From Addiction to Healer ft. Richard Taite | Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby

Summary

Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby: Episode Summary Episode: From Addiction to Healer ft. Richard Tate
Release Date: July 18, 2025

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Introduction and Guest Background

In this compelling episode of "Coffeez for Closers," host Joseph Shalaby engages in an in-depth conversation with Richard Tate, the Founder and CEO of Carrera Treatment Center. Richard brings a wealth of experience from overcoming his own 25-year battle with drug addiction and alcoholism to building a renowned treatment facility that serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals and veterans alike.

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Personal Journey: From Addiction to Leadership

Richard opens up about his personal history with addiction, stating:

"I lost 25 years to drug addiction and alcoholism. ... When I figured out how to get sober, I opened up a men's sober living."
[04:07]

His firsthand experience with addiction fuels his passion for the rehabilitation industry, leading him to establish treatment centers that offer comprehensive support without the typical burdens of debt or partnerships.

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Daily Routine and Personal Health

A significant portion of the discussion delves into Richard's disciplined morning routine, which he attributes to his success and mental well-being:

"I wake up at five o'clock. ... I meditate for five to 10 minutes ... I turn on the cold water and it just wakes me right up."
[01:26]

He emphasizes the importance of consistency in diet and exercise, adhering to a "one unit food" philosophy—consuming foods that are single items, such as a steak or an apple—to maintain peak mental and physical performance.

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Building a Renowned Treatment Facility

Richard shares insights into how Carrera Treatment Center has become a leader in the industry, especially among celebrities and ultra-high-net-worth individuals:

"My last place was considered to be the finest treatment facility in the world. But Carrera is far and away the best treatment center in the world."
[05:09]

He attributes this reputation to word-of-mouth referrals and the exceptional quality of care provided, underscored by a client care department where staff proactively support clients in need.

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Developing a Personal Brand and Advocacy

Contrary to building a personal brand for profit, Richard uses his platform to advocate for mental health and addiction awareness:

"This podcast that I do called 'We're Out of Time' is not monetized. I do it because our children are dying, and I'm a father."
[06:48]

He discusses his initiative to integrate educational videos in public schools to combat the fentanyl crisis, highlighting the urgency and personal stakes involved.

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Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis and Community Impact

The conversation intensifies as Richard addresses the fentanyl epidemic, sharing a poignant anecdote:

"I had a conversation ... about how he lost 15 friends in the last year to fentanyl."
[09:58]

He emphasizes the critical need for early and ongoing conversations with children about the dangers of drugs, advocating for structured educational interventions starting in kindergarten.

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Business Strategies and Leadership

Hiring Practices

Richard discusses his strategic approach to hiring, leveraging Korn Ferry, a leading headhunting firm, to secure top talent:

"Cyour money's no good here. Just bring me the boy."
[13:07]

His dedication to building a team of good souls and talented individuals underpins the success and integrity of his treatment centers.

Treatment Center Differentiation

Highlighting the unique aspects of Carrera, Richard explains:

"We give you whatever you need. And other places have a program. We've got a program too. Think of it like college."
[15:10]

Carrera offers a holistic approach, combining luxury amenities with personalized therapy, fostering self-care, self-esteem, and self-love as foundational elements of recovery.

Financial Challenges and Adaptation

Navigating the economic pressures of the treatment industry, Richard reflects on the impact of reduced insurance payouts:

"Insurance companies used to pay 67 cents on the dollar, and now they pay 25 cents on the dollar."
[16:33]

Despite these challenges, he remains committed to maintaining high standards of care, even contemplating raising prices to ensure sustainability without compromising quality.

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Personal Goals and Family Values

Richard passionately discusses his aspirations for both his family and business:

"The goal I have for my children is to be like board members. I want them to know what we're doing as a family so that they can do it and live a certain way."
[36:59]

He emphasizes instilling grit, responsibility, and empathy in his children, ensuring they understand the value of time over material possessions and the importance of contributing positively to the world.

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Inspirational Stories and Reflections

Throughout the episode, Richard shares heartfelt stories that illustrate his dedication and the profound impact of his work. One such story involves:

Helping a struggling treatment center in a crisis by swiftly acquiring it and rallying his team to restore its operations, demonstrating his decisive leadership and commitment to saving lives.
[27:03 - 31:16]

Another poignant moment features his interaction with his 10-year-old son, whose innocence and straightforwardness inspire Richard to deepen his commitment to compassionate care:

"Then he says, hey, dad, are you gonna help that woman? ... From a 10-year-old."
[33:26]

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Closing Reflections and Future Aspirations

As the conversation nears its end, Richard reflects on his legacy and purpose:

"I thrive to do the right thing and really give my heart and my soul to every single person that walks in. ... I'm a one trick pony."
[41:09]

He expresses a profound sense of fulfillment derived from helping others and building a better future for his children, underscoring his life's mission to leave the world better than he found it.

