Episode 86 - The Secrets To Training And Strengthening Your Mind

Nicky Saunders  
whats poppin whats poppin whats poppin welcome to Nicky and Moose. I'm Nicky, That's moose. What's up moose?

Mostafa Ghonim  
What up y'all?

Nicky Saunders  
And welcome to episode 86. And we got a lot to talk about. I have a really great question about mental conditioning. And we're going to talk about lessons from Kobe. CP3 is teaching us something as well, that they just won't love it as much as we will. And negotiating your salary. Let's talk about it moose, How are we feeling?

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, this is like, maybe a snippet or a little taste of what a Tuesday would typically feel like. And by Tuesday, I mean the Tuesday live show, because this is all about how to make yourself better. So that of course, you can accelerate the growth of your business and your brand. So this should be special.

Nicky Saunders  
Let's get into this intro.

Jaymie Jordan  
Two kids from Queens from a different cloth. Now joining forces helping you to elevate your personal brand new I'm talking about Nicky and moose, bringing you a never before seen perspective. Instead, the mindset, the mentality, the behaviors, the driving force, and more importantly, the stories behind the people and brands that you know, love the most.

Nicky Saunders  
Shout out to all our audio and video viewers around the world. We appreciate you we love you. We do this for you. Yeah, me. Um Moose. How are we feeling?

Mostafa Ghonim  
I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good. It's been a it's been a good week. It's officially spring in New York, New Jersey area. So energy is right. And I'm excited man edging closer to 100 every every week. So only 14 t minus 14. So we hit that big century mark on 100 episodes. So you know me

Nicky Saunders  
we got some special first and foremost, big announcement. This is powered by Ecamm live. The hat, the cat What is it the cat? Whatever you already know what I'm saying. This is big news already missed that all the way up. But it's all good. Um, we are officially sponsored by Ecamm live. This whole podcast is produced by this software that not only allows us to produce a high quality podcast, but it allows us to have the files to edit and allows us to create high quality clips. It's just it's amazing. So if anybody especially for people who are considering getting into podcasting and trying to figure out how do I have a video and audio, podcast nowadays, we're going to say Ecamm all day everyday shout out to eat cam you know a little small announcement you sent me. But I'm I'm doing amazing because I've been first off I had the best therapy session. Ever shout out to everybody who who goes to therapy. But it is sparked the question that I have for this podcast today right now, I've been asking a good amount of people this question lately and we we kind of know some of them. Just to name a few. Jamal King, Eric Thomas, Inky Johnson, Alex. Good Energy. But you know this, some of you right. But the question that I have for everybody is we all know that LeBron James spends millions of dollars pretty much conditioning his body making sure it's top tier shape in order to be an elite athlete, what we know as one of the goats right. Now my question is for creators and entrepreneurs. What does that investment look like for us from a more mental and brain health kind of vibe because clearly, some of us don't necessarily need to condition our bodies, per se. To make some of this decisions we do or continue to work in our craft But we constantly have to work on our mind. So my question was, what is our LeBron James formula as top tier creators and high level performing entrepreneurs? Before I get to kind of our, quote unquote, special guests about that, I would love to know what moose thinks about.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's such a, it's so cool how you kind of came up with that concept, right? I think a lot of people were also giving you credit to like, Yo, how did you come up with that question? Because it brought up a lot of people, or it put people in a position to start really thinking about how do you accelerate the health of not just your mental and physical being, but your brain, because that is a part of your body that is responsible for a lot of what you experience or what you created the decisions that you make? And, quite honestly, I don't think I've ever spent time thinking about that, before you asked it, you know, like, I have my kind of personal routines, my spiritual routines that I do on a pretty regular basis, I tend to be pretty consistent with that, but nothing specific for my brain. So the question has me in a position now, that is trying to look for ways to do for my brain as I do for everything else, like my physical, my mental, my spiritual, I don't know that I'd do anything for my brain. So I gotta, I gotta get up to speed with that.

Nicky Saunders  
Listen, it's gonna make it's gonna make a lot of people think but, um, of course, with permission. Like I said, that I asked a lot of people, um, and I do have this on the folder, but I'm going to be selfish with it for a little bit until I figured this out. Right? This is this, this question was really sparked by me trying to figure out what's my next level? Right? And, and what I'm realizing is that I do work best when my mind is clear. And like, at highest level, but how do I maintain that? Or how do I trigger a new level for my brain? So like, this is where that really came from. But I had to ask the one and only Inky Johnson, this question, and you already know, he's going to come with a profound answer. So let's, let's play that real quick.

