From Grit to Greatness – How to Harness Resilience and Achieve Your Goals with Sherman Perryman

In this episode of Life-Changing Challengers, I sit down with Sherman Perryman, author of Grit to Greatness and founder of the Militant Grind platform. Sherman shares his journey from a strict, military-style upbringing to developing mental resilience and becoming a successful entrepreneur. We discuss how his challenging childhood inspired a militant mindset that he later turned into a powerful tool for personal growth and business success. With a strong focus on mental toughness, discipline, and self-love, Sherman walks us through his five pillars of resilience, offering insights on how we can all overcome challenges, build grit, and achieve greatness.

Tune in to discover how Sherman’s experiences can inspire your journey, whether you’re facing personal struggles or looking to unlock your full potential.

Episode Highlights:

• [1:00] – Sherman recalls his childhood in South Los Angeles, detailing how his father’s military discipline shaped his work ethic.
• [7:00] – Transitioning from a tough upbringing to an entrepreneurial mindset and how he built resilience along the way.
• [15:30] – Sherman’s experiences in high school, learning to defend himself, and finding strength in education.
• [24:10] – Launching his first business and developing a passion for helping others through entrepreneurship.
• [33:45] – The story behind Militant Grind and the five pillars of resilience that have shaped his philosophy.
• [40:20] – Sherman’s endurance feats, from Spartan races to mental challenges, and how they inspired him to create Militant Grind.
• [47:15] – His new book, Grit to Greatness, and the values of love, honor, strength, discipline, and wisdom.

Key Takeaways:

• A disciplined and resilient mindset can transform even the most challenging beginnings into a powerful drive for success.
• Building mental toughness through small, consistent challenges can enhance resilience and boost confidence.
• Self-love and compassion are essential components of personal growth; taking time to understand yourself can fuel your journey.
• Physical fitness and mental fortitude are interconnected—taking care of the body helps to cultivate a resilient mind.

Links & Resources:

• Sherman Perryman’s Book: Grit to Greatness
• Sherman’s Website: MilitantGrind.com
• Connect with Sherman: Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube - @MilitantGrind
• Militant Grind Show Podcast: Available on Major Platforms

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share the podcast! Your support helps us reach more people who can benefit from Sherman’s empowering message on resilience and grit.

Contact Brad @ Life Changing Challengers
Instagram: @bradaminus
Facebook: @bradaminus
X(Twitter): @bradaminus
YouTube: @lifechangingchallengers
LifeChangingChallengers.com

Transcript

Brad Minus: [00:00:00] Hey, and we're back with another episode of life changing challengers. I'm super excited to have Herman Perryman. He's an author. He's a coach, an entrepreneur. He wrote this amazing book called Grit to Greatness. We'll talk about that a little bit later. And he's got his own platform called the Militant Grind.

So, Sherman, hey, how are you doing today, buddy?

Sherman Perryman: I'm doing amazing. How about you? 

Brad Minus: I am the same cause I'm talking to you. So, and we're going to bring some knowledge to the audience here. But first of all, let me just ask you kind of the same question. I ask everybody is, can you tell us a little bit about your childhood, you know, where you grew up?

What was the compliment of your family? And what it was like to be Sherman as a kid? 

Sherman Perryman: Well, I grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles area. I'm in a two parent household and growing up was pretty interesting. Like I actually had a conversation with one of my early childhood friends, a couple of years ago.

And it was just like, who in the [00:01:00] world would allow us to do the things that we did as children? You know, it was kind of like, Where were the parents? Where was our guardians? Cause we would like, you know, I was eight years old, seven years old walking two miles in the, you know, where we lived at in San Pedro to go swimming, you know, and I'm looking at my kids and I was just like, how would they, you know, like what, and we would, hop the gates.

At a high school and, you know, throw our bikes over and ride down the stairs. And we would do very, very risky things, you know, and we talked about it. It was just like, man, like what, what were we thinking? Like what was going on? So it was quite adventurous. And then once we moved into our house. 

Like we moved into a different neighborhood and we had a home that we actually had to fix and work on every single day, almost, you know, like my dad was kind of like a do it yourself type of guy. And with that, you know, it's like, [00:02:00] okay, we know we have to do the yard, do this and do that, but it was like, we still wanted to be children and it was hard to have a childhood.

And, you know, play with our friends and go outside and do this and do that while we're trying to maintain this house that we had to just do everything ourselves. And so it gave us a work ethic, but I still feel like something was still missing, you know, because when you grow up with the father that was, ex military.

And he's waking you up at 7 30 a. m. and you had to go in the yard and do this or do that. And, you haven't a breakfast yet and you first eat breakfast in the afternoon like you absolutely hate it. You know, with a passion, you know, it's like, why is this happening to me? And you're forced to do it.

There's no love, there's no compassion. There's no empathy. Nobody cares how you feel, you know? And it's just kind of like, damn, like what's, what's going on. In order to cope with it, I had to learn how to deal with [00:03:00] myself internally. And it's kind of like, well, you know, my mom's allowing him to do it.

He doesn't care. No one's coming here to say, man, why don't you give those kids a break? So it's like, I had to learn how to do it on my own. And so I feel like that's what made me a little bit different as a kid, whereas I had to be more proactive to seek, different things to help out like my self esteem personally.

So I digged into music, you know, I will listen to music all day. I had a CD player and up for Christmas, we got a CD burner and I was like, okay, this is going to be my escape. So I would download music, put it on the CD, you know, and just drift away, you know, cause I was like my safe space.

And then I got into reading and things like that. So yeah, that was pretty much how I was as a kid. Did you play any sports? No, I didn't. Not at all. No organized sports whatsoever. 

No, surprisingly. I played basketball. At the boys and girls club won a [00:04:00] championship and I would play basketball at the YMCA.

But other than that, we weren't really put in organized sports like that. And it's crazy because I have some brothers that are like six, three, six, two, you know, they wanted to play basketball. And I think one did for a while, but I don't think we were like pushed like that, you know, cause even though, like it kind of got to me now as like a grown man when.