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Key Takeaways

• Personal Resilience: Richard Tate's transformation from addiction to a successful leader in the rehabilitation industry exemplifies the power of personal resilience and purpose.
• Holistic Care Approach: Carrera Treatment Center's emphasis on self-care, personalized therapy, and holistic well-being sets it apart in the industry.
• Community Advocacy: Richard's commitment to combating the fentanyl crisis through education and advocacy highlights the importance of proactive community engagement.
• Leadership and Team Building: Strategic hiring and fostering a supportive team culture are pivotal to the success and sustainability of treatment centers.
• Legacy and Family Values: Emphasizing the importance of family, responsibility, and empathy ensures a lasting positive impact both personally and professionally.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Morning Routine:

  "I wake up at five o'clock... I meditate for five to 10 minutes."
  [01:26]

• Personal Brand Purpose:

  "We're out of time... our children are dying."
  [06:48]

• Fentanyl Crisis Impact:

  "I lost 15 friends in the last year to fentanyl."
  [09:58]

• Hiring Philosophy:

  "Your money's no good here. Just bring me the boy."
  [13:07]

• Family Goals:

  "I want my children to be like board members... live a certain way."
  [36:59]

• Legacy Statement:

  "I thrive to do the right thing and really give my heart and my soul to every single person that walks in."
  [41:09]

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Conclusion

This episode of "Coffeez for Closers" offers a profound and inspiring narrative of overcoming personal struggles to lead and innovate within the addiction treatment industry. Richard Tate's unwavering dedication to helping others, coupled with his strategic business acumen and heartfelt personal values, provides invaluable insights for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and anyone interested in making a meaningful impact.

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Connect with Richard Tate:

• Instagram: Richard Tate Official
• TikTok: Richard Tate Official
• YouTube: Richard Tate Official
• Podcast: We're Out of Time – Ranked as the Number Three Mental Health Podcast in the Nation

Transcript

[Dylan]

What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Coffees for Closers. I'm sitting here with a legendary guest, Mr. Richard Tate. He's the founder and CEO of Carrera Treatment center, has had multiple exits, published author, podcaster, and just an incredible human being. Please welcome Mr. Richard Tate.

[Richard Tate]

Well, that was awesome. Thank you.

[Dylan]

Thank you. Thanks, Richard. Thank you for jumping on the show.

[Richard Tate]

Oh, it's my pleasure. You only got one thing wrong.

[Dylan]

What's that?

[Richard Tate]

I've only had one exit. Exit.

[Dylan]

One exit. Okay. But it was a big exit.

[Richard Tate]

It was. It was nice. Yeah, it was nice because although it may not be considered big, it was nine figures. And there was no debt and no partners. So it was a nice exit for me.

[Dylan]

And specifically in this space, tell the audience, why does that matter in comparison to other folks who are in this space who have had partners and debt?

[Richard Tate]

Well, I mean, you go all in, right? I mean, that's how I do it. I go all in. So I don't want any feedback or. I mean, I know how this ends, right. I've done it before, so I don't want any feedback. I don't want any noise. I just want to be able to do what I want to do.

[Dylan]

Love that. Yeah. Now, I like to start the show off with the same question I asked everybody. Now, you particularly. I'm sure this question is very relatable. What's your morning routine?

[Richard Tate]

My morning routine?

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Richard Tate]

It's the same every morning. I wake up at five o'. Clock.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

My buddy Stuart wakes up at four, so he has me beat, but I wake up, I roll out of the rack before I do anything. I meditate for five to 10 minutes, depending on where I'm at. I'll jump in the shower. I always do my shaving in the shower. But what I really like to do when I get out of the shower is I turn on the cold water and it just wakes me right up. When I get out, I feel like that does something to me. It gets me going. Then I go down and work out right here in the gym. And then I take my vitamins and my medication and I come right into work.

[Dylan]

Nice. Now, that's a pretty regimented routine, and it's kind of like cold plunging, which is like the, you know, the new fad.

[Richard Tate]

I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that.

[Dylan]

So how you staying in such great shape? You know, is it diet? Is it consistency?

[Richard Tate]

It's important if you want your brain to work the right way. It's important to eat the Right way. Right. So I eat one unit foods. So what's a one unit food? A steak, a banana, an apple. Right. That's a one unit food. There's only one thing in it and that's it.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

So if you can eat like that and get sleep and meditate and move your body and work out, then you're gonna have a good mental state. If you don't and you don't take care of yourself, you're not. And then you can't operate at peak performance. You just can't.

[Dylan]

One unit foods, all three meals.

[Richard Tate]

Look, I do as good as I can, but I'm not eating like processed meats, okay? I'm not having sugar, okay. I have very little bread, okay? But I do it okay. It's, it's. What's important is consistency. That's what's important. Yeah.

