From Church to CMO: Shocking $1M Loss Sparks Success | Nick Cavuoto DSH #979

Summary

Digital Social Hour: From Church to CMO: Shocking $1M Loss Sparks Success | Nick Cavuto DSH #979

Release Date: December 14, 2024

Introduction

In episode #979 of the Digital Social Hour podcast, host Sean Kelly engages in a profound and inspiring conversation with Nick Cavuto, a former pastor turned Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). This episode delves into Nick's remarkable journey from managing a mega church to overcoming a devastating $1 million loss, ultimately leading to his current success in the business world. Throughout the discussion, Nick shares invaluable insights on leadership, trust, generosity, personal growth, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Early Beginnings: From Ministry to Business

Nick Cavuto's story begins in the realm of ministry. At just 19, after falling out of college for the second time, Nick sought guidance from his father, his lifelong spiritual mentor. His father advised him to "learn how to serve" and to navigate life's challenges through service to others (00:59). This foundational lesson set the stage for Nick's future endeavors, blending his experience in ministry with business acumen.

Nick recounts his early days managing a mega church with 10,000 attendees every weekend. At 22, he was overseeing an eight-figure budget, gaining unparalleled exposure to business operations. From a volunteer intern with no pay for two years, Nick's dedication and consistent performance catapulted him to a pivotal executive assistant role. This position quickly evolved, allowing him to run the entire operation behind the scenes, ensuring that the church's public face could focus on connecting with the congregation (02:26 - 03:29).

The Trust Equation: Building Credibility, Reliability, and Deep Connections

One of the central themes of Nick's discussion is the "trust equation," which he breaks down into three essential components:

1. Credible: Demonstrating integrity through actions and words.
2. Reliable: Consistently showing up, even during challenging times.
3. Deep Connection: Forming meaningful, personal bonds beyond superficial interactions.

Nick emphasizes that while many people may possess one or two of these elements, the combination of all three provides a significant advantage in business and personal relationships. He explains, “Be credible, be reliable, and have a deep connection… It produces so many quantum leaps in business and life and relationships. It's truly everything, man” (04:19).

This framework has been instrumental in Nick's success, enabling him to build trust with clients and colleagues alike. His approach underscores the importance of authenticity and genuine care in fostering long-term relationships.

Generosity and Service: The Power of Giving Without Expectation

Nick advocates for a lifestyle of generosity and service, rooted in a belief that "the more you give, the more you're given." He shares his mentorship experience with Dave Meltzer, who taught him the value of being open to receiving while giving selflessly. This philosophy aligns with studies Nick references, noting that individuals who give charitable gifts tend to earn significantly more in the following year (08:50).

He advises listeners to "encourage five people a day," highlighting the profound impact simple acts of kindness can have. Whether through a heartfelt message on social media or offering practical assistance, Nick believes that consistent generosity not only transforms others but also enriches one's own life.

Personal Trauma and Resilience: Overcoming the COVID-19 Crisis

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Nick recounts the harrowing experience of losing $1 million in two days during the COVID-19 pandemic. This financial blow wiped out two of his businesses: a marketing agency and a live events company. Faced with unprecedented challenges, Nick turned to his mentor, who advised him to "encourage five people a day." This strategy led to an astonishing half a million dollars in sales within 35 days—a testament to the power of trust and service (09:04).

This experience reinforced Nick's belief in the trust equation and the importance of serving others even in dire circumstances. It demonstrated that maintaining integrity and focusing on value creation can lead to remarkable recoveries from setbacks.

Leadership and High Standards: Commitment to Excellence

As Nick transitioned into the role of CMO, he maintained his high standards and unwavering focus on results. He articulates a no-compromise approach: “The only KPI is ROI. If we're not creating a return on investment for you… we’ll fire ourselves” (13:18). This results-driven mindset ensures that his team remains accountable and dedicated to delivering exceptional outcomes.

Nick's commitment extends beyond personal performance to encompass his entire team. He upholds strict standards, believing that integrity and focus on contribution are paramount. This philosophy not only drives business success but also fosters a culture of excellence and mutual respect within his organization.

Relationship with Father: Healing and Redemption

Nick opens up about his complex relationship with his father, a former drug dealer who found redemption through Christianity. Growing up, Nick experienced "fear-based parenting," instilled by his father's strict expectations and high standards. Despite the fear, Nick acknowledges the valuable lessons learned, such as the importance of integrity and hard work (34:11).

Over time, Nick has navigated this relationship, engaging in "hard talks" with his father to address past traumas and seek mutual understanding. This journey reflects his broader message of redemption and the power of reconciliation. He emphasizes that fathers can embody the possibility of redemption, transforming strained relationships into collaborative and supportive partnerships (35:24).

Surviving Trauma: The School Shooting Incident

A particularly moving segment of the conversation revolves around Nick's experience during a school shooting at his children's school. On a Monday morning, shortly after dropping his kids off, Nick received an urgent call from his wife about the shooting. Despite immense fear and adrenaline, Nick recalled the teachings of a Taoist monk who emphasized the separation of life events, belief systems, and emotions to maintain clarity in crisis (42:20).

Nick recounts racing through the office, adrenaline-fueled actions, and finally reuniting with his children unharmed. The shooter, although intent on causing harm, did not succeed in her broader destructive goals. This event underscored Nick's resilience and the effectiveness of his mental training, allowing him to remain calm and take decisive action under extreme stress.

He reflects on the broader implications of such traumatic events, advocating for practical support rather than superficial condolences. Nick advises, “Just solve a problem that's really practical. Don't ask them how they’re feeling” (54:20). This approach, rooted in genuine action and support, can provide meaningful assistance to those grappling with trauma.

Lessons Learned: Embracing Resilience and Service

Throughout the episode, Nick emphasizes the importance of resilience, continuous personal growth, and unwavering service to others. His life experiences—from managing a mega church and overcoming financial loss to surviving a school shooting—have shaped his philosophy of trust, generosity, and leadership.

Nick highlights the significance of facing fears and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. His childhood experience of overcoming a fear of water with his grandmother's gentle encouragement taught him the value of exposure and perseverance, lessons that have been pivotal in his entrepreneurial journey (38:34).

Additionally, Nick underscores the power of relationships and collaboration. Drawing parallels to the Avengers, he believes that collective efforts and shared missions can achieve extraordinary outcomes. This belief drives his approach to business, where collaboration and mutual support are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving success (33:16).

Final Messages: Encouragement and Practical Support

As the conversation draws to a close, Nick reiterates his core message: encourage five people a day. He emphasizes that simple, consistent acts of encouragement can transform lives and foster a culture of support and positivity. Nick encourages listeners to focus on practical solutions and genuine service, advocating for actions that make a tangible difference in others' lives.

He shares the profound impact of receiving a simple meal after the traumatic school shooting, illustrating how practical support can be more meaningful than traditional expressions of sympathy. This experience reinforces his belief in the power of direct, actionable assistance (54:47).

Conclusion

Nick Cavuto's journey from ministry to the C-suite is a testament to the power of trust, generosity, and resilience. His experiences, marked by both immense challenges and remarkable successes, offer invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs and professionals alike. Through his emphasis on the trust equation, unwavering commitment to service, and the ability to overcome personal and professional setbacks, Nick embodies the principles of authentic leadership and meaningful contribution.

For listeners seeking inspiration and actionable insights on navigating the complexities of the digital and business landscape, this episode of the Digital Social Hour provides a compelling narrative and practical wisdom. Nick's story underscores that true success is rooted in trust, service, and the relentless pursuit of personal and collective growth.

