Why Communication & Storytelling Is Important | Mac Hereford #573

Mac Hereford, former Alabama WR as he shares wisdom gained under Coach Nick Saban.

From mastering time management and teamwork to focusing on mental health and building lifelong relationships, Mac's journey offers valuable insights. This episode is perfect for those transitioning from structured athletics to the unpredictable world of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Tune in for practical advice and inspiring stories that resonate with anyone seeking personal growth and fulfillment.

Mentioned On Today's Show:
🤝 Connecting Through Stories
🤝 Prioritizing Mental Health and Self-Love
🤝 Secrets of Building a Personal Brand and Growing Your Business

Mac Hereford:
https://www.instagram.com/mac_hereford/
https://x.com/Mac_Hereford

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:10

What is up team? Welcome back to the man that Can podcast. My name is Lachlan Stewart, and if you're fired up to continue building a better life, learning from some inspiring men, then this week's episode is going to be for you. Mac Hereford joins me on the show and we talk about his time at Alabama and how it shaped him into the man he is today. Working under coach Nick Saban. When he was playing football for Alabama taught him so many important life lessons around time management, structure and showing up not only for yourself, but for a team. Now, one of the biggest takeaways that I got from this chat was how Mac managed to leverage Alabama, and for me, that was a huge takeaway because as we grow and evolve and become the best version of ourself, we can find better opportunities to create the outcomes that we want, and it's really important to acknowledge the work that we did in order to put ourself there so that we can then create leverage, and it's something that I battled with for a long time, but having this conversation with Mac helped me have a massive breakthrough, so I really enjoyed the conversation and the takes that Mac has around mental health, self-care and also building great communication skills to develop lifelong friendships for a fulfilling life. So this episode is going to drop you with so much knowledge, as always, before we dive in. If you do get value from it, please take a moment to leave a rating and review and share it on your social media platform and tag me so that I can see what your thoughts are on these episodes. As always, do something today to be better for tomorrow.

Speaker 1: 2:44

Let's get into this episode with Matt Hereford. Matt, welcome to the show. Thank you so much. I'm excited to be here, mate. I am pumped to have you on. I've came across you the way that I guess I've met a lot of people here in the States is people that I've followed for years or people that I've met since being in Nashville. Whenever they tag people in post, I'm like they're probably a buddy of his. Maybe I can be buddies with them, and it's kind of weird when you say that out loud. But then I started following your stuff. You played football, which is gridiron, or we call it gridiron NFL. Is that how you? That's what you'd call it.

Speaker 2: 3:17

Yeah, I mean. Well, we just call it football. Yeah, football, yeah like college football, NFL football, you know.

Speaker 1: 3:22

Yeah, all our audience. When we say footy, there's like rugby league, rugby union, soccer, there's so many different ones. Anyway, played football.

Speaker 2: 3:36

Can you give us a bit of a rundown of who mac is? It's a big question. You sit there going fuck man. I know I'm like shit man. This is, this is a loaded question, but uh, I'll try my best, dang it's. Uh, yeah, I get that question a lot. I'm like how do I do this in the quickest way possible, but also giving enough information, but not going into every single little avenue of everything, because that'd take a long time, but uh, essentially, um, I was born and raised in Birmingham, alabama, which is an awesome place. Love Alabama Grew up, I was one of five siblings and had two amazing parents, and then I always wanted to play football for Alabama, so that was like my dream growing up. I have books, like little children's books, that when you're in first grade write like who do you want to be when you grow up, or different things, and in really crappy handwriting it says I want to be Alabama football player, not a Alabama football player.

Speaker 2: 4:24

It's literally like I want to be Alabama, alabama football. I am the guy, yeah. So I always thought that was funny because a lot of people you know at that age, you want to be an astronaut, you want to be a police officer, you want to be an actor, like different things, or an NFL player. Mine was literally just I want to be an Alabama football player. And I have that book still to this day, which is really cool. I think it was when I was five years old that I wrote that in a book, that that was like my dream, what I wanted to be. All that to say leads up to a lot of you know, the later day. So that was my dream.

Speaker 2: 4:53

When I was younger, grew up in Alabama, um, you know, played rec league football, played every, honestly every sport. My parents really want us to get involved in all the different sports. Uh, and whenever there's like really crazy, like helicopter type parents, you know parents that are, you know, looking at your stats, trying to make you go to the best coaches it was is, if you wanted it, you're going to get it. You know you're going to go out there and get it, which I always loved Uh fast forward. I had an opportunity. I was in Alabama, had an opportunity around ninth grade to go to a boarding school. My oldest brother played a lot of competitive tennis. We all played competitive tennis around the United.

Speaker 2: 5:26

States, or I'd say predominantly the South, uh, but USTA, which is like a. You know, you grew up playing, uh, if you play, competitive tennis, what you do here in the United States and, um, so we all grew up doing that. My oldest brother ended up wanting to go to this boarding school. It was crazy because, like, look, we're in Alabama, you know, to the thought of wanting to go off somewhere, and my oldest brother, I thought, was a big mama's boy. He's like what the heck has gotten into, my oldest brother, he's leaving us, he's leaving us, he's leaving us. And so he decided to go to the school. That was a big like. That was a hard thing for me. At a young age I think I was. I can't remember what grade I was in, but my oldest brother and I, all my siblings and I are very close. But my oldest brother and I had a unique connection because the ones in between us are twins and so they would always gain up on me.

Speaker 1: 6:16

when I I'd call out to my oldest brother and he would come protect me. We grew up in bunk beds, like when we were younger he was on the top bunk beds.

Speaker 2: 6:19

Yeah, so it was, and we would listen to that Pokemon, you got to catch them all song.

Speaker 1: 6:22

I don't know if you've ever heard of that. That's like ingrained in my brain.

Speaker 2: 6:26

So all that to say, he went pretty crazy, thought pretty crazy thing that happened because, again, like it was just something I would have never thought about. Uh, we had another one of the twins, one of my brothers, who are twins, decided to end up going as well. And then it came time where, like, you can get obviously a certain amount of financial aid and different things Once you have a certain number of kids going to this place, cause it's expensive, it's a boarding school, um, and I never would have thought I never would have thought I would ever go to a boarding school. Still to this day I'm like, damn, I really did that.

Speaker 2: 6:55

But had an opportunity. I got into the school and to go to this boarding school in Virginia called Woodbury Forest, and I remember that being another kind of pivotal time in my life where I sat down. I really didn't know what I wanted to do. You know I was was playing sports at the high school I was going to in Alabama, loving it. But also, you know, I didn't know if I would play at Alabama or get college opportunities playing at that school.

Speaker 2: 7:20

And now I'm presented with this opportunity to go somewhere that heck, I've only been a couple of times because my brothers are there and it seems so foreign to me in Virginia and I'm a huge mama's boy and I love home. I loved home, like you know I had, I just enjoyed my friends, I enjoyed what I had going on there, and but this opportunity came up and I'm like all right, how do I? What do I do? You know, how do I like, how do I decide this? And again, there was not. It was really like one of those things where you're looking at it and you're like there's no way I'm going to the sporting school but I'm at least going to down a list that was like you know, uh, different things, like with faith, with like pros and cons, faith, you know, sports, different things that I wanted to achieve in life.