You know, I was the only black kid on the team at the boys and girls club. This is before we moved to Carson, which was a predominantly black neighborhood. And, you know, people, I think they probably assume that, wow, this black kid doesn't have a mom or dad to come watch them play. You know, like parents and it comes to not one game.

I would leave at night at like 10 years old to go play at the boys and girls club. I won the championship and got taken to, you know, get pizza with other people's family and my family was not there. You know, and I didn't [00:05:00] really think about it as much until I got older and I was like, what the, like, you know, like, what, like you guys didn't come to not one game.

Like I want a trophy and all of that, but it was like, they just, either they didn't care or they had something else going on. I don't know, you know, but it's really hard for me to even remember my father from like, you know, 10 on down, like, you know, he was in the house, but it's like, I don't really remember his presence like that.

You know what I mean? 

Brad Minus: Your drill sergeant, 

Sherman Perryman: right? 

Brad Minus: I've done nine and a half years in the military. So, I understood when you say he was, he was ex military. I understand that. Was he ex military when, or was he in the military while you were a kid?

No, no, no, 

Sherman Perryman: Just four years and, you know, even talking to his siblings, they say that once he got in the military and came out, it changed, I also know that like talking to other kids whose parents were in the military, especially their [00:06:00] father, we've had similar childhoods. It's like they wanted to be in control, I'm not sure how you are as a parent, but, back then there was like, I could listen to somebody and be like, yeah, your parent was in the military.

I'm like, yeah, how'd you know? It's because of how they raised you, the thought process and things like that. 

Brad Minus: Yeah, no, my parents, well, my dad started it. My mom just followed up behind him but it's like, no, every day. Okay. Bed was made, no matter what, no ifs, ands, buts. Beds were made and clothes were picked up.

Now, don't get me wrong. I definitely had my share of dirt in my room. I was always cleaning my room, but the minimum was bed made. No clothes anywhere, clothes are put away. That's it. And my dad was in the military as well. So I definitely get it.

And that's 7 30 wake up to where you got to know, just get up, get some shoes on. You're going out to do this. Oh yeah, for sure. And then come back. Yeah, the hate thing. I hated the more thing I hated was fricking mowing the lawn. [00:07:00] You could not punish me more than to make me mow the lawn and I get that.

Sherman Perryman: Oh 

Brad Minus: yeah. 

Sherman Perryman: Yeah. And it's like somebody yelling at you, you know, the top of the lungs and you're outside mowing the lawn and you look across the street. All the kids are just having a good time. Just being kids, you know, but if there was like, if I feel like if there was a little bit of compassion, put into that, yeah.

Or it was like, Hey, you know, come on the lawn. Thanks, son. You did a great job. Let's go get some ice cream. You know, I'll probably feel better, but it was more so like, do it because I said it, you know, it was kind of like. You know, I felt like a slave almost, like I had no control of my life. There was no reward.

It was like, do it because I said it. If not, you're going to be punished. 

Brad Minus: Yeah, I got the second part, but I did get, Hey, did you finish the lawn? Yeah. Did you bag it? Yeah. Where are the bags around the side of the house? Good job, brother, you know, and then move on. So I did get that. So I got a little bit of that and [00:08:00] then I would get more of that, positive reinforcement when I did it without them asking if I got up at 7 30, went out, did the lawn, put everything away, then I would get more positive because I did it.

I did it on my own, but, I can see where that can lead into, you know, you getting, you being forced this militant mindset where now you're using it to help other people. So I think that's amazing. So talk to me about what, so what was high school like? 

Sherman Perryman: High school is pretty interesting.

I went to three different high schools some in South central Los Angeles I had some problems in high school as far as my behavior, grades and things like that. I feel like I was probably just around.

Kids that didn't care as much about their education when you're in the inner city and, people are picking on you you have to have some type of defense. I just created a defense mechanism from anybody saying something to me or doing anything 

you know, I was more so like. I have to [00:09:00] defend myself from my dad talking mess all day from, you know, trying to make sure I'm not getting bullied or punked or talked about or whatever at school. So I just created like a defensive mentality and I started lifting weights. In the ninth grade, I was just, I have weightlifting actually a class and I was like, I want to be the strongest.

You know, or stronger period, because if somebody comes at me, I know how to defend myself. You know, I always wanted to be a good student, but I just feel like, there wasn't really a space within the household to, like, study, you know, like, I don't even know that. I would need to use a highlighter or flashcards or this is that in the third to, to like, you know, study.

I learned, I saw that in college, but in high school, I don't feel like my parents really like said, okay guys, you know, where's your homework. Let's do your homework, sit at the table, you know, do this. And what's more so like, okay, we got to eat. Who's cleaning up the kitchen. You know, who's, [00:10:00] who's cleaning up this?

Nope. I don't care. Clean up, clean up, clean up, clean up. And it was like, man, when am I going to have the chance to do my homework? Because I already got to wake up and go to school all the way in LA and we're living in Carson with, I mean, it's not all the way, but let's just say I had to take transportation to go to school, you know, probably about 45 minutes, 

so it was like, I really didn't, Have any time to do that, you know, it was more so do what we want you to do. And whatever it is for you comes last. You know, so it was like, I really wish it would have been different because I know even me and my brothers who, you know, we're all a year apart, have the potential and, you know, it got so crazy is that they recognize that even as an adult where it was like, man, I always have the potential, but I just didn't have a space to be able to live within my potential.

You know, one of my brother's grades were so bad and behavior [00:11:00] was so bad that he didn't walk the stage in middle school, but then as an adult, he's also currently serving in the military as well, he went to college and he's getting straight A's, you know, always been smart, but I feel like some people just don't have the space to be able to dwell on their intelligence and stuff like that.

