ShipOffers CEO and Serial Entrepreneur Tony Grebmeier on Overcoming Adversity and Finding Fulfillment
Adversity is something we all face at some point in our lives. Whether personal, professional, or emotional, challenges come in many forms and often test our resilience. In a recent conversation on the Executive Health and Life podcast, serial entrepreneur Tony Grebmeier shared his personal story of overcoming immense hardship. His journey is inspiring and filled with actionable advice on how to face adversity head-on and grow stronger from it.
In this blog, we'll explore the key insights from that episode, touching on the themes of personal growth, the power of community, and how to keep moving forward, no matter the odds.
Watch the Episode
1. Owning Your Change
One of Tony's most powerful messages is the importance of owning your personal change. It's easy to wish for others or external circumstances to change, but the real transformation begins when you take responsibility for your own actions and mindset.
Tony's life took a drastic turn when, at 36, he found himself at rock bottom—struggling with addiction, marital issues, and feeling completely lost. But rather than waiting for his situation to improve on its own, he made a critical decision: he would change. He stopped drinking, sought personal development, and began to prioritize his health, family, and business.
The lesson here is simple but profound: if you want to change your life, it starts with you. Owning your faults, flaws, and actions is the first step toward overcoming adversity.
2. Pain as a Motivator for Change
Tony discusses the role of pain in personal growth, explaining that it can serve as a powerful motivator for change. In his darkest moments, Tony contemplated suicide, feeling trapped by debt and despair. However, the intervention of friends and the realization that his life still held meaning pulled him back from the brink.
Tony believes that pain is necessary for growth. While none of us want to experience hardship, those challenging moments often catalyze positive change. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a financial crisis, pain forces us to confront what's wrong in our lives and motivates us to find a better path.
His advice? Don't run from pain or adversity. Instead, face it head-on and use it as fuel to move forward. Pain, when processed correctly, can lead to some of life's most significant breakthroughs.
3. Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
Another recurring theme in Tony's story is the power of community and mentorship. During his darkest moments, friends stepped in and reminded him of his potential. One such moment came when Tony's friend knocked on his door and told him his life had a purpose, giving him the encouragement he needed to continue.
Tony emphasizes that no one should try to go through life's challenges alone. Having a strong support system—whether it's friends, family, or mentors—can make all the difference. These people will remind you of your worth, offer advice, and stand by you during difficult times.
If you're struggling, don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether personal struggles or business challenges, reaching out to those who've been through similar experiences can give you the perspective and support you need to overcome adversity.
4. The Importance of Personal Development
One of the critical turning points in Tony's journey was discovering the world of personal development. He credits mentors and inspirational figures like Bob Proctor, Wayne Dyer, and Zig Ziglar for helping him shift his mindset and set new priorities in life.
Tony advises anyone looking to overcome adversity to invest in personal growth. Books, seminars, and mentors can change one's thinking and open new possibilities. He believes that the sooner you invest in personal development, the better you'll be able to handle life's challenges.
One of the most valuable lessons Tony learned was the idea of changing paradigms—how shifting your mindset can lead to different results in your life. As Tony says, "For things to change, you have to change."
5. Building a Strong Foundation in Business and Life
In addition to his struggles, Tony's journey as a business leader has not been without its challenges. As the founder of ShipOffers, a fulfillment company that has grown from a garage operation to a multimillion-dollar business, Tony understands the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice Tony shares is the importance of building strong relationships in business. He encourages leaders to see their team as collaborators, not employees, and to focus on creating a supportive, team-based culture.
Tony also stresses the need for mentorship in business. He attributes much of his success to the mentors who guided him, offering wisdom and perspective that helped him grow as a leader.
If you're facing challenges in your business, find mentors and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Their advice and support will help you overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.
6. The Joy of Simplifying Life
As if his story wasn't compelling enough, Tony also made a life-altering decision to leave the hustle and bustle of California and move to a 35-acre ranch. Ranch life is far from his previous beach lifestyle, but Tony explains that this change allowed him to slow down and focus on what really matters—his family, his health, and his sense of fulfillment.
Living on the ranch has taught Tony valuable lessons about hard work, patience, and staying connected to the natural world. He encourages others to consider simplifying their lives, not just in terms of location, but in prioritizing the things that bring absolute joy and fulfillment.
Final Thoughts
Tony Grebmeier's story is a testament to the power of resilience, personal development, and the support of others in overcoming adversity. Whether you're struggling with personal challenges or professional hurdles, his advice rings true: don't be afraid to own your change, seek help, and invest in yourself. Surround yourself with a community of people who will lift you up, and don't let pain or hardship stop you from pursuing the life you truly want.
As Tony reminds us, "Change is available to anyone who wants it," but it starts with you. By embracing personal responsibility, finding mentors, and staying committed to your growth, you can overcome adversity and build a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Connect with Tony Grebmeier
Website: https://www.tonygrebmeier.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-g-6b1b68226/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonygrebmeier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonygrebmeier
Transcript
Tony Grebmeier
(0:00) So change is available to anybody who wants it But most of the time everybody expects others to change and I just own my change man I own the person I am today is still flawed Still have a lot of work to do But grateful for the person that I am knowing that at the end of the day. (0:18) I Like the person I see in the mirror and that's not what I could say in 2008. (0:22) I was like you need to go (0:25) You're causing more pain and problems for people
Julian Hayes II
(0:31) Welcome to another episode of executive health in life (0:33) I'm your host Julian Hayes a second and I have a very special special special guest with me as someone who I (0:41) Remember in 2020 and he doesn't know I'm about to say this in 2020 (0:44) when my father passed the first person that I called right after was this man here and (0:52) even before then (0:54) when (0:55) When my father passed the first the reason why I had a ten-out-of-ten relationship with him (1:02) was because of this man and I just am forever grateful for him and so I'm speaking with
Tony Grebmeier and (1:11) It's a mentor friend and just someone who I'm forever grateful for Tony.
(1:16) How are you doing?
Tony Grebmeier
(1:17) Man, I am fantastic. (1:18) Thank you for the kind words You know when I lost my dad many years ago People reached out and really helped me to kind of process It's hard to process grief because it's like ebbs and flows. (1:30) It's like the waves at the beach, you know (1:32) You never know when the next tides coming (1:35) But it's important to be there for other people (1:37) and not just like a sugarcoat a phone call to hey, but like really understand like how how I could show up and how I (1:43) could be supportive and (1:45) Getting to know you previously and then having you work through some stuff that we discussed was super important and also like to get a (1:51) Ten-out-of-ten, but also to improve that relationship from the bottom line (1:56) That's something that I wish I would I would have had somebody tell me a lot earlier in my life (2:01) I had a tough relationship with my dad at the end when he was passing (2:04) I was able to hold his hand and just tell him I know I love them and (2:07) You know say I'm sorry for this stuff that I had done and the pain that I had caused him and he wasn't able to (2:13) Really talk so it was more just letting go and I don't want to make this a depressing thing because I think it's something that (2:18) I do want to impress upon everybody is that (2:21) The people who suffer the most (2:24) Are not the other people but they're usually us and it's what we didn't say or we wish you could have said or didn't that (2:29) So I'm like, I'm a big believer man.
