#414 Jackson Mitchell: Redefining Success After Sports

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All it takes is your willingness to go pursue it. During COVID, I started a podcast called The Walk-on Mentality Podcast. Had no idea what I was doing. I just bought a mic at Target and I started interviewing former walk-ons about what was your experience as a walk-on and how does that translate to life after sports about working hard but getting zero notoriety.

We talked about being the tackling dummy, so to speak, whether being the grunt at your job, right? You have an entry level position in a corporate job. You're getting handed all the work that nobody wants to do, and you're not getting acknowledged for it, but you do it anyway. This is a similar example, but like, Hey, we need somebody to run down on scout team kickoff and give full effort and get obliterated by the the wedge.

The walk-ons are gonna go do that because. They're, you know, the bottom man on the totem. That's typical reason why, right? But if we approach it as I get to do this, you know, as cheesy as it might sound, but like, I'm here, I'm here, I have this [00:01:00] opportunity and I'm trying to earn my spot. And if we approach everything, like we trying to earn a spot to a degree, you know, imagine what we can accomplish if that's our approach.

Jackson Mitchell. Yes, sir. Welcome to the Meet Mafia podcast, bro. Thank you. Honored to be here. Truly long time coming. Yeah. Feels that way. Probably about two years in the making because you guys both met before you and I had ever met Jackson. And as you as you know, Harry's super positive about a lot of people.

But I, I actually remember him calling me telling, I think you guys had maybe hit a run or something like that on Lady Bird. Yeah. And just how he, he was like, dude, I really think that this is gonna be like one of our key guys and was just speaking so highly about you. And it's cool to think about that first conversation to where we are now, man.

And I feel like, like Harry said, this podcast has been two years in the works and I feel like when I look at, you know, your content, I think you're kind of like the antidote to, when you think about 2025, I think a lot about quick [00:02:00] fixes and just scrolling social media and mindless do dopamine and not really chasing your potential.

And you just seem like you've always been someone that like, just loves the monotony and consistency and is just chasing something that's bigger than yourself. And that's always what's like, drawn me to you as a friend. Thank you. Yeah. Um. It has been a long time coming and it's so funny dude. 'cause just in the last like 10 days, um, I've seen Harry a bunch and we saw each other, I guess it was Sunday.

Um, he and Jolie were working out at the same place where we like first worked out. 'cause to your point, we ran and we just had like pullups pushups and whatnot around Lady Bird Lake. And uh, it was certainly kind of a nostalgic feeling of like, man, like this is crazy. 'cause time just goes by so fast. It does.

I mean, it ticks by so quickly. And when you said that when we bumped into each other, I was just like, dude, this is like literally where our friendships started. 'cause we'd bumped into each other one time before. Yeah. And I think I might've [00:03:00] just been like, yo dude, I like know who you are. Like we have a bunch of mutual friends.

Would love to connect sometime. And then we went to that, those bars and just like did a workout. Mm. I remember that conversation reminds me so much of our conversation around the Charles, where we're like, we were walking around the Charles River talking about like not wanting to meet. Or not wanting our lives to go by and not meet or exceed our potential and just live up to that potential.

And that conversation was just so similar. So just, it really reminds me like, yeah, I think like just our friendship is, is so special to both of us. Mm-hmm. And that you just like really do kind of just go after the same things that we do. Yeah. I, I appreciate it again and, and love you both very much. Um, it is funny because I think, and y'all have experienced this, I mean, you moved to a new city here in Austin.

Um, I think different reasons, but similar reasons all brought or brought all of us here. Um, but again, like conversation I was having just the other day was around how when you move [00:04:00] from, whether it be your hometown or a place you've been for a long time where you know everybody and everybody knows you, you have this opportunity to like recreate yourself and you can, um, plant yourself in new community.

You can plant yourself. Uh, with different people who you've been exposed to, because so many people from your hometown, it's like they know you as this version of Brett or this version of Harry. And it's not that you don't have the agency to change that there, but I, in my experience, it's a lot easier to redefine yourself once you remove yourself from the place where you've always been.

Um, and to your point that you started off with Brett, like, you know, for me, um, certainly not perfect. Certainly am somebody who can catch myself on that dopamine trail scrolling, just like everybody else. But, um, I do feel like not only for myself, but for everybody, that there's this untapped, limitless [00:05:00] potential that we can go tap into if we choose to.

Mm-hmm. And I mean, y'all know me, y'all know my, my slogan, my tagline, my mantra, like my daily. Message to myself is just no limits. Mm-hmm. 'cause I really don't think that there are limits to what we can accomplish. Um, and especially like, you know, specifically, uh, because, you know, we were created in the image of God, and God gives us all these gifts and he wants us to, um, to utilize these gifts to, to maximize that potential.

But yeah, I've just always felt like, um, you know, Philippians four 13 and the context is important, but like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So whatever I'm going after, I know that if I'm willing to put in the work for long enough, it's achievable. Mm-hmm. Um, and I feel like that drives the way that I approach everything today.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. When do you feel like the phrase no limits first started permeating in your mind? Was it a byproduct of just like your [00:06:00] college football experiences? Was it after that? I know for me, like just being done playing baseball and just feeling like I, I think we had very different experiences where I really felt like I pissed away my college career.

Mm-hmm. And that's actually what forced me to kind of get my stuff together. And you're, you're, you'll tell the audience, but like you, I feel like you extracted every ounce of your talent playing college football. But yeah. When did No Limits really start to be a thing in your mind that you were constantly saying to yourself?

Yeah. Um, so to give context around like my playing journey. So I had a couple scholarship offers, uh, Stephen F. Austin, which is a small school in Ndo NADOs, and then, um, the Air Force Academy. But I really wanted to play what I considered big time D one football. So I, you know, four went. Bypass those two scholarship offers.

And you know, very fortunately, um, I have parents who were willing to support and, uh, you know, try to provide any opportunity they could for me to go [00:07:00] pursue that opportunity. Very blessed. But, um, you know, my dad helped me send my highlight film to every school in the country, like USC, Minnesota, LSU, like everywhere.

Um, and ultimately, SMU in Dallas got back to me and said, Hey, we don't have a scholarship for Jackson, but we think he could make an impact here. We'd love to have him come walk on. And, uh, you know, that was 35 minutes from my hometown, SM u's a great education. And so decided to go walk on at SMU. And, uh, I remember getting there and, you know, the, the school that I went to high school, that's called South Lake Carroll, and like, that's a perennial high school football program.

Um, if you're from Texas, you know, that, like, that's a, a great program. So. I experienced a high level of football in high school, and when I got to SMUI was like, man, this is, this is college ball. And so, um, [00:08:00] it was a really unique transition because I felt like I almost took a step down at the, uh, the broader level.

But I also felt, you know, I had this immense chip on my shoulder of like, I need to, like, I'm here to do something. Like I'm here for, I'm, I'm on a mission here. I'm not here to just run through the tunnel or just be a scout team guy. Like I came here 'cause I wanted to play. Um, and so ultimately, you know, always wanted to be a leader.

And, you know, first one in last one out studying the film, um, you know, candidly, like I never felt like I was the most just purely gifted athlete. So I always felt like. I had to do everything else to make sure that I could play at a high level film, study, recovery, taking care of my body, um, all of those things.

And ultimately ended up, you know, being fortunate enough to play all four years, start to, you know, became a team captain. Um, got put on scholarship after my sophomore season. [00:09:00] Um, and you know, to your point, like at the end of my senior year when it was time to determine if I wanted to go try to play in the league or just, you know, move on and start a professional career, I ultimately said, you know what, like, I'm good.

Um, and I had a little bit of like a lingering injury that was gonna make it really difficult to have any sort of success at like pro day or whatnot. But I think ultimately it was really just more of a decision that was like, I've, like, this chapter's been great and I'm proud of what I've done, but like it's time to, to move on to the next thing.

Um, but to the, to the original question, like, when did No Limits really? Start to enter the way. I think I honestly would say, um, that it was during COVID, um, because, you know, I work in medical device sales and at that time, um, surgery was shut down, elective surgery. So I had a lot more time and I was like, man, [00:10:00] how can I use this extra time to, to make an impact on people?

Because at the end of the day, what I really want to do is make anybody who I communicate with come into contact with anybody who sees something I share. I want them to feel like they can go do anything that they set their mind to. Um, and so during COVID, I started a podcast called The Walk-On Mentality Podcast.

Had no idea what I was doing. I just bought a mic at Target and uh, I started interviewing former walk-ons about, Hey. What was your experience as a walk-on and how does that translate to life after sports? Mm-hmm. And we talked about, you know, working hard but getting zero notoriety. We talked about, you know, being the tackling dummy, so to speak, you know, whether being the grunt at your job, right?

You have an entry level position in a corporate job. You're getting handed all the work that nobody wants to do, and you're not getting acknowledged for it, but you do it [00:11:00] anyway. Mm-hmm. Um, you talked about, you know, being willing, this is a similar example, but like, hey, we need somebody to run down on scout team kickoff and give full effort and get a obliterated by the, the wedge.