So, a lot of us are thinking about it with me and my siblings are just like, wow, man, like, why didn't they, you know, what happened with this or what happened with that? But it was like, what can we do? It is what it is, cause I feel like with my mind and my intelligence, if I would have been treated a different kind of way growing up, no telling, where I would be now, but it's like, when you come home and, my mom and dad worked and, they were still, they're still together to this day.

And the first thing it's just like, Clean up. I don't care about this. Just clean up. No, we need to do this. We need to do that. But it's like. Especially like say Asian kids or I'm not sure how it is in [00:12:00] everybody's household, but hearing that Asian kids spend hours, you know, a day studying.

I didn't even really know what that looked like until like later on in life. Yeah, I just felt that I just didn't get it, you know, like maybe something is wrong with me, but I now understand that people really sit down and put hours into research and studying. It's not a magic pill.

You just did not do that. And that's the difference between you and them. Really is that they put forth the effort. 

Brad Minus: Now, you're absolutely right. The education for in the Asian culture seems to be a lot more of a priority, but there are some people that I have talked to that that's even overboard.

They're like, You know, where the parents are like, Oh, did you study? Yes, I got everything done. Great. Well, what about next week's homework? Oh, well, I've got that done too. What about the week after? Do you have that done? Are you ahead of your lessons? You need to be [00:13:00] ahead of your lessons.

You need to always be ahead, you know, and then how, how, then they would look at their kids. I want you to read this, this, this, and this too. I want you to know everything possible that there's nothing that you're going to be able to get asked in school that you can't answer.

So it could even go overboard, right? Where you were basically said, here's the chores. We need to get these chores done. A lot of that culture is like, You're not done. You're never done on your education. So they're stuck. So while you were, looking at your kids, looking at your friends while you were doing chores and working on the house and going, God, I wish I was there.

A lot of these kids are like sitting at their desk, looking out the window going, God, I wish I was out with my friends. I got to study. So both sides, right? So you mentioned you went to college. Where did you go to school? I went to Morales College in Atlanta. Nice. 

Sherman Perryman: There? 

Brad Minus: That's a country apart.

Sherman Perryman: Actually, one of my childhood friends was going there and. He was going there at the time and I was going to a junior college in LA [00:14:00] and, you know, it was just a lot going on in LA as far as like the gangs and stuff like that. And, you know, I was like, man, I want to get the hell out of here. Like, it is just crazy, you know, like standing outside, guys pull up on you, draw guns down on you, you know, like multiple guns.

And I was like, man, I don't want to do this. And so I just came up with the idea to move to Atlanta, with him and be a roommate with him. And the crazy thing about that story is that. The guy, only I went and me and my friend, I was currently going to more house.

We live together and the guy who didn't move with us, who ended up saying in LA, he actually ended up getting shot and is paralyzed from the neck down and been that way for about, I think 15, 17 years or something like that. So it was kind of like, wow, you know, and then thinking about it, the people he was with and everything like that.

I was like, man, what would have stopped me from being in the car as well? [00:15:00] You know, because yeah, it was like, they were literally around the corner from my house, you know, not too far, it's a very surreal thing. So I was just like, Oh man, you know, but getting out of LA, separating myself from a lot of things was probably one of the biggest blessings ever, you know?

Brad Minus: So what about the culture? Was there a shift when you went to Morehouse as far as the people around you and the feeling? 

Sherman Perryman: Yeah, definitely. Because it was a whole different type of environment. You know, it's usually we don't really see ourselves. And how we're acting, in certain situations, we think that the way we're acting is normal.

So when I first got there to win a, like a couple of years after, you know, I've had some of my friends tell me like, wow, bro, you did like a three 60 compared to like, when you first got here. Cause my mindset was just different. You know, I was a LA guy, you know what I mean? So it was like the way I talk, the way I thought the, my thought process, it was like, you [00:16:00] know, And then when I went out there, I just feel like I, you know, I released a lot of stuff that, or I released a person that I didn't have to be, you know, and I noticed that when I came back, you know, the way I looked at everything was just like, what the hell is going on out here?

Well, you're put away from, a certain lifestyle and the situation and then you come back, you start to look at the flaws of it, and so me going to Atlanta probably was one of the biggest helpers when it came to my life, but then also had a lot of time with myself, and a lot of time where it was like, okay.

Everybody's out of town, or they went home and I had to stay in Atlanta during the summer because I had a job or I had this going on so it was pretty interesting 

Brad Minus: Can you just give me an example?

Sherman Perryman: Well, it was different seeing other black men, you know, wanting to be [00:17:00] better, wanting to be educated, going for jobs that like, I would have never thought that we could have because Atlanta is a predominantly black city with a black mayor and, you know, all black police officers, all of that compared to LA, you know, black judges.

I seen all of that. So, you know, going out there and just seeing. It being possible for us to be better or for us to go for different things that, you know, I did not see ever in LA, like seeing a black judge, I would have shocked me or a black lawyer or anything, you know, I would have been like, what?

Like, cause I'll hear the majority of black people have the same type of jobs. You know, it's like, Hey man, I heard they're hiring at the docks. You know, just so you can get in because I heard they make money. Oh man, I'm gonna do that. You know, if I get it, it's like you want to do whatever everybody else is doing to make some money, and it's kind of like, I'm sure it's like that in other cities.

It's like, say if you were in West Virginia [00:18:00] and you wanted to make money, you would, you know, probably work at the coal mine or something like that. So saying with Boston, you might work on the docks or whatever, but I just wanted more, I seen that In Atlanta, you know, going to a black person's office and, they're trying to help me get hired with MetLife insurance company, like a major insurance company or New York life, and it really like shook me or it was like, wow, we can be in these spaces.

We are in these spaces. It's all our thought process. But if you never see it, it's hard to believe it. 

Brad Minus: That's interesting. So, I just want to ask one more question on this, then I want to move on, when you went back to LA after being at Morehouse, was there a shift where you're able to actually see your friends again, talk to your friends again and go, You've got potential, but you don't see that you've got potential.

