Rising from the Trenches: John Huffman’s Journey from Struggle to Success on The Determined Society

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Rising from the Trenches: John Huffman’s Journey from Struggle to Success" on The Determined Society

Release Date: December 9, 2024
Host: Shawn French
Guest: John Huffman, CEO of Huffman's Construction Group

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1. Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Determined Society, host Shawn French welcomes John Huffman, a local entrepreneur from Naples, Florida. John shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth battling addiction to becoming a successful CEO and motivational speaker. The conversation delves deep into themes of personal development, faith, overcoming adversity, and the importance of prioritizing what truly matters in life.

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2. Early Life and Struggles

John Huffman opens up about his tumultuous childhood marked by instability and exposure to drugs. He recounts spending almost four years in juvenile detention centers, being the youngest to enter the Drill Academy in Immokalee, Florida, a rigorous 180-day boot camp program at just 12 years old.

John Huffman [08:08]: "Everyone's struggle looks different. There can be a rich person that's wealthy. That's his trench too. It just might not look like yours."

John reflects on the chaos at home, revealing that his mother was struggling with addiction when he was around 11 years old. This environment led him to run the streets, engage in hustling, and ultimately became an entrepreneurial spirit, albeit in the wrong avenues.

John Huffman [10:07]: "I was smoking crack, dude. I went from just slinging powder... it was all a hustle."

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3. Entrepreneurial Journey and Mistakes

Despite his early missteps, John's innate entrepreneurial drive was evident. By 24, he had already ventured into various businesses, including a soft and facial company. However, his relentless pursuit of success often led him to emulate the very things he once mocked.

John Huffman [00:00]: "I was an entrepreneur, always was an entrepreneur... I became everything I ever made fun of."

John acknowledges that his business ventures were more about survival and hustling rather than sustainable growth, highlighting the thin line between ambition and destructive behavior.

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4. Addiction and Turning Point

John candidly discusses his battle with addiction, emphasizing how he fell deeper into substance abuse despite his entrepreneurial ventures. His turning point came after years of hoarding stress-induced habits and realizing the hollow nature of his pursuits.

John Huffman [12:12]: "Nobody knows they're about to walk into what they're walking into. The enemy comes beautiful... one day he looks at you and pulls the mask off and says, you're stuck."

This realization led John to seek solace and strength through faith, marking the beginning of his transformation.

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5. Faith and Spirituality

A significant portion of John's recovery journey centers around his newfound faith. He describes a pivotal moment when he prayed fervently, asking God for forgiveness and strength to overcome his addictions.

John Huffman [14:46]: "I surrendered and said, Lord, give me enough strength to complete this habit this week... He directs my path."

John emphasizes that his relationship with God shifted from a transactional one to a genuine, sustaining faith that empowers him daily.

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6. Personal Development and Overcoming Challenges

John shares practical strategies that have aided his personal growth, including embracing failures as part of the journey and maintaining consistency in his efforts.

John Huffman [24:13]: "I wake up tomorrow and I put my pants back on... you don't drink, brush your teeth, and go back to doing what you did the day before you drank."

He advocates for resilience, urging listeners to view setbacks as temporary and to continuously strive for improvement without dwelling on past mistakes.

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7. Business Success and Prioritizing Life

Transitioning from his struggles, John discusses how prioritizing family and faith over relentless work led to greater success in his business endeavors. By focusing on meaningful relationships and sustainable business practices, he was able to increase his income while reducing his workload and stress.

John Huffman [28:56]: "I'm making four times now what I used to make. Because I was making like 230 to 280. With Innovative Design System and I was killing myself. I make right at quadruple that now."

This approach not only enhanced his financial stability but also enriched his personal life, allowing him to spend quality time with his family and build a supportive community.

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8. Thoughts on Society and Personal Growth

John and Shawn delve into societal pressures and the glorification of constant hustle. They critique the unhealthy obsession with grinding, as promoted by influencers like Jocko Willink and David Goggins, arguing that true success lies in balance and purposeful action rather than relentless busyness.

Shawn French [26:07]: "Social media is a big contributor... you can feel like, okay, I'm good. Like, I'm moving, right? But then you see stuff and you're like, dude, I better go harder."

John adds that true progress is often mistakenly equated with busy schedules rather than meaningful achievements.

John Huffman [30:15]: "We're mistaken movement for progress."

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9. Legacy and Family

A heartfelt discussion unfolds around the importance of building a legacy through meaningful relationships and imparting values to the next generation. John emphasizes that true success is measured by the love and respect of one's children and the positive impact one has on their lives.

