The Real Life Top Gun’s Advice to Become ELITE at Anything

David:
That is the Larger Pockets Podcast, present 713.

John:
After I confirmed as much as the Blues, they mentioned, “Gucci, we’re glad you’re right here,” after which they took me on a demo journey and so they blew my thoughts. We took off and also you mentioned it’s majestic, proper? Are you able to think about being in that cockpit the place you are taking off 4 jets on the runway? Pilot does this violent left wing down, we’re simply tucked in beneath the afterburners of the airplane in entrance of you, there’s steel throughout you, the flames are popping out. The airplane’s shaking. These guys begin going straight up. My eyes received this massive. I’m a Navy tactical fighter pilot. I’ve been off plane carriers, I received 500 provider landings, and this blew my thoughts. And the thought that hit me was, how am I going to do that?

David:
What’s occurring everybody? That is David Greene, your host of the Larger Pockets Podcast, the most important, the most effective, the baddest actual property podcast on this planet, right here in the present day with a fireplace episode for you that I assure you’ll depart feeling higher about your self, your life, and your future than you probably did earlier than you listened to it. Individuals pay a number of cash to really feel this good, and also you’re getting it without spending a dime. In in the present day’s episode, my co-host Rob Abasolo and I interview John Foley, a former Blue Angels pilot, that means he was among the finest of the most effective of the most effective in his career. When you’ve ever seen Blue Angels fly, it’s completely unbelievable. And John pulls again the curtain and tells us rather a lot about what he went by, struggles he had, occasions he failed, and the way he bounced again from that. How he interpreted failures to grow to be a nasty A-S-S at what he does, and he’s very keen about you with the ability to expertise the identical factor, which is why we love John, and we’re certain that you’ll too. Rob, what had been a few of your favourite elements of in the present day’s present?

Rob:
Nicely, to begin with, we met the actual life Tom Cruise from Prime Gun. I imply, that is simply loopy. He was really in that place, and he talks about how he was capable of be a part of the Blue Angels, which is the highest 1% of the highest 1% of the highest 1%. And it’s simply loopy to listen to his story, and speak in regards to the procedures and the processes that he put in place to grow to be some of the esteemed, superior pilot, storied historical past pilot, of all time. The Blue Angels is only a very prestigious group to be part of. So it’s truthfully a kind of issues the place I want we may have a component two. We’ll should have him on, as a result of he’s additionally a comparatively established actual property investor too, which we didn’t actually get an excessive amount of into that. We received into the precise philosophies of growing an excellent mindset.

David:
I’m so impressed from this, I’m occupied with taking the highest individuals from my mastermind and creating a gaggle referred to as The Greene Angels. We’ll should see if that’s one thing that I really do. Earlier than we usher in John, in the present day’s fast tip is straightforward. John talks about gratitude and the way highly effective it’s, and I wish to add, gratitude might be the cleanest gas you may probably burn on the subject of motivating your self. All of us have completely different motivations on issues that we wish in life. They don’t all burn cleanly.
Typically there are adverse negative effects that come from the issues that inspire us to hit monetary freedom, or wealth, or no matter it’s that we’re in search of in life. So my problem to you is to begin on daily basis to attempt to incorporate just a little bit extra gratitude into your life than what you had the day earlier than. As you hearken to the present, should you get all the way in which to the tip, you’ll hear Rob speak about his secret. So studying how you can play the guitar 100% higher each single day than what it was when he began. You’re not going to wish to miss that. All proper, with none additional ado, let’s usher in John. John Foley, AKA Gucci, welcome to the Larger Pockets Podcast. How are you in the present day?

John:
David, glad to be right here. And people 4 phrases meant one thing particular to me once I was a Blue Angel, and I assure you by the tip of this podcast, your viewers will perceive what which means.

Rob:
Nicely, earlier than we get into the assembly of that, I actually wish to know the that means of Gucci, as a result of that’s your nickname, man. Are you able to give us just a little little bit of a background there?

John:
Yeah, Rob. So it’s really extra what we name a name signal. And within the Navy, in fighter pilots, you get a name signal. Now let me provide the first clue. You don’t get to select it, and should you prefer it, it doesn’t stick, proper? So no fighter pilot desires to be referred to as Gucci, man, you wish to be Hitman, Viper, Iceman, Maverick, one thing cool, however do one thing silly, and your teammates will remind you. And that’s what occurred to me. I don’t know should you knew this, I did a number of the unique flying within the first Prime Gun film, and all my buds are doing the flying on this final one. So that you get branded with the decision signal and I did one thing silly in the future and Gucci caught.

Rob:
Are you able to inform us what that was?

John:
Yeah, nicely it’s near taking a look at you in that shirt, man. So right here’s what occurred, okay? I confirmed up, we’re in Fallon, Nevada, that’s the place we had been filming Prime Gun. That’s the place we do all of the strike stuff, and we exit, all the things’s wanting fairly nicely and so they say, let’s exit within the city, let’s go to Reno. So I’m assembly within the foyer of the, they name the BOQ, and I present up sporting a skinny black leather-based tie. That wasn’t even cool within the ’80s. And my teammates are all in denims and T-shirts, and so they have a look at me and so they go, “That’s Gucci,” and I flinched. And when you flinch, they know that they received you. Increase. It caught. Now it didn’t assist that I used to be residing on a sailboat, and driving an Alpha Romeo on the time, too.

Rob:
I see. Yeah, I’ve realized this one the arduous manner. When you attempt to deflect a nickname, it solely makes it worse. You’re principally simply pouring fuel on the fireplace.

John:
That’s it. I’ve tried my entire profession to alter that and it didn’t work. And now it’s supposedly a cool factor to be Gucci. However I’ve received to inform you, once I was nailed that within the mid-’80s, it was not cool.

Rob:
Superior man. Nicely you had been in Prime Gun. I’ve received a little bit of a confession right here, I had by no means really noticed Prime Gun till a few 12 months in the past and I felt like I used to be conned. I used to be like, how did nobody inform me about… How did nobody pressure me to look at this film my entire life? After which I simply noticed the brand new Prime Gun, too. So already instantaneous fan, instantaneous traditional in my thoughts. I adore it a lot. What was your function on that film? Had been you an precise… Had been you somebody within the solid? Had been you a stunt double?

John:
No. Okay, so primary, undoubtedly not within the solid. These are referred to as actors. We’re the actual deal. We had been the actual pilots doing the actual flying, and there’s no stunts in that film, okay. That’s what you concentrate on in Hollywood, stunts, and what you’re seeing, and the rationale the flying is so reasonable is that’s actual stuff man. That’s us flying the jet. So the reply to your query, I used to be simply in the best place on the proper time. I occurred to be on the plane provider, it was referred to as the Enterprise, it’s 1986, we’re off the coast of San Diego. Prime Gun was filming down in Miramar, and so they wanted to get some provider scenes.
So that they flew out to the plane provider and I simply occurred to be on a squadron flying jets off the provider, and that’s once they had been doing the filming. So that you do not forget that iconic first scene? I imply should you keep in mind how that film began, they really did it in Prime Gun Maverick, too. You see myself, you see my teammates taxing as much as the catapult. You see steam coming off the catapult, see my teammates throughout me. They received this cool track, Hazard Zone, blasting, you salute the capital officer, they salute you again, and bam, you get launched off that provider. You go from zero to 200 miles per hour in 1.8 seconds. In order that was what I used to be doing. That was simply my regular day. We didn’t do something fancy.

Rob:
That’s superb man. So give us just a little bit about your background. We all know that you just’re a longtime Blue Angel right here, a little bit of a… I’m starstruck right here as I’m going by this. Inform us how you bought there, and just a little bit about your story.

