#5 Blake Soifua: Authentic Growth: Finding Purpose Beyond Profit

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Ever wonder what drives someone to build bridges between communities an ocean apart? Meet Blake Soifua, a young entrepreneur whose window washing business in Utah is funding sustainable development across the Pacific Islands.

Blake's journey is rooted in personal transformation. Growing up disconnected from his Samoan heritage in a predominantly white community, he was often labeled "plastic" - not authentically Polynesian. After a brief mission in Fiji cut short by COVID-19, Blake developed a burning desire to reconnect with Pacific Island cultures, learning multiple languages and building meaningful relationships across cultural divides.

What began as a simple desire to sponsor a temple trip for villagers in Fiji evolved into Projects Possible, a non-profit with an innovative funding model. By dedicating 10% of revenue from his window washing business Gleam, Blake ensures his organization isn't dependent on donations alone. His vision? Creating sustainable farms across Pacific Islands that produce thousands of meals annually while generating jobs through agritourism.

The technical aspects are equally impressive. Blake is developing software for transparent donation tracking and building a global marketplace platform connecting island producers directly with worldwide consumers. His upcoming pickleball tournament fundraiser in August aims to jumpstart the initiative, with plans to establish the first nurseries in Fiji by November.

Throughout our conversation, Blake shares profound insights about authentic leadership, overcoming the "crab mentality" that can hold communities back, and embracing an abundance mindset where everyone's success contributes to collective advancement. His story demonstrates how entrepreneurship becomes transformative when driven by genuine purpose rather than profit alone.

Ready to see what's possible when business meets social impact? Follow Blake's journey and discover how small businesses can create ripple effects of positive change across oceans. Subscribe now to hear more inspiring stories of authentic purpose and cultural connection.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, I'm the family YouTube boy, brandon
Beckett, again for the podcastepisode.
Guys, we are excited for thisone.
We are excited.
We're back in Utah.
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(00:20):
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(00:44):
are on google podcast.
So, wherever you get yourpodcast, guys, we are there.
No reason why you cannot gohome and listen to these gems,
um, but yeah, guys, we're backin utah.
We're excited.
We have a lot of guests lined upfor this for this month and we
just want to get into it,because we have been away for a
little bit and now we can getstarted and we'll get rolling to

(01:04):
our first guest, our guestcoming, our guest here coming
back.
Without further ado, let's geta red carpet.
Warm welcome to blake.
So, what's up, brother?
So, bro, how's it going?
It's going good.
Um, it's great to be here withyou guys.
Um, great to be with you, blake.
I know, guys, if you don't know, blake's an entrepreneur, he's

(01:24):
a, he's a hard-working guy, verytalented person as well.
We're going to get a lot intoit as well and I think he really
does have that essence ofauthenticity in terms of what he
wants to accomplish and hisgoals and his dreams, and that's
what we want to focus on heretoday and we're excited for him
to be here on this platform.
But, if you want, just give usa quick introduction, give us

(01:47):
your name, where you're from,and then question of the day
will be what is your favoritefood?

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, yeah, I'm Blake Soifua.
I'm from a little town calledWest Point.
It's up north, probably likeOgden.
No one really knows where it'sat, but it's like 9,000 people
there.
But I'm from there.
Yeah, my dad's Samoan and mymom's Caucasian, so like I
understand the American cultureI understand the poly culture,

(02:14):
but I'm super happy to be here.
My favorite food Correct dude,honestly, like I don't know,
this is probably my Palangi saybut like mac and cheese, bro, it
hits, it always hits, but Idon't know, I love, I love, uh,
pahulani, pahulani.
That's probably like myfavorite Pahulani food, bro,
that stuff.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Yeah, it's probably the best out there.
Um, yeah, bro, Was it I?
Think so yeah, playingpickleball, and then just
started seeing you on like,connecting through, like UTP, or
just them and them.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Comes to find out Blake's also his grandfather.
Yeah, yeah, he served like withmy great-granduncle, I'm pretty
sure.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Oh, my dad.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Oh, your dad, your dad, my dad served as your uncle
in San Jose.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
Oh nice San Jose yeah .

Speaker 1 (03:11):
I was talking to my parents about this.
Oh, that's super cool becausehe like right away he was like,
oh, that's my uncle.
He actually lives in WestValley.
Oh, no way, yeah, yeah yeah,it's crazy.

Speaker 2 (03:21):
I remember like I was young my dad would show me his
like mission pictures.
I was young yen, and then themasani eyes, but he'd always
talk about those are my favoritetwo companions, so that's kind
of cool making a connectionthere, because those are my
sunny eyes I just know, I justknow, frank here, that's the,
that's the guy my dad servedwith, and his son too I'm cool

(03:42):
with his son, but I don't knowabout a lot about people out in
hawaii, to be honest it's allgood, um, we'll.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
We'll first start off with, um, the first question,
bro.
Like, give us, like, just asyour story, your background.
Um, we'll go along the lines ofthe entrepreneurial aspect of
you.
Know what you're doing, whatyour visions are.
We can touch on the huge projectorganization that you're
focusing on as well, and we cango into some more questions
after that yeah, it's kind of anoverview, yeah, yeah just a

(04:09):
just overview um, um, because,guys, you guys don't know, but
all those you don't know already, um blake is an entrepreneur in
his own business and he's alsoworking on some super cool
projects, but I won't, I'll lethim, you know, touch bases on
that and where is it going?

Speaker 2 (04:24):
Sweet, yeah.
So I did sales for a few yearsafter my mission and then I just
decided I want to run abusiness.
I want to just put it all outthere.
So my friend actually startedit.
It's called Gleam, so I havemore than half, obviously, but
it's just a window, gutter andpressure washing company.
So I don't know.
The trades are good, they'realways around.

(04:45):
So I just wanted to be insomething consistent and
something that I feel like Idon't know.
With, uh, the other productsthat I sold, it's kind of hard
to see the results, but with meit's like it's very cut and dry
it's like is the window clean oris it not clean?
is whatever we're doing, likeit's very easy to see if we do a
good job?
So I just wanted to dosomething where it's very
transparent, to be honest, mywork and like, just build up a
platform, um.
But I decided I mean, I alwaysthought to myself I needed to

(05:09):
wait 30 to 40 years of workinghere in utah to get enough
capital to go back to islandsand make a difference.
But, yeah, this is kind ofcrazy.
I don't think it's been a monthbut started projects possible,
which is our non-profit.
So the way I wanted to work isgleam 10 of our revenue goes to
projects possible and we justhave a, a non-profit

(05:31):
organization that doesn't whollydepend on uh donations, so it's
working on that.
Um, the whole goal is to buildstuff for lions and islands.
I know it's just like.
I know it's hard for people outthere.
I mean, if you can find theright people who are dedicated,
um, our whole goal is to buildfarms all over the islands, yeah
, and then set up a space wherepeople can do agritourism

(05:53):
through the farms that we own,so supplying jobs there.
There's a lot more to it, but,um, it's basically bringing new
opportunities to people in theislands because, I mean, not a
lot of people know Some peopledo know Just with the
colonization of differentcountries in the islands, it has
a big effect on the people, onthe marketplace there.
So I just wanted to createsomething that's sustainable,

(06:16):
something that I don't alwayshave to ask people for money
about but something that willmake a huge difference in the
long run, and it's easy for ourpeople to get involved.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
I like that.
One thing that stuck out to mebecause we talked a little bit
about this organization, theproject where we're at.
We had a meeting like last weekand what really stood out to me
was the opportunities for thosepeople over there in the
islands and being able to beable to sell for land by
uploading their products, youknow, online and like that, that

(06:44):
sort of marketplace, but alsolike the farms and like just
being able to produce more jobsto help locals, you know, be a
bit more software, land or evenjust help them a bit more in the
long run.
Um, I guess what was like?
What was one thing that like,did you have the idea all of a
sudden, just like that?