Inky Johnson  
Beast, what's going on? Great, great question. And I hope I can do it justice. And I know everybody has a different perspective on it. But it's very intriguing, you know, when you talk about high level individuals, and what they do in terms of the sacrifices to operate at the optimal level, right. And so I think one of the things in our space, you know, as creators, entrepreneurs, even for me, just as a, you know, speaker and entrepreneur, just the preparation piece, right? Like when I started preparing differently, it changed not only my business, it changed my life drastically, right? When I went from just showing up to speak at a gig to really get information really doing conference calls, really searching, like, what is it about this company? What is it that's important to this company? It's the same version of Lebron saying, Hey, man, what can I do in terms of my health for longevity? What can I do so I can sustain? What can I do? So my body can recover faster? It's the same with me going into a room and figuring out alright, what is it that's important to Chick fil A? Or what is it that's important to Uber? What is it that's important to Penske, Right? but also understanding how environment affects that? Also, understanding how people that we talk to on a daily basis affects that, also understanding how the information that we consume affects that, right and when I say effect that what that is, it's us operating at the optimal level, and really being able to show up every single day, and put forth our best selves. Now, that doesn't mean every single day will be at our best, but just putting forth our best selves on that particular or specific day. But it's very intriguing. I think, when you speak to research and preparation, I think that's a piece that can help us sustain but also have longevity in terms of our careers and what we do, but also when it comes to working out, right, taking care of our bodies, right? Because for me, I'm gonna be real. I worked out a lot. But I work out more so for my mental health than my physical, right, I work out so my mind state can be right. Like it's not a speaking engagement that I've ever done, that I haven't worked out prior to, you know, speaking, right. I always worked out whether it's right before or the day before I speak and so as the different little things that works for different people. But I think, you know, when you talk preparation, when you talk research when you talk about the people that we hang around when you talk about the things that we speak, but also the information that we consume, because all of that plays an important and vital role to us operating at the optimal level, like LeBron goes and says, Hey, let me get a dietitian, right, let me make sure my body is getting the proper amount of rest so I can recover. Let me make sure I got the proper trainers, right. And so looking at our careers, and figuring out what some of those things that can help us operate at that level. And so for me, preparation, that people I speak to the information I consume, making sure I'm working out. So my mind state can be in a healthy place, but also the information that I'm consuming, making sure that it puts me in a great space, and just understanding what I'm trying to do and what I'm trying to accomplish. When I walk into a room. You know, not only for my business in my career, but just as a man holistically. Hope this helps. I know it was a little bit long, but just wanted to do it justice thanks.

Mostafa Ghonim  
I love it. I love it you love when when deep people really get an opportunity to just, you know, share their point of view. But well said man, well said I definitely think that's a part of it. Right? Because Because even if I'm focused more on the brain power of it, because I feel like that part of the question is probably the area that I'm least safe. Maybe I dedicate the least amount of time to for from a health standpoint. Sure, sure. You can say like, Hey, working out, I get some benefits from working out for my brain health or from eating healthy, I get some benefits for that, or for sure they're all interconnected. But I know for a fact there are things that you can specifically do for that. But when you hear something like even what inky saying here, right, talking about preparation, there is a level of, say relief that your brain is going to experience when it knows that what you're about to do, you're already prepared for. You don't you don't have to stress for you, there's no there's no anxiety, you've put yourself through the training to perform. Or you've put it under the condition that it needs to be in so that it can perform when the lights are on. So I do like that. And it's also cool to see how simple the answer is. It's not super off the wall. For him, it's just a matter of a, I just my preparation went to another level. And that can mean you know, that can mean something specific for every single person who's listening, hear something that you might have overlooked, or underplayed or downplayed, and said, hey, it's not that important. But you can include it to your preparation, and possibly receive or see much greater results, and more importantly, brain health, I'm gonna keep using their brain health, to help you grow in those areas that we're talking about.