Was that some of the things that were like, go through your mind? You're like, Oh my God, you can actually do something else. I've got an idea for you [00:19:00] versus before when it was like, just what you said. You're like, all right, what's the next gig that can get me some money? 

Sherman Perryman: It was during the recession. So that's the time where it was like, no one had money and we all had to be entrepreneurs almost and figure it out. And so I would be the one to figure it out. Like, Hey, you guys, we could do this, or we could do that, or we could become this. And through that, I know I helped a lot of people, you know, when it came to their entrepreneurship journey, for sure.

You know, I help people pioneer all kinds of businesses just based off of, You know how creative I was, you know, like a lot of people can attest to that in LA, but then it was like, you know, someone telling you what you can do, what you should do. And, you end up doing it. I mean, you don't really need me after that, but I just know that, you know, and we should, we both should know that.

I was probably the one to spark that idea in your mind, you know, to help you make that happen. 

Brad Minus: So did you become an entrepreneur 

Sherman Perryman: Oh yeah, I had to. I had no [00:20:00] choice. Because it was like, it was literally no opportunity at all, especially in L. A. It was like, I would have been a janitor cleaning toilets if somebody would have paid me.

That's how bad I needed money. Like, I remember tutoring, this lady's, son. She was like, hey, my son needs to tutor in math. And I would go there for about an hour. Get that 20 and I will spend 5 out of that 20 buying a chicken meal, you know, eating once a day, eating four pieces of chicken, French fries and a drink, you know, for 5 one time a day.

And that was how I was eating. Like, I remember going to a burger spot and splitting the burger with my friend, you know, like it was, 

Brad Minus: was really, really bad. So what was your first business that you got off the ground that where you were not regulated to one meal a day?

Sherman Perryman: I started promoting, so I would promote parties and things of that sort. [00:21:00] Me and my friends created a little indie record label, and we do showcases and things like that. I feel like that was a great thing for me in hindsight, because I ended up networking and knowing so many people in LA and my name got out there where it was kind of like advantage for me to start a business because I had such a large network of people who knew who I was.

You know, so when you're promoting parties and you're 23 and, you know, that's the 22, 23 year olds want to do, it just makes sense. So, you know, I look at that space now, like, wow, that was a very, very great thing to do. Because when I started my tax business a couple of years after that. You know, just blew up and everything else, just, you know, whatever I do, cause people know who I am.

They trust me, oh, you're doing this now. Okay. Well, yeah, bro, I need this and I need that. So when I started promoting, my whole thing was to like, try to add as many people on Facebook that look cool as I could, you know, or follow people on Instagram or, [00:22:00] you know, using social media as a tool to help expand my network.

And that actually helped me 

Brad Minus: So you said your tax business, can you just explain to me what, what was the scope of your tax business? 

Sherman Perryman: Well, my tax business started, I would say, in 2012. I actually learned from an accountant that I went to, to real estate school with and my thing was like, okay, man, look, I'm 20.

You know, six, 25, no one is getting, you know, it's buying a house my age in LA, you know, I can't even connect. So it's like, I'm in the real estate business, but it's like, who wants to hire a young kid to help them buy a house? You know, now that I'm looking at it, I'm like, yeah, I was kind of doing, I was doing things way too early.

I feel like when it came to, So, you know, like say if somebody is in their mid thirties and then there's a 24, 25 year old kid, I'm like, I'm not playing with you. Like, what do you know? You know? So I kind of understood that. And so I was like, I need to [00:23:00] do something where it's like. Everybody needs it.

You know, people could get money off of it. And I was like, okay, taxes is probably where it's at. And so I started that and I would do my friend's taxes. Everybody needs to do taxes every year, help them get a return, you know, off of what I've learned from my, my friend that's an accountant. And so, yeah, it was like, after that, it just blew up and went crazy.

And I was making. You know, great money at that age, like it allowed me to do plenty of things because I had like a fantastic system on how I would work. You know, I would get it done. I was the one where it's like, if you send me your information, I'm knocking it out. Like, I'm not the type to be like, Oh, I'll get it done next week.

So I was like super efficient. You know, I would stay up at night. After whatever I was doing just to do finish people's tax returns, you know, and I wouldn't make a single mistake. Like I prided myself on that. And so, yeah, man, like the [00:24:00] service was great. So that's how, that's how that came about.

And that's how that blew up.

Brad Minus: So did you, were you promoting and having your tax business at the same time? No, 

 Did you sell the promotion business or just stop promoting? 

Sherman Perryman: No, no, no. You just stop. Cause it's like, no, it was nothing to sell. I mean, I could have been like, Hey, you could buy my Facebook account or whatever, but no, it was just like, nah, yeah.

Brad Minus: So what did you do after that? 

Sherman Perryman: I was still doing real estate, like commercial real estate and stuff like that, working with other companies, because I really wanted to grow my commercial real estate business, but that was extremely tough, especially out here.

But yeah, I was just like, okay, I'm gonna grow this business while I'm profiting from the tax business, but the tax business was probably the most profitable. And then I got into, contracting and stuff like that. So contracting as in construction, no, no, not contract as a construction.

Basically I would like buy and resell aircraft products. 

Brad Minus: [00:25:00] Yeah, I've told you, you have been into everything. I've got my own journey like that. Just the highlights. When I left school, after my sophomore year because I didn't, I didn't know really what I wanted to do. And I felt like I was wasting money, but I got a job because I had two years of college and I was decent at math.

I ended up getting a job as a stockbroker in downtown Chicago. At 19. Cause I went early. So I just like you, you know what I mean? I wanted to do my best, but just like you, there's no fricking millionaire. That's going to look at this 19 year old kid and invest with him.

Right. I went through that exact same thing. I eventually went back to school, finished up, and did some contracting, a lot of, student loans started coming due and all that stuff. So I ended up going into the military, which was the best thing I ever did.