Speaker 2: 8:02

And one side had a lot more challenges but was, you know, there's a lot more advantages on this side, um, and growth, room to grow. And then on this side it was, you know, a lot of comfortability, but things I enjoyed and loved and like being around family and stuff like that. And I ended up to the side that was a lot of the challenges and more room for growth was the boarding school option, and so late deadline goes past and then it gets point where, you know, now I have to decide like this is the last day. I remember walking downstairs and I prayed about a lot and I guess it was just God speaking to me, but I just said I'm going to be a tiger, which was their school mascot and then the words came out of my mouth and I'm like holy shit, like inside my head, I'm like, oh God, like what have I just done?

Speaker 2: 9:34

But I ran with it ended up and I remember our first day at boarding school because you have to leave your parents out like looking up what the hell have I done?

Speaker 2: 9:47

You know, uh, fast forward ends up being some of the best years of my life. It grew a ton, developed and had some of the best friendships and relationships, met people from all over the world, um and and really truly became like an independent man. You know, I think in my household my parents did an unbelievable job at raising and developing me, but it was kind of an opportunity at a young age to fully get you know you're independent, you're not under your parents' wing, you know you're out of the nest at an early age and you're having to learn, you're having to grow, face and conquer things on your own. So, really appreciative for the you know life that boarding school helped me make and then after that got an opportunity to be a preferred walk-on at the University of Alabama, can you explain what a preferred walk-on at the university of alabama and can you explain what a preferred walk-on is?

Speaker 1: 10:25

because I've seen like scholarships, walk-ons, preferred walk-ons, that just doesn't exist back home so there's probably a lot of blokes they're going. What is that?

Speaker 2: 10:33

yeah. So um, and I'll try to explain it in the way the aussie audience can understand it as well but essentially you have college university and there is different divisions. You have division one, division one, fcs, division two, division three, whatever, and division two, division one fcs, and division one can all offer scholarships, um, and so I was talking to some division one fcs schools, other, you know smaller d1 schools, but alabama reached out and they're like hey, we have an opportunity. We don't have any scholarships available, but we have what's called a preferred walk-on opportunity. So what that is is it changes school to school. I think.

Speaker 2: 11:10

I don't think there's one size model for all preferred walk-ons, but the way it works at Alabama is you get a preferred walk-on opportunity, you're coming in, you're not really having to try out, so a lot of guys have to try out for the team. You're coming in, you're with the team in summer, like summer workouts, summer training, and you're already on the team. Coming in, you're treated is almost the same as a scholarship player in a lot of ways. You are meeting with, like the academic advisors, you're going to the same meetings. They are pre-camp, you know, pre-workout, so it's literally the same thing. But you're not getting paid scholarship money. So you're guaranteed an opportunity on the team um and you just and so do they.

Speaker 1: 11:48

So, from a scholarship standpoint, do they pay your way through college, whereas a preferred walk-on, you have to fund it yourself, like yes?

Speaker 2: 11:55

yeah, exactly so. And and the the thing is, luckily for me, I was in state technically, because that's where my residence is, is alabama, so I get the in-state you know, scholar whatever or whatever it's. It costs less to go in state but also had some academic scholarships so you can get, like you know, guys for walk on for me, like if I had to pay the full amount. You know you may have more of a question, but look, here's my dream presented in front of me to play at the university of Alabama. I had academic scholarship, was in state, so it was a lot cheaper for me than it was for most guys. So I ended up taking that opportunity that's what that was and played there for four years, four of the best years of my life. Incredible memories, experiences. Obviously, learning under Coach Nick Saban was, you know, amazing.

Speaker 2: 12:41

Graduate from the University of Alabama, ended up getting my master's in marketing at Vanderbilt, was going to play my fifth year football there, ended up training with those guys. It was a COVID season. Had lost two grandparents um, one shortly after the other, and it was just mentally it was very. It was a challenge. You know you're in a new environment. Uh, I'm living by myself up here at Vanderbilt, um, but I wanted it for the opportunity to play, play, you know, get on the field more Um, and just just all. You know. Like I can't say it mentally, it was so tough because it didn't feel like real football and I'm a person who would never tell anyone like during that time I was like anyone who opts out. Like you know, they're weak, they're weak, that's the mindset.

Speaker 2: 13:19

But then it came to the point where I've lost two grandparents. I've, you know, I've suffered a little bit of injury, had a hamstring thing going on, um and other stuff, and it was just like I was beaten down. I was tired, so much anxiety, you know. I needed to get back, obviously for family, and if you go back you have to quarantine for a certain period of time. Um, and I was rehabbing injury. So it's like all right, so much. If I go home to see my family, which I was very, very close to my grandparents, extremely close If I go back to see my family, I'm giving up a lot of weeks and at that point, ok, then I come back and no program. I talked to Coach Derek Mason who was the coach at the time. Awesome guy and really took a time to meet with me and work through this decision when he was in the midst of a COVID season trying to lead a football team. So I have a lot of respect for him too. Derek Mason at Vanderbilt, but met with me a couple times and it was like you know, no coach would say, hey, you're going to play when you get back. You know what I'm saying. You can't promise that no-transcript, um, and after that had just jumped into the to the real world, uh, to where again? I could go on and on about the details throughout the story, but uh, to essentially where I am now and that's.

Speaker 2: 14:43

You know I do a little bit. I like to say I have two buckets. I have a content side of things. It's more of the, you know, doing personal brand deals, doing activations with companies or brands, where I'm posting stuff, uh, or making videos. And then there's the other side of it which is, I like to call put it under the consulting umbrella or entrepreneurship umbrella, where, doing a variety of different things, you know I'm forming strategic relationships. I am helping on brand, like brand building whether it's for personal, personal for people or for brands and businesses and helping manage some things like some activations connect people to list. It's pretty. It's pretty crazy and hard to understand. Everyone always asks me like what do you do? And I'm like dude. If I could tell you what I do in a simplified way, I would love to do it. So I end up really just telling people when they ask me what I do. I'm like consultant, you know consultant and like content, easy, easy, but that's just, it does. It goes way beyond that.

Speaker 1: 15:37

So but it's it's.

Speaker 1: 15:38

I find it fascinating and I think it's so cool.

Speaker 1: 15:42

I always get very intrigued when I see people from a sporting background go into like a more creative side of things, because for myself I'm so, I guess, rational and logical, and my wife's, everyone that I surround myself with is creative. They don't run on a time schedule or, and I love it because it's helped me sort of let go of a lot of control in my life. And there's a guy here, um, lindsey rhymes, who's written a heap of songs with Nate Smith and all of that, and he used to play professional rugby back in home and now he's got, I think, three or four Billboard number ones and so I spend a bit of time with him trying to work out how he did that transition, because he was much like me. He's like, bro, you've just got to let it go, man, I'm like it's fucking tough. So when I meet people like yourself who've done that well, how was it going from the structure of football, especially alabama and then vanderbilt, to then now running your own show, having more of a creative flow with things?