(2:31) Say what you got to say today. (2:32) Don't hold back You know if you need to tell somebody you love and tell You know, it's like move quickly Don't move soft because you're afraid of like hurting somebody and I'm like, I don't want to hurt anybody But if you know what I have to say is offensive to you. (2:45) I apologize because it's not what my intention is it's all about love and caring for one another and doing what I can to to just show respect, but I just know man, I until my dad passed and My youngest sat in the car with me and said, you know, what do you regret the most?
(3:02) I said interviewing my dad just like asking my dad some key questions and things and Then life just goes crazy. (3:10) And then I lost my mom and it's gonna be almost (3:12) Two years this month and I didn't get an interview my mom either (3:16) So it's like those are the things that I live with and so I've turned those over and I'm forgiven and free of that (3:21) But it's still things that I wish I would have done man (3:24) That reminds me
Julian Hayes II
(3:25) absolutely, you know that reminds me I have a I have a grandma have both grandmothers still here and (3:30) and mom as well and so I need to actually interview them because uh (3:34) That's something me my dad talked about a little bit and we did every Tuesday (3:39) We did get to really just have a it's it's a weird thing when you're in a care giver caretaker role (3:44) Because as a little boy, he's taking care of you and everything and then you have that stage where you're a little rebellion as a teenager (3:51) But then you get a little older and it comes full circle and you start to admire and respect him even more and especially (3:57) when you start to really learn about him and his upbringing his story and and and so it's a it's a thing that (4:06) It's been four years now and and so now it's it's I think it's harder now (4:11) but it's also I have a greater appreciation for things and I think it's part of the thing that helps me to continue to (4:18) Persist and move forward and keeps the drive going no matter what and so I'm wondering with you (4:24) What's at the moment where the just perspective come from exactly that that do you remember the exact moment? (4:29) We're just just leading with your heart so much has come from you Yeah, I mean I had an upbringing.
Tony Grebmeier
(4:36) I mean probably very similar to most people I had my ups and downs, but the reality was I was just like I was looking for love. (4:44) My parents were you know Working I was home a lot by myself There's a big part of me that felt Neglected even though that wasn't the case. (4:53) It's just my parents divorce.
(4:55) Also when I was really really young and So I spent a lot of time Trying to manipulate my parents to get back together, but that was a problem because my dad was gay Straighten so that didn't work too Well, that was in the 70s, but the thing that really came from all of it perspective was, you know I met the love of my life. (5:14) She was 18 I was 24 amber and she just has thrown so much heart into helping me just to learn how to process to show my feelings like One of my mentors and coaches used to tell me all the time said, you know Why do you think it is that you don't have all these emotions? (5:30) Why do you cry?
(5:31) Why don't you know you let this out? (5:33) Man, I don't know. (5:34) I like I cried last night watching field of dreams like I was balling going I had a pillow above my head, you know, I was just like crying And it was that father-son relationship, you know It was that like thing that I wish I had like I'd in the moment of Phil the dreams, you know He's throwing the ball with his dad. (5:50) I'm like, I never threw a ball at my dad, you know (5:53) And so my epiphany my aha moment was many years later was age 36 (5:58) You know when I had a problem with drinking a drug in it and that had some, you know (6:02) marital relationship issues and (6:04) It was one (6:05) I you know (6:05) I admitted that I need help and I need to do things differently and I was struggling to be a parent to show up (6:11) For my kids like the way I wanted I was struggling to be a business partner and show up the way they needed me to (6:16) I was struggling to show up in my marriage properly.
(6:19) So it was 36 is a good date And one of the things that changes, you know I admitted I had a problem with drinking and then I got sober and I've stayed sober the entire time So I'm blessed and thankful for that. (6:29) And then that gave me (6:31) Some realization that really I am the same person (6:34) I have just changed my priorities to make sure that people are still the most important thing in my life and they've always been (6:41) but for a long time I (6:44) Wasn't the most important thing in my life and I pushed all of like I made everything about everybody else (6:50) but I didn't take any personal responsibility for like my life and myself and so what I've really done is shifted perspective and (6:57) Bob Proctor talks about paradigms and you know coming to the realization (7:02) You know Jim Rohn (7:04) You know for you know things to change I got to change and for things to get better (7:07) I got to get better you listen to Zig Ziglar, you know (7:10) It's like if you help enough people get what they want you'll get everything you need (7:13) So I just started like listening to like Wayne Dyer Bob Proctor (7:18) Zig Ziglar Tony Robbins (7:21) Napoleon Hill, I just I started asking questions (7:26) To myself that they would be talking about like, how would you process that? (7:29) Like do you think like that? (7:30) Is that something that you believe and you know What shifted is also like in the program of recovery.
(7:35) We're taught to kind of find a power greater than ourselves (7:38) So I realized like I didn't have to have all the answers like I could seek right and there's a great quote (7:43) You know seeking you will find and success leaves clues (7:47) So I just had to just get busy (7:49) interviewing people talking to successful people talking to people that I met on the street people that it would never see again in my (7:55) Life, I just was curious why they're there (7:56) What did what did what happened for them to get in this position and if they could change? (8:02) Would they want change or are they just completely happy where they're at? (8:05) And so I just started asking everybody, you know, and my mom was my mentor.
(8:08) She was the first person to really (8:10) Teach me about you know developing who I am (8:12) I've had a lot of coaches a lot of people but 36 was the day that my life changed (8:17) December 15th (8:21) 2008 and (8:22) Every day since then I have really put in the effort to make sure that the person that you see online (8:27) that you talk to behind the scenes a (8:31) Stranger walks up to me or anybody that I am the same person in all those scenarios, right? (8:36) and then (8:37) The benefit is all the people in my life who got to be around me and like my relationship with my wife is incredible today (8:42) And in 2008 we had I already filed for divorce I didn't think like it was gonna work out (8:48) And we just got back from a nice trip and celebrating, you know, 26 years of marriage (8:53) So change is available to anybody who wants it (8:55) But most of the time everybody expects others to change and I just own my change man (9:00) I own the person I am today as still flawed (9:04) Still have a lot of work to do (9:06) But grateful for the person that I am knowing that at the end of the day. (9:11) I Like the person I see in the mirror and that's not what I could say in 2008.
