Environmental Tech Meets Medical Innovation: Matt Sweetwood's Multi-Industry Leadership Journey

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Welcome to another edition of
the Inspired Stories podcast,
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where leaders share their
experiences so we can learn from
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their successes and be inspired
by how they've overcome
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adversity.
My name is Anthony Kotaspodi and
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today's guest is Matthew
Sweetwood.
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He is the founder and CEO of
Greener Process Systems, a
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forward thinking EPC and
sustainability company.
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Their mission is to protect the
Earth's environment using
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innovative technology to reduce
ship emissions.
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Through their patented Seth
Technology, Greener Process
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Systems has become a leader in
maritime Environmental
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Protection, driving meaningful
change in port operations
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worldwide.
As a professional speaker and
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experienced innovator, he has
shared insights on leadership,
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personal branding, and
entrepreneurship.
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He is also a best selling author
who shares his insights at
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speaking engagements worldwide.
His accolades include being
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named Photo Industries 2016
Person of the Year by PMDA and
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receiving the 2014 CMO Club
Presidents Award.
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But he considers his greatest
achievement to be raising 5
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successful kids to adulthood as
a single dad.
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Now before we get into all that
good stuff, today's episode is
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All right, back to our guest
today, the CEO of Greener
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Process System, Matthew
Sweetwood.
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I appreciate you making the time
to Share your story today.
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Anthony, thanks for having me.
After that, I wasn't sure you
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were talking about me.
Person sounded somewhat
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important.
He sounds amazing, so let's
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let's find out more about him.
So, Matthew, you've LED multiple
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companies over the past 31
years.
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What initially drew you to
develop sustainable technologies
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at Greener?
Process systems, you know, you
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know, I say in life there's no
coincidences or you know,
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there's serendipity, there's
karma, there's all sorts of
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things.
And actually.
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The.
Technology there is.
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It's not my technology.
I'm just, I'm just good at
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running companies.
So they stick me in front of
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them like, you know, like the
ratchet, you know, ratchets are
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really good at tightening bolts.
So I'm really good at, you know,
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running companies.
And it doesn't really matter
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what kind of bolt it is.
You know, it's aluminum, steel,
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whatever.
I can tighten the bolt.
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And ironically, I got invited to
help run this company by
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somebody who I helped out in a
previous company, sort of gave
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this person a job.
This is a company that was
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really impacted by COVID
heavily.
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It ended up shutting down.
But I did something really good
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for somebody in a job interview
and gave him another chance,
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gave him a job, saved him and
his family.
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And then about a year later, the
guy calls me up and he goes, you
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know, my dad has this invention
and they're just going to get
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taken from him.
It's a huge opportunity.
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And we kind of want to make a
company and get somebody to run
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the company for.
Is he interested?
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Like, OK, never.
What is it?
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What is it?
And it turned out to be this
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really innovative capture
technology that allows us to
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capture the emissions of
smokestacks in factories and on
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ocean going ships while they're
in port, believe it or not, out
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of nowhere.
So I spent most of my career in
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electronics and tech and the
technology is really valuable
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because you can basically bring
a port or a factory.
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So it gives us the ability to
capture emissions and reduce a
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factory or port to 0 emissions.
We can take complicated
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particulates out of the exhaust
such as Sox and NOx and diesel
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particulate and so on.
I don't want to get too
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technical, but our systems allow
us to do that and in certain
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instances even generate
electricity off of the
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smokestack.
Really.
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So it is the is the secret sauce
and the filter mechanism itself
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or like what, what are you guys
doing that's different than
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other companies?
Yeah, that, that's a great
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question.
The secret sauce really is in
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how you capture the smokestack.
What initially drew you to
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develop sustainable technologies
at Greener Process Systems?
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How'd that come about?
Yeah, I, I think in in my case,
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it was just a little bit of a
luck.
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It's not my.
Technology.
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I was just brought in to run the
company and getting the
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opportunity to run the company
was just a little bit of doing a
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good deed in this world and
getting good karma on return.
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There was a person who worked
for me in a previous company who
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it's very interesting story
actually about hiring and
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analyzing because I've hired
literally thousands of people in
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my life.
And I think it's one of the most
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important aspects of running a
business, particularly if you're
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running a small business and
you're you're doing it yourself,
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having that opportunity to hire
and be involved in the hiring, I
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think it's really important.
But I digress.
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So this was a situation where
the company that we were with
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closed, it was a result of
COVID.
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It was just a very ugly.
Circumstance COVID just took
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this.
Company out in every conceivable
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way that you could.
It was a a luxury hospitality
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company that operated between
New York and Florida and the war
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between Florida and New York and
everything that could possibly
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go wrong, including the
government outlawing what we did
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for two years was interesting.
But nevertheless, I had hired
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somebody for marketing position,
and it was sort of a little bit
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of a desperate young man, had a
family, couldn't get, couldn't
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get a job, was in a little bit
of trouble.
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And he screwed up the interview
that he had with me about as
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badly as you possibly can.
But I saw something in him.
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Yeah.
I'll tell you, what he did in
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the interview is kind of funny.
I don't want to leave it hanging
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hanging like that.
Shows up late, shows up
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completely disheveled.
I thought maybe he was drunk or
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on drugs or something like that
had done.
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No.
Had done no like no research on
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the company you know and keep in
mind this is in Miami.
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So if you've ever hired in
Miami, anybody will tell you
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running a business in Miami,
half the people that show up for
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interviews usually are stoned.
So.
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You know, hiring.
It's not.
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Always the easiest, the easiest
thing.
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So you tend, you know, beggars
can't be choosers.
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You tend to sort of left the
interview, you know, So I
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started talking to this guy, you
know, I didn't # him too hard
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for being late and stuff like
that, but he seemed really
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smart.
It's just, and then I could see
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he was like in the interview, he
couldn't even like sit still.
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So I'm like, listen, I'm like.
We're done.
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Right.
You're not ready for this.
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You really don't want this.
And he's like, he's like, you
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don't understand.
I went to, I went to this, I
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went to this interview before
you and they made me pay a fee.
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They kept me there all day.
And then I realized it was a
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scam.
You know, I got to fit, you
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know, you've heard these
employment scams and stuff like
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that.
So I'm like, listen, go home.
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We're going to, we'll, I'll,
I'll send you an e-mail or
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something.
We'll, we'll reschedule.
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Go home.
So on the way home, I, I said,
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you know what, this guy's, this
guy seemed really smart, really,
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really smart.
I send him a text and I say to
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him, I say go research the
company and give me a marketing
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plan, put it on my desk at 9:00
AM in the morning.
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About 3 hours later he gives me
an absolutely perfect detailed
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marketing plan for the company.
Bring him back in.
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I hired him.
He worked for the company for
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about a year or so and then
COVID just killed the company.
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We actually did luxury rentals
and they were outlawed for about
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a year.
You couldn't do you couldn't do
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short term rentals, whole
complicated thing.
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So it was about a year later.
After that, a year and a half
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later, he called me up and he
goes, my dad has this amazing
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invention.
He has a patent in Italy on the
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invention.
There's an opportunity to
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install this thing in Italy and
he's dealing with these big
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companies and they're just going
to steal his patent and throw
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them in the Mediterranean Sea.
So we need to have a real
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company.
We need to, you know, know what
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we're doing.
None of us know how to do that.
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Are you interested?
So I took a look at it.
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The patent was amazing.
It was about 15 years in
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development.
It's a technology which allows a
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hermetic seal of a smokestack.
Why is that important?
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Because first of all, it creates
an efficient seal of the
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smokestack if you want to
capture emissions.
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And second of all, it allows for
things like the capture of CO2
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from the exhaust because you're
able to maintain the temperature
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of the exhaust, which also
increases your ability for
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filtration.
When you have a smokestack, for
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example, from a ocean going ship
or a glass factory or any kind
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of factory aluminum smelter,
there are open stacks all over
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the world, all over the country.
They just billow heat and smoke
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and particulate up into the
atmosphere.
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And if you just kind of try to
cover the smokestack, there's
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escape, there's heat loss,
there's all sorts things.
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You have to put additional
energy into the process, which
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then creates more pollution and
so on.
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We have technology that actually
creates A hermetic seal on the
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stack without damaging the
furnace or the engine that's on
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the other side.
It allows us to trap the heat in
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the system, use the heat to
power the system and do proper
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filtration.
And in many cases we can
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actually, we can actually
generate electricity off of the
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stack of good hot high pressure
stack.
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You can capture about 60% of the
electricity back in the stack.
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So this invention, so you.
Capture it.
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How do you how do you use that
electricity from?
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You can actually put it back
into the grid, or you can power
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your factory with it once you.
So it comes in the form of heat
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and then so you use that heat to
run a turbine really.
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Really as simple, you know,
without getting.
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Yeah, yeah.
Going down that rabbit hole,
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basically you spin a turbine and
or there's other ways there's
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there's transfer mechanisms and
so on.
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Depending on the stack, you can
generate electricity, you can
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capture CO2.
If you actually have a place to
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put it.
We can get to that too, which is
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one of the biggest jokes in the
entire environmental industry is
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that you want to capture CO2.
People do not realize the kind
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of volume of CO2 that comes out
of an exhaust.
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It's actually not practical, but
the whole different story.
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So this technology allowed that.
So once I had the, I took a look
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at it, there was a standing
contract in or an opportunity
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in, in Europe, actually in Italy
in particular, which provided
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funding for the installation of
these in, in a, in a port in
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Italy.
It allowed for, it allowed for
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a, there was millions and
millions of EUR set aside for
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this.
And the, the ability to have it
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funded and have a pilot funded
by the European Union was very
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exciting.
And so I really, I really jumped
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in at the opportunity.
I said OK, we can put this
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together.
And here we are sitting, we have
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6 patents later, you know, all
over the world we have, we're at
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a stage now where we have
proposals all over the place to
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install our systems.
And hopefully this is, you know,
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it's a, it's a mid state start
up and hopefully we'll really
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start to install these systems
pretty wildly.
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So Matt, what is it that you
guys are doing that's so
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different from all the other
companies out there?
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You're just better at capturing
the emissions.
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You're the only ones that can
convert it into electricity.
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Like what?
Like kind of give it to me for
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for somebody non-technical.
Yeah.
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So our our patented technology
allows us to create a hermetic
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seal on the smokestack.
I mean it seems logical, right?
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You want to, you want to cap a
smokestack, let's say of an
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ocean going ship or a factory
that's billowing smoke and you
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want to seal it.
But it's actually quite
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difficult because you have
different size smokestacks.
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You have, in the case of an
ocean going ship in port, the
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ship is actually moving even
though the ship is docked.
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You have to realize the ship is
moving.
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It moves up and down and side to
side with the flow of the water
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and so on.
And so you want to make a
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hermetic seal because it creates
a much more efficient capture.
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Obviously if you put a bonnet or
you put an umbrella kind of
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device over it or just a cap and
you leave space, you lose
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efficiency in the system.
You have things escaped that you
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don't want to.