John:
Yeah, completely man. I feel you bought to get to know individuals earlier than you even wish to hearken to what they should say. So for me, I used to be born in Germany. My dad was a military officer. I beloved my dad, I beloved my mother, had an incredible household. And in the future I used to be like, “Man, I wish to be my dad.” So he was an engineer, and he was a military officer. After which in the future he took me in an air present. I’ll always remember this present day, Rob, it was Newport, Rhode Island. I’m 12 years previous. I lookup within the sky, I see these six magnificent jets flying that day. And I turned to my dad and I mentioned, “Dad, I’m going to try this.” A 12 12 months previous child. I had no concept how you can get there. And I feel that is good for actual property, it’s good for traders, it’s good for entrepreneurs.
And that’s, you bought to have a dream. However right here’s the distinction. I consider the dream has to hit you within the coronary heart, not the pinnacle, and then you definately received to attach the dots, as a result of there’s too many individuals which have unrealized goals on the market, proper? Unrealized visions. So I realized this as a child, that man, you bought to have a plan, and guess what? You higher have a pair backup plans as a result of the primary one’s not going to work. I received rejected twice to affix the army. They mentioned I used to be not bodily certified. I’ve to be a army pilot if I’m going to fly for the Blues. Initially, began flying jets off plane carriers, a la film Prime Gun, however then grew to become an teacher pilot. After which in the future I lastly received chosen for the Blue Angels. It took me 18 years from that preliminary dream to make it occur.
And that simply began again once I was in my early 30s. After which after that, and we will dive into the Blues, however I feel what’s extra essential is after that I needed to reinvent myself. I heard this phrase entrepreneur and I used to be like, I can’t even spell it, nevertheless it sounds fairly cool. And ended up needing some training. Went to Stanford Enterprise Faculty, received three grasp’s levels, labored in enterprise capital, in the course of the increase and the bust 2000, 2001. I imply, increase, the entire world blew up, and a query hit my thoughts. I used to be with the companions of that agency, and I used to be like, how come? Not that the bubble burst, however my how come query was how come some individuals outperform others?
How come some individuals can persistently win it doesn’t matter what the circumstances, whether or not it’s market, whether or not it’s COVID, whether or not it’s elevated rates of interest, whether or not it’s provide chain challenges, whether or not it’s a recession, whether or not it’s inflation. My level is a few individuals discover ways to overcome it doesn’t matter what. And that’s what I’ve been doing the final 20 years, is working with the most effective groups on this planet, sports activities groups, corporations, Google, Microsoft. I’m with Nick Saban and Alabama Soccer, and I work with these groups into massive excessive efficiency groups and how you can flip them into enterprise outcomes.

Rob:
Wow, okay. So there’s rather a lot I wish to unpack right here as a result of it began, the dream really began, at a really younger age, and also you had been like, “That’s going to be me in the future.” Did you at all times know, was there ever a doubt in your thoughts that that was going to grow to be a actuality?

John:
Nicely, there’s a number of doubts alongside the trail whenever you fail. And I had a ton of failures, a ton of setbacks. However I’ll say that the dream, because of this it’s vital, the dream was not within the head, it was within the coronary heart. So at any time when that stuff occurred, I related again to my coronary heart and I simply mentioned, “No, I can nonetheless do that. It’s simply going to take a unique path.” Provide you with instance. So I’m flying jets off plane carriers. I’m main a strike. I’ve a hung bomb, I’ve received to jettison the hung bomb. I don’t undergo my guidelines like I’m speculated to, and I hit the jettison button, and I hearth a warmth in search of missile. By mistake, I virtually shoot down my very own teammate. And I’m like, “Holy crap.” In truth, really I used to be like, “Oh (censored), come again.” And at that time I used to be lucky, it didn’t harm anyone, nevertheless it may have, proper?
And I’m going into my commanding officer that day, I landed the jet, and he mentioned, “What occurred?” And I’m going, “I blew it, sir.” I instructed him the story that I didn’t do my guidelines like I used to be speculated to, I received the switchology combined up, and once I hit the jettison button, the missile went as an alternative of the bomb. He goes, “Okay, thanks for telling me, you’re grounded.” So I’m grounded now. Now I had my letter into the Blue Angels. I used to be going to be an teacher pilot, all that went away. In truth, I wasn’t certain they had been going to let me preserve flying, all proper? They’ve a board of inquiry and all that stuff, and it took me three days to appreciate the foundation explanation for that mishap. However you wish to guess, what do you assume the foundation explanation for that mistake was?

Rob:
A thousand switches in entrance of you?

John:
There have been a ton of switches. Let me inform you. There’s a ton.

David:
Yeah, however you mentioned you hit the best swap. You probably did what you meant to do.

John:
Nope.

David:
You talked about that you just thought you had been jettisoning it, so-

John:
Nicely, I hit the jettison button-

David:
But it surely fired the missile, which meant there was one thing incorrect with the guidelines forward of time. So I’m going to guess you simply received comfy. You simply thought like, “Man, I’ve finished this one million occasions.” You hit autopilot, you didn’t take it critical whenever you had been preparing.

John:
Dude, David, I’ve instructed that story over 2000 occasions, you’re the primary one which received it proper off the bat. Yeah, it’s complacency, okay man? I received too comfy doing one thing I shouldn’t be comfy doing. Let me inform you, the primary time you fly stay ordinance, the little hairs in your neck get up. Even your head along with your bald head, like me. These issues, these get up and so they stopped standing up as a result of I used to be doing it day in and day trip, and I received too comfy doing one thing I shouldn’t be comfy with. So I realized that lesson the arduous manner, all proper, so right here’s the query. Everybody who’s listening, the place’s your blind spot? The place are you too comfy? Even the 2 of you, you guys are cranking it. You bought a kickass podcast going, we’re investing, it is a nice alternative for individuals, however the place are you too comfy?
Do you’ve a course of, a guidelines? And that was the opposite factor. I didn’t open up my guidelines. I assumed I might do it from reminiscence, and also you don’t try this, okay? You don’t try this in these conditions. In order that’s precisely it. Complacency kills. Now right here’s the excellent news. As soon as I realized that, yeah, I needed to dig myself out of a gap. It was a giant gap. They ripped up my letter to the Blue Angels. Not even an opportunity. I needed to go reinvent myself. Took me years. However finally I received the shot once more, and I made it work. And so I feel it’s okay to make errors investing, it’s okay to make errors in life should you realized from them. And never many individuals actually be taught from them.

Rob:
Do you’re feeling just like the punishment, or not the punishment, however the precise, I suppose getting grounded from the group, was that harder than the precise psychological video games that you just needed to sit by throughout that point? As a result of I think about that being grounded is like, okay, I get it, proper, however then really having to take a seat with that and assume by the completely different situations, I think about that that may have been in all probability simply as arduous, proper?

John:
Man, okay, Rob, you’re useless on. That was embarrassing. I’ll say not solely tougher, it was embarrassing, as a result of image this. You’re a pilot, you’re on the plane provider, there’s solely about 100 and so pilots on the provider, 5,000 individuals, and hastily you go from sporting a flight swimsuit and that’s your day, to you’re in a khaki uniform, all proper? All of your buds know that you just’re grounded, not solely the buds in your squadron, however everybody within the air wing, after which they provide the (censored) jobs. I needed to go up into the tower, watch my buddies fly and land, and we’re referred to as a rep in case there’s an emergency. So not solely are you grounded, however that’s the larger factor. It’s what’s the mindset? And other people don’t even wish to have a look at you.
You ever seen that? You walked out the hallway, individuals know that there’s an issue. So that they wish to look away. So yeah, it’s a psychological head sport for certain. However I’ll say this, it’s what I wanted. And my commanding officer knew that. You see, if he had stored me flying, and all the things would’ve been the identical, and I had finished that mishap board, which decides, okay, that’s a pilot mistake. They may floor you for all times, they’ll pull your wings. They didn’t, okay, and I used to be solely grounded for 3 days, as a result of that’s what it took me to appreciate what you simply mentioned. And when you understand that, now the following factor occurs is you bought to get your butt again within the sport. As a result of now you bought to beat that concern and doubt that’s in your thoughts.

Rob:
Okay, so was this the second that, I imply clearly you acknowledged the complacency side, however was this rapid? You had been like, “Okay, right here it’s, I’m going to repair this. I’m going to create my guidelines and my processes.” What was the following massive turning level for you?