(9:15) I was like you need to go You're causing more pain and problems for people. (9:20) So I think really having that paradigm shift and realizing that you know (9:25) If it's got to be it's up to me that like I heard that for a long time in my life (9:29) There's something true in that but I also believe that you also need people and so I'm okay with asking for help (9:36) a mutual friend of ours Vernon Foster (9:39) Just had an event and I was just talking to him on the phone this morning and he was out for a run and I'm (9:43) Like, oh just like our friend, you know Julian out for a run, you know (9:46) It's funny how people show up at the right time in your life to remind you like yeah, you need to go work out (9:51) And so I'm just grateful for like you Julian like for just having a podcast for the time (9:57) You you put in as a writer for the time you put in as a caregiver (10:00) this is the person that you show up and always willing to grow and that (10:05) Reminds me that I'm on the right path talking to the right people because I want to be around people who want (10:10) to get better as humans
Julian Hayes II
(10:13) Yeah, do you think we need some type of pain in order to change (10:17) Or do you think or do you think people can change without any sort of like really pain or catalyst?
Tony Grebmeier
(10:23) Pain is a great motivator and when I was a million dollars in debt And alone in an apartment. (10:31) I didn't want to live, you know, I was trying to figure out how to take my life (10:36) and (10:39) Yeah, man, I was I was pretty hell-bent on like this is it and I know in that moment when a (10:47) Phone call came in from my buddy John saying he's coming to visit me (10:50) I was like, okay put all my stuff away and then he came and knocked on the door (10:54) And he gave me a big hug and he told me, you know (10:57) Tony your life has meaning and purpose how you're living it right now doesn't (11:01) He spoke truth, so I think we need pain and we I think we need people in our life to speak truth to us, too (11:08) Like to cut through the noise the clutter that's kind of going on in our mind and he looked at me. (11:13) He goes, man, I Love you, man, and he goes like You you can do all the things that you want to do But we just got to make some changes and I said great and we talked for you know, a good period of time And then he left and a pastor friend of mine who I'm still friends with today Brandon came by and he goes man. (11:32) I see great things for you (11:33) I see you speaking on stages all around the world sharing your message of hope and I'm like, dude (11:37) I was just trying to kill myself and that's why I believe pain is is (11:43) Something that we will all go through at some point in our life pain of loss pain and suffering business, whatever (11:48) But you need a good foundation a core group of people to speak hope and truth into your life
Julian Hayes II
(11:55) Mm-hmm. (11:57) Yeah, I can I can agree with that that it's the power of community, right? (12:03) And needing meeting just at least one person to believe in you It sounds like that you during this whole time around 36 You started to really start to find the meaning of your life and that that can seem like a huge thing But and so I'm sure at times people come to you and say Tony I feel lost or I'm just in it in a haze.
(12:23) How do you? (12:25) Guess go about Helping them or recommending some things that they can do to start maybe finding themselves more meaning of life a purpose All something similar like that.
Tony Grebmeier
(12:37) Great question. (12:38) I Let me ponder just an idea really quick. (12:45) I don't believe everybody Wants help.
Julian Hayes II
(12:49) Mm-hmm.
Tony Grebmeier
(12:50) I think everybody is Seeking and they just don't know what they're looking for and so a lot of times I say, you know when someone comes into my office or I get a phone call or a Text message or hey, can we get together? (13:06) A Lot of times I have a good friend Vinny Fisher He always used to ask me like we would just talk about this from time to time because people would want your time And it's just a right back a message to them, right? (13:17) So if they texted you or message you or called you to say hey Will you shoot me a message with what it is that you are wanting?
(13:26) What do you need? (13:27) Right, so I know how I can help you but then email So what would happen is is like they would stop asking and Start thinking about what is it that they really want to have this conversation about they just need somebody to just talk to a sound Or that's awesome But to get like tactical as fast as possible is what I kind of believe is necessary in our day and age because I'm lonely. (13:49) Sometimes I'll just make phone calls randomly.
(13:51) Just talk to somebody and Then I was at a conference Colby K put on an event many years ago called meltdown in the desert and Sean Whalen spoke from stage and he gave kind of like the seven why's You know, it's like, you know, what's the thing that you want? (14:08) And why do you want it and then ask yourself, you know Every time till you get to seven and it kind of flushes out that like I just want more money. (14:15) Why?
(14:16) Well, cuz I'd like it to be able to travel why you know And you just keep breaking it down and get to the core and your why it's gonna be completely different than anybody else's why? (14:26) I also believe that a lot of people who come into like my life or my office or Whoever is in it for a season reason or a lifetime, right? (14:35) They may just be like in my life They may have just got a job here for six days 60 days six years, whatever it may be and then they're gone and it's like, what did they teach me?
(14:48) What did I learn in that period of time? (14:49) Right? (14:50) And so I Also don't like to give advice.
(14:53) I like to give suggestions. (14:54) So I always ask like Are you open to a suggestion versus just like I don't nobody needs more information You want information just go sit on Yahoo and you'll just get right time of information I want Tactical things that I can do to like change my life. (15:11) So give you a case scenario I moved three years ago during kind of like the Pandemic everybody went through and I ended up buying a piece of property with my wife out in the country It's 35 acres.
(15:22) We live in a giant 6200 square foot steel building. (15:25) Not something that I ever thought I would do, right? (15:28) I Grew up in Santa Cruz in California We're in flip-flop shorts and a tank top like that was not going from like beach life to ranch life Wasn't anything But I was like, all right, cool.
(15:39) Let's do it. (15:40) Like so some people, you know ride horses and rope (15:44) Bulls, I (15:45) Said well, I'm not gonna do any of those things (15:47) So why don't I get a side-by-side or a zero turn or a tractor and I'll figure it out (15:52) And so I remember one day I was like on my zero turn (15:55) It's just a mower that you have like handles going back and forth and you know (15:59) You see a lot of people doing yard work commercially use them and I'm just written down my property headphones on I'm singing (16:04) I'm laughing I'm having a good time and I just 360 this thing by accident (16:08) I just turned this and I rip all the wiring out of my gate (16:11) like literally I have an electric gate that you know opens and closes and I just ripped all the panel instrument everything out and (16:17) I was like, oh (16:20) Crap, it's like look what I did and I just picked up a phone and I just called my buddy who was the neighbor (16:25) That's you know, just a couple of houses up. (16:27) I said by any chance.
(16:28) Could you come and help me? (16:29) I think I need some duct tape. (16:30) He just came running over And he got duct tape and like 15 minutes later we fixed it all and that's always been something that stuck with me in the last couple years was like Just be willing to ask people who know how to solve the problem that you have Just be willing to ask those people and my wife even commented just recently when we were on a trip to Europe She's like man.
(16:52) I don't know you just like ask for what you want. (16:54) I'm like, yeah What are you gonna ask for what you don't want? (16:57) I'm like, I'm gonna ask for what I need.
(16:59) And so I try to tell people when I meet with them and suggest things I'm like, what is it that you want? (17:05) You know and take a little bit of like that the Sean Whalen thing is like So if you got that thing, what would change in your life? (17:13) So just think about that.
(17:13) What would change if you got what you were asking for and a lot of times people don't know Why they just feel compelled that that's what they think because maybe they saw it or heard it or read it that that's what they want For themselves and I'm like just because you have more doesn't make it right Like just because you know, I give you more money. (17:30) It's not gonna fix and solve all your problems, right? (17:34) It may not buy you happiness.
