January 3, 2025 • 50 mins
In this podcast, we reflect on the lessons learned from 2024, revisiting the aspirations and goals we discussed at the year's start. Our conversation covers personal milestones, accountability for missed targets, and the importance of friendship in navigating challenges while looking ahead to set meaningful intentions for 2025.
• Overview of 2024 aspirations and the reality check on achievements
• Celebration of memorable moments, including camaraderie and mishaps
• Emphasis on personal growth and nurturing relationships
• Exploration of failures in goal-setting and accountability
• Forward-looking discussion on intentions for 2025 and actionable insights
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ryan (00:09):
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the roast of TBC.
And what we mean by that is,you know, it's New Year's is
upon us.
We're going to reflect on our2024.
We're going to go back to ourNew Year's episode, where we
talked about all these greatthings that we had aspirations
for, all these things that wewere going to accomplish, and
we're going to see what weactually did this year.
(00:30):
James is going to take usthrough kind of a recap of what
was said on that episode, andthen we're going to kind of
reflect and, uh, I guess, findsome truth on how our 2024
played out.
So, james, take it away,brother.
James (00:41):
All right.
So in that that episode wetalked about goal setting,
teamwork, personal development,celebrating milestones.
That was actually a big one forus.
Um, we emphasize change,consistency and energy, but
holistically it was.
It was rooted aroundprofessional and personal
(01:02):
improvement, right, um, each ofus kind of shared some
meaningful insights, but uh, whowants to go first?
I have a question, just hit meright now.
Ryan (01:14):
did johnny talk about, you know, did johnny talk about
shaving, that beautiful thing inthe recap?
James (01:24):
No, no, it was not mentioned.
And he had hair.
But wait, here's the thing hehad hair, but he still was
wearing a hat.
Jonny (01:32):
Now he's got no hair and he's not wearing a hat.
I'm sorry.
Ryan (01:36):
That hit me right now, as you're talking about it.
I'm just staring at Johnny.
I'm like, wait a minute, woo,okay.
James (01:43):
That's good.
That's good.
That's good.
John, you want to go first,then?
No, not really after that.
You're going first.
You're going first, sir, okay,all right.
So so I'm only going to hit ona couple of things, some of like
key moments from 2023, um, whatyou said you were going to do.
But I'm also going to give youwhat, how you summarized your
2024 was going to be focusedaround, and then, at the end of
(02:06):
this, we're going to summarizeagain.
It's, it's in three words what2025 is going to be.
Three words, okay.
So think about that as we gothrough this.
But, johnny, let's, let's startwith you.
So, first off, we were tryingour hardest to talk about
favorite moments, but ryan washaving technical difficulties
getting kicked out with hislaptop.
Ryan (02:24):
Oh, this was that episode, that was that episode.
Oh, okay, yeah.
James (02:27):
So we actually never truly got to Johnny, but what
was shared was actually our tripto Mexico for Austin's bachelor
party, sure was, and Ryanforced Johnny to recollect what
Ryan's favorite memory and thatwas you missing your flight due
to excessive alcoholism.
Ryan (02:48):
It was a good time.
Okay, Now on a more, one ofmore.
James (02:56):
What the hell is the word I'm serious, serious.
Gosh, you said you were goingto focus on balancing your
spiritual, mental, emotional andphysical dimensions.
Wow, 2024 but prioritizing yourmental and, uh, emotional
well-being, which is oddlyspecific to what we're doing now
(03:16):
with the passion project.
Jonny (03:17):
This was before we even really talked about it, I think
yeah, so I just, I just, I justdidn't you know the mental and
all the health pieces would comein December and not, you know,
early on in the year of twentytwenty four.
I've got no hair left, gainedabout 20 pounds, so we're just
(03:39):
we're chugging along here.
What else I got there that Ican just keep reflecting?
James (03:44):
on yeah, so um your three words that you summarize a year
was embrace the journey we'rebracing the journey right now.
I think that's very accurate, Ithink it was.
I think if you were to havelike a theme to your year,
embrace.
Jonny (03:59):
The journey was definitely big come with the
punches.
My three words this year wouldbe better hair product.
Goodness gracious, go to Turkey, get those hair plugs, hair
plug session.
No, I would say Embrace.
(04:20):
The Journey was a good one.
Ryan (04:22):
That's what you said for 20.
What 20 was gonna be?
Jonny (04:25):
yeah, I think 2024 has been a a very, very good year.
Okay, it's out of the couple offactors that are just very
demonstrative on this podcast,but, um you, had a pretty big
2024 big 2024 lots to be proudof, lots to be happy, lots of
great people in it.
Why do I gotta start first?
(04:47):
Dude, I don't know where I'mgoing with this.
James (04:49):
Just talk about how your 2024 went.
You guys got a new house.
Jonny (04:54):
So closed on a new house, put our old house up for rent.
Ryan (04:59):
Almost had to sell that new house within a week.
Jonny (05:01):
Almost had to sell that house within a couple of months
Because I was going to take anew opportunity for work, for a
promotion.
Some pretty good opportunitiescame up in work, gotten a few
leadership opportunities, whichI'm very thankful and excited
for.
Child on the way Wife'spregnant.
James (05:18):
Just slip that one in there.
Jonny (05:20):
Come on All in a matter of a couple of months.
All this happened, Good stuff.
It couldn't get much worse frommissing a flight in 2023 in
Mexico so it could only go upfrom there, but yeah.
James (05:34):
Do you want to share maybe one of your favorite
moments from 2024?
Jonny (05:39):
You know us finally getting in person to here, oh
goodness.
James (05:43):
Today, you mean Today.
Today is one of your moments.
Jonny (05:46):
Wow, I would say personally, um you know, finding
out that I'm gonna be a fatherlike that was.
James (05:54):
I could not agree more, that's probably icing on the
cake.
Jonny (05:58):
Um, I'll save the more bigger story, but obviously,
kenny, welcoming a little one inthe world, that was really
exciting.
Yeah, um, definitely, obviously, you two Neanderthals like just
living the life.
You get a new house.
James (06:12):
Yeah.
Jonny (06:13):
You welcoming a puppy into the world.
James (06:17):
Um, you guys, did you have get Phoebe in 2024,?
Jonny (06:21):
2023?
.
That was 2023.
Yeah.
James (06:24):
Um, okay, so you stole all in 2024?
That was 2023.
Yeah, he stole all of ourmoments.
So that's great, we've gotnothing to share.
We can go into a little bitmore.
Jonny (06:33):
You just had to throw it off, you just had to really
start off with the ball.
Kenny (06:36):
I'm sorry to hit you Fantastic.
James (06:42):
Alright well, since you're ready to move on.
Jonny (06:45):
I'm going to move on to someone else.
James (06:47):
Should we go J to J or should we go to R and K?
Just?
Kenny (06:51):
go this way.
All right, we'll go right,we'll go right All right.
James (06:55):
So, other than the fact that I took the first note to
struggle with major laptopissues, your comment was that
you were going to get a newlaptop into the new year Sure
didn't.
Sure, didn't, sure didn't Stillhave laptop issues.
All right, we'll go favoritemoments first for you, so you
actually talked a lot about alot of different ones.
Your first one, though, wasCoco Bongo experience in Mexico.
Ryan (07:18):
Right the night before Johnny's flight.
Yes, Technically the samemorning as Johnny's flight at
one point.
Jonny (07:25):
yeah, okay, this is the roast morning as johnny's flight
at one point.
James (07:26):
yeah, um, okay, this is the rose of jonathan not the
rose uh the next one, which waspretty cool, was milestone
reaching 30th birthdaycelebrations with all your
friends yeah, for sure um newdecade.
Jonny (07:40):
Yeah, your birthday yep last 2023, yeah not mor Morgan's
30th.
James (07:46):
We had celebrated them for that.
Ryan (07:48):
It actually sparked a discussion About what you were
going to do In the next decadeDidn't make dinner, Morgan's.
That's why I can't put it onthere as a memory.
Jonny (07:58):
Wasn't there.
I didn't make something either.
I missed dinner you missedflights.
James (08:04):
You know what we messed up with.
Why are we sitting like this.
Ryan (08:04):
I don't make something either.
James (08:04):
I missed the flight, I missed dinner, you missed flight
.
You know what we messed up with.
Why are we sitting like that?
I don't know.
We're all I don't know, becauseyou guys are having your banter
Now.
It's across the table, that istrue.
Sorry, you guys sat down first,you're right.
I sat down in my seat, so maybeKenny screwed this up.
Let's get back to theseriousness of the rose.
Ryan (08:20):
All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all
right, all right, all right,all right, all right, all right,
all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all
right, all right, all right, allright, all right, all right.
James (08:39):
You also mentioned you're right.
Ryan (08:41):
Yep, yeah, we've got more now from this.
We sure do got a few more.
James (08:46):
Um, then you also, at the time when we were recording it,
you were, um, thinking aboutthe future and of that year and
we were going to be going toaustin and heather's new year's
wedding yep, that was the otherthing that you talked about.
He said it was different.
For us, new year's is usuallyat my house.
Jonny (09:02):
That is true.
They do a good ryan there allright.
James (09:07):
So your actual self-improvement goal, though
you wanted to focus on readinghow many books have we read this
?
Year, um, and you, you, at thetime, you share that you started
reading.
You have to be believed to beheard, did?
Ryan (09:23):
you finish the book?
Surely did not finish that book, nor any other book in 2024 how
many pages did you get throughon that?
Kenny (09:31):
I think I got what's funny?
Ryan (09:32):
because james is like no so I embarked on that journey.
James (09:35):
Hey, this is my roast james, like ryan.
Ryan (09:38):
You know you're really inspirational guy.
You know I really look up toyou.
You really motivated me.
I'm gonna read with you.
Dude or orders.
The book finishes the book.
Kudos to you, you reallymotivated me.
I'm going to read with you dudeOrders.
James (09:47):
The book Finishes the book Kudos to you.
Checked in with him constantlythroughout the process.
Ryan (09:50):
I think, I finished about four chapters.
I remember we're headed to TimMeyer's bachelor party.
I'm reading the book on theflight.
I'm so productive.
Look at me, I'm going to go bea degenerate, but before let me
get my reading in.
I think that was the last timeI picked up a book.
That was January.
So we failed on reading.
Yes, a hundred percent.
James (10:17):
Um, but you also talked about the emphasis and
importance of positivity andbringing the energy that you
control um, what you bring tothe table, having positive
outlook.
One insight in particular thatyou shared was marriage isn't
50-50, but 100-100.
Ryan (10:28):
Okay I can say I did probably well on that.
On the marriage side of thingsStill married, still married,
not divorced On the TB side Gotyour ring on.
Jonny (10:36):
Yeah, tbc side of things, I might have been the most
negative of the four.
I think I failed that one too.
James (10:43):
Which is a good transition to your three words.
Ryan (10:46):
The Bender continues it sure was not a good reflection
of 2024.
As you've seen, we've beensporadic with our postings and,
yeah yeah, a lot of work to bedone in 25.
Unreal yeah.
James (11:01):
All right, do you want to reflect on any 2024 memories?
Do you want to save that forthe next topic of when we
transition out of?
Ryan (11:07):
this.
Yeah, if we're going to comeback to it, sure All right,
we'll come back to it.
James (11:10):
Sweet, so we'll just keep going with the roast portion.