Shawn French [46:43]: "What are your kids saying? What are your loved ones saying? That is your measure of true success."

John shares personal anecdotes about his relationships with his children, highlighting how his recovery and business decisions have fostered stronger family bonds and inspired his daughters to pursue their dreams.

John Huffman [43:37]: "I'm thankful that I'm able bodied... the ability to work out, the ability to get up and go."

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10. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with both host and guest reflecting on their journeys and encouraging listeners to pursue their passions with integrity, resilience, and a focus on what truly matters. They stress the importance of continuous improvement, faith, and building a legacy that transcends financial success.

John Huffman [51:35]: "Bless the poor... a righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. That is the legacy."

Shawn reinforces the message of the episode by urging listeners to value relationships and personal growth over superficial achievements.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• John Huffman [08:08]: "Everyone's struggle looks different... It doesn't matter how it got there."

• John Huffman [12:12]: "Nobody knows they're about to walk into what they're walking into. The enemy comes beautiful... you're stuck."

• John Huffman [24:13]: "I wake up tomorrow and I put my pants back on... you don't drink, brush your teeth, and go back to doing what you did the day before you drank."

• John Huffman [30:15]: "We're mistaken movement for progress."

• Shawn French [46:43]: "What are your kids saying? What are your loved ones saying? That is your measure of true success."

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Final Thoughts

"Rising from the Trenches: John Huffman’s Journey from Struggle to Success" is a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity for change and growth. John's story serves as an inspiration for anyone facing their own battles, highlighting that with faith, determination, and the right priorities, one can overcome even the most daunting obstacles to achieve lasting success and fulfillment.

Transcript

[John Huffman]

I was an entrepreneur, always was an entrepreneur. And that was some of my trouble that I got into, was entrepreneurial in the wrong areas, but it's still entrepreneurial, but it's entrepreneurial. I became everything I ever made fun of. I promised myself something as a child. Even in detention centers, I always knew I was going to be somebody. Like, I just know I was just trying to take the shortcuts, right? I like wanted to play Scarface and then before I got shot, just take all that money and invest it in a legal form. But obviously that's a movie and Scarface gets shot. So anybody that's trying to do that, you're going to die or go to prison. Just telling you, don't do it, don't do it.

[Sean French]

This one luck. I let the pain inspire me. I put my all in. Everything I'm doing up until it's done, I mean for the entirety, I put it in overtime. I be working. Just know I'm a go for mine, cuz I earned it. They watch and I know it's time I confirmed it. The whole society. Determined.

[John Huffman]

Determined.

[Sean French]

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Determined Society. I'm your host, Sean French, and I'm excited to bring to you an amazing guest today. But before I introduce him, please, if you aren't already following the show, hit subscribe on follow it. And on Apple or Spotify or even YouTube, let us know what you think about it. The only way we're growing right now is is by you guys showing us love. And I'd appreciate it follow all of our socials at the Determined Society on Instagram and at the Sean French on Instagram as well. So without further ado, let me get to the meat and potatoes of today. I have my boy John Huffman here today. He's local here in Naples, Florida with me. He's a CEO of Huffman's construction group. Completely turned his life around. I think you're really going to enjoy his story. But, man, welcome to the show, buddy.

[John Huffman]

Man, I appreciate it, man. Thanks. It's an honor for being here, bro. That's for sure.

[Sean French]

It's an honor sitting in front of you, man. Just, I want to, I want to publicly acknowledge you real quick. I just want to thank you for bringing me into your event at Speak Life. Yeah, man, A couple Fridays ago.

[Unknown]

Yep.

[Sean French]

Here in Naples, you didn't have to do that, but you know, he had an event for the local entrepreneurs pouring into them for their business. And he let me in for free. And I just Want to say thank you for that. That meant a lot to me. And just to get to meet you and just hear a little bit more about your story and get your little bit of a. Infectious energy. Dude, it was cool. Yeah. Did you. Okay, hold on. I got you. Crack me up. I got to tell you this.

[John Huffman]

All right, I'm going to say this.

[Sean French]

In front of everybody now, so you guys listen to me, and I get. It's true. And you're going to see it after. After I say it. Dude, you got like a white Kevin Hart energy, bro. Like, mother. Like, dude, when you're like, you know the stage, like, my little me me, I'm like, come on, man.

[John Huffman]

Come on. So.

[Sean French]

Come on.

[John Huffman]

So my cousins and people that are close to me all call me the white Kevin Hart, dude.

[Sean French]

No, you are, dude. You are. And it's funny.

[John Huffman]

I need that Kevin Hart money, bro.

[Sean French]

Dude, come on.