John:
Yeah, so the massive aha was it took three days. Initially I’m blaming it on stuff that wasn’t the foundation trigger, it’s nominal trigger. So I didn’t get away my guidelines. I may simply say, “Okay, subsequent time I’ll use my guidelines.” Did I get the switchology combined up? You’re proper, there’s 126 switches. Did I mess one up? Yeah. Can I repair that? Yeah, however that’s not the foundation trigger, see? So after three days once I realized that it was getting too comfy, then that was an aha second. When you’ve these mild bulb moments, it’s okay, however now it takes a very long time to dig your self out of that gap. So I had to return to the fundamentals, return to doing my guidelines, return to simply executing on the small issues. And I used to be really flying off the airplanes once more.
I wasn’t main strikes. I used to be working my manner again up. And one of many LSOs, the touchdown sign officers, these are the individuals who carry you aboard the ship, the pinnacle man for the entire air wing appears to be like at me, he goes, “Gucci,” it took about two weeks. He goes, “How’s it going?” And his title was Filthy. And I’m going, “Filthy, what do you imply the way it’s going? It sucks. I imply, what do you assume?” And he goes, “Okay.” He says, “Nicely I do know you’re going by a bunch of (censored).” He goes, “How would you prefer to grow to be an teacher pilot in F18s?” And I checked out him, I used to be flying A7s on the time and F14s. I mentioned, “What do you imply teacher pilot in F18s?” That’s the holy grail, apart from the Blue Angels. And I mentioned, “I might love that, however what are you speaking about?”
He goes, “Nicely, how would you additionally prefer to stay in El Toro, California?” Which is Dana Level, all proper. I’m like, “What? Are you kidding me?” As a result of Miramar is a cool place to stay down in San Diego. I mentioned, “I might love that.” I mentioned, “However there’s no Navy jobs there.” He goes, “No, you’re proper. The Marines have a base. They’re standing up an F18 squadron, they want one LSO. You’re the man in order for you it.” I used to be like, “Holy crap. My entire dream went full circle.” So I received the job, and I needed to reestablish myself, which I did, after which I reapplied to the Blues and all the things labored out. So it took some time, however the aha second was there. And then you definately received to dig out, and you bought to have course of, you bought to have procedures. However extra importantly, preserve your perception ranges excessive. Preserve your mindset excessive. Don’t let go of your objective.

David:
So I’ve received a query for you. That is clearly a pivoting level in your life. Of all of the tales you may inform, that is what you opened with. Now clearly this story may have gone a horribly worse path, the place it could possibly be, “I killed one among my mates,” and who is aware of what sort of penalties can have come from if there may have been jail time? This story may have been, “I used to be labeled a prison.” I imply, I don’t wish to insinuate that that’s the case. That is the way in which issues get spun, when “I hit the incorrect button,” turns into, “I’m a assassin.” Fortunately that wasn’t the way in which that issues went down for you. So you’ve this renewed lease the place now you get to… You might have a brand new shot at life, nevertheless it was very impactful with the way in which that it modified the way you had been pondering. What it made me take into consideration was we don’t at all times keep in mind our wins, particularly whenever you’re a excessive performer, which you clearly are.
You’re attempting to be a Blue Angel. We anticipate to win. We keep in mind the losses, you hear this from actually good poker gamers. They keep in mind the hand that they misplaced that they need to have gained. They don’t keep in mind all of the occasions it went nicely. You hear this from golfers, they keep in mind the put they missed or the shot that they shanked. They don’t keep in mind those that they did completely. There’s one thing about life the place the losses that sting the worst can both destroy us, just like the hypothetical instance I gave earlier than, or can completely strengthen us and assist us to hit ranges that we by no means would’ve thought. In order that one expertise impacted you. I don’t wish to say scarred you, nevertheless it was such a monumental impression that complacency is now your sworn enemy for all times. You’re not going to be caught complacent. We’d hear tales of this in legislation enforcement that had been simply horrendous, since you get used to carrying round a weapon on a regular basis, and also you’d hear about, somebody reveals as much as a coaching and the employees, the instruction employees, doesn’t test their weapon or doesn’t test it adequate.
And the particular person simply out of behavior, they present up, they take all of the rounds out of their rifle, they put dummy rounds or no matter, and so they’ve finished it so many occasions you get complacent. And there are horrible tales of somebody displaying as much as a coaching and truly firing a stay spherical at one of many function gamers or one thing, which might be simply sickening. However such as you mentioned, it’s at all times complacency. It’s such a small factor that would have been finished to cease it. Complacency is that this evil spirit that will get in your head and tells you, “You don’t have to try this. The foundations don’t apply to you. You’re higher than that.” It’s virtually a type of conceitedness, proper? And I’ve caught it many occasions in my life the place you’re driving to a name code three-

John:
Ego.

David:
Yeah, and also you’re simply in your head you’re like, “Oh, that is no massive deal.” It’s a massive deal. You bought to push that stuff out and get proper again in. However such as you mentioned, ego is the enemy in that case. You inform the story and it’s a very good impactful story. However I’m curious, whenever you had been in that tower and also you had to consider how embarrassing it was, individuals don’t wish to speak to you. There’s clearly your individual ethical guilt of, “I can’t consider I fired a missile at anyone, do I even should be a pilot?” All these ideas received to be going by your head. How did you just be sure you didn’t take the street of despair that so many individuals can go into once they make their first mistake, their property doesn’t work out, or that one thing goes incorrect with no matter their endeavor was and so they interpret like, “Ah, see I knew it. God doesn’t need me to do that. If he did, I wouldn’t have made that mistake.” How did you strengthen your outcomes to say, “I’m going to return again and be higher.”

John:
Yeah, so I feel David, by the way in which, nice analogies you’re giving. I might simply add not solely a police officer and me, that’s life and loss of life. However hey man, it’s little issues like texting when you’re driving. Okay, everyone knows that’s not speculated to do it, however…

David:
Oh, that’s an excellent one.

John:
Yep. I do it generally. And my spouse, it pisses her off a lot. She goes, “Come on,” and I can rationalize it. “Oh, I can multitask,” all this crap. So the underside line is, it’s not simply life and loss of life. It’s small stuff that may make a giant distinction. So to reply your query although, you want a course of. You want a system, you want a framework that helps you out of those troublesome occasions. It’s not sufficient simply to say, “Oh, okay, I figured it out. I made a mistake and I’m again within the sport.” No, you higher have a strong course of. So for me, it’s what I realized within the army, and what actually grew to become extraordinarily highly effective on the Blue Angels, is this concept of what I name a cadence of execution. It’s this concept of briefing. Be ready earlier than you go flying.
Did I transient that day? Completely. Was I ready? Sure. Once you’re executing although, you bought to appreciate that issues change, okay? And that’s one factor that you’ll find out in a short time in fighter pilots, why somebody adapts to that’s you bought to adapt airborne. I don’t care what the state of affairs is, the minute you get airborne, issues change. Identical factor in actual property. So are you able to adapt to a market which is altering on a regular basis, proper? However right here’s the key, I’ll provide you with a secret proper now. None of that’s going to make the sport changer. The sport changer is what I name a debrief, or a glad to be right here debrief. We discover ways to try this within the army. You at all times debrief a mission. You at all times are consistently, the minute you land, you return and also you mirror on what went nicely, what may have gone higher, and you are taking accountability.
And that is the important thing. You are taking private accountability for the end result, and also you don’t blame it in your teammates. You don’t level fingers at anyone else. And we try this religiously. So I’ve that ingrained in my course of, that I’m debriefing each occasion. Like, we’ll debrief this podcast, all proper, I wish to know, hey, what went nicely? However extra importantly, what may have gone higher? So I’m consistently on this suggestions loop. After which whenever you get to the Blue Angels, and we will dive deeper on this in order for you, they take that debrief to a complete new degree. They take this factor what I name glad to be right here debrief, the place you’re not solely going over the occasion, you’re reinforcing the why. Why are you doing this? The appreciation, the gratitude. So once I landed my jet on the Blue Angels, did I’ve a whole lot of little issues I may have finished higher? Completely. As a result of whenever you’re pushing the boundaries, the boundaries push again. So you may really feel that, proper? However the appreciation and gratitude is what will get you thru it, and also you want each.

Rob:
Okay. So yeah, I might really like to dive into that as a result of I’m at all times so fascinated. I’ve seen many Blue Angel reveals, really I used to work in Huntington Seashore for 4 years.

John:
Good. I’m going there in a pair months to talk with a corporation, and had been you there final 12 months? As a result of the Blues had been a part of a very distinctive present there proper off the pier.