Kenny, all right, a lot of yourreflection was on planning,
emphasize goal setting for bothmonthly and quarterly, for both
monthly and quarterly.
This was more just sharing on,like how you actually take on
the new year, like this is yourperspective, which I'm assuming
is probably still true.
(11:31):
You still plan for the nextquarter monthly and then
obviously adapt as you go.
Correct Yep you yeah, wanted tospecifically focus, though, on
interpersonal relationshipswithin your team, and then you
had plans in 2024 to expand alsoyour personal and professional
(11:52):
connections.
Kenny (11:54):
Yeah, I would say we do that.
Still, I'm not the which Ithink I've highlighted in the
past.
I'm not the most like HR drivenperson, so I'm not the one
that's like specificallyplanning events and things like
that.
My wife is actually in thebusiness and her presence has
been a little bit less this yearbecause we had a baby, so she's
(12:16):
been home with the baby a lotmore and whatnot.
So I would say things haveshifted, but I would still say
that the relationships fromwithin the office are stronger.
I feel like the people that arein the office are more tightened
in now than probably everbefore and I do feel that, yeah,
we're really rocking androlling, we've got a really
(12:38):
strong structure and everybody'sreally comfortable.
We had a great Christmas partythe other night, which was
awesome.
Really enjoyed being witheverybody and, yeah, it's like a
family.
So, yeah, continuing to expand,so expanding but also getting
close with one another, and Ithink it's and I brought this up
the other night beingcomfortable with the people that
you go into office with andwhatnot.
Being, you know, happy with thepeople that you're around is
(12:59):
really important because youspend a lot of time in office.
James (13:02):
So, you know, creating a strong setting is important you
um, you also highlighted, as apart of your growth, um and
planning initiatives, to use adaily planner and you you
emphasize that you try to godigital but you went back to
like a written regular dailyplanner.
You are you still using thattoday?
Kenny (13:22):
yeah, I am so have, even in 2024, I bounced around a
little bit to try to find bettersolutions.
I'm always going back and forthbetween like can I keep it
digital?
Do I need a written form?
I feel like digital is betterbecause I can put it on a tablet
or a laptop, on a phone, andI've used a handful of different
outlets to do that.
But every single time it bringsme back down to a planner.
(13:44):
So this year, going into quarterfour, what I started to do was
say, like, okay, this isdefinitely going to be the
planner that I'm using Now.
Does it help my team becomemore efficient and effective?
So I gave it to a couple ofpeople in office and then I
think, going into 2025,everyone's going to get one,
because I really do think thatit's really important to just
(14:04):
jot down your day and haveproper planning.
But if you can do itcompany-wide, I mean that could
be really powerful.
There's a lot of planners outthere.
I've tried I can't even tellyou how many from influencers
and people that are big in themarket with different businesses
and different things like that,and then also making my own.
I have a few of my own thatI've made more digitally and not
(14:30):
digitally driven, but I wouldsay that the one that I have
stuck with the longest that havethat I've found to be the most
productive with segmenting yourday, your week, your month and
your quarter the book only lastsone quarter is the iFocus
planner.
It's like an.
It's called iFocus, it's abusiness planner.
It's like blue I don't knowthey might have different colors
and stuff, but that plannerspecifically, has been really
(14:52):
solid, honestly, and I think youshould give it a look if it's
something that you do that youuse a planner.
It's not expensive $25, $30.
James (14:59):
I don't know.
The whole planner is for onequarter or are you saying it's
segmented by quarter, it'ssegmented.
Kenny (15:04):
It's a whole year Into three.
No, it's not a whole year, it'sonly one quarter.
It's about this thick, it'sonly about one quarter.
James (15:09):
So you have to buy four a year.
Then Correct Wow.
Kenny (15:12):
Yeah.
I focus Interesting.
I like the letter.
I focus.
James (15:19):
Um, and then your three words to summarize.
This year was invest inyourself.
You stress the value ofconstant effort, uh, personal
development, and then notingthat self-improvement enhances
contributions to others.
You quoted you cannot give whatyou do not have.
Kenny (15:37):
Yeah, I would say that that's probably um on trend.
I think it's a little harderwhen you have a baby.
Uh, I think everything's notabout yourself.
You have a baby, uh, I thinkeverything is not about yourself
.
So I think that that was.
That's probably a little bitharder, so, but still, I mean
yourself, you were, youratmosphere, your team, things
like that.
I think it's it's expandedoutside of just me, but I think,
(15:58):
yeah, investing on those aroundme was, is a common theme and
continues to be a common theme.
James (16:04):
On the more fun side of things.
Your favorite moment actuallykickstarted all of these
comments was bachelor partieswith friends and just getting
around with the guys, butespecially with Mexico.
You just had a blast withMexico.
So Mexico was a pretty bigtheme for us.
It was also fresh.
Jonny (16:18):
It was like the most recent thing we did.
James (16:20):
I think we just had it right before we filmed that
episode.
So on the high yeah.
Jonny (16:26):
All right.
Well, I guess I'll go over tome.
I'm going to read yours thiswill be fun.
All right.
James (16:34):
I'm in the hot seat.
Jonny (16:36):
So you reflected on the year by recalling key moments
rather than detailed goalsetting.
James, I'm always coming withdifferent ways to approach
things.
I love that Focus on what youcould have done differently and
then adjusted your planning toalign with Q1.
End of year reporting.
James (16:58):
Yeah, so the reason why, when I'm kind of getting up to
New Year's, I made that commentof reflecting is because my year
isn't technically like up yet.
I still have to do my year inreporting for the next quarter,
so I just kind of operate alittle bit differently.
So I do most of my reflectionand planning in March, but I do
reflect on the year during, likeDecember, getting ready for
January, but I'm more in apreparation mode right now.
Jonny (17:19):
So love that To your point.
Just keep it going on themexico theme tequila cuda was
the nickname in mexico which istracked.
James (17:31):
For the rest of the year I've only drank tequila.
I don't drink any.
Anything else.
Beer is done water, drink water.
It's with tequila we actuallyuh came up with a term for it at
Tanner's wedding.
It's called dirty waters.
Ryan (17:45):
It's just tequila and water.
Okay.
James (17:48):
Yeah, and this is also pretty accurate to how that
other episode went.
I would share something, andyou guys really didn't care for
it.
Jonny (17:58):
This one's got me dying.
I didn't forget about this.
It actually came up on myphotos the other day.
James' 30th birthday runninginto a wall.
He did.
James (18:13):
Are you sure you can read the rest of that he did?
How's the scar healing?
I actually saw the video and Istill had the scar and then I
completely forgot to go.
Kenny (18:22):
Look in the mirror, if I still have it.
So I have no idea.
James (18:24):
Ty, do you have a zoom in feature here?
Adult laser tag.
I don't think I have the scar.
It was on this side over heresomewhere.
Ryan (18:33):
But anyways, dr Dre did a good job.
James (18:35):
Yeah, that was funny.
Laser tag went right into thewall thinking I was Rambo Sure
isn't Rambo.
Jonny (18:44):
She's out here hustling 7 year old kids doing somersaults
is that part of your guys'Christmas team building activity
.
James (18:53):
Adult laser tag laser tag make sure you get the waiver
sign and bring a first aid kit,because whatever they have on
hand isn't good they treated youlike friggin a God.
Jonny (19:06):
once that happened, Except for the medical piece.
James (19:10):
Look they tried to give me something as like oh we're
sorry that you did this firstoff because it was on me.
They gave me like a go playlike during the week.
I'm like I'm not going on aThursday, so I think, I gave it
to a family with that has.
I think I gave it to themarshes or something I can't
remember.
But and kids, to the kids,right yeah, um weddings, um
(19:31):
tyler, myself, austin yep, wehad those three weddings um for
2024.
Jonny (19:39):
One of your, your biggest um opportunities that you
wanted to focus on was justincreasing your income network
targeting from a budgetstandpoint and then real estate
investment.
James (19:53):
Okay.
So that one it kind of workedout, but not the way I planned.
So I was originally thinkingabout renting my house out, but
I realized the equity that I hadin the home and what our next
home was going to be.
It was better for us to takethat money and put it into the
new house rather than trying tobuild a rental portfolio.
(20:17):
So we didn't do that.
Got our new house.
That happened in June.
Love the new house, it's great.
Got our new house.
That happened in june.
Love the new house, it's great.
Um then, from the financialside of increasing, uh, income
and that kind of stuff, since wedidn't do the rental side of it
, um, I decided to get in lasikdone.
So there goes all my money.
Kenny (20:38):
Yep, yep, um I also got invisalign the same fucking week
.
James (20:42):
Yep, so the money side of it not so good.
However, in a roundabout waydid get a promotion at work and
so, yes, I am making a littlebit more money because of that.
Kenny (20:58):
But ultimately not what I was thinking when I said that I
think you saw mine invest intoyourself.
James (21:01):
I know.
Kenny (21:02):
Invisalign Houzz, you really invested true I guess.
Jonny (21:06):
So true, I guess so um, you also had, you had some
setbacks obviously 2023 expensesbecause of the roof leak or the
house leak.
Yeah, um which?
James (21:17):
feels like yesterday.
I can't even believe that was awhole year ago.
Ryan (21:21):
We had just selling.
Yeah, the polybutylene, yeah,we got the whole house repip
believe that was a whole yearago.
James (21:24):
We had just Selling, yeah , the polybutylene.
We got the whole house re-piped.
That was literally during thistime last year that we were
wrapping that up Insane.
Jonny (21:33):
Well, I think you lived very well Through summarizing
what you wanted to Live the yearthrough, which was overcoming
Challenging obstacles.
I agree there was a lot ofchallenging obstacles.
James (21:43):
I agree, it was good.
There was a lot of challengingobstacles.
Jonny (21:46):
You also said you wanted to emphasize the importance of
reflecting and celebratingachievements from your friends
and family.
James (21:54):
Chad GBT might have copied Ryan's.
That sounds like more Ryan,right, yeah, it's all about the
people.
Jonny (22:03):
Sounds like more Ryan, right.
Yeah, it's all about the people.
James (22:05):
Oh, that's funny, All right, so how did I do?
Do you think we did?
Ryan (22:08):
We did okay, I shocked.
I openly admit that.
Say that it's okay.
Jonny (22:13):
Positivity, positivity.
Kenny (22:15):
That's negative.
Jonny (22:17):
How many books are you going?
To read next year, maybe one,let's get one under the belt.
You guys want to start a bookclub where we read a book a
month and then we recap it on apodcast.
Kenny (22:26):
No.
Absolutely not, didn't you guys?
Try to do that we tried to dopoker nights.
James (22:31):
That didn't work out either no we wanted to do a book
every two months and then wewould alternate who picked the
next book.
So I already had the next bookpicked out and I sent it to him.
Jonny (22:49):
Mind you who picked the next book so I was.
James (22:49):
I already had the next book picked out and I sent it to
him.
Mind you, mind you, I did notfinish that book.
It's still in my backpack.
How many books did you readlast year?
I only read the one, because,because then the, the move and
all that stuff got too, busy notpodcasting to read.
To be fair, it was aninteresting exercise to have a
recording of yourself talkingabout what your goals were going
to be for that year andeverything, and then sitting a
year later watching yourself saythese things, knowing what
(23:10):
happened in that year, yikes.