[Dylan]

So let me ask you, what was it that drew you to this space that you're in now?

[Richard Tate]

Well, I lost 25 years to drug addiction and alcoholism. This dog is, wants to come in. Let him in. Or he's just gonna sit there and do this. Let him in. Okay. He doesn't bark. I'm sorry, buddy, what was the question?

[Dylan]

What, what drew you to the drug, the drug rehabilitation industry?

[Richard Tate]

Well, I lost 25 years to drug addiction, right? And I figured it out. So when I figured out how to get sober, I opened up a men's sober living. And then I realized very quickly that I was offering therapy and they didn't like that. So. So I had to get my license and I started my last place and that's how I got into it.

[Dylan]

So are you an MFT or did you get your therapy license?

[Richard Tate]

No, I never did. I never got my therapy license. But I'm probably the most over therapized person on the planet. All of our Therapists have between 10,000 hours of treatment experience and 30,000 hours of treatment experience. So I got that covered.

[Dylan]

Now your, your treatment centers are known to kind of dominate in the celebrity space. How did you gain that reputation?

[Richard Tate]

That's a great question. I built it for me. Right? So my last place was considered to be the finest treatment facility in the world. But I wouldn't even smoke crack in it. I wouldn't. Okay. This, this new place is far and away. Carrera is far and away the best treatment center in the world. And it's not close. It's one of one.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

If you're an ultra high net worth individual or a celebrity and you go somewhere else and you find out about Carrera, you're hating everybody. And that's how it was built.

[Dylan]

Word of mouth. Not really like advertising, just like.

[Richard Tate]

Well, I mean, people knew that I came back and I got rid of all my social media. When I sold my last place, I was done. And when I started, it was really hard. It's a different climate. And nobody knew I was back. Do you know how they found out I was back?

[Dylan]

How?

[Richard Tate]

I got the COVID of the LA Business Journal and then I filled up like this, right? Because people know, you know, when you've given back over 10,000 people to their families and loved ones, they know who you are. It's just. I was gone for five years now.

[Dylan]

That was then. Now you're like, you're podcasting, you're building your brand, you're out. You know, you. You've totally changed the landscape of how you're doing things. What is it that's inspired you to, like, build a personal brand and, you know, start a podcast and.

[Richard Tate]

I don't have a personal brand. I don't have a personal brand. I don't look at it that way. This podcast that I do called we're out of Time is not monetized. It's never going to be monetized. I do it because. Because we're out of time. I mean, our children are dying, and I'm a father, so I didn't want to do a podcast. I mean, I've never even seen a podcast or listened to a podcast ever.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

This was. I'm doing this because I can and because I'm a father. And I think the worst thing in the world, the very worst thing that could ever happen to anybody, is to bury their child. I mean, I can't even. I can't even discuss it.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

So that's why I do it. That's why I do it.

[Dylan]

I mean, yeah, I got four kids, and that I can't even imagine.

[Richard Tate]

How old are they?

[Dylan]

11? 10? 5. And almost four at the end of the month.

[Richard Tate]

Yeah. Well, you better have the conversation early and often.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Dylan]

Conversation about.

[Richard Tate]

About drugs and about fentanyl and how it kills people. You know, when you and I were kids, we could do those drugs. We could experiment with drugs. It was a rite of passage. These kids can't do that anymore.

[Dylan]

Yeah, they're right.

[Richard Tate]

They're all dying. And you're a kid, you think you know everything, right? And your frontal cortex isn't even fully developed, so that's a bad combination. You know, it's. It's almost like your brain isn't fully developed. So you know, you've got brain damage almost and, but you think you know everything. I mean, it's the worst combination in the world. And so you got to have that conversation, man, early and often.

[Dylan]

When do you have that conversation? I've not had that conversation about drugs. The school has. They obviously know that.

[Richard Tate]

The school. No, no, forget the school. That's not your. They're your kids.

[Stuart]

Yeah, okay.

[Richard Tate]

You have to have the conversation and you have to have it by 10. What I want to do. What I want to do is I want to. And I'm close. We're going to get there. We're going to make certain that in every public school in the country, everyone, okay, they see, they see a video twice a year in every grade, starting in kindergarten. And these videos will be made for that age group and first semester and then at the beginning of the second semester. And we're going to put put together these films on the evils of drugs and how dangerous they are now. How. It's just, it's a non starter because when you get these kids young, they're conditioned and they don't even know why they believe it. They just know it's part of their DNA. And that's how you start dealing with this thing. It's one of the like 12 steps that I've created to really deal with the fentanyl issue. And it's not perfect yet, so it'll be done complete by the end of this month and then hand it off to the right people to make change.