(07:05):
Or like, was there some thingsthat transpired to for you to
get to that point where, like,oh my gosh, I'm gonna just start
this, this project thing, andlet's just roll with it and see
what we can do?

Speaker 2 (07:13):
yeah, great question.
So the way I started initiallywas I just want to go back to
mission.
There's been a I didn't servein fiji for very long.
I was out for like five monthsand then covid happened and then
I went home and then gotreassigned.
But I mean I just, you know, Ihave such a strong connection
with the Fijian people here inUtah, I'm like close with the
community, so I don't want to goback.
But I initially told myself, um,when we uh acquired the company

(07:37):
in in January, is I just wantto go do a temple trip there?
We just wanted to sponsor thepeople in the village that I
served in to go to the templeand have the opportunity, just
because it's really expensive toget there.
So it started with that.
I was just like I think it'd begood to go back and just do
something good for my people.
But, um, and then I wasthinking about, I was like man,

(07:57):
like it's great to donate money,it's great to take them on this
trip, but what if I could startsomething in the islands that
will allow these people to beable to fund that for themselves
?
So not wholly reliant on, likeI mean, something you probably
relate to going to Samoa, orlike even some of the Tongans
going to Tonga.
It's like all the Fa'alavilavis in Fiji is called Sevu

(08:18):
Sevu, but like going there andthen just expecting everything
you wear and it's gone.
I mean I understand we want togive to our people.
I think at the same time if weprovide opportunities for them
to make money and have asustainable income, even though
it's really hard, I think, someof the times, and there's a lot
to that, but just providingopportunities for them is the

(08:38):
whole point.
I think there's so many goodpeople that are searching for it
and that want more help.

Speaker 1 (08:43):
It's just a matter of finding them it good people
that are searching for it andthat want more help.
It's just a matter of findingthem and it's like the like the
savior says, just finding theone, yeah, and just building
upon that, yeah.
Well, another thing that's gotto me, bro, was, when we're
talking about, it was, um, justthe amount of traction that
you've been building up right.
There's a lot of people backingyou up right.
There's a lot of businesses andlike a lot of local, like
influencers and also like someartists that are really behind

(09:06):
this.
This idea like what, what comesto your mind when you think
about like dang, like this issomething that's getting good
traction.
I want to keep this going andit's like I'm so passionate
about it yeah, dude, I thinkthink about windows.

Speaker 2 (09:19):
It doesn't.
It doesn't keep me up at night.
You know, I'm not like I'm notextremely obsessed with it, but
I'm obsessed with the idea ofhelping people.
Part of it's rooted in mygrandpa.
Parents got divorced and my momremarried, but my stepdad's
father, I don't knowstep-grandpa, I don't know how
you want to call it, but he wasone of the first people to ever

(09:41):
go to the islands and start thechurch education system.
So just thinking about him andhis example, like dude, it's
crazy.
We've only been starting thisfor a month but we already got
like a big pickleball tournamentset up.
I've been getting the help fromthe Utah Pacific Islander
Chamber of.
Commerce and those members havebeen awesome in terms of working
with and it's just beeninteresting in terms of working

(10:03):
with and it's just beeninteresting, like once I
involved service and giving backI feel like, even on the Gleam
side of getting commercialcontracts, bro, it's just been
like night and day difference,but I don't know.
I feel like I really felt likeGod's help in all this.
And I do that there's no way Iwould have been able to get all
the traction and the connectionsso quickly.
But the fact that we have agood cause, I don't know just

(10:25):
going there and just putting itout there to people and I don't
know it's attractive, you knowit's something that will pull,
you know text, people'sheartstrings.
But it's like they already wantto look for.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
They want a way to serve, and you're just providing
a very simple way for them todo so I think one thing that, as
you're talking, bro, one thingthat stuck out was, as you were
talking, bro, one thing thatstuck out was, as you were
talking, it just resonated likepurpose, like I think that's the
huge part about it.
I think when we focus onpurpose and we have a positive
purpose in mind that's able tobless others, I feel like just a

(10:59):
lot of positive energy goesthat way.
You know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:03):
Especially when you're doing something, when
you're when you're passionateabout something wanting to do to
add more to it, like you addingmore water to flowers trying to
make it grow more, and likewhat's that?
Like, just on the on the basisof what you're doing, there's
gonna be a lot of good comingout from from other people.
You know, I mean, like otherpeople want, like you already
see the traction.

(11:24):
Right, you guys, you're likebro, like this and this and like
and you're like, uh, you'rejust telling me before, like
we're almost there, like almostthere's one more big sponsor, we
, we got a solid.
Like bro, like everything'slining up and I think that's
super cool.
I think, um, I mean for my nextfollow-up question, like what's
the plan now?
Like where, where do you guyssee your sales?

(11:44):
I know let's talk a little bitabout buying a farm and then on
also like where do you see youguys selling the next couple
years, after this next trip?

Speaker 2 (11:54):
yeah, oh, great question, I think.
Uh, I think our kickoff eventin august is where, hopefully,
we get all the traction we needto kind of get the word out
there that we're doing it.
I think there's going to be alot of pushback in some ways.

Speaker 1 (12:06):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (12:06):
And kind of going to what you were saying earlier
about like the globalmarketplace.
So I guess for people thatdon't really know because we had
our conversation, obviously butwe're building a software that
just keeps track of all thedonations.
It's very, very transparent andon the website that we're
building, the software will giveyou donation statements with
email campaigns of what we'redoing, where your money's going,

(12:27):
why it's needed for that andwhy it costs so much.

Speaker 1 (12:29):
It's being tracked, guys.

Speaker 2 (12:31):
So yeah, I just thought because I was kind of
telling people I was like man,it's such a.
I feel like we can do so muchmore there, but a lot of things
that we struggle with likeunfortunately, unfortunately as
a culture.
Sometimes it's like thetransparency with money, um, and
being able to track it and seewhere it's going.
But I just realized it's likedude, our technology nowadays,

(12:51):
um, like we could totally do it.
We could totally track it so Ijust reached out to one of my
buddies as a software engineer.
I was like dude, this isexactly what we need.
This is something that hasn'tbeen done.
And then, like the stuff thatyou're talking about, with us
putting a store on our website,where it's a global marketplace,
where people can sell theirproducts from fiji, samoa, tonga
and sell them directly to theconsumers that buy them in

(13:14):
australia, new zealand, americaor even, you know, europe, where
there's a lot of polynesians.
But I just think, uh, it's justgiving people a platform, and I
think that's sometimes whatpeople need.
Some people might drop the ball,and I think that's something
that we're going to have to dealwith at one point.
Eventually, if someone's goingto be a dishonest or something
might not work out, but I thinkthe cause is so good that it's

(13:36):
going to attract the rightpeople eventually.