And then like, well, okay, Ikind of did this, I kind of
didn't do that, but this allhappened.
Yeah, and the biggest thingthat I realized again as a part
of the reflection piece holy,holy crap, did that move?
Take everything out of my ear.
(23:31):
I mean I feel like I exhaustedall of my extra spare time on
this house, dude, it's a movingis a huge thing, so it makes
sense well, yes, but this guydid a lot more than just moved
to.
He's gonna have a kid.
His wife was pregnant duringthe process.
I mean, I don't know.
I just felt like it was alittle too much and my life has
gotten out of whack and I feellike it's not in my hands right
(23:53):
now.
So that's a little bit intowhere I'm headed with what I
want to do for 2025.
Moving takes a lot out.
It was from June till still nowStill working on that house.
Jonny (24:04):
It's a lot.
I was moving with a little one,that's right, I would say it
was.
Kenny (24:13):
So he's real little when we moved.
He's only a couple months old.
We moved his room first,basically, and set his room up
and stuff, because that was likea little bit unique, because he
was going through a lot oftransitions too which is like
bedside bassinet.
So bedside, the bedsidebassinet was like where he was
(24:34):
staying for, you know, the firstcouple of months.
And then when we moved, we alsotransitioned him to his own
room at the same time because wejust thought it was a good
transition, like to do all thatat once.
It's going to be a new settingregardless.
It's making a new setting andput him in his room.
So it was.
I would say it was probably asgood as it would have been if we
(24:56):
transitioned him into his ownroom anyway, because there's
definitely, um, like trials andtribulations that you have to go
through with doing that.
It's not like you just put themin the room and they're like
good to go.
It's like a whole process.
And we're still going throughthat process, approaching six
months old now, but I think that, yeah, we did as much as we
(25:18):
could to get it done quickly,which is the good thing.
We unboxed really quickly andstuff, so now it's just about
creating new spaces and stuff inthe house, which is what
anybody does once they get in,and whatnot, renovate and
different things like that.
So, yeah, but I don't think itwas more difficult than it would
have been without him.
(25:40):
Obviously he's not helping.
He's five months old.
He's not picking shit up.
It wasn't that difficult.
Jonny (25:46):
DIY or pay the guy.
Kenny (25:50):
We had movers too for some stuff, which was very
beneficial I did pods instead ofmoving.
Ryan (25:57):
That's a step in the right direction for you.
Kenny (26:00):
Lydia and I did everything.
James (26:01):
We didn't hire a single person to do anything in our
house didn't you text us abouthelping you?
Jonny (26:10):
we forgot completely or something.
I don't think we showed up.
No, I don't, I just, I justremember you texting or saying
something.
James (26:19):
I didn't think Lydia and I were going to be able to
manage putting stuff into a pod.
And so I was like I might needyour help.
That's what it was.
We ended up selling our couch,which was the real piece that I
was worried about, and then wemanaged to get it in the truck
so she was able to do it with me.
So it's an awkward shape andthe doors, that was more so what
(26:43):
I was worried about.
Are we able to actuallymaneuver it out?
Yeah, we got it done.
Yeah, no one helped.
Then we painted the entirefucking inside of the house.
That's crazy.
That took us five weeks.
We got.
We got lucky with the paintingthing.
Yeah, we got super lucky.
Jonny (26:58):
Appreciate you, mr Barrett Kernan.
Thank you for your support.
Thanks for helping us out.
Shout out to Ten Point Services, great general contracting
company.
Ryan (27:14):
Painted our whole house as a gift.
Jonny (27:16):
Thank you Appreciate you, brother-in-law.
Wedding gift or just a giftyeah just, you know, wedding
house gifts, you know didn'treally know what was going on.
Bray wouldn't tell me really.
And then, wow, the inside'spainted.
Oh, and then the outside'spainted.
Okay, we'll take it Very nice.
Kenny (27:36):
You got the baby's room all set up now.
Jonny (27:38):
Working through it.
So we've got a pretty big we.
We got all the family comingfor Christmas.
You're hosting oh boy, we got20 plus people.
Ryan (27:50):
Have you seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?
Jonny (27:53):
It's going to be a good time, so a lot of them are
staying for a couple of days, sowe're going to wait for one of
the rooms to turn in, because wegot all the guest bedrooms.
Kenny (28:04):
They'll be taken during Christmas If it helps you only
use the room slightly at firstyeah.
The baby's not sleeping inthere alone at first.
Yeah right, so it's like AskRyan, he knows.
No, I'm just kidding, we'rejust.
Yeah, yeah, Like at firstyou're just more, I like from
(28:25):
our experience getting familiarwith the space and stuff yeah,
Rocker and things like that.
So you like hang out in thatspace a lot, but it doesn't
sleep in there.
Jonny (28:32):
So Sleeps in the bedroom right With you guys.
Kenny (28:34):
Bedside yeah, Best in that for the most part for the
first three months maybe give ortake.
Learn that one of the books brayand I are reading, yeah, books
out, but uh, shit pops up.
So it's like, well, yeah, Imean, I read, yes, that's
definitely something.
Well, one thing that I watchedwhich was pretty good, um, which
(28:56):
we might be able to get intothis later, different thing, but
I think it was like the bestbaby on the block or something
like that.
It's like an older movie, dude,if you know how to swaddle like
wrap a burrito.
The first like James, you and Iwould be so good at this
Wrapping burritos.
Just think of like a toleburrito Wrap the baby in a
(29:20):
swaddle.
If you were good at that, boom,you're good for 45 days.
Okay, not even kidding.
Start practicing you shouldswaddle a baby.
Really good, and they can gofrom crying to perfect like that
.
Jonny (29:33):
Okay, you have to check that out.
James (29:36):
I have no idea.
Kenny (29:39):
I don't know the science behind it.
They want to be like they're inthe womb, basically, and
whatnot?
Swaddle.
If you can get a good swaddleon, it'll save your life.
Swaddle your ass off.
Swaddle, phoebe.
I don't know.
Jonny (29:51):
Swaddle your ass off.
It's four words Okay, damn,yeah, hopefully all my
burrito-wrapping skills willsurvive.
Kenny (29:59):
Swaddle my ass there you go Swaddle my ass, that's
basically what the baby says but, yeah that was like one big.
Thing.
James (30:10):
Well, we could probably all reflect on the fact that the
period of babies being born,moving, happening, might have
dipped in our output for ourpodcast.
Excuse me, we're still tryingto rebound off that.
Ryan (30:26):
We were building the studio.
We're not leaving.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jonny (30:30):
We're building the studio for sure.
Ryan (30:32):
We Right Mass, we Rebound hey, kenny, we had nothing to do
with it, tie I mean between tie, and I mean really tie.
It's awesome, dude.
This setup is pretty.
It's pretty sweet.
James (30:48):
So, yeah, we're happy to be back yeah, this time we get
to show a little bit of leg yeah, we got a hole in the sock.
But ultimately our outlook isto try to get the production
back on track.
Ryan (31:04):
Yeah.
James (31:05):
Passion project, passion project going, so we're in the
studio trying to knock out acouple of episodes.
Ryan (31:16):
So this is probably a good one for us to reflect on
Kickstart 2025.
Yeah, exactly, Exactly Forthree.
Kickstart 2025.
Jonny (31:20):
Yeah exactly, Exactly For three words 2025.
What are you guys thinking?
Outside of the Bender continues.
Ryan (31:30):
I will not use that this year.
Kenny (31:33):
To be continued.
James (31:35):
Actually, I have my three words.
I gave this thought yesterdayBecause of my recent role change
, as well as just what I'm goingthrough in my personal life.
I feel like my execution hasbeen off, and I reflected on the
(31:56):
fact that it's because I'muncomfortable or I don't know
what I want to do or how to doit or whatever.
Clarity on point B, but I'm atpoint A.
So my three words, which I feellike is a mantra for anyone
it's useful, but it's growththrough discomfort.
So I know that I'm discomfort,uncomfortable right now I guess
(32:21):
that's a better way to phrase itNew role, new responsibilities,
new house, things that I'mgoing to do, that I'm not good
at or know what to do, et cetera, and I got to find that way.
And by being uncomfortable Ifeel like you grow the most, and
so I'm trying to embrace thatnow, especially after reflecting
on it, and so I'm heading into2025 with that mindset.
Ryan (32:45):
I love that.
Jonny (32:46):
That's a good one.
I would say operate withclarity.
I think operate with clarity.
What I mean by that is justdriving forward with a plan of
(33:12):
action.
Now, whether or not that planof action gets derailed for
whatever reason, that's okay.
But the operation piece, that'sjust being a husband, being a
friend, being a son and being aco-worker, a peer, a colleague,
(33:32):
whatever you want to call it.
Father, what's that being afather?
Being a father, yeah, and Ithink that's where being
maniacal around, just trustingthe process and what's going to
happen and being okay with hey,as long as I've got some clarity
and there's something end atmind.
If it doesn't necessarily gothat way, that's okay, because I
(33:55):
think it's very easy as we goand life throws you a curve ball
, you kind of go through themotions, kind of want to get out
of that going through themotions piece.
That's okay, cause I think it'svery easy as we go and life
throws you a curve ball.
You know you kind of go throughthe motions, kind of want to
get out of that going throughthe motions piece.
Um, so yeah, just beingextremely maniacal around
clarity and everything that I do.
Ryan (34:12):
Nice man.
Jonny (34:13):
Nice dude.
Ryan (34:15):
Uh, I'm going to go with time to evolve for me, so just
want to make some changes andtry to follow through on them.
Got some different perspectivesthis year, caring for something
other than myself.
It's not a child, but it is athing a puppy, a dog.
He's in the other room rightnow and, yeah, just going to
(34:38):
have some things I want to workon, so I'm going to evolve.
Kenny (34:42):
Love it.
Big step forward for Ryan.
No one used the word grow.
Ryan (34:46):
Didn't want to use it, so evolve.
James (34:48):
No one, no one has grown or has such a life changing
growth path than Ryan.
Over the years, from beanie tonow, completely different person
.
He didn't like it, but it'scool to watch.
I enjoy it, as your friend to,to see you kind of evolve.
So I'm I'm happy for this nextevolution.
(35:09):
What are you on?
Like pokemon level, like four?
Ryan (35:12):
now or something like what for digimon, but yeah, digimon.
Jonny (35:15):
Wow, that's good for that is a hot topic that's in the
depths.
Oh, is it Digi?
Okay, digimon.
What about Yu-Gi-Oh?
Wait, is Digimon a?
Oh, you mean just hot?
No, just you know, I thoughtthey were in the news or
something.
No, no, I don't think it wasstill around.
Ryan (35:39):
Yu-Gi-Oh, you created an app, yeah.
Kenny (35:40):
Pokemon Go dude, not my app Lion on the go, instead of
Pokemon Go Kenny.
For me I would say it's moreputting things together.
So my three words would becompound your skills.
I think in my 20s Iconcentrated a lot on acquiring
new knowledge, acquiring skills,learning, um, definitely
(36:03):
executing, but kind of findingout more of what business
entails and where to go and howto deliver and all those things.
Now it's like we put it togetherand we we scale the the shit
out of everything we do not onlyin business, but like
compounding your skills andbeing able to understand what
(36:24):
happens when you have a baby,compounding my skills and
understanding how to run afamily and a business at the
same time, and multiplebusinesses at that.
