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Primal Foundations Podcast
Welcome to the Primal Foundations Podcast! We will dive into what I believe are the 4 essential foundations you need to live a healthy lifestyle.
Strength , Nutrition , Movement , and Recovery.
Get ready to dive into discussions that will guide you on your transformative journey to unlocking your path to optimal health.
Don't miss out on the latest episodes – subscribe now to the Primal Foundations Podcast.
Primal Foundations Podcast
Bonus Episode: #5 The Art of Coaching: From Niches to Mindsets
Three veteran strength coaches—Nathan Bañuelos, Nikki Georgeson, and Tony Pascolla.—pull back the curtain on the realities of the personal training industry, bringing decades of combined experience to a candid discussion about coaching practices, business development, and the future of the profession. We explore how the pandemic reshaped client expectations, debating whether virtual training is here to stay or if in-person coaching is making a comeback.
For aspiring trainers, their advice is brutally honest: expect little return in the first few years, as the path to success demands long hours, financial uncertainty, and a steep learning curve.
We also stress the importance of mentorship and maintaining an abundance mindset in an industry where many guard their client lists. Rather than competition, they advocate for collaboration, believing that referring clients to the right coach ultimately strengthens one’s reputation and network. Whether you're a fitness professional looking for guidance or someone curious about what goes on behind the scenes in personal training, this episode offers raw and insightful perspectives on the dedication, challenges, and human connections that define great coaching.
Subscribe for more conversations that go beyond sets and reps to explore the deeper side of strength.
Nikki Georgeson:
Nathan Bañuelos:
Tony Pascolla:
Let's Talk Strength Youtube Channel
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PRIMAL FOUNDATIONS PODCAST-
Instagram: @Tony_PrimalFoundations
Website: Primalfoundations.com
The Strength Kollective:
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Hey everybody, welcome to the let's Talk Strength podcast where we discuss programming, share coaching insights and dive deep into all things strength training. It's pretty fun saying that Happy spring. Spring has sprung here in Chicago. We got Tony Pescola and Nikki Georgiansen on the podcast with us, as always for let's Talk, and myself, nathan Benuelos. I'm just going to hand it over to Tony, have him talk about what he's been up to and kind of some updates, not too many big updates for me.
Speaker 2:Just still some workshops that are happening and actually Nate's coming to a kettlebell workshop today after we get off this podcast, oh, I'm so jealous.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I got to go to Nate's last week too, at Chicago Strength and Logan, but the new thing that's been going on is just really trying to structure the strength and conditioning program at the school. Right now, I'm investing a lot of time into going to other workshops and rubbing elbows with strength coaches and then also getting my own literature and purchasing different online courses that has to do with strength and conditioning in the youth setting. So it's something that I'm trying to really, really dive in deep this upcoming summer and next year for all my kiddos at the school. So that's been pretty much the focus right now. That's cool.
Speaker 3:It's awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what about you?
Speaker 3:Nikki Just living it up in Lisbon. Guys, here we are just finally feeling super grounded and excited to be here. I think I had just I think I was here for two days the last time we did this podcast, so it was very new and fresh to me. But in terms of strength and business, it's been really fun. I've been diving into actually more programming and just really having having some fun with it and, you know, putting more programs out there, just really again to have fun with it, to experiment, and I've been doing a lot on the back end and really diving into social media marketing and all that entails.
Speaker 3:On running an online business. So it's been really interesting because coaching has been, you know, been my life for the last 10 years, but running an online business is something completely different and I've been trying to learn as much as I can, eventually getting a business coach here in the next couple of months, so really just in a completely different space. To be honest, coaching and running a business are just very, very two different things. It's been a big learning lesson.
Speaker 1:That's a perfect segue for what we're going to talk about today. Yeah, thanks for lobbing me up here.
Speaker 3:Sure guys.
Speaker 1:But I'll talk about that in a second, but I'm just going to give some updates. So in the last month I started coaching at uh, the garage in um in West town Shout out to Gina, um, tony and I went over there and and checked out the spot. Um, they're opening. They opened a new space called the apartment and it's just a super dope, like I don't know. It's like a yoga studio but it's like a like a apartment building. So you walk in and you're like where am I? Where am I? And then you, you open the door and it's literally a yoga studio. It's really really really cool, uh, so just started training out of there. And then I'm actually ramping up my in-person business at uh at Bucktown, in Bucktown, um, at Academy of Strength. So so shout out to Leo, uh and the crew over there and there and just kind of building my business. I got some small group training going there as well, so it's been fun.
Speaker 1:What we're going to talk about today is really the state of personal training. It's a big topic, I think, in the community right now. Nikki kind of started it off like talking about even just like she's in a whole different part of her career, right. So you know that's that's whole different part of her career, right? So you know that's that's. I hope we get a little bit of insight on that towards the end, like online digital marketing. But I wanted to start off the podcast just kind of talking about where we're at with personal training and just like you know where we see it going, like how it's evolved in the last few years, like because of COVID, you know, going from like in person and making things like hybrid. Or you know you're working with people virtually Tony, like where do you see things right now with personal training and where do you think we're going?
Speaker 2:Well, I think this could be the hot take of the day. I think it's actually going to eventually go away from hybrid a little bit. I think right now, because of just how things are set up with people's jobs. People are going to be at home, people are going to get a program and I think programs are great. Get a program and I think programs are great. But I think the touch of a personal trainer or that coach and the coach's eye is you cannot put a price on that.
Speaker 2:I see a lot of people get these programs like eight day shred or you know, eight week whatever, and they'll they'll go on to it and there is some accountability because you have to check in right, like. You have to like show that you did the sets and reps and whatever. But really, if it's a bigger program, if you're just buying off like a train heroic market and there's no follow up with the coach and nobody's checking up on you, you buy a program. It's just like any gym membership, right, you go. If nobody's touching base with you at all, it just kind of fizzle out and then you get it's too much of a program to program. Like here's a nine week thing, I did it for four. You know, ooh, this is a flashy thing, I saw this, I'm going to get that.