(17:36) It might buy you out of debt, you know So I got to be really really careful when I meet with people So I have people come in and say hey I have a problem drinking or my girlfriend or my mom has a drink and I'm like timeout You have a problem we can talk about that. (17:50) They have a problem. (17:51) They're not in the room.
(17:52) So let's not talk about them If I can give you some suggestions on what you can make a suggestions for them But like I want to talk to you because you're the one who has a problem on it. (18:00) I want to work on you And I always tell people I'm not a doctor. (18:05) I'm not a licensed therapist (18:06) I'm just somebody who's lived life and I got 51 years of it to experience (18:10) my strength and my hope and share with you and if you want that and ask away and (18:15) Then the last thing I'll say on this Julian too, which is a really really helpful thing (18:21) most people (18:22) Seek counsel from a lot of people for the same problem and I've equated it and I heard the term a long time ago (18:28) It's not going to be don't be a person like that (18:31) Don't be an asshole because if you it's like you get too much input around the scenario now, you're back (18:37) Starting with zero and you are confused at what you do. (18:41) I like to move quickly Like I just you know, if a ditch needs to be dug today.
(18:47) Am I gonna wait a week? (18:48) Well, you know what could happen in a week it could get way hotter it could dry out the ground it could make it twice It's hard to do but I could ditch I could I could dig it today right and So I just like don't be an asshole. (19:00) Don't ask so many people just find somebody that has the results You want and be bold and brave and go ask them?
(19:06) Hey, do you have five minutes? (19:09) Can I buy you a cup of coffee? (19:10) Can we sit down and just talk about something that's really concerning and bothering me and I really value who you are (19:16) And I'd love your perspective (19:19) And you know it if you're busy today (19:21) Could you find time tomorrow or this week because it's something that I really I'm really needing counsel on and I I know that (19:30) It's something that you probably can help me solve because I've seen you go through it (19:33) I just love some insight right and so you you got that person's buy-in by how you asked
Julian Hayes II
(19:39) Hmm. (19:40) Yeah, I I'm curious, what do you think is the reason why people don't ask for what they want or ask for help and almost in turn just Silently suffer a little bit. (19:53) Do you think it's sometimes in maybe from a professional standpoint severe?
(19:57) It's a fear a failure a vulnerability issue a self-esteem issue What do you think?
Tony Grebmeier
(20:05) well, I did a (20:08) Education seminar multiple times and I stepped offstage with this statement (20:14) I spent a lifetime trying to look good to avoid looking bad (20:18) Does that solve that (20:20) Yeah (20:21) So also I think people don't know what they don't know and so they don't believe that there is a way out (20:26) And I love Albert Einstein and a lot of people that said, you know (20:29) Like the same thinking that got you to the mess probably won't get you out of the mess (20:33) Mm-hmm, but if you're not thinking how do you know that you even have a problem?
(20:38) Do you think every drug addict wants to quit? (20:40) No, they're hooked and they probably don't know how to get out of it Like, you know when I was addicted to on a weekend of you know, 90 like Vicodin I Didn't think there's anything wrong with it. (20:50) I was just looking for my next, you know, 90 pills Right, and I didn't know how to stop and You hear everybody when they you know get off of substances They have DTS and they have trauma and they you know They have withdrawals and I was like it's life or death.
(21:06) Like what I wanted to get clean I Just said hey, it's time and I put everything down. (21:12) All right, so I Think it's for different people.
Julian Hayes II
(21:16) I think it's a Everybody's gonna go through it just a little differently Now when you're when you're dealing with those addictions, it was giving you some type of feeling I suppose And so and when it comes time to get rid of that Did you have you have to usually find something that gives a feeling as well to replace that right?
Tony Grebmeier
(21:34) Because if yes They say I have it right my habit of being an alcoholic and drug addict still exists today So it's like behind me. (21:43) It's like in a different drawer. (21:44) It's around me So you don't you don't lose the habit.
(21:49) You just replace the habit something better comes along. (21:51) So exercise eating better, you know Choosing to do certain things differently that you form new habits and there's so much study on You know, is it how many days of this and that I'm like, it's gonna be different for every person There is no perfect amount of time do it until you don't want to do something different That's what I like to tell people so like, you know, I still go to meetings. (22:13) I still work with sponsors sponsees (22:15) I still every you know day (22:17) Do work around my program recovery and I'm 15 years in because I have a sponsor who's got (22:21) 48 years of sobriety still work in a program probably outworks my program (22:27) And so I'm learning from people who have the results that I want (22:30) so kind of goes ties hand in hand with the previous one is is really (22:37) You know do the work and know that that habit that once owned you (22:42) you can own the results of something way different and you can definitely you can change your life and (22:47) People often wait to change their life, you know (22:49) So whatever day this is your way like I'll do it like next weekend.
(22:53) I'm like, why don't you start today? (22:55) It's cuz that it's just a habit that you've been good at like hitting the snooze bar in the morning Yeah, like you've been good at putting stuff off. (23:02) I only live in today people call me like hey You want to go for a walk in four days?
(23:06) I'm like four days You go for a walk Mike dude, my brain was marinated on that all day long. (23:11) I said, how about we do this? (23:14) How about we just do something today and figure it out and then we'll talk tomorrow and talk the next day and then We'll talk that fourth day and we'll go for a walk It's just how that's how my brain works.
(23:24) That's my habits, right?
Julian Hayes II
(23:25) Everybody's got different ones and so I Being so present is a great way probably to alleviate a lot of air potentially mitigate and block out a lot of anxiety and even potential depression when you're relishing on the past and ruminating on the future and all that Is that How do you how do you like keep stay so present because I asked this because I'm a person. (23:54) I don't necessarily Think about the past a lot, but I do think a lot about the future and the potential one dips and things like that Well, I'm a believer.
Tony Grebmeier
(24:03) You can't go forward until you learn why you got to where you're at from your past And so I'm I'm actually I'm an archaeologist. (24:11) That's why for me I like to study all the stuff that I did and all the things that the people in my life did to get to where They are or where I'm at today, right? (24:20) So In my book that's coming out.
(24:23) I have three kind of like archetypes, you know the archaeologist the astronaut and then the architect so the archaeologist is the person who digs and You need to be great at digging Even if you want something bad enough for your future You should study the past and a lot of people say forget your past. (24:43) I'm like, oh man Don't ever shut the door on it Because the past holds the keys right they show me my patterns they show me my behavior they show me all my lessons They show me all the things that I've done right and wrong in this world and so if I like I'm gonna pretend like I'm a brand new person with a brand new outlook like when I was Separated from my wife. (25:05) We were at therapy The therapist said to my wife some question and my wife said, you know I just want the old Tony back and I'm like, you don't want the old tone You want the new tone the one that you know, literally doesn't even know what he wants yet But he knows that he wants a second chance, right?