Um, the walk-ons are gonna go do that because they're, you know, the bottom man on the totem pole. Mm-hmm. That's the typical reason why. Right. But if we approach it as. You know, I get to do this, you know, as cheesy as it might sound, but like, I'm here, I'm here, I have this opportunity and I'm trying to earn my spot.

And if we approach everything, like we trying to earn a spot to a degree, um, you know, imagine what we can accomplish if that's our approach. And so started the podcast, and the podcast eventually evolved away from me interviewing former walk-ons, but just interviewing people who bet on themselves. And I feel like that was kind of where the No Limits mantra really started to enter my mind.

walk on mentality
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So like probably early 2020s. Um, because the more people I had [00:12:00] conversations with about whether it was starting a business or running a ultra marathon or whatever the feat was that they were pursuing, the more I realized that like all it takes is your willingness to go pursue it. Mm-hmm. And I mean, y'all are a testament to that, right?

Totally like left great jobs. One of y'all was sleeping on the floor at some point, like, yeah. And here we sit. Um, so super long-winded answer, but uh, no limits. Yeah. Has been my thing now for probably like four or five years. Um, and just, I, I couldn't believe it more than I do today, honestly. Were you able to carry that intensity that it takes to be a walk-on into the early part of your career?

'cause so many college athletes, they kind of go one or two ways, and I feel like Brett and I might kind of fall in the camp of like the B but like the, A guy is like, they're an athlete and they just like get into the right role and they like, feel like [00:13:00] that's like their next calling and they kinda like seamlessly transition.

I think those guys are kind of a diamond like way in, in the minority. Yeah. And then there's like this other group where it's like they kind of just like feel like their purpose, their entire life was just kind of pulled out from under 'em. Mm-hmm. Did you struggle with any of that? So I had a tough time transitioning because I think the, the challenge that I most faced was how to continue to be me, but in a different context.

I'm a, like, I'm a goofy dude. Like, I, I like to have fun. I, we've seen the dancing field. Right? Right. Like, like I would say that I take, I take life seriously. Mm. We only have one, but I also try to not take myself too seriously. 'cause I think like, you know, you, you don't wanna be somebody who just walks around, like, you gotta stick up your ass all the time.

Right? Yes. Like, you don't, and, and like, I love seeing people laugh. Like, again, it just goes back to like trying to [00:14:00] make like a positive impact. Mm-hmm. Like, I like to see people happy. Um, but when I got done with football, I was like, okay, I'm used to being in the locker room with a bunch of my peers, people my age, guys from the hood, guys from the burbs, white guys, Mexican dudes, black dudes, like.

Super diverse melting pot. Now keep in mind, like I grew up in a suburban town that was probably like 85, 90% white. And then SMU is pretty similar in the student body of not being like, I mean, it's diverse, but it's not super diverse. Yeah. Fortunately the locker room is one of the most diverse places you can be.

So I got exposure to a lot of different cultures that way. Um, but ultimately when it came time to transition into like the professional workforce, I did not know how to really like conduct myself. I felt like I was very robotic. Um, now, fortunately, you know, my very best friend, a guy named Troy Castle, he was my roommate my first two years post grad.

He's a couple years older than us, but he [00:15:00] was my roommate. And, uh, we belonged to a CrossFit box together. So I think, you know, my outlet has always been physical, like training and just pushing myself that way. And during that time of transition, like I found CrossFit and that was an environment that I think gave me, it still gave me that kind of locker room feel.

Mm-hmm. Um, CrossFit community and like fitness community is Yeah. Is that way. So I feel like I still got to do that. And then when I was at my work at the time, it was like, you know, very prim and proper like, hello, I'm Jackson Mitchell. Support your project, or whatever it might be. Right. Get that kind of works in corporate though, like the robotic thing, you know what I mean?

Yeah. But at the end of the day too, like, and now at 30, my perspective is so different. Yeah. Um, and given my life experience as well, my perspective is so different and at the end of the day, like I'm in sales. [00:16:00] So the way I view it is like, I'm going to know everything about my product. I'm going to answer every question I can.

And if I don't know the answer, I'm gonna find you the answer to the question. I'm gonna service my customers and people that I interact with to the highest level, but I'm also gonna be me. Yeah. Because at the end of the day, if I am showing up as a, you know, different version of myself for customer A than customer B, because I want customer A to feel like, oh yeah, I'll work with you, then what am I doing?

Yes. I'm not being me. If I can be myself in every room that I'm in, then the reality is like the right people are going to be drawn to me and want to work together or have a friendship or relationship or whatever it is. And if they don't, then like, maybe they don't and that that's okay. And you know, as I'm saying this, I'm like, man, I'm a sales guy so I'm supposed to want everybody's business no matter what.

Yeah. And I do, but I also don't want to [00:17:00] sacrifice my authenticity in order to, you know, be what somebody else wants me to be. Yes. If that makes sense. That's super important. Go ahead. Well, I was just gonna say, I think there's a faith component to that too, where it's like, on one hand you're maybe like, you know, window, like adding a little bit of window dressing to your personality or whatever it is, like, whatever you wanna call it, when you're just being a little bit more salesy.

And the other one is like, you're just being yourself. Mm-hmm. Like, maybe it doesn't translate to certain types of contracts, but it translates to the right contracts, which I think is, or like, you know, if whatever you're trying to sell, it's like Right, it translates to the right thing. 'cause it's actually genuine to who Jackson actually is.

Right. Yeah, no, I, I, I agree for sure. And I also think too, like every sales cycle is different, but, you know, in my business, um, physicians, they train on a product and they use a product for years and they get comfortable with it. And sometimes, sometimes [00:18:00] they, they genuinely don't need what I have to offer.

And so I'm, I'm really not, I a super keen on. Going to somebody with nothing of value to add to them. Um, but I really do believe, and I tell my guys this, it's like it's really easy to get discouraged and feel like, oh, they'll never, they'll, they'll never gimme the time of day. Like, you know, they're never gonna use my product.

And again, like to the No Limits mindset that I have, it's like, they might not use it today, but if over the next five years I just continue to show up and provide value whenever I have the opportunity, even if it doesn't mean that you're using my product in a case, even if it just means I'm there to help you take my product out.

So you can put the one that you like in, if I show up and play my part to the highest level possible every time I get the opportunity to do so, then there's always a chance at some point in time that I'm gonna get that call that they're gonna say, Hey, we, [00:19:00] we want to do, we wanna use you this time. Yes. Um.

I don't care how long it takes really. And I think that is, that's something that has firmly ingrained in me from middle school to high school to college, which is just like, trust the process. Um, and you mentioned this, the monotony, the consistency, the days that you don't feel like it, you don't want to get up at four 30 or five, you know, you don't want to go to practice and get your teeth kicked in again.

You're not getting any playing time, right. You're, you're not getting the call from the customer. You don't, you don't wanna show up. But if you trust the process and you know that the process will bring results at some point mm-hmm. And that's always in the back of your mind and you're just gonna keep showing up and doing, you know, whatever that thing is.

And I think that that's, um, that's certainly something that I keep in mind in business as I pursue my, you know, fitness goals, [00:20:00] so on and so forth. I mean. There's gonna be a lot of days that don't feel very good, to be honest. But, you know, if you decide to just lay in bed all day, well then I guarantee it's not gonna feel any better at the end of the day.

But when have you ever felt, when have you not felt good after going to the gym? Or like, I think about this all the time. If I'm sitting there and I'm like, man, I've called in this doctor's office 17 times. Mm. Every time, you know, the lady at the front desk tells me, no, you can't do breakfast, you can't do lunch, he doesn't wanna meet you.

She doesn't wanna meet with you. What if my mindset is, well, can I make that woman at the front desk smile? Or like, what, how can I, how can I redefine what a win is in that context and then let that be something I stack on to compound to the next one, right? Mm-hmm. Like, I just think I'm kinda all over the place right now, but No, it's good to bring it back.

It's like that rain is hitting. Yeah. Right? Yes. Bad thing is, I haven't even cracked it yet. Um, but. I just [00:21:00] think trusting the process Yes. In everything that we do Yes. Is just such a critical thing. Mm-hmm. Um, yeah. It's just so much of what we're talking about as a mental and spiritual battle. And I found that if you can be on that 17th call where you just can't get through to the ea but in the middle of that process you're like, you're literally saying to yourself like, God is sharpening me somehow.

I don't know how, but he's sharpening me through that. And if you can love that feeling of needing to get to the 18th call, you haven't converted that person yet, even for a first meeting. If you can love that feeling and be like, most people are gonna quit here, but I'm actually not gonna quit here. I'm gonna lean in more.

That's when you know you're as dialed in as you need to be. Right. And that's the beautiful thing about fitness for, like, you think about when you were, when you were young and you had just graduated and you didn't really have the, you didn't know how to acclimate to a corporate environment. Like the beautiful thing about fitness is that it's a really fair pursuit.