Speaker 2:I think people are starting to realize and again, it's all about the person Some people that have a good base and have some coaching before COVID happened or whatever, and they're going getting these programs because they have a home gym or the gym is close, they have technique, they have the quote unquote discipline to go three or four days a week. But I think eventually people are going to really really turn back into going to the gym, setting one for accountability, two for community, but three but the legit just coaching, like getting there and getting coached up and getting proficient at the movements and getting better at it. So I think it's a we're in a weird phase right now where everybody's trying to go online and I know, nikki, like you're out here online, everybody is. But I think we're in a weird phase right now where everybody's trying to go online and I know, Nikki, you're online, everybody is.
Speaker 2:But I think eventually people will start to kind of shift back into being with that coach or at least meeting with somebody virtually one-on-one, like that's another piece too is like if you can't get into the gym meeting with somebody, one-on-one via your coach. Again, bells are the easiest because you need a four-by-four space. Having a barbell in your house we've talked about that is kind of difficult. Or if you have it in your garage, great. But I think eventually people are going to want that one-on-one connection and the one-on-one coaching. So programs are great, but I think eventually that's where it's going to want that one-on-one connection and the one-on-one coaching.
Speaker 1:So programs are great, but I think eventually it's where it's going to go. Nicky what about you? What do you? Where do you think we are right now with personal training? I?
Speaker 3:know that's a big question. What a question. Yeah, where are we are right now with personal training? I don't know if we know where we are. I think I don't know. I honestly don't know if we know where we are.
Speaker 3:I think, like I don't know, I honestly don't know if I have like a definitive answer. It's like you know, to Tony's point, I think it's becoming more and more common to do things online, but I don't know if the audience that at least I work with is prepared for that. So I think mentally it's weird. I think people who try and take advantage of online things actually need a more personal, one-on-one coach. I think people who are more advanced are the ones that are more prepped and equipped to be online and to purchase something like a 12-week program, because they typically know the form, they typically know how the programming is set up, they understand that it's just 12 weeks. They're going to experiment with it, they're going to have fun with it, they're going to try and, you know, learn something, get something out of it, but then they know they're going to have to reevaluate after those 12 weeks. So I don't know.
Speaker 3:I find I have an audience that works with me online and they love it and they do great and we do check-ins. I'm actually more hands-off but that's because my audience for the most part, who works with me online, are pretty advanced at this point. And what I mean by advanced is that they've been training for years and years and years and years and have trained with me in person beforehand. So we've built that trust, we've built that relationship. But I've had other clients that are like no, I need the accountability, I need someone in person.
Speaker 3:I would love for you to set me up with someone when you leave. I totally understand that 100% Online is not for them, so I don't know where we're at. I think people are just constantly trying to figure out what's going to work best for them long term. As a coach, I would answer that differently. Online is really hard. I can't physically touch anybody. That's a really new experience to me, especially being a very tactical coach, I like to actually put my hands on people, so that has also been a very, very different experience for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So like I think what you both are kind of saying is like it really depends on the individual, right? I think that's sort of like part of the answer and what they need and I've and I can, uh, complete. I actually agree with Tony because I, when I I've been working with folks online for the last, like you know, five years and then I have sort of like the reverse issue that a lot of coaches have, where they have too much in-person and then not enough online. But I have too much online and I need more in-person, and then have, like, having all this online experience experience, and then you go to in person as a coach, you're like man, I have so many tools that I can utilize in real life. There's just the tactile feedback that you get and I feel like and I know this at some point in your career as a coach you're going to realize there's a lot more. There's a lot of value in meeting with the person once, like at least once a week, you know, regardless virtual or in person, but especially in person, there's just so much value working with that individual. I mean it's just, it's just so human and I think it's such a awesome part of the, the career and the job, to kind of like move on from this part.
Speaker 1:Um, what are what are your guys's thoughts on, like coaches nowadays kind of growing into, like niches, like I I've seen it like we see all these certs coming up, they're popping up here and there, like you see, um you know we have, we have sfg, obviously, you have rkc, um, but you're so you see, you see kbcu, I I'm seeing like mace programs popping up. I'm seeing like club, like club slash, kettlebell programs picking up, like people and barbell programs. Like I see people and coaches niching like what do you guys think about that? Um, in terms of training and coaching? Uh, why do you think that's it? People are doing that.
Speaker 3:I mean, I think coaches are always told to niche down. That's been my experience that if you have a niche, you're better off. I think it can definitely work in your favor, but I don't think you have to have a niche in order to service others. I don't think that that's necessarily true, I don't think it's a downfall, but, again, I think it can work in your favor. I particularly, I think the niche that I think is really beneficial is pre and postnatal.
Speaker 3:I know a lot of female online coaches that are just absolutely phenomenal when it comes to pre and postnatal and I think that, being their niche, I think they have a very specific, particular audience before, during and after pregnancy and they just do a great job. And you know, for example, I am pre and postnatal certified, but since it's not really my niche, it's not something that I want to dive into. I haven't had that experience personally. So I would send them, you know, to these women who are really really more equipped, more knowledgeable working with this audience. So I do think it can work in your favor and also work in the favor of a client as well. Like, could I take them? Yeah, sure, and I can do an okay job, but you know what? I'd rather give them to this person who would service them way better in this position than than I would.
Speaker 2:Uh, this is, this is a phone one a great question. And I think I and I heard this um saying the other day I was just like going through some like YouTube, I'm just like looking at some like coaching videos and one of the things they're talking about, like athletes, is that they're over specialized and under generalized and I was like, yeah, and then I was thinking about that. Yeah, when I was thinking about this, I was like you do have trainers like. You can be an absolute master at the landmine, landmine university, all that. I'm not saying that's bad stuff, but you can be an absolute master at the landmine, landmine university, all that. I'm not saying that's bad stuff, but you can be an absolute master at the landmine. But if that's your only tool, I think you're pigeonholing yourself. Um, as a trainer, you know people will come to you for that specific training. But when I'm thinking about people and clients, and unless you have like this, like laser pointer of your clientele, I think you're missing the mark as a coach. Because how many, how many basic movements do we do as coaches and program for our clients? We do a lot of basic stuff and I think, in the terms of general population, people, the amount of people that come to the gym that need support. It's basic stuff. It's basic. It's really about your coaching style. It's really about getting them to move better, get them stronger, get them coming back into the door day after day. And I think there's so many flashy things out there and I like the flash too, Don't get me wrong. This stuff looks so cool. But will I use that for 90% of the people I work with? Probably not. Maybe myself, maybe an advanced individual for sure. But I think really, if you're targeting one of your, if you're targeting a specific market, you lose out on your coaching experience. Because I've coached, like big group classes with you know, people that were in their late 30s to 50s or 60s. Right, I learned a lot about myself and like my coaching and I got better at coaching because I got that group of population. I would not say none of them. Everybody's an athlete in their own right, but none of them are NFL combine ready. And then I coached fifth graders all the way to 12th graders. I have this different population and different cues and I wouldn't learn anything. Have like this different population in different cues and I wouldn't learn anything.