Nicky Saunders  
Yeah, there's so much. And I went further, clearly with the conversation with Inky. But there's so much that he said, that, I think we just don't put enough emphasis on, like, when he was talking about, you know, the conversations that I'm having, right, that's all part of it, of course, where you could think about working out. You know, when you feel better, you know, physically, you know, mentally that also plays a part as well. But the, the who you talk to, in what you're consuming, would open mind what I love about Inky it doesn't matter who it is he grabs a lesson from every single person. He he has a conversation, super open minded and like, because it's just a different perspective that maybe he didn't understand, or maybe he never heard before. And, and I relate it all back to experiences, right? He's opening himself to different perspectives and different experiences that he doesn't have on a regular or is just very intentional having and I'm like, and we had more conversations like also it breaks down into community as well, of something that has to be part of this like new brain health kind of roadmap that I'm calling it because there's there's so many different things you can do to strengthen your your mind, right just like how LeBron uses different technology. In different exercises and like there's always different things, there's not just one thing he's spending all this money on, right? Um, and so what I'm what I'm hearing is okay, not only experiences not only conversations, of course, um, you know, the higher education and just mastering your craft, what are you doing intentionally that you are getting better and sharpening your tools in your mind every single day i i loved, which we didn't play was what Willie Moe said about how how he reads his books. So he reads three books a month, one audible and two physical, right to hardcover. And I'm like, their reason like that's first off the odd number. Right? Right. And you're dividing it instead of saying all audible or all, you know, hardcover. And he's like, look, I'm on the road, you know, and so I'm, I'm don't want to listen to, to music, I don't want to, I don't want to, I always want to consume information. So when when I'm driving when I'm driving to kids, I'm listening to audiobooks, right. So I'm listening one, and then the hardcover, because you know, the focus is when you were reading the book, physically, you could get distracted, doing audible, you could do multiple things and still receive the information, but you are focused on reading that book. And I'm like that. Okay, that makes sense. Because I, I don't like reading. I don't like reading I have short attention span. But it makes sense. Because if you're trying to strengthen your your mind and your brain, you have to concentrate on that focus, like to what you're doing. Because now you're allowing, oh, well, I just don't you're finding excuse. Oh, well, I have a short attention span, I'm just gonna listen to the audible. So if there was a situation to come about, you will find an excuse to not focus on find the easier way to do it. Like, having these different conversations is just making me like, aware of just the little things that we do. Like that weird like, Oh, snap. So like, um, in, in my therapy session, we we spoke about the word. Intriguing, right? I told her that.

Like, I have something like right there. And I can see it. Super intriguing. Right, but it just won't come through. And she's like, keywords are intriguing. And I'm like, what, what you mean, use? And I said someone else's, like intriguing and discovery, like, intriguing. Just makes you look from afar? Oh, it's intriguing. It's like window shopping. Right? And discovering you're constantly trying to find the answer. You're trying to go towards it. Right. But intriguing is just like, Oh, that's cool. I'm intrigued. And then in the stage right there, right. Like, you may want to focus more on the Discovery than necessarily the intriguing. And I was like, Get off my phone. I am done. I got it. I'm good, right? Because all I need is like one thing that truly makes sense. And we're good. And so, you know, right now, I'm truly on this path of understanding different ways to level up. From a mental standpoint, I think, for me, and most I'd love to hear just like, some of the things you do like for me. Like, prayer life is good. Meditation is on 5000 Right now, right? Um, the mastering my craft is amazing. Now, but now I feel like I need to read physical books, but that's cool, whatever, we'll make that shift. Right. Um, and so we're working out I'm getting more on a consistent schedule with that. I'm still chubby, but you know, whatever it is what it is. I don't do it to look good. I do it for my mental now. Look at this boom, right? Um, but I'm still I'm always seeking for more and I'm always seeking for that my formula Not everybody else's formula, but my formula of what LeBron does, but from a more mental situation, because I think that what doesn't necessarily get talked about too much. Because when I, when I asked each of these individuals, I also did say, don't say therapy, because that we know, and don't say higher education. Because that we know, right, those are the two like, most expensive things. Right now, of course, some still said, Okay, masterminds, right, um, shout out to Anthony Flynn, he was like, Yo community is so important. Because there's not many people who do what we do. So you're going to want to be around it, because the people who you have conversations with is not going to be the same. So I'm like, I got it. I understand now, understand, but real quick for the people most what is, even though you said, I don't intentionally do things for brain health, right. But there is still things you do to stay sane, which is still a bit of a no brainer.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, I mean, I

Nicky Saunders  
think the while I'm saying mental conditioning that brain out for me, I'm saying mental conditioning.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Okay, I like that. It has a little like, workout vibe to it. So

Nicky Saunders  
I gotta compare it to the brawn. So I'm like, mental conditioning,

Mostafa Ghonim  
mental condition now like that. I like that. Yeah. I mean, I think for my sanity, you know, and I'm blessed man, I think it just my spirituality, it puts me in a place where I have to strip everything, at least once a year for an entire month, right, like that month of Ramadan, which I'm fresh off of. And I know, we joked a little bit about like, oh, man, every time Ramadan finishes this, so I'm excited about

Nicky Saunders  
next year,

Mostafa Ghonim  
I promise you comes from it.