So even if you're not genetically gifted, like if you do the right things, you eat the right way, [00:22:00] everyone's gonna get more fit. It teaches you discipline so many times. You don't want to go yet. You go, you get that serotonin release, your hormones are great, you feel amazing afterwards. And then it's like this awesome, it's this very just like pure trickle down effect.

And you control that. And then it starts to just like filter and trickle into all these other buckets of your life. And you were, I think you were saying before when we were outside the studio, you were saying certain friends that you have are mirrors. Hmm. I think that's so true. I also think certain pursuits are mirrors in yourself too.

And I think that everything that Harry and I have done with Noble and the podcast has been a mirror for me. And the lowest moments that I've been, the last three years are always when I neglect myself physically. And it's a very ironic thing to have a. Business that's focused in health and wellness. Yet in that process you neglect those things.

brett quotes
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So that's something I've learned from you too, is it's like, dude, like if I can just check that box physically, I can pretty much handle everything else. [00:23:00] 100%. Yeah. I mean, I think, uh, I, I can't remember why I was thinking this, but it was the exact thought that you just mentioned of like this spillover overflow effect.

Mm-hmm. And for me, I, I've always been like a morning training person. Yeah. I don't know if it's because of sports and, and that always being when I train, growing up, but like, you know, literally to this day I will get up at 4:00 AM so that I can train before I go to the operating room. Just because it's, it's so critical for me to show up as the best version of myself that I do something that I, and I don't know if it's necessarily like the whole, oh, do something hard to start your day.

I think for some people that is the thing for me, the hard thing I do when I start my day is making my bed. Like, I don't wanna make my bed, but like I make my bed in the morning. Um, but, you know, to, to go train. I think maybe it's just the serotonin. Like, I feel so, [00:24:00] so good after I've just pushed myself ridiculously hard for, you know, an hour or whatever it might be.

I feel so good going into the next part of my day. Like it's confidence, whether it's like, you know, looking in the mirror and feeling confident, whether it's feeling strong, whether, again, like I mentioned for some people it's that they did the hard, the hard thing that they had so much resistance to do.

It can be whatever it is for, for whatever individual, but for me it's just like, man, when I don't, if, if I don't train. And let me also say like, yes, recovery is critical, you gotta take care of yourself. But like, if I don't move my body. I'm just not the best version of myself. And, and that's as simple as it gets, but it does 100% spill over into everything else.

Um, and again, for some, that is the hardest part of the day mm-hmm. Which makes everything else that they encounter throughout the day feel very doable. Mm-hmm. The words that we tell [00:25:00] ourselves are so powerful, and I feel like so much of that is reinforced by the things that we're willing to do and not willing to do, like immediately first thing in the morning.

And I think about like, the script that's constantly running in your head, and how much of that is actually programmed within the first 90 minutes of you being awake. Mm-hmm. Like if you, if you just start off your day failing or feeling like a failure mm-hmm. How is that just on full open-ended loop for the rest of the day.

Right. And like, I don't know, that's kind of where I've gotten to where it's like, dude, if I can just get that morning w mm-hmm. On the board, just get a runner on base. The rest of the day will, will play itself out. But it, well not, but, but it's also interesting to think about how easy it is to just not do Oh dude, anything.

I mean, it's the easiest it's ever been in history to not do anything. Like I, I've thought about this recently, like, it's so easy to either, you know, [00:26:00] snooze your alarm or, you know, wake up and immediately just jump on whatever social media platform or to, you know, wake up and then just lay there or, you know, like not do any of the things that we're talking about.

Which this is not like, oh, I'm condemning you if you do, if you don't. But it's like, man, it's, it's, it's actually so easy to just like live without intention. Um, and again, like I've had seasons where I really wasn't living all that intentionally myself, but I feel like now I'm finding that like. The more intention that we live with, uh, the more intentional we are with our time, with relationships, with pursuits, with the way that we think with what we're consuming.

I just feel like it, it living at least the way I view life, right. Hmm. A good life, I think really requires living with a very high level of intention Mm. In all that we're doing. Yes. [00:27:00] Um, yeah. I, I would piggyback on that too. I feel like one thing that I've learned about myself in particular is that, not to say that I have like high integrity, but I, I can't you do fake say that fake, I can't fake like certain areas of my life.

Mm-hmm. So if I'm like not being accountable in one area, I feel like it just bleeds through everything. Mm. Like, I just don't, I don't possess that ability to like. Be super low integrity here and, but then like, somehow find a way to like, be like, have this stuff dialed in. Like, it it for me, it's like it's an all in one package.

Mm-hmm. It doesn't, yeah. It just bleeds into everything. Well, I think, I mean, I think that's how you're supposed to be, right? Yeah. Like one, one hairy gray, one bread ender. Mm-hmm. One Jackson Mitchell. Um, yeah, I think, I think you should be the same in, in every room, in every scenario. Um, so that's definitely not a bad thing.

Yeah. I think this stuff you guys are talking about too. Can you just stop? [00:28:00] Well, I'm thinking about, uh, bi crack, the rain bis a peak. Come on baby. I was thinking about do, it's, I'm thinking about dopamine and I think that, um, like huberman, a lot of these biohackers, they've done a great job like giving us information around dopamine, but I think we've kind of bastardized it and almost we nerd out too much about it, where the more research I've been doing on it.

I've actually drawn the conclusion that I think a man's ability to manage or mismanage dopamine, how he derives dopamine, literally is like the equivalent of the potential that you will fulfill. So if you're able to wire your dopamine in a way that's getting the proper rush from the feeling of like the anticipation of how you will feel going to the gym or reading a book versus scrolling on your phone or doing, making like five sales calls that you don't want to make for your medical device job.

Thinking through what that will lead to in your future, like the ability to manage or mismanage that is so important. And I want to do more [00:29:00] content around it because I don't think we even scratched the surface because like the last, the last couple, the last two weeks, I quit nicotine before I got married.

I don't know if I told you that. Mm-hmm. But that was just advice. Thanks. But that was advice that I just have kept going back and forth on. And so you start this one thing, it builds a chain reaction. So I'm like, all right, now I wanna limit my phone and I wanna read more. And so I've just been very mindful of the moments of like, just not only the amount of time that I spend on my phone, but like literally the amount of critical thinking that I rob being on my phone where I'm like, I'm not even having original thought because I've just scrolled for the last 15 minutes while I took a shit.

Like, like, just like the ability, you know what I mean? Yeah. Just the ability to like absorb the downloads that God wants us to have. And thought I'm, I've just been more mindful of like, brother, like the last five years, how much have I missed out on? 'cause I'm just like, addicted to this device or this pouch or this, I don't know.

Dude, I'm all over the place. But No, no, no, no, no. That's dial But that's, it's good. That's good stuff, dude. That's so good. [00:30:00] And um, I've shared this with Harry, but like, I think it was probably. It was probably the month of February that I determined that, like I chose a word for the year. Mm-hmm. And I think I was thinking about this today.

I was like, so we're recording this. It's July 3rd. I don't know when it drops, but whoever's listening, if you've made it this far, like right now, pick a word for the rest of your year that you want to be your like guiding principle. Because like for me, my word that I chose is discipline. And as you were describing that, Brett, I just was thinking like, man, it's it's discipline.

Yes. It's like, can I be disciplined with what I utilize as my dopamine fix? Mm-hmm. Like is it something critical thinking? Is it making the sales calls, is it going to the gym? For me, like the discipline, it's like discipline with my career, my training. Yes. My body, like your, your mind needs to be on that list too, because it's like, to [00:31:00] your point.

You scroll on Instagram or you know, TikTok or whatever platform, even LinkedIn. Yeah. You, you, you waste, you can literally waste an hour in no time and not even realize it. And, uh, you, you are robbing yourself of your ability to critically think, which there's great information on these platforms. There is, but the time that you spend is the part that needs to be really audited.

Mm-hmm. Um, so I think, I mean, that's a phenomenal thought. I, um, mm-hmm. This is making me think. I, so last week I went out to this ranch called Origin Ranch and I was hanging out with my buddy, uh, Jared's literally like this biology he would love, he's the guru. He would love me saying this, but biology nerd, he loves nature and his office is just pastures and being outside.

And one of the things I realized that was just like, kind of like, just a profound observation. I was like. He's seeing things out here that [00:32:00] nobody else sees. The, how much more is he experiencing like the world around him than just kind of like me with my phone laptop. Like he is literally stopping the cart and going, that piece of grass has been here for 200 years.

And like he can tell you everything about every moving piece of that property. It's just cool being around somebody who's that plugged into the, the natural world around them. 'cause it, it like, it was such a stark contrast the way we live where, you know, not, not to just ppo like our lifestyles, but like we live in a city.

We have a lot of things going on around us. Stimulate stimulants everywhere from, you know, the next thing to do and our phones and it's just a lot. And I feel like he's just like unplugged and he's just watching birds and stuff. I'm like, you know, two extremes. But I feel like that one, he's just like taking in so much more.