Speaker 1 (13:38):
Oh yeah, 100%.

Speaker 2 (13:39):
So I think the first step for us is getting this
pickleball tournament filling itup.
Think, uh, the first step forus is getting this pickleball
tournament filling it up.
Dude, 300 teams is going to bea lot of people, but 300 teams
would be huge, I think.
Just getting all our peopletogether, um, having a bunch of
vendors, pop-up shops and thenhaving some artists come out I
can't say their names yet-because I haven't locked them in

(13:59):
.
But, um, I think that and thenlate august, september, I'm
going to go to fiji interviewall the farmers.
We're going to go through around of interviews before then
with some local Fijian, withthis Fijian group that I
organized out there.
They're so on, they're so goodLike they've been super good
about sending me all informationthat I needed.

(14:20):
But once we get that figuredout, november we're going gonna
go set up the nurseries at leasttwo probably and then we'll do
our temple trip and just go upfrom there.
But the whole plan is we'regonna fiji's our pilot program.
So I mean, as I've been meetingwith investors and talking to
people, they're like you needproof of concept.
I think that's the hard thingright now is like because it's

(14:41):
expensive to go to islands backand forth and fund all this
stuff.
But I think if I can find theright people that see our
passion and our heart in it likeit'll go a long way.
But I just got to be extremelyconsistent, but I mean when I
think about it.
These nurseries each can produce12 to 14 000 meals a year which
is a lot so imagine, if youknow, we raise enough money to

(15:02):
build 10 of them and they'rewell oiled machines.
It's like it's 200,000 mealsfor our people there and they're
the ones running thosenurseries.
You know what I mean.
We're building jobs in theisland, providing a food source
and a way for them to have anincome.
So hopefully big things in thefuture.

Speaker 1 (15:17):
But I mean it'll take some time to get that's super
cool, I think, I think, justhaving that vision and bro, and
I know it's gonna go, I think Ican picture right now and you
know, in fiji that's gonna besomething, something super cool.
Um, while having, like the bigum, a lot of positive traction,

(15:38):
has there any?
Has there been like a lot of umlike negative traction from
this, from like from your peersor from people or from other
businesses?

Speaker 2 (15:47):
Honestly, nothing too difficult.
I think the thing is, you meetwith people and I think this
goes exactly with the name ofyour podcast but you'll meet
with people and they say thatthey have the connections, and
then it falls through.
They don't follow up, or theydon't set up the meeting they
said they would, or they don'tput you in the text group.
Chat with that one guy.
That would really be helpful.
I don't know.

(16:09):
Honestly, though, maybe I'mdoing something wrong, like
maybe I'm going somewhere.
I mean maybe I'm going to theseplaces and I'm pitching it wrong
, or maybe there's just someparts I'm missing that they see
the flaws in.
But, I don't know, I think toget to the point where I'm at
right now.
I mean, the last eight monthshave been hard bro.

Speaker 1 (16:24):
I bet.

Speaker 2 (16:25):
Bought a window washing company.
In the winter, like you knowwhat I mean, I couldn't even go
out and knock doors or get anykind of jobs, cause it's like
who's hiring right now and it'slike only commercial jobs.
So I mean it was hard, dude,hard, hard for months and months
and I had to do all jobs here,and there in the winter just to
survive.
But now that we finally gotthings going, got some more

(16:45):
traction, I feel like thingshave been working out.
But um, this kind of goes backto when I first I first saw your
podcast, with dilemma whenyou're saying how there's like
quote-unquote gatekeepers oh,yeah, and like how that was hard
for you to like overcome.
Oh man, like why don't theseguys want to help me out and
we're yeah we're all poly andstuff like that.
But I mean, I think I get it.

(17:05):
I think you want people you cantrust you know, these people
work really hard to get a goodname for themselves, so I see
where they're coming from.
But I've also had experience,that too, of me reaching out to
even kids our age that havepodcasts or have some kind of
momentum to help me out, andit's just not working out it's
tough, bro, I feel like,especially when, especially when

(17:26):
, like it's just not working out.

Speaker 1 (17:27):
It's tough, bro, I feel like, especially when it's
there's a lot of I've beenseeing a lot of positive energy
towards a certain goal Likethere's a thing like I feel like
and I've been thinking about ita little bit the past couple
weeks but every time you do, youtry to do good I always feel
like there's like a lot ofpeople who want to do good, but
at the same time they're likecan't be bothered, like there's

(17:50):
you know, I mean like, like likewe're at a point where, like,
oh, yeah, it's a good idea, yeah, good luck, like you know,
whereas, like dude, like youknow, you vibe with it, you
believe the same beliefs, or youwant to reach towards the goals
that you want to, then why not?

(18:11):
you know?

Speaker 2 (18:12):
give it all give 100% .
Yeah, I think something that'slike kind of clicked in my mind
as of lately too is I mean, Isold for Aptiv and then I sold
for like a solar company.
But I just think the principlesthat they taught um, it's just
like being fully committed,being all in like giving
everything you have, and I feellike that never really clicked
for me when I was working atthose companies I think, I think

(18:33):
I had a decent summer and pestcontrol and stuff.
But I think, as I've worked onsomething that's really
meaningful to me, yeah that'sgoing to go back to islands and
I can see the direct effect um.
I can see why people are sopassionate.
I can see why people want to goout and money doesn't really
motivate me, like, obviously Iwant to pay my bills and I want
to be, off.
But it's not like some of thoseguys who can just go knock

(18:56):
doors and go crazy because, like, money is a huge motivator to
them.
But I don't know, like I don'tknow.
It's kind of like what you'resaying you have to find
something that you're passionateabout and then be all in, but
with some people that aren'tpassionate about it, like it
makes sense, they don't want tobe a part of it because it takes
massive action in order to makeit happen.

Speaker 1 (19:13):
Yeah, you know and then that's another thing too is
like people want, and that'sanother thing.
We live in an age where peopleeither want to do the least
amount of action and expect themost amount of results.
You know what I mean and youknow you're doing sales like
you're talking about.
You're doing sales, bro, like Ithink as well.

(19:34):
I did sales in the summer aswell and not gained the result I
wanted, even though I was beingas fully committed as I was.
But it wasn't until I realized,like you said, like purpose,
like I understand, like dude, Ican knock on these doors and get
whatever it was.
Like the money is a motivatingfactor.
But I've realized that changingthe world in small ways or

(19:58):
changing communities, likethat's something I love to do,
like in a positive way, yeah,helping someone out in a
positive way or shedding lightin a positive way, yeah, that I
write for the podcast itself.
Like Bro, starting off thepodcast, like I'm how do you
even got paid for anything forthe podcast?
But like I love doing it, yeah,you know I, I feel like I have

(20:20):
a strong purpose and people,people resonate with it.
Yeah, so it's like, how longare you willing to resonate or
work through that?
Those, those, you know yourpurpose, until the other things
will line up later on.
You know, yeah, especially likewith what you're doing, the
organization, like thenon-profit, um, the marketplace,
like, bro, I think those aregoing to be huge.