(25:18) And so I study the past and then I try stuff on as a as like an astronaut Because an astronaut can't live in space forever, right? (25:26) So I take something. (25:28) Let's just pick for example I used to You know ride my bike Mountain bikes like two times a day four to five times a week.
(25:37) I'm like I got really messed up knees. (25:40) So I just was saying myself on my drive in this morning. (25:43) I was like Remember when I did it four days five days a week.
(25:46) I'm like, I wonder if I can just go for a bike ride Like let's just go for a bike ride, right? (25:50) Cuz that teaches me like, okay, it's possible And then my addictive behavior still kicks in so I'll turn it into two or three four really really quick But like I have to go back and then I'm in the astronaut mindset of like yeah, I can just do it I pick up my bike and go for a ride and then the Architect type is how to build a program and a plan to make that become your new habit, right? (26:11) So I use the archaeologist to dig the astronaut to try it on to say (26:15) Hey, that sounds like a humble idea (26:16) And then if I like it and I think it's good then I use you know (26:20) The architect philosophy of mindset to say, all right (26:22) Let's build a plan in a program because any architect can build something like sketch it out (26:27) But they need people to help you, you know, make it come a reality (26:29) So as the architect then I'm gonna call my friends who like to bike ride.
(26:33) I'm like, hey, you wanna go for a ride? (26:34) Hey, do you want to go for you know? (26:36) Go for like a 20 mile ride today or something like that.
Julian Hayes II
(26:40) And that helps me to make sure that I'm around the right people, too Yeah, and so taking a bit of a left turn really quick, I'm just always curious about this and I like to ask it We're not in a vice business. (26:51) This is the suggestion business and so that gestures out there for a successful marriage That's been two decades plus And while running a business as well because that's juggling a bunch of different things any tidbits Yeah, man like Put her first don't put her last so my My top five looks like this.
Tony Grebmeier
(27:17) So for me, it's got my program recovery my wife my children My friends and my family and my business is five so I know that for a successful marriage to work. (27:31) They need priority and so a good buddy of mine Again, Vinnie Fisher said something and I take it with me all the time, you know when I travel Still try to find 15 minutes, which is anybody can find 15 minutes in a day, right? (27:44) We all got the same day and time but we don't necessarily use it the same and that is (27:50) FaceTime for me if you have a pixel or something to use do or whatnot (27:53) But like spend 15 quality minutes a day talking to your spouse and make it less about you and more interesting questions about them and (28:01) Then my wife and I we like each other like we actually (28:04) like hanging around (28:07) We were young when we got married (28:09) We figured out life together and I think as long as you remind yourself that you're in the business (28:14) To celebrate victories and lessons and you know, both of my parents are past (28:18) She was with me for them. (28:20) Her parents are aging and how can I show up and really support her and her parents?
(28:25) You know and and just learn that your partner has a lot to help you with if you'd be willing to have the conversations Also, you know when we when we go places my wife and I are just happy being together And but here here's my thought process, right? (28:40) So 15 years ago 16 years ago I filed for divorce like so what really shifted and changed. (28:46) I was like, well, I Didn't know what I wanted, right?
(28:50) But now I do and I want my my my wife and I often talk When we die, we want to die together like we just want to pass away sleeping or whatnot So we just talk about like, you know, what do we need to do to improve our relationships? (29:02) We know what we're good at. (29:03) We know what we're not good at and so because we live on a ranch we have projects We just don't work on projects together because we have both type a type personalities, right?
(29:13) so we're both very very like alpha in that regards and so I was like Hey, I love you. (29:20) If you need me if you need me to move something call me vice versa, but like I Absolutely a hundred percent make my wife a priority. (29:27) She is my everything we talked about her and all things that I do Our kids are super important, but you know before kids it was my relationship with my wife And so make sure my my wife is at the top not at the bottom of my list Mm-hmm.
Julian Hayes II
(29:41) I appreciate that I've been actually it's ironic that you you have a ranch and everything because for some reason maybe like a month ago I started getting this urge and I was looking at YouTube videos of like ranches and like just out in the country You know like Wyoming Idaho's the Montanas sure and I that's way out of character. (30:01) I don't know where it came from but uh, what have you what's been a enjoyable about living out that type of lifestyle because it's so different than where you Originally came from so my wife's best friend Matt Rovin came to visit maybe four years ago He's like dude.
Tony Grebmeier
(30:18) I just watched this great special on Hulu and I'm like, it's the biggest little farm or whatever (30:21) And I was like, okay, let's just watch it and I was like, oh man and like 30 days later (30:28) We had an offer to run a place like literally like I'm telling people don't watch it (30:31) If you don't want to go buy a ranch or a farm (30:35) What it's done for me is it's you know (30:37) Slowed down because I realized that you know (30:42) 35 acres is growing (30:44) you know, it's all like (30:46) weeds (30:48) Trees bushes. (30:49) Hey, whatever you want to talk. (30:50) It's all work And I like work.
(30:53) I like to be busy rather than sitting still So for me, I'm like my joy comes from putting on you know My headset tuning into your podcast listening to somebody else's podcast writing like my zero turn Get in my tractor. (31:06) I've got two amazing dogs. (31:08) One's a big old doodle Doesn't like to ride anything and my little poodle just absolutely like the minute I grab keys Oliver's like dad Let's go and he's like runs by the door and he wants to get on the ATV wants to get on that You know, whatever it is, and he's like shotgun.
(31:23) He's like, he's awesome. (31:24) So he goes everywhere does everything You know certain things that I've learned my wife wanted it like a Garden and so I was like, all right cool. (31:35) So we put (31:37) You know about an acre into kind of helping her and so it's been fun seeing her (31:43) Go through kind of like ebbs and flows (31:46) And so, you know, she went to like the nurseries and bought like organic plants (31:51) But then realized that they weren't really organic plants like there was a lot to learn about because we were using (31:59) Mulch and other things where they were coming from how they were coming and then like no pesticides and then the struggles of grasshoppers and bugs (32:06) and like, you know animals deers and all like everything deer and (32:10) one of the things that I love is that my wife like (32:15) She's so much joy. (32:16) Like she that's like her thing.
(32:18) She like She used to listen to music when she would work and now she listens to more podcasts and audiobooks She's like, you know learning and trying and putting in like the effort and I love that so I think the joy is really in the part of the ranch is great is that At the end of an honest work day as I always say like I work my day job And then I come and work my evening job. (32:40) We just kind of fall asleep together and that's been cool So we're equally tired at the end of the day. (32:44) It's not like You know she did this and I didn't do that.