[John Huffman]

Who doesn't?

[Sean French]

Who doesn't? Who?

[John Huffman]

Jeez.

[Sean French]

Like, it's so funny because I was. I was there and I was laughing when you did that.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And my wife literally text me a picture of Kevin Hart coming to. Coming to town.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

On December 17th, and I'm like, here I am plugging his ass. He doesn't need that.

[John Huffman]

But.

[Sean French]

But, like, I'm like, buy tickets now. Like, buy him. Because I'm, like, looking at the white Kevin right now, and it was just weird timing, so. But thank you for. For having me there. I thought. That's really interesting, man. That was really interesting.

[John Huffman]

Well, I wanted to invite you, man. Somehow we crossed paths on social media, started following you, and I. He's asking you, like, man, what is it exactly that you do? And, you know, no one knows. Like, bro, there's two heavy hitters. Enables, bro. Like, did you believe? I'm like, let's get the freaking gap. Can you make this?

[Sean French]

There's multiple. Like, it's wild, dude. It's wild. Social media is crazy. But to your point, it's, like, funny because when you asked me, like, what do you do?

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know, it's like, that's something that people really ask me because I don't ever talk about it. Right. Like, yeah, I own a payroll company. Yeah. I, you know, I'm a show host, some mental performance. I probably should change that because really what I'm building is. Is the biggest media brand on the planet. That's my.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, let's go.

[Sean French]

That's my goal.

[John Huffman]

I claim that for you, man. I mean, to.

[Sean French]

Come on, man. Like, think about it. You look at barstool sports and no shade of port. No, I love what he's done with his brand. But, you know, I mean, to be fair, it is a lot of, you know, drunken sorority, fraternity type slapstick humor. And I, and me and my partner, Pat Sikins, we thought, well, what if we built something that would give people real value? Yeah, man, like real value. So a long time ago, I wanted to change the name of my show. It's like no one gets the Determined Society. No one understands. But now it makes sense.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

So I'm putting it out there, I'm speaking, I'm speaking life into it because I truly feel that having a bunch of show hosts come under the umbrella of the Determined Society and spreading light.

[John Huffman]

That's good, man.

[Sean French]

Come on, man. That's what we're doing over here.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, that's. Yeah, I can connect with that. That's probably why we, you know, have them kindred spirits and have that cohesion. Because I, I feel the same way, man. It's like we gotta, we gotta connect, get with like minded people and spread that hope, man. You know?

[Sean French]

You know, it's funny, I think. Was it you that said, you know, we need hope? Many people need hope.

[John Huffman]

Right?

[Sean French]

And it's such an interesting word, but.

[John Huffman]

What does hope mean to you, man? Hope is like belief, you know what I mean? Like, you have to, you got to believe in something, you know what I mean? And I believe, like there's people that don't have hope. They're believing in fear, right? So it's like to talk about giving somebody hope is changing their belief system about who they are and what they can achieve. And I believe like when, you know, God changed my life, you know what I mean? Like, that's what he showed me was like, this is the plans I have for you. You know what I mean? It's not about John Huffman and what John Huffman thinks he is. This is what I say you are. And it changed. It's like no matter how jacked up I am, no matter how much faults I've had, no matter. You were just, we were just talking about like your struggles. No matter the struggles that Sean has, no matter the fears that Sean has, God says this about me. So everything that I say about myself or they say about me is irrelevant when he says this. And to me, that's hope. Like, that's hope. Like, it's not who I am, it's who I'm going to become. And that's, that's who he shows me. And that's where the Hope is.

[Sean French]

It's so wild because my. My show that went out Monday, Travis Wallace, he sat there in that chair and said, who you are is not who you are right now. It's who you're going to become. And you just said the exact same thing. I just feel like I'm getting.

[John Huffman]

Let's go.

[Sean French]

Flipping goosebumps, bro. Because, like, he's just trying to say, hey, bro, I'm here. Yeah, listen, I pay attention. It's like, you know, there's so many people coming into my life now that know that where we are right now is not who we are, but. But who are. Who are we going to become? Right? Is ultimately who we technically are. And it's so funny because. Not funny, but, you know, you're. You're sitting here talking about how, you know, God changed you. Like, you don't come from, you know, you don't come from, you know, like a easy slate pass. What are you comfortable talking about?

[John Huffman]

Yeah, absolutely, man. Absolutely, man.

[Sean French]

Because I want the audience to really dive into your story, because, again, it's all about stories, right?