Yeah. I'm curious to know, like, what do you guys think? Do you think you could. Or not. Do you think you could, but to what extent could you [00:33:00] not utilize your phone? Like for what you do professionally? Do you need your phone by you all day? Could you leave it at home? Or do you need it in order to conduct business in your field of work?

That's a great question.

I don't think I could. I don't think I could. I think I have. I mean, my phone's on do not disturb right now and like I'm very present, but at the same time I'm like, hopefully no one, no, hopefully no customer's calling me about something, right? Yes. And it's like you can be present, but like that's, we're conditioned to be that way now.

Mm-hmm. And like, especially if you're in some sort of customer service or support mm-hmm. Function like you're in your brain. In my brain, me meeting this individual's needs is what determines whether or not I get paid. So if I get a text on Saturday, Sunday, you know, 11:00 PM [00:34:00] whatever, it'll be addressed.

Yeah. Which, you know, like that's part of the, it's part of the game for what I do. Yeah. But at the same time, like, you know, talking about this guy on the ranch, it's like,

that's such a different life. Such a different life. Mm-hmm. So different. So, and, and I guess you did, you did highlight that too, that it's a different life and we live in a city and so on and so forth. Yes. But I think about that all the time. 'cause I do know people who leave their phone on do not disturb.

It's like I would have a panic attack if I, if I just left my phone on do a disturb all day. Yeah. I almost wonder there's a balance between like there's jobs, like what you're doing or investment banking where it's kind of like this five to 10 minute response time that's required to continue to be employed.

And I wonder like, is there a way that you could balance that? With like being able to be a little bit more analog or something like that too, where like, could you, could you set it so like only your customers, like, could you leave your phone on d and d? But only certain [00:35:00] customers are able to bypass the d and d for sure.

But there's also a practice too that I've done where like, there have been certain dinners or moments where I've literally just left my phone. Yeah, dude, it is a wild feeling. Even the, the energy of just having your phone in your pocket, even if you're not checking it, versus just being in that, like, being analog in that restaurant or just wherever you are.

The way that you take things in and look around and the way you converse. It's, it's pretty amazing. So if there's a wor, if there's a, I'm sure there is a way that you could balance it, it'd be pretty powerful. Present moment maxing. Yeah. Be present moment maxing. But in general, 99% of us are just consuming.

We're con dude, I, we're consuming way too much for sure. I'd be, I'd be curious to get both your guys in on this, this, this, uh, popped in my head. Earlier in the conversation, but both you, I think both of both you guys is very confident guys. And I, I think like anyone who surrounds himself with you guys or observes you guys, it's clearly natural.

And was there anything that you guys have experienced, Don, [00:36:00] uh, in particular just to lean into that confidence, develop that confidence? 'cause it's such a, it's such a difference maker. I mean, having confidence in yourself. Mm-hmm.

Man. Um,

I don't, that's a tough question. I think, you know, just as you were asking it, all I could think about was like my 10-year-old, 12-year-old self who is like fat and chubby. And it's so funny to look at pictures of myself then, um, because I, I really was this like fat little kid, very insecure. And honestly even through like.

Even through high school, I was like pretty insecure and not, yeah, really not very confident. Mm-hmm. Um, I think I could probably put on like a good face and maybe act like I had a little bit of confidence, but I don't really think I was all that confident. Um, and like I mentioned when I was talking about football, like I never thought I was that great.

Like, I was always like, man, how am I doing this? Um, [00:37:00] you know, today I think again, it, it at 30 I've, you know, tried to be probably different versions of myself up until this point and seen what, what that got me. And I think, you know, ultimately just in my mind comes back to like authenticity and knowing that like if I'm just myself, then the people that need to be in my life are gonna be in my life.

And those that don't won't, and like, I don't really care about the thoughts or opinions of anybody else. Um, so. I don't know. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know. Uh, that's a good question. Yeah. Have you, have you loved on that younger version of yourself that felt insecure? For sure. Yeah. I've done some pretty in depth, like, I dunno why, but the, the term healing work always makes me feel weird.

But like I've done some pretty, that the inner work, yeah. I've done some pretty [00:38:00] deep healing work and, um, again, like far from perfect Mm. Um, continuing to try to yeah. Make sense of everything every day. Right. Like far from perfect. But, um, yeah, I mean, I shout out Dr. K, like, I went and did this intensive counseling retreat.

It was like three days, eight to five, just like unpacking my entire life. And that was probably one of the most impactful things I've ever done. Mm-hmm. Um, so. Yeah. Little, little j Mitch gets all the love little, yeah. That's my dog. Have you ever, have you read this book called, either of you guys called Cyber, uh, psycho Cybernetics?

Mm-hmm. Have you heard of it before? No. This, um, this guy Bobby, who, uh, he was personally coached by Bob Proctor, very successful financial advisor. He does a lot of mindset training. Um, great dad, just kind of a dude that's been successful in all the different buckets of his life. But he was telling me about this book, [00:39:00] Psycho-Cybernetics, and I was telling him about some of the things I was struggling with and he was like, your issues are self image issues and you're never going to outperform.

This self-image that you have for yourself. And I think a lot of the stuff that I used to struggle with as a kid is still stuff that's still in there. And it sounds like to an extent that it's for you too, probably for you too, right? It's like we're always battling that stuff. But this book, Psycho-Cybernetics is all about self-image.

And it was written by a plastic surgeon and people that had like facial deformities and things like that. And some people that got the surgery were able to just go on and not battle mentally or emotionally with any of those issues that they were struggling with before. And then certain people, even though like their nose or whatever was totally fixed, they were still struggling with some of those old self-image issues.

So as you're speaking, it just make, and, and this, my buddy Bobby, who's been mentoring me a little bit, has been talking more about self self image. And it's been, I've been having this feeling, this pull to like just dig into that stuff [00:40:00] more. 'cause I'm like, I think certain things that have held me back, like even though I have all these good habits and things that I'm proud of, I'm like, well dude, if you still think of yourself as this.

Kid, this like nerdy kid or this version of yourself that does, you think you don't deserve to be successful, and that's your self image. That's kind of what you're playing down to. Unfortunately, 100% we think of it as like hippie dippy or woo woo or whatever, and it's like, no, man, that stuff's important. I couldn't agree more.

Um, and certainly like have the same battles in different contexts, different areas. I think too, like we all played sports and it's a double-edged sword. The um, there's always more like, which on the one hand I do believe no limits, but on the other hand, like in a business context or from a physique context, you're looking at yourself in the mirror and you're seeing every area that like you could be better.

Yeah. Which again, double-edged sword, but you, I think the, the, your ability to manage it is, it sounds like what you're getting better at and working [00:41:00] on. And like, I think that's the biggest thing is like being able to catch yourself when you're telling yourself that story of, oh, I don't. I'm not a good businessman or I'm not a good husband or boyfriend or whatever, or I'm not fit enough or whatever.

If you can catch yourself in those moments and correct your thinking. Um, 'cause as you were talking about Bobby, I had a mis performance coach in college in a lot of, I mean, mindset is so critical. Yes. And it does sound, in the past it sounded like crazy. Like, but you're, you're, you're a mindset coach. Like, nah.

Like that's, that stuff makes a difference. Yeah. Yes. Like if you can visualize yourself performing at a high level in the boardroom, in the gym on a date, if you can see yourself doing it before you do it, then when you're actually in that moment, it becomes so much easier to do it. 'cause you've been there before.

Yes. Mm-hmm. It's like, I mean, I believe in it wholeheartedly. Mm. Um, so yeah. What do you think? [00:42:00] Um, just in terms of confidence? Yeah. Or. I think for me it's like taking risk. Um, you know, I think I battled with a lot of internal, like fears just around like, you know, self-doubt and things, you know, outcomes that I wouldn't be able to overcome.

And the more risks I've taken, the more I've realized that like, you know, over a long enough time period of time, as long as I just allow, you know, God to work through me and in me and build my character up, that most problems will keep building me up. Mm-hmm. And I think that like, at the end of the day, it's like, yeah, there's been a lot of bumps and bruises along the way where, you know, I've, you know, messed up and not been the person I want to be.

But at the end of the day, I think confidence just comes from really just like being raw and naked with who you are, who you want to be, and what you're going after and just going after it. [00:43:00] I think a lot of those insecurities that, you know, I think every. Everyone grows up with insecurities. Mm-hmm. So it's like, you know, a lot of those insecurities, the sooner you let go of them, the more you're able to actually like, get outta your own way.

And I've been definitely learning through that a lot, um, even still today. But I think the confidence comes from like realizing that like a lot of this stuff is just like in the internal architecture of who I am. Mm-hmm. Like most of the things that I'm dealing with or struggling with are just right here.

It's like inside. So, yeah, I think there's a lot of peace with that where it's like, you know, it's kind of, it's kind of mostly within my control. Right. And yeah, there, yeah. It gives, that gives me a lot of confidence for sure. Mm. Yeah. I remember when I was younger, uh, well, I think a lot about the Mark Andreessen quote.