Rob:
I used to be not, I used to be in Tennessee, however I did catch in all probability 4 reveals in my time there. And there’s a degree of synchronization, and coordination, and choreography, and orchestration, it’s actually fairly majestic is one of the best ways to place it. And so I’ve at all times puzzled, I imply you’re coming from the army background. Is the Blue Angels a tougher endeavor, or is it only a completely different form of issue than you would possibly encounter in your army missions? I’ve received to think about they’re simply very completely different sorts of adverse.

John:
Yeah, they’re completely different, nevertheless it takes it to a complete new degree. It’s the 1/tenth of 1/tenth of 1% that get to do the Blue Angels. So should you keep in mind how Maverick began within the film, in Prime Gun there was a scroll and it mentioned there’s this factor referred to as Navy Fighter Weapons Faculty, it’s the highest 1% of all fighter pilots and the pilots name it Prime Gun, okay? The rationale they did that’s they had been setting the tone. That’s proper. That’s the highest 1% of fighter pilots. The Blue Angels are the highest 1/tenth of 1/tenth of 1%, proper? Now to your query, in a flying abilities stick and throttle we name it, it’s a must to increase your sport to an un unexpected degree. 300% enchancment in 90 days.
After I confirmed as much as the Blues, they mentioned, “Gucci, we’re glad you’re right here,” after which they took me on a demo journey and so they blew my thoughts. We took off and also you mentioned it’s majestic, proper? Are you able to think about being in that cockpit the place you are taking off 4 jets on the runway, pilot does this violent left wing down, the place he’s tucked in beneath the afterburners of the airplane in entrance of you. There’s steel throughout you, the flames are popping out, the airplane’s shaking. These guys begin going straight up. My eyes received this massive. I’m a navy tactical fighter pilot. I’ve been off plane carriers, I received 500 provider landings, and this blew my thoughts. And the thought that hit me was, “How am I going to do that?” As a result of what they had been displaying me was it is a entire new degree. It is a entire new league.
And so they had been saying, “If you wish to play on this league, do you wish to play on this league, Gucci? You then received to lift your efficiency 300% in 90 days.” And now right here’s the excellent news, there’s a course of to try this. There’s a strategy to take individuals, not simply me, we do that with three pilots yearly, and so they undergo that course of and so they get to that degree. So the reply to your query is in a flying manner, it doesn’t get any tougher or any higher. However tactically now, it’s a complete completely different sport. Once you’re flying tactically off the carriers, whenever you’re going to Prime Gun, it’s not stick and throttle, it’s weapon system administration. It’s understanding the situational consciousness. That’s a complete completely different degree of experience. So we take people who find themselves already good at that after which we are saying, “Let’s now enhance your flying abilities 300%.”

David:
That is such a strong message, significantly for anyone that hasn’t but in life pushed themselves into some extent the place they had been attempting to be elite at one thing, which I might assume might be nearly all of individuals in America. Now we have a really comfy life. And that’s not meant as a slight in the direction of individuals who have a tougher life than different Individuals, however should you evaluate us to human beings 6000 years in the past, or somebody now residing overseas, our life is relatively extra comfy than different individuals’s, the place the human physique and the mind was actually designed to function not in a wonderfully nerfed world the place issues don’t go incorrect. And I keep in mind experiencing this for the primary time at one thing so simple as going from the freshman basketball crew to taking part in with the varsity. I received requested to play with varsity once I was a sophomore, and the velocity of the sport was so good freaking quick.

John:
Good.

David:
Thanks for that. Sure. It was wild how briskly it was, proper? I had these habits the place I might be dribbling and also you’d get a defender to decide to you, and also you’d decide up your cross, and also you’d faux it to 1 facet, and he’d go that manner, and also you’d cross it to the opposite man. It was like bread and butter, really easy. After which I received to varsity and the man would fake like he dedicated to 1 defender, after which soar again, and I’d decide up my dribble and go to cross it to the opposite man and he’d intercept the cross. And I’m like, “They may try this?” Otherwise you’d come down with a rebound, they’d hit it out of your arms. Since when was {that a} factor that will occur? Or they’d steal the ball from behind you. There have been all this stuff that I by no means had to consider taking part in with decrease competitors, however I by no means needed to consciously determine that drawback.
My mind instructed me, “Watch out. You don’t know the place the man is. He’s in all probability behind you.” Or, “Once you seize that ball, maintain it actually robust.” Your thoughts adapts to the wrestle you’re in. What I suppose I beloved in regards to the level you had been at was we regularly personalize, “I’m the issue. I’m not good at this. I ought to stop,” the place what you’re saying is, “The issue is my lack of preparation. The issue is my lack of publicity to attempting to play on the highest degree. The issue is my complacency. It’s not me. I’m not these issues. These are habits that I’ve or values that I maintain that may be improved.” And that little tiny shift in blame is the distinction between, “I ought to stop this. I shouldn’t do it. I’m not adequate. I knew I wasn’t adequate, keep in mind I used to be by no means adequate for my mother? Nicely now it’s being validated,” and all that stuff goes by your thoughts, versus. “I can do higher. Let me get in there once more. If they provide me one other shot, I’ll get higher at it.”
And that’s what we wish the listeners to listen to as a result of actual property investing is daunting. You possibly can screw up. In truth, you’ll screw up. And it’s unimaginable to not screw up. You possibly can’t play the proper sport in a sport. You possibly can’t have the proper funding. One thing at all times goes lower than very best. And should you interpret it as, “I’m the issue,” you gained’t purchase actual property. You’ll be lulled into different issues like investing into multi-level advertising schemes, or pyramid schemes, or cryptocurrency, or no matter the brand new pattern is. When you say, “My inexperience was the issue, my lack of knowledge was the issue, my ignorance was the issue,” there’s one thing that may be finished to appropriate that. And I actually, as you inform the story, I’m like, it is a nice instance of an individual who simply, for no matter cause, you attributed the issue to not you as a human being, however your lack of preparation. And also you at all times had been like, “I may do higher.” I imply, am I manner off with my understanding of your story to this point?

John:
Man, David, you nailed it, okay. And I feel the analogy again to investing is de facto vital. And that’s, you bought to encompass your self with individuals who you wish to be like, okay, so once I received chosen for the Blue Angels, I noticed I wanted to up my sport. However guess what? As a result of I’m round individuals who knew how you can do it, and so they determined to mentor me, they coached me similar to you guys are doing. The rationale this podcast is so helpful to individuals is we’re gaining data and instruments of people that have finished it at a excessive degree. In order that’s the primary factor, is frequently push, have that drive. And that’s why once I mentioned the dream has to hit you within the coronary heart, have the drive to enhance on daily basis just a bit bit. It doesn’t imply I’m not going to screw up. In truth, should you’re actually self-aware, you’ve made a whole lot of errors and that’s positive.
What I wish to do although is have a course of and extra importantly, a mindset. What you’re attending to, David, is precisely proper. What’s the mindset? Am I in my lizard mind, and am I working out of concern? Or am I in my grownup, and I’m really working out of alternative? The RATs, the reticular activating system, it’s solely two issues are going to get by, a menace or alternative. Once you see that you just’re going to react. Do you understand that each time I snap my fingers right here, you get 65 possibilities to decide. That’s the quantity of impulses which might be coming by your eyeball. So it’s what we name the hole, the hole between the stimulus and the response. And it’s in that hole that you just make your choices. It’s in that hole that you just both go down the rabbit gap, otherwise you reset and also you spiral up.
And there’s a strategy to focus your thoughts. There’s a strategy to prepare the thoughts. I do meditation, I do visualization, I’ve a number of issues once they’re working with Workforce Penske and we’re successful the Indy 500, it’s about mindset. They already received the processes down. That is nice teamwork, nevertheless it’s the mindset that makes you an Indie 500 champion. It’s the mindset that makes you a nationwide champion. And never simply to get there, however then the tougher half is sustaining excellence. And that’s what I work on with corporations and other people. How do you maintain excellence underneath change?

Rob:
Yeah, that is actually… I don’t assume individuals are greedy how thoughts blowing that is, as a result of I at all times take into consideration, whenever you’re attempting to get higher, it will get arduous to get higher at a sure level. After I was studying guitar, once I was within the seventh grade, picked up a guitar and my objective was, can I get 100% higher? After which it was like, okay, cool, subsequent day I received 100% higher, after which the following day I may get 100% higher. However then it received to the purpose the place then it was like, can I grow to be 50% higher in a month, after which can I get 20% higher in a 12 months?
And so at a sure level, getting 1% higher turns into extraordinarily troublesome. And also you’re speaking about not simply the army, however Blue Angels the place you’re like, okay, these guys are coming in and we’re attempting to get them to grow to be 300% higher. You’re attempting to get the best pilots in historical past, arguably, to grow to be 300% higher. And that to me, I can’t even grasp that. However you talked about that there’s a course of for this, so I’d love to listen to what does that appear like? As a result of in my thoughts it appears unimaginable.