Notable Quotes

• Nick Cavuto (00:59): “When you think about, like, community and advancing people towards a common goal, you realize, like, business is very, very similar to painting a vision and inviting people into it.”

• Nick Cavuto (04:19): “Be credible, be reliable, and have a deep connection. It produces so much quantum leaps in business and life and relationships. It's truly everything, man.”

• Nick Cavuto (08:50): “The trust equation is three things. Are you credible? Are you reliable? Do you have a deep connection? That’s a complete unfair advantage if people just get that right.”

• Nick Cavuto (13:18): “The only KPI is ROI. If we're not creating a return on investment for you in every company that I've had, I always say, if we can't 2 to 5 extra revenue in the next 90 days, we'll fire ourselves.”

• Nick Cavuto (42:20): “If you allow your emotions to immediately follow your life experiences, your belief systems are going to be very skewed. You're going to see the world in a way that is untrue.”

• Nick Cavuto (54:20): “Just solve a problem that's really practical. Don’t ask them how they’re feeling. Just solve it. And love on them.”

Timestamps for Key Sections

• Introduction to Nick Cavuto: 00:59 - 01:32
• Early Life and Career: 01:32 - 03:29
• Trust Equation: 04:19 - 05:04
• Generosity and Service: 08:07 - 09:04
• Overcoming COVID-19 Financial Loss: 09:04 - 10:49
• Leadership Philosophy and High Standards: 13:18 - 16:26
• Relationship with Father: 34:11 - 35:24
• Surviving the School Shooting: 42:20 - 51:05
• Lessons Learned and Final Advice: 51:05 - 55:29

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Note: This summary aims to capture the essence of the podcast episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the full discussion.

Transcript

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[Nick Cavuto]

When you think about, like, community and advancing people towards a common goal, you realize, like, business is very, very similar of painting a vision and inviting people into it. I learned so much in those years, and it was a big organization. We had 10,000 people every weekend. So I was managing a, you know, an eight figure budget when I was 22. Just got exposed early to, like, business and stuff.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah. All right, guys, Nick Cavuto, here we are in Nashville at your spot. Thanks for having me, man.

[Nick Cavuto]

Absolutely, bro.

[Sean Kaplan]

For coming on.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude, I'm super pumped to be here.

[Sean Kaplan]

I appreciate your time, insightful episode. Former pastor.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, man. Yeah. So when I was 19, I fell out of college for the second time. And so I called my dad and said, dude, what do I need to do? My dad's been my spiritual mentor for my whole life. And he's like, listen, buddy, you gotta learn how to serve. Like, this is gonna be a season for you to learn an important lesson that, like, you can go through the muck, you know, of life. But so as long as you're in service to other people, man, everything's gonna work out right? And so, yeah, man, that's where I started, you know, and it's been a cool journey. I learned a lot about business, a lot about marketing, being in ministry, I think, because if a, you have to sell Jesus, that's a complicated issue. And second, and secondly, when you think about, like, community and advancing people towards a common goal, you realize, like, business is very, very similar of painting a vision and inviting people into it. Whether you're leading a team or whether you Leading a tribe of people towards a common goal. I learned so much in those years and it was a big organization. We had 10,000 people every weekend. So this is not like Grandma's church of 42 people, you know.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's a mega church.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, it's a mega church. It was a huge deal. Five services every weekend. I've hosted over a thousand live events.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah, live every weekend.

[Nick Cavuto]

Holy crap. It was an operation, man. But I was managing an 8 figure budget when I was 22.

[Sean Kaplan]

Nuts.

[Nick Cavuto]

Just got exposed early to business and stuff.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah, you worked your way up from volunteer to second in command, right?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude. So when I started, I just showed up and I interned for two years. I worked there full time. I interned, just slugged it out, no pay. No pay for two years and just showed up every day, you know? And it's interesting because, like, when you just consistently show up and you do a great job, you don't make excuses. You're a champion of the vision. You get spotted, man. And so they just saw me and I just grinded it out and they were like, hey, we need someone to step up next to this gentleman who's a public figure, and we need someone to like be number two and help him. And so it's technically like an executive assistant role. And I started and. And it very quickly became that I was essentially running the whole operation for him so that he could be talent, essentially and be able to show up and love on people and do what he does. But it was a really cherished position. I had a lot of fun doing it.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's impressive, man. A lot of people wouldn't do two years of work when they'll pay.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, you know, I didn't really have a lot of options, and I think that was part of it. Um, and in addition, I was committed because I could see something that was unique about the positioning of where I was. And I think when you have a sense of gratitude and you're established in something that's so unique and you feel like, man, there's a mission here. There's something I can really buy into about the thing that I'm doing. You just kind of trust the process. And that's always been, I think really my operating system has been rather intuitive of just like feeling things out, trusting the process, and then just showing up and executing. I think we overcomplicate things as humans so much. But when you just give 110%, man, and I tell people all the time, like, you don't have to, you don't have to give a thousand percent better than the next person. If you give 10% better consistently, predictably over time, you're going to become the most trusted person in the room.

[Sean Kaplan]

Right.

[Nick Cavuto]

And that's the trust equation. The trust equation is three things. And this is so valuable. It's number one, are you credible? Like, so do you have integrity based on the things that you say? Number two, are you reliable? So can I count on you to show up even in the hard times, even in the good times? Like, are you consistent in the way that you show up? And number three has to do with deep connection. Most people have one of the first two, but they lack the last one. And that's all over a self orientation of the person who you're serving alongside of. And so I realized very, very early the trust equation. Be credible, be reliable, and have a deep connection, a deep personal connection to the mission that you're on. And that's a complete unfair advantage if people just get that right. It produces so much quantum leaps in business and life and relationships. It's truly everything, man.

[Sean Kaplan]

Connection is rare to find in people.

[Nick Cavuto]

Actually it is, man, because usually, you know, people are just kind of looking out for the moment of what they need. But when people can just take their time, go slow, respond to the invitations of life to see opportunity, to make a contribution that's meaningful, you can feel it. It's different. People are smarter now, man. Like, the frequency that people are on is just very different than it used to be, you know?

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah. Would you say humans are innately selfish and they have to learn how to be more giving?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, I mean, I think that you're either in survival mode or you're in connection mode. So people are born and depending upon the structure of potentially their early life, they're either neurologically starting to become wired for survival in the future or for connection in the future. And it's funny, the most disconnected people are the most in survival mode. And so the other ones, I think that who really seek deep connection with people, they're not really overly concerned about, like the basics. They're focused on. Like, if you're like me, you're looking.

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[Nick Cavuto]

Health, bigger vision in the future opportunities and what that might look like. So I've just noticed. I've noticed that.

[Sean Kaplan]

No, I've noticed it. Some people get thrown off by how giving I am in certain situations.

[Nick Cavuto]

Totally.

[Sean Kaplan]

And they were just in survival mode their whole lives. Like they're closed off, you know. So for you to give them something for nothing in return, it throws them off.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, totally, man, totally. Yeah, it's. Giving without expectation of return has been a big thing in my life. But I have started learning from Dave Meltzer, our friend, my mentor, just learning about not only being open to receiving, but in the process of giving. You realize the more you give, the more you're given. It's not about receiving. It's the quantifiable multiplying factor of being a good human and then trusting in the process that as you give out of a place of true generosity, generosity begets generosity. They've even done studies recently. And typically in a year that you give a charitable gift, you earn 1.8 times, 7 higher than you do a year without. Wow. Yeah.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's actually Crazy, Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

And then nuts. So there's a new site was just released this year.

[Sean Kaplan]

I need to look into that. That basically proves in karma, though.

[Nick Cavuto]

Absolutely, man, absolutely. You know, it's a simple concept, so very simple.

