you had someone say, hey.
(15:53):
Where did you grow up Andrew where do you livenow?
Because most people have moved.
I would say, like, 80% people very few peoplelive where they grew up, but you know, they're
they're like a a third maybe or a 4th of thepeople.
And then you ask them to share maybe theirbirthday or their what do you call it?
The signs, you know, Capricorn, whatever.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Astrology.
Yeah.
(16:14):
Yeah.
This may be a piece of a business advice.
A lot of people would think that the The, whereyou Andrew up, where you live now, birthday,
and astrology sign is a weird thing.
But what happens is the birthdays group upbecause they're like, hey.
I'm September birthday commonality number 1 oror in a room of 50.
There's gonna be a couple of have the samebirthday.
(16:36):
So they bond right away.
The the astrology stuff people bond over thateven the people that say, don't believe in it.
They know about it.
You know, there's something.
Yeah.
It's a conversation starter.
And then, you know, if you give them a businessthing or tell me about your podcast or tell me
about your show.
That's another commonality.
So what that does is it creates a hyper bondvery quickly just off of 3 very simple
(17:00):
questions that you're asking.
Because if I know you grew up in your WeissCoast, but now you live East Coast, I might
have a sports team or college team that youmight know.
There's a lot of things that people createcommonalities, or I know what kind of
microphone you use, you know, in a podcastingsetting.
So you just gotta think about the the the groupthat you're dealing with Andrew what the
commonalities might be.
(17:21):
Oh, that makes a lot of sense.
I know listeners are wondering what so what soyour September birthday, what what is your
astrology sign for September 23rd?
I'm a Libra, but it depends on what charts, butI I would say Libra from the.
You would say Libra.
I like it.
Oh, it's on charts has a Scorpio, I think.
I'm not sure, but, Libra for the most, most ofthem.
And I was born on the fall Equinox, which Ilike.
(17:44):
The day of equal light, Andrew equal dark.
Interesting.
You're very balanced.
Let's get cool and start around that day,meaning, not not necessarily daytime, but at
night, things cool down because there areshifts.
Very cool.
I love it.
So tell us, recently, you've been a you'veenjoyed in in a business obsessed with a quote,
(18:05):
consistent discipline.
And so, obviously, for those listening in,we're coming on podcast, 10 year anniversary.
Chris and I both got Podcast shirts on.
I got the 2024.
He has 2023.
On the past in the future.
Yes.
And so it's happening January 25th at 28 inWindham Orlando.
We'd love to be there, but, this is 10 years inthe making and or 10 events in the making.
(18:27):
And so Chris tells where where does it take tohave that consistent discipline to be able to
do this for 10 10 events, 10 years?
It's it's very difficult, and it's very trying,especially with COVID thrown in the middle of
those 10 years.
So It's very rewarding.
I'm very grateful to have people like yourselfthat are, work on the team, Wendy, of course.
It's just, you gotta be stubborn?
(18:49):
You gotta be consistent.
What was the two words?
It was consistent discipline.
Right?
I would say I'm not as disciplined the last fewyears as I can be, so I'm I'm that really
resonated with me.
Like, you really gotta be disciplined.
But consistent, I I I for the most part, youcould count on podcast being consistent.
(19:12):
It's been a difficult road, a very rewardingroad, Andrew it's been amazing to see so many
people connecting and transforming, sharingstories and coming back seeing growth stories
that very few people see across, the globereally, because people from all over the world
show up through our doors, whether it bevirtually or in person.
(19:33):
So it's been an amazing feat to close in at,the 10 10 year mark.
Yeah.
And so how how have you been able to stayconsistent.
And, I know you said you've been better atdiscipline.
I'm sure we call you a better discipline, butwhat has been that that motivating factor or
your your methods to help help stay consistentfor everything?
Well, I feel a a great sense of responsibilityto people in general.
(19:56):
So with podcast, I feel like podcast is notmine or yours or anyone's.
I feel like it the community owns the event.
So that is very easy to feel, responsibilityfor the quality of the event because I see what
What we do at podcast is a privilege.
(20:17):
And the privilege is people entrust us withtheir time, their money, and, time away from
their families to be with us as creators.
So that creates a huge sense of responsibilityin me to make sure that we do the best we can
with the resources we have to create anoutsized experience for our attendees, our
(20:41):
community.