(20:41):
And that's all because youthinking about how can I change,
how can I help give a positivechange, an impact onto a society
where I resonate with you knowmy own people.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
You know stuff like that yeah, no, I think, I think,
uh, you're spot on with that.
I think it's been.
It's been like such a journeyfor me because I went to
syracuse high school and brotherwas six polynesians in the
whole school.
The whole time I went there andit just like you know, like
being called plastic and likeyou're not real.
Someone and my dad never taughtus Samoan growing up and then I

(21:14):
don't know, it was funny Allsenior year I was just grinding,
I was like bro, I got to learnSamoan and I finally get my
mission call.
I'm going to go to Samoan likeserve my people.
You know, that's what my mindwas at the whole time.
And then I got called to Fiji.

(21:35):
What well?
then I learned fijian and then Iworked on my samoa a lot since
I got on from mission speak alot better, and then I'm
learning tongan right now, yeah,but it's just like it's a.
It's a whole paradigm shift forme.
It's a whole like I don't know.
My whole life's kind of turnedupside down from being like
called plastic all the time tookay, now you finally speak a
little bit of the language, likeyou're good enough for us now.
I don't know.
It's kind of a weird place tobe in now, considering how I

(21:57):
grew up and how my life wasn'treally involved in the.
Polynesian community at all withmy family, like I was barely at
events, maybe once a month, butthe rest of it I was just in.

Speaker 1 (22:06):
I was in Tremont and you know my mom on the farms,
like I wasn't exposed to it, toa huge, a huge capacity but
after your mission, like Iassume that you know, it's been
a complete different, thoughyeah, or a serving, because I
remember you told me like ifyou're fijian and then you learn
samoa, but now you're workingon your tongan right now, like
and I feel like, bro, just thatfruit of understanding I

(22:29):
resonate with my people likethat is like taking you to learn
multiple languages, especiallythe ones in the pacific island,
bro, like those are all positivefruits that are gonna show
impact for the nonprofit youknow.
I mean like to be able tocommunicate, and communication
is like huge.
Like that's how we, that's howyou're supposed to operate in

(22:50):
the world nowadays.
Like yeah if you can't talk tothem, like you can't talk to
them, like you can't talk tothem.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
So yeah, I think it makes a big difference, like in
terms of people trusting you andwanting you to be a part of
what they're doing Cause dude.
It takes a long time to learnlanguages.
It's hard.
It's like it's a grind, but noit's it's easier for me to

(23:17):
understand, like my dad too,growing up a lot of things I
didn't understand about what hedid and why he said things, but
it all makes sense when youfinally start to understand
where they speak in theirculture better like that.

Speaker 1 (23:28):
I don't like that a lot, bro.
I'm excited for you, bro.
I'm excited for what's to comefor August.
Guys, you had the date setalready for the.
Yeah, August 15th and 16th.

Speaker 2 (23:41):
I need to put it out on social media.
I made the videos and stuff,but I need to put it out.

Speaker 1 (23:45):
Yeah, we'll also blast it out for you, bro, as
well, so it'll be good.
Dude I appreciate that a lot.
I think that would be supercool If you guys are listening.

Speaker 2 (23:51):
guys turn up August 15th and 16th Friday, saturday
15th 16th guys Turn up for thePika Bowl tournament.

Speaker 1 (24:00):
See who's the winner.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
Yeah, it's going to be competitive.
We have a ton of players, it'sgoing to go crazy.
So I'm excited.
I think it'll be a goodcommunity event and just like a
blast for families to come outparticipate in fun.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
Super cool, we're excited.
Moving on to our next question,bro, um, you know the podcast.
We like to focus on aself-reflection.
Yeah, um, one of our newerquestions you want to ask is
like what, um?
We talk a lot about happinessand joy.
What brings you the most joy,even if it doesn't align with
others' expectations?

Speaker 2 (24:38):
That's a great question.
What brings me the most joy,even though it may not align
with other people's expectations?
That's a good question,honestly, I would like.
I think the answer is prettysimple for me.
Even though I've obviously hadmy ups and downs with my
testimony and stuff and makingmistakes, I think the gospel,
jesus Christ, like, keeps merooted in who I am and like my

(25:01):
goals.
I don't know.
I think for me, as I thinkabout projects possible and who
I need to be as a leader, aswell as who I need to be as like
a boss or just a friend to my,the people that are working with
me in gleam is like he's theperfect role model.
You know he's like the greatestleader, but he's also the
greatest follower so I feel likeit brings me joy, not just

(25:25):
because I I feel like I have acommunity at church and I feel
the peace and the joy of livingthe gospel, but also that I
don't know like everything thatyou need to learn about business
communication, all those kindof skills dude, it's in the
Bible.
It's in the Book of Mormon, soI feel like that's my direct
connection to heaven.
It's like I don't know.

(25:46):
I heard this on a podcast awhile back.
Have you ever heard of CaseyBaugh?

Speaker 1 (25:50):
Casey Baugh Sounds familiar.
I think so.

Speaker 2 (25:53):
He sold it anyway.
He's like managed at vivint forforever and then he exited and
then he uh, he does like allsorts of what's it called, like
big acquisition, like he's likea private equity company kind of
thing.
But for him.
He was interviewing corbinchurch and they're talking about
it but he said they almost feelso they almost feel more
spirituality doing business thanthey do at church.

(26:14):
And at first dude I was kind oflike I was kind of cut.

Speaker 1 (26:17):
I was kind of like what the heck?

Speaker 2 (26:19):
But I think I've realized just the time you spend
with people in meetings andcollaborating and working
together.
Dude, you're just like shoulderto shoulder with your brothers
and sisters, like working hard,working into something that's
bigger than yourself, and Ithink that's how I've felt a lot
of joy.

Speaker 1 (26:35):
I like that.

Speaker 2 (26:36):
As of lately, with like projects possible.
That's how I've been able tofeel a lot of joy, cause I'm
like working with my bestfriends, you know, on something
bigger than ourselves.

Speaker 1 (26:42):
And you're all like on the same goal.
Like you guys are all working.
There's no blind.
Like your blinders are on.
Like you guys are blocking outwhatever distractions you have
in mind.
Yeah, and you guys just want to, don't want to rest until you
guys hit that goal.
I like that a lot.
I think having those type ofpeople like, I guess, following

(27:05):
up on that, like how hard do youthink it is to find a good team
like that I think it's hard youknow what I mean.
How hard do you think it is tofind a good team like that?
I think it's hard.
You know what I mean,especially like in this,
especially when you're trying tostart out something so great,
and also whatever it is like ifyou're starting off your own
business or you know you'retrying to find a group of
friends to hang out with orwhatever it may be, to find

(27:29):
people that are true orauthentic to to reach you guys
goals yeah that's always tough,you know, because if, if one's
not aligned, bro, like, yeah,you already know right no,
definitely I think.