It's basically like when you know what you want confidently and you have like that right energy behind it, the world almost has this way of like opening up to the things that you want. And I think we've all experienced like the absolute truth behind that. [00:44:00] And I remember being younger and maybe not having the most confidence, but working the right way.

Where, you know, I thought I was an average student in elementary school. And then you study really hard and you get like the best grade in the class on something. Or even like in high school baseball, you know, thinking, I was like, okay, maybe I'm a little bit better than these kids, but you work really hard and then you have this amazing season.

And then I think about even with like what we're doing with Noble or Meat Mafia or the things that you're building, Jackson, it's, it's hard to explain. It's like this balance of almost like irrational belief before ability. And if I know what I want and I work really hard, like you can just kind of like poke and then something else pops out in the world.

Like, it's like, I dunno, God, I think God just made us that way where it's like it's a combination of energy, work ethic, all these things. Like he made us to be able to do that stuff. Right. And I think too, I mean, I forget exactly what the quote is you just said, but. I think I, the, the thing that's been on my mind a ton lately and told, I shared this with Harry is the, the phrase, [00:45:00] I must live a certain way.

Mm. And it's what you just described is like having goals that you're going after. Yes. Having very clear goals and knowing what you want, and knowing the life that you're trying to live today, but also 5, 10, 15 years from now. When you, when you know what that looks like, it makes decision making really easy.

It doesn't mean, I mean, well, it makes it simple. Mm. It's not always easy, right? Yes. But if you know that, you know, if you're trying, if you know that you wanna lose 30 pounds and in front of you sits a cheeseburger and fries, or you know, beef and rice and you've wanted to lose 30 pounds for a long time, and it's finally to that point where you're like, you know what, I'm, I'm serious about this.

Like, I really wanna lose this weight. And then these two meals are in front of you. If you're serious about that goal, then it's like, this is a no-brainer. I'm going to eat the meal that is [00:46:00] going to be, yes. More easily digested, make me feel better, fuel me for whatever the next thing is, rather than eating what probably maybe might make you feel better in the moment.

You might enjoy to touch more. Yes. But ultimately, you know, it's not really moving you towards your goal. Like, I, I mean, it's just, it's that straightforward. Um, so having those goals that you're driving toward, I feel like is critical for getting them. Yeah. Yeah. I, I've been coming wrestling with just like the idea of like, clear vision is like step one.

Mm-hmm. For almost anything. 'cause even if you have the most relentless work ethic in the world, if you don't have a clear vision, you might just be working on the wrong thing, man. You might be working on the wrong thing and just burn out. So you really do need that like clarity. And once you have that clarity, then.

All those things that we're talking about, gifts and you know, the growth, it's like that kind of just is like a byproduct of, you know, being able to [00:47:00] step into something that's really clear in your mind, you know? Mm-hmm. And that builds true confidence too. Yeah. Typically it's like whenever you, whenever vision you define if you want to achieve it, there will always be the element of choosing what the spirit wants before the flesh.

And we all know there's not a better feeling than wanting the McDonald's cheeseburger, but choosing to do the beef and rice. Oh man. And there's not a worst feeling. There's not truly, like I've had students so many moments over the years of like knowing what I should be doing with nutrition training, whatever.

And then like, giving in, doing the opposite. That's the worst feeling. But, but the best feeling is like actually being like, dude, I, my flesh wanted this thing so bad and I chose this path. And then you wake up and you check yourself on the scale and you're a little bit lighter and your abs pop a little bit more, and it's like that dopamine hit towards where you're going.

Just got chills when you said giving in. Dude, I feel like it's so relatable, you know? Yeah. Yeah. The, uh, again, it comes [00:48:00] back to I must live a certain way. I must live a certain way. Like the, the flesh wants. And the flesh, like the flesh has that mouthpiece, you know? Mm. Like, they'll like tell you exactly what you want to hear and make you feel like it's the right move.

And the, uh, the obs, what is it? The obstacle is the way discipline is destiny. All these Ryan Holiday books, it's like. Again, it's very clear what is actually Yes. The right way. Yes. Um, you, uh, you were talking to me earlier, you said you're the most fit you've been and um, like it seems like you're just absolutely ripping on the fitness front.

You just said High Rock's, worlds. Yeah. In Chicago. Um, it just seems like your discipline is driving a lot of just like where your life is heading right now. And it, and it's super cool to witness. Like, uh, we [00:49:00] were on our buddy Nick and he's just like, dude, I love just like literally just watching your stories and seeing you get after it.

'cause it's literally that inspiring. Do you feel like you give yourself a choice or are you just the type of guy who's like, I'm on this, this train's moving, this is automatic. I'm, I'm just like, you know, I'm dialed in right now. Uh, as it relates to training or, yeah, training,

I think. Um, you know, like I said a little bit ago, it, it's critically important to me from the standpoint of showing up and being the best version of myself possible in every other area. Um, it's not difficult for me to, to get to the gym at, at whatever hour. Like, it's not, it's never been, well, I don't know about never, maybe never, but like, since I stopped playing football, like I've never really felt like, oh man, I gotta force myself [00:50:00] to go work out.

Like, just hasn't been my thing. Mm-hmm. And I, it's, it's interesting because I think, um, most former high level athletes go one of two ways. They either continue that regiment, training hard, trying to take care of themselves, or they completely abandon it. Um, and a lot of times you see like offensive and defensive linemen who were 300 plus pounds, they had to eat an absurd amount so that they could be massive.

And then. They stop playing and they get absolutely shredded. Yeah. Because they continue to train hard, but they no longer have to eat the way that they're accustomed to eating. You know, for me, at my heaviest I was two 40, uh, I played outside linebacker, so I was like a meatball bowling ball and didn't, you know, I wasn't like a fat, like a, I wasn't like just disgusting or anything like that.

You're a big boy though. Yeah, but I was a big guy and like, couldn't see abs, like had no neck. Um, and it's, this is, it's so funny. I remember being in like eighth grade and all I wanted, all I wanted was to see a bicep vein. All I wanted was to see [00:51:00] a bicep vein. And I remember like seeing it not bulging out, but like seeing it and being like, all right, like I see, like I can see the results of the work that I'm putting in.

Oh, it's the bad dude. And I think that is, that's the driver for me now. 'cause I'm, I'm still so result oriented in, in what I do mm-hmm. Training, work, whatever, like I. I love feedback, whether positive or negative. I wanna be critiqued. I want you to tell me where I suck so I can try to improve it. I want you to tell me where I'm Great.

'cause who doesn't wanna hear what they're good at. Yeah. Um, and I want to see the results of the effort I put in, in the gym. And so, you know, since 2021, I believe it was, I think 2021 was the first time I signed up for a, a race, maybe it was 22. I think it was 22. No, it was 21. I signed up for the Dallas half marathon, signed up like two weeks out, ran it with a buddy, but I [00:52:00] was like, oh my gosh.

Like that was crazy. I ran 13.1 miles and then, and it might've actually been before 21 because now that I'm thinking about this, like my journey to kind of doing more. Competitions and events really began when I, uh, ran my first full marathon. 'cause what happened was when COVID hit, like every Friday, I would just run like one extra mile than I did the Friday before.

And I got up to, I ran like 20 miles one Friday and was like, huh, if I can run 20, surely I can run 26. And so I ran, then I ran a full marathon and I was like, okay, I, I ran my first full marathon in 3 25. Like, it's not bad, like I'll do another one. So like, I, I ran a marathon, I did a 70.3, I did another marathon, and then High Rocks came up and it, it was like the beginning of High Rocks.

Nobody really knew what it was, but I was like, oh, I've done CrossFit and I've done some running, like this will be kind of a cool blend. And I did it and I was like, this is dope. And then [00:53:00] like, it's just that little taste, you know? Mm-hmm. And, and I think also too, everybody has a different. Creative, uh, outlet or pursuit?

You know, some people draw, paint, write, sing. Honestly for me, I think training is my creative outlet because I can make up a workout and I can test what I'm capable of in that environment where I feel so like, like I feel like that's my, um, dojo like playground. Yeah. Like I've always felt like the most at peace at church and in the gym.

And like I've certainly kind of, like you mentioned, I mean my faith has always been foundational in a critical element in my life, but there's been seasons where I have not watered it and poured into it the way that I need to. And you feel it when you're [00:54:00] not. Yeah. And so I've always noticed it'll be like, I'll be in a season where I'm really not in the word like I need to be or physically going to church.

Like I need to be. The minute I go back into the sanctuary, it's this like overwhelming peace or calm that you feel and it's like, yeah, okay, I need to like, this is, I need to make sure I'm in here. Definitely. And like, doing this and for the gym, I've not had a season where I wasn't doing that, but it's that same feeling of like, when I step foot in there, when I go into like the gym, I work out at like, there's basically this back room where very rarely is anyone else in there.