So I would say that's that's 1.
And 2, I I've always been very consistent withmy communities.
I enjoy it.
I mean, I still do the Florida PodcastAssociation every month in Tampa.
People always ask me, how do you get 20, 30, 40people there?
It's like we haven't really missed even duringCOVID, we were doing via Zoom, and then we came
(21:01):
back out live events.
So we're just we're just consistent in in ouran hour delivery.
And I guess if you're passionate aboutsomething, it's easy to be consistent about it.
And, and for this next question, like, maybeyou have a rough estimate.
Maybe you don't, but, obviously, the fact thatpodcast started with just, thirteen people
meeting up at Mimi's Cafe I know a lot of thosethirteen people have become full time content
(21:25):
creators.
And so and obviously, it's thanks to you, it'sthanks the podcast and the shows that, you
actually do know what you're talking about.
Pod Fest does actually know how to help people.
From that, group of 13 and maybe group thefirst 100 for the first ever podcast.
Do you have an estimate how many people you'reable to turn into full time content creators
that after they attended the event?
(21:46):
I I don't know about full time, quite a few onthe full time side, but I know we've helped,
start a few 1000 podcasts through because, youknow, we have the event, but when we did pot
global during COVID, I mean, we were bringingin 6 to 7000 people through those doors.
I know the the way they counted the numbers wasmuch lower.
(22:09):
Because the Guinness World record had so manydifferent stipulation on what counts, but we
had, you know, collectively all those virtualevents, and I think, something like 20 or
30,000 people come through our doors.
So we've helped people all over the world andit's very rewarding.
And I can tell you though, it is interesting towatch someone go from an idea to a podcast.
(22:29):
To then email them and they have an autoresponder Andrew they're like, hey.
I'll get back to you.
You know, here's if you have these Weiss,here's where you go.
Andrew then you have to, hey.
I have a gatekeeper, then they'll have anagent.
And I'm really proud of the fact that I've seenso many people grow for an an idea to a full
time creator.
It's it's an amazing thing to watch, and it'sit's a very fulfilling thing knowing that you
(22:52):
helped an independent creator get out there andcreate something beautiful.
Well, and, I wanna highlight, one example ofthat creator is, the incredible Katie Kromitsa
the the the wife of Chris, you're able to helpturn her into a a full time creator.
And so tell from, the husband, your your sideof you, how you helped her kinda go from a to
(23:14):
b.
I I know, a member I think is a podcast.
Another story she is talking about how just todo her first podcast, she was crying because
she didn't think she could handle doing it.
And now she's passed, what, 120,000,000downloads now.
Uh-uh, quite a few.
So the, Katie is her own.
She's her own planet.
She's an amazing woman.
(23:36):
I was able to have a small piece in it, butpart of it was we would do weekly strategies
around what her goals were how we could growthe show, how we could invest.
So, a lot of times, I'll I'll talk to peopleabout their podcast.
And the one thing they don't wanna do is investmoney.
They'll say, I don't really wanna money or Idon't really wanna put too much money into it.
(23:57):
We saw the podcast, as an opportunity to reachas many people as we can Andrew we saw it as a
privilege to set aside money and invest in thegrowth of her podcast.
And I was able to help put a marketing plan andgrowth plan, but her content just phenomenal
it's very easy to market, and that was able tohelp us go from a very small audience to a
(24:17):
global audience.
And she, you know, has people that she workswith that represent her, and it's been an
amazing experience to watch her go full circlefrom just her.
To a whole team of people and, you know, 17shows across her network.
So she does the women's meditation network fulltime.
There's nothing else that she does.
Andrew it's very fulfilling to watch the emailsand the responses she gets from women all over
(24:41):
the world.
That that's that's incredible.
And and what was that timeline from hercreating her first podcast episode to be able
to say I'm able to do this full time and Andrewa full time content creator.
Well, she already had one when we firststarted.
She started Biz Women Rock, which was forbusinesswomen, and I did the marketing on that.
So it took about 3 years, but that really I hadanother community I was running, and that paid
(25:03):
the bills.
And then shortly thereafter, around 3 years,bizarin rocks started bringing in quite a bit
of income.
So she was a full time business consultanthelping women all over.
Wow.