(32:47) It's like we're always doing and so for both of it's fun and I Sometimes kick myself and saying, you know Do I really want to keep doing the ranch thing? (32:55) And then the more that I leave the ranch on the holiday the more I look forward to getting back and realize that It is work. (33:01) It is a lot of work (33:02) Three feet of snow on a tuesday and it melts by friday, which is a blessing and a gift (33:08) But in the moment when you're getting your tractor stuck and you're side by side stuck and your atv stuck (33:13) once again (33:14) you call that neighbor who helped you with your fence and he comes over with this, you know, 113 horsepower tractor and (33:20) Pulls you out with like, you know, literally zero or no effort at all (33:24) Remind you still ask people are willing to help and that's what I like about the ranch life is my neighbors are willing to help (33:30) And i'm saying your neighbor where you live isn't (33:33) But the neighbors out there that's what they have to do (33:36) to survive (33:36) they have
Julian Hayes II
(33:37) It almost brings you and keeps you rooted in in terms of you know, life is becoming more and more technological and and um (33:45) And you can kind of distance yourself from like a lot of the basic things of life (33:49) whereas I think it sounds like that type of living really keeps you rooted and grounded because you (33:54) You're a lot more in tune with nature and in the seasons and those types of things
Tony Grebmeier
(33:59) Yeah, and you know the interesting part is my neighbors have taught me all the kind of like farming things (34:05) And I've taught them all the technical things, right? (34:08) So none of them had anything other than like a two megabyte like Connection they all like queues and it was satellite and they didn't know how to get into the internet and they're they're like I'm, like, okay.
(34:21) So i'm like a geek at heart. (34:23) So I like figured out how to I have you know, two internet connections both, you know kind of satellite type systems and i'm beaming around my property Internet to open gates and security systems and all that kind of stuff and they're like Well, can you come over and help us do that on ours? (34:39) And I was like sure And so i've been able to teach them stuff and they've been able to teach me stuff And so that's what I also I keep going back to like western days or like Olden times where like you barter Right, you do something they do something and that's kind of what I feel like I've been able to help my neighbors to do stuff and they've been able to teach me stuff and It's awesome.
(35:01) And i've always had older friends too in my life. (35:05) I've always had, you know older people that I look up to (35:08) Um (35:09) And they're they're a few years older than me and they're all willing to be helpful (35:13) and then it's been great for me to teach my younger friends who are getting into like ranch life or farming and like (35:19) You know things that they can do and so it's fun to be able to just pass on what i'm learning and help others
Julian Hayes II
(35:25) Yeah, well, I got a few more years before before I think i'd make the move
Tony Grebmeier
(35:28) But I would tell you man the easier thing to do in this day and age is keep doing what you're doing (35:34) Here's a suggestion open to a suggestion (35:37) Absolutely cool dream as much as you're dreaming now (35:41) Get into overdrive a little bit and find some specific things that you would want like one regret that I have on our properties (35:47) We don't have a lot of water flowing through it. (35:48) And so i'm working on trying to build um a big old giant pond And kind of like blend it into the landscape so it feels like it's a part of it So that's something that my wife and I are talking about so I would like go play.
(36:02) Um There's a great country song Um buy dirt, you know, they're not making any more of it. (36:07) So, um (36:10) if you can just like go on to there's like a lot of farming and (36:16) Land websites that are away from like zillowna and you can go a little deeper into your searches and find property that (36:26) um (36:26) It's gonna be foreclosed on that you could literally get for really inexpensive and you know (36:31) Don't buy if you can and you can afford it don't do anything less than five acres if you're gonna get property (36:36) I know a lot of people like one acre but (36:38) You can just do a lot man with some acreage (36:41) um (36:43) And I i'm just like go play on (36:46) Websites and just search and then just pick geographic areas (36:48) And then if you're looking to say like hey (36:50) I just want to go take a trip go visit those areas for like a weekend and just say could I stay here? (36:55) Could I live here?
(36:56) Maybe rent a car and go drive by where some of these properties are just just look Because a lot of people, you know, you're in nashville, right? (37:04) So a lot of people go I want to go buy property in california and then move. (37:08) No, let me let me rephrase that Nobody wants to do that.
(37:11) Um, nobody wants to go back. (37:13) I was in california once but like somebody Interested in going to a new place And they don't visit and then they move there and then they're like, hey I don't want to be here anymore and then they move back and I was like well You got to spend some time playing in that area, right? (37:27) Wyoming, montana, colorado Conditions are epic But they're also you can have four seasons one day, but they're the most beautiful four seasons.
Julian Hayes II
(37:35) You'll have in one day either Yeah, i've been dying to uh experience like a true true winter Oh come to colorado.
Tony Grebmeier
(37:43) I'll show it to you and a great thing about colorado weather is We're still the place that has 300 plus sunny days a year so we the sun comes out even though It like it dumped like the sun is out, I mean it it is like, uh, it is gorgeous and I man when we moved here, um Like 14 years ago or whatnot. (38:04) I was like man it is interesting like the weather is like Right now we're in like the rest of our kind of monsoon we would call it because like we get like 100 degrees and then it cools off to like 65 70 and Last night it was like 72 in my house and it was 68 outside and had the window open all night I was like that's cool. (38:24) But if you would have waited a week earlier, it would have been like 60 like 970 in my house and 89 outside so like it's so Interesting here just how it shifts and we're not getting winter for three more months four more months So we're still in the thick of it.
Julian Hayes II
(38:40) So it's crazy Yeah, that's interesting and so you know when you brought up the point of dreaming and that's something that a lot of entrepreneurs and Founders are often recommended to do as well Especially when you're at the very beginning and all you do have is that that thing that exists in your head? (38:57) Um knowing what you know now two plus decades into ship offers um What would you if you could go back and recommend? (39:05) tony at the beginning in terms of uh His entrepreneurial endeavor, what would you recommend to him personal development?
Tony Grebmeier
(39:12) I wish I would have known that fast And earlier in my life. (39:16) There's a great quote from uh, dotty barayko. (39:18) It says dream big dream small dreams have no magic She passed a long time ago.
(39:23) Uh her son, uh (39:24) bk is a great guy and uh (39:26) I'm grateful for some stuff that I got to do with him at a period of time in my life (39:30) And that was I got to meet bob proctor through that (39:33) But like really get into personal development and people think it's woo woo and this and that i'm like (39:37) I don't care what you think it is, man (39:38) I just know what it can do can change your thinking upstairs (39:41) It can change the way that you function and live and the energy that flows through you (39:46) um, it's funny because I have uh, (39:49) Highland cows behind me and that's what my wife wants. (39:51) So every day when I walk into my office, that's something that's up on my board So this is not my dream board, but it's like a dream board And through personal development, I just really learned to like go ask for what you want So if you heard this entire conversation, it's like what do you want? (40:05) Go get it go ask for it.
(40:08) Like what the universe like i'm a big believer too. (40:10) The universe is like hey So you want that? (40:13) What are you willing to give up to get that?
(40:15) Like because that's something too that I didn't learn until probably 10 years ago. (40:19) It's like (40:20) so whatever is (40:22) Whatever it is that you want you got to get up give something up to get that (40:26) Kind of like when I got sober I had to give up drinking and drugging to get what I really ideally wanted (40:32) Which was a different life (40:34) And so personal development be willing to give up some stuff that you're doing that maybe is not getting the results that you want (40:41) And then I think the other thing is is like as fast as you possibly can. (40:45) I wish I would have had Somebody tell me to go get a mentor early on in my life And people often say like I can't afford one.