John:
No, good query. I like the concept about this mindset of steady enchancment. I want to add this. What I’ve instilled in my mindset is the method of getting higher, this steady enchancment, not the end result. You see, should you put a objective on the market and when you hit that objective, that’s too late, man, you bought to reset your self earlier than you hit that objective. So the purpose is, I’m consistently on this technique of getting higher, steady enchancment. And by the way in which, not simply myself, however worth to the consumer, worth to the people who find themselves listening right here, proper? Worth to your households. See, what we’re speaking about isn’t just enterprise, all proper? It’s your mindset of the way you strategy life. And I prefer to strategy life with what I name joyful effort. So effort’s not sufficient, we will speak about that, however it’s a must to add this glad to be right here in there, this pleasure.
And to try this, you bought to personal the end result and you bought to offer all of it you’ve received. When you attempt to shed that on anyone else and also you don’t take that private accountability, you’re not going to be taught. And also you simply higher hope you get one other problem which you can deal with. However again to the method. So Blue Angels, I’ll provide you with an instance. Once you be a part of the Blue Angels, first, for six weeks, you don’t have any job, okay? Really, the choice course of is you get chosen, all you do is observe, and also you get to take a seat in on the briefs and the debriefs, and these items is gold. In truth, if anybody desires to see a few of this, they’ll simply go to my web site, JohnFoleyInc.com. And I’ve received tons of video of what I speak about, YouTube, all that form of stuff.
However the level is, you get to watch how we go about course of, focus, this visualization course of, how we’re going by our checkpoints, we all know what our middle level is. That’s the only level of focus. Now we have flight traces with one mile, two mile, three mile checkpoints. So simply milestones in a marketing strategy. However the milestone shouldn’t be, “Hey, the 2 mile checkpoint’s going to be this white home.” No, the milestone is 2 mile checkpoint, northeast nook, two story white home, higher window with the inexperienced shade. See? See, once I mentioned that, you see your degree of readability. I can really see the inexperienced shade of a window flying the wrong way up 100 toes off the bottom at 500 knots. If I do know what I’m in search of. If I don’t know what I’m in search of, it’s a blur. Identical factor in investing, similar factor in life.
So that you decide up these cues, then you definately higher have a technique of anyone who’s serving to to teach you and mentor you. So for the following 90 days, I’m going by 120 coaching flights. We return to fundamentals. You’re proper, we do take pilots who’re extremely expert at that time, and we break them down and say, okay, let’s return to fundamentals. Let’s simply get in sync, turning the smoke on, the smoke off. Then let’s get in sync the place we get our checkpoints. I’ve 20 seconds to go from 6000 toes right down to 200 toes, and I received to be on time, on altitude, on air velocity. So this, to maneuver ahead is there’s 120 coaching flights. I’m getting higher on daily basis. I movie these, I have a look at them, I requested, right here’s the vital half, not the flight. It’s what you be taught from it, okay? And I additionally wish to be taught what’s going nicely.
As a result of we wish to double down on what’s going nicely, okay? I don’t wish to simply concentrate on errors, proper? Double down on what’s going nicely. After which three issues. I’ll depart you with three issues that should occur in each investor, in each excessive efficiency group. You bought to attach, you bought to align, you bought to commit. It’s that straightforward. Say it once more. Human beings, we have to join, all proper? You and I, the three of us proper right here, we’re connecting at a unique degree than we had been earlier than we began this podcast. Then we received to align.
So you bought to ensure you’re all headed in the identical path. What’s the objective? After which there must be a dedication. And that is the place most individuals fall brief. It’s what degree of dedication. After I climbed into that cockpit, I used to be committing my life. I used to be prepared to offer my life for my teammate. However guess what? Not simply me, everyone. All people. You’re surrounded by individuals who have this degree of dedication. And whenever you’re surrounded by that sort, you don’t wish to let anyone else down, and also you’ll do something in your energy to not let your teammate down. And that’s the glad to be right here mindset.
To me what you mentioned about not having a transparent goal. As a result of there turns into this level the place you grow to be so good at one thing the place you now have a whole lot of choices. You’re like, I’m good at this. Listed here are all of the completely different angles I can take. And I’ll in all probability achieve success in any respect these completely different angles as a result of I’m good at what I do. And I feel actual property is actual property investing may be very very like this, the place should you grow to be a seasoned investor, you perceive the ideas, you’re crushing it in your portfolio. For me, I began out in short-term leases, now I’m form of like, oh, there’s sub two after which there’s wholesaling and there’s, there’s syndication. But it surely’s actually arduous to begin to, with out that clear goal, with out that clear objective to actually continue to grow. As a result of I used to be at this level a few months in the past the place it’s a little bit of the Cheesecake manufacturing facility of choices for me the place I’m like, I wish to do all of it.
However with out actually having that clear single objective to information you, I can completely relate to that. As a result of it wasn’t till just lately the place I began actually refining these objectives and simply attempting to determine what’s, if I can simply preserve shaving down my objectives to that one finite objective, what’s it that I need? And I haven’t figured it out but, however I’m actually shut. I’m nonetheless shaving it right down to that one factor. And the nearer I get to it, the nearer I get to type of having the readability on what precisely I must do.
Okay, Rob. So I’m going to offer you just a little tip right here. Okay? Primary, you’re on it, all proper? You bought to know, “What do I need?” And that’s a tough query for some individuals. It was simple for me once I noticed the Blue Angels, I knew what that appeared like. I knew what it felt like. I imply, I may really feel it, so I knew what I needed. That’s arduous in life. Lots of people don’t know what they need. However right here’s even a extra highly effective query: your why. I wish to know why you need it, okay? I wish to know why that I needed to be a Blue Angel. Was it in order that I may fly the wrong way up 100 toes round San Francisco? Was it so I may set automobile alarms off, as a result of I did? Was it in order that I may go to Moscow and fly towards the Russians, which I did?
Was it as a result of I did all that stuff? No. The rationale I needed to be a Blue Angel, and the aim of the Blue Angels, is we name ourselves ambassadors of goodwill. I wish to encourage greatness in one other human being. If I can try this by flying, nice. That’s not what my job was, to be a pilot, my job was to encourage greatness. And once I’m holding just a little woman in my arm after an air present, and I’ve misplaced six kilos of sweat in 37 minutes, as a result of that’s what the G-forces do to you, okay? I’m sitting there going, I’m drained, okay? Was it thrilling? Completely. Am I fearful in regards to the debrief? Typically, generally I’m not. However all it’s a must to do is look within the eyes of just a little child and bingo, you understand why you’re doing it. So my solely query to you is what’s the why behind what I need? And when you may align these two issues, now you’ve received some actual energy.

Rob:
So do you’re feeling like, is it like a… Am I attempting to determine what I need, after which why do I need it? Or am I attempting to determine why I need all this stuff that I need? Sorry, that may be a bizarre query, however is it like, am I attempting to get to that why as quick as potential?

John:
Nicely, I don’t assume… Everytime you ask a query like this, that’s a dualistic reply, it’s both A or B. Anytime I get that form of factor, I understand that I’ve received restricted pondering. It’s not dualistic, okay? It’s not both the what first or the why first. You bought to have a 3rd choice. You bought to have a strategy to develop it. So the reply to your query is, I feel it’s each, okay. I imply, some individuals wish to determine their what first after which their why. Others will say no, I must know my why after which the what. No matter works for you, okay? I feel that what’s vital right here, although, is figuring out that the world is coming from us, not at us.

Rob:
Yeah, okay. That is smart.