Speaker 2: 16:37

yeah, so it's. It's a interesting point you bring up because, again, most people you're in this structure and we're talking about four years under coach nick saban we're not talking you, you're not creative to have yeah, you're, you're sticking to what he's telling you to do. Everything is methodical in a science like two. I can remember practices literally. Well, it'll be 12, 14 minute periods, which a period is just, like you know, a certain time in practice, so it may be. Period one is seven minutes and that could be walkthrough. Period two is routes on air, which is like we're running routes and just catching footballs from the qbs. That could be three minutes, whatever, however many of the time is.

Speaker 2: 17:13

Everyone was like this on the dot, like the craziest thing was if we were to, you know, if a guy were to have a mix-up or something when we're, when we're doing what's called team, which is you have the first team offense versus the first team defense and they're playing against each other and there's a mix-up and they have to redo a play. Saban accounted for it to the point where you're still going to finish on the exact that of time that he has. It was like magic, it was magician type shit. Uh. So all that to say, to explain, I went from that insane that like life of structure and I really thrived in it. I thrived in that environment because I would do football. I'd wake up in the morning, football was my main purpose, was the main thing I was doing and putting all my like you know time and energy into and then, following practice, I had time to be a little bit creative, make some connections, go out, do community service, whatever it may be. Some connections go out, do community service, whatever it may be.

Speaker 2: 18:09

Um and to where? Now it's a challenge, I would say, because there's I've grown to be more and more creative throughout my life. I think I had, like kind of a seed planted in my head, you know, midway through college, around sophomore junior year, where it was like, okay, this creative, this entrepreneurial, entrepreneurial ship type, uh, you know, seed was planted and I started to become creative. To where now I feel like I'm really creative is like my thing. I consider myself a creative, which is interesting because, like again, I was in this structure. So, long story short, I know I've made that a lot longer than need to be.

Speaker 1: 18:39

No, it was interesting.

Speaker 2: 18:40

Um, it's been a challenge. I would say that it's really difficult, because I think there's a side of me that needs structure. Still, I think the deep down. You know, I thrive with a little bit of structure and doing things at certain times in which I've the way I've kind of dealt with it is I've applied a little bit of structure with maintaining my creativity. What I mean by that is, I will you know, I have certain times what's the most important things I need to do? Like I need to pray, I need to do Like I need to pray. I need to, you know, work out, exercise, like I need to spend time with others, check in with people, like those are some of the most important things. So what I do is I structure those things out. All right, I'm going to work out these days every single week, every I keep. I'm going to work out these days every single week and I'm going to work out these days every single week and I'm going to make sure to call people, you know, at least once a day, or check in with somebody, make sure to get some extra exercise, whether it's walking outside and join a little bit of nature.

Speaker 2: 19:35

Um, and you know, then, like I structure everything around that so I have the main things that I think are really healthy for my mental, for my body. I prioritize those input structure with those things because consistently do them, then I'm going to consistently be happier. And then the creative just comes everywhere in between. You know, it's weird. The life of creative is crazy because back in the day it was like I just wanted to do, do, do 24, seven. I want to do stuff all the time. But also it's it's some days I feel like dang, like I'm. The light bulb was spinning. I'm ready to make like a billion dollar business idea. The next day I'm sitting in my house and I'm like, well, shit, what do I do now?

Speaker 2: 20:12

You, know, so it's a hectic lifestyle and it's been very challenging. And I would say I definitely don't have it figured out yet. You know I'm still working on it but I think it's definitely an interesting thing.

Speaker 1: 20:24

I don't really know do you feel that you've produced better results? And if we look at results on outcome, based on moving you towards close as closer to where you want to be, do you feel what you've, the place you're in right now, is working well for you? Or do you feel if you maybe did develop sort of have that more structure, like you did when you're at football, you'd be, I guess, moving quicker. Does that make sense?

Speaker 2: 20:48

absolutely. Yeah, I think that the way I'm doing it now great, but I can be a lot better, and I think being better would require me to do a better job with planning and structure. I think one of the the big challenges for me is count is like my calendar. You know scheduling and I'm a one-man team, so it's it's very difficult to so and so wants to meet this day, so and so wants to meet this day.

Speaker 2: 21:09

You know, when I don't really plan anything crazy in advance I like to keep the creativity and spontaneity yeah spontaneity, yeah, spontaneity uh, to things I do. I think that's it allows me to be creative and allows me to have, you know, joy doing those, doing those things. But that's something I know that if I improved, you know, in worked on, whether it's scheduling, it's it's being more organized, those things are definitely things that can help me be better. So I'm not to answer your question, I'm, I'm where I need to be, but also I need to be better, uh, and.

Speaker 1: 21:39

I can't do that. It's interesting because I come at come at it, sorry from the complete opposite side and, as I was saying earlier, my whole family is pretty much creatives, they are all creatives and so I get really irritated when it's like this is a meeting, you just schedule it, and they're like, yeah, but what if I'm writing a song and it's going real well. So I understand that I'm starting to appreciate that a lot more now. And since I've been living in America like even when we went back to Australia last month, I went straight back to like 5am till 8pm. I'm on and like I got a lot of shit done, but I was anxious, I was chewing my nail, like I noticed a lot of things that I'd never really noticed. And then I come back here where I don't really technically start work until 2, 3 pm, because that's when Australia wakes up. So it's cool, I can play golf this morning, have a yarn with you, do another podcast after hit the gym, then I'll start work and I love that a lot more because I have more time to think and, I guess, explore that creative side of myself, because I am an entrepreneur, I've got the podcast and the business, et cetera, and I love letting go of control a little bit.

Speaker 1: 22:48

So, probably to back your point up, I think having too much structure yeah, it made me successful. However, I don't think I really enjoyed the success as much as I was telling myself I did. So I think there's this weird balance where you've got to try new stuff, especially when you're a one man band. I'm back to a one man band now. It's like you get to do what you want, and that's the fun part about it. If it's not working well for you, that's on you. If it is working well, that's on you. I love that.

Speaker 2: 23:17

I know it's great, I love it. I've wanted to get honest. I want to get to the point where I do have a team and I'm able to build out a team and develop that. But the biggest challenge for me is I think I get a little bit fearful I trust is I would say it was what it is. It's like, you know, can I trust so and so to do things the way I want it to be done and have, and it's hard because you can't really replicate.

Speaker 1: 23:43

So your brain and my brain are different.

Speaker 2: 23:45

Yeah, you know what I'm saying and so it's hard to you can't really replicate. Your brain and my brain are different. You know what I'm saying, and so it's hard to replicate my brain into someone else's brain. But it takes time to train them and teach them and they're in your way and that's a big investment. And so it's like dang. And then it's like you know, someone may be good at put up with how much should I pay someone? Because I feel bad, I want to pay someone how much they're they're worth, but at the same time, like how do we determine that in this day and time? And, like you know, um, I you know, bit health benefits. Like I can't I don't even know how that works to set up my. I have an LLC but I'm like I don't even know how this think it'd be helpful. But the one man band thing is pretty great because you can live completely in the present and it's kind of like you're on your time, 100 percent of the time. But all that I say.

Speaker 2: 24:36

I think that one of the things I would like to tell people, or I think people should hear, is that whether it's in, you know, with business, whether it's with sports, at the end of the day, if you have. If you're doing something a certain way and it works for you, keep doing it. Keep you know what I'm saying. Keep doing it. Pursue what makes you happy and joyful.