Nicky Saunders  
I'm excited, I almost want to do it with you. So I can guarantee that you do something better. Like

Mostafa Ghonim  
it's always fun. When the last few years I've been, I've been able to bring a few people with me on that journey, which is incredible. But I think like when I when I really get down to the DNA of what's happening for me during the month of Ramadan, is that I'm removing myself. And I'm almost cutting ties with all think that all things that our flesh gets attached to. So there's, there's a lot of things that because marketing marketers are so brilliant and and just our flesh, it like it's designed for that, like we get attracted to a lot of external things that we place value, or more importantly, that somebody else put value on. They're not truly valuable. But someone convinced that they convinced us that, hey, these external things, they're going to make you feel valuable, right. And so you start chasing and pursuing them and sacrificing things that are probably more important to have those things. And the worst cases or the worst thing is, when you finally get them, you still feel a void. Because you you created this almost fantasy world that when I get there when I get this thing, or when I get this approval, or this opportunity, or whatever it may be, I'm going to feel this heroic sensation of me conquering my greatest enemy, or my greatest victory. And you feel nothing. So it's the mind just goes into this confused shock mode. Like Wait, what? What just happened? I thought I was supposed to celebrate and feel good. So Ramadan has a way of reminding me of that. Because, again, it just strips everything away. Everything food, water, bath thoughts, no cursing, no music? No gum, no medicine. Everything? No gum? Yeah, nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

Nicky Saunders  
You gotta break that down on alive. Like all the things. You can't I didn't know. No gum. Like that isn't Yeah, I don't chew gum. No more. Right, more of a tick Tex person. But no gum one. That's okay. No

Mostafa Ghonim  
gum. Yeah, nothing. So it puts you like the process of what happens. And there's like a whole scientific study that's come about from the benefits of fasting route more recently to say, Wow, fasting is so good for the body because of what it does to the digestive system and all that in the beginning, just like any traditional. I'm using the word lightly addict or someone who's addicted to something. You're going through it right. Your body's like, What the heck is going on. And then, shortly after, when you just get over the initial shock, your mind goes elsewhere and The key here for me is, I realize that because food and water is not an option, I don't sit there and dwell about oh man, I can't eat. Amen, I wish I could eat. It's like, No, you know, you're going to eat at sundown. 7 8o'clock, depending on when you break fast. So it's no longer an option. And you can focus on other higher value things. So I gotta put the biggest blessing for me, I gotta say comes from from fasting, because it, it really connects me back to why we were created. What matters most in life. And it helps me to practice the discipline to stay true to those things. Everything else comes secondary. And I'm realizing when I do that, a lot of the worldly things that I want come to me a lot easier.

Nicky Saunders  
So good. So people in our in our comments, wherever platform you want to comment to us. What is something that you do that maybe doesn't get discussed a lot that you feel creators and entrepreneurs should invest more from a time situation or money situation. So love to hear that from you. But let me speak on where this even came from. And it came from an amazing interview that I am athlete, Shadow time athlete did with Kyrie Irving now, it wasn't the It wasn't even the topic, right? That the Lebron thing, as far as what he does wasn't even a topic, but he mentioned it and it triggered, right. But there was also part of this interview that he talks about Kobe, right? He talks about the lessons that Kobe Bryant left for him, and it's so jam packed that we had to bring it onto the podcast. So let's play this clip.

kyrie Irving  
He really sparks that curiosity even more so because he studied all the greats and other industries, in order to help him focus on what he was doing. He said, man, just, you can look at the game. And you can study the greats, but really get a worldview of all those that are doing great things alongside you, you're not the only one that's dealing with these things. I've studied basketball more than, you know, 10,000 hours as they say, before you become an expert or master your craft. When I got to Boston, I was ready for a new challenge. But I didn't know how I was going to come from within. And that's why he gave me the alchemist was like the journey is the reward, embrace the journey. Don't think about the end goal so much where you're fixated on trying to prove people wrong, or, you know, be at the mountaintop without going through the details that it takes to really appreciate it.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, that's, that's, that's the season that I feel like I'm in all of these seasons simultaneously, right? It's a it's a good it's a good time to be alive. But Nah, man, I think that's some I'm, I'm stuck on that part. The journey is the reward, you go back to what I just said a couple minutes ago about the this void that we feel when we're pursuing these worldly things. And we actually do get them. And we're like, oh, man, I'm empty. You know, like, I remember my first ever, like, big financial goal that I set for myself, was to have $25,000 in my savings account. And at the time, that was like, you know, if I could get 25 grand, like, I'll be rich forever. Like, I felt like I was gonna, I was just gonna be a gazillionaire offered 25 of my savings. Yeah. And then I like I got my final contract to reach that mark. And I saw the money there. And I was like, almost like looking around, like something Someone robbed me. I'm like, you'll just don't feel right. Like, I shouldn't be. And I was expecting to be this like big emotion. I don't know something. And I felt nothing at all. And that, learning that now and just kind of listening to this, like, as much as the like, the end result is great. And it's important, you got to follow through, you got to finish you got to do these things. More important is who you become in the process, though. That that's the part that's like the pruning part or the development part that helps you and shapes you and molds you to become someone who can do these things over and over. And you almost know you're going to win, but you enjoy the competition. So it's like, Ah, I still want to play because it's fun. But I know I'm gonna win. I'm not stressing about that part. And at the end of the day, even if I lose, you win some you lose some. You don't like it, it just puts it In perspective, the things that matter most. So I really appreciate that the, the journey and and the emphasis on the process itself over the outcome not to say that the outcome isn't important. But putting more effort and attention there does give you more fulfillment, then then this imagination that we tend to almost dream about, of what the final product is going to be, and it never satisfies what you think it's going to, it's going to help you like to experience