John:
I’ll say that once more although, as a result of it’s actually highly effective for the listeners. The world’s coming from you, not at you. So if all I’m doing is responding, and I really feel like this entire world is coming at me, then I’ve received an issue, as a result of I’m reacting. What I wish to do is, I wish to understand that I can plant the seeds. It’s coming from me, okay? So provide you with an instance that may assist you to do that. Knife Edge Go, Thumper and I, objective, come at one another 1000 miles per hour, shut throughout inside a wingspan, all proper? If we miss by one second, it’ll be two soccer fields, and we wish to come inside a wingspan. In order that’s our goal, so I’m very clear on what my goal is, all proper? So how will we do it? You higher have a plan. So my plan was easy. I instructed Thumper that day, and I referred to as these, by the way in which, verbal and non-verbal agreements, commitments.
I mentioned, “Thumper, I’ll be on the flight line. I gained’t be 5 foot left or 5 foot proper.” The flight line’s not the runway, it’s the inboard fringe of a left painted stripe on the runway. You possibly can rely on me, you may belief me that that’s the place I’ll be. I’ll set the altitude, I’ll make the timing corrections. I’ll provide the command to execute a full stick deflection roll. You, my teammate, have one job, miss me. It’s the most important sport of hen you ever performed, nevertheless it wasn’t a sport, and it wasn’t hen, as a result of we had very clear expectations, after which contracts on what it appears to be like like to do that. So the concept I introduced that up is belief issues, course of issues, okay? This skill to make this readability issues. And the very last thing I’ll share, as a result of I feel you guys hit on it, is it’s a must to have the flexibility to focus down and open up.
It’s referred to as consciousness, okay? So consciousness is 2 items. There’s an inside consciousness and an exterior consciousness is a method you may have a look at it. What I name it’s situational consciousness. In order I’m coming at Thumper at 1000 miles per hour nearer, I’m wanting on the market, I received to have my visor up, as a result of I imply, break up seconds matter. The place’s his nostril place? The place is he? What altitude he’s at, okay? So I’m targeted down. On the actual second, I received to open up and I received to say, wait a minute, I don’t wish to hit a sailboat mass as I’m coming in. So it’s focus down, open up, focus down, open up. And that’s investing, okay, I received to grasp the market. I received to open up, perceive what’s adjustments. Then I received to focus down on what you mentioned. Do I’ve a selected objective? Do I do know what I’m going to? Bingo, open up once more?
As a result of guess what? In that break up second, issues have modified. So I’ve educated my mind to do that actually shortly. Right here’s the excellent news, you are able to do it too. Each human being can do that. It’s pure. It’s the way in which we understand data. So if you wish to focus in your issues, you wish to focus in your challenges, you’re going to have extra of these. If you wish to concentrate on joyful effort, you wish to concentrate on giving again first… That’s one among my different issues is be taught, develop, give on daily basis. However I wish to give first and provides usually. So simply being in your podcast, it is a reward. Thanks for what you guys do, however I wish to give first. After which should you present worth, one thing good will occur. In order that’s the way in which I see what you simply mentioned.

Rob:
Yeah, that makes complete sense. Nicely, I wish to return to the phrase right here in your shirt, the glad to be right here. I imply, we’ve talked about it, we’ve got a normal understanding about it, however may you simply debrief us on the idea, and what it means to the Blue Angels Group, and what it means to you?

John:
So the primary time I heard that was my mother, nevertheless it was mentioned in simply household conditions. After which once I was on the Blue Angels, whenever you’re making use of for the Blue Angels and also you’re not a Blue Angel but, they’ll allow you to sit in on the briefs when you get to that degree. And also you get to see how they put together, which is what we’ve talked about earlier, David, is at a complete new degree, which is nice, okay? So I’m listening to that, increase. However you by no means get to take a seat in on the debriefs. The debriefs are solely reserved for the present crew and ex-Blue Angels. Why? As a result of there’s a sacred area in there. This isn’t about simply ratting on anyone. There’s a sacred area, all proper? So once I was a blue angel, once I really received chosen, I’m sitting there for the primary time, I’m watching the chief of the flight crew, who’s been my hero.
And what does she or he do? They begin off with a normal assertion. I’m glad we went flying in the present day. And so they appeared on the crew and mentioned, “ what? I dropped you off just a little bit low, Gucci,” and it’s an inward search for an outward consequence. However anyhow, you undergo that, after which each single particular person ended their feedback with Glad to be right here. And hastily it began to essentially sink into me that yeah, initially what glad to be right here meant once I was a Blue Angel was, “Hey, I’m grateful to be on the crew. I’m grateful to be a part of one thing that’s very particular. I’m grateful to be surrounded by others who care. I’m grateful to make an impression on individuals’s lives like that little woman.”
However then it takes on such a deeper that means, to the place in my life, glad to be right here is the ethos of excessive efficiency. Glad to be here’s what I wish to stay my life by. I wish to be in a state of pleasure. I wish to be in a state of giving. I wish to be in a state of consciousness and respect. Like proper now, I’m in my dwelling studio up in Solar Valley, all proper, I’m searching. We simply received two and a half toes of snow. I simply had an epic powder day yesterday, and I’m going to exit skate snowboarding proper after this, and I’m going to attempt to respect each second, get exterior, breathe. In order arduous as we’re working, people who find themselves listening to this, you bought to construct in that appreciation time. After which the opposite factor I do each morning is I do a glad to be right here, get up. I’ve educated my mind to get up blissful, and I can train you that in order for you, nevertheless it’s essential to have the best mindset.

Rob:
I can use just a little little bit of happiness within the morning. What’s the recent tip on that one?

John:
Okay, it’s not new, however you bought to do it, okay?

Rob:
All proper.

John:
So it seems that gratitude is likely one of the largest, how do I say? It’s not a ability. It’s one of many largest presents we’ve got. And science has actually gotten good at realizing that people who find themselves grateful grow to be blissful. It’s not the opposite manner round. It’s not since you’re blissful that you just grow to be grateful. So what I’ve finished is I simply do what I name my glad to be right here get up, and I’ll provide the first piece, all proper? The whole lot I do the minute I get up is I’ve educated my mind to say, what am I grateful for within the current second? So your mind, test, I need everyone who’s listening to this podcast, test the primary aware thought that hits your mind tomorrow morning. See if it’s one among gratefulness, or see if it’s one among what’s my subsequent problem? What’s my subsequent drawback form of factor.
So the purpose is you may prepare your mind to get up blissful. So I’m going and I say, which is three issues, all proper? What am I grateful for within the current second? So in the present day was simple. I’m dwelling. I’ve been touring. I do 100 speeches a 12 months. I work with 150 corporations world wide, all proper? I’m lastly dwelling for the vacations, proper? I’m like, nice. So I’m grateful. Simply to be dwelling. I received my two canine in mattress with me. They’re not little, they’re Rhodesian Ridgebacks, okay? We rescued them. There’s 104 kilos. However I’ve simply mentioned I’m grateful for this. However then do that, and right here’s the important thing. Return 24 hours. Return to yesterday and call to mind one thing that was grateful that you just had been capable of expertise yesterday. For me, I had a briefing name with a consumer and we had been speaking about how you can align excessive efficiency groups.
They’re within the pharmaceutical, they’re serving to individuals with bronchial asthma. It’s unbelievable. And I simply remembered the briefing name and mentioned, “I’m grateful to have that have.” Then do that third piece. Go ahead in your day. Go ahead in your day and consider others, not simply your self. So this morning I considered YouTube and I mentioned, “I get the uncommon privilege to be on a cool podcast. How can I make that particular for anyone?” In order that’s it, it’s easy. Simply get up within the morning, what are you grateful for within the current second? Return 24 hours, go ahead in your day. Once you first observe on this, you may return nicely past 24 hours. Return to the issues in your life that make a distinction.
And it seems that what that does is it adjustments the grooves in your mind. Neuroplasticity, proper? You’ll begin to have extra grateful talks. And by the way in which, in order for you a duplicate of this, go to the web site. It’s not solely that, however then I’ve realized how do you reboot your self when one thing knocks you off steadiness? As a result of all of us get punched within the face, after which how do you go to mattress planting seeds in your mind, so that you really sleep higher and blissful, and get up blissful. So all strategies I’ve realized after the Blue Angels, after I realized how you can put it on the road.

Rob:
Nicely, I adore it. Yeah. Okay, nicely you and I’ve one thing in widespread. I get up occupied with David Greene too, each morning.

David:
He’s questioning how lengthy he has earlier than his hair falls out. When he thinks about me, he’s like, oh God, that’s the place I’m headed. What number of extra months do I’ve before-

Rob:
I have a look at my pillow.