Now you know there's there's alot of different things that I
think you do in your 20s tospend time learning.
If you do it the way I did, youknow there's a lot of things
(36:46):
you give up to not be able tokind of take part in
extracurricular activitiesBecause you're kind of trying to
invest a lot into the businessor the things you're doing or
you know all the time for it.
But now it's about like puttingit together, not not saying
that you don't need to continueto learn I think you always need
to continue to learn, continueto read, continue to evolve but
(37:08):
just really leaning into thethings that you invested in
yourself into over the lastdecade now, like leaning into
that and compounding that andand I think you'll see it grow
faster it's, like you know,investing in large sums.
So putting it all together.
James (37:24):
Love it.
Yeah, any ideas on how you guysare actually going to attack
these outlooks on 2025, yourgoals and stuff?
I have some, but I'm going toput it to the floor first.
Keep it going, baby.
Jonny (37:40):
You want me to go, I want to johnny go first.
James (37:42):
Again he gets flustered thank you um you don't have to.
I apparently got called out, sono, if you wanted to climb, I
mean I can go, but you can gosure let me know if you want me
to go.
Jonny (37:54):
I mean mine's, mine's pretty.
James (37:55):
How about?
How about changing yours to bemore decisive?
I can, can go, you can go.
I'm just kidding, I'm fuckingwith you.
He's down for whatever folks.
Jonny (38:03):
He can go Again.
Crush of TBC.
This is the crush of John.
It's okay, it's fine.
James (38:25):
Go ahead, james, and the lack of execution.
I've been realizing I take onway too much and I try to do too
much at one time.
So multitasking which I'mgetting to the point where
multitasking is a fallacythere's no such thing as
multitasking.
Maybe there is, like I can movemy arm and talk right, that's
multitasking.
But I'm talking aboutphysically doing a fucking task,
like you can't do multipletasks at once because your brain
has to be focused in on thatthing and then get it done.
So what I'm trying to implementwith my team now, as well as as
(38:50):
my life, is, when I'm going toset out my day, this is what I'm
going to do.
The planner um, I have toattack each one before I get to
the next, and so there has to bea sequence.
So I'm going to institutesequence.
I can't jump, so once I catchmyself jumping, then reel it in.
(39:10):
So that's going to be one thingI'm going to try for myself.
But on top of that, I'm tryingto develop a system where
workflow is determined based offof metrics.
So, there's a couple ofdifferent priority metrics out
there.
You can go based off ofimportance and urgency.
You can go based off of whatwas the other ones I'm drawing a
(39:36):
blank right now, what was theother ones?
I'm drawing a blank right now.
But essentially you put acategory, you put a scale
(40:01):
towards something and that helpsdrive whether or not something
needs to be delegated, whetheror not something is a quick win,
whether or not something isgoing to be scoped out into a
full project.
And then once we compile allthat data and we understand the
team's bandwidth as far asvolume management, so pipeline
management and your dailyresponsibilities, tasks,
projects and influx, becausewe're kind of cyclical on a
monthly basis closing loans, soyou kind of have a down period
in the beginning of the monthand the month gets a little
hectic.
So we're trying to figure out away to institute a project
management system under theagile structure where there's
(40:24):
timestamps based off of whatperiod of time we are in the
month, what assigning tasks andthen actually executing, because
too much shit comes in at once.
We're jumping all over theplace.
We're on too many calls.
Restricting meetings is anotherthing that I think I need to do
, or being more efficient withmeetings, is actually the better
way to probably put it.
So we're trying to recalibratethe team.
(40:46):
That's a big thing that I'mtrying to do, and then see how
that blends with personal lifeas well.
Long-winded, a lot of buzzwords.
You're a typical James Agamaanswer.
Yeah, it's good, but anyways,that's, that's my plan, so we'll
see how well I can execute onthat.
Jonny (41:06):
But so I said, operating with clarity.
I think it starts with beingclear and concise in everything
that you do, whether it becommunicating or leaning on
others, whether that be in theworkforce or in your real life,
personally, professionally.
So, starting there, I use theword maniacal.
(41:27):
I think having thoseindividuals in my circle, my
network, whether they be family,friends or colleagues, that I
can rely on and hold me, andalmost be those individuals that
know my goals and myaspirations and what I'm trying
(41:49):
to do when I talk about the wordclarity, that's a huge
opportunity for me and just whatI've learned, I think, overall
in my leadership journey andthen also my personal journey.
Um, I think there's a lot ofgreat areas of opportunity, but
it all, like, starts with theword clarity.
Um, and I've learned that overthis year, and that's something
(42:11):
I'm proud of but, um, beingclear and concise and being very
detail oriented in whatever itis at the end of the tunnel.
So, hey, my goal is to do this,okay, well, how is your goal
going to be this?
What are you going to do to getthere?
Okay, what are you doing to getthere?
What are the steps thatactually take place or what's
(42:34):
going to have to happen in orderto make that actually be
efficient or successful?
And writing it out.
I know you guys have all heardmy whole power five and big CTA
guy call to action, which Ithink is great.
But it's like sometimes you gotto get very, very specific and
then what I found is just in inlife, I think on both sides
(42:58):
personal, professional,professional it's easy to say
something, it's easy toarticulate something, but does
the other side understand whatthat actual message is, because
everyone has kind of a differentthought process.
Do you confirm what that end,goal or result is with that
individual, because they maythink it's something else?
(43:20):
Is there a clear, defined line,timeline etc.
Um, so those are kind of myareas of opportunities or goals
and what I'm looking to do bevery maniacal that's almost your
word maniacal.
Ryan (43:36):
It's almost, it's involved in everything you're saying.
Jonny (43:38):
So use the word maniacal.
Those are my three words.
James (43:42):
I want to look at the definition of that.
Jonny (43:44):
Go ahead.
James (43:44):
Ryan.
Ryan (43:45):
Um, so I think the three areas that are going to help me,
uh, to evolve, I think thefirst one is simple.
It's from Andy Elliott it'sjust do what you say.
You know I'm a big talker a lotof times, and sometimes,
especially TBC, maybe I don'tfollow through.
So just in general work,personal, if I say I'm going to
(44:06):
do something, follow through,actually do it or, you know,
vocalize that it can't be done.
I think the other one is workon noticing my triggers.
I'm a person that can go hotand cold really quick.
So noticing, you know whatleads to that and maybe managing
that a little bit better,figuring out how to.
And I think, the last one, tobe able to evolve and some of
(44:30):
you have done this, we've talkedabout it, I think, in one
session or another, but you gotto take some time yourself.
And Johnny said at thebeginning you know, man of the
people, you know I might needsome some me time.
Right, go into a dark hole, gointo a cave and come out a
different person.
So, and to Kenny's point, youcannot give what you do not have
.
I got to work on myself and getsome things right there and
(44:54):
then I'll be able to maybe tocome back, so yeah, I think we
brought this up one time it waslike monk mode, yeah, monk mode,
yeah for sure.
Yeah, not an aaron rogers cavepeople, just just a regular monk
you're just gonna watchfootball anyways yeah, not in a
(45:15):
man cave, but yeah, right, yeah,like monk mood that can do
something like.
Kenny (45:19):
And you just do that for 30 days, like just you know,
don't, don't go crazy, likedon't go out and like just say
no to like public you know, yeah, it's hard to do.
You know in many settings andthen you know with a large group
like us, I don't think we hadmuch help you know I'm a little,
it's a little bit easier for meto say no to you guys because I
gotta drive four hours, threehours, to see you guys.
(45:42):
So it's like, dude, I don'twant to drive six hours, and you
know it's a little harder to dowith a five month old.
So it's not that it's easier tosay no, it's just like not
realistic in most cases, rightlike, uh, you know, six hour
outing, I'm like guys, it's justmaybe not just time.
James (45:56):
But yeah, I think, because you're so close, that's
it's hard, but it's that's whereit starts, I think so well, I
think it's a good year for youto even go on this journey,
because at least we don't haveas many um weddings and bachelor
parties and all these otherlike events.
Ryan (46:13):
I'm tired of weddings.
James (46:13):
I'm tired of traveling yeah, yeah yeah, those are like
hard events, not to say no toright, it's like yeah, yeah you
don't want to miss some bigevent for someone and then you
kind of look at, well, it'ssporadic between, like, uh, you
know, four, five, six a year,and granted, it's still a lot,
but they're at least spaced outin some cases, or they're not
but it adds up.
Ryan (46:31):
It adds up time wise, adds up bills, wise.
Like you guys talk about houseslike more, and I have a lot of
stuff to do just on the house,like the front of my house still
has white paint on it.
Jonny (46:39):
The rest of the house is a different color I got to get
that done, like that's got toget done.
Ryan (46:43):
So shit like that yeah.
Kenny (46:46):
That's cool For us.
I mean, you know, compoundingand putting things together I
think just goes to beingorganized with knowing what you
can do and what you were.
Uh, you know what you're goodat and where you can expand and
scale.
So it's like these are thethings that I know.
I think you can reverseengineer this, to say the least.
(47:09):
I think you can say like thisis what's worked really well and
this is the result of, likewe've had this success, whether
it's like a you, like a job orwhatnot, or a sale or anything
like that, this is what leads toX.
Well, what was different aboutthat?
How can we do it 10 times?
I can do it 100 times.
In compounding all of thosethings, we've been doing that in
(47:34):
the business a lot compound theacts of a variety of different
services, from strategy towebsite development and
infrastructure, creativeproduction and media buying, and
you can put all of thattogether and you can outsource
that to an agency that knows howto do it, has been there and
has done it, is doing it and isdoing it at large scale.
(47:55):
Or you can spend $500,000,$600,000 on overhead and hope
that you are hiring the rightpeople and driving them to the
correct direction with clarityand understanding, and it's
going to take you time and moneyand space to get things done.
But compounding on those thingsthat we're really good at
allows us to do it even better,with more synergy, and double
(48:19):
down on doing it over and overand over and over again, which
is ultimately going to get usbetter at doing what we already
do good.
So we're just going to continueto grow our skills in what we
do really good.
Yeah, and that's really thegoal.
And then bringing that back downto you know, like my family
life as well, compounding onwhat I know I can do.
And to you know, like my familylife as well, compounding on
(48:41):
what I know I can do and where Iknow I can spend my time to
provide for my family.
And, uh, and being open towhere, like, hey, I might not be
the best at this, let me maybehire someone where maybe my wife
is better at it than I am, soshe takes on that role.
But I think being fair withsaying like this is what I'm
good at, let's lean into it.
This is what I'm not good at,let's not lean into it.
We're just completelydisregarded and not do it at all
(49:01):
.
So it is going back to whatRyan said saying no to things
and just placing a largeemphasis on what I do and what I
do good.
James (49:14):
Nice.
I think we've got our work cutout for us, gentlemen, I think
we've got our work cut out forus, gentlemen, and hopefully in
a year we'll be able to lookback at this and be a little bit
better off than the roast ofDBC, but I think we can all
achieve it.
We've done so much over just ashort amount of time, even
before this podcast and duringthe podcast timelines, so I'm
(49:36):
excited to see where we go.
Love it Awesome.
Well, you know, we have alittle bit of a different ending
, so I'm excited to see where wego.