And then she did that for quite a few years,and then she stopped it, which people were
shocked because, I mean, she was really wellknown for it.
Yeah.
And she created the women's meditation network,and that has that took about 2 years before.
(25:26):
That was, like, really gone, producing somehuge results.
And the reason is we invested quite a bit ofmoney to support the marketing and getting the
brand and the name out there.
And the reason is I see it from the businessperspective.
A podcast to us is not just something.
If you wanna take it seriously, it's somethingthat we we knew that we we were serious about
(25:49):
it.
She was serious about it.
And something we wanted to market and grow.
And, that's what she did.
I love it.
Andrew, Do you do you have an estimate when youthink you'll pass a a 1,000,000,000 downloads?
Are you guys shooting for within 2 years,within 3 years?
He, goals on that?
It's interesting.
The first 100,000 takes, like, forever.
Then a 1,000,000 is quicker than 10,000,000 isquicker than a 100,000,000 is quicker.
(26:14):
I don't know when a billion will happen, but Iknow that, you know, probably in another
200,000,000 is not too far off.
But, you know, that that being said, shestarted with one amazing download, and she just
focused on it, and she expanded on it.
And she grew she listened to the audience.
So if if anyone's wondering, like, how did thateven happen?
(26:34):
She started with one show, meditation forwomen, and she then expanded it to sleep
meditation for women, morning meditation forwomen, and then she just kept expanding her
universe to own that space and deliver amazingmeditations for women all over the world.
No.
I love it.
I love it.
And, the entrepreneurs and small businessowners and, people listening into, like, the
(26:58):
fact that you and Katie, you know, you get tobe called a a power You're both doing amazing
things, amazing entrepreneurs, raising kids.
Tell us what what that's like of how you andKatie navigate the teamwork of raising family
and, growing growing a business together.
Well, yeah.
Yeah.
So that's very that that's very challenging anddifficult.
Like, we do the best that we can, but our 2girls come first.
(27:20):
I would say Katie is an amazing parent, and I'mcatching up.
So I'm learning from her.
One of the things that I try and be home fordinner time, make sure I'm there with the girls
when they're doing homework.
And and, you know, daddy daughter dates is veryvery important to each girl, as well as play
dates with friends in the neighborhood.
(27:40):
So we're very active on the weekends.
As you know, I I usually don't do work on theweekends.
It's a policy.
And then on the weekdays, when I'm in town, Ilike either picking up the girls or spending
time with them.
Every parent knows there's dinner time, bathtime, you know, bedtime story time.
(28:01):
And then in the morning, kids go to schoolreally early.
So you gotta be up first thing in the morningand be ready for them.
And Luckily for me, we trade off Katie does themornings because I'm not a morning person, and
I'll help support at night.
So that that that's the trade off you guys haveis that, yeah, Katie does the mornings and
early afternoons, you do, early evenings, restof the evenings.
(28:21):
That's the team we're getting.
Katie does a lot more, but I do my best to makesure, yeah, that I could support Andrew, pick
up the kids and, you know, be with them afterhours.
And then when Katie needs a break, you know,I'm I'm there.
So I'll take the kids and she could work.
So it's a balance, but it's it's being inconstant communication.
There's times when the flow is really great.
(28:43):
Andrew then guess what?
There's 2 week vacations or there's summervacation, then you have to recalibrate.
So it's an ongoing, calibration.
But the main thing is to be present with thekids because they're the ones that see if
you're present Andrew listening to them.
So I like learning who their friends are,what's going on in class, and they'll tell you
If you listen, they'll tell you all kinds ofstuff, without judgment, and then just
(29:05):
understand, you know, my youngest, there was atime when she's like, hey.
I don't like so and so.
And they're not nice to me.
And at first, you're like, oh, man, mydaughter's getting bullied, but then you
realize, like, Something's going on.
Like, she might have pushed that kid Andrewthen they weren't nice to her, so you gotta get
the full story.
So now we know to ask clarifying questions.
(29:26):
Is that why end up happening?
The reason why another kid wasn't nice to them.
No.
I don't I don't we don't know.
We just know that.
It goes both ways whereas the old if somethinghappens, you wanna check out what happened
because she's a little she's a she's adifferent soul than the younger one.
That's all.
They're all kids are different.
So you gotta calibrate to your kid.