From an operational perspective,
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the Hermetic seal allows us to
trap the heat of the exhaust,
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and when you trap the heat of
the exhaust, it allows for a
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couple things with better
benefit.
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Number one, you can use the heat
from the system then to power
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the system.
There are systems out there that
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cover smokestacks, but typically
they have to add power into the
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system in order to capture
because the system itself has to
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run.
It has to flow air through and
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into some sort of filtration
system.
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Ours, we use the heat of the
system.
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If you're in a really high
temperature, high pressure
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stack, we can actually generate
electricity because of the
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efficiency of the system.
It's generating more power than
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what's needed to run the system.
Typically a smokestack, you can
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capture 60% of the lost energy
and then all of that just goes
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up into the atmosphere now.
So to answer your question that
260
00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,720
our patented Hermetic Seal
technology, the capture device,
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00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,720
the ECD, we call it OK, the
emissions capture device, this
262
00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,080
is the magic of our technology.
And then obviously there's a lot
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00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,200
of engineering that goes into
how you actually filter the air
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00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,080
and what you do with it.
There's all, there's
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00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:29,680
alternatives.
Sometimes it's just about
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cleaning the air so that you
have 0 pollution, you know, or 0
267
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emissions or close to 0
emissions.
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We claim about 95% effective.
You can generate electricity if
269
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the stack has is hot enough with
enough pressure through
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00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,120
something called waste heat
recovery.
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WHR you Google that thing you'll
you'll see lots of discussion
272
00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:54,200
about it or in some cases not so
popular anymore.
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00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,440
But for a while there was a big
drive to actually capture CO2
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out of a smokestack.
Capturing CO2 has some
275
00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:09,920
complications to it in terms of
of actually being able to
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capture it.
I know that sounds a little bit
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00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,120
paradoxical.
In order to capture CO2 out of
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00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,120
an exhaust, you have to have two
components.
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You have to have clean air.
You can't have other materials
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mixed in with the CO2.
And in the case of a fossil fuel
281
00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:30,680
burning exhaust, coal, diesel
and so on, the exhaust can have
282
00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,200
things like diesel particulate,
NOx, Sox and so on.
283
00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:35,920
All of that has to be filtered
out.
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00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,480
So the fact that we're able to
keep the temperature high, we
285
00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,280
can filter out all of that
particulate.
286
00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,840
And then you're left with sort
of this pure air at the end,
287
00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,880
which you can then capture the
CO2.
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00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,400
I'm saying it like it's, you
know, just, you know, click,
289
00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,240
click, click is this is.
Complicated engineering.
290
00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,520
This is the different series of
filters, right?
291
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:54,520
Is this sound?
And this one cleans that out
292
00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:56,040
exactly.
Right.
293
00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:57,560
One's made of cotton, one's
made.
294
00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:00,800
That's kind of quite like that.
It's a complicated process
295
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,480
because the temperature drops,
you got all sorts of things can
296
00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:05,160
happen and not good things
happen.
297
00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:10,800
So and the and the other
difficulty with capturing CO2 is
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00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:16,040
that if you take a typical
freighter freighter and you cap
299
00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,480
and you clean the emission that
comes out of it and then you
300
00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,000
capture the CO2.
I mean, a freighter, while it's
301
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,520
in Porto fill a few football
stadiums worth of CO2.
302
00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,240
I mean, it's crazy kinds of
volume.
303
00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:27,840
It's not like it's in a little
box.
304
00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,040
You know, this isn't, this is
not like a little amount of
305
00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:32,400
material.
It's an insane amount of
306
00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,080
material and so.
Are you saying that it's
307
00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,280
unreasonable to capture CO2?
Basically unreasonable.
308
00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,840
There are pipelines that were
being built, but I don't know, I
309
00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,120
think the trend, I somehow feel
like the trend is away from this
310
00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,440
because there's also now
questionable science as to
311
00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,840
whether the CO2 is affecting it.
Once companies, here's what I'm
312
00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:53,720
going to tell you about the
environmental business that
313
00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,640
people don't know because people
see the front facing of
314
00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,200
companies.
So they see companies talking
315
00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,360
all the time about, you know, we
want to reduce emissions, we
316
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,079
want to be more environmental
friendly.
317
00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,280
But I'm going to tell you when
it comes to the bottom line and
318
00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:09,800
spending money on it, they look
for every reason to delay, to
319
00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:14,400
drag their feet, to not do it.
It's not regulated by 2030, by
320
00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,119
2040.
That's the favorite thing.
321
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:19,319
They're like, we're going to
reduce by 20402050, everybody's
322
00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:22,359
going to be dead by then.
OK, You know all the people, and
323
00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,119
I don't mean physically, I'm
just saying all the people that
324
00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:24,760
come I'm.
Just saying.
325
00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:26,520
You paint a bleak picture there,
Matthew.
326
00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,000
Yeah.
So I, I found the environmental
327
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,360
industry is a little bit of a,
particularly this emissions
328
00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:35,720
industry is a little bit of a,
we're going to talk the talk,
329
00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,160
but we don't really want to pay
to.
330
00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,960
Walk the walk so a.
Lot of that goes on.
331
00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:44,040
The only thing that actually
gets companies to reduce
332
00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:47,440
emissions are harsh regulations,
which.
333
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,760
Or or if the financial
motivations can be aligned.
334
00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,800
Like if it becomes cheaper
somehow for them to operate
335
00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:56,400
their business by doing.
Offer solutions.
336
00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:58,760
OK, I'll give you a real
business examples.
337
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,760
So we can go into a place like
an aluminum factory, aluminum
338
00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:04,280
smelter.
They melt aluminum.
339
00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:06,560
I'll just say it the most simple
way.
340
00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,400
They create a big bonfire, very
hot bonfire, and they throw all
341
00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,160
sorts of metal scraps into it,
melt it into a liquid and then
342
00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,120
make aluminum out of it.
Aluminum is a, you know, multi
343
00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:21,080
material metal.
And these factories are out in
344
00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,720
the middle of America.
They just have open stacks just
345
00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:27,600
spewing stuff.
We can walk into a factory like
346
00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:33,880
that and for 5 to $10 million,
we can seal the stock and
347
00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:38,280
generate $1,000,000 a year worth
of electricity off of the stock.
348
00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:41,520
OK.
And if the electric rates go up,
349
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,120
you generate, you know, it's
based on the kilowatt charge and
350
00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:46,760
so on.
They'll be like 10 years.
351
00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:51,920
Who's paying for the system now?
They're like.
352
00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,880
So do you offer any kind of like
financing?
353
00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:58,960
Or and then they're like, well,
you know, we have to change our
354
00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,400
operations.
We have to do this.
355
00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:04,640
It's the gain is not we have one
factory we went to.
356
00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,920
They collapsed their own roof
because they they design of
357
00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,040
their smokestack was not good.
They poisoned their own
358
00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:12,440
employees and the whole bit.
They didn't care.
359
00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,320
No, they're making so much money
and they're just kind of like,
360
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,320
I'm not saying it's impossible.
I'm just telling you, I'm just,
361
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,360
I'm making it more bleak than it
is, of course, because we're on
362
00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:25,360
a podcast and it's more dramatic
to do this.
363
00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:29,160
But I'm telling you that's the
that's the general feeling out
364
00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:31,080
there.
So it's like, we're not doing
365
00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:32,360
this.
And they're like, who else is
366
00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:33,760
doing it?
Are the other factories?
367
00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,520
No, they're not doing it.
You want to be the first?
368
00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:36,960
No, we don't want to be the
first.
369
00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:39,640
Yeah.
So harsher regulations, maybe
370
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,440
negative press, these are the
things that I've seen get like
371
00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,200
big companies to move.
Yeah, but The thing is, the
372
00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:50,760
environmental issues, they, like
don't affect individuals enough
373
00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,480
for them to care enough.
It's kind of a little bit of a
374
00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,840
weird thing.
Like you go out to Los Angeles,
375
00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,160
the Los Angeles Valley, you have
the Port of Los Angeles out
376
00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:02,960
there and you have the Port of
Long Beach.
377
00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,400
These are like the two largest
ports in the country.
378
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,840
You heard when the ships were
backed up and all sorts of
379
00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:10,640
stuff.
There's an area out there they
380
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:15,320
call the Diesel Death Zone.
OK, it's not a place I want a
381
00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:16,440
vacation.
Yeah, yeah.
382
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,560
It's a place where a lot of
people live and they talk about
383
00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,640
they walk out and they wipe the
soot off their cars, all right,
384
00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,520
off the playground swings.
I can show you ABC News reports
385
00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,040
where they go out there and they
wipe the the stuff off the
386
00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,160
swings.
Since the kid swings and
387
00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,400
California took them, I don't
know how many years, they passed
388
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,120
some sort of regulation with
respect to tankers, not
389
00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:42,960
freighters, not cruise ships,
not and not, not tugboats, not
390
00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,040
the trucks going into the port
would generate all sorts of
391
00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,240
stuff.
And this is California, right?
392
00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,760
The most environmentally
friendly thing they ever think
393
00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,840
and and they follow it.
They don't follow it's like.
394
00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:59,400
So I think I can sum this up
best with a conversation I had
395
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,720
with one of the largest ports
here in Florida.
396
00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,960
And where there are, there
aren't port.
397
00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,080
And it's not just Florida,
there's no port regulation and
398
00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,040
go to the Port Authority in New
York and New Jersey.
399
00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:10,840
Well, you know, another
humongous port.
400
00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,560
They don't, they put in an
electric port, they put in a
401
00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:16,200
little bit, they throw a little
bit at it, but they don't
402
00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:17,640
really, they're not really
behind it.
403
00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:22,480
He's like, he's like, you know,
75% of the fuel oil that comes
404
00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,200
into Florida comes through my
port.
405
00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,400
He goes, I don't really think
they're doing anything.
406
00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:31,080
To me, he's like, they're not
shutting me down, they're not
407
00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,000
doing anything.
And if they really want to shut
408
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,240
me down, go ahead.
It's okay.
409
00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,120
I'm on government salary, it's
no problem, no sweat.
410
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,200
Doesn't affect him.
It doesn't.
411
00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:44,080
So, so you get you get sort of
this malaise.
412
00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,880
And then there's another aspect
to this too, which is really
413
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,560
important to discuss in this
business is that not our product
414
00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,520
because we have actually a
really amazing technology, but
415
00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:59,680
95% of the stuff that's in the
entire environmental world is no
416
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:04,040
tech or future tech.
So it's not, it's, it's just
417
00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:05,240
fake.
It's not going to work.
418
00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:09,880
It's an idea or it's going to
work in 2045 by by.
419
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,760
You guys, your tech, it's here
now.
420
00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,160
It works now it's ready for
implementation.
421
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,160
Today and if things go well in
Italy, we'll install our really
422
00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:21,160
first in a port there funded by,
we were approved by the Italian
423
00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,400
government.
Our technology made it through
424
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,440
the Ministry of Environment and
their technical crew.
425
00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:28,680
They've approved our technology.
It's for real.
426
00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,640
We can install it in any port in
Italy and that probably would
427
00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,400
extend to the EU and we'll be
able to get the system in.