[John Huffman]

Yeah, absolutely, man. You know, if you see me today, man, you wouldn't see the struggle. But I believe everything's birthed out of discomfort, out of struggle. But everybody's struggle looks different. We use. There's a. There's a word that a lot of people use called the trenches. And what the God showed me about five years ago is we look at. We look at the trenches and we think dirty and ugly, right? But everybody has their own trench, right? There can be a rich person that's wealthy. That's his. He's going through a trench, too. His trench just might not look like yours, right? So same with wounds, right? Like, we look at somebody and go, man, why is he hurt? Why is he playing victim? This is the life he had. His wound might just be as deep as yours is. Your wound might took harder and deeper to get you that size wound. His wound might have been easier to get to that size, but the size of the wound is the same, right?

[Sean French]

It doesn't matter how it got there.

[John Huffman]

But it doesn't matter. It's there, it's there, it's there.

[Sean French]

Wow.

[John Huffman]

So understanding. That talks about your trenches and your upbringing. So it's like, yeah, I had a tough upbringing. My mom was Susie homemaker. I remember her cutting my, you know, grilled cheese sandwiches perfectly down the middle and the little triangles. And then one day, my house was dis. Disgusting. And my mom wasn't around, and my dad was never around. And I come to find out around the age 11 that she was on crack cocaine. Because at this time I was running the streets. So a couple of my buddies were like, hey man, we seen your mom on 46, which is right here in Naples. Back, back in those days in the 90s, you know, it was infested with, with, with drugs. Shout out to Don Hunter for cleaning that up for us.

[Sean French]

There you go.

[John Huffman]

But, but so like I had that, man. I spent almost four years of my life in juvenile detentions, going in and out of juvenile detentions programs. I was the youngest kid to ever go through the drill academy, which is, which was a boot camp in Immokalee, Florida. It's a level six program, 180 day boot camp. I was 12 years old when I went to that. So I look at my daughter who's about to turn 13 and I think to myself, like, holy crap.

[Sean French]

You know, my son just turned 11.

[John Huffman]

And it's like I caught my first phony at 11. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So like I was off the chain and it was because I had the freedom to be off the chain. Of course everybody else went home when the lights came on. I was like, no, we're going to hang out with these guys and smoke blunts in the park. You know what I mean? This is much fun. So like that was the life, man. I had my child, I did like a juvenile prison. Got out right at 18, immediately got a girl pregnant and had my daughter. And I seen that dream of a white picket fence. I could see it. But that didn't work out. Went right back to doing what I always done. But I was an entrepreneur. Always was an entrepreneur, always. And that was some of my trouble that I got into was entrepreneurial in the wrong areas.

[Sean French]

But it's still entrepreneurial.

[John Huffman]

But it's entrepreneurial. Yeah, it's all, it's all the basics.

[Sean French]

Yeah, but best marketing job ever.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And you realize product sales and. Yeah, there's a bunch to it for sure. But around. I had my own soft and facial company, got my own house. I'm 23, I'm feeling myself. I used the terminology. I became everything I ever made fun of. You know, I promised myself something as a child. Even in, even in detention centers. I always knew I was going to be somebody. Like, I always knew. Like, I just, I just know, like I just, I was just trying to take the shortcuts, right. I like, I like wanted to play Scarface. And then before I got shot, just take all that money and invest it in A. A legal form. And like, that was my mindset.

[Sean French]

Right, right. Got it.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

But.

[John Huffman]

But obviously that. That's a movie. And in. In Scarface gets shot. So anybody that's trying to do that, you're going to die or go to prison. Just telling you, don't do it. Don't do it. So 24, man. 24 years old. I became everything I ever made fun of.

[Sean French]

And what was that, man?

[John Huffman]

I was smoking crack, dude.

[Sean French]

Oh, yeah, you went down that road, right, bro?

[John Huffman]

Like, dude, I went from just slinging powder. And then what happened? What? My demise was doctor shopping. You know, this 15, 16 years ago, I would go over to the East Coast. They gave, you know, they coached you along. You got oxy, you know, Codone, and we called them blues. And, well, I would take people with me and pay for all their. Their, you know, scans and everything. And then I would take them monthly pay for their scripts and give them 10. So I was able. I had bodies. So it was all a hustle. It was all a hustle. It started out as a hustle. It's a good hustle.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

But I started taking them jokers, man, and I hated coke. I hated coke because I'm. You could tell I'm energy.

[Sean French]

You're already on that.

[John Huffman]

You give me coke.

[Sean French]

I'm.

[John Huffman]

I'm stuck.

[Sean French]

Like, I'm gonna take that energy drink.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, dude.

[Unknown]

I'm.