Speaker 2: 24:52

Because a lot of times I think even when I see football stuff people will say you have to run around this certain way or you have to get in a stance this way. Well, I watch guys like jerry judy in college who coaches always try to tell him jerry, you cannot be running a route like this. What is this that you're doing? And all I'm seeing on the film is jerry judy toast some defensive back and get a touchdown. And I'm like, okay, why are we telling this guy to not do something? If it's being successful now, I'll get doing things the right way. But I think that, like, at the end of the day, if someone can be successful doing something their way, that you have to open up your eyes a little bit and be like maybe their way is is the right way for them.

Speaker 1: 25:30

You know it's interesting when you you speak about that, because there's frameworks to get all kinds of results, whether it's health, business relationship. It's like you do this and it should move you towards this outcome. And everyone's so unique in, as you said, your brain is different to mine, so what I define as success or a great relationship or good health, is completely unique, and how I go about getting there is completely unique, and I try stuff. Actually, I heard you talk about this on a um with your branding, on a branding podcast. You were doing where it's like you saw, you uh, saw a tiktok or something like that, and then you did it, you know, made it your own thing, and it blew up like I think it was the same one five finger yeah, yeah like blew up and I'll put that in the the show notes for everyone.

Speaker 1: 26:14

it's pretty wild, but you see things and then you put your own unique spin on it and you go if it can deliver that outcome and you just test stuff and that's put you in the position you're in now, where people like oh, mac thinks about things differently and he can provide these different results. You may not win the result every time, and do you fear failure?

Speaker 2: 26:32

actually, before I carry on there, I would say sometimes, but not it depends. It depends, I think, on like do I feel failure when it comes to? You know? I don't even know if it's, if it's really necessarily failure that I fear? I don't know, I can't really put my my finger on it, but I guess sometimes I do, but to the extent of video creation and learning about content side of things, not really like I I've. I've been out where I've done a deal with someone and they're like you know, you may have an hour timeframe, You're going to be around these certain people with these certain kinds of assets. You need to come up with some stuff and I will bank completely on my raw ability. I won't go in with like a you know document telling me here's some ideas which I do now.

Speaker 2: 27:19

You know I do now, but I wouldn't fear it in those situations I would go in there and just let it rip and just trust myself and trust my brain and worked and that's ballsy, that's. It is ballsy, yeah, thatsy.

Speaker 1: 27:28

Yeah, that's so brilliant. So then, yeah, I guess for a lot of people, they fear failure and you went about trying those new, new things to help you move the needle forward, and a lot of people won't do that. They'll see a specific uh, you know, they might follow someone on social media and they go. I need to do exactly what Mac's doing or exactly what Lachlan's doing, and it should get me the result, but it doesn't. They may not find it fulfilling.

Speaker 1: 27:53

It may not feel integral or authentic, which a lot of people are, especially with TikTok. Right, they do the same crap that everyone else is doing and you're like that's just so disingenuous. I don't feel like that's authentic for you. I find myself in that position because, at the same time, when you're trying to grow a business and build a brand, there are things that work. Right, you have to jump on trends to a degree, but how do you put your own flavor and your own spin on it? And I don't think you can get there without having the the time to be creative and think about things and test things.

Speaker 1: 28:23

Nine out of ten may be crap but it's that one in ten that you're sort of looking for that. Then you get the feedback to go oh, that's really awesome, that could work.

Speaker 2: 28:31

Yeah, 100%. I think one of the things I tell people, if you're looking to get into the creative space and you're looking for a style of content to do, one of the ones that I've seen success in is storytelling, and people are always saying you know, when I get in front of the camera, it comes off different. Well, I'm just thinking about this cause it's hot on my mind, but one of the things I told someone the other day is look, one of my most viral videos that I story told, cause I don't do it a bunch of the time, but one of the most viral videos. A story told is okay if you have an experience. So, for example, the one that I had was I was playing at McCabe golf course local.

Speaker 1: 29:03

I was playing there this morning local, municipal.

Speaker 2: 29:05

Golf course, I got paired up with a random. His name was bob uh how they actually do that.

Speaker 1: 29:10

Pay you up with randoms or you I did that.

Speaker 2: 29:13

You can do that. So you, you can go out there and you meet, you know all these random people and a lot of times you'll just be like, hey, like, do you mind if I tag along, like, instead of you playing by yourself? So take longer, let's pair up. Um. And so I pair up with this random guy named bob, ends up telling me this crazy story about his life. You know how he owns this burger shop and he loves burgers, and you know he's telling me about how, uh, we need a birdie bottle and all this. And I go and tell this story and the way, the reason it worked, and it's because it was a challenge for me to storytell.

Speaker 2: 29:41

I would love to do that. I would love to get a camera and be able to tell stories consistently. But, uh, a strategy is, whenever you have a story or something happen to you and experience, you're exhilarated or you it's fresh on your mind, and so you're going to tell it, naturally the best you can. So the thing I would encourage people to do if they're looking to create a cool story piece of content obviously you have good stories that you had happen in the past, but really let that creative seed just grow in your head and okay, boom, you know lachlan goes out and you an alligator tries to like bite someone's head off or something. You have that experience.

Speaker 2: 30:13

Get your phone out after doc, like talk about it, because you're going to be wanting to just tell it and you're going to tell it more natural than you would 45 minutes later. Hour later. You're not going to tell it the same, but when it's fresh on your mind you're going to't even be thinking because you're so like excited. Yeah, so that's one thing I would say is really helpful for people if they're trying to do story creating um content and just tell a story themselves and you'd love to learn through experiences.

Speaker 1: 30:38

I remember listening. Like I don't read books, I love learning through experience and I, I believe, for myself, I I do read a lot and I love it. I learn a lot. However, everything that I do in all the work is like implement stuff, get the experiences, because it's always going to be different to the book. So, for yourself, what have been some of the I guess, the greatest things you've learned through experiences over the last couple of years?

Speaker 2: 31:03

gosh, yeah, it's funny, I think. Uh, to the people out there, I know I like look everyone's like burning their bookshelves right now. Yeah, to be completely honest, like you said, I've read very, very few books. It's not something I'm necessarily proud of, and I just read a book the other day for the first time in years.

Speaker 2: 31:22

Well done, man, but look for some reason, like you mentioned, for me I see so much value because books are very helpful and I've seen a lot. Again, it goes back to the thing of do things the way that makes you the most successful. If books help you a lot, read books, you know what I'm saying. If it experiences like it is for me for the most part and you enjoy that and love that, do that. I think there should be a happy medium. I think I should read more books to be honest, um, but all that to say um, when it comes to experiences and learning, I guess it's. It's not something I can necessarily put my finger on direct thing.

Speaker 2: 32:01

I think the thing that I've learned the most is communication. I think that is one of the most valuable assets anyone can have and I think the ability to communicate and have social skills. Whether it's okay, we're meeting and we're talking and this experience happens this way and you react a certain way or you feel a certain way. Getting to know people and hear their stories, whether it's a plumber or whether it's a garbage guy, whether it's a you know NBA all-star, a comedian, whoever it could be be really taking time to hear different individual stories and putting myself out there in situations that maybe are uncomfortable. Uncomfortable for me, I think, is one of the things that's helped me garner a lot of experience in the in communication.