Kenny (49:40):
Love it awesome well, you know we have a little bit of a
different ending still and I'mgoing to ride with that, but
we'll hopefully provide morecontent in 2025.
Come back strong.
Maybe two different studios,maybe I'll change it up here and
there, but the common themethat we continue to go with is
(50:01):
and together, the Bendercontinues.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the roast of TBC.
And what we mean by that is,you know, it's New Year's is
upon us.
We're going to reflect on our2024.
We're going to go back to ourNew Year's episode, where we
talked about all these greatthings that we had aspirations
for, all these things that wewere going to accomplish, and
we're going to see what weactually did this year.
(00:30):
James is going to take usthrough kind of a recap of what
was said on that episode, andthen we're going to kind of
reflect and, uh, I guess, findsome truth on how our 2024
played out.
So, james, take it away,brother.
James (00:41):
All right.
So in that that episode wetalked about goal setting,
teamwork, personal development,celebrating milestones.
That was actually a big one forus.
Um, we emphasize change,consistency and energy, but
holistically it was.
It was rooted aroundprofessional and personal
(01:02):
improvement, right, um, each ofus kind of shared some
meaningful insights, but uh, whowants to go first?
I have a question, just hit meright now.
Ryan (01:14):
did johnny talk about, you know, did johnny talk about
shaving, that beautiful thing inthe recap?
James (01:24):
No, no, it was not mentioned.
And he had hair.
But wait, here's the thing hehad hair, but he still was
wearing a hat.
Jonny (01:32):
Now he's got no hair and he's not wearing a hat.
I'm sorry.
Ryan (01:36):
That hit me right now, as you're talking about it.
I'm just staring at Johnny.
I'm like, wait a minute, woo,okay.
James (01:43):
That's good.
That's good.
That's good.
John, you want to go first,then?
No, not really after that.
You're going first.
You're going first, sir, okay,all right.
So so I'm only going to hit ona couple of things, some of like
key moments from 2023, um, whatyou said you were going to do.
But I'm also going to give youwhat, how you summarized your
2024 was going to be focusedaround, and then, at the end of
(02:06):
this, we're going to summarizeagain.
It's, it's in three words what2025 is going to be.
Three words, okay.
So think about that as we gothrough this.
But, johnny, let's, let's startwith you.
So, first off, we were tryingour hardest to talk about
favorite moments, but ryan washaving technical difficulties
getting kicked out with hislaptop.
Ryan (02:24):
Oh, this was that episode, that was that episode.
Oh, okay, yeah.
James (02:27):
So we actually never truly got to Johnny, but what
was shared was actually our tripto Mexico for Austin's bachelor
party, sure was, and Ryanforced Johnny to recollect what
Ryan's favorite memory and thatwas you missing your flight due
to excessive alcoholism.
Ryan (02:48):
It was a good time.
Okay, Now on a more, one ofmore.
James (02:56):
What the hell is the word I'm serious, serious.
Gosh, you said you were goingto focus on balancing your
spiritual, mental, emotional andphysical dimensions.
Wow, 2024 but prioritizing yourmental and, uh, emotional
well-being, which is oddlyspecific to what we're doing now
(03:16):
with the passion project.
Jonny (03:17):
This was before we even really talked about it, I think
yeah, so I just, I just, I justdidn't you know the mental and
all the health pieces would comein December and not, you know,
early on in the year of twentytwenty four.
I've got no hair left, gainedabout 20 pounds, so we're just
(03:39):
we're chugging along here.
What else I got there that Ican just keep reflecting?
James (03:44):
on yeah, so um your three words that you summarize a year
was embrace the journey we'rebracing the journey right now.
I think that's very accurate, Ithink it was.
I think if you were to havelike a theme to your year,
embrace.
Jonny (03:59):
The journey was definitely big come with the
punches.
My three words this year wouldbe better hair product.
Goodness gracious, go to Turkey, get those hair plugs, hair
plug session.
No, I would say Embrace.
(04:20):
The Journey was a good one.
Ryan (04:22):
That's what you said for 20.
What 20 was gonna be?
Jonny (04:25):
yeah, I think 2024 has been a a very, very good year.
Okay, it's out of the couple offactors that are just very
demonstrative on this podcast,but, um you, had a pretty big
2024 big 2024 lots to be proudof, lots to be happy, lots of
great people in it.
Why do I gotta start first?
(04:47):
Dude, I don't know where I'mgoing with this.
James (04:49):
Just talk about how your 2024 went.
You guys got a new house.
Jonny (04:54):
So closed on a new house, put our old house up for rent.
Ryan (04:59):
Almost had to sell that new house within a week.
Jonny (05:01):
Almost had to sell that house within a couple of months
Because I was going to take anew opportunity for work, for a
promotion.
Some pretty good opportunitiescame up in work, gotten a few
leadership opportunities, whichI'm very thankful and excited
for.
Child on the way Wife'spregnant.
James (05:18):
Just slip that one in there.
Jonny (05:20):
Come on All in a matter of a couple of months.
All this happened, Good stuff.
It couldn't get much worse frommissing a flight in 2023 in
Mexico so it could only go upfrom there, but yeah.
James (05:34):
Do you want to share maybe one of your favorite
moments from 2024?
Jonny (05:39):
You know us finally getting in person to here, oh
goodness.
James (05:43):
Today, you mean Today.
Today is one of your moments.
Jonny (05:46):
Wow, I would say personally, um you know, finding
out that I'm gonna be a fatherlike that was.
James (05:54):
I could not agree more, that's probably icing on the
cake.
Jonny (05:58):
Um, I'll save the more bigger story, but obviously,
kenny, welcoming a little one inthe world, that was really
exciting.
Yeah, um, definitely, obviously, you two Neanderthals like just
living the life.
You get a new house.
James (06:12):
Yeah.
Jonny (06:13):
You welcoming a puppy into the world.
James (06:17):
Um, you guys, did you have get Phoebe in 2024,?
Jonny (06:21):
2023?
.
That was 2023.
Yeah.
James (06:24):
Um, okay, so you stole all in 2024?
That was 2023.
Yeah, he stole all of ourmoments.
So that's great, we've gotnothing to share.
We can go into a little bitmore.
Jonny (06:33):
You just had to throw it off, you just had to really
start off with the ball.
Kenny (06:36):
I'm sorry to hit you Fantastic.
James (06:42):
Alright well, since you're ready to move on.
Jonny (06:45):
I'm going to move on to someone else.
James (06:47):
Should we go J to J or should we go to R and K?
Just?
Kenny (06:51):
go this way.
All right, we'll go right,we'll go right All right.
James (06:55):
So, other than the fact that I took the first note to
struggle with major laptopissues, your comment was that
you were going to get a newlaptop into the new year Sure
didn't.
Sure, didn't, sure didn't Stillhave laptop issues.
All right, we'll go favoritemoments first for you, so you
actually talked a lot about alot of different ones.
Your first one, though, wasCoco Bongo experience in Mexico.
Ryan (07:18):
Right the night before Johnny's flight.
Yes, Technically the samemorning as Johnny's flight at
one point.
Jonny (07:25):
yeah, okay, this is the roast morning as johnny's flight
at one point.
James (07:26):
yeah, um, okay, this is the rose of jonathan not the
rose uh the next one, which waspretty cool, was milestone
reaching 30th birthdaycelebrations with all your
friends yeah, for sure um newdecade.
Jonny (07:40):
Yeah, your birthday yep last 2023, yeah not mor Morgan's
30th.
James (07:46):
We had celebrated them for that.
Ryan (07:48):
It actually sparked a discussion About what you were
going to do In the next decadeDidn't make dinner, Morgan's.
That's why I can't put it onthere as a memory.
Jonny (07:58):
Wasn't there.
I didn't make something either.
I missed dinner you missedflights.
James (08:04):
You know what we messed up with.
Why are we sitting like this.
Ryan (08:04):
I don't make something either.
James (08:04):
I missed the flight, I missed dinner, you missed flight
.
You know what we messed up with.
Why are we sitting like that?
I don't know.
We're all I don't know, becauseyou guys are having your banter
Now.
It's across the table, that istrue.
Sorry, you guys sat down first,you're right.
I sat down in my seat, so maybeKenny screwed this up.
Let's get back to theseriousness of the rose.
Ryan (08:20):
All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all
right, all right, all right,all right, all right, all right,
all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all
right, all right, all right, allright, all right, all right.
James (08:39):
You also mentioned you're right.
Ryan (08:41):
Yep, yeah, we've got more now from this.
We sure do got a few more.
James (08:46):
Um, then you also, at the time when we were recording it,
you were, um, thinking aboutthe future and of that year and
we were going to be going toaustin and heather's new year's
wedding yep, that was the otherthing that you talked about.
He said it was different.
For us, new year's is usuallyat my house.
Jonny (09:02):
That is true.
They do a good ryan there allright.
James (09:07):
So your actual self-improvement goal, though
you wanted to focus on readinghow many books have we read this
?
Year, um, and you, you, at thetime, you share that you started
reading.
You have to be believed to beheard, did?
Ryan (09:23):
you finish the book?
Surely did not finish that book, nor any other book in 2024 how
many pages did you get throughon that?
Kenny (09:31):
I think I got what's funny?
Ryan (09:32):
because james is like no so I embarked on that journey.
James (09:35):
Hey, this is my roast james, like ryan.
Ryan (09:38):
You know you're really inspirational guy.
You know I really look up toyou.
You really motivated me.
I'm gonna read with you.
Dude or orders.
The book finishes the book.
Kudos to you, you reallymotivated me.
I'm going to read with you dudeOrders.
James (09:47):
The book Finishes the book Kudos to you.
Checked in with him constantlythroughout the process.
Ryan (09:50):
I think, I finished about four chapters.
I remember we're headed to TimMeyer's bachelor party.
I'm reading the book on theflight.
I'm so productive.
Look at me, I'm going to go bea degenerate, but before let me
get my reading in.
I think that was the last timeI picked up a book.
That was January.
So we failed on reading.
Yes, a hundred percent.
James (10:17):
Um, but you also talked about the emphasis and
importance of positivity andbringing the energy that you
control um, what you bring tothe table, having positive
outlook.
One insight in particular thatyou shared was marriage isn't
50-50, but 100-100.
Ryan (10:28):
Okay I can say I did probably well on that.
On the marriage side of thingsStill married, still married,
not divorced On the TB side Gotyour ring on.
Jonny (10:36):
Yeah, tbc side of things, I might have been the most
negative of the four.
I think I failed that one too.
James (10:43):
Which is a good transition to your three words.
Ryan (10:46):
The Bender continues it sure was not a good reflection
of 2024.
As you've seen, we've beensporadic with our postings and,
yeah yeah, a lot of work to bedone in 25.
Unreal yeah.
James (11:01):
All right, do you want to reflect on any 2024 memories?
Do you want to save that forthe next topic of when we
transition out of?
Ryan (11:07):
this.
Yeah, if we're going to comeback to it, sure All right,
we'll come back to it.
James (11:10):
Sweet, so we'll just keep going with the roast portion.
Kenny, all right, a lot of yourreflection was on planning,
emphasize goal setting for bothmonthly and quarterly, for both
monthly and quarterly.
This was more just sharing on,like how you actually take on
the new year, like this is yourperspective, which I'm assuming
is probably still true.