428
00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,000
How did it start specifically in
Italy?
429
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,520
That's where the inventor was.
OK, so he had relationships
430
00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:42,880
there.
That's where the conversation
431
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,960
started.
Europe is way more serious about
432
00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,200
these things than we are here.
They also have a much bigger
433
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,320
problem because if you know
Europe, you know that the ports
434
00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:55,360
dig into the cities.
Like you go to Italy, you go to
435
00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:59,440
the coastal cities in Italy, the
port, the ships dock right
436
00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,160
against the the Main Street.
Like you can just literally walk
437
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,840
from the Main Street into there.
I have some scenes from Napoli.
438
00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:11,760
Napoli, there's a road right
next to the port and in Italy
439
00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,040
you have these.
They're ferries, but they're
440
00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,800
really like small cruise ships
and you have obviously
441
00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:19,760
freighters that come in there.
There's a street right next to
442
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,080
the port in Napoli, Vesuvius,
off in the background.
443
00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,200
Mount Vesuvius, beautiful scene.
And they basically had to
444
00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,000
abandon all the buildings at the
port because of the pollution.
445
00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:32,280
If you stand up.
I stayed at the Renaissance once
446
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,440
when I was there, which
overlooks the whole city.
447
00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,880
You see this plume of just smoke
billowing over the valley from
448
00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,480
just a few ships in the thing.
A typical freighter amidst the
449
00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,200
equivalent of 20,000 cars
without catalytic converters
450
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,920
every hour.
Just to give you an idea.
451
00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:53,640
But maritime traffic controls
the world, so there's very
452
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:59,120
little effort to put a heavy
curtailing on that for
453
00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:03,480
environmental all the projects a
long term, the only significant
454
00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,760
thing that I think was done over
the last couple of years in that
455
00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:12,280
area was the the forcing of low
sulfur fuels as you get close to
456
00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:14,960
port.
They figured out that Sox was
457
00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,480
the most harmful ingredient.
So they make ships burn fuel
458
00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,600
which is twice as expensive when
they get close to port basically
459
00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:26,600
everywhere in the world.
So Matt, realistically timeline
460
00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:29,840
wise, when do you think we might
see this implemented in I?
461
00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:33,000
Think over the, I think over the
next three to five years you'll
462
00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,080
start to see us get systems
installed.
463
00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,520
It's just things will the lines
were all crossed.
464
00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,200
We'll get a few systems in,
there'll be just absolute need
465
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,320
to do it.
And, and you'll see that happen
466
00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:49,440
now that our technology is, is
authorized because one of the
467
00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,760
problems you have and this if
anybody with a startup business
468
00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:54,520
out there with technology is
that it's very hard to get the
469
00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,920
1st users to try it right,
particularly when it's
470
00:24:57,920 --> 00:24:59,240
innovative.
Nobody wants to be the Guinea
471
00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:00,000
pig.
Yeah.
472
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,200
And it's only that it's like,
what is it really worth?
473
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,920
Does it really work?
You know, am I going to get
474
00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,160
subsidy for this?
And the case is it, you know,
475
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,000
what does it count for?
And having the approval of the
476
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,000
Ministry of the Environment in
it's like the EPA approve.
477
00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,760
It would be the equivalent of
the EPA saying that my
478
00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:22,240
technology is is does reduce
emissions and you can install it
479
00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:25,240
and get a government grant from
us if you install the
480
00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:29,080
technology.
And I want to shift gears and I
481
00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,320
I want to hear about the medical
lab that you're involved with.
482
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,400
What what's going on there?
Then what's the name of it?
483
00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,080
What are you guys doing?
Yeah.
484
00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,440
Sure.
So this business running while
485
00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,920
this business is going on, it
happened to be somebody who I
486
00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:46,000
ran into here in my local
community actually I on the way
487
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,720
to temple kind of thing.
And because you know where we
488
00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:54,560
live here, you know, this is
this is Israel East.
489
00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:55,680
OK.
I'm just letting you know
490
00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,320
nevertheless, but.
A lot of your Jewish friends
491
00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,440
live nearby.
Yeah, you might say that Boca
492
00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:04,560
is.
Yeah, Bill Maher, not a favorite
493
00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:05,760
of mine.
He actually made a really a
494
00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,720
funny joke about this.
If you Google it, he actually
495
00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,280
find it.
He goes.
496
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,680
He's talking about how, you
know, the Jews are accused of
497
00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:17,320
being colonizers in the whole
bit.
498
00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,200
And he's like, this is just
completely not true.
499
00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:20,600
This is, you know, the whole
thing.
500
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,880
He goes, they've only colonized
one place and that's Boca Raton.
501
00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:28,240
That's it.
So I just figured I'd say it.
502
00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,200
So, you know, in a conversation
I was having, there was a local
503
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,880
business here that the business
was struggling a little bit.
504
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,760
And that's been my career, by
the way.
505
00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,320
My career is I'm like the fix it
guy.
506
00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,440
I, other than the company I ran,
electronics company I ran for
507
00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,640
about 25 years in New Jersey.
When I left that company now
508
00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,880
almost 1011 years ago, all I've
done is I've gone into
509
00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:55,200
companies, fixed them, turn them
around and move on.
510
00:26:56,160 --> 00:27:00,560
And the, the this is a molecular
lab.
511
00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,400
So molecular labs came about out
of COVID.
512
00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:08,400
If you remember there was a big
need to have a rapid test, you
513
00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,000
know, you used to be, you would
take a test, they would do the
514
00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,800
standard culture and sensitivity
method, which means you take the
515
00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:18,720
sample, you they would take that
nasal swab or and they would
516
00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:21,680
send it off to a lab.
The lab grows the culture.
517
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,400
They put it under a microscope.
Oversimplifying, put it under a
518
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,880
microscope and they can tell you
whether you have.
519
00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:28,000
COVID or not?
And that takes several days.
520
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,520
The problem is the fear at that
point with COVID was that you
521
00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,000
would then, you know, spread it
to a million other people and
522
00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:35,560
everybody would die.
OK.
523
00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:40,480
So out of that there was a
molecular technology called PCR
524
00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,320
that came about that allowed.
For hearing about it at the
525
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,280
time.
Yeah, that allowed for basically
526
00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,640
instantaneous results.
You can get results in an hour
527
00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,800
just, and it's not that it takes
an hour, it just physically
528
00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,560
takes time to put the thing.
You actually take the swab and
529
00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,760
you put it on a chip, you pipe
at it on it like a micro drop on
530
00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:02,240
a chip and it goes in a chip
reader and you and usually they
531
00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,680
gang them together.
So they don't just one run chip.
532
00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:07,200
They run a tray of chips.
So you need a bun, but you can
533
00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,160
run the test.
Like if you were sitting in the
534
00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,880
lab, I could take a test and
have you a result in a in 30
535
00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,080
minutes no problem.
So this technology was developed
536
00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,560
for COVID, but after COVID went
away, a lot of the labs just bit
537
00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,280
the dust.
They had nothing because
538
00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,640
traditional places just continue
to use the same method they've
539
00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,200
been using since they and
penicillin was invented.
540
00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:31,920
OK, which is what they do.
And so a few very smart
541
00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,560
innovators came up with the idea
that the speed of the result has
542
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:38,960
an advantage in certain
marketplaces.
543
00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:42,680
It actually has an advantage
everywhere, but doctors don't
544
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:44,280
necessarily like to change so
much.
545
00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:48,000
So the place that it has a huge
advantage is in nursing homes,
546
00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:52,600
because in nursing homes you
have an 85 year old patient who
547
00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,160
is showing signs of an
infection.
548
00:28:55,320 --> 00:29:00,400
And So what they do in a nursing
home is they tend to just
549
00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:03,000
prophylactically treat them with
antibiotics.
550
00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,360
So they'll give them 234
antibiotics at one time because
551
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,840
they don't want the patient to
pass away because of the
552
00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:11,880
infection.
They send a test off to the
553
00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,400
laboratory and then five days
later they figure out whether
554
00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,160
they did it right.
Huge problems with that.
555
00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,480
There's a huge cost to that.
You end up with patients in the
556
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,160
hospital or coming out of the
hospital and then readmitted.
557
00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:26,920
If that's where the antibiotic
is administered, you develop
558
00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:30,480
antibiotic resistance because
you're just dispensing this like
559
00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:34,880
like M&M's.
And so the, this was a lab that
560
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,960
was designed to pick up a sample
at 5:00 at night anywhere in the
561
00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,320
country overnight it back to the
lab and then give them a result
562
00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,640
in a few hours later
electronically.
563
00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:49,240
Also a molecular lab can do a
better determination of whether
564
00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,960
a particular bacteria is
antibiotic resistant so you
565
00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,120
don't give them the wrong thing.
So there's a lot of advantages
566
00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:58,920
to doing this.
So the lab itself had a really
567
00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,560
good business model, just wasn't
being run very well.
568
00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,920
There was a.
So do the do the do the areas
569
00:30:05,920 --> 00:30:08,120
that you're serving.
I'm guessing it's very like
570
00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,120
local, very regional because no
like you get your.
571
00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,960
UPS and FedEx can pick up a
package at 5:00 anywhere in the
572
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:17,520
country and deliver it by 10:00
AM the next day to you.
573
00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,080
They actually both of those
companies have healthcare
574
00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:22,320
divisions specifically for
people don't know this.
575
00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:24,080
I didn't know this either
because I knew nothing.
576
00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:27,720
Keep in mind I walked into this
business knowing 0 right?
577
00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:32,200
So this is a really good sort of
note for your viewers is that
578
00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,400
business skills are just
business skills, right?
579
00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,360
You, you theoretically can apply
them almost anywhere.
580
00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,640
And this was a company that was
having trouble managing staff,
581
00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:49,640
managing expenses, lacking sort
of IT direction and so on.
582
00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:52,200
And so I walked into the place
and within a few months able to
583
00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:56,600
fix it up, you know, fix up the
fix up the business and really
584
00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:01,400
make the business run.
And so you can actually take
585
00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:03,960
samples from any they're called,
by the way, we're calling them
586
00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,680
nursing homes for layman's,
they're called skilled nursing
587
00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,160
facilities.
Just.
588
00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,120
SNFS this is an acronym
business, by the way, and I'm in
589
00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:14,080
refusal to memorize all the
acronyms.
590
00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:19,200
But this one, I, I walk in the
staff, I walk into the place,
591
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,120
the staff, right, the staff,
they'll like literally give you
592
00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:24,000
one of those sentences with like
acronyms.
593
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,480
You know the whole sentence is
acronyms.
594
00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,200
I'm like English.
You need an interpreter.
595
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,360
English please, You know full
English.
596
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,840
Thank you.
So Matt, who like who's the base
597
00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,520
of your, your, your users?
Like is, is it mostly these
598
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,640
skilled nursing facilities?
It's the skilled.
599
00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,720
So you've got like a, a bulk of
arrangement with them.
600
00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,240
It's not like not like you're
going direct to consumer.
601
00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:45,800
I'm not going to send you a test
that you mailed me.