Speaker 2 (27:43):
Uh, I think you just kind of get you gotta get burned
at some point.
Like you gotta feel the theimpact of like oh, I didn't hire
the right person or I messed upthis up, like this up
specifically oh, that's happenedso far with window washing,
yeah, but honestly, it'sprobably my fault and I think,
like I don't think it was asmuch my friend's fault.
I think it would just mean notbeing as organized and as
prepared as I should have beenbut, it's just part of the

(28:05):
growing pains in terms of owninga business, especially when
we're young, like exactly I'monly 24, so it's like obviously
I'm not gonna know everythingperfectly, and especially when
you buy a business, like youdon't know the pricing perfectly
, like I think for me.
I should have probably takenmore time to understand the
market, but I didn't I just waslike I'm just gonna go into this
, I'm gonna go all in, and Ifeel like that's why I probably

(28:26):
had so many stumbles at thebeginning.
But I don't know, I feel likeyou kind of see how your friends
treat you in relationships likeyour friendships, and then I
feel like if they treat you welland they're consistent, it
usually translates over.
Sometimes it doesn't, but Idon't know.
I I feel like I subserve people.
I just.
I like keep things in tabs in mymind and like, were they

(28:47):
reliable in this situation whenI really needed them?
Did they show up, did theycommunicate, well, all those
kind of things.
But obviously we're not allperfect and I think that's like
a huge part of it is just beingsuper compassionate and I think
for myself too, like admittingmy fault, because I think like
obviously people watching thisthey're gonna hear a lot of like
the things that we're doing,but it's just not perfect.

(29:08):
It's not even close to perfect,but we're trying.
Yeah, I think that's like thebig part of it is just
understanding you're not goingto be great at it, like you're
going to make a lot of mistakes.
There's a lot of people going todoubt you, but it's just part
of the process and acceptingthat I feel like, as I've
accepted it, I I don't thinktake things as personally
anymore, you know, but oh,that's kind of like my, those
are my thoughts and like havinga good team and just like

(29:29):
dealing with the hardship ofyour team, maybe falling through
or doing well well, because,like, it just vibes with like,
like when you talked about beingmore spiritual, or like being
more especially in business,right, you want to make sure
that everyone's in line,everyone's working together, but
if someone messes up, then weall mess up, like we all take.

Speaker 1 (29:51):
we all take accountability for that.
And I think part of like whenyou said observing what they do,
how they work, whether, whether, um, what are their ethics like
?
How, how well do they performunder pressure?
You know those type of thingsum, I think it comes down to,
and, like you said, um, and likewhat you said before, like it's

(30:12):
sometimes probably my fault, Ishould have done this more, I
should have done this more.
Some of us don't even recognize,you know, and that's something
that we're trying to work on ishow can we have more honesty
with ourselves, having integrityfor ourselves?
I think those are the two thingsthat build authenticity within
groups and within people, withincommunities.

(30:34):
The most is integrity andaccountability.
I think those things go hand inhand, where, if we have those
things on a team, bro, I don'tthink a team would fail if they
had those things, because youreally, like, you don't have to

(30:55):
worry about someone being late,or someone coming on time, or
someone doing their quality ofwork, or someone you know
understanding the process.
You know for certain thingsbecause you know you've already
set that culture, you've alreadyexemplified that with whoever
you are.
But those are some things thatstood out to me.
When you know, when you'retalking about being more
authentic but also buildingthose type of like, finding

(31:17):
those type of people that youwant to reach a certain goal
with, you know yeah, I'm curiousfor you too, like especially
with your podcast and like yeahyou said your family owns a
business in new zealand.

Speaker 2 (31:28):
Like how's it been for you of like finding good
people, but also not holdinggrudges, because I saw your
thing with lemma just sayinglike oh yeah, like these people
left me out, right, or theydidn't hit me back, you know?
I mean, I feel like you hadenough uh momentum for them to
like give you a shot like how'sthat been for you with the ups
and downs of being able to like,not hold grudges, especially?
When it's like other polynesianpeople, you're reaching out to

(31:50):
no.
No, exactly, you know.

Speaker 1 (31:51):
I think there comes a time where you and it goes back
to what you just said likerecognizing my effort and like
have I done what I needed to do?
Because, honestly, looking back, I felt like I did, but at the
same time, I can either let itget to me or can I just learn

(32:12):
from it and grow.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (32:13):
Or not thinking about it, because, like bro, the
worst I can do is just freaking,sit on it.
And just, why this?
Why this, why this?
You know what I mean.
At the same time, like, yeah,maybe they could have, or maybe
they should have, but at thesame time, well, they'll meet me
later on and then maybe it'llbe better, at that certain time

(32:33):
I was supposed to meet them.
Or maybe, yeah, it comes topart of like, oh, we actually
should have, or, or, in my mindI always think about, especially
when things that go my way.
I'm always one to be like, um,you know that, saying that, um,
fricca, there's a lot of,there's actors and they're

(32:54):
talking about podcasts, they'reon a podcast and they're talking
about.
But, like, I kind of take it tomy mind, I'm like this too
shall pass, and it's been, it'sa pop, it's been a popular
saying, like in a couplepodcasts.
But yeah in my mind I'm overhere thinking like, yeah, but
it's gonna go away, like, andthen I'm just gonna move on to
the next thing, because, because, the more times that I can

(33:15):
focus on energy that'sreciprocated towards me, I feel
like that's going to give me mymost authentic growth and my
most authentic energy towardswhere I want to be, if that
makes sense.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yeah, no, I like that .
I think it's hard because it'slike some things, it just
happened to me and I obviously Iwon't send anyone's names, but,
um, it happened where I reachedout to someone and I was like,
hey, I want your help and didn'twork out.
And then we're working together, but I, I just I was like super
resentful at first.
I was like, like, honestly,their, their connections could

(33:50):
have helped me out a lot of thetime and like the point I at,
but maybe I just needed to hitrock bottom.
Maybe I did need to understandhow that felt through a deeper
sense and not necessarilybetrayal, but feeling let down
by people.
But I like what you said.
It's like in the scriptures andI came to pass.

(34:10):
This too shall pass.
It's just what's the nextchapter of your life, what's
gonna come next?
But I like that because, likeliving in the past or reflecting
too much on that and I don'tknow, I think I've, I mean, dude
, I've like, yeah, this lastyear was hard for me, low-key,
like I mean, look, it was reallyhard year for me.
Um, just like my personal life,and also in the business aspect

(34:31):
there's a lot of lows.
You know what I mean.
I think, uh, people can havetheir opinions on you and
whatnot, but, dude, I I thinkit's kind of interesting, like I
don't want to go too far of aside tangent yeah but if, like,
we really believe in forgivenessand overcoming and like
changing your life, we've got tofeel that same energy towards

(34:52):
everybody in every situation,like I think that's where like
okay, if I'm gonna hold grudgesagainst these people yeah but
people hold grudges against me.
It's like, how am I any betterthan?
them exactly so I gotta kind oflook at myself in the mirror, be
like, oh, if I'm being likeresentful towards this person,
it's probably like I need to fixwhat I'm doing, and then I feel
like these things will workthemselves out.
But I just got to be who I am.

(35:13):
I got to be authentic, you know, have integrity, all that kind
of stuff, and it'll always workout.

Speaker 1 (35:18):
It's such a hard thing to do, though, if you
think about it Like it's so hard, bro, like to like, especially
when you're trying to dosomething good or something you
believe in, or you're justasking and you're just not even
asking people to move mountains,you're just literally, like you
know, asking for somethingpositive that maybe it'll go

(35:41):
their way and it doesn't go yourway, and you're like, oh, yeah
this guy.