[Sean Kaplan]

And people will not give. Even. Even if you don't have money, there's other ways to give.

[Nick Cavuto]

Absolutely, man. If people want to change the world, encourage five people a day. The world's starving for a sense of encouragement. You know when you just drop into somebody on DMS, on Instagram and just say, hey, man, I just want you to know you're doing so much better than you think you are. Yeah, I'm cheering you on. I believe in you. I trust that there's a greater plan for your life, and I can see that you're working at it every day. And I just want you to know you're doing so amazing, and I'm proud to be your friend, dude, game changer.

[Sean Kaplan]

Game changer.

[Nick Cavuto]

People just don't take the time to slow down enough to do that. And that's not. I'm not passing judgment by saying that. I'm just saying our world is not wired with intention at that level for most people. But, dude, in the hardest times in business for me, in Covid, I lost a million dollars in two days. So just completely wiped out two of my businesses. Well, one of the businesses I worked with, elective practitioners. So it was a marketing agency that I had long, long time ago. And then one of the other businesses was live events. So if you remember, 15 days to flatten the curve, Right? So practitioners couldn't practice unless they were like. Unless it was like a mandatory procedure. Life and death. Elective practitioners got wiped out. And then live events, you couldn't meet with people in person, so.

[Sean Kaplan]

So you had to cancel an event you were planning on having.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, well, it was a mastermind that was predicated on a live event.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

So everything got wiped out overnight. And so here I am going like, all right, God, this is your problem. Because I'm not going to try to solve this in my own strength. And part of that process was I had a mentor. And he said, dude, I don't know what to tell you. This is unprecedented times. This guy runs like a hundred million dollar company and he's like, just go encourage five people a day. And I did it, Sean. And I did a half a million dollars in sales 35 days later.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

No, it's crazy. Out of the 35 people who bought that, I ended up doing this. Half a million dollars in sales with none of them were the people who I encouraged for the 35 days.

[Sean Kaplan]

Really?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. Wow. Isn't that crazy?

[Sean Kaplan]

That is nuts.

[Nick Cavuto]

And that is truly an example, because the heart of service versus selling. The heart of service is I'm here to make a meaningful contribution. So it's not about you and what you can do for them. It's about truly showing up and being present and available. And people can feel the difference. They can feel the difference if you're in need or if you're in service. And that's what changed so much for me, man. Because it was that lesson. When I was 19, my dad said, you just got to show up and learn how to surf. It had a boomerang effect to one of the hardest times in my life as an entrepreneur going, like, now what? And I went back to the basics of just go serve.

[Sean Kaplan]

Right.

[Nick Cavuto]

And so that's what I did, man. And it worked.

[Sean Kaplan]

It's crazy shift because a lot of people don't think in terms of service.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. And even if they do, it's the giving and the getting thing. Right. It's not give. And then the more you're given. And a lot of people say, like, in different circles, like, well, God won't give you more than you can handle. I say it's total bullshit. He won't give you more than you can manage. So the question is, can you manage the abundance that can be poured into your hands? Like, because if you can't, you're going to lose it. And I don't know about you, but if you're like, have a money manager. And you're like, all right, I'm going to give you a million dollars to manage. And they blow it, and then you end up with zero. Do you think they're going to give you more? No, absolutely not. So the reality is, when you can manage what you have, even if it's slow and predictable, money is a currency. It's a current. It likes to move, and it likes to have a transactional type of pattern in its relationship with people and other things. So what's neat is, like, when you're starting to focus on, like, this whole idea of contribution and giving and maximizing potential and opportunity. I've just noticed in my life, like, that's. That's how it functions, man. I want my current to be generosity. I want it to be of service. I want it to be a meaningful contribution. I love when I have to make sure that, like, on our teams and the people that we serve with knowing that, like, I'm Championing, making sure that their family is good, that their opportunities continue to get better every single day. It used to be scary and now I've learned, like, it's actually, what an honor. It's a completely different perspective.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's a great shift because a lot.

[Nick Cavuto]

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[Sean Kaplan]

CMOs do have that fear of not reaching certain KPIs and goals, right?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. I mean, I built my whole career predicated on results. I just don't know anything different. So that's like the good part of it. I never believed in brand awareness. I never believed in just, well, we got you 200 leads. What the heck happened? Because I know how everything attaches to the next thing. So it's always been about results. And since I ever have been in marketing and business, I always said, the only KPI is roi. If we're not creating a return on investment for you in every company that I've had, I always say, if we can't 2 to 5 extra revenue in the next 90 days, we'll fire ourselves. Wow. Absolutely. Because, dude, you and I know, right? Like, if we're dragging an anchor under a speedboat of business of this thing we're trying to develop, why would we want to be contractually locked into something that's not serving us again? It's the reversal, because it's not about me. It's about the contribution that I make in someone else's life or in their business that affects them and their kids and their partners and their employees. So if I'm not making a meaningful contribution, like, I deserve to be gone. Absolutely. 100%.

[Sean Kaplan]

So you got very high standards for yourself.

[Nick Cavuto]

Extremely. And for my team and for the people I serve alongside of. Because, you know, at the end of the day, I think that's integrity to do the right thing and also, like, be focused on producing results. That's what matters.

[Sean Kaplan]

And now you're one of the top CMOs in the world somehow.

[Nick Cavuto]

I mean, dude, it's crazy. I remember when I was, you know, doing something Fortune 500, you know, I was managing over a billion dollars worth of products for a $4 billion Fortune 500 brand. And I was half the age of anybody else in the whole entire marketing department. There were 70 of us, so it wasn't a huge team. But I just got a lot of permission, man. In my life. I've seen it over and over. I get permission early. And I think I take just really seriously the things that come to me. And that's part of that mindset that God won't give me more than I can handle. So I'm the confidence and the confidence to back up whatever it is that I'm facing. And then in addition, I go, like, all right, God, give me the best capabilities that I have that you've wired inside of me. And with your help, I'm going to hold this thing and manage it the best way that I can. So, like, failure is not an option.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

It's just not even on the radar. It's just if I commit to doing it, I will find a way that's. I've always been wired.

[Sean Kaplan]

When you were half the age, did you feel a lot of judgment coming your way in that culture?

[Nick Cavuto]

Not really. I mean, I broke a ton of records in the organization, and that was fun, I think, honestly. And, you know, in the corporate speed, it's just very slow. A lot of people, I say, like, they sink in their chairs every year. It just gets like that divot and the seat gets lower and lower. Um, and so I felt excited to be able to create some breakthroughs, and I think to show that there's a new way of doing things. I'm an innovator at heart. That's what I love to do. Um, but, yeah, there was. There were certain moments of where I was like, y'all don't even understand, like, what's happening here. Like, how no one's asked me how I got the result. It's just like, can you take on more and do more? Yeah. But I figured out very early, like, it was gonna. I'm a fifth generation entrepreneur. I mean, my dad was a street pharmacist, but he was. You guys put the two things together. But what's neat is, like, I've always had that wiring that, like, if I can exceed whatever the container is that I'm in, then I'll be like a fish and jump out.

[Sean Kaplan]

Do you believe entrepreneurship is something you're born with or you could learn it?