Speaker 2:Like the other day, too, a kid put a landmine attachment on a sled. I have these uh rogue sleds and you know how the posts go in. Yeah, it's a push. And he couldn't find out. There was no room and he couldn't put the attachment. And then the bumper plates were big and he put one in the sled right and he had. There was weight on the sled and he was doing it off the sled. I'm like dude, that thing fits in there. He's like, yeah, I couldn't find anywhere else. I'm like dude, we could get four landmines going off the sled at one time. I was like I did.
Speaker 2:I like this is great, like I've learned so much playing legos with a damn sled yeah, basically I was like dude, I could put two sleds out there with weights and then I could have four landmines going on each. I could have eight landmines happening with half the space. I was like this is great, but just learning different things and getting really good at basics Be brilliant at the basics is my new thing. I've been saying to the kids they want the flash. I'm like, be brilliant at the basics.
Speaker 2:But I think, yeah, niching is for marketing purposes, to sell some. I hate saying that to sell something. But you, if you want to sell something, you have to niche down. You have to. That's why I have kettlebell programs. I don't have general programs, I have kettlebell programs and that's the way you get your, your message out. Just, you know, throw that out there. People know you as that like landmine, kettlebell, even barbell, powerlifting, strong man. Like if you niche down and they Google you, they're going to find you easier. But if you're just like I'm a really good at the basics coach which everybody needs, nobody's going to find you on the internet. You're going to just kind of like be at the 50th page on Google maybe. But that's my two cents into it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like to piggyback off both your points and I'm going to talk from the coach's perspective, right, like, why would you want to niche down? I think I think niching, in my opinion, in the beginning is even more important because if you at least like go a mile deep in something you're going to learn so much through that mile deep process, and then I feel like, once you're a mile deep in some sort of you know, whatever tool you're learning, you can be learning a kettlebell, a barbell, a landmine, a body weight calisthenics. Like you're a mile deep, it's easier to bridge concepts to other tools. That's just in my experience. Like you know, we've picked up. I went to a couple of club Mace club classes from one of my buddies, danny Cola, in the city, and you know picking up the club in the Mace is no different than picking up the kettlebell. And you know I wouldn't have known that and that concept wouldn't have came to me had I not niched in the kettlebell for a while. Right, so I think, for for coaches in the beginning of their career, it is good for them to niche, like get a mile deep, like get your knowledge base, be able to transfer a skill tree over to a new student or a new client and I think then you can do it again. You repeat that process and now you have a lot more tools in your shed. That's something that I think about a lot. Now we're trying to go I'm doing barbell.
Speaker 1:I've never gotten barbell instruction. I've done a ton of kettlebell instruction, I've used a barbell for 15 years but I never got barbell instruction for like 15 years but I never got barbell instruction. So, adding that to my tool shed, now it's like, okay, I'm a barbell coach, I can coach, I feel comfortable coaching this. I know the cues to set somebody up the right way without hurting themselves. And, uh, you know, I've been. It's it's good to do that.
Speaker 1:I think it's really good for coaches to to kind of do that. But, um, you know, like all the way, one thing your whole life, when you are also going to get really educated, students and clients that are going to be like, well, I want to learn something new, you're stuck in this wheelhouse and you want to expand, but you can't because you don't, you don't feel comfortable to transfer the other knowledge over. So don't hyper niche, try to try to learn a bit of everything you know right. So no, I'm gonna. I'm gonna take this. Nikki, did you have something you want to say? I felt like you wanted to say something there.
Speaker 3:No, it's actually based off of what I feel like you always say is that in order to get really, really good and really proficient at something, you have to do it over and over again, and that's essentially what we do initially as coaches. So it's really interesting that you said you know, for a while I think you should niche down, because that is your dedication and development into something really specific, and that's what happened with me, with Kettlebells, and you know I'm sure you guys had that experiences when you, like, first started coaching, and that's what makes you proficient at something Right and that's what we tell other people to do. Is you have a phrase, nathan?
Speaker 2:you feel like you use it all the time Like just get, I know you, let me check my notes.
Speaker 3:Let me check my notes of quotes here what I got is just getting like disgustingly good at one thing, yeah, and you're right, and looking back on it, it's just like we really did fall in love and we get really good at that one thing. And that's when beyond, that is when I think I don't know about you guys, but Sammy Gonzalez was really good at coaching concepts. You're a good coach. You're going to coach concepts, right, not just things, not just exercises, because then people can only go so far with that, and I think for all of us, our goal as coaches is to coach concepts so that they can apply to other things obviously. So it's just interesting, because that's true, like we did start off with a niche and I think that's why we got really good with kettlebell work, or at least that was for me.
Speaker 1:And this is perfect. This again a great segue into our next topic here. Just tips for new coaches. Right, Like you know, you're, you're, we're seeing that I'm seeing a ton of them sprout out. I'm actually getting a lot of messages from people who are actually trying to transition into becoming a coach, Like they're in a career, a completely different career. They're like, hey, like I saw you do this, Like how did you navigate these steps? I'm going to ask the question like this so, Tony, I know I keep going to Tony, I'm going to go to Nikki next. Nikki, if you were to go and tell yourself, you know, 10 years ago, you can give yourself like a cheat code on how to get to be where you're at right now as fast as possible. What would be the first thing you would tell yourself?
Speaker 3:Man. Wow, nathan, really coming in hot with the questions today. Be a sponge, just be a sponge. Like, really take it all in from as many sources or sources that you trust as much as possible. Like, find someone that you have trust in and try and develop a relationship If that person is able and willing to kind of take you under their wings.
Speaker 3:Like I would not. I will say it over and over and over again I wouldn't be who I am or where I'm at without Sam Gonzalez or Jose Rodriguez, like it. Just it wouldn't happen if they weren't there. I don't know what would have happened because I would kind of be like a chicken with my head cut off, which I think is where all coaches start, cause it's so overwhelming. You know between the programming and getting clients and making a decent income. You know between the programming and getting clients and making a decent income. You know starting this whole process without any previous knowledge. I think I was wonderfully naive at the time. I think that also helped. I was so naive. I was also 22 when I started my process.