[Dylan]

You know, I don't know if this is serendipitous or this is just like fate, but I had a conversation about someone, about this specific subject with someone less than 12 hours ago, like talking about how he lost 15 friends in the last year to fentanyl.

[Richard Tate]

Oh, I want that guy on my podcast. Yeah, I'm not kidding.

[Dylan]

Yeah, like, it's just unreal. And he's someone because, you know, when you and I were young, we probably had a great time. And it's someone who, you know, when I was young, I started in my book. One of my earliest ventures was I was throwing parties and after parties, like as a kid, that was my first business at 15 years old. And everybody was obviously doing drugs right at that time. And it was pretty much like standard practice. You go to a rave, you go to a nightclub, you go to an after hours. You know.

[Richard Tate]

That's right.

[Dylan]

And that, that was normal. Now you, you go to these things. And I was actually, I live in Newport beach, on the beach. And I was walking on 5th of July and I see just paramedics everywhere and a party ended and a kid in like what I thought was a body bag. I'm like, are you kidding me right now? This is a party, 5th of July, 4th of July. Like something happened here and it looked terrifying, you know, and that kind of stuff. You didn't see stuff like that when I was young.

[Richard Tate]

No. No, you didn't. And. And it's a crisis. It's a crisis. It's one of the reasons I came back.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

Because, you know, if you can deal with something like this, right, and save even 100 parents from losing their child. I'm sorry. I'm going to be very proud of that. Very proud. I mean, look, I couldn't get through it, losing a child. Could you?

[Dylan]

No way.

[Richard Tate]

There's no way. So this is. That's why I do what I do, you know, I'm the worst at business. I'm the worst.

[Dylan]

But you've made a fortune in business.

[Richard Tate]

Well, sure, because I've hired the right CEOs. I mean, I'm the worst CEO in the history of the world. And I'm not being self deprecating, I suck, okay? So the first time I hired a guy who is good, this time I've got the single finest CEO in our industry. Everybody tries to steal her. Everybody. She ain't going anywhere, okay? Because she knows where the love is. That woman's my work wife. She does everything. She makes it so that I don't have to hear any noise. And all I have to do is focus on what I have to do as the executive chairman. And I've never had that before. This is, this is new.

[Dylan]

How have you been able to hire that kind of high level talent?

[Richard Tate]

Oh, that's a great story. At first we hired Korn Ferry. Now Korn Ferry, as you know, is the biggest headhunting firm in, in the nation. And luck of the draw, I ended up with the head of the healthcare division. So we became close. And then he, before he even found me somebody the first time, he referred me his. Who did he refer me? He referred me his godson. And he was really worked up about it. He was really panicked and he asked me how much it was going to cost and everything. And I said, your money's no good here. Just bring me the boy. Don't worry about it. And so he brought me his. His godson. And he's never drank again. And he got well real fast. And then he was on it then he drank the Kool aid. Then he knew that, you know, we were different than others. Right. And so he went ahead and found me the perfect person. It was like he had religion. And then this time around, he called me a year and a half early and said, should I start looking for a CEO? And I said no. And I would not let him start until the day my non compete ended. Right. I wanted to be in complete compliance with it. And he found me this new person. Her name's Candy Henderson. And she talks like this. She's got that Alabama draw that's just gold. I just love her.

[Dylan]

So it was personal for him to help you?

[Richard Tate]

Yeah.

[Dylan]

So what do you think?

[Richard Tate]

Is my life is completely personal? It's completely personal. People. I believe that people work with people that they like.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

And I'm only gonna work with good souls. And I'm only gonna work with kind people, talented people. That's it.

[Dylan]

That's one of the secrets to success. For sure.

[Richard Tate]

For sure.

[Dylan]

What is it that makes your treatment center different other than the aesthetics?

[Richard Tate]

Yeah. Well, obviously it's the nicest treatment center there is. And we've got a full spa, a world class spa inside of the treatment center. And people thought that was a vanity play. And it isn't.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

I believe that self care turns into self esteem, which turns into self love. And I have never ever met an alcoholic that truly loved themselves trying to kill themselves with drugs and alcohol. It doesn't happen. But what makes us different is we give you whatever you need. And other places have a program. We've got a program too. Think of it like college, okay? You've got your general education and then you go for your major, right? So we expose everybody to everything and then we go, okay, babe, what do you like? What do you gravitate to? And as long as it's positive and it's something that they gravitate to, it's something they can take with them outside of the center. So we want to find something that really works for them. Another thing that makes us different is I have a client care department. So I have people literally walking around the centers looking for the person with their head in their hands, right? Roll up on them and take care of them right there. Nobody does that because it's not cost effective. Right. And especially in this climate. See, when I was here the last time we had 18,000 treatment centers. Now we've got under 10,000. So how do you lose half the treatment centers in seven years when there's.