[Nick Cavuto]

I think the willingness to win is something you're born with or you're not. And to be an entrepreneur, you have to be willing to win and sacrifice more than you can ever imagine. It's Death by toothpick. That's how it feels. There's an intensity around entrepreneurship, like true entrepreneurship, of really burning the boats and being able to pull it all in and call it all in. That is an innate thing that I think people who cross that chasm of just survival into connection, into building something meaningful that they have. But, you know, I've. I've mentored over 500 entrepreneurs. I've interviewed thousands of entrepreneurs. What I've noticed over and over, they have the greatest untold stories, the things that they've had to give. Like, to give up the entrepreneurs who have had to go to jail for their kids just to have visitation rights. I mean, I could go on and on about the stories of how they've overcome hardship through, you know, had One client, she. 14 years old, had an abortion, and she's been carrying this thing her whole life. What's so interesting about entrepreneurship is I truly believe that it is the best spiritual experience that we have on Earth because you have to defeat the previous version of yourself so many times in order to ascend, to make that contribution that you have in your heart that, you know that's possible for you to do. You have to fall on your sword a thousand times.

[Sean Kaplan]

Right. While getting judged by everyone around you.

[Nick Cavuto]

Absolutely. And what's so cool in the way that I beat judgment, because that was an early thing in my life of, like, having a lot of growth and a lot of everywhere that I went, I was like the young buck who was rising up, you know, passing all the ranks. And I'm kind of a classic optimist. So I don't judge people that way. So I don't perceive that I would be judged that way, but it definitely happened. But what I learned is the less that I judge myself, the less that people judge me. And so when I just stopped judging myself and looking too introspectively at situations and just being grateful that I even got positioned there, I started to notice that that sense of judgment from other people wore off really, really quick. I almost became completely oblivious to it at that point.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow. So you were just really in touch with your identity at that point.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, And I think it's just I'm willing to do what it takes. I'm willing to show up. I'm willing to put in the work and get results. And at the end of the day, that's a scoreboard to me. It's not people's opinions. People opinions about so many things, but what really matters is how I have an opinion about myself. And those are the standards that I hold. And I care about what my wife thinks, I care about what my kids think. I don't really care about what anybody else thinks, but I care about also keeping my word. That's the highest thing, is the integrity to allow myself to perform at 95%. I don't say 100% because nobody's perfect. Part of not judging myself is being okay with making human error. But human error is about 5%. So I try to make sure that I stick around.95.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah, if someone was perfect, that wouldn't make sense to me.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, even AI isn't perfect. And that's robot AI, man. That's a whole other podcast.

[Sean Kaplan]

How'd you meet Adley?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, so Nick Lauer, who's a buddy of mine, I've invested in his business, Short Form Empire. It's interesting. I spoke at an event. My buddy Sean Kaplan had an event, and I went and spoke about my story of how my kids survived a school shooting. And I talked about, you know, internal belief systems and how that impacted our family. And we'll talk more about that. But I spoke at an event. Nick came up to me after, and he said, hey, man, I know it's kind of out of the box, but one of the things you mentioned was during COVID in that time 21, like just thereafter, I started a short form content agency. We got to 125 clients in four months. Absolutely exploded. It was amazing. And he was like, I'm on the come up. He's 18 years old at that time, and he's like, I'm just trying to figure it out. Will you mentor me? It takes so much courage to, like, walk up to somebody. He was like, you know what made it easy? We had the same name, so I had an easy point of connection with you to have the conversation. And when he came to me again, generosity begets generosity. So I just flow with it, right? I'm like, dude, I would love to. Absolutely. Whatever you need, man, I'm here for you. And so we met and he said, I would love your help. And I said, great. And in the first 30 days, we doubled his business. And then just quantum leap after quantum leap, it just kept growing and growing and growing. We started adjusting his offer a little bit and getting him with more high performers and less out of just editing in short form and more into, like, in person shooting. And yeah, so we became business partners back in March of 24. And yeah, now we're absolutely crushing, dominating. And so what was interesting is in the growth pattern for Nick, I posted one of the videos of me speaking. Adley saw an Instagram and said, I got to talk to this dude who's been coaching you and mentoring you. And so they brought me in, and. And that's how I met Adley and just said, hey, like, I'm just. My hands are open. This is my position. Whenever I walk anywhere, like, into opportunities, into business, into friendships, I have open hands. Better as an open hand than a closed fist. A closed fist is fighting position, and I'm not trying to fight anybody. So what is this? Well, it's an energy conduit, because that's how you can give and receive. That's how you can give and be given more is by opening your hands and holding a posture of what service? How can I support? How can I help? And that's just what always has worked for me. So I shadowed for four hours, you know, on, like, a random Wednesday, and at least I really think we can use your help. And so then I talked with her and her husband, Blake, and here we are. The rest is history.

[Sean Kaplan]

I really love that openness.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, that's everything, man. That opening your hands, it really opens up everything in your life that you could need or want. It's a beautiful thing.

[Sean Kaplan]

So you're very focused on relationships. Like, that's important to you.

[Nick Cavuto]

Relationships are rocket ships, brother. Yeah. They will take you places that you never dreamed you could get. And I think part of that is truly being a good person and having integrity, being that. That trust equation. Credible, reliable, deep connection. It's got to be authentic. It's got to be true.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah. You never know where people will end up, man.

[Nick Cavuto]

That's true.

[Sean Kaplan]

A lot of people try to form relationships purely based off money, and I think that's a mistake, because you could catch someone early on their journey, and they can help you five, ten years down the road, too.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, absolutely, man. Absolutely. There's been a lot of people who I've helped and coached along the years and then end up pulling them into opportunities and gigs. And at the same time, you know, like, when you have a sterling reputation, when you write a book and nine years, you know, you go nine years later, and you ask that one person who you met, and now they become a mega entrepreneur or a public figure, and they're like, I would love to, man, because your reputation precedes you. You showed up, you did what you said you were going to do. You operate in high integrity and truly a heart of service. Those are the types of people that people want to help.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

And yeah, I've seen that happen in my life over and over again. I haven't done them all perfect, Sean. I haven't.

[Sean Kaplan]

No one has.

[Nick Cavuto]

You know, I've learned a lot of hard lessons about just different seasons of life and how I chose to show up at those times of when I was either in pain or, you know, whatever. And that's why I ended up taking a sabbatical. Yeah, this was back in 22, because I was like, I gotta do some internal stuff, right? I gotta work it out.

[Sean Kaplan]

And you said 100 therapy sessions in about a year? In about a year, yeah. Every three days, basically, right?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude, it was super intense. Yeah, I mean, 52 days in the year, and I did it twice a week. I met with an art therapist, which was really interesting. Studied Carl Jung for 52 years. She was in her 70s, absolute Jedi Master, like, incredible. Sharon Barnes is her name. She's in Colorado. And then I met with a PhD who gave me a lot of tools and resources. One of the most interesting things that Sharon did is she had me draw with my non dominant hand to unlock my subconscious. And I would draw pictures. But it's funny, when you're drawing with your non dominant hand, you literally looks like you're like three year old drawing. But that's what it's unlocking in your mind is that stage. So she's like, draw something. I'm like, what the hell you want me to draw? She's like, well, anything. I'm like, what do you mean anything? She's like, just draw. And so I sat there for like a minute. I'm like, just start drawing. And then I realized I draw these four trees and then I drew this road that went in the middle and this little guy. And then this big black cloud of chaos chasing it. And then I showed her. I'm like, I don't know what this means. And she observed it and she said, what do the four trees represent? And I was just searching for four in my life. What do I have four of four kids? And I'm like, oh, this is super interesting. So I started to realize what it was. She's like, well, what's the road? I'm like, it's the path of life. She's like, who's the little guy? I'm like, that's me. And what's the black cloud? And I'm just like, chaos. So what's interesting is I was able to formulate that my kids were here. Maybe gives me chills in my arms. Dude, my kids are Here, there's this road in this path of life, and there's this tornado running through the middle of it, chasing me. That's impacting them now. It hasn't hit them, it's just impacting them. It's crossing through them. And so then we would have a conversation about that.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

Isn't that powerful?