Of course.
That makes sense.
I like that that, seeing what's going on first.
(29:49):
And so tell us, so after you and and Katie hadkids, how did that affect your your your
business and and your relationship, like, telltell us how you, navigated, you know, obviously
before kids and after kids, essentially.
Well, the first business that I own was acommunity, but I would be out pretty much every
night of the week.
(30:10):
Doing events.
Almost always.
So I didn't turn off work till, like, 9 PM atnight, and I didn't I enjoyed it, so I didn't
even realize it was happening.
So when we were getting ready to have our firstdaughter, I actually sold that company because
I just, it wasn't even like, the family stuff.
It was just I was ready.
There's a lot of things that align.
(30:31):
Right?
And then I had a tough time.
The the first 2 years of Sedona's life.
I had a tough time because I sold it to agentleman that then, unfortunately, didn't have
an easy time running it, and he he was notrunning that business properly.
So I I step back in to help.
And then I transition when Sedona was about 2years, and then I started really revving up
(30:56):
podcast.
And I was able to be more present because withpodcast, it's a yearly event Andrew there's
other things that, you know, I was doingconsulting in the early years to make up for
the difference in income.
So All I could tell you is it's always been abalancing act.
What I've learned now is when I'm home with thegirls, you wanna be present with them, You
wanna ask them questions.
(31:17):
If they wanna talk to you, great.
If they don't, just be present.
And eventually, they'll open up and tell youeverything going so it's been a a great
blessing.
And then I'm very fortunate to have a friendthat lives down the street with two girls,
almost the same age as my two girls, Sosometimes we'll do daddy, you know, daughter,
walk around the neighborhood dates where wejust all go and give the mom some some downtime
(31:39):
to do what they need to do.
No.
It makes sense.
So so it's good good teamwork with Katiecommunicating.
And then, and I like what you said too.
It just like, obviously, you guys wanted kids.
You had to, adjust the business accordingly tohelp help make that happen.
So that's, awesome to hear.
So going back into, obviously, you've beendoing events for a long time.
(31:59):
You've met with, thousands of people, tell us alittle bit about besides just being besides
just, like, using Experian folks from resourceshas really helped you read people the best.
Books and resources, that help me read peoplethe best?
(32:21):
Yes.
K.
Honestly, the best resource for that wasrunning 2000 events and meeting people in
person and learning from each interaction.
So I I've developed a a very good emotional IQ.
(32:43):
So, By seeing thousands of situations play out,I've been able to to hone in and read crowds or
individuals.
As far as books, I enjoy.
I the relation books I like are like the 5 lovelanguages.
There's one called the way as superior man.
(33:03):
There's a lot of different things.
And that one just talks about, you know, energyand how how there's different kinds of energies
There's another book.
7 habits of highly effective people.
For whatever reason, by Stephen Covey, I alwayscome back to that one.
It just has so many good things or MichaelGerber E Myth Andrew the reason why those books
(33:24):
are so good, they're written in situations.
Like, they they have case studies, like, withreal life examples.
So you learn about human behavior and howpeople act, but I I would say the the majority
of my interactions Andrew you know this becauseyou helped me.
We see a lot of weird behavior when you'redoing events.
Mhmm.
And when you're dealing with thousands ofpeople, for instance, when I was doing smaller
(33:49):
events Andrew my events would be a hundredpeople.
Let's say it would be a big event for themonth, and the smaller events were 10 to 20 or
30.
When you're dealing with a 1000 or 2000 people,that's like doing 200 person events in 1.
So everything Andrew interaction condenses Soyou get to see a lot of unusual behavior,
Andrew you get to see a lot of exceptionalbehavior.
(34:11):
So you learn a lot.
On what makes some people tick.
You learn on, you know, certain behaviors youwanna be careful of.
It's just an interesting thing, that you learnif you're paying attention to the signs.
And I know you know sometimes I'll warn youabout someone in a behavior, and you might be
like, okay.
And then later on, it'll pan out.
(34:32):
And, you might be like, how did he know aboutthat?
It's from living through that situation andhaving, you know, just memory what do you call
it?
Muscle memory, mind memory of
of scenarios.
No.
It make it makes sense.
It's just, yeah, obviously, it's hard to beatexperience and about how many books and how
(34:54):
many courses you take and how much you read.