[Dylan]

More drugs and alcohol than Ever.

[Richard Tate]

That's right. How do you do that? Well, I'll tell you why. It's an excellent question. The reason is, is because insurance companies used to pay 67 cents on the dollar, and now they pay 25 cents on the dollar. So if you're working in this at a 25% margin, like most of these companies are, you're broke now, you're failing, and that's why they're all failing. But here's the good news. I'm glad that I jumped into this thing without knowing the climate. I'm glad because it's been scary. I'm not going to lie. I've been scared. But I want it hard. I want it hard, okay? I want to know who I am. I want to know if I can succeed when everybody else is failing. And I'm doing it all right?

[Dylan]

Now, you charge $165,000 a month for. For Carrera, right? How do you guys. How does you know Carrera is. Is. Is the first luxury center for UHNW clients. How do you justify opulence and recovery without romanticizing all the privilege?

[Richard Tate]

I like to romanticize the privilege. Why not? These people have big lives. They're not entitled to get sober, too. Look, people say to me, well, Rich, you didn't go to a fancy rehab. Well, yeah, that's true, okay? But I wasn't the guy I am today, okay? I would have never gone into a treatment center today that was substandard. I never would have done that. Okay, what, so I'm not entitled to get sober? Right? I mean, look, you have to. You have to work with people. You have to be able to give them what they need and work around their lives. It's just. That's the way it is. Sobriety is not its own gift, no matter what people say, okay? If you don't have the. Sobriety is about thriving in the world. It's about creating a better life than you had. And if you can't create a better life for yourself than the one you had on drugs and alcohol, you're going back to drugs and alcohol. That's just the way it works.

[Dylan]

Now, insurance covers only a small percentage of this, but from my understanding, you guys are only like most people are. Cash buyers are paying cash for this. They're not even leveraging insurance at all.

[Richard Tate]

Well, some we offer that opportunity. I mean, I've got a revenue cycle management department, so that way people don't have to come up with the whole thing. I mean, some insurance companies pay 30 grand a month, some pay 60.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

So we'll offset that for them for sure.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Dylan]

But even six figures a month is still insane for a normal layman.

[Richard Tate]

It is, it is. So we're not advertising to the average guy. We're advertising to about a quarter of a million people in the United States. But I have an affordable treatment center.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

So for 250 or 500 bucks a month, typically you get 30 days of treatment. And 80% of my staff at Carrera works at my affordable center.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

So they're getting the best care anywhere in the world using their in network insurance policy.

[Dylan]

Where is that center?

[Richard Tate]

That's it. That is. That is. Okay, so you know how Carrera is one of one. It's the nicest ultra luxury treatment facility in the world. It's actually the first ultra luxury treatment facility in the world. So my affordable place. Normally these types of centers have bars on the windows and they're in rough areas of town. This is a nine iron from Cheviot Hills Country Club. So it's not the most luxurious, but they're 3,4 million dollar homes. So these guys are living really nicely in a comfortable space to do some really uncomfortable work. And that's what this is.

[Dylan]

Yeah, I'm sure it's not bad the way looking at you, talking to you like it's probably still really nice.

[Richard Tate]

No, no, no. The guy, the guy who owned it before I bought this one and the guy that owned it before advertised it as a luxury treatment center. Now for me that ain't luxury.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

But for some people, okay, it's magnificent. They're like mansions.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

And I think it's important when somebody comes into treatment. Look, when you go to a. I've been in a Motel 6 and I've been in a Four Seasons and I can tell you that I felt better in a Four Seasons than I did in a Motel 6.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

Now when I was homeless, the Motel 6 was the Four Seasons.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

So it's all, it's all contextual, it's all perspective. That's right. Better word. Yeah, yeah.

[Dylan]

So your model serves the elites, but you're committed to veterans. And in network care, how do you balance exclusivity and accessibility?

[Richard Tate]

Oh, it's easy.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

There's like. Candy is my CEO and she is a specialist at scaling so that we can treat as many people as humanly possible. Carrera is not that. Carrera is never going to be more than an 18 bed boutique facility.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

Candy, although she deals with the operations of Carrera for sure, she's almost exclusively Dealing with the Affordable Center. Because that is why I hired her. I hired her to make certain that we could treat a thousand of the military veterans and people with HMOs. These are the people who I wanted to help this time. The problem is, is I don't know how to do anything on a budget like nothing.

[Stuart]

Okay.

[Richard Tate]

I may have to raise the prices at Carrera because, you know, we're full and we're not making anything because we give you whatever it is you need. I mean, I don't care what it is. This guy lost his parents just recently.

[Dylan]

At Carrera.