(11:31):
You still plan for the nextquarter monthly and then
obviously adapt as you go.
Correct Yep you yeah, wanted tospecifically focus, though, on
interpersonal relationshipswithin your team, and then you
had plans in 2024 to expand alsoyour personal and professional
(11:52):
connections.
Kenny (11:54):
Yeah, I would say we do that.
Still, I'm not the which Ithink I've highlighted in the
past.
I'm not the most like HR drivenperson, so I'm not the one
that's like specificallyplanning events and things like
that.
My wife is actually in thebusiness and her presence has
been a little bit less this yearbecause we had a baby, so she's
(12:16):
been home with the baby a lotmore and whatnot.
So I would say things haveshifted, but I would still say
that the relationships fromwithin the office are stronger.
I feel like the people that arein the office are more tightened
in now than probably everbefore and I do feel that, yeah,
we're really rocking androlling, we've got a really
(12:38):
strong structure and everybody'sreally comfortable.
We had a great Christmas partythe other night, which was
awesome.
Really enjoyed being witheverybody and, yeah, it's like a
family.
So, yeah, continuing to expand,so expanding but also getting
close with one another, and Ithink it's and I brought this up
the other night beingcomfortable with the people that
you go into office with andwhatnot.
Being, you know, happy with thepeople that you're around is
(12:59):
really important because youspend a lot of time in office.
James (13:02):
So, you know, creating a strong setting is important you
um, you also highlighted, as apart of your growth, um and
planning initiatives, to use adaily planner and you you
emphasize that you try to godigital but you went back to
like a written regular dailyplanner.
You are you still using thattoday?
Kenny (13:22):
yeah, I am so have, even in 2024, I bounced around a
little bit to try to find bettersolutions.
I'm always going back and forthbetween like can I keep it
digital?
Do I need a written form?
I feel like digital is betterbecause I can put it on a tablet
or a laptop, on a phone, andI've used a handful of different
outlets to do that.
But every single time it bringsme back down to a planner.
(13:44):
So this year, going into quarterfour, what I started to do was
say, like, okay, this isdefinitely going to be the
planner that I'm using Now.
Does it help my team becomemore efficient and effective?
So I gave it to a couple ofpeople in office and then I
think, going into 2025,everyone's going to get one,
because I really do think thatit's really important to just
(14:04):
jot down your day and haveproper planning.
But if you can do itcompany-wide, I mean that could
be really powerful.
There's a lot of planners outthere.
I've tried I can't even tellyou how many from influencers
and people that are big in themarket with different businesses
and different things like that,and then also making my own.
I have a few of my own thatI've made more digitally and not
(14:30):
digitally driven, but I wouldsay that the one that I have
stuck with the longest that havethat I've found to be the most
productive with segmenting yourday, your week, your month and
your quarter the book only lastsone quarter is the iFocus
planner.
It's like an.
It's called iFocus, it's abusiness planner.
It's like blue I don't knowthey might have different colors
and stuff, but that plannerspecifically, has been really
(14:52):
solid, honestly, and I think youshould give it a look if it's
something that you do that youuse a planner.
It's not expensive $25, $30.
James (14:59):
I don't know.
The whole planner is for onequarter or are you saying it's
segmented by quarter, it'ssegmented.
Kenny (15:04):
It's a whole year Into three.
No, it's not a whole year, it'sonly one quarter.
It's about this thick, it'sonly about one quarter.
James (15:09):
So you have to buy four a year.
Then Correct Wow.
Kenny (15:12):
Yeah.
I focus Interesting.
I like the letter.
I focus.
James (15:19):
Um, and then your three words to summarize.
This year was invest inyourself.
You stress the value ofconstant effort, uh, personal
development, and then notingthat self-improvement enhances
contributions to others.
You quoted you cannot give whatyou do not have.
Kenny (15:37):
Yeah, I would say that that's probably um on trend.
I think it's a little harderwhen you have a baby.
Uh, I think everything's notabout yourself.
You have a baby, uh, I thinkeverything is not about yourself
.
So I think that that was.
That's probably a little bitharder, so, but still, I mean
yourself, you were, youratmosphere, your team, things
like that.
I think it's it's expandedoutside of just me, but I think,
(15:58):
yeah, investing on those aroundme was, is a common theme and
continues to be a common theme.
James (16:04):
On the more fun side of things.
Your favorite moment actuallykickstarted all of these
comments was bachelor partieswith friends and just getting
around with the guys, butespecially with Mexico.
You just had a blast withMexico.
So Mexico was a pretty bigtheme for us.
It was also fresh.
Jonny (16:18):
It was like the most recent thing we did.
James (16:20):
I think we just had it right before we filmed that
episode.
So on the high yeah.
Jonny (16:26):
All right.
Well, I guess I'll go over tome.
I'm going to read yours thiswill be fun.
All right.
James (16:34):
I'm in the hot seat.
Jonny (16:36):
So you reflected on the year by recalling key moments
rather than detailed goalsetting.
James, I'm always coming withdifferent ways to approach
things.
I love that Focus on what youcould have done differently and
then adjusted your planning toalign with Q1.
End of year reporting.
James (16:58):
Yeah, so the reason why, when I'm kind of getting up to
New Year's, I made that commentof reflecting is because my year
isn't technically like up yet.
I still have to do my year inreporting for the next quarter,
so I just kind of operate alittle bit differently.
So I do most of my reflectionand planning in March, but I do
reflect on the year during, likeDecember, getting ready for
January, but I'm more in apreparation mode right now.
Jonny (17:19):
So love that To your point.
Just keep it going on themexico theme tequila cuda was
the nickname in mexico which istracked.
James (17:31):
For the rest of the year I've only drank tequila.
I don't drink any.
Anything else.
Beer is done water, drink water.
It's with tequila we actuallyuh came up with a term for it at
Tanner's wedding.
It's called dirty waters.
Ryan (17:45):
It's just tequila and water.
Okay.
James (17:48):
Yeah, and this is also pretty accurate to how that
other episode went.
I would share something, andyou guys really didn't care for
it.
Jonny (17:58):
This one's got me dying.
I didn't forget about this.
It actually came up on myphotos the other day.
James' 30th birthday runninginto a wall.
He did.
James (18:13):
Are you sure you can read the rest of that he did?
How's the scar healing?
I actually saw the video and Istill had the scar and then I
completely forgot to go.
Kenny (18:22):
Look in the mirror, if I still have it.
So I have no idea.
James (18:24):
Ty, do you have a zoom in feature here?
Adult laser tag.
I don't think I have the scar.
It was on this side over heresomewhere.
Ryan (18:33):
But anyways, dr Dre did a good job.
James (18:35):
Yeah, that was funny.
Laser tag went right into thewall thinking I was Rambo Sure
isn't Rambo.
Jonny (18:44):
She's out here hustling 7 year old kids doing somersaults
is that part of your guys'Christmas team building activity
.
James (18:53):
Adult laser tag laser tag make sure you get the waiver
sign and bring a first aid kit,because whatever they have on
hand isn't good they treated youlike friggin a God.
Jonny (19:06):
once that happened, Except for the medical piece.
James (19:10):
Look they tried to give me something as like oh we're
sorry that you did this firstoff because it was on me.
They gave me like a go playlike during the week.
I'm like I'm not going on aThursday, so I think, I gave it
to a family with that has.
I think I gave it to themarshes or something I can't
remember.
But and kids, to the kids,right yeah, um weddings, um
(19:31):
tyler, myself, austin yep, wehad those three weddings um for
2024.
Jonny (19:39):
One of your, your biggest um opportunities that you
wanted to focus on was justincreasing your income network
targeting from a budgetstandpoint and then real estate
investment.
James (19:53):
Okay.
So that one it kind of workedout, but not the way I planned.
So I was originally thinkingabout renting my house out, but
I realized the equity that I hadin the home and what our next
home was going to be.
It was better for us to takethat money and put it into the
new house rather than trying tobuild a rental portfolio.
(20:17):
So we didn't do that.
Got our new house.
That happened in June.
Love the new house, it's great.
Got our new house.
That happened in june.
Love the new house, it's great.
Um then, from the financialside of increasing, uh, income
and that kind of stuff, since wedidn't do the rental side of it
, um, I decided to get in lasikdone.
So there goes all my money.
Kenny (20:38):
Yep, yep, um I also got invisalign the same fucking week
.
James (20:42):
Yep, so the money side of it not so good.
However, in a roundabout waydid get a promotion at work and
so, yes, I am making a littlebit more money because of that.
Kenny (20:58):
But ultimately not what I was thinking when I said that I
think you saw mine invest intoyourself.
James (21:01):
I know.
Kenny (21:02):
Invisalign Houzz, you really invested true I guess.
Jonny (21:06):
So true, I guess so um, you also had, you had some
setbacks obviously 2023 expensesbecause of the roof leak or the
house leak.
Yeah, um which?
James (21:17):
feels like yesterday.
I can't even believe that was awhole year ago.
Ryan (21:21):
We had just selling.
Yeah, the polybutylene, yeah,we got the whole house repip
believe that was a whole yearago.
James (21:24):
We had just Selling, yeah , the polybutylene.
We got the whole house re-piped.
That was literally during thistime last year that we were
wrapping that up Insane.
Jonny (21:33):
Well, I think you lived very well Through summarizing
what you wanted to Live the yearthrough, which was overcoming
Challenging obstacles.
I agree there was a lot ofchallenging obstacles.
James (21:43):
I agree, it was good.
There was a lot of challengingobstacles.
Jonny (21:46):
You also said you wanted to emphasize the importance of
reflecting and celebratingachievements from your friends
and family.
James (21:54):
Chad GBT might have copied Ryan's.
That sounds like more Ryan,right, yeah, it's all about the
people.
Jonny (22:03):
Sounds like more Ryan, right.
Yeah, it's all about the people.
James (22:05):
Oh, that's funny, All right, so how did I do?
Do you think we did?
Ryan (22:08):
We did okay, I shocked.
I openly admit that.
Say that it's okay.
Jonny (22:13):
Positivity, positivity.
Kenny (22:15):
That's negative.
Jonny (22:17):
How many books are you going?
To read next year, maybe one,let's get one under the belt.
You guys want to start a bookclub where we read a book a
month and then we recap it on apodcast.
Kenny (22:26):
No.
Absolutely not, didn't you guys?
Try to do that we tried to dopoker nights.
James (22:31):
That didn't work out either no we wanted to do a book
every two months and then wewould alternate who picked the
next book.
So I already had the next bookpicked out and I sent it to him.
Jonny (22:49):
Mind you who picked the next book so I was.
James (22:49):
I already had the next book picked out and I sent it to
him.
Mind you, mind you, I did notfinish that book.
It's still in my backpack.
How many books did you readlast year?
I only read the one, because,because then the, the move and
all that stuff got too, busy notpodcasting to read.
To be fair, it was aninteresting exercise to have a
recording of yourself talkingabout what your goals were going
to be for that year andeverything, and then sitting a
year later watching yourself saythese things, knowing what
(23:10):
happened in that year, yikes.
And then like, well, okay, Ikind of did this, I kind of
didn't do that, but this allhappened.
Yeah, and the biggest thingthat I realized again as a part
of the reflection piece holy,holy crap, did that move?
Take everything out of my ear.