[Sean Kaplan]

That is deep.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude. She was a Jedi. Absolute Jedi. Life changing, man.

[Sean Kaplan]

What a powerful exercise.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yep, yep.

[Sean Kaplan]

I actually write my. In my gratitude journal with my left hand just to practice.

[Nick Cavuto]

There you go.

[Sean Kaplan]

I want to be ambidextrous. And I brush my teeth with my left.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude.

[Sean Kaplan]

It unlocks parts of your brain, right?

[Nick Cavuto]

Absolutely does. Yeah. It creates neural pathways that. That cross over that normally wouldn't. And so it allows you to start thinking differently and. Yeah, and I think it's good to do hard things. A lot of people shy away from things because, you know, we're wired for survival primarily, and so we don't want to do hard things that are uncomfortable. But. But when you force yourself to do it, especially early, you start training your brain that, like, yeah, we're going to experience struggle and suffering is guaranteed. Struggles, guaranteed. And so it's the golden elixir of life. I'm like, bring it. I've learned how to be in that position. Bring it. Embrace it.

[Sean Kaplan]

I love it. Yeah. I try not to run away from my fears anymore. I think it's important to address them as you identify them.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, absolutely, man.

[Sean Kaplan]

Public speaking was a big one for me.

[Nick Cavuto]

Was it really?

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah. Now I'm a podcaster, dude.

[Nick Cavuto]

Good for you, man.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah, that was a. That's a big one for a lot of people, I think.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah.

[Sean Kaplan]

Were you struggling with that, too, dude?

[Nick Cavuto]

When. So I grew up in church, like, from the moment I was born. You know, my dad was Holy Ghost, Pentecostal Assemblies of God, shot him down. You know, that's the environment that I grew up in. So I grew up around professional communicators, inspirational people for my whole career, which when I ended up getting to marketing and then personal branding and then working with, you know, millionaires, billionaires, celebrities, athletes, Epic. And, you know, elite entrepreneurs, it was very natural for me because that's who I spent my whole life around. So I never had a fear of speaking, but my father did. My dad was a drug dealer who found Jesus. As simple as it is, that was his story. He lived a life of a lot of contrast. He just one day just walked away from it, and it was done. But what's fascinating is my dad has an eighth grade education because he dropped out of school, middle school, to sell drugs at 13. So he always had this interpretation when he would go to speak, because I watched him my whole life. When he'd go to communicate, he was a minister and. And Steph in church. And I would watch him just be petrified. And, dude, he'd create those three ring binders, and just like, everything's highlighted and it's got to be perfect. And there was always a moment every time that he was communicating publicly to thousands of people, he just would take the thing and just shut it. And as soon as he did that dude magic, it was like everything that poured out of him was so powerful. But sticking to the script, Ben, it suffocated him. And I realized in my life, I'm like, I want to help that version of my father. Because it's. Dr. Jordan Peterson talks about it all the time. Rescuing your father from the belly of the well. There's a part of us as men certainly, that wants to redeem the illness and. Or the, you know, the afflictions that our father brought on himself or others or us. And so it's a natural thing that we want to do. So I wanted to redeem that part. And so when I got a chance to speak, when I was in ministry, this. Here's a crazy thing about this. I never spoke one time, really. I was always behind the scenes running everything.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

And that's because, yes, age, and I was posturing to. To be able to take things over from an infrastructure of operations, but I also knew I was a great communicator. But it wasn't until Mike Kim told me, he said, you're a great teacher. As a teacher, like, I was a 1.2 GPA college student who fouled out twice, an average C student who couldn't pass 9th grade algebra, like a teacher. And he was the first one who spoke life into me in that way and gave me an opportunity to speak. And when I did, I just saw the mirror of my father going like, I didn't need a script, I didn't need a thing. I just spoke genuinely from the heart. And that proved itself to be amazing. And now, I mean, I've spoken on hundreds of stages, hundreds of podcasts, did a TED Talk. You know, I have no fear getting up in front of people and having a conversation, but I have found a way to do that that's very unique when it's with a group of people, because I don't go pontificate. I saw those people growing up, you know, think of a standard televangelist. That's what I saw.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

So it's the redeemed version of that, which I sit up there and I'll look at a group of people and I'll just like, wait 10 seconds, and they're like, is this guy having a stroke? Like, what the hell's going on? And I just go, like, so, how's everybody doing? And I'm pulsing energetically the room. I can feel the anxiety, the uncertainty. I can feel that someone is struggling with a severe illness. I can tell that someone's probably dealing with a very intense relationship, you know, exchange. I can tell that someone in that room has been sexually abused.

[Sean Kaplan]

Damn.

[Nick Cavuto]

I can feel it. I can know it. And, dude, I call it out sometimes. I'm dead serious. But that's the gifting that I grew up with, is that ability to intuitively pulse and sense the room. So all I'm doing is I'm pulsing, getting a confirmation on these things, and then I start calling certain things out.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, yeah, dude.

[Sean Kaplan]

Imagine calling someone out for that and.

[Nick Cavuto]

They never told anyone it's happened. Here's the thing. I don't prompt it in a way of where I go, I know someone in the stream has this. I will say something, though, of, like, I know some of you are probably going through some of the deepest, darkest moments of your life right now. And the first thing that I want to tell you is that you're not alone. The most horrific thing is literally scaling the walls of hell and going through the deepest, most painful, traumatic, horrible season of your life and not feeling like anyone even cares or knows. And when someone can be in that room and they can pulse, sense that and then call it out, you're like, maybe God's real. Maybe there's something. Maybe the universe has got my back. Maybe there's something out there, a force out there that loves me more than my mom does, that is actually caring and seeking to, like, be on my side. When you can feel, like, a force that's way bigger than humanity, and you can even for just one moment, 1%, be like, maybe this thing's got my back. Because no one knows that, but this dude somehow does. It's not about me. I'm the messenger. It's about allowing them to illuminate that there's something greater out there, that there's a deep basis of faith. Let's just call it. Be it a currency of faith that they can go like, maybe I do believe that there's something that's greater, that has my back. That can change everything for somebody. So. And then the conversations that come after are always so powerful. But, you know, I'm a hope dealer and a dope healer. I just have found the way of, you know, in business, a lot of what I do, it's pseudo. It's like I solve operational problems for, you know, some of the most prominent figures in entrepreneurship and business and entertainment. However, how I do that is very unique.

[Sean Kaplan]

Very.

[Nick Cavuto]

Because it comes down to the individual and their personal. Individual success and guiding them in the right direction and being truly a confidant. You get three different types of people in your business. You got confidants, and those are the people who are for you, period. They don't care what you do. They don't care if you're like bankrupt or a billionaire. They're for you. And I've always had a very cherished position with a lot of people for an extended amount of time of where I'm behind the scenes. And you would never know that I was even there unless you saw me like in a picture behind them. You would never know that that person's success was in duality of what we created together in co creation.

[Sean Kaplan]

And you don't care to take credit.

[Nick Cavuto]

Not at all. Because it's. I think it's collective. It's like, why should I take credit? There's so many different people who have contributed. Their ancestors, their great, great great grandparents. And the sacrifices they made are just as important as the ones that I did. What I figured out is that I don't want to do things alone. I'm. We're in a season of Avengers. You know, it's actually. My buddy said this really well. He's like, okay, you're gonna rock solo. Good luck. Because you're going against teams of five, ten, fifteen, a hundred people. So I'm like, if you want to defeat Thanos, meaning if your vision is big enough, then you want to collaborate and bring people along on that journey.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah, Trump right now.