So where did, where did the Milton grind start? What sparked that idea? [00:26:00] 

Sherman Perryman: Well, as you know, you know, being an entrepreneur, you kind of had to rely on other people and other resources and stuff like that. And, um, I was working for Southern California Edison, which is the power company, um, in LA, Southern California.

And, um, I got laid off and I was just like, man, I'm just so tired of this. Like working, you got a good pace going on and then you get laid off. Like all, I still have my tax business going on, but you know, I would just pick up something here and there. Oh, okay. You know, working remote. Oh, for sure.

You know, I could just do that. You know what I mean? Like, that's not, that's not too demanding for me, but then I was just like, okay, I'm into fitness, you know, people. Always suggest for me to either write a book because I was the kind of person that'll have these thoughts and I'll just put it out on social media, you know, like Facebook, things like that.

So I would be like a, you know, a thought leader, I would say in a way, like [00:27:00] about certain social events, what's going on. And I would just do that just for nothing, you know? And then a friend of mine was just like, man, you should start a personal brand. And, you know, just become a figure and whatever, you know, it is you're about.

And then I was trying to think of a name and I was just like, you know, I want a name that resonates with me, who I was, you know, my journey and stuff like that. And so, you know, throughout the years, people were like, man, Sherman is like a general, you know, but it's all boiled. It all boils down to like how I was growing up, you know, how I was growing up.

And I feel like maybe I'm the one that took it even deeper You know, then the person who you would say is my, you know, my dad, who you would say is my drill sergeant, you know, I was just like, I have to become resilient, mentally tough. I would challenge myself. I would do the Spartan races just for nothing, you know, Hey, y'all want to do the Spartan race with me?

Nah, you can do that by yourself. I was like, oh, okay. But I was always looking for a challenge to overcome because the more [00:28:00] challenges that you overcome, the. You know, the better off you would be mentally, you know, kind of like David Gawkins, that's the same thing, but I'm not like as extreme as him. But, yeah, I would figure things out.

And I was like, you know what, I'm just create a brand and the name militant grind just popped in my mind. And then I was just like, what, what? And then I, I looked it up cause I always have a rule. I'm not getting a name unless I could find a. com. You know, if it's not such and such. com, I'm not touching it.

You know, that. co that. info and all of that stuff is just, it just confuses people. And so. Uh, looked at militant grind. com. I was like, what, this is available, you know, no one else thought of this name, you know, and so, yeah, it just stuck from there. And then I ended up noticing that, you know, when people will see it, you know, when they would, uh, hear me talk about it or, you know, whatever, they'll be like, wow, that is a perfect name for you.

No perfect brand for you. 

Brad Minus: Well, [00:29:00] I gotta tell you, you've already mentioned something. You mentioned two things that I gotta, I gotta comment on. First of all, is the idea that you talked about that you did challenges that you kept challenging yourself and that your mental, that you're, you were increasing mental capacity.

You were increasing, uh, energy. And, um, at least that's what I got from it. Um, that you would, you know, your confidence, everything else would get better, which is exactly what this frigging chat with this podcast is all about, right? Challenging yourself to change your life. Right. Um, and it sounds like that that was a spark that got you to, okay, this is the new thing.

Now someone says, do a brand. Hey, great idea. Let's move on with that. You found militant grind. Um, but exactly. Um, but that's what I was going to tell you. Um, did you read both of David Goggins his book? I think I listened to the first one. Oh, yeah. First of all. Yeah. Was that amazing? Yeah. I mean, so that's the first time that anybody's ever done that, that the way that if you, I read the book the first time and then [00:30:00] someone told me to, they didn't say anything about it.

They said, go listen to it. And the way that he, that Adam would read it and then stop and he'd be like, They're like, and he said the same thing every time. Did you remember that? He says, Goggins, man, we got to unpack this. You know, you can hear him like waving his face, his, uh, his neck around while he was saying it, and then David would talk.

So any of you, that is the best way to listen to that. But you got to listen to the second one. He does exactly the same thing. But what's really interesting because you went through it. He he goes a little deeper into his childhood. And he gets, he, his mom moves in with their grandparents and his grandfather was militant.

And his grandfather would get him up every morning to do chores. And he was, he didn't go to school until after his chores were done, just like you. So you're going to love that part of the book. Um, yeah, so [00:31:00] that's, yeah, I'm 

Sherman Perryman: really motivated because, you know, he has a brother that's pretty successful too, you know, but it's like, I feel like when it comes to.

Uh, successful people are people that achieve like, you know, monumental things. There's always a dark side that pushes them, you know, and his grandfather might have been creating his dark side to push him to be great. You know, like that's, you know, cause I'm sure he, you know, like I'm not, Kind of say he probably is going to do that with his kids because he hated it.

But it's like something, it's always something like that, that drives people to be like hard on themselves, to be a tougher or to be greater, you know, or to not be average, so I, I highly do not doubt that that is. You know, I would love to. I'm just going to hear it and figure it out.

But 

Brad Minus: yeah, I think you'll I think you'll really enjoy it. The other thing that is you both have in common is so he had this through [00:32:00] his childhood, just like you did. Right. But you also said that then you got into high school and kind of got mixed in with the wrong crowd. And you you wanted to, you know, you wanted to better yourself, but you didn't know how.

I remember if you talk, if you think about the beginning of the first book, he was, you Uh, exterminator. So he had kind of gone off a path as well. You know, he had, uh, um, he had played the victim and then he ended up becoming an exterminator and the whole bit. And it wasn't until, you know, he was, that was after kind of, um, failing out of the air force.

Cause you know, he wanted to be a paratrooper, uh, a pararescue, um, and he got out of the air force, then ended up doing exterminator and it wasn't until he saw the commercial for Navy SEALs. that something sparked in him. And it sounds the same thing with you. You went to Morehouse and you like, you were able to change and maybe a little bit of that way you grew up kind of went, okay, and get involved in your work ethic.