Speaker 1:How do you mean by like? What do you mean by that Like? Oh, I had, I had no idea. Like, what do you?
Speaker 3:mean by that Like, oh, I had. I had no idea the the sacrifice it was going to take for the first two to four years. Expect nothing for the first two to three years, and I hate to say that to new coaches, but it's like any sales job, right it's? You know you've got to. But that was also the most wonderful time in my coaching career because I was with a community of people. We were all very young. I didn't know how hard it was going to be. I truly like slept in my coaching clothes.
Speaker 3:I got home at 9 pm eating cereal for dinner, woke up at 5 am, did it all over again, but I also had my peers doing that with me and we had so much fun. I had no money, I had nothing. And I'm like, if I'm really gonna make this work, then I have to do it 100%. Can't be one foot in and one foot out, Like you have to dive and you have to commit or else it won't work. I thought like, oh, I can do this, you know I got nothing to lose. Like, let's do it. You know I got nothing to lose, Like, let's do it.
Speaker 3:Whereas when you're older you might have kids, you might have had a stable, secure job for a long period of time. Obviously, your decision to do that is much harder. It's much scarier. I feel like I was a young, dumb kid when I decided to do this, so I think my experience was a little different. But just be a sponge Like again. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those two guys really just teaching me everything that they know and just being kind and just you know, really helping me stay grounded and really enjoy the process, even though I had absolutely nothing. So just learn as much as possible. Just learn, take it all in.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like one thing I want to say to that is it sounds like you know, like I don't think a lot of coaches realize that there's like an apprenticeship, like piece to this right, like there's like a one to three year like it, and that varies. I think a lot of it varies like who you, who, the type of person you are, how much you love it. Like this is a trade, like you're learning a trade, you're learning a skill, right. So you need to understand that for those first, like one to three years, you are really needing to sponge so you can see, like how the people that are doing well in the field are doing it. And I think what you're like trying to say as well, nikki, is like find those mentors right. Like that's that's going to be part of my answer is like see, nobody can do this by themselves.
Speaker 3:Like you just got, like guys, guys, don't, don't do it. Like nothing great can be done by yourself. And I think I mean I definitely had times where I thought I could do everything on my own and I continue, 10 years later, to remind myself like no, you can't, you can't play this game. Don't play this game Like reach out for help. So, especially at the beginning, when it's overwhelming, like find, find your people, find your peers, find your mentors, because in order to do this, like if you know you're, you're going to need some help totally agree.
Speaker 1:Well, I love that answer. Great answer, nikki thank you tony, let's, let's see what the family.
Speaker 2:He's like, he's, he's like silent.
Speaker 1:He's like I'm listening, I'm enjoying young bucks Finish up and let me get to my young bucks.
Speaker 2:Get out of here, nathan, jesus, damn. Okay, I guess I'm the old guy on the show.
Speaker 1:Wait, are you really that much?
Speaker 2:We love you Tony's 32. He's two years old, no.
Speaker 3:Tony's 32.
Speaker 2:He's two years old. No, I'm 36 years young. I'm 36? Oh, I'm like, wait, I'm older than you. Yeah, good job, nate, good job, put him on blast. Let's go, tony, let's go. Uh, no, I agree with everything you guys are saying.
Speaker 2:I would say if I had to give advice to myself as I got into this. I went a different round. I went into, like physical education and being an athlete like you know, going to getting my PE degree, like going to be a physical educator, uh, I, I came in thinking like I know more than I did and I didn't, I didn't know enough. Like I had a degree, I had. This is what I, my profession, my profession was.
Speaker 2:But you know, the more you I mean you guys can contest this the more we know about this game strength training and conditioning and performance the actually, the less we actually know. Like we think we know more. When we're coming out, we're like we got that certificate, we got this, uh, accreditation, whatever. And then you just realize like man, I really don't know a lot about this anymore. And walking into things, thinking you know as when you're young, obviously you're young, you want to be confident, but it's also like you need to take a step back. Like Nikki was saying, be a sponge and you just need to learn and know you're not going to know everything and you're going to mess up and that you're going to program something it's not going to work out.
Speaker 2:I think one of the discussions we had before is like what are the things like? You messed up when you're beginning? It's like programming too many movements, like for a group class. You're running around trying to like coach everybody or overcoaching, and you're like exhausted, that's class one now. It's like the less is more get you know, we're gonna do four or five movements today, um, and you're not gonna over coach them, you're not gonna be on top of people, and I think that's like a big piece too is like you know, take a step back and you're gonna make mistakes.
Speaker 2:But I think also and and this is just a advice, I always did this, but this is advice to like, because to your point, nikki, of talking about like being at the gym at 6 am till 9 pm and all these things like for coaches, like be on time. That means early clean up after yourself, like it's still into the also the clients to clean up. I don't think people realize how big of a deal. That is of cleaning up, making sure you set up for the next person, making sure the space looks good. And even if you get there and there's things out I didn't take those out, I'm not putting those away it's like no, get the place set up Like it sucks that you had to do that, but knowing you're going to do grunt work, you might have to do laundry, you might have to do whatever. You might get the crappy shift you don't want. But again, if you're starting out in this game, those are things you're going to have to do.