(40:53) I'm like, but you can't afford not to And you don't have to necessarily Give money to a mentor is like service, right? (41:01) So people who are older than me where I currently live, right? (41:04) They can come over and cut my lawn or mow my fields or fix a fence (41:10) But like the technical stuff that i'm putting in (41:13) Is expensive right cameras and systems and all that (41:17) And so i'm just barter and trade with them (41:20) Right, like I just offset some of that because i'm learning so much from them (41:24) They're helping me to learn about elements and changing (41:26) You know tires and doing new things on tractors and oil and you know tune-ups stuff that i'd never had to do in my life (41:34) Right, they I can go to their house. (41:35) They have lifts they can, you know, fix trucks and that kind of stuff So just interesting and all those things. (41:40) I wish I would have known early on And I think the last piece that I would tell you is like really man Be careful who you get into business with Um, do you do diligence?
(41:53) Um Everybody's a salesman. (41:55) I learned that too the hard way everybody's selling you something (41:58) They're selling you what they want secretly while making it sound like it's what you want (42:04) um (42:05) And so i'm i'm just really proud to know that i've got (42:09) a great business partner who has the same things that i'm after and the same wants and (42:14) Similar type dreams and we you know, we talk every day (42:18) um (42:19) And do you know make sure that you know, whatever i'm up to (42:23) He knows about (42:24) So it's not like i'm just trying to do it all on my own, right? (42:27) And so that he's like, hey, that's a good idea.
(42:29) Let's do that And so I think just get good counsel get good counsel around you. (42:33) I think you'll be uber successful What do you think makes a good founder ceo Somebody who's willing to take out the trash somebody who's willing to um Do whatever it takes a people person not a people pleaser That's a big difference a people person someone who likes people like, you know, if you want to be a good ceo You know if you're a founder, you can be a founder of a business by yourself. (42:59) You don't need to have people around you um, but running a company that was like 36 deep at pandemic level and now it's like 130 and pandemic level till now we have one one facility and we have uh Two in colorado with a third coming online here One one in nashville and one in the netherlands.
(43:21) So you're telling me So there's like 130 140 people running deep now across organizations. (43:26) Second thing is don't call people employees That's my my gift to the world is call them team members because you're all on the same team It's not like I want to You know the manager on the baseball field, you know, or the coach or the pitching coach You're all on the same team. (43:40) You get the same championship ring at the end of the year You don't call them employee like hey, he's an employee out there No, we all specifically have a role that we play And that's been hard for me is changing the way that I look at everybody It's like doug and myself my business partner.
(43:53) We're on the bottom and we support the team on on the upside Um, that's something that i've really grown into so I think it's a really good thing is like get good at teams Read some good books. (44:04) Um (44:05) I could recommend a ton (44:06) But I think the thing is is once once you really know what you want go find the books that those mentors recommend (44:12) That would help you get those results that you're after (44:16) Um, because otherwise you're just going to read a bunch of books, which there's nothing wrong with it (44:19) As somebody who's written a lot of literature yourself, you know, it's like but what is it that you're after? (44:24) and for me communication with people um brutally like sit down and just like hey This is not helping you like you got to be bold. (44:35) You cannot be like (44:36) Somebody who's a little bit shy and timid and hope that they're going to understand (44:39) Um and and have (44:41) For me, I have an amazing leadership team underneath me (44:44) they're all relationships more or less that I went out and found at different places from you know dentist office to (44:52) Working in a mall, um, you know working in network marketing (44:57) working in pharmaceutical industry (44:59) um tech people that work for like the government at one time (45:04) Is like and I mentor a coach and I ask the same out of you know (45:08) If i'm going to coach and mentor you you better expect that i'm being coached and mentored myself (45:12) Right like and a lot of times the gurus that we like to look up to (45:16) They're not being coached and mentored. (45:18) They kind of reach their pinnacle But man, I struggle with bad days and good days and depression sometimes, you know I'd struggle with like, you know, is it all worth it what i'm putting in some days i'm like, you know Hey, we're doing great.
(45:30) Should we keep pushing the you know the pedal? (45:32) To the gas or should we take a pause for the cause should we just relax a little bit? (45:36) You know, I don't want to coast because I don't want to do that at anywhere in my life But i'm like, you know, is it worth it?
(45:40) You know go from a 36 million dollar a year company to 100 million dollar a year company. (45:45) I'm like Do you want to keep pushing? (45:47) You know because it does age you like some of the sun in my forehead.
(45:50) It's from you know working (45:51) but um, you know, the reality is I think you just have to (45:55) Really figure out what is it that you want and this company that i'm fortunate to be a part of started in my garage (46:00) You know when my wife was pregnant with our second kid and now my second kid's working here, which is a total gift (46:06) So I think there's a lot of benefits and things that I just don't know (46:09) I don't know and things that you know are changing every single day.
(46:13) I just know one thing julian People like you come into my life for what a season reason or a lifetime And I gotta be good at pouring into people like you because it helps me pour into people who are helping me with the dreams That i've got around here, right? (46:27) So you gotta be good at communicating and you gotta tell people what you want (46:29) You gotta help others get what they want (46:31) And I and I truly believe you'll be successful if you do that (46:34) And you gotta always follow the money the money never lies the money always tells you the truth
Julian Hayes II
(46:40) What's the thing that keeps you, uh (46:42) Growing and keeping the pedal to the metal
Tony Grebmeier
(46:45) I'm young man 51 (46:47) It is so crazy you watch movies (46:50) So we watched like I said the field of dreams and kevin costner was 33 in that movie.
(46:54) James earl jones was like (46:56) 60 and that's the bigger, you know voice and somebody I grew up (47:00) And i'm like baby face man (47:01) They just look so young (47:03) and I grew up watching a lot of like 70s and 80s comedies and (47:07) There's some things that go around the internet and you're like, did you know mrs (47:10) Roper was 50 of this and she just looked like an old lady, you know, I was like damn (47:15) Um, I just want to stay active. (47:16) I don't want to die I feel like the best years of my life are now I said I you know I learned a lot to get to this point.
(47:22) I'm like I got so much more I want to do and live so The good thing is is now having a team I do have a little bit more flexibility So that's like that's like a gift That you don't know when you get into the business um, I still Think and work every day of my life. (47:40) I don't ever mentally take a day away from work um, so it's interesting for me is like I look at what you're up to and the things that you're wanting to build and achieve and all of that and I was like Man, let's go like don't wait till you're 50 like me Like go do it now. (47:56) Like what is it that you need?
(47:57) You need more money? (47:58) Okay, cool What do you need to do to get more profitable? (48:00) What do you need to become more valuable as Jim Rome talks about?
(48:03) You know in the marketplace, what are the things that you need to do today? (48:06) You know for your services to reach more people. (48:09) It's like podcasting is awesome video is awesome But it all comes down to reach because you can have the best podcast the the best looking, you know video show But if like nobody sees it It doesn't you know, it's fun.