I'm sure experience definitely helps trump allthat
Katie said Katie had a saying, during her bizwoman rock day, she had a a guest.
I forgot to guest, but it was such a greatthing.
The greatest personal development course isstarting a business and having to deal with
people, employees, contractors, and the public.
Andrew there's no greater personal developmentcourse than that because you have to build
(35:18):
skills that you probably didn't have, or youhave to develop in order to succeed.
No.
It makes sense.
No.
I I love it.
And, I mean, yeah, I went to University ofOregon Andrew, they, you know, part of the
business program in business school is that,you know, they have you do business
simulations, talk about, oh, let's run asimulation here, but at Oregon States, I heard
(35:40):
that they say, okay, come up with a businessplan and start selling it and see what happens.
And, like, that's that's as real world as itgets.
So sometimes people make $20,000, sometimespeople make $20,000 and so it's definitely
exciting to just be thrown into the fire, but Iagree.
It's just, if you wanna get into the eventsbusiness, throw events.
If you wanna be a speaker, start speaking.
If you wanna be a coach, start coaching.
(36:01):
And so just, I love the importance, like, whatshe said, throw yourself in the fire.
Andrew so to kinda piggyback off of that,obviously, we spent a lot of time with
incredible people Andrew, and and part ofinteracting with thousands of people as you get
pick out all the these are some of the best,the best people I wanna associate myself with
and spend time with.
So tell us who who are some of your mentors andinspirations, and how'd you come across them?
(36:27):
One of the I have a lot of great mentors andinspirations because like you said, I've met so
many great people one of them usually, I valuethe people, I value family because I I don't
you don't realize this Some some people realizeit.
I didn't realize it till I was older.
Growing up in a in a big Greek family withextended cousins and relatives.
(36:50):
You have a family structure that is verysupportive.
Sometimes it could be dysfunctional.
Like, everybody will tell you that, you know,there's some there's some kind of dysfunction,
but I love this function.
Yeah.
There's always, like, but a loving a loving ifthere's love underlying there Andrew grew up in
in homes full of love, not only my home, myAndrew home, by ants, I should say.
(37:13):
I created an environment through my events, andI remember one gentleman.
His name was Jerry.
He would come to the event.
He was seventy two years old.
He'd come to my weekly meet ups, and he didn'the had all the money he needed, and I think he
just wanted to be around other people.
He had just lost his second Weiss.
And I remember at one point, he went to Italyand he had bought a brand new iPad And back
(37:37):
then, if you had the first run of iPads, peoplewanted to see him.
They were cool.
And I remember him sharing pictures on hisiPad, and everybody wanted to see him or him
going through Europe.
Andrew one day, he invited Katie and I out todinner because he really loved us as a couple.
And he he showed her those pictures in Italy,Andrew told Katie, he goes, you know, I love my
(37:58):
second wife.
I love every day with her.
And he goes, I went to Italy Andrew I retracedevery place we sat.
So he would take a picture at the park benchthat he was with with his Weiss.
So, he became A great inspiration because hetold us how much he loved his second wife, how
(38:18):
great their relationship was, but they workedon it and they would talk about things every
day.
He passed away and oddly enough, I saw hisgranddaughter.
He had a granddaughter.
They loved dearly.
She was a nurse, and he would she would visithim, see how he's doing.
He told me, he goes, when I'm gone, she'sgetting everything.
I love her.
You know, she's she's my everything.
(38:40):
And she posted on Facebook somehow she knewsomeone from podcast, so we were connected as
friends outside of him.
And I saw that he passed.
So I sent her a message, and I said, I justwanna let you know, You are your grandfather's
favorite.
And he loved you dearly.
And she said, you know, you are one of thetwelve numbers he left behind to call.
(39:01):
If anything should happen to him.
So, you know, those are the those are therelationships that I built, over a decade of
servicing community that, you know, you don'teven see it it's in it's in the noise, but not
to me, obviously, but it he was someone thatwould show up just to be around other people.
So you realize that we're just part of thishuge ant colony.
We all need a future to live into, but beingkind to one another and sharing experiences
(39:25):
and, supporting one another to me is a hugevalue Andrew I always love Jerry for that.
No.
That's such a wonderful story.
I definitely, definitely was tearing up alittle bit there.