And it's just me. And I can Bluetooth my phone to the overhead speaker and crank it up and like wreak havoc on myself. Hmm. And when I'm in there, I'm like, man, this is just, this is so good. Yes. Um, so when you have a workout that's gonna, you know, is gonna break you off and you're up at four 15 in the morning, are you fired up [00:55:00] about that?

Oh, I'm so juiced. Okay. 'cause this is my problem is that I like, I if it's a, if it's a nice little like machine, if it's a workout that I know is gonna be easy or whatever, gimme a nice pump. Yeah. No problem. For me, I think it's, it's like a mental rewiring of the workouts that I know are gonna be shit.

That's what I, there's something there that I haven't fully cracked yet where it's like, dude, I can do, you know, I can do all the basic stuff, but it's like those workouts, but those workouts that suck, like the assault bike and all the stuff that I see you doing. 'cause there's so many times where I see your workouts and I'm like, dude, I would rather do anything besides that workout.

But that's probably what I need. I don't know, I think I'm just calling out maybe an observation about myself that maybe other people can relate to. Well, it's funny 'cause as you're mentioning that, I'm just thinking of like the five sales calls that you don't wanna make, but you know that dopamine's gonna be there on the other side.

It's like, you know that despite the fact that you're dreading sprinting on the assault bike, you know, higher than 80 mm-hmm. RRP M for whatever time period, it's gonna feel so good when you're [00:56:00] done and you're like, oh my God. Like I just, I just went ham and like you're looking at yourself in the mirror and you're like, damn.

Like, like I, I, I just did that for real. Um, for me, like I don't, I, I really, I think comparison is a thief of joy. Mm. But a lot of times I, I think to myself, like, and it's, it's, it's funny 'cause I have a lot of different self talks, right? Like I've ex I've, it's done the incredibly demeaning, tearing down self-talk.

Like, come on bitch, you got this. But I've also done like the, you know, like, frankly I'll never forget this. I was at O Henry Middle School, which is on exposition in Austin, and I was running one K repeats, prepping for the Houston marathon. My goal was to run under three hours and I was. Dying. Dying. It's pitch black.

[00:57:00] I'm the only person on the track. The track is also not 400 meters. So I had to, rather than running, you know, two and a half loops like you would for a traditional one K, you're having to run like three in some change around this track. And you're like, I was hauling. And I remember saying like, you know, you've got the power of God in you.

And so like, there are these different self talks that you can employ. And I really think they give you a completely different result. But, you know, frankly, when it comes to like getting up at four and training, I know there are other people who do it, but a lot of times in my head it's like, nobody's doing this, bro.

Yeah. Like, you're different. Mm. Like you're, you're different in this regard. Mm-hmm. Like, and that's not meant to sound like douchey or arrogant, like gen. Genuinely. It's not, it's empowering, but it's like, bro, you like you don't have to do this. Yeah. You're not getting paid to do this. You're choosing to do this and like.

Why? Because you're trying to be the best version of you [00:58:00] possible in your fitness. Mm-hmm. But also, 'cause you know that doing this is also gonna allow you to show up at the hospital awake and alert and smiling. Like, I wish, I wish, uh, I wish I could phone a friend. 'cause like, uh, in the, or there's what's called a scrub tech and their role is critical.

They, you know, I work closely with the scrub tech and say, Hey, um, this is the order of operations for the procedure. These are the instruments the surgeon's gonna need. This is the order it's gonna happen. And I work with them to make sure that the surgeon has everything they need before they ask for it.

Mm. In, in order to make the procedure as efficient as possible. One, scrub tech is a great friend of mine, her name's Tanya. Uh, I'm gonna tell her to listen to this, but. Tanya wants to punch me out every morning because when I come in the hospital, he just juiced. I am loud and I'm like, what's good? Happy Monday, let's get it.

Like I'm coming in there like high energy and she's like, can you chill? And she [00:59:00] hates it, but I know she loves it, you know? She does. I know she loves it. Everyone loves it deep. Yeah. So I think I would challenge you like that same mentality that we're talking about, whether it's sales calls, whether it's a tough conversation mm-hmm.

Whether it's getting up an hour earlier to getting the word, whether, whatever it is. Yes. I would say have that same mindset for your thing that you just don't wanna do, that you do for these other things that you know you have to do. Mm. How, uh, I feel like you just answered that confidence question to a t by the way.

That was perfect. Perfect. Yeah, that, I mean, that, that was it. It's like so much good juice in there, like just doing the hard stuff that makes you feel like you. You're, you're cutting through parts of yourself that didn't think you could necessarily do that. And like, you know, you've got, you've got like a little bit of like a credit or, you know, right.

I mean it's like, yeah, I can give myself credit on that one. Like, that was good. Yeah. Well what's the quote too? That's like, you know, confidence is [01:00:00] built by doing the things that you tell yourself you're gonna do. Yeah. Because only the only person who knows what, like you are the only person who knows what's that internal dialogue.

Totally. You're the only person who really knows what you need to get done. Like, y'all are entrepreneurs running a business, right? Like, nobody knows what you guys need to do to be successful besides y'all. Yes, I'm sure. I mean, you've got advisors and people who've done it before you who can share their experience and help guide you.

But at the end of the day, like the only people who can go get noble on shelves or build those partnerships or grow, um, you know, meet mafia, like the only people who knows what that takes. Are y'all. Mm-hmm. And y'all's team, and y'all are their leaders. So like that internal accountability, like, and that's what we were talking about, mirrors, right?

Like it's incredible to have mirrors in your life who, yeah. You can have the discussion and hold each other accountable through discussion, but also like if I know [01:01:00] that Harry and Brett and Donnie and these other people are doing whatever it is that they do at a high level mm-hmm. That is like incredible accountability to me to do what I need to do as well.

Mm-hmm. Yes. And so, yeah, it's great to have mirrors, but ultimately to like, you're the only person who can really, truly hold yourself accountable to what you need to do. I'm curious. I feel like there's a, there's a world where being in the gym solo with the music cranking and you just ripping one off and like pushing yourself as hard as possible.

Is like the best place that you can be. And then there's also a world where being around the Donnies of the world, the other savages out there who are pushing themselves as hard as you're pushing yourself is the best place to be. How do you kind of, how do you kind of map, like, make, like what do you make of that?

Like how do you kind of split that time up? So I [01:02:00] think, um, I've said this quite a bit lately, like you're definitely the average of the five people that you spend your most time with. Mm-hmm. And I think, you know, the reality is like all of us have demanding jobs. And so I, I have to train when I train. Um, like if I know I have a case at 7:00 AM I gotta be at the hospital at six, like.

I gotta go get it and you know, somebody else who's a savage might start training at seven because they have a different time at which they need to start their workday. So for me, like during the week, I just typically kind of go into the week with the mentality of the, like, I'm gonna be getting it in by myself more often than not this week.

Um, but then when the weekend rolls around and when there are opportunities to do it amongst community and other people who are trying to be their best version as well. I love every opportunity to do that. Um, I don't know if I necessarily try to [01:03:00] make it a big point to do it, but one thing I love about Austin is that there's always opportunity to do it.

Mm-hmm. You know, like there's, um, you know, whether it's here or on it or collective, like, you know, there's, uh, Tess is a good friend of mine. She coaches the classic collective, like it's a great class on it. There's a ton of savages on it who train. I mean, they train together every day. Yeah. Like there's, there's just always an opportunity.

So when I have the opportunity to do so, I'll definitely try to, to make it happen when I can, but at the same time, I, I value the soli, the solitude and solidarity mm-hmm. Of doing it by myself as well. Um, because in a way it's like, you know, who are you and no one's watching also. Yes. Um, which there's something to be said for that too.

So maybe a little bit of both. Yeah. There's like a purity that I think comes from kind of like breaking yourself off by yourself without any, uh, like external stimulus or motivation. Yet you can learn a lot [01:04:00] from by training with other people too. Mm. Yeah. Have, have you learned anything in particular training with Jacob?

And the reason why I say that is Jacob's been on the podcast twice. I think you guys, both for a lot of people, you know, set the standard from a physical perspective. Like have you learned anything from training together? Man, I've so enjoyed watching Jacob on this journey to the CrossFit games. Like, and sometimes he'll share, um, content that shows a video of him doing a movement.

When he first started this journey and then showing a video from now and his, it, it's just a testament to the fact that if you commit to something and trust the process and put in the work, the results will follow. And I don't, like, that's not a new, new concept to me. Mm-hmm. But watching somebody know do it and being like, man, like that's dope because CrossFit is tough.

[01:05:00] CrossFit is a technical sport. And Donny's a unit, Donny's like 2 30, 2 40 maybe, I don't know. But he's like, you know, ripped and doing ring muscle up strict at that size. And it's like, bro. He's somebody too who, like, he doesn't give himself enough credit, I don't think. Like, definitely not at all. So it's really cool to watch and to also know the humility behind it.