Speaker 2: 32:44

And again, when I say I can't put my finger on, it's more like there's so many things I've picked up, um, and they're not necessarily it's not like I can be like, hey, here's.

Speaker 2: 32:52

You know, I can probably give some sort of course on communication or social skills, but it would take me a lot of time to really go and think about it. It just makes it, you know, easier for me when I meet new people to be able to communicate. And if someone acts a certain way I can, you know, no, acts a certain way I can, you know, know, okay, I shouldn't talk here, or maybe I should ask them how they're doing, or, you know, and I feel like, just again, that ability and knowledge to communicate with a wide range of people and just about, you know like, I feel like I could be in a room with just about anyone and somehow get closer to them, and that's what I want to do. I want to hear people's stories, because I think that people's stories, when you hear about someone, that makes you care about them more, um, and so I'd say, yeah, for sure that just the?

Speaker 1: 33:35

um ability to communicate better it's such an undervalued skill communication we all talk, like everyone. We learn, we learn, you know, for example, at school it's like english you'll learn to read, write and communicate, but you don't really. I write and communicate but you don't really. I'm sorry, yeah, communicate, but you don't really learn to connect with people, and especially today's, you know, we're high behind phones. It's like I fell into the trap of thinking sharing reels with my buddies was actually catching up and it's quite funny. Right, you have a bit of a laugh with some of that, but actually spending the time to go face to face could you see the mannerisms? And even, you know, catching up with you.

Speaker 1: 34:09

I go through these phases where you know I'll be chatting, even um Todd Anderson as well. You know we're going to do a podcast before I left, but it, you know, didn't happen, but I don't want to pester people. And then, when we are catching up, I'm like getting this anxious feeling where I'm like fuck, why, what, if, what, if you know it blows up, or you know all the stuff that goes through your head. However, I believe it's important to continue putting yourself in those situations because, much like yourself, I can be put in a room with people from all walks of life and make them feel comfortable, learn a lot from them.

Speaker 1: 34:39

A great quote that I heard years ago was everyone's an expert in something that you're not, and because I used to brush people off if they weren't an athlete or whatever, whereas now anyone I'm like. What can I learn from this person? I'm curious, ask better questions, listen, see how they relay those stories, and a lot of people are lacking that, which is why the loneliness epidemic is happening. People feel disconnected. Even though we've got social media, we can post shit and it looks like life's amazing. Is it really? We don't ever know. We just take it as face value. So I think that's a really important point and something that you do extremely well. I know for you going from football. Was there a period in your life when you went from football to what you're doing now where you had like a loss of identity, or how did you navigate that transition period?

Speaker 2: 35:28

yeah, yes, um, yeah, I would say from the period of finishing football to jumping into the real life definitely had an identity crisis. It was identity crisis. It was very tough. Um, you know you, always I grew up and and a lot of what I wanted to do and invest in my time into was football, football and sports. And you know when that ends that one day I've talked about it with a buddy of mine who's a former player on his podcast, but essentially it's like that Shawshank redemption moment, where you're coming from the prison and you know not comparing football to prison by any means I loved it.

Speaker 2: 36:07

I mean, I would have loved to be in that for something you are doing and you're taught to do and you've learned over time. And then you get to this world where that's gone, well, what do I do now? You know, you've been told by coaches, you've been told by you've. Everything is revolved around this one thing of football. You know, and it's a lot on me because I wish that I would have prioritized things a little bit differently, but also it's it's hard because when football is such a celebrated sport like it is, and especially in the, you know, university of Alabama, everything revolves around it. And so you got fans, you got you know teachers, you got coaches. Everyone wants to make sure you're doing the right thing so that you can be the best football player you can be, and coach Saban did a good job of trying to help us realize the best person you can be as well.

Speaker 2: 36:50

But again, after all those years of trying to get to this goal and then it's gone. I struggled a lot like it was very, very tough. I found myself, you know, uber, eating on the couch, like day after day after day, just sitting there going online on class, like not even at vander, getting my master's at vanderbilt. Some days I wouldn't even have my face on the zoom call and it's like. You know, I felt like almost like, lifeless, like I was. I was down, you know, I'm like, damn like, and then I obviously had lost two grandparents and now I'm not playing the sport that I I loved.

Speaker 1: 37:27

It was a really big challenge and I definitely had an identity crisis and I think what was going through your mind at that period of time? Because for me people say they're down and you see them, I guess, ride the highs and lows, but what was going through your mind at that point in time? Did you feel worthless? Can you give us a bit more of an insight to that?

Speaker 2: 37:50

yeah, I guess I felt, you know, transparently, I I didn't know, I was like, what am I doing anymore, you know? And I was, I was sitting there, like I said every day, I was like I'm gonna go to class, like I'll do this, but like I loved, I had a deep love and and rooted a lot of my priorities, uh, as well as, um, you know, put a lot of my purpose into that, into football, and so I felt like I was purposeless. You know, I was like what do I even do now? Now, I had things that helped me, you know, float during that time, because obviously I had a purpose and I have a purpose. And so, you know, the things that keep me going is that the fact that I was already working, kind of when I was in college, I was already doing things to prepare for this this time, and I still let it.

Speaker 2: 38:34

You know, it still was a rocky ship, but, yeah, I would say like I just didn't want to move, I didn't want to go do anything.

Speaker 2: 38:39

I didn't know what to do. You know, like it was like literally every day, get up at this time, do this that, do this, do that, and now it's, it's a race, and you're like, what do I do now? Um, so I, you know it's a hard feeling to describe, but I would just say, all in all, it was extremely tough and I will I would be lying if I didn't say it was one of the harder times you know throughout life and just figuring out you know what, what's next. And I still think to this day you know, I'm not not like it's not like I've completely like football still sticks in my head and I still necessarily still battle with like a bit of who am I, you know, after football, it's, it's. I'm not saying it, it'll never go away, but it's definitely gonna be a challenge I'm still gonna have to face and I've faced for years and still face today. You know it's just a lot lesser extent because I've found things I enjoy and found purpose and passion in different things, um, and learn things over time.

Speaker 1: 39:33

But yeah, it was a, it was a struggle it was a rocky road what I guess advice would you give to someone who is doing it mentally tough, whether it's coming from the the sporting background or just in life in general?

Speaker 2: 39:46

yeah. So like you're asking it for just anyone who's going through a tough spot, yeah, yeah, I mean the. The main thing I would say is someone told me this other day and it really hit me but you may not think you're good enough. You may see people around you doing more. You may not feel like you're getting the results that you want. You may be injured and down. You may be sad.