I'm guessing I'm [00:33:00] taking what you're telling me and kind of like looking at it. And especially since listening to the books, um, it just kind of, that it feels like that path is about the same. So, um, I think you resonate with, I think it might be the reason why you might resonate with him. 

Sherman Perryman: Yeah, I connect with David Goggins like on a deep, deep level, like he will be the type like I'll listen to him and sign up for a Spartan race, you know, like, yeah, I got to do it like that.

So I've done that several times. Like, no, I have to challenge myself, but, but, you know, like we have different lifestyles and stuff like that, but it's like, if I have to pick one person that I could closely relate to, you know, as far as like what they think about themselves or, you know, their mentality, because I know he said he had, you know, some neurological differences in his brain.

Um, I'm not sure what he said exactly. Dyslexia or something like that. But I ended up figuring out that I'm neural diversion, you know, and it was hard for me to figure myself out. Like, I always knew I was different. [00:34:00] Like, why do I think differently than everybody else when it comes to stuff? Like, I don't watch sports, you know, I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke.

You know, the only time I really wanted to do it. Was if like, you know, it was a social thing and I was trying to fit in on the crowd, but I was never, ever, ever the type to be like, Hey y'all, I brought some weed and I brought some drink, you know, I was like, Oh, if you got it and it's there, I'll drink it to fit in with you, you know?

And some people think that that's weird to this day. Like I would go to the movies by myself and I'll just do different things. Then I figured once I had talked to a therapist psychiatrist, I was like, Oh, you're, you know. Neurodivergent. I was like, Oh, snaps. And that was like the answer to like everything I've been searching for my whole life.

Like, what is it about me that makes me so different than everybody else, you know? And so him being able to admit that and go through his struggles and things like that, it like really resonates with me, you know, because a lot of [00:35:00] people, you know, I feel like they, you know, they're okay. But I'm just like, I just don't see the.

You know, the pain, the mentality, like the, the real struggle, cause some people can be motivational based off of their success, you know, but David is motivational based off of how he dealt with his pain, you know, and that's how I, I, you know, I really feel that. 

Brad Minus: Yeah. Yeah. His, um, so I don't know if you read, if you read in the bio or anything, but I'm an endurance coach, right?

I, I, I show people the path to do their first marathon or even down to the point where people are like doing their first five K they never run fricking three miles in their life. Um, and it starts there and moving, moving, and usually they ends up moving up. I, I train iron man, triathletes, ultra runners, that type of thing.

And of course, because I'm in the ultra runner community. That's where, like, I kind of, like, snuck in with David, and started [00:36:00] listening to him, and now, if I'm on a run, and I'm feeling like hell, I, I focus in on him, and I'm like, and it's almost like, I, I should be, uh, I should be wearing a bracelet that says WWDD.

Um, you know, I'm like, what would David do? And I'm like, he would keep going no matter what you keep going, you know, and I've done that. I've been in the middle of an Ironman where I was like, I was ready to go. I was ready. I'm like, you know what? I'm suffering. Everything. Nothing's working. Um, my, my time's going to be crap.

And I don't know why I'm doing this. And then I would just kind of like sit down and like going that sufferings where you're made offerings where your character comes out where you know, you've got to embrace it and I would just keep going and before you know it, I'd find some extra energy. Yeah. So, 

Sherman Perryman: yeah, I, you know, I never did.

I think the, the, well, I know for a fact, the hardest Spartan race idea was called the, the big bear beats. Right. Yes. And so [00:37:00] have you heard about that? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, the big bear beast. I'm like, you know, okay, I did the sprint. I did the, uh, super. And so I'm like, now I want to do the beast because that means I did all of them.

Right. And so I'm like, okay, you know, I'm there and I'm like, oh shit. Like, why is there people here from different states? Like, what do you mean? Why are you asking me where I'm from? Like, of course I'm from LA. Like, this is where the race is. I had no idea. Yeah. That people were flying all across the country to do the big bear beast in the Spartan community.

And I was like, Oh shit. And man, you're going up ski slopes, you know, for, I think it was like nine miles or something. And it was the worst thing of all time. Like I brought my friend with me and at mile two, we were like, man, I don't even know if we could finish this off. Like, that's how tough it was. You know, you have to be [00:38:00] extremely mentally tough to fix that.

I mean, people were going to the hospital and then we're in the high elevation. So, you know, it's like you take 8 to 10 steps. You're out of breath. You can't breathe and you're just standing on the ski slope trying to catch your breath. You know, along with other people, you know, but you really have to fight, you know, you really have to be in control of your mind and say, look, man, you know, like who the hell is going to come and save you on a ski slope?

Like you have to finish this out. Nobody could even drive. And come get you, you know, like you had absolutely no choice and it was crazy. Like what's your mind could do when you have no choice? Because if we were just on the street, we could have gave up and be like, Hey man, I'm gonna just have somebody ride by and pick me up.

But when you're on a ski slope in the mountains and you know, like, what choice do you have? You know, and then I ended up figuring out that that was the most challenging [00:39:00] Spartan race in the entire world and I finished it and without training, without knowing what to do any of that. It was like, Oh, let's just do it and got it done.

And so when I tell people, you know, if I go to a different Spartan race and I'd be like, yeah, I did the beast about what you did that. Are you serious? Even people that worked at the Spartan being says like a volunteer, the guy was like, you really did that race. I was like, yeah, man, I really did. But yeah, it's, it's a, you, you definitely have to go to a different space.

And you know, since this is life changing challengers, it's like, I really wanted to, uh, talk about that, you know, those type of moments where it's like, man, you want to give up, but then if you put yourself in a place where it's you have no choice but to keep going. You'll be surprised on what you can do.

Brad Minus: And don't get me wrong. I mean, you don't want to do it. You'll end up pushing yourself, but you could have sat down and, and somebody would have [00:40:00] been, you know, one of the rescue or one of the, one of the safety guys would eventually make it out, make it over to you and say, Hey, you need to bring help this guy out, whatever, and get you to a point where you could get out.