[Richard Tate]

At Carrera. And he came in, he was all bent out of shape and he was having a real hard time. And I was talking to him and I realized what he would benefit from mostly is a grief and loss professional. So I called one of my best friends who is the number one hospice nurse in the country and who does this kind of thing. And I said, will you work with this kid? And he said, absolutely. And when this kid left, he stayed for about 60 days, maybe 90. But when he left, he was a new guy. And he was hugging me and telling me how grateful he was to have been here and how it changed his life. When you go to Carrera and you spend 30 days, that's like getting three years of therapy. So how are you after three years of therapy? Are you the same guy?

[Dylan]

No. Not even after one, two sessions? I mean, opens my perspective.

[Richard Tate]

That's right.

[Dylan]

One thing I'm personally curious about is, you know your marketing strategy. You're marketing to 250,000 people, right? Not a big demographic. How do you target that demographic?

[Richard Tate]

Well, that's hard. And I'm not going to tell you. That's. That is my secret sauce. That's. Hey, bro, this is what I do. This is. This is. I'm only motivated. I suck at business and I failed at everything. The only thing that I can get my head around, the only way I can wake up in the morning and get out of bed, is if I'm helping to solve a social problem.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

Other than that, I'm not a widget salesman. I don't know how to do this. All I do is I do the best I can to leave this place better than I found it. That's how I operate.

[Dylan]

One thing I'm impressed about is your skills as a closer. I mean, like, you're closing people on a couple hundred grand a month.

[Richard Tate]

Coffees for clothes.

[Dylan]

That's right.

[Richard Tate]

Well, it's not hard to close anybody if you tell them the Truth, right? And the truth is, if they're calling me about their kid, and I say, well, how many kids you got? And they're like, one. I'm like, oh, well, then you better get this right because you're going to have a lot of pain. Okay, look, I'm so in love with my children. I'm telling you a story. You're gonna love this. We were at my daughter's graduation from preschool, and I go in and the teachers, they're all hugging me because we're all very close. And one, the lady that ran the school looked at me and she said, you know, we used to laugh at you because you thought you loved your kid more than everybody else loved their kid. But then we got to know you and we realized not only do you love your kid more than anybody else loves their kid, a lot of times you love their kid more than they love their kid. When you have a child as late in life as I did and you think you were. And you thought you were going to miss it, and you finally get it, it's the greatest thing in the world. And to have children late in life means I appreciate it more, right? And it's scary because, you know, we end up kissing God's ass all the time. Just get me to where they're okay in the world without me. That's it. And those are my prayers. God, I didn't answer that question, did I? I forgot the question.

[Dylan]

No, you know what? I talk about God and faith as we kind of close out the show. But, you know, like, faith and trusting in God is a big part of my purpose. My whole purpose in life is just to do God's work.

[Richard Tate]

So that's it. As long as we're wrapping up, I'll tell you this one story that will illuminate for you if you exactly who I am, because I don't think there's a better story. I just wanted to start Carrera with a handful of people, okay? We're gonna go slow and steady. It takes a lot to open up a treatment center. It takes six months of. Of ramp up before you're even licensed. And you're spending a fortune to do it. Millions.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

So I wanted to stay lean, but a guy called me and he was crying and he told me about how he didn't have money for payroll and he owned this. This center called One Method Center. And I said, when's payroll? And he says, 36 hours. And I said, well, how many people you got in your house? And he goes, nine now. Nine Drug addicts, alcoholics getting treatment. And this guy can't pay his employees. And what happens when that happens is the employees take furniture and TVs and computers and they walk out of there, leaving nine people, okay, who will never, ever seek treatment again because they can't trust it. So I went in there at 9:30 the next morning, and by 12:30, I had met and met all the employees, the clients, saw all the locations, did all my due diligence, negotiated the deal, wrote up the short form, and had it all fully executed in three hours. I was out of there at 12:30 because that's how I do my. Because that's how I do my due diligence because I'm such an adult, okay? So I come back to the office and I tell the girls what I did, and they just start packing their stuff. And I'm like, where are you going? They're like, oh, we're going to see what you just did. And they come back with the blood rushed out of their face, and they're like, you bought nothing. I'm like, what are you talking about? They have no staff. I said, what are you talking about? I've met all the staff. Baby, you've been out of this a while, okay? We have three shifts. We're 247 business. That's the only shift they got. They're completely understaffed and operating illegally, and we can't even take the money. And so I went like this, and I said, you people have no faith. Go home. It'll be fixed in the morning. And then I cried myself to sleep because I had no clue how I was going to deal with this. None. And I woke up in the morning and I'm shaving, and I don't like to look at myself in the mirror because who wants to see their grandfather? But halfway through, I just looked at myself and I said, everybody comes home today. And I called my old place, Cliffside, And I called 10 people, and I said the same thing to everybody. I'm sorry for the late notice, but everybody comes home today. And everybody said a version of the same thing. We're doing it again. We are. Okay, let me go give my notice and I'll call you back. And 10 people within one hour gave their notice to a fully realized, fully mature business that was the number one treatment facility in the world when I sold it. The number one and the second most recognizable second to Betty Ford. And they all came. So then I tell the president of my company, I said, aaron, do me a favor. Don't take anybody else. We need to stay lean. We're all going to roll up our sleeves. It's a startup. We're going to get this done together.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