Nicky Saunders  
Yeah, in the thing that I got out of this was like twofold, like one. Learning from the greats outside of your industry. Like, we focus a lot on looking at thought leaders in our industry, because they have the blueprint, right. But there's so many different perspectives of success. And how he brought it up was like, Yo, you're not the only one going through this. Like, you may feel that way. And you may only be looking at your industry of some of the struggles that you're going through the ups and downs of it. But have you looked at all these other successful people, because they probably had something similar, as well, that you may not just be seeing, because you're so focused on understanding what your lane is, which is nothing wrong. But it's all about opening your mind to the full definition of success and the full scope of it, instead of just what is success in your lane. So that was one of the things that I was like, in go outside of the box, who else's success successful and what has been their journey. And looking at that, to see if there's any similarities within what they did, and what's happening in the industry to almost have a one up in the industry. Right? So he looked at that, grab whatever he needed to do after that, after that lesson from Kobe, and probably took it to a whole new level. You know, so that was one of the things and then of course, you know, just seeking a, a deeper meaning even though when you have it all. And when people think the world of view, when you're going into a great opportunity, there still is, you know, trusting the process. Like, and, you know, we we like me, and moose hear that a lot. Like if you're in the professional development situation, you hear trust the process, almost 24/7, right. But until you really grasp it, and you really apply it, you really won't understand the importance of it, you just will hear it over and over when I when, like a few years ago, I used to hear it over. Yeah. Okay, trust the process, I get it, this process is journey. There's great, right. But then, even now, even with the conversation we had earlier, understanding that the every bit of what you do is part of this process, and it has to be recognized and it has to be elevated as well. If not, you're going to feel empty, you're going to feel stuck, you're going to feel like it's like right there, but you haven't you haven't unlocked it yet. And it's all because you know, releasing or or knocking down the walls of what you knew. And being open to what is there for you. Wow. Like in in before paying attention to what success really is and what is the light at the end of the tunnel for what you're trying to do. So that like if y'all didn't watch that, that interview at all, like that thing open my mind crazy, like

Mostafa Ghonim  
and you notice like a big part of it is him talking about going back to figure out answers to those big questions right like why we know who am I and figuring out and that's why I say like, getting some answers to that. It's critical man you you start to figure out what is the true definition and meaning of life and not what you were marketed as the definition of success and happiness and joy and wealth and health and, you know, like, some some image of for people of health is, you know, if you're a guy, it's like, there's just ripped shredded guy with a six pack and all that. Right? Quite honestly, that's not always the healthiest thing, you know, like I'm saying, I'm saying,

Nicky Saunders  
my car, I'm just saying, Yeah, you still get hit by a car. Blood vessels, somehow someway, like, you can still die. I just

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, no, no, no, I'm not even talking about that. I'm just saying like that, like when you talk about like, functional health for your body, sometimes being that lean isn't always healthy. Like even bodybuilders are only lean for just a couple of days when they're, like, nearing their show day. And for the most part, I'm not saying they're out of shape, but you know, they're not walking around at what we see, as an image in our head. So sometimes, like these ideas of what's been marketed to us as success and all these different things, we really got to go back and redefine that and figure out like, what is the non marketed definition of these things? For me, for you as an individual? What does it mean for you, because going back and listening him to him talking on an interview is like, he went and spent time here and went here and started to figure out what this meant and how he came up with his answer. And although misunderstood by many people in the industry, or in the league, you know, for him, he now feels like he's doing what he's supposed to be doing, which at the end of the day, that's what matters the most. So, I think that part was, was really dope to listen to and almost confirms this idea of you gotta have your own, unmarketable definition of what these things mean to you.

Nicky Saunders  
Big facts so staying in the realm of basketball players, right, um, there was an interview with a CP3 Chris Paul, for those people who don't know who it who he is he plays for the suns amazing individual, and the topic of team always comes up for us, right? And I was watching this interview and it just hit my soul that I wanted to talk about it. Right. I'm just going to let you hear and so you can understand why this hit my soul.