Speaker 2:So be very open-minded. You don't know everything. Just sit back and listen and learn and learn from your mistakes and just be a professional. And the last thing I'll say is it's really about connection, like it's the hands down. It's about connection with the people. You can be not even the best coach in the world. Some of the I know some trainers right, they got a full book. And then some they're not the best coach in the world but they're a great person, like I mean that will get you a lot of business in this, in this industry. If you're a great person, you connect with them, you care Right and you can make them strong Like you're going to be fine, you're going to be great, but all of those things I would say are are super, super important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, and like, I think the one my point would be is I see I see coaches today and like I just have the conversations at the gym, like what are you up to? Like what's been new? You know, like at my, at my personal gym, and it's it just reminds me so much of where I was at Cause I was in those shoes. I used to work like corporate wellness, corporate fitness. I was a, you know, I ran a facility back at like that was my first career, right and um, you know I was running into the same not to sound like her Mosey here but I was running into the same boss battle when I was that version of myself because I wasn't taking those necessary steps to find my Sam Gonzalez, to find my Tony P. You know what I mean. I wasn't able to find these mentors that I needed and it took somebody that we actually hired and brought in, shout out to Terry, and Terry was like Nate, you really should invest in learning how to like, basically build out a skill tree so you can transfer that over to a student or to a client, Because you have the personal traits like you can, you can like, and I think a lot of coaches have this. They have like the ability to be really personal with somebody and they think they know that. They have, you know, programs like if you have somebody coming in they're training week over week. They're getting good results Great, it's awesome. You know, like you're taking something off the internet, you're slapping it in a copy and paste and you're running it. They're doing it week over week. That's awesome. Like kudos to you, that's amazing. But if you want to take it to the next level and really like make this and make more, make more value out of your sessions, be able to sell higher and be able to sell more per session, you're going to have to reevaluate that at some point and realize that you need to learn that skill tree. Like you need to learn something to transfer over to a student and it needs to come partially from you and like how you do and how you do things.
Speaker 1:So I wish I wish I would have told myself if I can go back like 10 years and say, hey, nate, like this is what you should do. Like seek out those mentors. Like seek them out. You know you, you're going to have to. You're sometimes you're going to have to pay to learn these things. You're going to have to put pay to get into these rooms to learn, but you know what those investments are going to pay. They're going to pay insane dividends once you understand the processes that these people are utilizing at the highest level, and that's why they can charge and that's why they can do what they can do. I'm going to pull.
Speaker 1:I'm going to bring up Hunter real quick, because the first day of KBCU, when I invested in him, he just threw like a dollar signs on the screen and he's like hey guys, before we start, this is how much money I've invested in my career to get to where I'm at. So I just want you guys to understand like that's, that's kind of how it kind of works like that, like you have to continue to invest in your education and you have to be curious about that next step and getting more value out of that next step. So that's what I would tell myself is like, hey, seek out those mentors, seek out those people, take those courses. Yeah, you might be on your bottom dollar, but this is gonna take you and raise your dollar. It will. You got to trust that. You got to trust that. So, yeah, that would be my advice.
Speaker 1:And this is also like, just like another perfect segue, you know, into our next thing is having an abundance mindset as a coach, and I think you know again we talk about boss battles, like going on within ourself. I think a lot of coaches, and it's sort of like the name of the game is not to. We do have an abundance mindset with students, but we need to start having it with our business, and I think that's something that I want all of us to just kind of talk about. Like Tony, I'm going to lob it over to you. Like what do you think it means to have an abundant mindset as a coach, as a leader in a gym?
Speaker 2:You know, we all want to protect ours, we want to protect our ego, you know things like that. And we want the most clients, we want the biggest book, we want our classes to be packed, you know, and I think that's an okay thing, but at the same time, I think coaches need to realize that it really there's enough business for everyone. There's enough business for everyone. And the moment you stop caring about like I mean, money isn't everything, but it's up there with oxygen, right, it's important. But at the same time, you open up this huge window to more relationships, more reciprocity relationships, more reciprocity, more people coming in and out of your life. When you have this abundance mindset of what can I do to help others? If there's somebody that wants to do a nutrition route, that's not the same to me Like, I'll send them to Nikki. I've named, dropped Nikki a bunch of times. Oh, this is her Instagram checker out, follower, all that stuff. Like anything for you, nate. It's like, yeah, like we were trying to work out that apartment thing. I'm like I don't, it's not really going to fit for me right now. Like, nate, you take the reins, you do that. Like you run with that workshops like going to. Like we do this all the time. We go to people's workshops, we learn, we, we, we get our friends to go to, uh, we bring people in.
Speaker 2:And I think that once you do that, I think you have such a big gateway into other people's lives, versus like you're so closed and it's all about me, like, once you start looking at this whole thing as a community, a vocation, right. A community, a vocation, right. And how can I? I look at it as like wrestling, like wrestling for me was like my favorite sport, and my coach told me this one quote I've always, I still remember to this day.
Speaker 2:He goes you can never give the sport of wrestling what it's given you. You can never give enough to what it's given you. And I think that same thing about strength training and coaching or any vocation that you choose, like you can never give enough to what it's given you. And I think that's the same thing about strength training and coaching or any vocation that you choose, like you can never give enough to the something that you love, that it's given to you personally. So always be giving and contributing and helping others. I think if you just stand by that one, you're going to be happier and you're going to have better relationships and you are going to just thrive in the business. So that's what I would say about abundance.
Speaker 3:Damn. I don't know if anything else needs to be said.
Speaker 1:Well said, Nikki. You got anything to add to it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm actually gonna. I'm gonna take a little turn on this one. First, I think it's good to remember, kind of going off of Tony is that what's the opposite of abundance mindset is scarcity mindset. When you have a scarcity mindset, nobody wins. You don't win, nobody wins, right? That makes people feel like they're always lacking something or that success is a zero-sum game, right? So if you don't have abundance, you're going to be in that scarcity mindset and that's not a place that anybody wants to be.
Speaker 3:And what's really interesting that is kind of ticking me here for with this question is that when my European boyfriend came to the States for the very first time, he felt a very big difference in culture, mainly of which and this is a pro and a con Americans have a very competitive culture. Again, there's pros and cons to that. But the difference of being here and I can feel it almost instantly when I got here was that this feels like more of an abundance mindset kind of environment where people are supporting others and, again, if I win, everybody wins, or if everybody wins, I also win. It's just such a different approach.
Speaker 3:My boyfriend always tells me there's room for everybody. There's always room for everybody, and especially when we talk about social media, right, because that also gets very overwhelming in terms of like. What am I going to post that nobody else hasn't, especially in terms of fitness? You know what's the point of me doing this? Because everybody else is doing it. You know what makes me different in that way?
Speaker 3:And he always reminds me there's room for everybody. Truth is that there's nobody like you, and you always have something to offer. You always have something to bring. You're always going to hit an audience differently than another person, right, and so he always kind of what I don't even think he intends to, but there's just this abundance mindset of like there's space for everybody and you always have something to offer because you are not like anybody else. So I just think it's really that's been a really interesting kind of experience that I've had, especially coming from the States and into Lisbon, cause that that's one that feels very, very different here, and I feel it in myself being here, compared to what I felt like was in my nature when I was in the States, which was feeling like I have to be very competitive with others, even if I didn't want to be really interesting and I mean it's true.