Mm. And I think, um, I've thought about this a good, good amount. I think some people get lost in, you know, oh, oh, you post all these videos of yourself, like you're arrogant, you're self-centered, you're trying to get attention, da da da da da. From my point of view, like Jacob is just an example of, and he's an example to other people of the fact that no matter what your background is, if you commit to something, you can, you can achieve it and get results and grow and become better.

And, um, so what have I learned? Um, I dunno if I've necess, I don't know if it's a learning or if it's more so [01:06:00] a, just a highlighting in like a re to the forefront of this fact of it's accessible to anybody. I mean, anybody. So, yeah. Yeah. And I'm taking something around like the way you're speaking about the way he, like, instead of con viewing it as content creation, like the documentation of your progression.

Mm-hmm. Like I feel like when I watch Jacob's stuff, it makes me wanna film myself doing more things. Mm-hmm. Because I'm like, imagine if you stick to this for a year. Right. How cool that before and after is gonna be. And Angie's the same way too, man. And like I have, I would have to think that seeing how much you've recorded content and how many people that's inspired, I'm sure that there, in some ways, that's kind of inspired by Jacob.

Right. So like that's probably, 'cause I feel like you started posting more the last couple months or like document more so documenting more Yeah. In the stories. Yeah. I mean, you know, candidly, uh, I used to do it a lot more and then I kind Did you? Yeah. And then I kind of went through a season where I didn't really [01:07:00] do it very much at all.

And then. I'm back is the best way to put it. He's back. Yeah. Like, I mean, um, you know, life has seasons and, uh, yes. Yeah. I was just in a season of like not really doing it. Mm-hmm. But the last, to your point, the last several months, um, yeah, just back. I'm glad you're back though. Glad to be back. Do you, um, do you realize, I just feel like, uh, not to hype you up too much, but I'm not trying to pump your bags too much, but, but I feel like between you and Donnie, the level of impact that you guys are quietly having, like you guys obviously are posting and putting yourself out there, and it's like a lot, you know, it's, uh, I think for a lot of people, like they, they don't necessarily have that level of like willingness to want to do that, but so you guys are like all in on posting about it and putting that effort in, but the impact that you guys are having through just like showing.[01:08:00]

How savage you are in, in a way that's like very humble and very, like, this, just this is what I do. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. Do you realize like the level of impact you're having, like I think specifically in Austin, like, I know people, I forget where this came up in conversation, but somebody was like, dude, I literally just like see Jackson working out and I'm like, I need to love him up.

You know, it's like, yeah, no, I mean, like, do I think about it? No. Um, you know, like I mentioned with, with the walk-on mentality in general, which like the walk on mentality, no limits. Like that is my brand, like my personal brand and like what I believe to be true. Again, like regardless of if we're talking about fitness or your career.

I mean, I talk to people all the time about pursuing opportunities in the field that I work in. And it's like, [01:09:00] in anything in your life, there's gonna be people who tell you, no chance, no. Like, you're not qualified, you don't have what it takes. You need this different experience, so on and so forth. Right.

And in some context, maybe that's true. Like you're probably not gonna be an accountant unless you have an accounting degree or, and, but maybe you will, right? Like, I don't know. Yeah. Like you're, you're not gonna be a doctor if you know how to medical school. I know that. Yeah. But, you know, I just think there's always gonna be people who tell you no.

And you can either say, you can either let that be the thing that stops you from the pursuit, or you can say, okay, and let me show you why you're wrong. Mm-hmm. Um, and not outta spite, but because you believe and you're willing to put in the work and do what it takes and so on and so forth. And so, um, with the brand, with anything I share again, like it's only two, it's only 'cause I hope that.

It inspires somebody, but I don't necessarily, you know, I'm not [01:10:00] like getting some flooded dms of like, oh man, like, this is so inspiring. I love this. Like, yeah. I, I, I mean, I have received some like, very nice messages and funny messages from buddies who are like, yo, my, my buddy sent me this, and it's like a screenshot of a text from his friend who's like, bro, Jackson's a savage.

Like, every time I see him post, I just wanna lace up my kicks. Like, and I get a kick outta that. Like, I, I, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that, but it's not like I'm, it's not an act of, um, tell me that I'm something special. Yeah. You know, because I, I, I don't think I'm special in that way. Yeah. I think I'm just another guy who has an opportunity every day to try to be the best me.

Yeah. And like, I, I want to be that, um. So, yeah, I hope that somebody watches it and then says, you know what, I'm gonna go run a mile or do 50 pushups. Yeah. [01:11:00] Or whatever it might be. But no, I mean, I don't, I don't really think about, um, any sort of level of impact that I might be making. Yeah. The only reason I asked the question is just, you know, to just point out that I feel like you guys are in your, in particular lead by example in this like complex digital age.

I feel like you're just doing it in a way that it's, you know, it's easy to kind of like do the stuff that like, gets a lot of virality and a lot of attention. And then like, you know, you have. This audience, or, you know, you're doing it for the audience, but I think like, the way you're doing it, it's like, it just feels like you're just doing it to like lead other people down a path of like being inspired and doing their thing.

I appreciate that, bro. Yeah. I appreciate it. And you did hit on something there that like, I have noticed in myself, which is, you know, I, I don't do the content creation thing really, like I, or I haven't, I should say. I mean, I, I, [01:12:00] like, when I was doing the Walk On Mentality podcast, I think I recorded around 80 episodes and like, so I did that and I had help editing that and I'm fine on camera and in a conversation I can do that whole thing.

But I'm so impressed with some of the people who create content full time mm-hmm. And like, come up with these ideas and speak to the camera and, and do all the voiceovers and stuff. Like, I'm like, yo, that is a skillset. And for me, like. I'm sure it's just not putting the time into doing it, but I would, dude, I put my phone on the floor in the gym or like put my phone on like a plyo box, leaned up against my water bottle and I like rip.

Usually what I'll do is like, I'll finish my workout and then I'll just film like a, A one more set kind of thing. Yeah. And that's where it comes from because like, frankly, like I think, I used to think that people were like filming this set by set and doing it throughout the workout, but I'm like, if I'm on a timer, like I don't have, I can't, I can't [01:13:00] stop what I'm doing to go, yes, stop the camera and change the angle.

It's like, no, I just need to just capture this real quick at the end and then just rip it and like, who cares? Yeah. Yeah. Somebody might hate it. Somebody might love it. Somebody might be inspired by it. Somebody might think he's a douche. Yeah. Whatever it is what it is. Yeah. In an era of like trying to create the most perfect piece of content to app piece the algorithm, I think the purity is like.

Can be an amazing calling card in a lot of ways. Like I've been thinking a lot about, um, and I hope this doesn't sound negative, like the running influencer culture, particularly in Austin, and I think Naval talked about this on his podcast with Chris Williamson, where there's almost like, there's almost something inherently wrong with, I think with people that are trying to just.

Go viral and become social media famous without having really done anything where it's like, I think if you want to be like in my thought process would be like, if you wanna be a running influencer, just like go win races and then when you post content, people are gonna be like, oh, I care what [01:14:00] Harry has to say because he's actually winning races.

And I think that same approach to just fit or anything in life, it just really applies where it's like, and Mozzi talks about this too, where it's like, whatever you're doing, it's like just go ball to the wall at that thing, become great at it. And then whenever you start putting content into the ether, like you immediately have credibility behind it.

Um, I dunno, just something I've been thinking about more, I think people are just dying for the authenticity on social media. Yeah, I think that's it. I think it's the authenticity. And it's funny you mentioned that, 'cause I can speak from experience and having, uh, tried to speak on something I didn't know about before.

Mm-hmm. You know, like, oh dude, you can't, you can't teach somebody something that you don't actually know. Yes. So, and I'm not even talking, I'm not talking about fitness. I'm talking about general, like how can I offer a service that I've never done, if that makes sense. Yes. It's the same thing. Like, and I think it does come back to [01:15:00] authenticity and you know, just speaking to my own experience that was in a season where I was really trying to like control everything and it was like, oh, I can do this.

I, like, I do have the experience. I can speak to this, I know what I'm talking about, but it's like, I didn't know what I was talking about. Yeah, yeah. And like it's okay to not, yes, I mean it's, uh, everything is just a learning process and opportunity and experience is good, bad, and different. Like you can take something positive from all of them.

Um, so yeah, I don't know. Do you have a favorite episode of the podcast that you've done? Man, I haven't recorded an episode in probably. I think it's been 18 months since I recorded an episode. Dang. Um, yeah, like I've just been focused on a lot of other things, but, Hmm. I think every episode I thoroughly enjoyed and, and took something from, um, there was one episode that [01:16:00] was really cool was with Max Crosby who plays for the Raiders.

Um, he's got an unbelievable story about, you know, coming from a suburban town, a suburban, a suburb of Dallas going to, you know, not a big time school. I think Max maybe benched 2 25 4 times at the com, at the combine as a defensive end. And, um, you know, now he's arguably the best defensive end in the league and has been sober for five years after.