[Nick Cavuto]

Hell yeah, dude. Dude. It's a perfect example. But that's where the world is trending. It's trending towards. We have to find what's common. We have to find the areas of life of where we have agreeance on the right things, of where we believe the right things, so that we can take all that force of energy and push it in the right direction. But it's just so hard to do it alone. And it's not that fun. It's not that fun to lose alone. It's not that fun to win alone. Like, I want to win alongside the people who I believe in.

[Sean Kaplan]

It's not fun at all. I've taken vacation solo, thinking it did amazing. Got the nicest hotel, and I'm bored out of my mind.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, dude. You want to run with people who care and where you're up to something that's meaningful. And that's why I love those Avengers movies, because you have all these unique characters with all their unique backgrounds, but they're all on one core mission, that they know that they need each other to win. And I think humanity, when they bind together and they go towards something, they have a rally cry and they identify a common enemy. I think that's where humanity shines brightest.

[Sean Kaplan]

Absolutely, yeah. Now, you got an interesting relationship with your father growing up. Did you feel like making him happy was a big driver for you? Growing, growing up in your teenage years and 20s, making him proud of you?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, I was really, I was really afraid of my father, and that kept me out of a lot of trouble. There were many times where we'd be with our friends and doing stuff and I'd be like, I'm out of here because if my dad finds out I'm here, like, I'm dead.

[Sean Kaplan]

So he parented you fear based parenting?

[Nick Cavuto]

I think so. I think he did the best that he knew how.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

You know, and my dad, his own struggles when he was younger and, you know, lack of safety and all these other things. And so I think a lot of that contributed into it. You know, he's part of a first generation family in the U.S. and so, you know, like, they'd have conscious parenting back then, so. But at the end of the day, I think a certain level of the fear of God in, you know, in my life, at least I can speak for my story as a kid was actually really healthy. Like, my dad never physically did anything, you know, but there was just like this, don't screw up. Never academically. It all had to do with character. So I think I can look back on it now and be really grateful for it. But yeah, you know, you want a healthy balance, even if it's a 51, 49 of where I trust the safety of that parental figure more than the fear of the emotional explosions and the tyrannical behavior. And I think it's probably like 80, 20.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

Which has really, like impacted, you know, things. But I cherish the lessons. But there's a level of safety there that's, that's just not there. And that's okay.

[Sean Kaplan]

And you had to go back and address that trauma. Right. Eventually. You can't run away forever.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, absolutely. And I've had hard talks with my dad and talk to him about it. He's very apologetic. You know, my dad's very different. You know, it's. As your parents get older, they. It doesn't go for everybody, but they soften up a bit, see things a little bit differently.

[Sean Kaplan]

And that was a massive fight for me too, because my mom's Asian, and a lot of Asian people use academics to further their. Their career. But for me, that wasn't what I aligned with. So that was a fight for years, you know, in high school and college. But now she's the biggest supporter of the podcast.

[Nick Cavuto]

Wow.

[Sean Kaplan]

But it took some time to get there.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. What flipped for her?

[Sean Kaplan]

She saw how passionate I was about it, I think, and she realized that academics is not the only way to get success these days. I think it's changed a lot since our parents generation where college actually got you jobs and, you know, it was valuable.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah.

[Sean Kaplan]

And much cheaper.

[Nick Cavuto]

Don't. Yeah, absolutely.

[Sean Kaplan]

It's like 40k a year now.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, just no joke, dude. It's crazy. And for what, you know, I'd rather.

[Sean Kaplan]

Hire Dave Meltzer or Adley to coach me.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, totally. Right. Like, absolutely. And what about your dad?

[Sean Kaplan]

Supported me.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah.

[Sean Kaplan]

He was an entrepreneur. He had a 9 to 5, but he sold books on the side and did very well. So I witnessed that growing up, and he was a big inspiration.

[Nick Cavuto]

Wow. That's incredible.

[Sean Kaplan]

So I got to experience both, which I think is important too. And I'm multicultural, so I got to experience the Asian side. And my dad's Irish, so I got the alcoholic side.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yep.

[Sean Kaplan]

So I got to see where I wanted to fit in that.

[Nick Cavuto]

Totally, man. Wow.

[Sean Kaplan]

It's important to get different perspectives. I think a lot of people grow up in a town and they're still there.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, dude. Absolutely. And, you know, and my best friend's Korean. So, like, what's interesting is, like, he shared with me a lot about, you know, and I'm Italian, you know, on both sides. And my. My dad's half British, so my grandmother, like, survived World War II. Bombs going off, like it's a whole deal. Raised herself. Her parents died when she was like, under 12 years old. Yeah. There's so, so much resilience there. I mean, that's. I think what's gotten me through so much of my life is, like, there is a part that wants to continue to make her proud. Near death experience when I was five years old, almost drowned in a pool.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow. You remember that?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. Oh, dude, that's brutal. That's like. It's like hardwired in my DNA at this point. Oh, yeah?

[Sean Kaplan]

What happened?

[Nick Cavuto]

Um, so I was in a pool at a state park, um, and my parents, you know, and I got four kids. So I get this. They're just talking to a couple of friends that they saw, and there was actually a girl who's probably 17, 18 years old. I was 5. Uh, and she had special needs and didn't really realize what was happening and went to, you know, just play. And I essentially got waterboarded when I was five for about three minutes. Yeah. So jumped on me and just over and over and over and over in the water. Yeah. Super intense, man. But that survival mechanism, I think, especially at that age, I truly believe that it gets coded in your DNA, because from that point forward, I've had a no, quit, survive at any costs, high performance type of attitude. And so it's been a wonderful thing. But what's so interesting, man, is I was petrified of water. And when I was 12 years old, I remember I was at a campsite with my grandma because we would go camping with her every summer. And she's like, you want to go down the pool? And I'm like, grandma, you know the story. Like, no. And she's like, well, why don't we just, you know, she. It's like exposure therapy. Just I'm going to very slowly get you to look at the thing you don't want to see.

[Sean Kaplan]

Right.

[Nick Cavuto]

And we got down there and she would knit hats and scarves for kids who are underprivileged. And she would do it literally all year round. And then at Christmas time, she'd give it to all these orphanages and stuff. I mean, she's a saint, amazing lady. But we got down to the pool and she sat down and she's just knitting. And I'm like, what am I going to do? Just like staying here all day? So she's like, so you're going to get in, you know, whatever. And I'm like, I don't know, I don't know. And like, you could just like experience that moment by moment, you know? And then I finally, like, stay on the edge of the pool. And it's like, I'm faced with a decision of like, am I going to do this or not? And she didn't pressure me, she just was with me. This is such an interesting concept of like, holding space for people who are going through hard things, you don't. People have a lot of courage. Sometimes they just need to know, like, are you going to be there if I die? Like, if I'm about to die, will you please help me? And I knew she would.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

And so finally it's just like, screw it. What's the worst that could happen? She's here. And I just jumped in.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

At 12 years old, I over overcame the greatest fear of my life. And so what does that produce in someone when they face other challenges? And literally that summer when I was 12, I started going, going door to door and selling candles.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

And just started slaying like this whole new version of me of like unlimited possibility of optimism to confront whatever realities were in my life. To just overcome fear became fun. And I think that was a staple to my success. I don't know if I'd be the same person today without that experience. So I've learned how to be immensely grateful for that and to also, like forgive my parents. You know, I had one of my therapists who I talked to, she said, well, you cherry picked the story because you don't usually tell that your dad jumped in and saved you.

[Sean Kaplan]

Oh, he did.