Speaker 1:I mean it's true, like you can't go like everything in America is like salesmanship right. It's literally just who can like sell the best really Like it's that. That's, that is the mindset here. I mean there's, there's again, like we said, said, there's pros and cons to it. If you're here, like I'm gonna just say, is just you need to have and build the mindset that, like you may not, is delay gratification right. Like you need to like realize that if you are in the process of building or you are in the process of growing and you're not seeing it right away, it doesn't mean that you're doing something wrong. It just means that, like you're building for the bigger you know the bigger success and you got to understand that with coaching and with training, there's a huge building process to what you can give as value to a student as well. You're not just going to know right away what is going to be the most valuable, because a lot of it ties into your personality.
Speaker 1:As a coach, I think too. All of us have a different personality. All of us have kettlebellbell foundational background, but we all utilize it in a different way because that's our personality kicking in and I think that's the one thing that a lot of coaches need to understand as well, and, like tony you talked about, it was just saying how the scarcity mindset kicks in when people are afraid to. You know, oh, you might get that person, or I might get that person, or it's like a battle for people. We're all here trying to like give, just make people healthy, and if you're not, then there's something. Then there's something you're already kind of screwing up in in the business, right Like you are here to help first, and then you're gonna, you know, figure out everything after, right. So the what I'm trying to say, though, is your people are also out there, like the people that you're supposed to be supporting are out there, and you just need to do your best to find them, and they need to do their best to find you, and you need to make that the easiest possible, and it's not going to happen if you're not getting out into the community, if you're not going to handshake, if you're not going to support other coaches, if you're not learning. It's just not going to happen. You're not opening those doors for yourself. So you have to get out and be a part of your local community, or whatever that looks like.
Speaker 1:Community looked completely different than my Chicago community but I still went and handshook all those people. Like I used to be neighbors with the crazy trainer Jared and I would go to his gym all the time and I would go handshake and meet a ton of people. That's how I met Danny Cola here in Chicago. So it's like people wouldn't know those things. But again, like you have to be involved in your local community and I think that will kind of help that abundance mindset as well. As like you think you're alone, you're on this like solo Island. You're not. You're just not like communicating with the right group of people in your area. So I hope that helps that that point. You guys got anything else to say for that part, or are we ready to move on to kind of the final piece here?
Speaker 2:I would just say one thing like referring people, like clients, to other trainers, like that's super important too, because one like you might not be the fit and you refer. And people are afraid to refer because they feel like they're going to lose business. They want them but it's going to trickle back where, hey, this one guy refer me to this other person. He might be a great, like, he was super nice, he might be a, or she might be a good fit for you. So never be afraid to like send business where it really needs to go, because it will come back to you. So that was, that'd be my last point.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I'm going to talk about that really quick because I had that experience. Yesterday. I got on a call because you know, as a friend of a friend, but basically we were. I said, hey, let's just hop on a call. If I'm not a good fit for you, I'll find you somebody who's a good fit for you. Like that's again taking the high road. But guess what the person was like yeah, let's hop on a call, that sounds great.
Speaker 1:So now, like coaches out there, if you're looking to like get more calls which is always important you're trying to get like leads. That's a great way to do it. It's like you, now you have a network that you can leverage and give people to, and they'll always remember that. To Tony's point, they'll always remember. Oh man, you know what? The reason why I had this connection was because of X. You know what I mean, and that is super valuable.
Speaker 1:And you're creating again like that intertwined network in your community, right, it's you creating that and I think people miss that a lot, right? Just because you're not getting it doesn't mean you're not going to get something later from that connection that you've spurred. We're going to head into the last topic here, and it's just, you know, being a student to this trade and to this practice and I just, you know this is going to be a kind of a loaded question too, but what do you guys think that means, like, what do you guys think that means for coaches, for personal trainers, for PE teachers? Like, what does that mean to be a student of physical education, strength and that? What do you think, nikki?
Speaker 3:I think, especially for us in this industry, personal growth is professional growth. It's really hard not to have that transfer over in some capacity. So if I'm consistently dedicating myself to improving myself and proving my being when it comes to my health, when it comes to my lifestyle, when it comes to what I put in my mouth, when it comes to just about anything, it's obviously something I feel very passionately about and I always want to continue to get better, always, always, always, because that's never a stagnant thing, no matter how advanced we get, no matter how old we get, like there's no circumstance in which I am not trying to become a better person and trying to be the healthiest version of myself, and there's no way that's not going to transfer to my work. So I always try and think about kind of linking to what we just said of like I'm not getting continuing ed for my clients, I'm getting it for myself first, so that I can improve, and in which case puts me in a better position to coach my clients, if that makes sense. I'm not out looking for certifications like, oh, what would my clients want to learn, or what would be most benefit, or what would my clients you know, or what would potential clients want to buy? Right, that's not my line of thinking. It's like what do I want to invest myself in? Because sometimes, honestly, I forget.
Speaker 3:I, you know, go through months and months of being so head into my business or programming. It's like, wait a second, we have not taken a step in a while for ourselves to do some continuing education, to learn something new. To do some continuing education to learn something new. So sometimes I get like blinded because I just I feel so invested in whatever I'm doing. But then I also start to feel stagnant, right, and if I feel stagnant, my clients might feel that way as well. So I really feel like it's it kind of starts with me, since it is my business, and it will seep into my clients. So for me, I feel like the learning portion is always kind of, you know, starting with myself and then, kind of as a default, my clients will hopefully also learn what I have learned in whatever experience I've chosen. And what's funny is that you kind of touched on it before is, you know, when it comes to investing in yourself or investing continuing ed, like what I remember about strong first is not necessarily what movement I learned that day or a certain cue. I remember the experience with the coaches there and actually a vivid memory of getting some tough love one day, and it's just made me a better person and sometimes I approach my clients that way too and what I'm really teaching them, because it taught me what resilience really means and what it means to challenge myself.
Speaker 3:I'm like, am I going to stand there and whine about it or am I going to do it? And someone really gut-changing today and I can laugh about it now. But I wasn't ready for the response and what it was is that I was bleeding right Third day getting ready for the snatch test and I'm already just like coming apart and I'm stressing out that I'm not going to pass. How am I possibly going to pass if I can hardly hold to the bell, as I'm just like bleeding and just a hot mess?