Speaker 2 (35:48):
Yeah, I think it's like you start to dial down your
vision.
You'll see who will fit and whowill not fit.
But then, honestly, likethere's some people I think I've
reached out in the past and I'mlike, oh, I really really want
this person's help.
But as I looked back I was like, do I really want?
To be like this person, eventhough they may have like a lot
of, I guess, motion.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
Or whatever it may be .
It's like Don't be upset aboutlike being let down by people
you don't want to be like oh100%.
Like.
If I don't want to be like,them like, why am?
I so upset, or why would I taketheir advice?
Like you know, other people'sopinions on me won't pay my
bills.

Speaker 1 (36:20):
They're not going to you know what I?

Speaker 2 (36:21):
mean Like that's not what's going to help me succeed,
like these people's negativityis not what's going to help me,
the connections, they're notgoing to start meetings for me.
They're not going to pay my carpayment or my.
You know what I mean oh yeahall those things.
So I don't know.
I feel like sometimes, likeit's important we take things
very seriously.
We don't take it too seriouslyto a point where it eats us up

(36:43):
and distracts us from what ourpurpose is.

Speaker 1 (36:46):
I think, yeah, I think on top of that, like what
you just said, I honestly thinkit's like the process of sifting
through the wheat, you know?
I mean like yeah and that's andI think that's something that
that I always think about,especially in today's, in
today's roles, like, even thoughwe're based in a society where
opportunities can be createdinstant, how well are we at

(37:10):
waiting things out and goingthrough the process right, like
everything has a way and aprocess.
All of us have been moldedbecause of society to have
instant gratification, whereas,like, we have to sit out and
sift this out and like, do Ireally want this part of my goal
?
Am I going to reach it withthis person, if I reach out to

(37:32):
this person, or is there someoneelse that's out there that I I
can, you know, get, if not thesame or a better result?
And I think it's up to uswhether to identify those things
and take time to self-reflectand be like, okay, like where is
it going?
Where is this going?
Yeah, and sometimes we're notready too exactly like.

Speaker 2 (37:52):
Sometimes we think we're ready to like oh, maybe
for you in your situation, likeI feel like I'm ready to
interview this guy yeah but it'smaybe like dang, maybe I didn't
have enough good like.
You know what I mean.
Maybe I wasn't ready for thatopportunity, and I think
sometimes same goes for me yeahlike something didn't work out
and I'm like trying to take itall personal, but I'm like, was
I really in a place where Icould actually clean?
that building, like did Iactually have the crew?

(38:13):
And like the means to do that,Like I don't know.
I feel like God will not sendus anything we can't overcome.
But at the same time, like ifwe can't handle something in the
first place, we're probably notgoing to receive the
opportunity.
It's like the person that putsin the work, the preparation,
those are usually the ones mean,I don't know, I don't even know

(38:33):
like the principle of the namefor it, but so much like karma
like the universe always.
There's always a a payout, yeah,for the input, the hard work,
the stress you go through, likeall those things.
They eventually pay off.
It just sometimes not in timing.

Speaker 1 (38:51):
Yeah, your investment of your energy will come out
later on.
I like that.
It's super cool Vibing rightnow bro, I like it.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
We're on a roll, we're on a roll, bro.

Speaker 1 (39:03):
Moving on to our next question, brother, or is it
right here?
How do you think we can be moreauthentically ourselves in
these times that we live in?

Speaker 2 (39:17):
Authentically ourselves.
Hmm, I think for me, like myBecause you sent me this
question, I was thinking aboutit, I was thinking authentic for
me is just like living inaccordance to what who I say I
am and doing what I say I willdo like I think that's like.

(39:40):
For me, it's like, if I cantrust you, you're someone that
will put like, put the time infor me because, honestly, like I
think a lot of us are extremelytransactional.
Yeah, I don't know, I think,even for you man, like your
podcast, like, I think, fromlooking at it from my someone,
of my perspective, or maybe fromthe outside, it's like why are

(40:01):
you interviewing someone withsuch it's like such little like
engagement on social media?
But at the same time, it's likeif these interviews are going
to help your page and if, um,these interviews are going to
help your page and if um, if wehave something good going on,
because you saw the value in it,but it's like you're authentic
to yourself.
Yeah, you know what I mean.
It doesn't matter if someonehas way more, way less.
Um, as long as the value isthere, it makes sense but, I

(40:24):
think, like I think I was hugeon your part.
I was like, yeah, like brandon'sa good guy, like he understands
how it feels to be in my spot.
Because you like, because evenwhen put out there, like what
you said with the lemma and UTP,I was like dude, this is
exactly how I felt.
But it's cool to finally getthe momentum and people to trust
in you.
But I think, just like, if youhave a vision and someone fits
the vision, no matter if theyhave a bunch of experience or

(40:45):
not, a lot of experience like, Idon't know, being authentic,
authentic, I feel like is umlike trying to see people
through god's eyes, yeah, seeingthem for their like divine
potential and like how much theycan offer, um, not just like
your personal benefit, but justto the world yeah because I I
don't know, as I've beenthinking about like gleam as
well as projects possible.

(41:07):
I'm like some of these guys.
If you look at it from anoutward perspective, people may
not be like they are the mostqualified.
However, they're like.
They're my friends, but notjust like good friends to me,
but they're consistent.
They've always been there.
They show up Like they go theextra mile for us when we're
down or we're having a hard time.

(41:28):
Like they're the ones that ifyou're tired or pops you have no
one else to call.
Like these are the people thatI'd call at midnight or two in
the morning to come help me.
So I think like that's where Ihave to be authentic, you know I
gotta see like, okay, maybe Ican go get this person has all
this experience.
But if this person has way morepassion and heart and does have

(41:49):
a little bit less experience,I'd rather have them than the
person that's like perfectlyqualified, but isn't willing to
answer the phone at midnight forme.
You know I'm saying I like that.

Speaker 1 (42:00):
It reminds me of uh, you ever watch jobs yeah, yeah
and there's a, there's a timewhere, like he was, he was
telling him, like steve jobs wassaying I want to change the
fonts, I want to change thefonts.
He's like no one's gonna careif you change the fonts, no
one's gonna, but a lot of fontsdon't care and he like fired him
on an instance like get out ofhere and then his, his buddy

(42:23):
said you just fired the best,the best software engineer in
the company.
He's like I fired the best onewho didn't care about our vision
and I think that's important islike no matter your skill set
or what you have, like it can bebetter than a lot of people,
but if you have heart, passionand work ethic, I think that
outweighs everything else yeah,you know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (42:41):
Yeah, I mean like even these meetings the last few
weeks, they're like who is thiskid trying to do these things?
You know what I mean?
But I think they just saw likethe amount of time and energy to
it like you know what I mean.
But I think they just saw likethe amount of time and energy to
it.
Like I mean, we talked about alittle bit, but like the time
difference in the islands islike, unless I'm calling them at
midnight, I'm not going to talkto them.

(43:02):
So it's like and I don't saythat for any kind of
recognition- I don't care.
People can know or not know,but it's like, are you willing
to stay up till 2 am every dayand talk, talk to these people.
Like, because you're not justlike.
People have to work.
These are people that work fromearly morning to the evening,
but on their side, too, they'regiving me time from their
evening and they usually spendwith their families, but it's

(43:25):
for something way bigger.
You know what I'm saying, but Ithink like just having the
passion and the energy, but alsolike being very strategic, like
I don't want people to thinkthat I'm just like just guessing
.
Like there's a lot of thinkingand strategy behind everything
that we're doing to make thisreally functional, but like the

(43:46):
passion is what allows me to doit and keep going even when I'm
tired.