If you wanna talking about, but you definitelywould have seen some, tears flowing.
So it's very, very powerful.
And and so Yeah.
Such a great story to someone who inspires you.
(39:49):
My next question is, as you're around all theseincredible people with, like, Christmas,
credible businesses Andrew relationships andand Andrew things like that.
How do you help battle imposter syndrome?
Know that's one of the the top things that,people struggle with nowadays.
Like, Jesus, do I deserve this lovingrelationship?
I deserve these wonderful kids.
Do I deserve this business success?
(40:09):
How do you help, navigate that?
So that's not nowadays.
That's always gone on.
People love to compare themselves to otherpeople and love to think, like, I'm not there
yet.
I'm less than.
And those are very, limiting beliefs that popup.
So you need to kinda, you know, the stoicism orBuddhism, you need to know that you are where
(40:32):
you need to be, that you're doing great work.
Andrew you need to believe in your mission.
So, not everybody's gonna be Elon Musk.
He's there for a reason doing what he's doing.
Not everybody's gonna be mother Theresa.
So I would just say, compare compare comparingyourself to other people steals your joy.
(40:52):
So, I would find I would find the happiness inwhat you're doing and try and quiet the mind
and not allow your subconscious to steal yourjoy.
And if you could do that, then you need to talkto yourself and get yourself out of that
thought pattern.
(41:12):
And like I said, for me, I walk and talk, soI'm able to program my subconscious by by
thinking out loud.
When I do that, I'm at my best.
I'm focused on the positives and what is, but Ido I do find we have to be careful of better
than bigger certain words are the ego's way oftrying to feel better Andrew doesn't do any
(41:38):
good.
No.
That that makes sense.
And, do you have do you have, like, any, like,go to people that you talk to when you're going
through this, or is it like a go to, like,journal entry you have or, like, exercise that
you do besides walking, like, you, like, be,like, a bunch of push ups because I I think I
heard that, I think Bill Gates at one pointtoo, like, whenever he told himself, he
(42:01):
couldn't do something.
He did a push up for every no he heard in hismind or something like that.
Anything you do like that,
Yeah.
No.
Everything works for everybody different ways.
For me, it would be walking and talking.
So, a walk by myself talking things out loud.
So if most people, like, I need a quiet spacefor me, it's like, no.
No.
If I walk and I get into a rhythm, then I starttalking to myself.
(42:21):
I'm able to think outside of my head and see mythoughts because I'm a visual person.
And then I could figure out, Kinda where Iwanna go and what's going on.
Oh, it makes sense.
I love that.
Plus, we're, wrapping up here.
I have a few more questions Chris, tell uswhat's the next end game or end games you're
(42:42):
working on, you know, being a visionary, beinga a groundbreaker, what what are some of the
and game parenthesis, s are you working on?
Well, you know, podcast 10 year anniversary,that's gonna be huge.
So we're working on that.
A really exciting start to it.
We're we're we're looking like it might be arecord crowd for us, so we're really excited
about that.
(43:02):
As far as Me personally, I'm, I'm building anaviary.
So I'm looking to build an aviary in the backof my house, and that's where you know, I could
keep some sunbirds or, you know, just some moremore of a hobby.
I do a lot of wildlife.
Like, right now, I don't know if you know this,Andrew.
I don't know if I told you.
But there's flamingos in Florida because of thehurricane.
(43:23):
It blew 50 Flamingo Flamingos.
Woah.
They got they went off the Yucatan.
They got lost in the jet stream.
And right now, Florida.
Yeah.
Pinellas County.
So I wanna check that off the list that I sawFlamingo in the US.
Do more wildlife adventures.
I I really like going out into places.
(43:43):
Most people would not feel comfortable, butI'll go into places and explore like the
everglades.
And sometimes when you're hiking in theeverglades, some of those trails are
underwater.
So you just have to be careful.
Yeah.
Have you gotten close to any danger with, anyEverglades, interactions at all?
I was with someone once and they stepped on arattlesnake, so I pushed them off of it once,
(44:05):
but it wasn't, Florida doesn't have, it'sreally weird.
Florida has the largest rattlesnake in Americaand the smallest.
So it was a pygmy rattlesnake.
So luckily, it wasn't big enough to coil, but Iremember seeing, and I was like, I push I was
like, what are you doing?