602
00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,720
I mean, if you did now that
we're kind of friends, I
603
00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:50,720
probably would do your test for
you.
604
00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,440
I'd throw it on there with one
of them and give you a result.
605
00:31:53,440 --> 00:31:56,040
Yes, I would do that for you.
But since if you're not my A
606
00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,800
friend, I'm probably not going
to, no, we're just strictly B to
607
00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:03,040
B to B, you know, servicing
these skilled nursing
608
00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:03,920
facilities.
That's right.
609
00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:08,240
It's really an amazing
technology that you have almost
610
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,400
$1,000,000 worth of equipment in
the lab.
611
00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:15,400
It's it, there's something, you
know, it's kind of like how you,
612
00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:18,000
it's almost in a way how I think
about neurolink.
613
00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:22,280
You know, what Elon Musk did
when you sort of have a human
614
00:32:22,520 --> 00:32:27,200
product, which is a medical
sample, it's a swab and the swab
615
00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:32,160
somehow makes its way onto a
computer chip into a little like
616
00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:35,080
on a computer chip and goes in a
device that's red.
617
00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,440
I there's something that's very
futuristic about that that's I
618
00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:41,080
find very cool, you know, and if
you think about it, he's
619
00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,480
implanted a chip in a human,
right.
620
00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:49,480
So you have this touching of
metal, I guess to human matter.
621
00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:53,880
And I, I find that particularly
like, wow, I'm still amazed by
622
00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:54,720
it.
I.
623
00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:59,680
Find it So what's the future of
this molecular testing business?
624
00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:01,840
Where do you want to grow at?
How do you want to?
625
00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:02,840
How do you want to?
Take this.
626
00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,200
I mean, so this is a business
that I'll touch for a while.
627
00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:07,840
I will get up and running, you
know, we'll get running and the
628
00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:09,400
idea is just to grow the sample
count.
629
00:33:09,480 --> 00:33:12,040
You just, you, you have
scalability in this business
630
00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:18,080
because your equipment can run,
run tests for two hours a day, 4
631
00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:21,520
hours a day or 24 hours a day.
And then when the tests run 24
632
00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:23,960
hours a day, you get another
piece of equipment and another
633
00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:29,200
lab molecular laboratory
certified technician and they
634
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:31,520
run the equipment.
And so you can continually scale
635
00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,160
the business.
The business has some other
636
00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,520
technology in it, which is, I
didn't tell the whole story,
637
00:33:37,680 --> 00:33:39,840
which is what initially
attracted me to it.
638
00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:45,240
It has, the owner of the
business has has an invention,
639
00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,960
which I can't really talk about,
which because we're about to get
640
00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:52,520
a patent on it, but it it
potentially could change the way
641
00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:55,040
testing is done even a step
further.
642
00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:59,600
For example, imagine you could
walk into your doctor's office,
643
00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,520
they could take the swab and
give you the results in 60
644
00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,480
seconds.
Imagine for a woman in a
645
00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:09,400
gynecologist's office where they
could take a swab and give her
646
00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:15,360
result in 30 or 60 seconds.
This is this has got like like
647
00:34:15,360 --> 00:34:17,760
Theranos kind of vibes.
It's funny.
648
00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:21,000
People all say that to me,
except we're like, we're like,
649
00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,360
we're a bunch of real Jewish
guys from Boca Raton, OK?
650
00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:26,880
We're not.
We don't do well in prison.
651
00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:29,600
I'm just letting you know it's
not going well.
652
00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:31,320
None of.
The guys are working on the real
653
00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:32,120
deal.
Yeah, right.
654
00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,280
We're working on the real deal
and it will get full on FDA
655
00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:38,560
approval and it will get full on
everything and vetting and
656
00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:42,040
everything.
So so when can we check back in
657
00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,560
with each other and you can give
me an update on on.
658
00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:47,960
Two to three-year project.
OK.
659
00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:49,480
Great.
Two to three-year project.
660
00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:52,920
Realistically, to do it right
and to do all the pieces and to
661
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:55,719
get it right, the technology
looks very promising.
662
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,960
Would it cannibalize what you
guys are already doing or would
663
00:34:59,960 --> 00:35:01,720
they be testing for different
things?
664
00:35:02,080 --> 00:35:04,000
You know, that's a really
interesting question.
665
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,680
I think it would eliminate
probably if it worked perfectly
666
00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:12,360
and you had this device in every
place in the country, it would
667
00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,640
eliminate, you know, 75% of this
business.
668
00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,920
Which you would be fine with,
because at that point you've got
669
00:35:17,920 --> 00:35:20,480
something that everybody else
has and is a.
670
00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,040
Huge step up.
The real problem with this
671
00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:26,960
invention and I, I, I probably
shouldn't be talking, but I'm
672
00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:28,920
going to talk about it anyway
because it's just fun to talk
673
00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:34,000
about is that when I saw this
thing, I'm like, I'm like, do
674
00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,240
you have life insurance?
I said this, the inventor, I
675
00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:38,400
said, you have life insurance.
I said because if this thing
676
00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,960
works, you know, Pfizer, you
know, they're going to just
677
00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:44,040
you're going to disappear.
They're going to disappear you
678
00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,480
OK, Because this is going to put
like billion dollars, not Pfizer
679
00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:49,640
in particular.
I'm just use them as an example
680
00:35:49,760 --> 00:35:50,920
but it's going to put like
billion.
681
00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:53,480
Dollar big company and it's
threatened by this technology.
682
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:55,840
Yeah.
I mean, this is not, I said we
683
00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:58,560
have to do this kind of quietly,
get this going, whatever, if it
684
00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:00,560
works, it works, it doesn't
work, whatever.
685
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:03,000
And then, you know, sell it to
somebody or do something before
686
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,800
they kill us, you know, because,
you know, when you have
687
00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:08,920
disruptive technology like that,
you know, when you're going
688
00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:12,080
after billion dollar businesses,
they don't just go, oh, well, we
689
00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:15,280
got beat, you know?
So what?
690
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:16,920
You know, it happens to the best
of us.
691
00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,400
It doesn't work.
More, more high drama from Matt
692
00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:20,640
Sweetwood.
Today's folks.
693
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,120
That's great.
Exactly.
694
00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,280
So let let's talk about your
book Leader of the Pack.
695
00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,400
Yeah, but what is this?
What?
696
00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:31,560
Why'd you write it?
I wrote it because, and I hate
697
00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:34,360
saying it like this because
everybody does this, but I wrote
698
00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,360
it because I had to write it.
It just was a confluence of
699
00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:39,480
things that happened in my life
where I had one of those
700
00:36:39,480 --> 00:36:41,720
moments.
I'm like, there's no way this
701
00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,200
happens to me.
All of this stuff happens to me
702
00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:46,400
without me supposedly going to
write about it.
703
00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:48,680
Because if you think that you're
going to write a book and make
704
00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:51,560
money off writing the book, this
is like, you know, these
705
00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:53,600
companies come at you, you know,
we're going to help you write a
706
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:56,280
best selling book and you're
going to be, you know, like
707
00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,800
Stephen King and life is going
to be good for you.
708
00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:01,680
You're going to be famous and
the girls or men, if you're man
709
00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:03,120
or woman going to swoon after
you.
710
00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:04,720
And all this stuff doesn't work
like that.
711
00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,880
It's more like half Starbucks
wage without the health
712
00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,360
insurance.
So the, the reason I did it was
713
00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:16,640
I just had a crazy circumstance
of events in my life that real
714
00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,040
that was around my raising of my
kids.
715
00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:23,480
And I started talking about it.
You know, actually it's a
716
00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:28,120
business story in a sense.
I was running an electronics
717
00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,600
company in New Jersey at the
time.
718
00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:33,400
Actually it was a camera store
and a photographic supplier and
719
00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:37,760
electronics and so on.
And I started using social media
720
00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:40,200
to promote the business.
I'm going to give you the full
721
00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:43,840
story because it's really, I
think a really valuable story
722
00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:48,440
lesson in life is that I saw we
were early adopters of social
723
00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:49,960
media.
We joked before we got on, you
724
00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:51,560
know, that I was using a, it was
on AOL.
725
00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,480
I mean, we did advertise on AOL.
And what's really sad is
726
00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:56,520
probably there's a bunch of
people listening to you now that
727
00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:59,840
have no clue what that is.
But nevertheless, for those who
728
00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:01,960
do, you know, you'll know what
that know how funny that is.
729
00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:05,800
And I started using social media
for the company.
730
00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:07,160
I wasn't getting a lot of
traction.
731
00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:13,200
So I said, and I was managing
the social media myself for the
732
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:15,640
company.
So finally I just like, OK, I'm
733
00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:18,480
maybe I'm not doing this right.
I hand the social media over to
734
00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:21,720
somebody, you know, half my age
and I'm like, you try to do it
735
00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:24,120
And I'm like, I, I made all
these accounts myself.
736
00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:26,760
I'm just going to start talking
about my own, my own stuff.
737
00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:30,120
And I started talking about
being a single dad.
738
00:38:31,520 --> 00:38:35,760
Like the reaction was, and you
have to go back now.
739
00:38:35,760 --> 00:38:40,600
We're going back 20 years, you
know, in the world of social
740
00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:44,000
media.
I mean, you know, was the
741
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,920
infancy of social media.
So I started talking about
742
00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:50,760
myself, right?
You wouldn't think I'm not even
743
00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,160
a pretty girl.
I started talking about myself
744
00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:57,040
like, you know, what it was like
to be a single dad, having mom
745
00:38:57,040 --> 00:38:59,320
walk out on the kids, having,
you know, like all of this stuff
746
00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,000
and what I would go through.
And then I got the ideas.
747
00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,080
You know what?
I'm the president of this
748
00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,840
company.
I'm going to give people inside
749
00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:11,240
stuff.
So I would go meet with the CEO
750
00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:14,800
or the president of Nikon or
Canon or Kodak or whatever it
751
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:16,520
was.
And I'd be like, you know, and
752
00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:19,000
I'd start talking about it.
What it was like, you know, I
753
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,160
went into his office and this
happened in his office.
754
00:39:21,160 --> 00:39:23,680
You know, he mentioned to me
that this might and all of a
755
00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:26,160
sudden I realized that these
personal stories are what really
756
00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:29,440
get gets attention.
And so out of that, I started
757
00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:35,640
talking more and more about
fatherhood in a way that really
758
00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:39,360
nobody had talked about before.
And then eventually got
759
00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:42,520
approached by a, a publication
called The Good Men Project.
760
00:39:42,720 --> 00:39:45,200
And I started writing articles
for them and then eventually the
761
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:47,520
Huffington Post.
And then combining this stuff I
762
00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:50,360
was writing for Entrepreneur.
And eventually I had this sort
763
00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:54,520
of collection of stories that I
had told about things.
764
00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:57,160
And the stories were getting
lots and lots of reaction.
765
00:39:57,160 --> 00:39:58,400
And then of course, there was
pressure.
766
00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:00,880
You should write a book about.
You should write a book about
767
00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:03,720
it.