CP3  
I remember one of my coaches in Houston said to me, he said, one of the things you're gonna have to work on is being able to deal with somebody that doesn't care as much as you care. That's the hardest thing. That's the hardest thing because this game right here. I watch everything. I watch every game. I study the game. I love it that much.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Sheesh

Nicky Saunders  
first, I needed my man to react. He should have reacted. Okay. Because Yeah. Need him like, Oh, he yikes you. Right. So this is such a true statement. It hurts my soul. Right? It hurts my soul. And we talked a little bit about it on you know, our Tuesday live. So if you don't watch that, please do. I'm just saying I'm so on YouTube, a pm eastern on Tuesdays. Now. I said on the live like, Yo, you don't want these team problems. Like you don't use you scream. You want a team? I need a team. I need a team and team. Right? You don't want these problems because your business your brand is your baby. Ain't nobody ever, ever going to care as much as you now let's say you don't have a brand or business to say you work a nine to five. But you are an elite person, top of the class at what you do. They're still not going to be people that are going to care and work the same way and you have to be okay with it. Like oh, what do you mean? Your how? How's this still here? Like we got to finish this now? It's like four o'clock. What are you talking about? We are out. Wait, what? Nah, it's not done. Yeah, we could do this tomorrow. Like, what you mean? Yo, we We got to come up with this together. I'm with so and so I'm doing this like, it's, it's heartbreaking, very heartbreaking. But you have to come to terms with that is probably going to take a minute, because you're like, Yo, especially if you bring family and friends into business, if you bring family and friends to the business, you almost expect them to care as much as you do, because they care about you. Right? Now they care about you, they don't care about the business side of you, the branding side of you, the task part of you, they don't necessarily care about that they care about you. Right. And when you come to terms with that, it, it makes it a little bit easier, you maneuver a little bit differently, and you strategize how to get the goal done. Because now it's not putting all the expectations on them, it's now laying out the ground rules, okay, this is what needs to be done. This is who needs to be a part of it, laying it all the way out. So the result is accomplishment. Right. And when you expect people to move like you and work like you, you tend to skip out on the details of what it is to accomplish the goal. Because you think that it's kind of like mind reading, you know what we're here for, you know, how to do this? No, no, as the leader, you still have to map it out for them. And that was a mistake that I did was like, now, we're doing this together, you know exactly what is needed. So where is this at? Like? Where's it written? Now? Where? When did you tell me? When? To the point where it's like, yeah, I don't even feel like being this petty, like, I don't feel like I should have these receipts. Right. But instead of getting frustrated, you just make it clear as day. If you make it clear as day. It's not even about if they can care or love the situation, as much as you is just do they have the ability to do it. And that's really what it has to be, do they have the ability to do it not do they love it as much as you and do they care? And do they they dream about this not? Do they have the ability to do it?

Mostafa Ghonim  
Yeah, that's a bonus. As a bonus, and I think if you've been in business for any for any amount of time, you'll start to realize that you're people caring about something, loving something as much as you do. That's, that's a bonus. The question that you really need to ask yourself, and I like to take it from this approach, whether you're a leader, and you're responsible for people on your team, whether you got a staff, and these are your co workers, however you look at it is are these bad employees? Or a mind not a good enough leader? That's, that's how you got to look at it. It's not about caring and, and not caring? It's, am I getting the most out of their time here? By putting a lot of these emotions and preferences and things that would be super ideal? Look, it's very convenient man is meant man, does it feel good to work with someone who's as dedicated? Who believes the same that you believe who's into the same things, who agrees with everything, if feels really good, but it's not always the best thing? So I I've I've just accepted that. Because when you're working with people, it's just so difficult to get a lot of these likes to line up and be imperfect alignment. So you got to work with what you have. But when you look at it through that lens of are my employees and my team members bad or am I just not a good enough leader. It puts it points the finger in the right direction, and points the finger in the right direction and ultimately, that's back at you to figure out how can I become better, which is the person that I have the most control over you might have some control over your staff because you pay them because whatever the case may be, but you have more control over yourself. And at the end of the day. If it's really not working out, you still have the option or you can make the decision to let them go. Which while I know some people don't believe in this philosophy. cutting ties is sometimes the best thing that you can do not just for your business, but for that other person's future in their career, because they can't make the decision for themselves, and you're suffocating them in the wrong position or the wrong environment. So sometimes, like, you know what, let me help you out. By I know, that sounds terrible, but by firing you or dismissing you from this role, because you're not going to leave yourself, and this not doing any of us any good. So again, if you really had to walk it out, that's a decision that you get to make as a leader, or as someone you know, who's who's in a position of influence. So that's how I've looked at it. You know, I have business partners who complain about staff all the time, and I'm and now I'm just taking a strong stance. Are you providing the right tools? Do you understand why do Are you a good enough leader? Or are they just bad employees? And then, and then the turn around, you'll be pretty surprised as to how to turn around comes back. Like, actually, I guess it's not as bad as I thought, you know, it's a sight not there you go.