[John Huffman]

You know. So when I took the bl, it worked.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

So I started getting high on my own supply, okay. And that's what I tell people that I teach is like, do you think I Woke up at 19 year olds, man? I can't wait to be a crackhead. No. I had dreams and aspirations. That's why addiction's so scary. Nobody knows they're about to walk into what they're walking into. The enemy comes beautiful. He comes with a pretty red dress or a nice suit, and he dances. And one day he looks at you and pulls the mask off and says, you're stuck.

[Sean French]

Yeah, right. Wow.

[John Huffman]

And that's kind of what happened. So I found myself secluded, messed up. I always had a pocket Jesus. I'd pull him out and negotiate if you get me through this, you know what I mean? And I always believed in the fire insurance. And one thing that I believed is like, well, you said in your bird that if I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart, you would forgive me. So about my prayer consisted of, if I. Before I go to sleep, Lord, forgive me of all my sins. That way, if I die tonight, at least I get to go to heaven.

[Sean French]

A lot of people are like that, though. They. They treat the relationship with God as transactional.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know what I mean? And it's like, you know, we're. You know, for everybody listening, we were joking before we hopped on camera. I was like, dang, man, I'm going to clean up my mouth with you. I'm a believer. I believe in Christ.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

And.

[Sean French]

But, you know, sometimes I don't talk like it. Or I don't seek him out first. I seek the worldly things, and I think that's normal. And I think that what we have to do, for all of you listening that may have this issue or, you know, you want all the riches, you want that red dress, you want that nice suit, just understand it comes with the price. But to. But to do the work and have that hope and faith, to continue to do the right thing even when it's not in front of you. Yeah, that's. That's the. That's the flex, man.

[John Huffman]

Amen.

[Sean French]

So 24.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

The audience loves my tangents.

[John Huffman]

No, I love it.

[Sean French]

They love it, too. You know, it's. Yeah, that should be my nickname. Tangent.

[Unknown]

There you go.

[Sean French]

Is, you know, 24, smoking crack cocaine and now you're this amazing speaker, Minister, business owner, husband, father gets to work with his daughters. I just. I've only known you for a short period of time, and I know for the audience, listen, I get messages like this all the time. How long have you known that guest? And sometimes the answer is 10 minutes. And. But. But I see people's hearts, and I just. I, man, dude, like, you don't need this for me, but I'm proud of you, man.

[John Huffman]

I appreciate it.

[Sean French]

I'm proud of you because it's like, you know, I. I don't know how we connected on social media.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

But I'm. But I'm sure dang glad we did.

[John Huffman]

Amen.

[Sean French]

Because I know if I ever needed anything, if I'm feeling a certain way. Yeah, I know. I could just hit that check button and likewise. You know what I mean? So how did you. There's a lot of people that don't get out from that hustle, man.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know, what was the turning point for you to turn into this amazing entrepreneur and speaker and motivator man.

[John Huffman]

Man, you know, I prayed a prayer that night that. That night the Holy Spirit himself came to my house and he showed me myself. And I think a lot of times we're running from ourselves. That's why we can't get out of it. Because the Holy Spirit will show you you. But here's the kicker. He knows you can't fix you. And when we run, we think that we have to fix what we see.

[Sean French]

If.

[John Huffman]

If we could do that, we would have did it a long time ago. The gospel is simple. You can't do it. Quit trying. The more you give to him, the better off. You just got to surrender. But he showed me, John. You swore you'd never be like your dad. When's the last time you've seen your daughter, John? You swear you'd never be like your mom.

[Sean French]

Look where you're at right now, dude. You can't see it, dude. I'm. You need to stop it.

[John Huffman]

Right? You know?

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

And he showed me myself. And he reminded me of the promises that I made to myself. And what he said is, I'll help you get through this. And that night is the first time I ever prayed. Not the pocket drip. I just kept praying this over. Take this from me. Whatever it takes. That's all I kept saying. Just take it from me. I woke up in a cop car three days later and that prayer went back through my head. Take this from me. Whatever. And I was like, no, not like this. But I went all in, bro. Like the all in. That I went in for myself. I went in on this Jesus dude, man. I'm like, boom, like, here we are. I got into my word and I realized that the same people that I don't like that represent Christianity are the same people Jesus called out. You know, he didn't like the right, the self righteous rule. Point your finger. There were Pharisees, which were religious people. So I began to build a real relationship with God and man. The answer is simple as how I'm here. I can tell you. Processes, systems, habits, all those things matter. But I can't pull them off. Because if I was able to pull them off, I would have did it 15 years ago. I surrender and say, lord, give me enough strength to complete this habit this week. Lord, give me enough grace to get through this trial, this today. Lord, give me enough grace to get through my. Get out of my bed and put my feet on the ground. When I know that I got to make a $65,000 payroll on Friday, and I got eight grand in the bank on Lord, Lord, you know? And what I've realized is he shows up every time. As long as I ask for the strength and take these two little feet of mine and I put them on the dang ground. He directs my path. He's the rainmaker. I didn't mean to get preachy on this, bro, but.