(23:31):
I mean I feel like I exhaustedall of my extra spare time on
this house, dude, it's a movingis a huge thing, so it makes
sense well, yes, but this guydid a lot more than just moved
to.
He's gonna have a kid.
His wife was pregnant duringthe process.
I mean, I don't know.
I just felt like it was alittle too much and my life has
gotten out of whack and I feellike it's not in my hands right
(23:53):
now.
So that's a little bit intowhere I'm headed with what I
want to do for 2025.
Moving takes a lot out.
It was from June till still nowStill working on that house.
Jonny (24:04):
It's a lot.
I was moving with a little one,that's right, I would say it
was.
Kenny (24:13):
So he's real little when we moved.
He's only a couple months old.
We moved his room first,basically, and set his room up
and stuff, because that was likea little bit unique, because he
was going through a lot oftransitions too which is like
bedside bassinet.
So bedside, the bedsidebassinet was like where he was
(24:34):
staying for, you know, the firstcouple of months.
And then when we moved, we alsotransitioned him to his own
room at the same time because wejust thought it was a good
transition, like to do all thatat once.
It's going to be a new settingregardless.
It's making a new setting andput him in his room.
So it was.
I would say it was probably asgood as it would have been if we
(24:56):
transitioned him into his ownroom anyway, because there's
definitely, um, like trials andtribulations that you have to go
through with doing that.
It's not like you just put themin the room and they're like
good to go.
It's like a whole process.
And we're still going throughthat process, approaching six
months old now, but I think that, yeah, we did as much as we
(25:18):
could to get it done quickly,which is the good thing.
We unboxed really quickly andstuff, so now it's just about
creating new spaces and stuff inthe house, which is what
anybody does once they get in,and whatnot, renovate and
different things like that.
So, yeah, but I don't think itwas more difficult than it would
have been without him.
(25:40):
Obviously he's not helping.
He's five months old.
He's not picking shit up.
It wasn't that difficult.
Jonny (25:46):
DIY or pay the guy.
Kenny (25:50):
We had movers too for some stuff, which was very
beneficial I did pods instead ofmoving.
Ryan (25:57):
That's a step in the right direction for you.
Kenny (26:00):
Lydia and I did everything.
James (26:01):
We didn't hire a single person to do anything in our
house didn't you text us abouthelping you?
Jonny (26:10):
we forgot completely or something.
I don't think we showed up.
No, I don't, I just, I justremember you texting or saying
something.
James (26:19):
I didn't think Lydia and I were going to be able to
manage putting stuff into a pod.
And so I was like I might needyour help.
That's what it was.
We ended up selling our couch,which was the real piece that I
was worried about, and then wemanaged to get it in the truck
so she was able to do it with me.
So it's an awkward shape andthe doors, that was more so what
(26:43):
I was worried about.
Are we able to actuallymaneuver it out?
Yeah, we got it done.
Yeah, no one helped.
Then we painted the entirefucking inside of the house.
That's crazy.
That took us five weeks.
We got.
We got lucky with the paintingthing.
Yeah, we got super lucky.
Jonny (26:58):
Appreciate you, mr Barrett Kernan.
Thank you for your support.
Thanks for helping us out.
Shout out to Ten Point Services, great general contracting
company.
Ryan (27:14):
Painted our whole house as a gift.
Jonny (27:16):
Thank you Appreciate you, brother-in-law.
Wedding gift or just a giftyeah just, you know, wedding
house gifts, you know didn'treally know what was going on.
Bray wouldn't tell me really.
And then, wow, the inside'spainted.
Oh, and then the outside'spainted.
Okay, we'll take it Very nice.
Kenny (27:36):
You got the baby's room all set up now.
Jonny (27:38):
Working through it.
So we've got a pretty big we.
We got all the family comingfor Christmas.
You're hosting oh boy, we got20 plus people.
Ryan (27:50):
Have you seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?
Jonny (27:53):
It's going to be a good time, so a lot of them are
staying for a couple of days, sowe're going to wait for one of
the rooms to turn in, because wegot all the guest bedrooms.
Kenny (28:04):
They'll be taken during Christmas If it helps you only
use the room slightly at firstyeah.
The baby's not sleeping inthere alone at first.
Yeah right, so it's like AskRyan, he knows.
No, I'm just kidding, we'rejust.
Yeah, yeah, Like at firstyou're just more, I like from
(28:25):
our experience getting familiarwith the space and stuff yeah,
Rocker and things like that.
So you like hang out in thatspace a lot, but it doesn't
sleep in there.
Jonny (28:32):
So Sleeps in the bedroom right With you guys.
Kenny (28:34):
Bedside yeah, Best in that for the most part for the
first three months maybe give ortake.
Learn that one of the books brayand I are reading, yeah, books
out, but uh, shit pops up.
So it's like, well, yeah, Imean, I read, yes, that's
definitely something.
Well, one thing that I watchedwhich was pretty good, um, which
(28:56):
we might be able to get intothis later, different thing, but
I think it was like the bestbaby on the block or something
like that.
It's like an older movie, dude,if you know how to swaddle like
wrap a burrito.
The first like James, you and Iwould be so good at this
Wrapping burritos.
Just think of like a toleburrito Wrap the baby in a
(29:20):
swaddle.
If you were good at that, boom,you're good for 45 days.
Okay, not even kidding.
Start practicing you shouldswaddle a baby.
Really good, and they can gofrom crying to perfect like that
.
Jonny (29:33):
Okay, you have to check that out.
James (29:36):
I have no idea.
Kenny (29:39):
I don't know the science behind it.
They want to be like they're inthe womb, basically, and
whatnot?
Swaddle.
If you can get a good swaddleon, it'll save your life.
Swaddle your ass off.
Swaddle, phoebe.
I don't know.
Jonny (29:51):
Swaddle your ass off.
It's four words Okay, damn,yeah, hopefully all my
burrito-wrapping skills willsurvive.
Kenny (29:59):
Swaddle my ass there you go Swaddle my ass, that's
basically what the baby says but, yeah that was like one big.
Thing.
James (30:10):
Well, we could probably all reflect on the fact that the
period of babies being born,moving, happening, might have
dipped in our output for ourpodcast.
Excuse me, we're still tryingto rebound off that.
Ryan (30:26):
We were building the studio.
We're not leaving.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jonny (30:30):
We're building the studio for sure.
Ryan (30:32):
We Right Mass, we Rebound hey, kenny, we had nothing to do
with it, tie I mean between tie, and I mean really tie.
It's awesome, dude.
This setup is pretty.
It's pretty sweet.
James (30:48):
So, yeah, we're happy to be back yeah, this time we get
to show a little bit of leg yeah, we got a hole in the sock.
But ultimately our outlook isto try to get the production
back on track.
Ryan (31:04):
Yeah.
James (31:05):
Passion project, passion project going, so we're in the
studio trying to knock out acouple of episodes.
Ryan (31:16):
So this is probably a good one for us to reflect on
Kickstart 2025.
Yeah, exactly, Exactly Forthree.
Kickstart 2025.
Jonny (31:20):
Yeah exactly, Exactly For three words 2025.
What are you guys thinking?
Outside of the Bender continues.
Ryan (31:30):
I will not use that this year.
Kenny (31:33):
To be continued.
James (31:35):
Actually, I have my three words.
I gave this thought yesterdayBecause of my recent role change
, as well as just what I'm goingthrough in my personal life.
I feel like my execution hasbeen off, and I reflected on the
(31:56):
fact that it's because I'muncomfortable or I don't know
what I want to do or how to doit or whatever.
Clarity on point B, but I'm atpoint A.
So my three words, which I feellike is a mantra for anyone
it's useful, but it's growththrough discomfort.
So I know that I'm discomfort,uncomfortable right now I guess
(32:21):
that's a better way to phrase itNew role, new responsibilities,
new house, things that I'mgoing to do, that I'm not good
at or know what to do, et cetera, and I got to find that way.
And by being uncomfortable Ifeel like you grow the most, and
so I'm trying to embrace thatnow, especially after reflecting
on it, and so I'm heading into2025 with that mindset.
Ryan (32:45):
I love that.
Jonny (32:46):
That's a good one.
I would say operate withclarity.
I think operate with clarity.
What I mean by that is justdriving forward with a plan of
(33:12):
action.
Now, whether or not that planof action gets derailed for
whatever reason, that's okay.
But the operation piece, that'sjust being a husband, being a
friend, being a son and being aco-worker, a peer, a colleague,
(33:32):
whatever you want to call it.
Father, what's that being afather?
Being a father, yeah, and Ithink that's where being
maniacal around, just trustingthe process and what's going to
happen and being okay with hey,as long as I've got some clarity
and there's something end atmind.
If it doesn't necessarily gothat way, that's okay, because I
(33:55):
think it's very easy as we goand life throws you a curve ball
, you kind of go through themotions, kind of want to get out
of that going through themotions piece.
That's okay, cause I think it'svery easy as we go and life
throws you a curve ball.
You know you kind of go throughthe motions, kind of want to
get out of that going throughthe motions piece.
Um, so yeah, just beingextremely maniacal around
clarity and everything that I do.
Ryan (34:12):
Nice man.
Jonny (34:13):
Nice dude.
Ryan (34:15):
Uh, I'm going to go with time to evolve for me, so just
want to make some changes andtry to follow through on them.
Got some different perspectivesthis year, caring for something
other than myself.
It's not a child, but it is athing a puppy, a dog.
He's in the other room rightnow and, yeah, just going to
(34:38):
have some things I want to workon, so I'm going to evolve.
Kenny (34:42):
Love it.
Big step forward for Ryan.
No one used the word grow.
Ryan (34:46):
Didn't want to use it, so evolve.
James (34:48):
No one, no one has grown or has such a life changing
growth path than Ryan.
Over the years, from beanie tonow, completely different person
.
He didn't like it, but it'scool to watch.
I enjoy it, as your friend to,to see you kind of evolve.
So I'm I'm happy for this nextevolution.
(35:09):
What are you on?
Like pokemon level, like four?
Ryan (35:12):
now or something like what for digimon, but yeah, digimon.
Jonny (35:15):
Wow, that's good for that is a hot topic that's in the
depths.
Oh, is it Digi?
Okay, digimon.
What about Yu-Gi-Oh?
Wait, is Digimon a?
Oh, you mean just hot?
No, just you know, I thoughtthey were in the news or
something.
No, no, I don't think it wasstill around.
Ryan (35:39):
Yu-Gi-Oh, you created an app, yeah.
Kenny (35:40):
Pokemon Go dude, not my app Lion on the go, instead of
Pokemon Go Kenny.
For me I would say it's moreputting things together.
So my three words would becompound your skills.
I think in my 20s Iconcentrated a lot on acquiring
new knowledge, acquiring skills,learning, um, definitely
(36:03):
executing, but kind of findingout more of what business
entails and where to go and howto deliver and all those things.
Now it's like we put it togetherand we we scale the the shit
out of everything we do not onlyin business, but like
compounding your skills andbeing able to understand what
(36:24):
happens when you have a baby,compounding my skills and
understanding how to run afamily and a business at the
same time, and multiplebusinesses at that.
Now you know there's there's alot of different things that I
think you do in your 20s tospend time learning.
If you do it the way I did, youknow there's a lot of things
(36:46):
you give up to not be able tokind of take part in
extracurricular activitiesBecause you're kind of trying to
invest a lot into the businessor the things you're doing or
you know all the time for it.