And so for me, it was really
768
00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:07,240
that sort of evolutionary
process of just getting the word
769
00:40:07,240 --> 00:40:09,760
out there, talking about it and
finding what sticks with an
770
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,200
audience and then realize I have
enough material.
771
00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:13,640
I could really write a book
about this.
772
00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:17,640
And my book was a best seller.
I was #1 so I have 185 star
773
00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:20,120
reviews out there.
I was #1 in self help for a
774
00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,280
while.
And I will tell you that I get
775
00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:26,400
an e-mail once every week or two
from somebody that tells me my
776
00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:29,080
book has changed their life for
the better.
777
00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,520
They thank me for something I
talk about in that in that.
778
00:40:32,520 --> 00:40:34,880
Book and what influence is it
having on people?
779
00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:36,160
What's?
What's the impact?
780
00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,040
It's so the book has it's multi
layered.
781
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:43,320
So the first is can I curse on
on this broadcast?
782
00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,600
Do you mind if I curse?
Go ahead, go ahead.
783
00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:49,320
I can just unload it.
It's it's how you get out of the
784
00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,160
worst shit that happens to you
in your life, right?
785
00:40:52,280 --> 00:40:55,000
What, how do you sort of get
yourself out of the worst
786
00:40:55,000 --> 00:41:00,280
possible circumstance that you
can find yourself in and how
787
00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:04,480
really you're in most the blame
for why you ended up here and
788
00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:07,680
why you need to not keep
repeating these things on
789
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:10,200
another level.
It's a very spiritual journey.
790
00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:15,400
It's how when you find that part
of your side, your spiritual
791
00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:19,320
side, how it elevates you and
really gives you power to
792
00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:22,960
transform yourself.
And so it's a really it's a
793
00:41:22,960 --> 00:41:25,200
harsh read.
My book is a harsh read.
794
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:30,240
Bad things happen in that book.
And I've had people crying, you
795
00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,720
know, reading the book and
calling me.
796
00:41:32,720 --> 00:41:36,520
It's a big mea culpa on what I
did, but it really helps people.
797
00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:41,840
The other thing that I I get a
lot from people is they thank me
798
00:41:41,840 --> 00:41:45,600
for making the case or
explaining why people stay in
799
00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:49,600
abusive relationships.
You know the famous line where a
800
00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:53,480
woman is being beaten by her
husband and her friend turns to
801
00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:54,920
her and says, well, why don't
you just leave?
802
00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:55,920
Why do you go back?
You know he's going.
803
00:41:55,920 --> 00:41:59,920
To hit you again.
So I think, and I can, I think I
804
00:41:59,920 --> 00:42:02,720
do, because people have told me
over and over and over again
805
00:42:03,120 --> 00:42:06,440
that I do a very, very good job
of explaining how you get stuck
806
00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:10,360
there and why you're there.
And how you get out.
807
00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:11,880
Of it.
Can you summarize it for us
808
00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:13,800
here?
Yeah.
809
00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:19,520
It's a psychological trap.
It's a spiral that puts you in a
810
00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:25,440
ego deflating.
I deserve it kind of mode, a
811
00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:30,520
distortion of reality and an
addiction, a sort of a yo-yo
812
00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:33,840
effect of addiction that kind of
keeps you there.
813
00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:36,160
And there's other things that
keep you there.
814
00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:39,480
You know, there's children can
be involved, there's money which
815
00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:41,560
prevents you from leaving and
control.
816
00:42:41,920 --> 00:42:44,440
But ultimately it's a
psychological trap.
817
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:48,760
And if you get involved with
people that have psychological
818
00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,680
problems like personality
disorders, they have been imbued
819
00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:54,440
with a talent of trapping
people.
820
00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:57,600
They have to trap people because
it's the way they release their
821
00:42:57,600 --> 00:42:59,880
pain.
But this is not a psych podcast.
822
00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:01,720
So how do you break out of the
trap?
823
00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,320
It.
It's just an inner strength.
824
00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:08,560
In my case, it was spirituality
that helped me, that really
825
00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:12,800
helped me understand and gain
the strength to pull myself
826
00:43:12,880 --> 00:43:14,080
pull.
Myself out your Jewish.
827
00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:17,080
Faith connecting with God.
Gave you connection with God and
828
00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:19,720
the other.
Aspect I think, which really
829
00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:26,480
helped me was I had little kids.
So you turn around and you're
830
00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:28,760
look at the kids and the kids
are looking up at you or like,
831
00:43:28,760 --> 00:43:34,000
dad, you got to fix this.
Like like do something, do
832
00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:37,000
something, do something, loser.
OK, right.
833
00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:38,520
And you know, you have your
kids.
834
00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:41,160
You don't want your kids ending
up on the street in jail, drug,
835
00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:43,520
taking drugs.
You know, you love your kids,
836
00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:46,000
right?
So if it's not for not for you,
837
00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:48,200
at least, you know, let's save
the family.
838
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:51,240
So it's a spiritual connection.
It's saving the family.
839
00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:56,200
It's it's a question you have to
and and this is my by personal
840
00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:59,040
motto, which is how badly do you
want it?
841
00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:02,480
If you want something badly
enough, you're just gonna will
842
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:05,520
up the strength to figure out
how to do it.
843
00:44:05,520 --> 00:44:07,200
And I wanted to save my kids
badly enough.
844
00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:09,160
I wanted to save myself badly
enough.
845
00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:11,480
That's powerful motivation.
It's powerful.
846
00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:12,120
Badly.
It's.
847
00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:14,920
Powerful.
And you know, I, I, I actually
848
00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:17,880
use this when I give, when I
give talks.
849
00:44:18,360 --> 00:44:20,640
I remember I was, I was giving a
talk.
850
00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,920
I'll give you a sort of a really
good life example of that.
851
00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:25,160
I'll transform that into
something positive.
852
00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:27,120
I was giving a talk.
It was in actually in Manhattan,
853
00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:30,240
right in Times Square in the
Microsoft facility.
854
00:44:30,800 --> 00:44:33,000
And it was a.
Talk to.
855
00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:38,640
Basically a middle-aged group.
Of Ivy League graduates, you had
856
00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:42,560
to have an I like an Ivy League
MBA to be in the room and be
857
00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:45,040
unemployed or wanting to change
employment.
858
00:44:46,480 --> 00:44:49,080
OK.
And so the goal was, it was
859
00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:50,200
just.
I was giving the keynotes.
860
00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:52,560
So it was really just talk about
any, you know, anything you
861
00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:54,560
want.
And the speech was centered
862
00:44:54,560 --> 00:44:57,360
around, you know, you can
basically do anything.
863
00:44:57,360 --> 00:44:59,600
You guys are super smart.
You're doing all this.
864
00:44:59,600 --> 00:45:02,160
This was kind of the talk.
It was a leadership talk, you
865
00:45:02,160 --> 00:45:05,160
know, motivating talk.
And I remember I'm giving this
866
00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:08,440
talk and there's a woman like
sitting in the front row.
867
00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:10,040
If you've ever given a speech,
like, you know, you're looking
868
00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:11,560
at, there probably 100 people in
the room.
869
00:45:11,960 --> 00:45:14,720
So you're giving the talk and
there's a woman like in the
870
00:45:14,720 --> 00:45:16,680
first or second row.
And as I'm giving this, she's
871
00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:19,600
just shaking her head, like just
shaking her.
872
00:45:19,880 --> 00:45:20,880
She's not agreeing.
Huh.
873
00:45:21,480 --> 00:45:24,680
She not agreeing with nothing.
And she's letting you know it.
874
00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:26,480
She's.
Letting me know it I'm not.
875
00:45:26,800 --> 00:45:29,960
A bashful, you know, so you're
trying to you just sort of go
876
00:45:29,960 --> 00:45:32,320
on.
Eventually I'm like, OK, I stop.
877
00:45:32,640 --> 00:45:36,840
I go over Lucy.
You know, Miss, whatever,
878
00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:38,240
whatever your name is, I see
you.
879
00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:41,680
You don't agree with me.
And.
880
00:45:42,440 --> 00:45:44,480
And I say what, what is it that
you don't agree with?
881
00:45:45,040 --> 00:45:48,560
And she basically disagrees with
this basic point that you can
882
00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:50,640
have anything you want if you
want it badly enough.
883
00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:54,680
And she goes to me, she goes to
me.
884
00:45:55,480 --> 00:45:57,920
What if I wanted to be a doctor?
I can't be a doctor.
885
00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:01,600
I'm like, you definitely can.
So I.
886
00:46:01,600 --> 00:46:03,920
Start to question her.
I'm like, where's your degree
887
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:07,360
from?
She actually went to I want to
888
00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:08,560
remember.
It was Ivy League school.
889
00:46:08,720 --> 00:46:10,880
She had an MBA or something from
one of the Ivy League schools.
890
00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:14,720
I want to say, yeah, she's a
bright person, right?
891
00:46:14,720 --> 00:46:15,200
Super.
Bright.
892
00:46:15,240 --> 00:46:18,040
You know, super bright.
I'm like, can I ask you some
893
00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:19,480
personal questions?
She goes, sure.
894
00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:22,960
I go, are you married?
I go, does your is your husband
895
00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:25,720
employed?
Yep.
896
00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:28,320
Are you financially OK?
You know, obviously I'm not
897
00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:30,520
saying you don't don't tell me
what you make, but you're
898
00:46:30,520 --> 00:46:32,120
financially OK.
You're making the mortgage.
899
00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:35,800
You're OK.
I'm like, and I'm not going to
900
00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:40,000
ask your age, but I'm going to
guess that if you, if you right
901
00:46:40,000 --> 00:46:44,800
now apply to medical school with
your degree, you might get in,
902
00:46:45,160 --> 00:46:46,920
maybe not.
Maybe you might have to because
903
00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:48,360
I don't know what your
undergraduate, You might have to
904
00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:52,360
take biology, some basic classes
and then you're a mature person
905
00:46:52,360 --> 00:46:53,800
with that.
I bet that I can find the
906
00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,920
medical school that you get in
and in 10 years from now your
907
00:46:56,920 --> 00:46:59,080
kids are grown up, right?
Yes, kids are grown up.
908
00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:02,800
So in 10 years from now, you'll
be a doctor, you'll be in your,
909
00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:06,160
you'll be in your mid 40s, even
though she'll probably be closer
910
00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:08,880
to 50s.
I'll be in your mid 40s and you
911
00:47:08,880 --> 00:47:10,440
could be a doctor.
You just have to work for 10
912
00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:12,240
years.
Do you want that badly enough?
913
00:47:12,240 --> 00:47:14,680
If you do, just go do it.
Do it.
914
00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:15,520
Nobody.
'S stopping you.
915
00:47:15,640 --> 00:47:16,520
You can.
Afford to live.
916
00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:18,600
You actually have it easy.
Your husband's working.
917
00:47:18,600 --> 00:47:21,360
He's making money.
Go to medical school right now.
918
00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:22,600
Change careers.
You don't like what you're
919
00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:23,440
doing.
It's your dream.