(48:23) It's a good exercise But what do you need to do to get distribution pick up like momentum like that's the stuff that I tell everybody I was like go figure that out.
Julian Hayes II
(48:31) I think the rest will begin to take care of itself Yeah, and one of the last questions here is um, what what has you excited about the rest of the year? (48:38) What's that one or two things that has you most excited man?
Tony Grebmeier
(48:42) I'm excited. (48:42) So look so we we have a 25,000 square foot facility that we have like 22,000 of it is a warehouse and like about three is our office We've got a lot of people in here And my business partner and I said, you know I think we need more space and we agreed and we found a building with literally on the same street Just like three driveways down. (49:03) It's 13 000 square feet And so i'm excited about that.
(49:08) We should hopefully be able to move in in about 30 days. (49:10) We're under, you know construction right now (49:13) I'm excited about the netherlands and the growth that we're seeing there excited about you know (49:19) Getting something started in brazil, so we're going to take two more trips this year i'm excited about (49:24) kind of where we're going as a company and also staying true to who we are and how we show up in an industry where (49:30) Everybody's after the almighty dollar and they'll say what they need to say to get you to buy and i'm a big believer (49:35) I'm like just do what you say you're going to do and do it amazing. (49:38) And when you make a mistake clean up your mess And help people get everything even if they never buy from you help them find what it is that they need to solve their problems And just keep doing more of what we do And it's going to be amazing man. (49:52) I'm beyond excited about where we're going (49:54) but the most important thing is (49:56) I'm, really excited and I was looking forward to this conversation with you julian knowing you for a long time and seeing what you're up (50:01) to and (50:02) So I thank you today for just giving me the gift to be here with you (50:05) And to share a little bit of my insight and doesn't mean that I have it all figured out (50:09) Just means that i'm willing to try today to do better (50:12) And I really just look forward to you know, hopefully one person hears this (50:16) um, and maybe has a question that can reach out because that to me is the ultimate, you know marker for me is if (50:23) I said or did something that landed with somebody like reach out because i'm a big i'm a big believer preacher and like (50:30) Raise your hand you were trained to do that when you were a kid, you know in elementary (50:33) You know that you if you needed something you asked (50:35) And then as you got older in life, you stopped raising your hand and i'm like, you know (50:38) Raise your hand ask for what you want. (50:40) You got one life Why don't you get what that thing is that you want put in the effort put in the time don't quit no matter what? (50:45) Something you know happens in your life Just remember it's happening for a specific reason and it may be something in the moment.
(50:51) You don't know about But don't give up and call people who can walk through it with you. (50:56) We're all going to go through pain (50:58) but I promise you you're going to have (51:00) one thing (51:01) If you get out of this message is all the days that you've gone through in your life that have been up and down until (51:06) This point you made it you got through it so we can work and get through anything (51:11) If you never quit period
Julian Hayes II
(51:13) I love that and the last question here is if someone comes up to you at a cafe and they asked you (51:18) What are one of three things I can start doing now to be more fulfilled while building the life and business of my dreams today? (51:26) What would you tell them?
Tony Grebmeier
(51:28) Laugh more I really I Man, I wish I would have laughed more Because laughter is like such a cure for just everything going on in your life too is uh What is it that you want to do right, like so maybe Just three three categories of you know, job industries. (51:48) Maybe you're a traveling salesperson. (51:51) Maybe Uh, you're a medical doctor Maybe you're a lawyer and you're just like I don't want to do any of those things anymore But there's a skill that you had in all of those right and if you can figure out what that is What would you like to do?
(52:04) And you know our society laughs at people. (52:06) They're like, oh, I want to open a restaurant Or, you know, I want to I want to open a catering business i'm like why would I ever want to laugh at somebody Like who who who am I to know your potential? (52:18) So I just want to hold up a mirror to that person asking me in the cafe (52:22) What I want I say, I don't know tell me what you want (52:25) And then just echo what it is that they want and let's make that happen (52:29) like (52:30) so and then the third thing is is like I'll always give you my my number my number is like (52:37) My number (52:38) call me (52:39) and so I just said make myself available and and i'm gonna (52:42) Say it because it just happened last week to me. (52:44) I was at a country Gas station where I live and there's no stoplights in the town.
(52:49) So it's like this little stop and uh I walk in and this lady's like Seeing me every monday and she's like i'm leaving today. (52:56) Tony and I was like, oh Where are you going? (52:58) She's like, oh, I you know, I have kids and I don't have any help for my four-year-old twins I said, oh, okay.
(53:03) I said what are you gonna do? (53:04) She's like, I don't know. (53:05) I I have a A pretty good following on social media and I want to keep selling my cookbooks and I just started talking to her and I was like Okay, and I don't know right?
(53:14) I don't know what a pretty good following is and I said so What does that look like for you? (53:19) And she goes well my last video I put out yesterday I did a million views and I was like, whoa I said how many followers do you have? (53:26) She's like, oh, I got like two hundred thousand and i'm like Oh, you don't need to be worried You just need to find the right people to help you and do more of what you're doing already Like that's great um, and I was just like an encourager and that just reminded me man, I think sometimes we just need encouragement we don't need to do anything like We all have so much damn potential.
(53:45) We're not limited by anything like (53:47) I've seen people who are handicapped have more (53:50) Energy and excitement and potential than people who have every part of their body together (53:55) and so I just think it's like (53:57) Come up to me or come up to anybody but be willing to be (54:01) Into action as fast as you can if you talk to me because that's what i'm going to make sure that you are (54:05) getting into action not just in the conversation just about (54:09) Whatever be specific and let's go figure out how to make you have that come true
Julian Hayes II
(54:15) And that's an awesome way to put a wrap on this conversation tony, where can we uh, keep up with you and everything
Tony Grebmeier
(54:22) anywhere that you see (54:24) Usually a blue check mark. (54:25) So tony and then grebmeier (54:27) So it's on tiktok on facebook instagram linkedin (54:31) You'll find me there (54:33) My website's the same tonygrebmeier.com (54:36) Anywhere I can be of service, you know, shoot me a message (54:39) Um fill out a form I answer it (54:41) you know, i'd love to be supportive for you and and cheer you on in your journey just like with juliet man like (54:47) Got an introduction to me and we started talking and it's been years and we still communicate and (54:52) Uh, sometimes we talk, you know several times a month and sometimes we'll talk several times a year (54:56) But the reality is we pick up the phone just like it was yesterday that we were just talking (55:00) So those are the things that are super important to me. (55:02) So just reach out i'll be happy to do the same Thank you.
Julian Hayes II
(55:05) Thank you so much. (55:05) And we won't have as long as a gap anymore.
Tony Grebmeier
(55:07) I promise you that Hey, we're busy professionals.
Julian Hayes II
(55:10) That's all i'll tell you true and for listeners out there Stay awesome be limitless and always go be the ceo of your health and your life. (55:16) Peace