Nicky Saunders  
Thanks. And so going along with this as well, we've, we've watched the great once again. Are you leisure we need our sticker. Great. Yay. Right? Where it would honor because as much as we go over you. But Um Earn Your leisure interviewed Angela Yee from the Breakfast Club. Right. And it was, first off another great interview, but her journey from taking a low amount of money to get the opportunity for the Breakfast Club. And now we see it, what 1213 years later. We know that bag is different. But how did she get the bag? That's that's the question that we have. And we have a clip.

Angela Yee  
It approached them after the first year for a raise, though. And sometimes it's hard when you start off really low to try to get to it because it you know, I had read an article about black women that negotiating their salaries and women in general, the way that we should. And sometimes somebody offers you something and you just take it. And sometimes you have to ask, like, we think that okay, they're just gonna hand you a salary because you're doing great. You could walk around really bitter thinking, How come I'm not making more money, but you never asked to make more money? Because usually your employer is not gonna be like, You know what? When they give you a raise

Mostafa Ghonim  
yeah, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's real. And again, another one of those. It would, when you're in that position, you justify why you feel like it should be them who come to me telling me hey, you're so awesome. Let me pay you millions and hundreds of 1000s of dollars, because we appreciate you so much.

Nicky Saunders  
Amazing. This, you're just so incredible. It's such a blessing to have you. It's yeah,

Mostafa Ghonim  
I mean, wow.

Nicky Saunders  
Where were we? Where were we before you?

Mostafa Ghonim  
Were I can I just don't understand how it even works. Like how

Nicky Saunders  
can life be without like, You're irreplaceable. This

Mostafa Ghonim  
big time? What? Yeah, I don't even know where it would be without you. You know, it's just, it's unbelievable. Yeah, you know, a lot of these things, man, nice to haves nice to have boy, would it be great with this world would be a much better place if every person in a position of power leadership was that way with their staff or the people who worked with them. But when you start thinking reality, and you hear someone in her position tell you like the reality is a business owner or someone in that position. That's not something even if they wanted to do it's not a move that is in their best interest. Yes. It's just not a move that's in their best interest. Now, for us who are arriving at these positions of leverage, because I think a lot of us are, especially in our era right now or at an age where where we're starting to master aircrafts, we're starting to get a lot of wins and experiences under our belts. And we're starting to know the ins and outs the rights and wrongs or just the rules of play, as to how to have some of these really tough, uncomfortable conversations more specifically around money because that is a very uncomfortable thing to do. Especially if you respect the person on the other end or you admire them or you look up to them or they gave you your first opportunity or your first shot and you're like, Man, how I'm grateful of have me is it to, to ask for more money. And what we're starting to see now are some examples of, hey, here's how to do this in a very tangible, realistic, like, just real simple way. And it falls again, on your responsibility to ask the question and initiate the dialogue. Because it's true from experience, I think you and I can both say this, it's never going to come to you, you have to start the dialogue. And, and if you're true, and if you're, if you're, you're deserving of it, or there's some level of agreement there, you're going to see that there isn't much pushback, it's like, we were just waiting for you, we almost know that it was just a matter of time before this conversation would come up. So I like how she puts that out there and is almost encouraging people to just see that it's normal. I know, a normalizing. There's a lot of memes that talk about, hey, normalize this or normalize that, well, maybe we need to normalize asking for what our true value or what our true worth is, even when it comes to finances and pay. Because it's not as like disrespectful as some of us believe it to be, especially if you do it in a reasonable way. You have some wins and leverage on your end, to stand and make that ask in a very respectful way. I think that that we got to see that it's more common to at least feel comfortable enough to step up to the plate and make the ask.

Nicky Saunders  
Yeah. And it's so it's so hard to ask, sometimes when you feel and this is the key word is feel. Right? That like you should know. Yeah. Like, your How long do I gotta be here for you to be like, oh, you know what, and, and I'll talk a little transparent because this hits home for me, this hits home, right? And if you don't negotiate, and they do finally come around, and say, Yo, you know what? You're right. We can never pay you what you truly worth. And then when they finally do tell you what the raises your disrespected because it's like, yeah, because to be honest, if you think about if you're ever put in that position, they're probably giving you what they should have given way earlier. Right? But because you never spoke up, whether from a nine to five situation, contracting situation. Brand deals, whatever, right? If you never speak about it, then it's like dating think they're doing right. They're like, Oh, we gave you some we thought