But you're not going to do that. You're you're that that's, you know, if you're, if you're going to do that, you might as well just keep moving. Might as well just keep making forward progress, right? 

Sherman Perryman: Right, right. I mean, I'm sure it could have happened, but in my mind, it was like, how in the hell are they going to make that happen anyway?

Brad Minus: No, right, right. But I'm not, I'm not trying to diminish it. I'm not at all. But I'm saying is that you didn't, you didn't think of that. And that's strength. That's the strength right there is the fact that you didn't even think about it. You're just like, Nope, I'm out here in the middle of nowhere. So I might as well just keep making forward progress and I'm going to finish this damn thing.

Been there been there. Um, so there's the beer bees, but then you know, they've got now they call it the apogee. You've heard about it. Hmm. Okay, so the apogee is a 24 hour race. That's part and puts on. Oh, I think I heard 

Sherman Perryman: about [00:41:00] that. Yeah, like the heat something a couple years ago, hurricane heat or something like that.

Yeah, well, you work with me. 

Brad Minus: They've got a couple of them. Um, and it's only done. I think it's only done once a year or so twice a year, one on each side. Um, but. You're right about the bear beast, though. The bear beast, as far as the level of difficulty, is still high. It's still much higher. You know what I mean?

So, the apogee is longer. You got to do a lot more tasks, a lot more things to get done there. Um, but as far as level of difficulty, the bear beast, I think, is still, is still up there, as far as one of the hardest, um, obstacle course races. You know, that's that's at least in the United States. Yeah. Oh, yeah So kudos for finishing that sucker because I don't even know if I could have finished that I've done I've done five Iron Mans, and I don't think I don't know if I could have finished that So but that's great.

Um, so you started military grind [00:42:00] Um, Milton grind, sorry. Um, you started Milton grind and what, uh, what started attracting people to that? What was your first offer? Let's talk about that. What was your first offer as far as Milton grind goes? 

Sherman Perryman: Um, I really didn't have, well, I would do like fitness training and stuff like that.

Um, that was one of my first offers, but then it was like, I don't really, I mean, even though I do work out, I feel like it's a lot deeper. For me, when it comes to the connection with people, you know, like I, I don't feel like people really look at me. It's like, oh yeah, this guy could train me to work out.

It was like, okay, you work out, but then I know that you could have a much bigger impact than just working out and fitness. You know, and so I started a podcast and, you know, being a guest on podcasts and things of that sort. And so right now I'm like, you know, I also wrote a book. I have a journal out called the spiritual grind.

Um, my book from grit to greatness. [00:43:00] And I'm starting to create like a, a online, like, um, like a course and things like that, but I just have to get the backend stuff together. Like I work with some people one on one. Um, but then it's just like, I really want to create a. You know, like something big, you know what I mean?

So that's kind of like in the works at the moment. But it's like, say I have people that I work with. one on one or people that know me personally and things of that sort. But I just had to like figure out, okay, like what's my best use of who I am. And I feel like being a mental health coach or mental health and wellness is probably like one of the best things that I could do.

Cause fitness is, you know, that's cool, but I'm like, that ain't really, you know what I mean? Like, that's just, I feel like that can be impactful, but. Yeah. I feel like I could actually do more than that. But then also on top of that, I don't think I have the patience to work out with certain people or train certain people.

So just to be honest, man, you know, cause I like, I [00:44:00] don't know nothing besides go hard, you know? So you're not willing to do that. Then it's like, I can't really be soft on you or anything like that, you know? 

Brad Minus: I have interviewed a lot of people that have used fitness, but also do mindset coaching, which is kind of what I'm hearing you kind of explain, um, to get into that right mindset to make the next step, right?

Which is what we're trying to do here. We're trying to, I interview people like you and like other people that, you know, can give you little nuggets about, you know, things that gives you spark an idea. Right. You were, you know, you basically, you know, came and said, Hey, I had this Milton background and I was actually able to harness it.

Um, and then of course you talking about being at the bear and then, you know, and, and moving forward, kind of embracing the suck and saying, you know, whatever I do, I'm going to keep moving forward. You, you deciding that, Hey, you know what, we got a bad, we've got a bad, um, economy in LA. Okay. So I'm going to do my own thing.

I'm going to start my own business and I'm going to start [00:45:00] promoting parties. You know, that's, those are big takeaways for people to go, Hey, you know what? I'm in a bad, I'm in a bad nine to five job. And, and you know what I mean? I don't want to be in this nine to five job. I'm blah, blah, blah. Then they listened to the, they listened to it and they're like, Whoa.

Well, what am I complaining about? Sherman went back to LA when it was a bad fricking economy, couldn't find a job anywhere and just made his own. I'm like, I'm going to make my own. Those are the things that why I do this, right? Because if just that one, if they people take, just take that one nugget and say, you know what, I don't like where I'm at, so I'm going to make my own thing and I'm going to do it that way.

And no matter what, I'm going to figure it out. And if it's not going well, well then like you did, you I'll start something else, you know, which will harness that. So you started the tax business, or I guess, I guess you went to real estate school and to keep money flow and you went to the, you started a tax business.

So those are the things that I'm hoping to help people with. You're the same way, but the coaches that I've, that I've, that I've heard [00:46:00] mindset coaches, most of them. Start with fitness because if you get somebody working out on a regular basis, you get that habit moving. They, the endorphins, the confidence level will allow them to spur.

Mentally on 

Sherman Perryman: so, 

Brad Minus: yeah, 

Sherman Perryman: that's definitely going to be incorporated. Like everyone who I deal with, I push them to do some type of physical fitness, you know, walk yoga, whatever it is that can keep you consistent that you actually like to do swim, do something, you know, I'm not going to say everyone needs to go in there and be a bodybuilder, but, you know, if you're a runner, if you want to ride a bike, if you want to.