And I pushed them off.
They weren't looking where where they'rewalking.
Certain trails, you have to look down as muchas you look forward and up.
(44:27):
Oh my gosh.
That's so cool.
And last few questions.
What are the nonnegotiable actions entrepreneurto be successful in your opinion?
You can't have a backup plan.
You you like, I'm not a big opponent of like,oh, when this if this doesn't happen, I'm gonna
do this.
You kinda have to burn all bridges.
So that's a big deal to entrepreneurship.
(44:52):
You need to have a vision of what you wannalive into, and you need to have a way to adjust
your vision.
So you can't be so This you will see this on,like, shows like Shark Tank.
You could see it.
Like, you and I are watching the show.
However, we're all watching the show.
We're like, wow.
That per not gonna succeed because they're noteven listening to the market feedback they're
getting.
Now I'm not saying they should listen to sharksevery time, but when they're all saying certain
(45:16):
things, Andrew it seems like they know a littlebit about a market.
You gotta be able to listen and adjust.
That way you could get to where you wanna go.
Oh, I love it.
Some people, you have to start ugly.
Oh, yes.
So you definitely wanna start ugly.
And and for those listening into, Chrisactually wrote a book called start ugly.
(45:36):
Oh, no.
Thank you for the plug.
I wasn't expecting you.
So definitely checking out Amazon.
Andrew believe that book, loud to be able totravel the country, give a bunch of speeches.
I've read the book.
It's about a 20, 30 minute read, and so Idefinitely recommend checking it out.
Start ugly on on Amazon.
Definitely highly recommend it.
And, it's a lot less few questions is, yeah,when you wake up each day, what what gets you
(46:00):
fired up most about about the day?
I'm working on that because I'm not a wake upguy, but I am I am excited for You know, it's
funny.
When you and I write an email and it's a goodone, I'm fired up to see, like, the result of
that.
Usually, I'm fired up to go outside becauseright now, the weather's really good in
(46:20):
Florida.
It's not as hot as it once was.
It's just to feel the warm sun on the skin, itgets me really excited because it's so
beautiful out.
So that's that's one thing.
And and I have my coffee in the morning and andhead to the office.
Oh, I love it.
I love it.
And then the last two questions are what's howcan we, best contact you and get a hold of you?
(46:41):
People wanna learn more about you and with thelegendary Chris Camitzos.
Yeah.
I don't know about legendary, but Chris atpodcast expo.com or just on Facebook, and any
of the social platforms I'm pretty much on allof them.
Alright.
Perfect.
And then, what's the one takeaway you wantsomeone to have with this interview today?
It's kinda like a painting I have in my house.
(47:02):
I always tell people, keep your feet on theground, your eyes on the stars.
You should always be looking at I I justwatched Blue zones.
There's a Netflix special about the book, andBlue zones are where people live to a hundred
plus years old.
One of the things that was consistent besidesthe the food, the health, it's not processed,
you know, all the things that we think of butone of the things he mentioned is they always
(47:25):
they they had a mission.
So, like, the the sentinarians in Costa Rica,the one guy was still cattle.
He's a hundred years old riding a horse,hurting the cattle every morning.
You know, or the the people in Greece theywere, you know, preparing meals.
Like, they were farming.
So having a a future to live into, and it couldbe as simple as I give you an example.
(47:49):
Let's say you're retired and and there thishappens a lot.
A lot of people lose their juice when they getretired.
They don't have anything to do.
Well, if you picked up a hobby like birding, Idon't know if you know how obsessive burgers
are about, getting the their species on thelist It's like a big deal.
The list.
Have that's a future to live into.
(48:10):
It's a reason to get up in the morning and dosomething.
So if you could find whatever that is as simpleas it might be, that is actually foundational
to the quality of life you're gonna have.
I I love it.
Keep your feet on the ground and your head inthe stars.
Well, eyes on the stars because if you'reedging the star, it's gonna explode because
it's gonna hit star.
I'm
(48:30):
eyes on the stars.
Eyes on the stars.
Alright.
Well, thank you again for the for an incredibleepisode, and, thank you all for listening in.
We'll see you next time from the episode ofRapid Results with Andrew Weiss, and, we'll see
you all then.
Cheers everyone.
Thanks, Andrew.
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