She says, okay. Ten days later, she walks into my office and she says, they're calling. I said, who's calling? She said, the people from Cliffside. I said, what do they want? They want to know what's wrong with them. They want to know why they can't come. How many, Aaron? 14. And I just started crying and I said, take them all. And six followed, and then one more, and we had 31 people from the finest place in the world come right over, making our place the finest in the world. That's all you need to know about me.

[Dylan]

Put it all in the line. I got a couple questions last. A couple last questions. This one's about your kids. You know, you don't come from an extra extravagant, opulent upbringing like your children. How are you instilling that same level of grit and mindset and growth perspective that you had coming from poverty into your children growing up in abundance?

[Richard Tate]

Well, that's all my ex. My ex is without question the best woman I've ever met and the best mother I've ever met. So much so that my daughter is now learning to drive. And I said to her, I said, hey, babe, have you thought about what kind of car you want? And she looked at me and she said, I'll let you buy half my car. And I said, okay, where are you going to get the other half? And she goes, I'm going to get a job. What's wrong with you? Those are my kids, okay? My kids understand from a very early age that things don't matter. I don't do the things.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

Yeah, I got a nice watch, Okay? I got one watch. Okay, that's. That's a lie. I've got two watches. That's a lie. I've got four watches. But the point.

[Dylan]

Stopping that for myself, for yourself. Yeah.

[Richard Tate]

But the point is I only wear one at a time. My children understand that things don't matter. All they care about is time with their loved ones and that's it. They want your time. Your kids don't care about money. They want your time. They want a place, play. They want you to get down on their level and throw the ball. They want you to be interested in what they're interested in. Because when you're interested in what they're interested in, they feel important. And I don't have to treat them. No phone around the kid because Then they're not important. This is how you create agency in a child.

[Dylan]

That's great advice. One thing I feel like my kids have even called me out is like, dad, get off your phone.

[Richard Tate]

Get off your phone. Get down on their level, dude. These are the only things that matter. Nothing else matters. It's all noise. The money doesn't mean kids make you money. Because if I was. If I didn't have children, I wouldn't have sold my last place. I would have just been grinding out a living and doing whatever, because it would have been enough. But when you have children, you're scared. The world's getting to be a dangerous place. You have to make certain that they're okay in the world when you're gone. That's what every father, every good father wants. That and for their children to be proud of them. And that means the way you live your life, not what you have.

[Dylan]

But.

[Richard Tate]

How you treat people. Treating. Look, I love. I think that the best part of what I do is that I love the people that work for me. I don't just like them. I love them and they love me.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

That is how you run a boutique. Finest in the world. Treatment facility where you're. Do you know that our first hundred people were by invitation only?

[Dylan]

Wow.

[Richard Tate]

I don't know if that's ever happened before. You could not work here unless you were vouched for by one of the 31 that started this. When people ask me, rich, I'm getting really busy, I need some help. Will you hire somebody for me? I go, no, find somebody. You know everybody in this industry. Find the person you want to work with, with a good soul, okay? And hire them. And they do. That's how I operate.

[Dylan]

Two last questions. This is a three pronged question.

[Richard Tate]

Oh, well, you better do them separately because I don't have that kind of memory.

[Dylan]

What's a personal goal that you have for yourself? A family goal that you have for the family, and then a goal that you have for your businesses.

[Richard Tate]

Okay, the goal I have for myself and the business is the same. Oh, no, it's not. The goal I have for myself.

[Stuart]

Is.

[Richard Tate]

Let me start with the kids first. The goal I have for my children is. Are to be like board members. I want them to know what we're doing as a family so that they can do it and live a certain way. Right? There are rules that I didn't know about when I got my first bag that now I'm very clear about.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