[Sean French]

Okay, so. No, I'm glad you did. I know this is. This is hitting perfectly for me because, you know, in the audience listening and watching, I want you guys to. To key in one thing. He says on Friday he has a $65,000 payroll. He's got eight grand in the bank on Tuesday. If you think for one second these massive entrepreneurs like John Huffman don't have the same fucking problems as you do, you are wrong. It's just at a different level, right? So, like, where if somebody listened, like, maybe they need to make payroll, you know, five grand, but they got 200 bucks, right? It's the same problem.

[John Huffman]

Yes, it is.

[Sean French]

Standard deviation doesn't freaking matter, right? Because the product, the business, you know, getting a couple accounts receivable paid will make that up regardless. But I just want everybody to understand that everybody's going through those trenches. Everybody's going through those moments, right? Like, damn, man, I don't know if I can make this. I don't know if I can make this happen. And it happens to me, too, with the show and production and, you know, the cost of it, is what I'm saying, right? And it's worth every fucking. It's the Annie. It's. It's.

[John Huffman]

Yes, it's the freaking Annie.

[Sean French]

You have to. You have to buy in.

[John Huffman]

You said it earlier. The cost. Count the freaking cost.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

Do you want the cost of comfort and some guy who's going to take on the cost that we're talking about so that you get paid Friday? And that's the thing. You're putting your faith in a person that. That's having the struggles me and you were talking about. And you're getting paid every Friday, thinking you're comfortable, not realizing that the guys took on the cost that you almost.

[Sean French]

Not you might not have been able to pay?

[John Huffman]

You know what I mean? So you're putting your cost in someone else's hand. There's a cost to it.

[Sean French]

Yeah, there sure is.

[John Huffman]

There's a cost to everything. That's why Jesus said, count the cost.

[Sean French]

It's so funny because you talked about, you know, the Holy Spirit showed him. Showed you to yourself about, hey, you know, say you never want to be like your dad. When was the last time you saw your daughter? It's funny because I talk about this all the time on my show, and I think my audience is tired of hearing it about, I'm 25 pounds overweight.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And, you know, I had a. I had a friend pass away about probably two weeks ago, and great fitness influencer. Just Jackson Tippett, just an amazing human being. Lived in Australia. He's Australian, just such a charming guy. And he's. He was one of those people, the who that you were talking about. He believed in me early on.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And he passed away at 30 years old. He was on holiday in Turkey and he had a heart attack. And when that happened, you know, I started. You know, I kept kind of going on my same path. And then one day I. I woke up in the morning and it's the first time, dude, I said, thank you, God. Thank you for waking me up.

[John Huffman]

Let's go.

[Sean French]

Because I'm sure not taking care of your temple right now. Yeah, right. And I got up. I hadn't. I had. I'm gonna win this meal here.

[John Huffman]

Come on, somebody.

[Sean French]

And I'm gonna win the next one and the next one and the next one. And I've been doing that. I've been doing that. And what I. What I learned about myself was, is, like, I'm not being disciplined nor determined in my physical body. And what's going to happen is eventually, if I continue on that freaking path, my kids aren't going to have me.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

It's real.

[Sean French]

And so that, for me, was a massive turning point. And I know I. It wasn't me. I know it had to have been, God, putting that on my heart, because, you know, it was different this time.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Yeah, it was different.

[John Huffman]

It's like a switch.

[Sean French]

A switch.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And I was like. And I said to myself, like, you don't have to be all or nothing.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And my wife helped me out a lot with that, too.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

She was. A lot of times when you get back on your kick, you think you got. You can never have, you know, any sweets you think you can never have.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

A day where you don't work out, she goes, go, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, to start.

[John Huffman]

Yeah. Jeff Delaney taught me that, man.

[Sean French]

My boy. Dude.

[John Huffman]

Yeah. Yeah, dude.

[Sean French]

Yeah. Yeah.

[John Huffman]

I've been on this. I just told you I was 265 pounds.

[Sean French]

Did you do Naviva? Yeah, yeah, dude, I'm fixing to start.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sean French]

I'm sorry.

[John Huffman]

A lot of people are hating on it, man, but Jeff cares. His whole outfit cares.