David:
To see if it fell out.

Rob:
I have a look at my pillow and I feel, is in the present day the day?

John:
You bought some critical hair, David and I, man, that’s what do pulling too many G’s does to you, proper?

David:
That’s precisely proper. The lifetime of excessive stress. I want I may say that man, and mine began falling out once I was 17 and a half. I used to be in highschool and other people had been already declaring my receding hairline. However there’s all these quotes, prefer it’s an excessive amount of testosterone that makes your hair fall out, or a lifetime of stress. I’m like, yeah, these sound… Positively bald individuals made that stuff up. That’s humorous. So one of many issues I used to be fascinated by along with your glad to be right here debrief, John, I wish to cowl these briefly, was the 5 steps. Are you able to undergo the 5 steps which might be concerned within the debrief?

John:
Yeah. So I name them the dynamics of a glad to be right here debrief. And that is completely different than Prime Gun. That is completely different than what occurs within the army, as a result of these are primary, proper? And what I’ve realized is that, yeah, that’s the method, however right here’s the 5 steps, all proper? And anybody who’s listening, should you can undertake these into the way in which you talk along with your crew, and even your self at evening, I assure you issues will occur. So primary, you want a protected atmosphere. And what I imply by a protected atmosphere, it’s respect, okay? You bought to respect the individuals you’re with, who you’re round. I imply, respect is the primary factor. Second factor is you bought to test your ego on the door, okay? That is about humility. So individuals are investing, hey, should you hit it, nice, however don’t get caught in your ego. We talked about this, David, a very long time in the past.
So I received to say test your ego on the door and be humble. It’s in regards to the we, not the I, particularly in a crew atmosphere, all proper? The third factor is you bought to put it on the desk, okay? And what I imply by that’s that you just want brutal and open honesty. How many people will not be fully sincere with our teammates? You bought withholds. And even your spouses, you bought to have honesty, all proper? The fourth piece is the accountability piece. However I name this the personal it and repair it mentality, as a result of I don’t need simply accountability. What I need is private accountability, which suggests your possession mentality. The final piece, the fifth one is the glad to be right here. Even with the primary 4, that’s positive, however until you add on this gratefulness and gratitude and appreciation, that’s the gas that retains you going. That’s what will get you up each morning saying, “I’m going to crush it in the present day. I’m going to make a distinction in somebody’s life.” In order that’s an important one, and that’s that mindset of gratitude.

David:
I like these. You’ve simplified it to restate these. It’s the protected atmosphere, which is a type of respect. Respect for different individuals, respect for your self, respect for security and the mission. Verify your ego, which is humility. We opened up the podcast by speaking about how essential it was to truly ensure that your ego shouldn’t be getting out of line. As a result of that basically is the trait that takes all your greatest traits and nullifies them. Doesn’t matter how superb you might be at all the things, in case your ego will get out of hand, it screws up all the opposite good issues you’ve going for you. Lay it on the desk, which is openness. That’s the, we’re sincere with one another. And also you referred to as it a sacred area, which is cool trigger should you name it a protected area, nobody is aware of what which means. As a result of protected area could possibly be a charged phrase.
So a sacred area is a spot the place you may say, “Hey, that is an space I screwed up,” with out being judged by them, since you’re judging your self and you’ll inform them, “Hey, I feel you screwed up.” Rob and I really had a second like that once we had been hanging out in Cabo one evening the place we talked in regards to the podcast, and he gave me some perspective on the way in which that I do issues and the way in which that I impression individuals. The place he thought, not essentially could possibly be improved, however he needed to pay attention to the way it appears to be like. And since I do know that the objective is to make the podcast higher, I’m like, “Yeah, you’re proper. I’m 100% like that. In truth, I’m even worse than that.”
And we went forwards and backwards. It was a cool, like what you had been speaking about, the debrief that makes us higher. You bought to have the ability to have these conversations in case your objective is to be higher. In case your objective is to guard your ego, then you definately shrink back from that. You don’t wish to have these conversations. Subsequent is personal it and repair it, which is accountability. That’s one among my favourite issues on this planet. That is one among my favourite books on this planet, Excessive Possession. I’m certain you’re a fan of that, John, written by Jocko Wilnick, proper? Superior e book. Superior philosophy to stay by. Go forward.

John:
No, you nailed it. Nicely, Jocko and all of the Navy SEALs, I’m good buds with most of them and that’s precisely proper, as a result of they get it, proper? And the identical factor within the blues, and the identical factor in investing. So preserve going. You nailed it. What was the fifth one although? You solely received the primary 4.

David:
Fifth one is glad to be right here. That was gratitude, which can also be the one which takes the opposite 4 and makes them enjoyable. When you don’t have the gratitude then you definately’re not having fun with life. There’s no level of doing the opposite 4. You bought to be thankful for what you’re doing, and it fills you with this power. And you recognize what I used to be occupied with, John? One thing I actually am impressed by with you. Your gas is your gratitude, proper? I used to be occupied with my time in legislation enforcement and as you’re speaking, I’m like, my mind’s going again and experiencing all of the freaking trauma. That was self-imposed. I used to be at all times afraid I used to be going to overlook one thing. I used to be going to make a mistake. There’s a whole lot of strain. It could possibly be driving the automobile and attempting to determine am I going northbound or southbound proper now, and what road is it that’s in entrance of me?
And when my buddy’s going, he’s coming, the place are we going to intercept out? It’s a lot crap goes by your head, on the similar time you’re attempting to have a look at, is somebody going to journey their bike proper in entrance of the automobile, and what are the dispatchers updating me with? After which really driving the automobile on the velocity you’re attempting to drive. And that was only one factor. There was, am I going to make a mistake writing a report? Am I going to screw up once I’m attempting to check one thing within the proof lab? There was this fixed nervousness that was at all times current that I do know was meant to assist me not make errors. The issue was should you’re fueled by the nervousness of not making a mistake and that’s all you’ve, your life sucks. You don’t benefit from the job, you’re simply attempting to not really feel ache 100% of the time.
However there’s no precise reward. You’re not getting any pleasure. And I personally assume that’s why lots of people get into habit, is that they want one thing to make them really feel good, as a result of they’re simply experiencing negativity on a regular basis. And now they know they’re not speculated to eat that donut, they know they’re not speculated to take that drug, they know they’re not supposed to try this silly factor. But it surely’s so arduous to not, if that’s the one place they get pleasure. Whereas gratitude is that this remedy all drugs the place should you’ve skilled sufficient of that, you’re not pushed by nervousness, you’re not pushed by concern, you’re not tempted to go do these dangerous issues. And I like that you just’re sharing that message, as a result of gratitude is nearly just like the marvel drug, man. When you can have that in your life, it would assist you to overcome all the opposite vices that are inclined to take us out.

John:
Man, David, you bought it brother. And when you perceive that, and also you consider that, you may change something. You held up Jocko’s e book Excessive Possession, right here’s one other one, Fearless Success, all proper, so I wrote this about 4 years in the past. You may get on Amazon anyplace, go to my web site, however see this framework on the again. So Rob, you went again to, nicely how do you really do it? Okay, there’s an precise framework to this, proper? And you concentrate on strategic administration idea will inform you imaginative and prescient, plan, execute, suggestions loop. I’ve taken it the entire new degree.
That is about perception ranges. What do I consider? How do you get dedication and purchase into one thing? What’s this transient? The transient is that preparation and that focus, middle factors that alignment, the readability on the place I’m going. The belief is the execution by excessive belief contracts. After which we’re speaking principally about this debrief, nevertheless it’s the glad to be right here that resets perception ranges. You get the spiraling up course of man. So there’s a framework to what we’re speaking about, however on the finish of the day, you bought to do what David mentioned, man. You bought to hook up with your gratitude, connect with your coronary heart, begin there after which we will work on these different issues.

David:
That’s superior. So I wish to ask you the final query that I’ve, Rob might have one, however what stage in your life do you’re feeling you… I don’t know, it’s arduous to explain. There’s at all times this pivot level to change the place one thing turns into actual to us. Possibly you’ve heard these items from different individuals, however generally there’s a second the place it simply units, man. Possibly was it whenever you had been in air visitors management, watching different individuals fly, pondering, how did I find yourself right here? Was there a relationship you misplaced? Was it one of many 20 occasions that you just tried for one thing and also you didn’t get that place, and also you needed to do some soul looking? Was there a catalyst that led to you actually grabbing a maintain of those values and saying, “I’m going to stay this fashion.”?