And I don't want my children to make the same mistakes that I did, okay? I think it's important that they're not given anything, that they earn everything, okay? Because otherwise they're going to donkey it off, okay? And that'll be my fault. And I don't want to work my entire life to create a legacy where my kids understand their station in the world, their core belief, which is, we leave this place better than we found it, okay? We help people in our family. They understand. Tell you a great story. I'm driving with my kid, and I see this woman at a bus stop. But she's not sitting on the bench, she's laying down on the floor and it's raining, and she's got this blanket and all her stuff is all over the bush. Want the best bench. And so I look at my. My son, who's 10 at the time, and I go, babe, daddy's got to get out of the car for a second. I'm gonna lock you in. It's a tough neighborhood, all right? He goes, no problem, dad. So I get out, I look at this woman and I say, and I have only got like 300 bucks on me. So I take it and I want to give it to her. And she says, no, thank you. I'm mentally ill. I will just lose it. And I'm like. I can't even breathe. My throat starts to close. I said, it's yours to lose. Please take the money and find a place to stay tonight, please. And she said, I don't want the money. The money's not my issue. And so now I'm like a wreck. So I gotta straighten up so I don't scare my kid. And I get in the car, and after about a minute, my 10 year old says as we're driving, you're a good man, daddy. And I said, thanks, baby. And then he says, are you gonna help that woman? And I said, no. And he said, Then he waits, and he's processing this because he doesn't get it. And a minute later, or two minutes later, he says, hey, dad, I don't understand. If you have a place that helps people, why can't we just pick her right up off the. Off the ground and take her to your center? From a 10 year old. So that's when I called my buddy at Korn Ferry, and I told him not to bring me somebody who didn't want to do a thousand beds for people that really need it. And he brought her to me because of my son.

[Dylan]

The purest form of honesty.

[Richard Tate]

Yes. And so simple. He's just These are my kids, man. My kids are not bad kids. My kids are good kids.

[Dylan]

You hear the voice of God from your kids?

[Richard Tate]

I don't understand that. Explain that to me. Because you can't mention me and God in the same sentence without questioning it.

[Dylan]

Because kids, when they speak, they speak in a pure form. They speak in a form like. Like a saint would be talking to you.

[Richard Tate]

Ah, so what you're saying is God used my kids as a vessel to talk to me. Yeah, for sure, for sure.

[Dylan]

One last goal. The last goal for your business?

[Richard Tate]

For my business. I thrive to do the right thing and really give my heart and my soul to every single person that walks in. So that is my thing. I get my self esteem by giving, by giving people power back to their families. That's how I get my self esteem. It's the only thing I'm good at. That's it. I'm a one trick pony, okay? If, if I wasn't doing what I do now, I would for sure be living in a one bedroom apartment in Culver City, for sure.

[Stuart]

Okay?

[Richard Tate]

This is what I know, you know, and some people think I'm the best at it, but only because I care the most. People in this business don't typically care, okay? The ownership doesn't care because they're not, they didn't have to walk the walk. Right. But when you lose a quarter century to drug addiction, you feel part of, part of the solution, you know, the goals for me are just to do the best I can with this business and be the best father I can be. And those are my goals. I want to find out who I am this time around. I know who I was the first time around. This time I want to see if I can do it 10 times better. I want to know what it's like to be the executive chairman of a billion dollar healthcare corporation and still wear my pajamas all day long. I think that's bitching.

[Dylan]

It is bitching.

[Richard Tate]

It is bitching.

[Dylan]

One last question.

[Richard Tate]

You've had a lot of last questions.

[Dylan]

It's the last one.

[Richard Tate]

All right? Now don't. I'm not. You ask as many as you want.

[Dylan]

When you're in front of the pearly gates, what do you think God's going to tell you?

[Richard Tate]

He's going to be really proud. Really proud. I have a joke that God, Jesus and Moses are sitting there in heaven and God says, see that kid Richard Tate? I'm gonna make him somebody. And Jesus and Moses go, I'll take that action. So, yeah, he's gonna be really proud. He's gonna be really proud.

[Dylan]

Richard, you've been an awesome guest to have on the show. It's a thought provoking conversation. Really, really inspiring. Change the world, you continue to inspire and help and most importantly, just pour your heart and soul into just your vision and helping others and being of service and changing lives dramatically. If people want to connect with you, how do they find you?

[Richard Tate]

Dylan? How do they find me? You can follow him at.

[Dylan]

Richard Tate official on Instagram and Richard.

[Richard Tate]

Tate on Tick Tock and Richard Tate on YouTube.

[Dylan]

Yeah, yeah, you got to put it, you got to say that.

[Richard Tate]

No, no, just put Dylan in. Just put Dylan in the thing. No, no, yeah, I gotta say it, Richard.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Richard Tate]

All right, tell me how I say it again. Oh, Richard Tate official on Instagram.

[Dylan]

Just the Richard Tate official on Instagram is fine. Richard Tate official.

[Richard Tate]

Am I Richard official on all platforms? Yeah, I'm Richard Tate official on all platforms. And what I'd really like is for everybody to check out we're at a Time our podcast, because we're really proud of it. We're the number three mental health podcast in the nation right now, according to Apple, and it creates awareness around fentanyl and it's a good time too. So.

[Dylan]

Yeah, that's awesome.

[Richard Tate]

Thanks for having me.

[Dylan]

Thanks for having me. Thanks for being on the show, Richard. Appreciate you.