Speaker 2: 40:06

The thing to remember is that God has you in a, in the spot that you are, and that's exactly where he has you. That's where you're supposed to be and it's not where it's. It's not saying you don't need to do more. It's not saying you don't need to work to try to get out of the area, but like sometimes take a deep breath and realize, like right, where God needs me to be. You know what I'm saying. It's a refreshing thought and feeling. Um, and someone told me that and I was like damn, cause. I was like you know this is not going well, this is not going well, but like look, god's got me right where I need to be for a reason, and there's a reason. He has me here Now. Does that mean I don't do anything from this position on? Absolutely not. But just realize that, you know, feel comfort that you're where you need to be. It doesn't matter where so-and-so is, it doesn't matter what results you're getting. What are these things like? You're right where you need to be and you're going to be okay and you're actually better than you probably think you are, um, and and just to take it one day at a time and really focus on the fact that, like, got to have faith in certain things and, and you know, just realize like it's going to be okay, but that's like the main thing, that's one of the main things I would say.

Speaker 2: 41:07

There's a lot of other things I could say, but that one was fresh on my mind just because someone told me that the other day, you know, I was like struggling, going through with some stuff and I'm like, and the person looked at me and he's like, you know, god's got you right where you need to be, and I'm like, you know what? What am I thinking? Like? He's like, wow, I can play all these sports still, my body still works. I, you know, I'm able to run, I'm able to breathe, wake up and sleep and do these things and transform your mind from a mind of, you know, lacking gratitude to a mind of gratitude, because once you have that mind of gratitude, then you're able to, you know, have a mind of joy in a sense, you know. So be thankful for a lot of things and think about the things that you are thankful for and blessings that you do have, rather than you know this is going on or that's going on. Be grateful for where you're at and be grateful for the things that you've uh been able to accomplish or uh have in your life.

Speaker 1: 42:01

Do you find it challenging, especially in the position you find yourself in, where you obviously have a certain level of influence? You've come from Alabama, you're doing a lot of great stuff, and then obviously you're around a lot of people doing a lot of great stuff. With that whole comparison experience, like I feel for myself, like I'd look at someone like yourself or a lot of other people and I'd be like how do I get to where they're at? And I've done this my whole life. Even the position I'm in now, where I can live abroad, et cetera, this was what I once wanted four years ago and now it's not enough. And then, from what you just said, I'm like, oh man, if I just, I guess, look at the big picture, I'm fucking killing it. Like life's amazing.

Speaker 1: 42:43

But then, you know, two hours' time, I'll be looking back at you. Know, you know, two hours time I'll be looking back at you. Know, thinking about this, I'm like right, what can I do to continue growing and get into where I think I should be? So is the. Is it a big challenge for you managing that? Especially, you travel a bucket load as well. I don't know how you do it, um, so, managing all of that from the comparison side of things, Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 43:04

I think that, like basic human nature, we we compare, you know, and with today's society and today's age, social media is a big reason we do that. You know, when you have the best, everyone's putting out, for the most part, the best of the best and it's broadcasted everywhere, directly to your phone. You get to see oh, so-and-so just won a gold medal, so-and-so's this, so-and-so just got this. You know, whatever it is, there's a lot of things and people are sharing their proudest moments for the most part, and so I think it's very hard, uh, at times for people to see you know, you see these things.

Speaker 2: 43:38

Or for me, like, look, I train with a guy who played in the nfl, is, you know, still doing stuff, is still pursuing ball, and it's like I'm comparing. I find myself like comparing myself to him, like Like, okay, he's lifting like this much, I need to be lifting this much. And sometimes I'm like Mac, like this guy has been playing in the year, played in the league for five years, and you know, um, you haven't been out of the league, you're, you're not even in the league, you played college football. And you're comparing yourself with this guy. Like, look, you'm 27 years old, I'm running fast. My body's still working well, like, so again, yes, the the comparison thing becomes a challenge.

Speaker 2: 44:12

I think what's definitely helped me is knowing that you're never going to be content or joyful when you decide to compare these different things. Okay, how do I become this person? Or how do I be this person, or how do I get to this level? Again, going back to what I was saying earlier, like you have to find personal happiness and joy, and one of the things I challenge people to do is truly look at your life and say what would really, what do I really want and would this really make me happy? Because the Lachlan who was here now you're here and you probably thought when you were prior to this spot that you would be happier when you're at this spot.

Speaker 2: 44:45

And now it's like, oh, now I got to get here. And it's like think about and really challenge yourself instead of comparing and it's very hard to do, I'm not saying I don't do it but instead of comparing yourself to others, try to really think like what's really going to bring me true joy. And then you start to find yourself, like I've started to find myself. I don't really consume a bunch of like you know other media and try to compare myself anymore, because I'm like bunch of like you know other media and try to compare myself anymore because I'm like not content but I'm like, damn, like you know, it doesn't matter how much money I make, it doesn't matter this or this or that.

Speaker 2: 45:17

Like the end of the day, what matters is am I going to be happy doing what I'm doing and is it going to bring joy to other people and myself? And you know all these other variables. Who gives a shit? You know, like who gives a shit. If you can be happy, that's the true thing, if you can be joyful and finding that true joy is what I encourage people to do. Again, it's very hard in today's world where it's so much work and so much you know you're being everything's being broadcast to everybody, but it's helped me in the comparison way of just saying look like, what really brings me joy and what brings me joy and what are the things that make me happy, and I'm going to pursue those things and invest my time into those things.

Speaker 1: 45:50

That was another thing I took away from listening to a podcast with you when you were at Alabama. You were thinking about the community work that I mentioned and then networking, and you obviously were trying to play at the elite level of football. But you're also thinking at some point, whether I play NFL or I don't, football comes to an end. I played elite footy, I played over in France and all of that sort of stuff, and I never thought about that and I had probably a three-year stint where, after I retired, I was like I fucking have nothing going on, whereas you've just sort of moved into another career.

Speaker 1: 46:24

And I think it's a really good thing to touch on for people now, like the actions that, or the things that we do today, do influence our tomorrow and when you can sort of stop and think about where do I want to be in you know the next couple of years, whether it's from a relationship standpoint or your health. How do I want to look, feel, be able to move? What do I need to put in place today in order to do that? You would have been what early 20s, when you were already thinking about that. Where do you feel that came from? Because I didn't start thinking about it until I probably was 27, and I was like far out.

Speaker 2: 47:00

It's a good question. I'm just thinking about it right now, just like really, because I guess it came from just a, a drive that I can't. I think it's, you know, a god thing, and I don't want to say that like in the sense of other people. You know it's not like god's like leaving them out to dry, like you like left you out to dry or anything. I think it was like just I give credit to god in that, that area, because I can't explain it or describe what it was. You know, I don't know.

Speaker 2: 47:30

And like I was in college and I just remember being motivated and it was like, ok, I think it was more of less preparing that. You know, obviously I knew football would come to an end someday, and I say that sometimes, but I think it was less of that in saying how can I even grow more? How can I impact more people? And while I was already at alabama, okay, the way to do that is let me utilize the place I'm in to reach out to many, as many people as possible. Show people behind the curtain, encourage people, go out and do community service, do these things because, like, while I'm in that certain position, make the most of it and then that in turn continued to build.

Speaker 2: 48:08

For I knew like at the same time I was building to impact people, I was also building for life after ball. But yeah, I would say it was a God thing, because I can't really tell you like I, it just came to me. It was like all right, I want to put in more work, I wanted to grind. I think just knowing my purpose was, you know, a lot bigger than the game, like at the end of the day. You know, a lot bigger than the game, like at the end of the day, you know, having that just this purpose is bigger than that.