Speaker 1 (43:50):
Be like allows me to do it and keep going even when
I'm tired, be like, yeah, thisis like, this is more than just
me.
I like that.
I like that, bro.
Um, just to just to finish offon our last question, brother,
what?
Um?
We talked a little bit aboutwhat authentic means and,
brother, this whole podcast hasbeen super, super sick.
I'm like, and I'm over herelike dang, this guy's got all
the, all the gems in the worldto share with.

(44:11):
Uh, you know, um.
But the last question I wantedto speak about, and something
that I realized while talking toyou and you know, being um,
just essence, being around you,is like your growth mindset,
like and that's something that Ikind of want to implement in
all things like podcasts ishaving a growth mindset.

(44:32):
What does growth mindset meanto you and what does, yeah, what
does that mean to you and howcan we, as a Polynesian culture
or Polynesian society, like addthat to our, just to our
everyday living, or our goalsand our dreams.

Speaker 2 (44:52):
That's a really good question.
Growth mindset what is it andhow do we implement it in our
communities?
Yeah, I think for me, as Ithink about all this stuff is
like, if I'm in a place where Ican give someone an opportunity,
like why not?
Like I don't, I don't reallysee the point of me trying to

(45:13):
get keeper or hold people backfrom their own potential.
Like I've been telling myfriends this too, because a lot
of my friends work with me, butI just tell them, like you don't
work for me, you work with me.
And like we're worthy, likewe're exactly together this
whole time.
Like, even as I look back on mymission to my companions and

(45:33):
the people that I trained, Iknow it's not this deep,
probably not this deep, but when, like everyone called them like
their dad or whatever, like ifI down on my mission, they call
him like son or whatever I said,I'm never going to call you
that because we're just equals.
Like even though I'm trainingyou, it's like you're just as
much a missionary as I am amissionary and there's no reason
for me to like treat you anydifferent?
So if there's something that Isay like and it's wrong, tell me

(45:57):
exactly like.
We're not going to be able to bethe best we can unless we're
like very honest with each other, but I think the growth mindset
dude, like I don't know.
I think, at the end of the day,investing in people is the most
important thing that you can do, investing time, investing
trust and people are going tobreak your trust like one way or

(46:20):
another.
Like either way, you're goingto be let down eventually.
But I think for me it's likeit's thinking with an abundance
mindset.
It's a huge thing for mebecause it's like what if they
come sell a couple?
Huge thing for me, cause it'slike what if they come sell a
couple of jobs and they quit?
It's like okay, like I gavethem an opportunity.
But what if they come and theysell a bunch of jobs and they
you know, they help out theirfinancial situation, even if

(46:41):
it's a short term.
It's like whatever I can do formy friends and I understand.
Like I obviously don't want tobe taken advantage of.

Speaker 1 (46:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (46:48):
But, like I tell my friends all the time, I'm like,
be a part of this, be patientwith me but realize, like, as I
continue to grow my network andmeet with all these big people,
these names that will help, like, help me for the rest of my
life, whether I'm sticking withthis or something else, like,
these are the people I want youto meet.
Come with me to these meetings,introduce yourself to these

(47:14):
people, get to know them because, like, whether you're a
software engineer or if you'recleaning windows yeah, you're
selling windows or if you'redoing something else, these
relationships, if taken care ofcorrectly, will bless you for
the rest of your life and that'swhy I want all my friends to
come is like I understand.
But I just make clearexpectations, like I don't want
you to mess this up and and I'mkind of helping you out in a way
, but like what, if this helpsyou, what?
if you provide a lot of value tothem too.
I've just been thinking aboutthat, I think in our community I

(47:39):
don't know, dude, I think it'skind of funny because I usually
only date like Palangi girls.
But no, I was like I've beendating like only Palangi girls
and and don't hate me on that, Iknow some people in the
comments will be like this guy.
But no, like sometimes they goto events and they feel really
really welcome and then othertimes they feel really really
left out, like it's very clicky.

(48:01):
But I think, like dude, peoplelove the Polynesian culture,
they love the Pacific Islandsand there's only like honestly,
there's.
We can do so much good.
And I think like that's what theway I think about it is, like
we just have an opportunity todo so much good and being kind
and doing good is free, and Ijust think like I don't know, I

(48:23):
think I obviously I'veexperienced the hardships of
like being called plastic orwhatever and going through that.
Um, dude, like, like I, like Isaid, like I just said, kindness
is free.
Um, our community has such, dowe have so many incredible
talents, like musically we're,we're natural gatherers, and I
think that's where we have suchan opportunity to do good here

(48:45):
in utah, all over the world.
But if there's any message I'dsay, I think just remembering,
like, our divine potential,especially as a people that
people love and are attracted toand they want to be around,
like we can do so much good, andI just want to keep that at the
forefront of my mind always.

Speaker 1 (49:01):
Yeah, I like that, bro.
I really love how you talkedabout how kindness is free,
about how kindness is free, andI think, as a Polynesian culture
like, or community in general,sometimes, I don't know,

(49:23):
sometimes we want to givekindness for free, but then we
kind of want something in return.
And I'm not maybe I'm justsaying it, I don't know, maybe
from just past experiences, butI think, just going off that
point, um, a lot of us need tofocus more on being, you know,

(49:46):
like.
What's coming to my mind is thecrabman.
The crab, uh, the crab theory.
You ever heard about that crabmentality?

Speaker 2 (49:54):
I couldn't explain it to me.

Speaker 1 (49:56):
It's like so because, like I said, I believe our
point is so I believe and 100believe our community is one of
the most talented people.
We have the most talentedpeople.
We have the most passionate,most loving, most faithful, but
we also have the most oppositeas well at times, you know I
mean I agreed, we can be 100prideful, we can drag each other

(50:19):
down.
And the crab mentality, the crabtheory is you know, if you put
a bucket of crabs into, if youput a bucket, if you put crabs
in a bucket all the way to thetop right, you'll notice that
the crab, once it sees someoneclimb on top, it drags them down
.
So everyone's trying to escapethe bucket, but everyone doesn't

(50:44):
want them to escape, so theydrag them down as well yeah they
want to keep everyone on thesame level.
Interesting, and that's a theorythat I don't know.
I've kind of seen in somecommunities here and there,
especially in our PacificIslander community.
Sometimes we don't want to seesomeone our brethren, or someone

(51:04):
in our community do better thanus, yeah, and it kind of can
hurt our pride or our ego in a away.
And I just want to tell them,like, bro, like if they do good,
then we do good, like pushingout positivity, pushing out
those type of energy, that's.
Those are huge aspects for usto be like you know, um, for our

(51:28):
people to evolve and get to aplace where we want to be yeah,
I mean, I like that a lot that'ssomething that I I really stick
to is like I do not like whenwe choose to do that, because
how does it reflect on us, likeyou know?
I mean, yeah, and how would wefeel like if someone was tearing
us down, you know, at the sametime.

Speaker 2 (51:48):
Yeah, Dude, like just kind of finishing off, you
remind me of like a big part ofmy life.
When I was in high school, Iwas a ninth grader, my parents
got divorced and that was likereally, really hard times.
And then I was wanting to playbasketball and all these things
were happening, and I don't knowlike I guess there was this one
conversation with the coach.