920
00:47:23,520 --> 00:47:24,800
It's what you want.
It's your response.
921
00:47:26,160 --> 00:47:30,080
She's like, well, the thing.
She basically I I won, I won.
922
00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:32,160
She started.
She actually took a good
923
00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:34,240
attitude about it.
By the way, in the end she goes,
924
00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:36,720
yes, you're right, but is that
realistic?
925
00:47:36,720 --> 00:47:39,720
I'm like, it's realistic.
If you want it badly enough, I'm
926
00:47:39,720 --> 00:47:42,920
not telling you to go do it.
Like if you came to me as a
927
00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:45,800
coach, right, and I was going to
coach you, I don't know if I
928
00:47:45,800 --> 00:47:47,320
would send you in that
direction.
929
00:47:47,680 --> 00:47:51,000
But if you telling me that
you're a lifelong dream and you
930
00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:55,080
had I'll make up some story.
You had children at 17 and you
931
00:47:55,080 --> 00:47:57,880
had another child at 19 and you
had to go to work and you
932
00:47:57,880 --> 00:47:59,440
couldn't do it and blah, blah,
blah.
933
00:47:59,720 --> 00:48:01,560
And now you had your career and
this was your dream.
934
00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:05,200
I'm like, go do it.
You're going to live to 8090
935
00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:07,040
years old.
That's your life expectancy at
936
00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:08,560
this point.
Go, go do it.
937
00:48:09,040 --> 00:48:10,600
You can spend 30 years as a
doctor.
938
00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:13,600
Go And I'm glad that we.
Touched on this story.
939
00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:16,600
Because it highlights something
else that you spend your time
940
00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,600
doing.
You're consultant, business
941
00:48:18,600 --> 00:48:21,960
coach and keynote speaker.
How do you find time for all
942
00:48:21,960 --> 00:48:23,440
this?
Yeah, 'cause I'm like.
943
00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:26,560
I'm not a vacation guy, a play
guy.
944
00:48:27,280 --> 00:48:30,200
This is, I don't know, it's a
good thing or a bad thing.
945
00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:34,320
I just high energy, a little
ADHD kind of and I funnel that.
946
00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:36,680
I'm probably, I'm actually
trying to, you know, I've been
947
00:48:36,680 --> 00:48:40,360
on enough radio, podcast, TV and
stuff to try to keep my speech
948
00:48:40,520 --> 00:48:44,200
at a reasonable speed.
But you know, so I'm a very high
949
00:48:44,200 --> 00:48:46,800
energy person.
And for me, this is what I
950
00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:50,000
really, I really like to do.
I have right now in, in the
951
00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:53,000
middle of everything, I have
multiple coaching clients.
952
00:48:53,120 --> 00:48:56,280
It's not like I have a coaching
business right per SE, but I
953
00:48:56,280 --> 00:48:58,000
have select clients that come to
me.
954
00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:02,200
I usually high level clients.
I, I actually have right now
955
00:49:02,400 --> 00:49:06,360
three clients. 1 is a very
famous Yogi.
956
00:49:08,040 --> 00:49:14,840
Woman Very.
Famous 1 is a rabbi who comes
957
00:49:14,840 --> 00:49:15,760
to.
Me for advice.
958
00:49:15,760 --> 00:49:20,640
Because I do a really good job
of bridging that religious world
959
00:49:20,640 --> 00:49:24,760
and the regular world.
And for a religious person,
960
00:49:25,000 --> 00:49:26,760
sometimes that's helped them.
I've helped them in his
961
00:49:26,760 --> 00:49:29,520
businesses and his life and all
sorts of things.
962
00:49:29,520 --> 00:49:34,960
He had a legal thing.
I've done that and I have a very
963
00:49:34,960 --> 00:49:39,080
high level architect working in
a major city, runs a big
964
00:49:39,080 --> 00:49:41,440
architecture firm.
Those are the kinds of clients I
965
00:49:41,440 --> 00:49:46,880
like because I can.
They have money to effectuate
966
00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:51,120
the things I tell them.
So you like to think big, and
967
00:49:51,120 --> 00:49:52,840
you like to.
Think thinking big.
968
00:49:53,400 --> 00:49:54,720
Like I'm better.
I'm not.
969
00:49:55,040 --> 00:49:58,160
Like if you tell me I'm on drugs
and I'm about to kill myself,
970
00:49:58,160 --> 00:50:02,400
that's for the psychiatrist.
That's not I I that's not a fit
971
00:50:02,400 --> 00:50:03,320
for you.
Yeah, I can't.
972
00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:04,400
That's.
Not a fit for me I'm.
973
00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:07,120
Not no, please.
You want you want a high
974
00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:08,840
performance.
Who wants to give you a level
975
00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:10,040
of?
Even more right, right.
976
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:13,160
That's really my target is to
take somebody who's operating at
977
00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:16,840
a pretty high level and, and
what can you do for them?
978
00:50:19,200 --> 00:50:22,560
I think I, you know what I, I
think it is because these people
979
00:50:22,560 --> 00:50:24,480
are just smart as I am.
It's not smarter.
980
00:50:25,120 --> 00:50:29,560
I think what it is, is that on
their level of smartness in some
981
00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:31,560
range.
I'm, I'm not saying this to
982
00:50:31,560 --> 00:50:37,320
compliment myself, but I give
them a non emotional analytical
983
00:50:37,320 --> 00:50:41,080
perspective and creative at
times on their life.
984
00:50:42,040 --> 00:50:46,800
And so it gives them because
it's hard to be your own, your
985
00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:50,160
own coach, right?
Particularly if you're working.
986
00:50:50,160 --> 00:50:52,280
At a high level and you're under
a lot of pressure and there's
987
00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:55,480
complication in your life, you
know, when you're dealing with,
988
00:50:55,560 --> 00:51:00,320
I'll use the architect, right?
He's got a legal issue going on.
989
00:51:00,320 --> 00:51:01,880
He's got a business issue going
on.
990
00:51:01,880 --> 00:51:04,560
He's got an ex-wife.
He's got all, you know, tax
991
00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:05,640
issue.
He's got all these things.
992
00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:07,960
I know all of this stuff.
I run businesses, I've raised
993
00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:09,960
kids, I've raised family.
I know all of this and I can
994
00:51:09,960 --> 00:51:13,080
give him a very unique
perspective on it.
995
00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:16,520
I also go to reading people so I
can understand what's going on.
996
00:51:16,520 --> 00:51:18,360
He'll be like, why did this
person do this?
997
00:51:18,680 --> 00:51:20,720
And you know, and he's attached
to the person you don't
998
00:51:20,720 --> 00:51:23,080
understand.
So I'm looking at it just from a
999
00:51:23,080 --> 00:51:24,760
distance and just from the
information.
1000
00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:27,720
So I've actually been very, you
want to know the truth.
1001
00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:33,720
It's probably been my most
successful area of occupation in
1002
00:51:33,720 --> 00:51:37,400
a sense because I've helped
dozens of people at this level,
1003
00:51:37,560 --> 00:51:41,720
like really raise their level,
usually above my level, the
1004
00:51:41,720 --> 00:51:43,560
level that I work at.
I always think that's kind of
1005
00:51:43,560 --> 00:51:46,600
God's plan for me.
So if somebody's.
1006
00:51:46,600 --> 00:51:48,720
Listening and you know, they
they kind of like what they hear
1007
00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:51,920
about Matt Sweetwood like what
would be a good.
1008
00:51:51,920 --> 00:51:54,040
Fit for you?
In terms of a a coaching client,
1009
00:51:54,040 --> 00:51:58,640
they are an owner or a founder
or they're what?
1010
00:51:58,640 --> 00:52:01,320
Yes, describe them.
Yeah, it could be a founder,
1011
00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:03,000
even a.
Startup founder because I I know
1012
00:52:03,000 --> 00:52:05,440
really know that game.
I know the fundraising game.
1013
00:52:05,440 --> 00:52:08,200
I know how to do that.
I know how to set up a business
1014
00:52:08,560 --> 00:52:11,920
keeping within expenses.
Somebody who's running a mid
1015
00:52:11,920 --> 00:52:15,440
sized company or a small sized
company themselves, the CEO or
1016
00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:19,040
one of the senior executives, a
professional of any kind,
1017
00:52:19,200 --> 00:52:22,120
dentist, doctor, lawyer,
accountant, whatever, that kind
1018
00:52:22,120 --> 00:52:23,720
of thing where I can really help
them.
1019
00:52:23,960 --> 00:52:26,360
You know, any kind of
entrepreneur, that kind of level
1020
00:52:26,360 --> 00:52:29,080
person, I can really improve
their lives.
1021
00:52:29,080 --> 00:52:33,560
They typically have complicated
personal lives to go with it
1022
00:52:34,880 --> 00:52:36,080
typically.
That goes with it.
1023
00:52:36,080 --> 00:52:38,520
I don't mean.
Complicated, Like weird
1024
00:52:38,520 --> 00:52:40,680
complicated.
I mean, they just have heavy,
1025
00:52:40,960 --> 00:52:44,400
heavy, responsible, heavy
burdens of responsibility.
1026
00:52:44,680 --> 00:52:47,200
And sort of, I'm very good at
helping them juggle that and
1027
00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:50,160
improve the quality of their
life, usually make more money
1028
00:52:50,520 --> 00:52:53,240
and improve the quality of their
life and avoid problems.
1029
00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:57,760
And #3 is something I've done
many, many, many times, like
1030
00:52:57,760 --> 00:53:01,320
where I say don't do that or do
this and something better will
1031
00:53:01,320 --> 00:53:03,160
happen for you.
If you do this, it's going to go
1032
00:53:03,400 --> 00:53:06,640
completely wrong about for the
keynote speaking.
1033
00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:10,400
Side of your business, like what
are some good groups that would
1034
00:53:10,400 --> 00:53:13,480
be a fit for you?
What kind of messages can you
1035
00:53:13,480 --> 00:53:15,760
deliver to them?
Yeah, I talk on.
1036
00:53:16,320 --> 00:53:19,920
I try to not to, I, I'm not the
guy that goes in and gives your
1037
00:53:19,920 --> 00:53:24,320
sales department the, the sales
technique.
1038
00:53:24,720 --> 00:53:28,200
I'm a keynote kind of speaker.
I talk on leadership, I talk on
1039
00:53:28,200 --> 00:53:30,760
happiness.
I talk on finding your purpose.
1040
00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:35,440
I'm really sort of motivating
you to get out of that everyday
1041
00:53:35,600 --> 00:53:39,280
thing and look to how to better
your life to really, really make
1042
00:53:39,280 --> 00:53:42,000
a difference.
I've also, I also have a very
1043
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:45,280
good talk that I've given to, to
temples and houses of worship
1044
00:53:45,480 --> 00:53:47,680
along the way.
But typically I do that for, I
1045
00:53:47,680 --> 00:53:49,480
do that for fun, for fun a
little bit.