Speaker 1: 48:31

I've got two questions sort of rolled into one. But did you ever feel, when you were at Alabama and you were, I guess, showing inside the locker room, so to speak, and I guess, leveraging the position you're in did you ever feel and I'm thinking out loud here like guilty or I don't even have the exact word, but I know my wife's like a big celebrity in Australia and they're banned, et cetera, and we are afforded a lot of opportunity because of that, and I never want to leverage it because I'm like I want to do it myself, but then I also know that it can help me impact more people and do everything like that. So I'm just trying to understand did you ever experience that? If so, how did you overcome that?

Speaker 2: 49:13

Yeah, so I never felt any guilt of leveraging Alabama. The reason why is because, look, it was my dream to play there. I worked my ass off, was getting up early in the morning, putting my time in doing the things I needed to do, and I was giving them so much. And Alabama wanted to give. They want us to succeed. Especially Coach Saban wanted us to succeed as men and as people.

Speaker 2: 49:39

And so I never felt like, oh, I'm leveraging this because, no, I was putting in the work day in and day out for this university and I wasn't getting to get out there. On Saturdays. For the most part I was on the field but I wasn't out there getting the reps, getting the playing time that I wanted. And so it's like, okay, what can I get out of this? And some of the coaches would encourage us. Different coaches would say make sure you're getting the most out of where you are, because there's a lot of value to playing there. The most out of where you are, because there's a lot of value to playing there. And they want us to take that value and use it.

Speaker 2: 50:11

Um, so I never really felt anything guilty about it. Just because of the. You know I was putting in so much goddang work. Yeah, I'm like all right, like this is you know, like this is a way. I mean there's a lot of things during the time that I was like I took for granted, but at the same time I was like I need to uh leverage this and I don't feel bad doing it because that's what we're there. That's part of the reason you go to a school like the University of Alabama is for that opportunity, you know.

Speaker 1: 50:35

Yeah, thanks for sharing that. That's one of the biggest things I struggle with, I guess, from that whole leveraging standpoint, but it's definitely something that I want to do more We've got incredible networks and communities that can help continue growing. Just to wrap up, because I want to be mindful of your time what's one thing that you're working on at the moment that you're most excited about?

Speaker 2: 51:00

I would say this sounds cheesy, but I could say some sort of business venture, I could say some sort of content thing. That would be really fun. But in all, I would say, maybe it's not exciting, but the thing I'm working on the most right now is just really taking a step back and realizing you know, I've done all this stuff in the workspace and realizing, look, it's time to elevate me and my personal happiness, my mental health, um, and the things that I want, the way I want to feel and the things I want. So I'd say my big project right now happens to be myself and I and I'm literally, I'm challenging myself because it's hard as is a, you know, a man in your twenties, uh, in Nashville, tennessee, in anywhere to do certain things to get to a certain spot.

Speaker 2: 51:46

For me, that certain spot is like I want to have a wife, I want to have a family, I want to be a great, loving husband, great father. Well, how do I get there? Okay, and am I doing the right things to be able to get to that spot? Mostly like, sometimes yes, sometimes no, but what can I be doing better to get me to that spot? And so that's, I would say, is the biggest thing I'm doing right now is having like taking some time to like, yeah, have fun projects coming up and stuff that people will see, but for now, like I would say that's the biggest project is just me and just taking a step back. And even people see I'm busy all the time. I'm doing stuff, but I'm really taking a lot of time right now as well to focus on myself, work on myself and try to be a better man, better person.

Speaker 1: 52:25

It's awesome man.

Speaker 2: 52:33

I don't know and try to be a better man, better person. Uh, it's awesome man Project me oh, it is project Mac, but you know, um, but it it's enjoyable to me and it's been a challenge because, again, like I I do, I love to be doing stuff all the time and I think that I get, you know, so busy. But I revert back to what I was saying earlier. I think one of the biggest important things that I've realized is I've seen people who are very successful and success doesn't always bring happiness and you sit there and you wonder, okay, if I'm going to try to get there, that's not what I, you know, I want to be happy and so it's like, if I can create happiness where I am, in the present and with what I've got going on, no matter how much money I make, no matter how much these other things, like obviously there are factors that contribute to it but if I can create true joy, just myself, then you have unlimited wealth. You know what I'm saying?

Speaker 2: 53:12

Like, you were the wealthiest man on the planet If you can get that screw, you're having a yacht, private jet, those things would be great, that would be awesome, don't get me wrong. Having like a you know, some mansions and stuff like that, those things be awesome and they are fun. I've, I've, you know, I've gotten to go to those cool places, done those cool things. But like, at the end of the day, again, you're gonna find true wealth when you find you know true happiness and joy and what you're doing and who you are. And it's a lot easier said than done. But so that's why I'm really working on that, because I've realized, you know, I've done some really cool things and they bring me immediate happiness In the moment it's fun, it's great, but long-term like we talk about longevity, of being able to have residual joy, residual happiness you're going to create that by sitting down and saying what makes me happy and what kind of man do I need to be to achieve that?

Speaker 2: 54:04

And so I don't think anyone has that figured out. I don't think anyone will that figured out. That's uh, don't think I'll ever like necessarily. I don't think anyone will truly have that figured out. I think that's part of life, but at least trying to dive into that and and figure out ways. Because again, I see it time after time. I see people just working, working, working, working and they're not happy and they can make more and more and more money. They're not happy and I like I don't want to do that bullshit.

Speaker 1: 54:28

Yeah, do it differently, dude, 100%. I think Project Mac man cool project to work on. I think it's important, though to your point, you can always make more money, but it's like relationships At the end of the day. There's a great book, five Truths of the Dying, by Bronnie Walsh. She's an Australian palliative care nurse. It's gone viral.

Speaker 1: 54:50

But she obviously, seeing people on death's door, was asking them what would you do differently? And there was five things and it's like I would have taken more risks, I would have not worked so much, I would have kept in contact with my friends and it's like all stuff that anyone can do, regardless of where you're at in life. But whether it's because of social media, we all think we need to be hustlers and and living on the yachts and all of that and, granted, that shit's cool and I want that stuff. I want, I love that, don't get me wrong. But I want to have the relationships where you, you know, you know you can call them when you hit rock bottom.

Speaker 1: 55:21

It's like most of myself and amy. Our friends are all having kids and I've got their houses set up at home and we often find ourselves in our little one-bedroom apartment here in nashville sitting around a table. We're like we got a house. Back home we could be doing the same and sometimes like I would love to be doing that, but we're also doing cool stuff here with the hope that it sets us up for the future to do other things. And the most important thing is like our relationship keeps getting stronger. We've got our family now.

Speaker 1: 55:47

We've literally got the three apartments next door here as well, we're like this little you know sober cult here now, but like it's, we get to have these cool experiences with people that we care about, and much like I started this conversation with is I want to continue having conversations and meeting people like yourself who are doing cool stuff, because I get insights and perspectives and I'm sure our audience will as well and I've taken away so much today, especially from someone like yourself who has or is still doing so much cool stuff. But it's great to know that a real focal point for you is on yourself and thinking about the man that you need to become, because I think that's often overlooked in today's world.