[Nick Cavuto]

He did.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yep. And so that's always been a thing for me of like, whenever I tell the story, I always. But then at the end of like, my dad was the one who, yes, I had a lot of struggle with, but he's also the one that, like, in the moment that mattered most, he was the one who shut up. So there's, that's why there's such an interesting parallel in relationship. But I believe that like, you know, fathers are the greatest representation of what can redemption can look like in someone's life. And it doesn't have to be a me versus him thing. You know, it can be a let's band together and co create redemption on both of our stories together. And so I love that I have.

[Sean Kaplan]

A very similar story because my, my father never showed me physical love. He never gave me a hug.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah.

[Sean Kaplan]

I think the only time he did was when I was moving out of jersey to LA.

[Nick Cavuto]

Wow.

[Sean Kaplan]

And I was 2022.

[Nick Cavuto]

Wow.

[Sean Kaplan]

That was the only time he's ever hugged me, never told me he loved me. And then we found out at six years old, he got diagnosed with Asperger's.

[Nick Cavuto]

Wow.

[Sean Kaplan]

So that really messed me up, dude. Because the whole time he did love me, he just didn't know how to show it. Wow. You know what I mean? So that like really got Me messed up.

[Nick Cavuto]

How did. What did you learn from that? Like, now.

[Sean Kaplan]

Basically that, like, he just loved me so much. He just didn't know how to express it, man. And he had so many demons. He fought. He was a drug addict and alcoholic, and I think he just got in his own head.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. You know, it's hard to show compassion and love to others when you feel so much shame. Shame is a prison.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

And it's a prison that will not allow you to release the thing that you want to the most. And then additionally having some neurodivergent things going on. It's like. That's just. It's a. It's a. It's a part of the puzzle that doesn't allow you to experience what you needed to. But what's so neat is there's always redemption, man. Like, whenever you look now back at the story, it's like, geez, I just wish I would have known sooner.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

Like, I wouldn't have maybe formulated the stories in my head that I did, but that will serve its intentional purpose in your life.

[Sean Kaplan]

I believe that it's been a big lesson because I picked it up from him. And even with my fiance, I wouldn't tell her I love you, and I wouldn't hug her or kiss or show her affection, but I've learned how to do that now.

[Nick Cavuto]

That's amazing, dude.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah. It's valuable, dude.

[Nick Cavuto]

Powerful.

[Sean Kaplan]

You also went through another crazy, traumatic incident last year with the school shooting. Yeah. With your kids. So they were at the school when it happened.

[Nick Cavuto]

They were, man. I showed up on a, you know, Monday morning, dropped my kids off at school and said, hey, go be leaders today. That's why I always tell them every day that I drop them off. And you know what's interesting is my office is directly across the street from the school. So I'm literally like, you pull out, and then you make a left, and I pull right into my office building. You know, that's where I used to be. And so I dropped him off, you know, and then I was on a zoom call, this dude from Canada, and then my wife called, and we have this rule, like, you call twice, there's something going on.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's a good rule.

[Nick Cavuto]

It's a very good rule. Yeah, it's huge. Because then you always know, like, it's a. You need to pick up. So I picked up the phone, and I'm just like, hey, babe, what's up? And I told the guy, hey, one second. I have this rule with my wife. She calls twice. So I mute him, pick it up. And she's like, babe, there's a shooting at the school. There's a shooter at the kid's school right now. And I'm like, wait, wait, hold on. Like, I'm thinking I can't. Like, I'm not even hearing this correctly. And I'm like, wait, what? And she's like, there's a shooter at Covenant. And, dude, I have never felt whatever all those body chemicals were in that moment that it's like an insane surge of adrenaline and everything else. I just slammed down my computer. I still had her on the phone, and I ripped open my office door, and I began running down the hallway. Actually, my shoe fell off. I was running so hard and fast that my shoe flipped off my foot. And I'm just, like, pushing people out of the way, like, in the middle of the office, run back, grab my shoe, and I go to the elevator, and I'm just, like, pounding the elevator buttons, like, trying to get down there as quick as possible. And I pick up the phone again, and I'm like, okay. And on that sprint, though, I had, like, this 10 seconds of adrenaline hit. And then I was reminded, this Taoist monk who spent 45 years as a psychologist when I was doing therapy, he gave me the greatest lesson in life. And he said, nick, you know what? You're going to have life experiences, things that are going to happen. And if you allow your emotions to immediately follow your life experiences, your belief systems are going to be very skewed. You're going to see the world in a way that is untrue. And so he said, the way that you create the grand filter to your life to protect the greatest treasure, which is your emotional consciousness. So the way that you do that is life events will happen, but you need to insert your belief systems, then your emotions, and that's how you truly guard your heart. So I was reminded of that. Dude, you know, it's just like the military. Like, in the greatest moment of stress, you want to rely on your training and not your, you know, nature, really, and stress responses. And so sprint, 10 seconds. This whole thing's going on, getting over it, pounding, pounding, pounding. And I pick up the phone again, and I'm going to talk to my wife. And it was like, what is your belief? Like, I just felt it. Like, what is your belief about this? And I relied on my training because 100 therapy sessions. I mean, what's so crazy is I stopped doing that. Like, all the therapy and the intensity around that sabbatical two weeks before this happened. So I truly believe that God prepared me for the whole moment. And so she started crying, of course, and she said, I hope my babies are okay. And I said, our kids are fine. And, dude, you know what? My honest belief was in that moment, they're either dead and they're with God, or they're alive and they're safe.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

It's one or the other. You know, the contrast of life in those moments gets pretty crazy.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

But I knew that either way that they were okay. And pounding that button gotten that thing. She's bawling her eyes out. I'm talking through her with this. And just. They're going to be okay. They're going to be okay. They're going to be okay. Get down. Fourth floor to the first floor. Bolt out the front doors. There's all these people. There's literally police. There's helicopters. It's insanity. It's like, where the office is. The police tape's already down there. This is, like, 20 minutes after it happened.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

And, I mean, the police were there and took care of it in 13 minutes. This is about seven minutes after, like, everything was done. But you got to remember, like, in that timeline, it's like every second feels like an hour. So I get down, I'm running. I'm, like, sprinting as fast as I can down to where the reunification point is. And I see my son with his class walking down, hand in hand, and they had crossed a main road. They were on the playground, and the shooter walked past the playground with 70 kids on it. What? She could have just turned and opened fire on all of them and didn't. And still to this day, we have no idea why. It doesn't make any sense.

[Sean Kaplan]

Whoa.

[Nick Cavuto]

So we truly, you know, believe that God preserved our kids that day and protected them, and so.

[Sean Kaplan]

Did she shoot anyone?

[Nick Cavuto]

She did. She killed six people.

[Sean Kaplan]

Oh, she went inside.

[Nick Cavuto]

She went inside.

[Sean Kaplan]

So it was a targeted attack. It wasn't very.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah, very, very. It was targeted. It was intentional. You know, three. Three teachers and. Or staff and three kids.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

Third grade.

[Sean Kaplan]

So it must have been former teachers. She had a grudge.