Speaker 3:And the coach looks at me. He's like I mean, are you not going to do it? I'm like no. He's like I don't know how you want me to help you and that's like a nicer way that I just put it. And so I'm like oh shit, like he's right, like what am I expecting this person to do about it? He's like do you want to hug, like I don't know what you like, like I'm really not going to baby you through this, because are you going to walk out of here and not do it? He's like you're going to do it and guess what? I did it and I was fine, like totally fine, and so it's just one of those things Like remember about my experience. So I also think continuing ed and learning is not just about the thing itself.
Speaker 1:It's the experience that you have. Amazing answer.
Speaker 2:I love it. We need to also. We'll. We'll just briefly mention how Nikki uh finished up her SFG one and then went into the U-Haul and cried Uh, cause she was moving that weekend.
Speaker 1:I remember that story.
Speaker 2:You're just like you told me, I was like Jesus, like that is insane.
Speaker 3:And then I moved into my apartment that night Well, that's the other thing. Like, was I not going to do the certification? No, no, I worked for this, I paid for it. I guess we're moving in and out of apartments and doing my SFG the same weekend, like it's just you that whole experience you had your hot hands moving right rough it was rough.
Speaker 3:I had a bottle of champagne and like three bagels after that. After that, my mom had like a bottle waiting for me at home. I was like crying and then I stopped to get bagels because I was hungry. So it it was. It was a day, guys, it was a whole day, but it was a good day and that's what I remember. That's just what I remember about it. So it was a very humbling experience. But because I had that, I just approach things differently now moving forward. Right, I just I approach things differently, so I hope I can teach that to my clients as well. I hope I can teach my clients to approach things differently. So I hope I can teach that to my clients as well. I hope I can teach my clients to approach things differently.
Speaker 1:Yeah, tony. What about you? Well, what is what is being a student of strength and growth as a coach, trainer, physical education teacher? What does that mean to you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mentioned it earlier. Just, you don't know everything. You're not going to know everything. You do the best that you can, one to you know, propel yourself in this game of life. I would say it could be reading different books on mindset, different books on coaching, doing the certifications I'm actually I actually just pulled it up when that question came up I've been looking at Joe Ken. He does the tier system. It's something I'm thinking about bringing into my school and the first thing of the goal that says the goal of this program is to absorb, modify and apply, and I think that's for everything. You know you're going to find what works Like. You can't.
Speaker 2:If you try to recreate or do what other people do at their gyms or their spaces, it might not work for you Like. You have to absorb, like and then apply it in a different way that works for you. So nothing is cookie cutter. Your clients are different, your space is different, your equipment might be different. So but taking things and running with them and trying things, uh is important and it. Some things work fantastic, some are. You're like, I'm never doing that again, but I think just personal growth, uh, making connections, like Nikki said, going to these workshops.
Speaker 2:I I just went to the uh high school strength coach uh workshop at evanston and I was sitting down, didn't even know I'm gonna shout him out uh, kevin, uh, vanderbush. Uh, he was sitting down at my table next to me like the like the beginning, like you know, nobody really introduced themselves. Really I was like, oh hey, I'm tony pasola. He's like oh, I'm Kevin Vanderbush, started talking to this guy, whatever, didn't know. He was a keynote speaker, no idea, and that he's 40 years at Ben Davis High School, has like 10 championship state titles, right, multiple national titles, like multiple, like crazy win record. And you know he's one of the top leading strength coaches, high school strength coaches in the country. Like people go to his. I'm sitting there just chopping up with him having a good time.
Speaker 2:And then he's like oh yeah, presenting. I was like, oh snap, really. He presented, didn't talk about one rep scheme, didn't talk about a fricking any programming, programming, nothing weights to use percentages. He just talked about connection. Literally his whole thing was about connection and what he does in his uh. And I'm going through something right now where I'm trying to build I was mentioned earlier like I'm trying to build a better strength uh culture at my school, like, make it a priority. And I reached out to him that, uh, yesterday I saw it met him on Friday. I'd reach out on Saturday and say, hey, I got your email. Uh, it was great talking to you. Um, you know, I'm I'm trying to build this programming up any tips or resources you can share with me about, like, really like going to my athletic director, going to, uh, the head of school and things like that, and he shared a google drive with me with all this information. I mean, he didn't have to do that.
Speaker 2:That's awesome like literally, like just like all of his presentations, resources, uh, articles he's written and he's like, oh, start with this one, this is gonna be good. I'm like dude, thank you so much. Like that just helped that. Like that one connection just helped me move forward like a year of like me trying to sift through things and putting things together. He's like, oh, I got this, here you go. I was like dude, that is thank you so much, I appreciate it. I can't wait to get back to him and like tell him how amazing we're gonna make this program. But uh, that was the one thing. I was just like dude, that that's why you go to these things, that's why you grow professionally and make the connections and learn. And yeah, that's a long-winded answer, but yeah, uh, keep keep investing in yourself and the better you are and the more you like you have to give to others yeah, no, and I'm gonna piggyback off both, both your guys's answers.
Speaker 1:Um, I'm gonna take this from like my, my, my students perspective and like I'm in this at this point and I'll tell you guys where I'm at, is like I have students that are at different levels, right, so I'm looking at being a student of strength. Well, my students are kind of teaching me as well, right, like they're always teaching you, and I think looking at what your students need will kind of guide you in what you will need next in your career, right? So I'm looking. I have a couple of students who are just kick ass, anything I just I throw at them. They're just, it's nothing. I'm like what is going like what, what am I doing wrong here? It's it's not that, it's just I need nothing. I'm like what is going like what, what am I doing wrong here? It's it's not that, it's just I need to.
Speaker 1:I'm trying to now expand like a little bit more, like now I need to be like, okay, like what else can I throw at these, at these folks that that'll challenge them and make them, you know, stronger, you know make, make them challenged in a different way. So I think the point I'm trying to say is just look at what you are working with, like, look who you're working with, look at what they need and keep growing off of that. Again, keep growing off of that. Yeah, you can add a little bit of stuff, kind of have some more general knowledge books going, general knowledge, education, education going, but really try to focus on, like what you already have and try to keep making that better, because that's it's a great guide in a direction of like where to go next, and I think that's something that I'm utilizing right now and it's really helping. Um, we got some certs coming to chicago pretty soon that I think I want to take just to kind of expand my wheelhouse a bit more, like just trying to think a little bit more outside the box.