Speaker 2: 56:26

Yeah, I'm excited. I really appreciate it. I love conversations like this because as much as you're figuring out one, we got to do this again because I want to learn more about your story. It sounds captivating and I would love to even come on. I know you probably told your audience knows you pretty well, but I would love to come ask you stuff on your own podcast.

Speaker 2: 56:42

Get grilled on the show, yeah um, yeah, again, I I think that, like the, the things that are important, you got to keep the. The main coach, like saving would say, you got to keep the main thing, the main thing and, like you know, just know the, the things that are really important in your life, and and keep those, like if you, you know, when you're making decisions, have those people in mind, have those things in mind and and they'll help you, hopefully, make the right decisions. Yeah, to me it's a crazy world because I think when people look at value and stuff, there's a totem pole. In business or not even in business, but really life People look at this totem pole. A lot of people have money here.

Speaker 2: 57:19

And whenever people come up to me and talk to me in business and they're like we're going to make so much money, I'm like door closed. You know what they're like we're going to make so much money, I'm like door closed.

Speaker 2: 57:27

Because it's not about that. I think I love that Like one of the things that people sometimes like. It doesn't make me a lot of money, my number one like I guess like priority thing, but I love relationships and I love building relationships, I love nurturing them, I love having good friends. A lot of people are like, dude, you're just everyone's best friend, like I, I one day, and you know, have no money to my name. But if I'm everyone's best friend, you know we won. Uh, we've done a good job.

Speaker 1: 57:54

So I think that breaks down and wrap up. But it breaks down as well when people say they want money, they haven't thought. And this goes back to be more creative. I used to be that dude. It was like money. I used to track everything. I still track a lot of stuff.

Speaker 1: 58:04

But when I'm like, well, I want more money, what do I actually want? I want the opportunity to go play golf every day this week without having to stress about my finances or flying back to Australia, all that sort of stuff. That's what I want, right. So when I'm sitting here and I'm talking to you, it's like, dude, we could go play golf right now if you wanted to have that fucking cool experience. Awesome.

Speaker 1: 58:23

Like that's for for me, when I understand the value that money brings to my life. It's the fact that if Amy and I to have a kid, I could be a stay-at-home dad and we can, you know, go live in Spain or France. Like that's cool. That's what I'm about. It's not necessarily making another million dollars, but to most people who haven't necessarily thought about it enough, that is the thing and that's what we reward. But it's what about the dudes who are literally doing what you're doing? I watched what you're doing and I'm like, oh, that's sick. Playing golf, hitting the gym, like living a really cool life, and I value those things as well, which is why I reached out to you. So I don't think we give enough thought into why we actually want money and what the money gives us, because that's the true value of it exactly but mac, where can people follow along and find out more about you?

Speaker 2: 59:10

um, quick, quick side note. I know this will air a little bit later, but one exciting thing that I am doing is I'm playing in a uh, it's called the celebrity poker tour, may 4th weekend, so not this weekend, yeah well we'll get to look at this after I think how I did so. I'm playing in that in las vegas celebrity poker tour, which will be a lot of fun, so we'll get to see. Yeah, we'll get to see after how do you go with poker?

Speaker 2: 59:30

uh, I, I love poker. I told someone the other day, I think, that it's it's a one is it gets people together and I love anything that brings people together. That people can you know, we can get a table like in college out of football guys, fraternity guys all playing poker. So it brings people together one thing. So it has the community aspect to it. But also, if you look deeper into the game, there's a lot of similarities to life.

Speaker 2: 59:53

I told someone this the other day I'm like, okay, I get dealt, you know, a certain, a certain group of cards, just like you get dealt a certain situation in life. You have to look at that situation, evaluate it. Is it worth continuing to bank in and throw coin or invest time, invest money, whatever it is? Do you want to keep investing in these cards in the hand that you're dealt or do you want to let this one go? So it could come, it could be you know, like business opportunities, like a lot of times I'll get something and I'll be like dang.

Speaker 2: 1:00:21

You know this is a lot of money, this is a lot of like benefits. This is a great opportunity, but is it the one? And a lot of like benefits. This is a great opportunity, but is it the one? And a lot of times you got to let a lot of those cards go. You know you got to fold them, fold them, fold them for the chances. You're going to get a great opportunity and there may be times where you ride a certain hand that's dealt too long and then it's the point where you've lost a lot on it.

Speaker 2: 1:00:39

Shit, I find myself in poker all the time call, call, call. That's the chip stack up in the middle of the table and and I'm like, damn it, it's too late Now. I go all in and lose every God dang thing to my name, but I buy back in and I keep going and just like life. You know you fail, you have a problem, you get back in there and you do it.

Speaker 2: 1:00:56

But yeah, all that to say that's such a good metaphor on poker, poker, the metaphors are crazy when enjoy it for the community and the relationships it's brought into my life and the people that I've played it with.

Speaker 2: 1:01:07

And you know, and again, sorry to like go on the poker wave, but it it's because you see who, when I lose a game, sometimes I get really upset. You know you are dealing with money, but you, at the end of the day, it's like what's important to me? I'll go in there and I'll get rinsed by my friends Like uh, you know, like just absolutely taken to the, to the grave per se, and all my cash is gone and I leave the table. Sometimes my friends are like you're free money. I'm like no, no, no, no, no. Like I'm like I look, if I paid, you know, a hundred dollars to sit down here for two hours to hang out with my friends by God, I'll come give a hundred dollars to this pot every single day because it's it's a lot of fun and, yeah, I love the game of poker, so I'm excited for that tournament.

Speaker 1: 1:01:48

We'll see if I win and I'm keen to watch. That's going to be awesome. It's going to be live streamed.

Speaker 2: 1:01:51

I don't know how much airtime. I'll get, but it's live streamed. There's 65, I think. Players all over the country Got famous boxers. There's people from Netflix shows, football players, football players, artists. It's a ton of cool people and I'm really looking forward to it. Good luck. People can follow me on TikTok. It's just at M-A-C and then H-E-R-E-F-O-R-D, and then on Instagram, m-a-c, underscore H-E-R-E-F-O-R-D, same as it is on Twitter. On Snapchat, I keep forgetting about Snapchat.

Speaker 1: 1:02:28

Snapchat sneaks up on you underscore H E R E F O R D, Same as it is on Twitter, on Snapchat and then Snapchat. I keep forgetting about Snapchat. Maybe I'm old man.

Speaker 2: 1:02:33

Uh, they've got Snapchat's, got, uh, some more futures now, and um, it's, it's changed a little bit. Is it's more than just a communication app these days? Um, it's pretty cool, but uh, yeah, find me wherever and hopefully we can uh talk again sometime. I've really enjoyed the show and really enjoyed the questions you've asked and the conversations we've had.

Speaker 1: 1:02:54

So, matt, I appreciate you giving me some of your time. I know you're a busy dude, but it was awesome, fine and for everyone listening. All of the social links are in the show notes so you can just click it and check it out. I'd highly recommend checking it out and, uh, depending on when this airs, I might try and get it out before the poker, but if not, I'll put a link to the replay as well. But thanks for coming on man 100.

Speaker 2: 1:03:14

Thank you for having me cheers.