John:
I like that query. It was really a number of ones that hit my mind actual fast. And now I’ll go to the one, the turning level. So the primary one we already talked about, just a little boy wanting up and saying, boy there’s a dream. The second that hit me was once I performed soccer in faculty, and I fumbled the punt towards Georgia Tech and I’m like, crap, I received to do higher than that. Flying jets off the provider and never simply the missile shoot, however some scary evening landings. However the massive one was once I transitioned out of the Blue Angels, out of the Navy and I needed to reinvent myself, and I went again to Stanford Enterprise Faculty. I went and received three grasp’s levels, I went and labored in enterprise capital, and I noticed that that wasn’t my candy spot. I’m not an incredible VC, as a result of I didn’t know the atmosphere as a lot as I knew flying.
I didn’t know that what I actually wanted to do to make actually good investments. Now, actual property, I do know that higher. Like we talked about earlier than, I’ve received seven houses. I’m an LP in many alternative investments with flats. We’ve received multi-family, we’ve received business buildings, we’ve received over 200 models. However I’ve realized on how you can encompass myself with different good individuals. However I feel the most important second was after the web blew up, okay, I used to be an entrepreneur. I used to be attempting to begin the NASCAR of aviation when 9/11 occurred. I used to be in Manhattan on 9/11. I used to be operating in the direction of the towers, not away from them, proper? Seeing if I may assist. And my enterprise blew up that day. You’re not going to begin an aviation leisure firm, like Pink Bull lastly did, after 9/11. And I do not forget that I used to be crushed. However what actually crushed me was what you simply talked about, the connection.
The girl that I used to be courting on the time dumped me. So now I received relationship dumped, enterprise blown up, what are you going to do? And I went to a seminar on private progress, as a result of I’m at all times attempting to get myself higher, and that is the sunshine bulb second. I’m within the dumps, and the one that was speaking this man title was Lou Ty, nice inspirational man. And he talked about visualization, what will we visualize? And he was utilizing a video that I used to be in once I was on the crew. Keep in mind I talked in regards to the transient the place there’s some visualization and he mentioned, “Hey, we received a man right here that basically is aware of about this.” He was speaking about from a psychological standpoint and he mentioned, “John, would you say a number of phrases?”
I received up there on that stage and I didn’t speak in regards to the science or the psychology. I mentioned that is how you employ it. That is precisely what we had been doing, that is what I used to be pondering, and that is how I exploit it in my on a regular basis life. That was the sunshine bulb second. I get off stage, individuals are operating as much as me going, “Hey, how do you try this? Do you do that?” And I had a lightweight bulb second. Excessive efficiency groups, excessive efficiency individuals, how you can flip these into enterprise outcomes. I understand how to try this. And that’s been my ardour for the final 20 years. And I had no plan at the moment, however I had the dream, I had the readability, and that’s it. And so now I get to do that a whole lot of occasions a 12 months. It’s a blessing, and I wish to share it with others.

David:
Nicely that’s unbelievable man. I like that that’s the case. You and Jocko, there’s a number of different individuals, a number of the Gracies that do Jujitsu. Nicely, earlier than I get into that, I’ll say when Rob talked about how he can get 100% higher in in the future, it completely made me consider jujitsu. As a result of I’m a white belt and I don’t know something. So 100% of the courses I’m going to, I’ll be taught actually good things as a result of I do know nothing. However I have a look at a number of the brown belts and the black belts in there, and it’s clear they’re simply there for us. They hardly ever get a chance to essentially get higher. And there’s a reality or a sample to, the higher you get at one thing, the tougher it’s to get good, so the extra intentional it’s a must to be about placing your self in the best environments.
However the those that have finished that, you, Jocko Wilkin, a number of the actually nice martial artists which have dedicated their life to excellence at one thing. They’ve received this reward that they share with the world. They’ve discovered the best strategy to do it, is one of the best ways I can describe it. They’ve experimented with all of the incorrect paths, they know the handful which might be the best manner, and now they’re preaching that message. And it’s so highly effective to listen to it, as a result of we don’t should make the identical errors. We will hear your story, we will hearken to the ache that you just talked about, we will hear in regards to the issues that labored, and we will use that in our personal life going ahead if we select to do it.
So thanks for doing that, man. Thanks for not simply letting your ego get large since you are among the finest on this planet of what you do, changing into a Blue Angel pilot, and also you’re clearly a tremendous communicator, and a rich person who’s discovered enterprise. However you’re really nonetheless attempting to throw down the rope from the highest of the mountain to assist everybody else. So thanks for doing that. The final section of our present we’re going to skip, since you’ve finished so good that we don’t must get into asking you about your favourite books. You’ve talked about your e book, once more, are you able to present it to us, and might you give us the title and inform individuals the place they’ll discover it?

John:
Yeah, so Fearless Success, Easy methods to Go Past Excessive Efficiency. Clearly the most effective place, go to my web site, JohnFoleyInc.com, as a result of there’s a whole lot of stuff you may get apart from the e book. We’ve received a number of movies, we’ve received a number of help stuff. Or go to Amazon, and truly we simply created the audio model of the e book and the book, so it’s on the market. However what you went again to is, I feel, vital David, and that’s sooner or later in your life, you bought to begin giving. And what I realized was that you just received to offer first, proper? So that you talked about Jocko and myself, I imply, we’re giving. Individuals ask me, do you have to fly anymore? The reply isn’t any. That’s my previous life.
If I can use that in a manner that helps others, that’s what wakes me up within the morning. And we began a basis, my spouse and I, we give 10% of all our charges to charity. And due to that, I’ve been over the Himalayas with my buddy Geoff Tabin, The Himalayan Cataract Undertaking. We’re doing, he’s doing, cornea transplants, he’s received a 100,000 individuals cured of blindness within the overseas world. We’re going over to Africa to try this. We assist veterans who come again with PTSD. There’s over 300 nonprofits that we’re concerned in proper now, and I feel everyone can profit from simply giving first. So hey, begin the 12 months off, have your readability, have your goals, however begin by giving, and that’s the seed that enables these to return to fruition.

Rob:
So the one different factor we are going to ask you is inform us extra about the place individuals can discover out about you. I do know you mentioned JohnFoley.com, do you’ve any social media or something like that the place individuals can look you up?

John:
So the most effective place is JohnFoleyInc.com, okay. However go to any of social media. I’m underneath John Gucci Foley, LinkedIn’s an excellent one, Instagram, all that form of stuff. I received a podcast by the way in which, the place I’m not at your degree. It’s referred to as The Excessive Efficiency Zone. So there’s a number of methods to remain engaged. I might say get on our group, our excessive efficiency group checklist in order for you, if these items resonates with you. YouTube, so many movies, TED Speak, all that form of stuff. Web site’s an excellent begin. Simply be a part of the group and above all, let’s simply give our data and our knowledge to others. Glad to be right here, buddy.

Rob:
Superior. What about you, Dave? The place can individuals be taught extra about you?

David:
I hope they do. You possibly can study me at David Greene 24 on all of the socials, and that features YouTube. Additionally go to DavidGreene24.com to see my web site in a pair weeks. Really, when this comes out, I may need a brand new one up and operating. How about you, Rob?

Rob:
Oh, you’ll find me on YouTube at Rob Constructed, however I’ll say my name to motion to the viewers is that if in the present day was inspiring or life altering or motivating the way in which it was for me, and I’m certain Dave too, contemplate leaving us a 5 star evaluation on the Apple Podcast platform, or wherever you obtain your podcast. It does assist us with the podcast algorithm, consider it or not. And it helps us get served, and our podcast can get in entrance of so many different individuals and alter their lives too.

David:
All proper, John, thanks for being right here. Actually respect it. We’re going to provide the final phrase, should you received anything you wish to say earlier than we allow you to go.

John:
Nicely, I simply wish to say thanks. You guys are superior. Because of the viewers. Proceed to crush it in actual property, and different features of your life. However above all, glad to be right here. This has been treasured. Thanks guys.

Rob:
Glad to be right here.

David:
That is David Greene for Rob, my Blue Angel Abasolo, signing off.