1046
00:53:49,640 --> 00:53:52,800
But I'm the guy who shows up at
any conference, can give that
1047
00:53:52,800 --> 00:53:56,080
keynote speech and talk about
leadership on how you can better
1048
00:53:56,080 --> 00:53:58,840
yourself, how you can be more
productive or more happy in your
1049
00:53:58,840 --> 00:53:59,920
life.
I have a couple different
1050
00:53:59,920 --> 00:54:03,040
versions which I will tailor for
the industry that I I go in.
1051
00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:06,120
You mentioned something.
Earlier in the interview about
1052
00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:09,400
how you've hired thousands of
people and you believe this is a
1053
00:54:09,440 --> 00:54:13,080
a really important skill.
Can you provide some advice for
1054
00:54:13,080 --> 00:54:16,360
our listeners on, you know, I
don't know, good questions best
1055
00:54:16,720 --> 00:54:19,400
practices kind of a thing.
Yeah, I'll, I'll.
1056
00:54:19,800 --> 00:54:22,680
Start with an anecdote.
I was at a conference, you know,
1057
00:54:22,680 --> 00:54:25,400
and after you give a talk, they
always, they, they get you to be
1058
00:54:25,400 --> 00:54:27,160
on a panel, right?
They multitask you.
1059
00:54:27,160 --> 00:54:29,000
You always, by the way, if
you're ever speaking, you always
1060
00:54:29,000 --> 00:54:30,640
volunteer for that.
They love you when you do that.
1061
00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:33,760
So we're on a panel.
I remember I was on a panel with
1062
00:54:33,760 --> 00:54:36,760
like HR people, which I really
should not be on a panel with HR
1063
00:54:36,760 --> 00:54:38,600
people, but it was OK, I'm
there.
1064
00:54:38,840 --> 00:54:41,800
And they were asking everybody,
you know, what were good HR
1065
00:54:41,800 --> 00:54:45,240
practices.
And the final question was name
1066
00:54:45,240 --> 00:54:47,400
the quality you look.
It was like sort of a silly
1067
00:54:47,400 --> 00:54:49,720
question.
Name the quality that you most
1068
00:54:50,080 --> 00:54:52,680
admire or most look for in
somebody you're hiring.
1069
00:54:52,880 --> 00:54:55,680
You know, when you get the usual
answers, you know, I'm looking
1070
00:54:55,680 --> 00:54:59,680
for a diverse thing that fits in
the thing and the thing and that
1071
00:54:59,680 --> 00:55:03,040
gets along in the whole bit.
So I got, everybody had used up
1072
00:55:03,040 --> 00:55:05,120
all the sort of traditional
stuff when it came to me.
1073
00:55:05,560 --> 00:55:08,240
And so my answer was I look for
kindness.
1074
00:55:10,600 --> 00:55:12,880
And so I actually.
Do do that.
1075
00:55:13,080 --> 00:55:16,360
And I find that particularly,
you know, if you have a big
1076
00:55:16,360 --> 00:55:20,200
company, you're hiring the
meanest to the kindest.
1077
00:55:20,240 --> 00:55:22,160
You know, it's a little more
difficult when you have to hire
1078
00:55:22,160 --> 00:55:24,880
thousands of people.
But when you're in a company and
1079
00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:27,640
you're hiring two people and
four people and eight people and
1080
00:55:27,640 --> 00:55:32,760
that kind of thing, if you just
simply have a kindness score on
1081
00:55:32,760 --> 00:55:37,320
them, you will hire people that
get along with.
1082
00:55:37,320 --> 00:55:40,720
Everybody.
Avoid politic and create a
1083
00:55:40,720 --> 00:55:44,120
workplace which is ultimately
significantly more productive.
1084
00:55:44,920 --> 00:55:48,440
And that kindness factor has
really stood me in in good
1085
00:55:48,440 --> 00:55:50,200
stead.
I did that at this lab that I
1086
00:55:50,200 --> 00:55:53,080
have there's seven other 7-8
other employees there.
1087
00:55:53,600 --> 00:55:57,400
I actually when I walked in, I
dismissed within a very short
1088
00:55:57,400 --> 00:56:01,560
amount of time the mean
employee, OK, even though she
1089
00:56:01,560 --> 00:56:05,200
had some high level competence.
I'll tell you what I did.
1090
00:56:05,200 --> 00:56:07,960
So I worked into place a
relatively false small facility
1091
00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:11,080
and I was only there a few hours
a day kind of in as a on a
1092
00:56:11,080 --> 00:56:15,080
consulting basis.
And so I got in there and they
1093
00:56:15,080 --> 00:56:18,600
introduced me and I looked
around the room and everybody
1094
00:56:18,600 --> 00:56:21,920
had smiles on their face but one
person, right?
1095
00:56:22,080 --> 00:56:25,800
Who saw me immediately?
As a threat, OK, even though
1096
00:56:25,800 --> 00:56:27,120
this is like a technician,
right?
1097
00:56:27,120 --> 00:56:29,400
Like a high level technician.
I mean, I wouldn't know how to
1098
00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:32,480
pipette, you know, water into a
coffee mug.
1099
00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:37,400
OK, so you know what I did?
I went in, they had her desk was
1100
00:56:37,400 --> 00:56:39,600
sitting there and they had sort
of this conference table.
1101
00:56:39,880 --> 00:56:42,280
I went and I said my desk is on
the conference table.
1102
00:56:42,480 --> 00:56:45,160
I put my laptop down on the
conference table right next to
1103
00:56:45,160 --> 00:56:48,120
her.
And worked with her and realized
1104
00:56:48,120 --> 00:56:50,000
that she was.
Torturing everybody, let her go
1105
00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:52,640
within a short amount of time
and replaced her with somebody,
1106
00:56:52,880 --> 00:56:55,400
this young man who is just total
sweetheart.
1107
00:56:56,080 --> 00:56:57,920
So in that kind of an
environment.
1108
00:56:57,920 --> 00:57:01,080
It's easy to pretty quickly
understand, like who's kind,
1109
00:57:01,080 --> 00:57:03,160
who's not, because you're
spending extended periods of
1110
00:57:03,160 --> 00:57:03,680
time, right?
That's right.
1111
00:57:03,680 --> 00:57:05,000
That's right.
What about any interview?
1112
00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:06,920
Process how is.
That something you can vet out?
1113
00:57:06,960 --> 00:57:08,720
Yeah.
So you're vetting that?
1114
00:57:08,720 --> 00:57:12,560
Out along with a bunch of other
things and once you get.
1115
00:57:12,560 --> 00:57:15,280
Through SO.
Being always sort of coming,
1116
00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:17,320
being at a top level in a
company, I always have an
1117
00:57:17,320 --> 00:57:21,120
advantage of having basic
competency tested before it gets
1118
00:57:21,120 --> 00:57:23,320
to me.
So I'm not in the process
1119
00:57:23,320 --> 00:57:26,320
typically of testing the
competency of the person, right.
1120
00:57:26,320 --> 00:57:29,640
So if you're hiring a lab
technician as the example, by
1121
00:57:29,640 --> 00:57:32,200
the time they get to me, I've
already spoken to the staff and
1122
00:57:32,240 --> 00:57:33,720
they've already told me the
person has the right
1123
00:57:33,720 --> 00:57:35,320
certification.
They've done this.
1124
00:57:35,720 --> 00:57:41,280
So then what I do is I try to
understand whether the person
1125
00:57:41,520 --> 00:57:45,200
matches the documents that are
standing in front of me because
1126
00:57:45,200 --> 00:57:48,800
that measures integrity.
Then what I do is I just want to
1127
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:54,120
get the person talking.
So I almost treat it like a
1128
00:57:54,120 --> 00:57:57,360
networking opportunity.
I was going to say dating
1129
00:57:57,360 --> 00:57:59,680
opportunity, but that's bad form
in this case.
1130
00:58:00,040 --> 00:58:03,120
But it's you use some of the
dating and networking use
1131
00:58:03,120 --> 00:58:05,920
similar skills.
And this applies to men and
1132
00:58:05,920 --> 00:58:08,240
women.
I'm just this, this is not, it
1133
00:58:08,240 --> 00:58:11,280
doesn't matter.
And you just, you get, you talk
1134
00:58:11,280 --> 00:58:14,560
to them, you find something that
interests them and you get them
1135
00:58:14,560 --> 00:58:16,840
talking.
And I promise you, if you get
1136
00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:21,000
someone talking for 5 or 10
minutes and they're under a
1137
00:58:21,000 --> 00:58:22,640
little bit of pressure, right,
because they're in their
1138
00:58:22,640 --> 00:58:25,760
interview, so they have some
level of nervousness, their
1139
00:58:25,760 --> 00:58:29,800
personality comes out almost
every time, almost every time,
1140
00:58:30,080 --> 00:58:31,560
and you're trying to get them to
talk about.
1141
00:58:31,560 --> 00:58:34,280
Something that's personal,
something outside of work, it
1142
00:58:34,280 --> 00:58:35,480
could be kind of drop their
bond.
1143
00:58:35,480 --> 00:58:37,120
A little bit like.
Like sometimes I'll.
1144
00:58:37,120 --> 00:58:39,440
Be like, I'll laugh.
I'll be like, So tell me.
1145
00:58:39,440 --> 00:58:41,840
Tell me about your last lamb.
How'd you like the people there?
1146
00:58:43,520 --> 00:58:46,320
There's a great question.
You get all.
1147
00:58:46,320 --> 00:58:50,000
Sorts of answers.
You know, you know, one of the
1148
00:58:50,000 --> 00:58:52,160
reasons why I left that lab is
blah blah.
1149
00:58:52,280 --> 00:58:53,920
You know, you can get an answer
like that.
1150
00:58:54,600 --> 00:58:57,320
They were all great people.
I hated to leave.
1151
00:58:57,320 --> 00:58:59,320
I still keep in touch with all
of them.
1152
00:58:59,440 --> 00:59:02,320
Blah, blah.
Giving you both, both ends of
1153
00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:03,160
the spectrum.
Yeah.
1154
00:59:03,400 --> 00:59:05,800
Then if they'll say, you know
the people there, didn't you?
1155
00:59:05,800 --> 00:59:07,120
I'm like, so why do you think
that?
1156
00:59:07,120 --> 00:59:09,200
Tell me why you think they
didn't treat you well.
1157
00:59:09,320 --> 00:59:13,560
What happened?
Well, you know, we were meeting.
1158
00:59:13,560 --> 00:59:17,520
At the, we had a, we had a party
after the thing and everybody
1159
00:59:17,520 --> 00:59:20,560
excluded me from the party.
You know, we were at the, the,
1160
00:59:20,760 --> 00:59:22,400
the Yacht Club and we were doing
this.
1161
00:59:22,640 --> 00:59:25,760
I'm like, oh, have you ever been
boating anyway?
1162
00:59:25,760 --> 00:59:27,720
You know, I'm just giving you
just you start talking.
1163
00:59:28,160 --> 00:59:31,080
And if you talk to somebody, you
get through basic competency,
1164
00:59:31,280 --> 00:59:35,320
you double check the competency.
You, you check their facts.
1165
00:59:36,280 --> 00:59:39,280
You ask very careful questions
about their history and see if
1166
00:59:39,280 --> 00:59:41,960
it lines up.