[Sean French]

How could you hate on anything Jeff Delaney does?

[John Huffman]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sean French]

Clearly don't know him.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, yeah. Dude's a gangster, man. I love.

[Sean French]

He's great.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

So, yeah, we're.

[Sean French]

We're gonna be doing that with me, you Know, and the goal is to get me down to 12.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, let's go easy. Yeah, you, you, you, you get a little bit of help. Plus, you know, you eat right and do the right habits. You're all good. And like last night, man, I did all good yesterday. Like, I'm, I'm, I'm the lowest I've ever been. Muscle mass all like, I, I sparred last Friday. I left, I left the MMA gym feeling like on cloud nine. I'm 41. Those kids.

[Sean French]

You go to Evolution?

[John Huffman]

Yeah, I go to Evolution.

[Sean French]

I met those guys.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, they're great.

[Sean French]

They're great. Well, and Levi, Levi's the man. Dude I coached at the high school, he went to like, he was playing football when I was a baseball.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, I've seen you on the. I think that's how we connected. I think that was it.

[Sean French]

Was it?

[John Huffman]

Cuz I've been helping Levi get ready for his fight. I'm on the fight team.

[Sean French]

No way.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, I'm on the fight. I obviously, I'm not getting in a cage, but I give the guys good rounds. You know what I mean?

[Sean French]

Do you think, you think. I don't know.

[John Huffman]

I remember spotting you on there though. I. I don't know.

[Sean French]

I don't know. I think it was before.

[John Huffman]

I don't, it could have been. I don't know.

[Sean French]

But anyway, go ahead.

[John Huffman]

So, but yeah, anyway, like, so, yeah, man, I had a damn. My wife came home, I had a salad with some chicken on it for dinner. Good meal. Yeah, right. For lunch, did my five meals. She brought home someone from church. Jesse, the worship leader at New Hope, made her homemade cinnamon rolls.

[Sean French]

That's not cool, dude.

[John Huffman]

Dude. So she brought him home. It's like 6:30. I look at him, I say, no, I'm gonna win this.

[Sean French]

9:00.

[John Huffman]

9:00.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

So I was like one spoonful.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

So I took a spoon and cut it and ate it. Next thing you know, the whole damn thing was gone.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

But yeah, here we are. I was like, I'm jogging a mile in the morning.

[Sean French]

Yeah, but that's the thing, that's like. But I also want people to understand, to give themselves some grace too.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Like, you know, we had a friends giving at a really good friend's house last night. I had the turkey, the ham, and a small bit of the sweet potato casserole that I got.

[John Huffman]

You got it.

[Sean French]

That I made, but I didn't have the sweets. And I was fine with it. I was fine with it. Went home, you know, I wasn't extra tired, you know, this morning, woke up, had a good meal. My wife made avocado toast with some eggs. And, you know, and then I had, you know, something at the deli, the salad place down the street, and. And I feel good, you know, but I think it's all important. Like when we're talking about systems and processes and things, you know, you talk about that that helps you out of your addiction, helps you out of jail, and helps you build the kingdom that you're building, you know, with your businesses and your. And your speaking is systems and processes. How, how, how do you go about. Because I think, you know, one thing that I do know, man, is that everybody listening and people in general always start with the best intentions, but they don't know how to continue because they consistently look for that win. When's that coming? When's it coming? I'm guilty of it, too. But the reality is, dude, if you just lived in your systems and processes, right, how have you become an expert in that?

[John Huffman]

Well, it's. It goes back to eating the cinnamon roll last night. I didn't wake up and go, why? I messed up last night. Might as well mess up today. Or, well, I'll start again Monday. Like, that's the biggest issue. Like, no, I wake up tomorrow and I put my pants back on. I say the same thing to those I counsel in addiction. Oh, they'll go, I messed up. I effed up. John Pastor, you're going to be so mad at me. I drink again, okay? Tomorrow morning, you wake up, put your big boy pants on, your big girl panties on. You don't drink, brush your teeth, and go back to doing what you did the day before you drank.

[Sean French]

We're good.

[John Huffman]

We're getting back to it. We're not going to stay in that victim mentality. You know, I was a million dollars share with you. I was almost a million dollars upside down five years ago. Yeah, I'm wealthier than I've ever been today. I'm healthier than I've ever been today. I teach processes and systems and I tell the people that are on my coaching call, listen, I'm almost five years into doing this faithfully and consistently, and there's still things that I got to come back on and tighten up. And I get away from this and I get away from that, and I got to and tighten it up. The mentality is that it's a journey and not just a goal. My goal is 195. No, I. It's a journey when I get to 195. Great. We'll make another one, and we'll go on another journey. And I think that's the key for me is, like, understanding it's a journey. Again, not to get all preachy. Jesus accomplished everything that he wanted to accomplish, and he never got in a hurry. And that's something I always got to remind myself, because I'm always in a hurry. I'm always in a hurry. It's like, listen, man, just slow down. Enjoy the journey.