You know, there's all kinds of ways you could do it. You know, everyone has their own thing, you know? And so I definitely push that. But then if like, say someone contacts me and say, Hey, well, you know, diet and all this, I'm like, okay, well, you know, I do have a program for you, you know, like, let's, let's work on that.

But I still, you know, I still do create programs for people that [00:47:00] do ask me and do, do need it. But yeah, I do feel like that is, uh, that is a great first step, you know, but then there's some people that kind of need a mental health coach as far as I. How they think about themselves, how they operate in life, you know, and you know, what's stopping them from, um, being the best version of themselves.

And so that's where I would come in at. And even like the type of people that I work with kind of like amazes me sometimes, you know, like I actually have a judge, you know, so you would be like, what, and people in corporate professions and things like that, you know, I just helped them see. you know, just change their perspective when it comes to certain things.

You know, 

Brad Minus: I get it, I get it. I'll tell you a quick story and then we'll start wrapping it up. But I get that. I, I was shocked. Um, so I wasn't shocked to get her as a client, but I have a client that was, that is an MD, right? This is, what shocked me. What shocked me was she was [00:48:00] warming up and she twisted something and she felt this, you know, she felt a pain in her calf.

And her first thought was to call me. I'm like, and I kind of like, Are you seriously calling me? Doc? You're seriously calling me? And I'm like, She goes, What? Because and I'm in D, I'm an MD, you think I have all the answers. And I was like, well, you didn't go to medical school, you know what I mean? And, and she goes, but I don't work with this stuff every day you do.

And I'm like, Oh, that's a good thought. And so I gave her a couple of stretches to do to see what she needed to do. I gave her a recovery, a recovery program, and she went on her way. And two days later, she was back out running. But, but I was, Completely in a completely shocked, like it was the biggest ego boost that I could ever get was to have an MD ask me what to do with her twisted calf.

So, and you've got a judge. So I, [00:49:00] I get it. I get it. So, all right. So the book is 

Sherman Perryman: called from grit to greatness, harnessing the five pillars of the 

Brad Minus: militant. Excellent. And so can you just give it, give us the five pillars real quick as a 

Sherman Perryman: uh, love, honor, strength, discipline, and wisdom. So those are the five pillars and, I feel like, uh, all of those kind of make me whole and love is the first one and it's a coincidence, but then maybe purposeful as well.

But I just talk about self love. So if we go back to my childhood and how I felt, I feel like you don't feel like anybody loves you. They're forcing you to work in a yard and, feeds you. At 1 p. m. Stuff like that, you know, so I had to figure out, okay, you know, no matter what happens in life, as long as you have some type of love for yourself, you know, you can't get far because you can't, you shouldn't.

Let yourself down. But I feel like I really harness on people loving themselves because with that, they'll be able to [00:50:00] accomplish great feats, you know, like you want to, you love yourself so much, you're going to eat the best food or, you know, work out and look your best. You're going to talk to yourself a different kind of way, you know, because it's like everything is in the mind, you know, and I will go through self love, uh, read 

Brad Minus: thoroughly in the book.

Okay. I think that's a, I think that's an excellent. Yeah. No, I'm, I'm, I'm stoked. I'm going to read that book too. So, so we got, we got, from grit to greatness and then you've got a journal that goes along with that. 

Sherman Perryman: Yeah. Yeah. The spiritual grind. Yeah. So there's a theme for, every month. It's not like dated from like December or whatever.

It's like, Whenever you start, you know, and so we go through some militant principles, like, communication, uh, working together with people, community, things like that. And it really, it's really, interesting, you know, I'm kind of surprised how I came up with it, but I was just like, I want to give every month a theme.

There's a section where people could write out, you know, what their [00:51:00] gratitude, what they have gratitude for. I feel like showing gratitude is a very important thing because we live in a society where it's like we criticize for what we're criticized or we criticize ourselves for what we don't have, you know?

And so, um, yeah, definitely, uh, definitely go through that. Very proud of that. And I finished that probably like a couple months ago, 

Brad Minus: but. 

Sherman Perryman: Yeah, I've been getting some, some great feedback from that. 

Brad Minus: Okay. So, so that's published. That's out there. Yeah. That's 

Sherman Perryman: published. Yeah. Okay. 

Brad Minus: So I'm going to find them on Amazon and I'm going to link them in the show notes.

I'm also going to link, uh, military grind, militant grind. com. That'll, that'll be out there. And then are you, and you already mentioned that you're pretty, you're pretty active in, in, in the socials, right? Yeah. Um, so, looks like, oh, Instagram, yeah. TikTok and YouTube. Mm hmm. Yeah. Okay.

And he also has the podcast, the [00:52:00] militant grind show, which I'll also link. So we'll get all those links out there for you. You guys need to check this all out. Read the book. Um, go through, go through 12 months of the spirit, uh, of the, um, of the spiritual guide that he's got. Um, say that one more time. I'm sorry.

The spiritual grit, the spiritual grind, spiritual grind, go through that, go through that. I'm going to try it as well. Um, and then update me, go, uh, hit the socials for LCC life changing challengers. And let me know, um, if you picked one up and what you thought of it. Um, all that'll be in the show notes, but Sherman, wow.

Has been an excellent, excellent, uh, conversation that we've had. I'm glad that we're able to have back and forth some banter. Um, that's not always the case. A lot of times it's just me asking the questions and pulling things out of people and I didn't have to do that with you. So I was, uh, um, that makes my job a lot easier.

And it also gets across your message to the audience. Um, in a much easier and more efficient way. [00:53:00] So thank you for joining us. I totally appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me, Brad. I really enjoyed this. Great. And I, and me as well. So for the rest of you, thank you so much. Don't forget to, uh, if you're watching this on YouTube, to hit the share and hit that subscribe button.

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Even if it's a bad review, because I'll take the feedback. Let, just go ahead and put that in there. Just would love just to love to know that you're out there so thank you very much. And we will see the next one.