And then you just get them
1167
00:59:41,960 --> 00:59:44,440
talking.
And in getting, if a goal is to
1168
00:59:44,440 --> 00:59:47,600
measure kindness and
truthfulness, all you need to do
1169
00:59:47,600 --> 00:59:50,720
is get somebody talking.
And if I get somebody who is
1170
00:59:50,720 --> 00:59:55,120
honest and kind and has the core
competency, the likelihood of
1171
00:59:55,120 --> 00:59:58,480
success goes through the roof
that.
1172
00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:00,160
I can fight with my people.
They're not going to.
1173
01:00:00,160 --> 01:00:03,520
Disrupt the environment and so
on.
1174
01:00:03,920 --> 01:00:06,520
Yeah, Matt, I just got one more
question for.
1175
01:00:06,520 --> 01:00:08,520
You But before I ask it, I want
to do a couple of things.
1176
01:00:08,520 --> 01:00:11,120
First, I'm going to invite all
the listeners to go ahead and
1177
01:00:11,120 --> 01:00:14,400
hit the follow button on their
favorite podcast app to get more
1178
01:00:14,400 --> 01:00:17,760
great content like we've had
here today with Matt Sweetwood.
1179
01:00:18,240 --> 01:00:20,880
And I'm also going to let people
know the best way to get in
1180
01:00:20,880 --> 01:00:23,560
touch with you, which I
understand is M Sweet
1181
01:00:23,760 --> 01:00:28,640
msweetwood.com.
It's also all of your social
1182
01:00:28,640 --> 01:00:31,440
media handles everywhere they go
at M Sweetwood.
1183
01:00:31,440 --> 01:00:34,360
At M Sweetwood everywhere,
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
1184
01:00:34,840 --> 01:00:36,440
LinkedIn, everything just type
in.
1185
01:00:36,920 --> 01:00:39,880
Actually, if you just Google
Matt Sweetwood, I I do come up
1186
01:00:40,120 --> 01:00:41,840
and but just don't believe half
the stuff you read.
1187
01:00:41,840 --> 01:00:44,560
It's not all true.
OK.
1188
01:00:44,600 --> 01:00:46,120
So Matt, last question for.
You.
1189
01:00:46,360 --> 01:00:49,760
If you and I reconnect a year
from now, what do you think
1190
01:00:50,040 --> 01:00:52,080
you're celebrating?
What are you happy about?
1191
01:00:52,080 --> 01:00:53,560
What are you clicking your heels
for?
1192
01:00:54,680 --> 01:00:56,440
Maybe my?
7th grandkid.
1193
01:00:56,480 --> 01:00:58,440
I have 6 now.
You're kidding.
1194
01:00:58,440 --> 01:00:59,880
Maybe.
Maybe.
1195
01:01:00,120 --> 01:01:01,680
And I'm glad that I'm glad that
that's your.
1196
01:01:01,680 --> 01:01:03,680
Answer because we didn't like
you.
1197
01:01:03,720 --> 01:01:06,440
You sort of talked about it a
little bit in the context of
1198
01:01:06,440 --> 01:01:09,560
your book.
But, you know, you in the intro,
1199
01:01:09,560 --> 01:01:12,920
we said, you know, your greatest
accomplishment was raising your
1200
01:01:12,920 --> 01:01:15,720
successful kids.
Talk a little bit about that.
1201
01:01:15,840 --> 01:01:17,640
Yeah.
I mean, so I had a circumstance.
1202
01:01:17,640 --> 01:01:21,400
Where I was you go back to a
really date myself despite my
1203
01:01:21,560 --> 01:01:25,880
youthful appearance back in the
90s, you know, I was typical
1204
01:01:25,880 --> 01:01:28,600
working dad.
You know the idea stay at home
1205
01:01:28,600 --> 01:01:33,560
mom, you know raise the kids and
but my life blew up Mom walked
1206
01:01:33,560 --> 01:01:37,760
out on the kids and I ended up
having to raise tiny little kid.
1207
01:01:37,760 --> 01:01:41,400
She walked out when the youngest
was 18 months still in diapers
1208
01:01:41,680 --> 01:01:45,000
and the oldest was 8.
I had five kids and I had to
1209
01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:48,840
deal with an insane court
system, businesses that were
1210
01:01:48,840 --> 01:01:53,160
failing at the time, and a very
difficult to say the least
1211
01:01:53,240 --> 01:01:56,760
ex-wife who put us under attack.
I write about that in my book
1212
01:01:56,760 --> 01:01:58,400
Leader of the Pack.
It's a great read.
1213
01:01:58,760 --> 01:02:00,360
People usually read it in one
night, by the way.
1214
01:02:00,360 --> 01:02:03,600
They always say I can't, I'm
just going to check it out, read
1215
01:02:03,600 --> 01:02:05,720
it all in one night.
And then like, wow, wow, wow.
1216
01:02:06,640 --> 01:02:10,720
And so turned me from a boy into
a man and learned how to raise
1217
01:02:10,720 --> 01:02:14,120
kids and run a business and
manage life at a high speed and,
1218
01:02:14,840 --> 01:02:17,520
you know, figure out all the
things that were wrong with me
1219
01:02:17,800 --> 01:02:20,520
that led me to this kind of
place.
1220
01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:23,160
So I'm a better man because of
it.
1221
01:02:23,560 --> 01:02:25,000
How did you find the strength
to?
1222
01:02:25,000 --> 01:02:27,880
Get through that.
I mean one of those.
1223
01:02:27,880 --> 01:02:30,960
Things alone.
Could be enough to cripple most
1224
01:02:30,960 --> 01:02:33,280
people you had failing
businesses.
1225
01:02:33,280 --> 01:02:36,800
You you know we're going through
a divorce with an ex-wife who
1226
01:02:36,800 --> 01:02:39,120
sounds like maybe maybe she had
some stability issues.
1227
01:02:39,120 --> 01:02:40,760
Yeah, maybe.
Yeah, maybe that's a good.
1228
01:02:41,280 --> 01:02:47,880
You're you're becoming a single.
Dad to 12345 kids, all of them
1229
01:02:47,920 --> 01:02:50,840
young, some of them in toddler
phase.
1230
01:02:50,840 --> 01:02:54,000
Like yeah.
Did you have a support system?
1231
01:02:54,000 --> 01:02:56,280
Is is this where you got
stronger in your faith?
1232
01:02:56,280 --> 01:02:57,880
Like what?
How did you pull yourself
1233
01:02:57,880 --> 01:03:00,520
through this?
It's sort of a combination.
1234
01:03:00,520 --> 01:03:03,600
Of all of those things you you
talk about, I fortunately was
1235
01:03:04,160 --> 01:03:07,280
financially just well enough
because and the divorce was
1236
01:03:07,640 --> 01:03:09,640
catastrophic.
I mean, and I write about it in
1237
01:03:09,640 --> 01:03:13,240
the book I actually got.
I had nanny come help me.
1238
01:03:13,440 --> 01:03:14,320
I did.
I did.
1239
01:03:14,680 --> 01:03:16,720
I didn't have much family.
Smart, a very small family.
1240
01:03:16,720 --> 01:03:18,360
My mom was older, you know,
older.
1241
01:03:18,360 --> 01:03:34,260
She had Parkinson's.
To my level become a man you.
1242
01:03:34,260 --> 01:03:35,900
Know tough it up, figure out how
to do it.
1243
01:03:36,340 --> 01:03:40,460
I have high energy.
God gifted me with really good
1244
01:03:40,460 --> 01:03:44,800
physical strength and as a
result I was able to figure it
1245
01:03:44,800 --> 01:03:48,280
out and making a spiritual
connection really gave me that
1246
01:03:48,280 --> 01:03:52,200
extra push that I needed.
And like I said before, I mean
1247
01:03:52,200 --> 01:03:54,520
your kids look up at you and
you're looking at them you're
1248
01:03:54,520 --> 01:03:59,320
like, Matt, don't F this up.
Like like you got to make this.
1249
01:03:59,320 --> 01:04:01,720
You got to make this work.
We need you, Dad.
1250
01:04:02,360 --> 01:04:04,880
Right we.
You're the captain, you're the
1251
01:04:04,880 --> 01:04:09,120
captain, man, right?
Like do something like we can't
1252
01:04:09,120 --> 01:04:10,680
live.
Like they're not saying this.
1253
01:04:10,680 --> 01:04:12,880
It's in their eyes.
It's in their right.
1254
01:04:12,880 --> 01:04:15,680
You understand what I'm saying?
So you.
1255
01:04:15,680 --> 01:04:16,600
Just you.
Figure it.
1256
01:04:16,600 --> 01:04:17,760
You just figure it out.
That's all.
1257
01:04:17,760 --> 01:04:18,960
I, I don't even know.
I figured it out.
1258
01:04:19,400 --> 01:04:22,040
Like sometimes like I'll, you
know, it's funny because now
1259
01:04:22,040 --> 01:04:24,720
I'll go out to a restaurant and
I'll see a family with like 3
1260
01:04:24,720 --> 01:04:28,200
kids, you know, throwing
meatballs across the restaurant
1261
01:04:28,440 --> 01:04:34,160
and I'm like, how did I do that?
How did I, how did I, is there
1262
01:04:34,160 --> 01:04:36,400
an adult section of this
restaurant, you know, kind of
1263
01:04:36,400 --> 01:04:37,960
thing?
How did I do that?
1264
01:04:38,480 --> 01:04:41,640
I don't know how you know what I
think the best answer to you is?
1265
01:04:41,640 --> 01:04:45,120
I have no idea how I did that.
You read my book, it's in there
1266
01:04:45,120 --> 01:04:48,160
somewhere and and that's it.
Fair enough.
1267
01:04:48,680 --> 01:04:49,960
OK, we.
Got marching orders?
1268
01:04:49,960 --> 01:04:53,080
We can find that book on Amazon.
Give us the name again.
1269
01:04:53,320 --> 01:04:55,080
Leader of the pack.
How a single?
1270
01:04:55,080 --> 01:04:58,960
Dad of five led his kids, his
business and himself from
1271
01:04:58,960 --> 01:05:02,480
disaster to success.
Bye bye Matt.
1272
01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:03,880
I want to be.
The first one to thank you for.
1273
01:05:03,880 --> 01:05:05,960
Sharing both your time and your
story with us today.
1274
01:05:05,960 --> 01:05:07,400
I really appreciate.
Thank you for having me.
1275
01:05:07,400 --> 01:05:09,880
Had a really good time.
Here I appreciate the long form
1276
01:05:09,880 --> 01:05:12,480
where you don't have to give,
you know, meme ish answers to
1277
01:05:12,480 --> 01:05:14,760
every question.
It's been enjoyable for.
1278
01:05:14,760 --> 01:05:17,480
Me as well, folks.
That's a wrap on another episode
1279
01:05:17,480 --> 01:05:20,320
of the Inspired Stories podcast.
Thanks for learning with us
1280
01:05:20,320 --> 01:05:20,640
today.