But now it's about like puttingit together, not not saying
that you don't need to continueto learn I think you always need
to continue to learn, continueto read, continue to evolve but
(37:08):
just really leaning into thethings that you invested in
yourself into over the lastdecade now, like leaning into
that and compounding that andand I think you'll see it grow
faster it's, like you know,investing in large sums.
So putting it all together.
James (37:24):
Love it.
Yeah, any ideas on how you guysare actually going to attack
these outlooks on 2025, yourgoals and stuff?
I have some, but I'm going toput it to the floor first.
Keep it going, baby.
Jonny (37:40):
You want me to go, I want to johnny go first.
James (37:42):
Again he gets flustered thank you um you don't have to.
I apparently got called out, sono, if you wanted to climb, I
mean I can go, but you can gosure let me know if you want me
to go.
Jonny (37:54):
I mean mine's, mine's pretty.
James (37:55):
How about?
How about changing yours to bemore decisive?
I can, can go, you can go.
I'm just kidding, I'm fuckingwith you.
He's down for whatever folks.
Jonny (38:03):
He can go Again.
Crush of TBC.
This is the crush of John.
It's okay, it's fine.
James (38:25):
Go ahead, james, and the lack of execution.
I've been realizing I take onway too much and I try to do too
much at one time.
So multitasking which I'mgetting to the point where
multitasking is a fallacythere's no such thing as
multitasking.
Maybe there is, like I can movemy arm and talk right, that's
multitasking.
But I'm talking aboutphysically doing a fucking task,
like you can't do multipletasks at once because your brain
has to be focused in on thatthing and then get it done.
So what I'm trying to implementwith my team now, as well as as
(38:50):
my life, is, when I'm going toset out my day, this is what I'm
going to do.
The planner um, I have toattack each one before I get to
the next, and so there has to bea sequence.
So I'm going to institutesequence.
I can't jump, so once I catchmyself jumping, then reel it in.
(39:10):
So that's going to be one thingI'm going to try for myself.
But on top of that, I'm tryingto develop a system where
workflow is determined based offof metrics.
So, there's a couple ofdifferent priority metrics out
there.
You can go based off ofimportance and urgency.
You can go based off of whatwas the other ones I'm drawing a
(39:36):
blank right now, what was theother ones?
I'm drawing a blank right now.
But essentially you put acategory, you put a scale
(40:01):
towards something and that helpsdrive whether or not something
needs to be delegated, whetheror not something is a quick win,
whether or not something isgoing to be scoped out into a
full project.
And then once we compile allthat data and we understand the
team's bandwidth as far asvolume management, so pipeline
management and your dailyresponsibilities, tasks,
projects and influx, becausewe're kind of cyclical on a
monthly basis closing loans, soyou kind of have a down period
in the beginning of the monthand the month gets a little
hectic.
So we're trying to figure out away to institute a project
management system under theagile structure where there's
(40:24):
timestamps based off of whatperiod of time we are in the
month, what assigning tasks andthen actually executing, because
too much shit comes in at once.
We're jumping all over theplace.
We're on too many calls.
Restricting meetings is anotherthing that I think I need to do
, or being more efficient withmeetings, is actually the better
way to probably put it.
So we're trying to recalibratethe team.
(40:46):
That's a big thing that I'mtrying to do, and then see how
that blends with personal lifeas well.
Long-winded, a lot of buzzwords.
You're a typical James Agamaanswer.
Yeah, it's good, but anyways,that's, that's my plan, so we'll
see how well I can execute onthat.
Jonny (41:06):
But so I said, operating with clarity.
I think it starts with beingclear and concise in everything
that you do, whether it becommunicating or leaning on
others, whether that be in theworkforce or in your real life,
personally, professionally.
So, starting there, I use theword maniacal.
(41:27):
I think having thoseindividuals in my circle, my
network, whether they be family,friends or colleagues, that I
can rely on and hold me, andalmost be those individuals that
know my goals and myaspirations and what I'm trying
(41:49):
to do when I talk about the wordclarity, that's a huge
opportunity for me and just whatI've learned, I think, overall
in my leadership journey andthen also my personal journey.
Um, I think there's a lot ofgreat areas of opportunity, but
it all, like, starts with theword clarity.
Um, and I've learned that overthis year, and that's something
(42:11):
I'm proud of but, um, beingclear and concise and being very
detail oriented in whatever itis at the end of the tunnel.
So, hey, my goal is to do this,okay, well, how is your goal
going to be this?
What are you going to do to getthere?
Okay, what are you doing to getthere?
What are the steps thatactually take place or what's
(42:34):
going to have to happen in orderto make that actually be
efficient or successful?
And writing it out.
I know you guys have all heardmy whole power five and big CTA
guy call to action, which Ithink is great.
But it's like sometimes you gotto get very, very specific and
then what I found is just in inlife, I think on both sides
(42:58):
personal, professional,professional it's easy to say
something, it's easy toarticulate something, but does
the other side understand whatthat actual message is, because
everyone has kind of a differentthought process.
Do you confirm what that end,goal or result is with that
individual, because they maythink it's something else?
(43:20):
Is there a clear, defined line,timeline etc.
Um, so those are kind of myareas of opportunities or goals
and what I'm looking to do bevery maniacal that's almost your
word maniacal.
Ryan (43:36):
It's almost, it's involved in everything you're saying.
Jonny (43:38):
So use the word maniacal.
Those are my three words.
James (43:42):
I want to look at the definition of that.
Jonny (43:44):
Go ahead.
James (43:44):
Ryan.
Ryan (43:45):
Um, so I think the three areas that are going to help me,
uh, to evolve, I think thefirst one is simple.
It's from Andy Elliott it'sjust do what you say.
You know I'm a big talker a lotof times, and sometimes,
especially TBC, maybe I don'tfollow through.
So just in general work,personal, if I say I'm going to
(44:06):
do something, follow through,actually do it or, you know,
vocalize that it can't be done.
I think the other one is workon noticing my triggers.
I'm a person that can go hotand cold really quick.
So noticing, you know whatleads to that and maybe managing
that a little bit better,figuring out how to.
And I think, the last one, tobe able to evolve and some of
(44:30):
you have done this, we've talkedabout it, I think, in one
session or another, but you gotto take some time yourself.
And Johnny said at thebeginning you know, man of the
people, you know I might needsome some me time.
Right, go into a dark hole, gointo a cave and come out a
different person.
So, and to Kenny's point, youcannot give what you do not have
.
I got to work on myself and getsome things right there and
(44:54):
then I'll be able to maybe tocome back, so yeah, I think we
brought this up one time it waslike monk mode, yeah, monk mode,
yeah for sure.
Yeah, not an aaron rogers cavepeople, just just a regular monk
you're just gonna watchfootball anyways yeah, not in a
(45:15):
man cave, but yeah, right, yeah,like monk mood that can do
something like.
Kenny (45:19):
And you just do that for 30 days, like just you know,
don't, don't go crazy, likedon't go out and like just say
no to like public you know, yeah, it's hard to do.
You know in many settings andthen you know with a large group
like us, I don't think we hadmuch help you know I'm a little,
it's a little bit easier for meto say no to you guys because I
gotta drive four hours, threehours, to see you guys.
(45:42):
So it's like, dude, I don'twant to drive six hours, and you
know it's a little harder to dowith a five month old.
So it's not that it's easier tosay no, it's just like not
realistic in most cases, rightlike, uh, you know, six hour
outing, I'm like guys, it's justmaybe not just time.
James (45:56):
But yeah, I think, because you're so close, that's
it's hard, but it's that's whereit starts, I think so well, I
think it's a good year for youto even go on this journey,
because at least we don't haveas many um weddings and bachelor
parties and all these otherlike events.
Ryan (46:13):
I'm tired of weddings.
James (46:13):
I'm tired of traveling yeah, yeah yeah, those are like
hard events, not to say no toright, it's like yeah, yeah you
don't want to miss some bigevent for someone and then you
kind of look at, well, it'ssporadic between, like, uh, you
know, four, five, six a year,and granted, it's still a lot,
but they're at least spaced outin some cases, or they're not
but it adds up.
Ryan (46:31):
It adds up time wise, adds up bills, wise.
Like you guys talk about houseslike more, and I have a lot of
stuff to do just on the house,like the front of my house still
has white paint on it.
Jonny (46:39):
The rest of the house is a different color I got to get
that done, like that's got toget done.
Ryan (46:43):
So shit like that yeah.
Kenny (46:46):
That's cool For us.
I mean, you know, compoundingand putting things together I
think just goes to beingorganized with knowing what you
can do and what you were.
Uh, you know what you're goodat and where you can expand and
scale.
So it's like these are thethings that I know.
I think you can reverseengineer this, to say the least.
(47:09):
I think you can say like thisis what's worked really well and
this is the result of, likewe've had this success, whether
it's like a you, like a job orwhatnot, or a sale or anything
like that, this is what leads toX.
Well, what was different aboutthat?
How can we do it 10 times?
I can do it 100 times.
In compounding all of thosethings, we've been doing that in
(47:34):
the business a lot compound theacts of a variety of different
services, from strategy towebsite development and
infrastructure, creativeproduction and media buying, and
you can put all of thattogether and you can outsource
that to an agency that knows howto do it, has been there and
has done it, is doing it and isdoing it at large scale.
(47:55):
Or you can spend $500,000,$600,000 on overhead and hope
that you are hiring the rightpeople and driving them to the
correct direction with clarityand understanding, and it's
going to take you time and moneyand space to get things done.
But compounding on those thingsthat we're really good at
allows us to do it even better,with more synergy, and double
(48:19):
down on doing it over and overand over and over again, which
is ultimately going to get usbetter at doing what we already
do good.
So we're just going to continueto grow our skills in what we
do really good.
Yeah, and that's really thegoal.
And then bringing that back downto you know, like my family
life as well, compounding onwhat I know I can do.
And to you know, like my familylife as well, compounding on
(48:41):
what I know I can do and where Iknow I can spend my time to
provide for my family.
And, uh, and being open towhere, like, hey, I might not be
the best at this, let me maybehire someone where maybe my wife
is better at it than I am, soshe takes on that role.
But I think being fair withsaying like this is what I'm
good at, let's lean into it.
This is what I'm not good at,let's not lean into it.
We're just completelydisregarded and not do it at all
(49:01):
.
So it is going back to whatRyan said saying no to things
and just placing a largeemphasis on what I do and what I
do good.
James (49:14):
Nice.
I think we've got our work cutout for us, gentlemen, I think
we've got our work cut out forus, gentlemen, and hopefully in
a year we'll be able to lookback at this and be a little bit
better off than the roast ofDBC, but I think we can all
achieve it.
We've done so much over just ashort amount of time, even
before this podcast and duringthe podcast timelines, so I'm
(49:36):
excited to see where we go.
Love it Awesome.
Well, you know, we have alittle bit of a different ending
, so I'm excited to see where wego.
Kenny (49:40):
Love it awesome well, you know we have a little bit of a
different ending still and I'mgoing to ride with that, but
we'll hopefully provide morecontent in 2025.
Come back strong.
Maybe two different studios,maybe I'll change it up here and
there, but the common themethat we continue to go with is
(50:01):
and together, the Bendercontinues.
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