Mostafa Ghonim  
about you a favor,

Nicky Saunders  
right? We thought about you. Other people wouldn't have never thought about you we thought about you and here you go no, no. Oh, no, I just I don't I don't understand it. I don't get it but I thought you were going to bring up the your favorite Jay Z quote. At though I thought you were gonna do I put it there? Because I thought you had the plains ham. I

Mostafa Ghonim  
was like it's my go to it's my go to that changed my life on on on the whole ordeal. But yeah, man, if somebody Oh, geez, no, if you haven't listened to this, that that line changed a good amount of my life. Not my whole life, but a good amount of it. Because I was like, Oh, wow, I really thought that, you know, that's how it works. But now those of you unfamiliar with it. I heard it from Brian Leslie, actually. But I know you were the one who was like, No, that actually came from Jay but it's simply this. You don't get what you're worth you get what you negotiate. Oh, my goodness. Did I just say whoa, not say that being a nice guy is a bad thing. Well, that you should stop being nice and

Nicky Saunders  
deserve. Is it worth it the deserved?

Mostafa Ghonim  
I think it's I don't know. But in either case, either one of those is a good point. Yes. Both are important. Yeah, whatever it is, it's like at the end of the day is is more important that you know that you have to negotiate both your worth and what you deserve. You're not just gonna get that off the bat. It's It's your ability to negotiate. That helps you to really land at

Nicky Saunders  
listen. People go whenever you listen to this the next day, renegotiate right now, right now renegotiate you Let's talk about these, these terms that you got, right? That it is deserved. In business, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate JSY decoded, right, both worth and deserve both, but you definitely won't get what you're worth. That's a big fast. Not even, like deserve is more like, based off the tasks that you've done and you, you know, you killed that, but you're worth you're definitely not gonna get what you worth. That's yeah, it's rare. It's very rare that you are, you are seen as though

Mostafa Ghonim  
some of us don't know it, though. That's the truth. And that's like a whole, almost a whole nother conversation. Yeah. But I sat, I sat down with the attorney, he said, you know, you're not getting what you're worth, right. Like, oh, then think about that.

Nicky Saunders  
Now we knew that. I don't know why you need to hear that from an outsider. That was? Yeah, I've just I've just saying this is it people? I wish I knew the article she was reading, especially the ladies, that the fact that it said about us, like, we suck, we just take the money, right? We just like, hey, praise God for the opportunity. Thank you. Next year, your value goes up with each with each cycle, right? Whether it's whether it's a year, whether it's, you know, semester, whatever your cycle is, right? Your work goes up. They still have you for a reason. Yeah. And we just never we just assume I sat there myself. I sat in assumed and I actually came up with a reason why it didn't happen. I actually came up with a different strategy on how you know what, you don't worry about it, I worry about it somewhere else. Thinking that was okay. And it's like, Absolutely not. It's not okay, they still need to do right. You don't need to go extra to to compensate what they don't give you the lack. Right. So it's like, Oh, okay. All right. So, ladies, gents. After this podcast that you are listening or watching, please, renegotiate all your contracts your nine to five situations, salary relationships, whatever. Doesn't matter. Do you have a something with your significant other renegotiate that? Listen? I know you want to. You want me just to do the trash every single day? Right? I've been doing that for like four years.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Come on now. Can we?

Nicky Saunders  
Can we can you can you get Tuesday's? Right? I don't even still take it. I just can I get a day off? Can I can I go? Can I get some time?

Mostafa Ghonim  
Right right? Can I get an optional two days a month that I bought it?

Nicky Saunders  
I just saved somebody right there. I just I literally just saved somebody right there. Somebody's gonna be like we got to we got to talk about this. We got to talk about this. But look, um, man, it was so good. Once again, all this is powered by Ecamm live. And if you want to sign up for Ecamm live, we got a 14 day trial for you. Nicky and moose.com/e Cam ECA. Mmm. Okay, so how it's all done. Follow us everywhere. At Nicky and moose, please and thank you and moose. Final words.

Mostafa Ghonim  
Worth final words already already. Okay, hold up. I actually got an important one that I wrote in my notes. I'm sorry, that caught me off guard. I don't know why I was expecting one more. One more situation. But no, no, no, no, let me okay, that time went by really fast. I'm not gonna lie. But I wrote something down that that was really important. And I was actually going to, I had it in mind too, to prep.

Nicky Saunders  
Just like calibre, the listeners.

Mostafa Ghonim  
All the way, all the way, all the way. Now so so. So here's what I say. Right? And forgive me. I won't be looking on the screen because I want to read it word for word, right? Fine. It's more important to do the right thing and not just say the right thing. Right? What you don't realize is saying and not doing throws off your psychology. It's actually fraud. So don't just say the right thing, but do the right thing.