(52:09):
My friends told me, because Iquit football, yeah, and the
thing is like I don't know, myparents got divorced and they
couldn't really afford for me toplay ball sports.
I don't know like it's just alot of money, you know what I
mean um, but I decided I waslike, okay, I'll just play
basketball.
And then my friends told me oh,you stopped going to lifting
class.
Guess what the coach said aboutyou?
And I was like he just saidit's funny that blake quit

(52:30):
football because he's nevergonna make it in basketball, you
know.
And that was something that Ithought about.
Like dang dude, I'm only inninth grade, but that stuck with
me all of high school and Ijust had that in the back of my
mind and I was lifting andtraining.
But, um, I was just like I'mgonna prove this guy wrong.
I just kept thinking about thatover and over in my mind and I
finally got like I got smalloffers.
There was nothing crazy, but Ifelt good about it.

(52:50):
I was like I finally got offers.
But all throughout high school,um, for my I was like my
sophomore year going into junioryear I went and trained at a
place called tip top athlete anduh, one of the guys that the
guys that own it are polynesians.
So one's uh nate tuatonga loa,another one's ben moa, I don't
know if you've seen, the fighterhe played, played in NFL and
stuff.
But those guys, dude, it wasexpensive.

(53:13):
It was like I think it's like$300 a month to go train there
every every.
It was worth it though, 100%worth it, but when I went there,
my mom was like dude, this islike expensive.
So I was like there's someoneto figure out.
My dad helped me out for alittle bit and then I got to a
point where I just was payingfor it myself $ 300 a month and
I was like high school, that's alot of money, that's all hot
you know what I?

(53:33):
mean, but I went there and Ijust worked my butt off, bro, I
just like every single day.
I was like I just tried toelevate the people around me.
I'm like, hey, did you do allyour reps?
If you didn't do all your reps,they go back and finish it.
Yeah, like we got to keep eachother accountable because if we
all want to make it, if we wantto go to play college and
accomplish our dreams, like wegot to keep each other

(53:54):
accountable.
But after a while of just likeme working hard and then talking
to me, I was like, hey, like isthere anything I could do?
He allowed me to like startcleaning the gym and mowing the
lawn every week at his place,but the thing is like there
weren't that many kids going andand he had a whole family and
like supporting a lot of people.
But it got to a point where heallowed me to just keep coming

(54:14):
but all I had to do was mow thelawn like every two weeks
instead of paying $300.
It was a huge burden off myback because I'm like dude,
that's like that's huge.
But then it got to a pointwhere't know, like people like
Nate and Ben, like those arepeople that they, you know they
take the bucket out.

(54:35):
They're the ones that havechanged the game for me, cause I
I didn't realize it until now,but I like how gracious and
compassionate and like man, likeall my mission too.
I thought about it every time Iwas tired.
I was like dude, but like whenI went to that place, when I
went to Tip Top, I worked hardevery single day.
I never, ever, left with beinglike.
I didn't give my all, or Ididn't finish the sets, or

(54:55):
whatever it may be, but I thinkthose were.
Those guys are a hugeinspiration to me of people that
.
Polynesian.
Polynesian business owners thathave shown me like it's more
than just about the money.
It's about making an impact,changing lives, and you can even
see it now, like the way hecoaches at Fremont.
But just their team is doing sogood and the kids love him.

(55:16):
Bro, he's like everyone thatgoes there has something nice to
say about those guys justbecause they're so solid.
So I don't know, I've just seenlike their example is what I
was reminded of in terms of likepeople that are the opposite of
the crabs in the bucket.

Speaker 1 (55:30):
But it's just cool to see like I didn't really think
about it now, but just how bigof an impact one person like
that showing kindness can makeon someone's life bro, I
honestly think, and and thoseare the point those are the
people in the community, and itcould be anybody, but
specifically in our community,those are the ones who become
successful yeah are the ones who, like, are not worrying about

(55:52):
the bucket mentality yeah butthey just worry about how can I
give more.
How can I okay, like I know thisguy works hard, I know he, he
wants this as bad.
What else can I do to help himstill, you know, earn that right
to come every month and stillbe okay and lift the burden off
Like dude, like there's a lot ofcoaches who wouldn't even care,

(56:13):
like who'd be like, oh, that'stough luck, Sorry bro.
Tough luck.
You know what?

Speaker 2 (56:16):
I mean yeah.

Speaker 1 (56:17):
But at the same time, like you, think about those
people, and I really do believethat people who hold
relationships, and who holdrelationships to a higher
standard than money- I believethat those are the ones who
become most successful.

Speaker 2 (56:32):
No, I totally agree, and it's so cool to like to see
him too, because it was justlike this warehouse was probably
honestly the size of this house, but it was just like.
It was probably like 50, maybe40, 50 yards long and then maybe
like 50 feet wide, but it waslike the whole gym, it was the
whole turf and everything likethat.
And now he's in this really bigfacility.
It's like way bigger I don'tknow, he's all equipment, but

(56:53):
it's just cool to see likesomeone who's ethical yeah works
hard and treats people right,like you're gonna be successful
at one point in time and likeit's funny.
getting home from my missiongoing to the new place, I was
like holy crap, like I justremember being in that small gym
and then then moving around tobigger gyms.
Like it honestly, like it paysoff, like the good karma bro, it
always always, always, always,a hundred percent.

Speaker 1 (57:18):
But bro Blake thanks for coming on this episode for
the podcast, bro.

Speaker 2 (57:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (57:23):
We're grateful for you, bro.
We're grateful for everythingthat you stand for.
We're grateful for your vision,um, that you stand for.
We're grateful for your vision,for your dreams and where
you're heading.
Yeah, we're grateful for you inthe community and we can't wait
to see more things coming.
Hopefully, we'll get anotherpodcast episode later on,
hopefully.

Speaker 2 (57:38):
Yeah, that'll be really good.
Yeah, appreciate you, brandon.
Appreciate your time and like,yeah, just hearing me out,
giving me a shot and seeing thevision and like the passion
behind this has been super.
It Seeing the vision and thepassion behind this has been
super.
It's good to feel the supportfrom someone 100%, bro.

Speaker 1 (57:53):
We support you.
Our listeners support you aswell, bro.
Guys, we'll make sure we'll putBlake's socials and stuff and
everything to do with theorganization in the bottom below
.
We'll also put down whenever weget the information for the
event in August.
We'll put that on as well.
So if you're there for that,please go go through um.
On top of that as well, uh,we'll also announce we'll also

(58:15):
announce the next couple videosthis month.
We'll announce that event aswell in our journal episode so
we can remind people as well.
Um, but, yeah, uh, socials, guys, we're on all social media
platforms.
We're on instagram, facebook,we are on um, youtube.
So if you haven't alreadyfollow, subscribe so that we can
get you guys listening activelymore weekly.

(58:35):
And, on top of that, whereveryou guys listen to your podcasts
whether it be Amazon Music,whether it be Spotify, apple
Podcasts, whatever it is noexcuse to not listen to our
podcast.
Guys, come on down, listen tothese gems we get.
We get great people that have,you know, great words of wisdom,
great gems and just greatpeople in general.
Guys, we want you guys tolisten to these people because

(58:56):
what we share really can helpand hopefully we can add value
to you guys life.
But I'll have from that guystill next time.
We'll see you then shoots.