Having a pretty tough battle with alcohol. Um, has a beautiful wife, beautiful daughter. He's, again, he's probably the best DN in the league. Like, I mean, he, he's certainly a testament to, um, what you can do when you decide to commit to your goals in, in the life that you want. Um, and continues to do it every day.

He's somebody who definitely has like that relentless mindset first in last out won't be outworked like that. That's the mindset we're talking [01:17:00] about. Um, so Max was dope. And then I also interviewed, um, Amanda Camico, who is a endurance athlete. Um, she battled cancer, um, and was told she would never walk, run anything.

And she's literally, she wins ultra marathons. She's run a hundred miles, 50 miles, wins them regularly. And, uh. Her, her tagline or her mantra is unbreakable. And, uh, her story is an absolute testament to, you know, how people will tell you no all the time. Mm. But at the end of the day, like you choose whether or not you're gonna accept no as an answer or you're going to write a different story.

So those were a couple of my favorites, but I mean, everybody had their own, um, unique pieces that I absolutely loved. Yeah. Who do you think is the most prolific walkon in [01:18:00] sports? I'm trying to think. Man. Is there some in baseball? Um, I'm trying to think. I, um. You know, of course, like JJ Watt is the first person who comes to my mind, but Yeah.

Yeah. But I mean, a walk-on, he was a walk-on. Yeah. JJ Watt. That's so wild. Yeah. Can you imagine JJ Watt walking through your doors and just being like, wait, he's not a, he's a refrigerator. Um, where did he, did he go to a school before Wisconsin or something like that? Did he? Yeah. Yeah. I think he went to another school first 'cause he didn't get recruited and then he transferred to Wisconsin.

He was at one of the hyphenated schools. Yeah. Like, it's like University of Nebraska, like, I dunno. Yeah, dude, I think Scotty Pippin walked on. I say Scotty Pippin was a walk on also. Really? That's Scotty Pippin. He had like an, like a six inch growth spurt in between his freshman and sophomore year or something like that.

In college. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. He was like an equipment manager. Dude. Sometimes it's just that, that right amount of pressure at the right moment in time that gets the, [01:19:00] the beauty out of these genetics Yeah. That people have, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I feel like they focus a little bit more then I'll take no for an answer.

Yeah. That's it. Is that scripted? Yes. When you're a walk-on, you gotta earn everything. Totally. I mean, that's, that's, that's it. Earn everything first in last out, no job's too small for you. Um, you know, work ethic is everything. Like, I'm trying to remember. I had like this, uh, list of 10 pillars at one point of like what the walk-on mentality was really about.

And it was, it was literally first in last out, no job. Too small. Um, you know, accountability, integrity, discipline. I can't remember everything else. But yeah, just like, all right, I gotta go clean. Shit. Say less. Like Yeah. It's about to be cleaner than you've ever seen it. Yeah. You know, like, I don't know.

Yeah. Yeah. I hope people realize too, like [01:20:00] to go from a walk-on to a two time captain is like insane. In college, high school, whatever. Why do you think your teammates voted you captain? Because that's probably gotta be one of the proudest moments of your life. Yeah. Like your boys that you, like you're saying you spend the most time with these guys.

The locker. I miss the locker room so much in college. Ba. Mm-hmm. That's the most, the thing I miss the most is just being with the boys. But like the, the, this is like closer than family and these guys pick you to be their captain. Like biggest honor ever. Yeah. Why do you think, why do you think they picked you to be captain?

So I'll answer that, but you just made me think of something too. When you asked about training with people, I missed the locker room the most too. I mean, we were trash when I was at SMU, so we weren't like winning a bunch of games, which maybe that made playing experience not as cool. But Did you play with Cortland Sutton?

I did, yeah. Yeah. Really? Cortland Cortland is a year younger than me, so yeah, shout out court. But um, going through that adversity alongside your brothers top tier, um, but why do I think I got [01:21:00] picked? You know, I think it comes back to. Uh, honestly what you were describing with like, just kind of sharing the stuff and not really making it fluffy, um, which is just leading by example.

Yes. Um, you know, I,

you know, I, I was always a captain, like from the time I was probably 10 years old. Um, and I do, I attribute a lot of this to my parents 'cause they, they instilled the importance of work ethic in my sister and I since we were very young. My mom, my mom was in the military. She retired after 26 years as a lieutenant colonel.

My dad's been a sales leader since he was 26. Like, they've always, always instilled the importance of work ethic. And we grew up in an area where we never wanted for anything, but it wasn't like, oh, silver spoon. It was like, hey. And then I think this is also why I think the way that I do it was like, you can have access to all of [01:22:00] this.

If you're willing to put in the work. Yes. You know, a good friend of mine's father's a CEO of seven 11. So I saw these gigantic mansions in like, what you can have if you're willing to work. He didn't become the CEO of seven 11 'cause he didn't put in an obscene amount of work, you know? So, um, I think the work ethic component was instilled from a very early age and, uh, it just continued.

And so I think, I think that's why my teammates chose me. Mm-hmm. Because, I mean, I was always the first guy there. I was always in the film room first. Like I, I did truly lead it by example. And I'm also, I'm also a, a vocal person. Like I, we had another captain named Darien Dee, uh, Florida Boy, he. Never said [01:23:00] anything, but he worked so hard and he was a dog on the field and people saw that, so he didn't need to say anything.

It was just like, I want to, whatever he's got, that's what I need. That's what I want. Mm-hmm. So I'm gonna follow him. For me, there was the component of like matching that energy, but I also was screaming and hyping people up until this day. Like I still think I'm the biggest hype man you are ever. Like you are.

Literally, it's, it's probably over think you feel incredible. Yeah. If I'm at the gym in a group workout context, I'm screaming at everybody. And I again, like, I know some people are probably like, bro, what's the girl used? The girl? You show up, what's the girl in the, the surgeon room? Tanya. Tanya. Tanya. Yeah.

Tanya's like, bro, stop. But again, at the same time, it's like, that's that positive energy. Mm. And it's like, what is it? A rising tide raises all ships. Yeah. Is that what they say? Like, I, I genuinely want to lift everyone around me up. And I think that's what. I think that's what leadership is, is like [01:24:00] you're not just trying to be at the top and yelling down at people, Hey, listen to me, follow me.

But it's like, Hey, let me put my arm around you and let's run toward this together. Mm-hmm. Because I know that you have this in you and I know that I have this in me and I know that she has that in her and he has that in him. And we can all achieve this, like greatness, whatever it means to us if we're, if we're willing to go for it.

So I think, I think my teammates saw a, my teammates knew. I started as a walk-on and I remember my freshman year people saying to me like, you're a walk-on. Yeah. Don't walk on track. You just light everyone up. No. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so people, people knew that I was a walk-on and they knew that despite that I still was like just trying to get it in.

Yeah. And I think there was a certain level of respect that people gave me 'cause they saw that Mm, yeah. To, to speak to you being the biggest hype man of all time. You have been so supportive of us. With Noble. It's been just like so appreciative. I don't even think you fully realize that, but [01:25:00] you're just like one of those guys who will hit us with a text and or like, you know, post, post something about Noble or, you know, whatever it is.

Like, I feel like you're, you've just been so supportive through, through the whole process and it, it really is evident and clear that like, you do that in every area of your life, which is, dude, that's a gift straight up. I appreciate it. Yeah. Yeah. I, uh, I'll always support, support my people and, uh, yeah, I mean, it's, it's a no brainer for me to, to show love and it's also fire, so it's a double, it's a double whammy.

Double wha man. Well, you've had a huge impact on us. You've had an impact on a lot of people. I think just when I view your content, it just seems like things are clicking for you right now, bro. So I'm just excited to see what happens in all of our lives over like the next year, man. But I just appreciate you, thanks for doing this too.

I just feel like two years in the works as Harry. Love it. I appreciate, appreciate you, brother. Appreciate you guys. I appreciate you guys for having me. Genuinely, I've, this is, uh, this is really [01:26:00] special to me 'cause y'all are my boys. And also, I mean, the Meat Mafia podcast, I've always thought like, man, that'd be dope.

You know? And so it, it feels really good to sit here and, and just fellowship with you guys in this way. Mm. Uh, it's very special. Well, dude, let's do it more. I feel like I just want to have more awesome convos with my friends who are doing cool. Sh cool stuff, stuff, stuff. Almost let stop you're about to be, there's, there's like one comment in the Apple podcast, uh, that will sit with me forever.

It's like, Harrison needs to stop cussing and like, that was like Harrison or Harry. Wow. Yeah. Harry. Harry. They called you by your government name. Yeah. Your full name. Yeah. Is this my mom's account? But they're like, yeah, Harry needs to stop cussing before I found the Lord. So, yeah, here we are and we're cussing.

Almost said it but didn't. I love it. I got a filthy jersey mouth I'm trying to clean up. Yeah, I, I can be better too. We will gents. Yeah. Great pod. Thanks bro. Love you both. Appreciate you brother. Did you finish the rain? [01:27:00] No. It's gonna be a long night, brother. Thanks bro. Love y'all boys. Love you too.