Speaker 1:I know it's not always. I want to challenge my way of thinking. Essentially right, like I think that's something we we, us three we have like a good foundation. We have a really good we have we have this guard of like tools that we use. I want to keep challenging those things and I want to keep challenging those to make my community as strong as possible. Really right, like that's my answer.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, no, this is guys. This is a great, great chat. I think I hope the coach, the personal trainer, physical education, you know DPT, whoever's listening to this. I hope you're getting a lot out of this session. I know it means a lot to kind of go into your career and like talk about it and be vulnerable about like certain parts. So I really appreciate Tony and Nikki for chopping us up here and giving them, giving us some of their their life here. So I really appreciate you guys. I'm going to just kind of segue into what we got going on. Uh, in the next month or so, um, like, what's what's on the horizon for each of us until, uh, our next, let's talk Nikki, what, what, what do we got going on?
Speaker 3:A lot of social media stuff. I uh, like I said, it's uh, it's, it's weird to be a coach but take on this new role and completely different meaning of business owner. So I'm learning a lot and getting into the world of social media is interesting and, to your point, like I feel very much a student right now and at times it can be overwhelming, but there's I've taken away things actually which I hope you guys enjoy just as much as I did. One is just about storytelling. It's just about sharing your story and in which case you know, therein lies connection. So don't overthink social media. It's just about sharing. Just share your story, which kind of leads into.
Speaker 3:Mac actually shared this one with me. From Ethos he goes people come for relatability, they stay for the fitness, which I also find very interesting. You know, I think social media again can be controversial, can be overwhelming, but people are there for community and connection and don't forget it. So, again, I'm really learning a lot about the whole process and that's kind of where my focus is and just get more comfortable about sharing my story and what it means in the health and training sector. So it's just, it's a very cool creative process.
Speaker 1:Tony, what about you? What do we got going on coming in April?
Speaker 2:You know we got I got in the West Loop at All in Motion. We're doing once a month getting into some workshops, some kettlebell stuff, hopefully adding an additional. We've been going back and forth on this. I've done a barbell workshop there and we actually like over packed it. So trying to figure out a way to like get, cause there's only you have so many bars and so many people right and so many racks and um, but trying to get that out as a as an additional option for people that really want to learn. So, uh, diving back into some barbell work at all in motion. Chicago strength workshops once a month. We moved one. We're going to try it out this Saturday coming up.
Speaker 2:I know this episode is probably not going to be out by then, but switching from a Sunday to a Saturday morning 8am versus like a 10 on Sunday, I think just more people have asked for, hey, if you did this on a Saturday morning morning, like I would totally make it. Like I can't really make sundays. I'm like, okay, we're gonna try that out, but just reading a lot this summer I'm looking like for just like reading a lot and really like putting in some time to uh just find some different uh knowledge buckets that I want to like dip into, whether it be programming, coaching, philosophy, things like that. So that's pretty much it. And then you know, and then I get to see uh Nate at, uh uh, the KBCU. You're going to be out there instructing, so I'll be there.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I'm excited, I'm excited.
Speaker 3:Awesome guys.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, um, off off Tony's point um, coming in may I'm going to be in. I got invited to be an instructor at a KBCU, chicago foundations. Um, that's going to be a sick class. We already got some really awesome people coming out.
Speaker 1:I feel like the group of individuals that comes out to that class is going to be amazing to just network with, be with um, just have a weekend of learning and fun. Uh, those are just so fun. Like you're going to get. You're going to get such a cool um wheelhouse of skills in addition to like the kettlebell foundational exercises. But like just learning how to add plyos to your workouts, um, you know, like using body weight, jumping um, but also just like hunters, really good at mindset, like that's I can't stress that enough Like if you're really kind of as a coach, if you're struggling as like a coach, figuring out your mindset and like how to apply and bridge concepts of business and work and fitness together. He is just it's just incredible working with him and always have been. It's always been a pleasure to work with him on that, so I'm really looking forward to that. Dom's gonna be with me as well on that instructing, so it'll be a ton of fun.
Speaker 1:Um, april, our april third coast class guys is gonna be like sold out really quick, like it's already almost sold out. I have people reaching out saying the last class was just a was bananas. It was so much fun. So, um, I'm really looking forward to teaching that class again, um, at uh, chicago strength. So it's, that's been so much fun. Uh, and then, uh, yeah, just recently, this last week was my first week uh, coaching out of um the garage. Uh, it's an awesome community in West town, uh, westtown. So shout out, gina and the crew there just kind of growing and that class I had I had 12 on my first class, so that that's a packed room already like out the gate. Awesome, I'm super stoked to have that. It's so fun because I'm kind of like bridging yoga with like kettlebells, in a heated environment but with light load.
Speaker 1:I think it's a yeah, it's so unique and it worked so well. The first class, like I was so shocked on how well it worked, uh, so yeah, if Tony, you got to come out, dude, it's, it's actually really fun. It's a fun, it's a fun class we did. We just did get ups, we did like some basic complexes and then we did windmills. It was just it felt like yoga, like I was instructing a yoga class. The one coach came out after she's like, are you a yoga instructor? I'm like, no, no, I'm not a yoga instructor, but it was cool Like the vibe gave yoga. So definitely, definitely fun and unique.
Speaker 1:And then, yeah, and then I think just the last thing is just I'm working on getting in person. I want to be in person working with folks. So if you are interested, you're in the Chicagoland area and you have, like you know you want to do one-on-ones or you're looking for a small group, you know, just reach out to me one-on-ones, or you're looking for um small group, you know, just reach out to me, I will, we'll find a time and we can chat, talk about, like how we can take your life to the next level. Honestly, I'm always looking to make stronger individuals and trying to help people get strong in any way I can. So, um, that's awesome Working about working on right now.
Speaker 1:But, uh, yeah, everybody, um, thank you so so much for listening today. Uh, we really appreciate all um, all of our listeners and uh, thanks for um tuning in. Um, we're really, really looking forward to our next uh, let's talk strength podcast. I think this next one's going to be a banger, so I'm really looking forward to it. So I'll talk. I'll talk to y'all later. Take care, bye, guys.