[Nick Cavuto]

She didn't. You know, we've got a lot of, you know, additional information that they don't share, like, on the mainstream news and stuff. Um, just obviously, because we're parents and there's a different level of complexity. Involvement. Um, but no, it's just the best way that the detectives and the FBI explain this after, like, hours and hours of. Of answering questions and helping us and answering what they can said, it's as simple as this. And I know it's hard to hear, but pure evil showed up that day. There's no other way to describe it. Uh, this person had unique challenges. And in the process of that, there was a. It seems kind of like there was a former version of who she was that she wanted to take off this planet. And so someone who's very suicidal and, you know, dealing with these things and had nothing to do with those kids and everything to do with, like, an internal rage about self and just was taken out on others. So it's a. It's a sad thing. You know, there's a certain level of empathy. My wife's father was also murdered when she was three. And this is the second time we've had to deal with this. Most people don't have to deal with it once, deal with it twice. But I'm really grateful to say that my kids are doing amazing. They're so resilient, dude. Like, kids are so resilient. They're. They're better kids today, I think, because of what happened. And we've trained them and we've created space and we've done a lot of therapy and all the things that need to be done.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

But I remember, like, when this happened and the first time I had a conversation, I'm like, our kids will march back up that hill. The part of the Civil War was fought on that hill.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

And I'm oh, there's a lot of history behind it. And I'm like, our kids are going to march back up that hill because these are the things that they overcome that create them into champions of who they're going to be tomorrow. We're not going to cower in fear. We're not going to step back. We're not going to play defense. We're going to handle what needs to be handled. We're going to heal, and then we're going to go on the offensive. So if my kids beat death at 5 and 7, what else are they going to do by. Change the world?

[Sean Kaplan]

Absolutely. A lot of parents probably pull their kids out of that school, Right?

[Nick Cavuto]

A lot less than you think.

[Sean Kaplan]

Oh, yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

Because now it's the safest school that you're going to find in the whole city. It's like Fort Knox. I mean, in a good way. It's not, you know, it's not like you walk in and you're like, walking into, like, you know, like a prison, you know, like, where it's like. It's these lang layers and layers. It's extremely secure, and there's very high levels of security and personnel who are there and all those things. So, you know, we feel great about it because of that. And, yeah, there's a lot of families who are impacted in different ways. You know, I'm one of people who were very lucky to say, like, my kids didn't see anything. My daughter was 10ft away from the shooter. Wow. Thankfully.

[Sean Kaplan]

Walked past her.

[Nick Cavuto]

Yeah. I mean, that. She was. She was safe. She's basically the distance between a drywall and, you know, you just. You just think about that and go like, this person's coming up a hallway, and my daughter is literally on the opposite side of where she's firing.

[Sean Kaplan]

That's nuts.

[Nick Cavuto]

So, you know, some auditory things, like, have been really interesting for. For her as she's processed. Those, like, no balloons. You know, different types of things that, like, you just got to deal with now and be mindful of. But at the same time, our reminder is always like, there were heroes that day. There are people who love you and people who fought to make sure that everyone was safe. But Vanderbilt was preparing for 60 casualties or at least injuries.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

And the teachers were the ones who saved those kids lives.

[Sean Kaplan]

Really.

[Nick Cavuto]

They were fully trained. They knew what to do in that type of scenario. Extremely trained. Extremely.

[Sean Kaplan]

Were they armed, the teachers?

[Nick Cavuto]

I don't know if I don't know how. I don't think I can answer that question. I want to put that legal. The short answer is yes. There are staff members who. And obviously now there's a completely different level of security. The person who primarily is armed was not there that day. They're on vacation.

[Sean Kaplan]

Oh, they weren't there.

[Nick Cavuto]

They were not there that day on vacation. But armed with a pistol and someone's got a rifle, that would have been a battle that probably wouldn't have gone the direction that we wanted to. And this guy is very fearless, so he would have jumped right in. But that's just a. That's an unfair fight. And so, you know, all things are what they are. But, you know, a lot of empathy, a lot of growing, a lot of learning, a lot of understanding.

[Sean Kaplan]

But, yeah, that's a fear that parents have these days, you know, sending their kids off and there might be shooting out at school.

[Nick Cavuto]

I think it's a great way for people to awaken of how evil the world is. I think, like, we sometimes live in this fantasy land, like, let's care about, you know, certain issues that don't really matter. I'm like, well, our kids Safety really matters. And there's so many preventative measures that don't go into, like, the hyper politics of, like, you know, gun usage and, you know, banning firearms and all this stuff. There's very practical things, very practical things that every school district that they can solve that cost tens of thousands of dollars, not millions or hundreds of thousands of dollars that can be done. And even just training, you know, like the Dude Brinks, B R I N X, he's part of a safety security team is Metro here in Nashville. And he was the guy who, who trained the school, and he trained schools. He got over 750 inquiries, like, within the first week after. So what's good is, like, these situations, as horrific as they are, what the trend is showing is that people are becoming more and more mindful of how important it is to have this solved. And, dude, there's just another shooting at a kid's school today.

[Sean Kaplan]

What?

[Nick Cavuto]

Yes, in Georgia.

[Sean Kaplan]

Oh, my God.

[Nick Cavuto]

So I'm just, you know, my heart's breaking for those people because I know exactly what they're going through right now. So I'm going to find a way to reach out to whoever I need to and to try to be a voice of encouragement. The one thing, Sean, I think that was really interesting, and hopefully people who are going through hard things or know somebody who is. That they pay attention to in this part is like, we had people who would say, hey, love you, praying for you, or, hey, we're thinking about you. We're so sorry. Let us know if we can do anything. It's the worst thing to say to somebody who's going through literally. So if you understood how the brain doesn't function under that level of stress, the idea to even answer, here's what I need you to do for me is really, really hard. And I'm not like, again, I'm not like, slamming anybody who said that to us or to others. I just want to give awareness on what to do. We had a couple friends, one my brother, one of his best friends from high school. I haven't talked to this girl in the 25 years. You know, like, it's crazy. We got home after that crazy day and spending five hours waiting and making sure that our friends and our kids were alive. And we showed up and there was dinner on our front door.

[Sean Kaplan]

Wow.

[Nick Cavuto]

People who have been through really hard, traumatic things, they know how to serve people who are going through those because they've been through it before and have seen what we've seen now, which is don't ask, just Solve a problem and solve the most basic problem that you can find. And so when we got home and dinner was there, we were like, our kids haven't eaten in, like, 10 hours. Like, like, simple stuff. Right. And to me, I'll never forget that. And I'll never forget what. What she did for our family.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

And I hadn't even talked to her in 25 years.

[Sean Kaplan]

Powerful.

[Nick Cavuto]

So simple things. When people are going through hard things, just solve a problem that's really practical. Don't ask them how they can't think. So just, like, solve it. And love on him.

[Sean Kaplan]

Best advice I've ever heard. It's so simple. But, yeah, people, when a loved one passes, they're like, how can I help? You know, nothing.

[Nick Cavuto]

Don't send flowers either. No, it's. It sounds so crazy. And my grandmother taught me this after she lost her son. She says we had so many flowers that it, like, trump. Like, flowers traumatized me because there were so many flowers. Just solve a simple problem.

[Sean Kaplan]

Right? Dinner would make.

[Nick Cavuto]

Dude, it's so simple.

[Sean Kaplan]

Make that night, honestly.

[Nick Cavuto]

Oh, dinner.

[Sean Kaplan]

That would mean a lot.

[Nick Cavuto]

And it shows because the person who did it, I hadn't talked to in 25 years.

[Sean Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Nick Cavuto]

So again, people just know. There's a. There's a deepness there that they just know how to serve in that moment. And so that's what I'm going to be looking to do tonight, is how can I help those people who are going through a lot of stuff.

[Sean Kaplan]

I love it. Nick, any final messages, anything you want to get off your chest before we wrap up?

[Nick Cavuto]

Dude, it's my only consistent one that I like to tell people, which is if you want to change the world and encourage five people a day, people are starving for a sense of encouragement, and it's such a simple thing that we can do. And so that's my story. I'm sticking to it, brother.

[Sean Kaplan]

We'll link your socials below. Thanks for coming.

[Nick Cavuto]

Thanks, man. Appreciate you, bro. Much love, man. Thank you.