[Sean French]

That's a lot about society, though. Yeah, man. Right? It, like. And again, you. You may completely disagree with it, but, you know, from my. From my seat, right? I'm looking. And social media is a big contributor to that, right? Because you can. You can feel like, okay, I'm good. Like, I'm moving, right? Not in a hurry. But then you see stuff and you're like, dude, I better. I better go harder, man.

[John Huffman]

Bro, I was in tears the other night, you know, my wife. And I'm getting personal now. I was like, man, I'm just focused. And she said, no, you're obsessed.

[Sean French]

You're obsessed.

[John Huffman]

And I was trying to explain to her how I feel. And I'm like, I feel like the water's right here, and I just. I'm almost ready to breathe. I just can't breathe yet. And she looked at me, she goes, do you think that's of God, though? And I'm like, nah, man. Yeah, because he says he'll give us rest and peace, right? So it's like, yeah, I think we're geared to go. But I also think that the world has taught us to glorify the grind, man.

[Sean French]

You know, dude, it's so funny, man. Like, I. Not to interrupt you, but, like, I. That right there, man, that. To glorify the grind. And I think that when you have influencers like Jocko Goggins, Andy Frisella, those dudes, right?

[Unknown]

They're. They're.

[Sean French]

They're wired differently. And David Goggins can get up and go run 100. Where's his wife?

[John Huffman]

Where's his kids?

[Sean French]

And not a knock on him. Yeah, right. Not a knock on him. Yeah, but it's like everybody started doing that.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Myself included. I did 75 hard, like, a thousand times.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Not literally a thousand, but, like.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, you felt like his.

[Sean French]

Felt like, you know, like Derek did it, too. But, dude, like, we're. We're seeing things. Like. But if I just do this, if I just get extreme and be obsessed and, like, literally live for what that other person is doing, and how they're doing and I'm going to be okay. And yes, immediately you do feel a sense of accomplishment. But all they're really trying to tell you is stay disciplined.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Amen.

[Sean French]

What Goggins does is what Goggins does. But there's people out there trying to do exactly what he does. And they are, I'm sorry they're missing it.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Because they're going to get hurt.

[John Huffman]

Right.

[Sean French]

Like he's a different animal. He can break his leg and keep walking.

[John Huffman]

I guess insanity.

[Sean French]

And I respect did do that. I know he shit himself too.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Like I, to me, like I respect David God, right. I love David God.

[John Huffman]

Who's going to carry the boats, bro.

[Sean French]

But, but dude, I'm not trying to be like that.

[John Huffman]

That's what I figured out. You know I was man, when, When I was 265 pounds, Innovative was a 10 million dollar a year company. I couldn't wait to hit that 10 million mark. Right. I had 50 employees, I had trucks, I had the showroom, I had everything. Dude. I was crapping blood. My health was terrible. It's 265 pounds, right. My wife was on the verge of divorcing me. My kids, I didn't see them, bro.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

And I was preaching. So I'm pulling sermons out of my derriere every day, you know. And I kind of shared it at the event. Like I had made my accomplishments my idol. I was so driven on accomplishing. And now like, dude, I'm a 60 hour a week guy. It's who I am.

[Sean French]

Yeah, exactly. Right.

[John Huffman]

But you know my Huffman's construction, I'm with my wife now, man. I might only work 15, 20 hours a week in that on the sales. And then I run effective meetings. Now I'm out building Huffman Speaks and hanging out with my man Sean and building the community and like doing things. And it's because like I put the priorities first. I'm wealthier than I've ever been. I've made four times now a year what I used to make. Because I was making like 230 to 280. Right. With innovative design system and I was killing myself. I make right at quadruple that now sometimes. You know what I mean? Like stupid money.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

And I don't work as hard. So it's like sometimes when we learn to prioritize the things that really matter in life, again, Jesus says it right. Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and all will be added. Right. That added is different. That added For David Goggins is different. That added for Jocko is different. That added for Sean is different. The added for each individual is different. Right. And what I think is we're in a life of comparison where we want his provisions from the provider instead of our provisions from the provider. And sometimes we're running in the wrong direction really fast and we're mistaking. Right. We're mistaking busyness for progress.

[Sean French]

We're.

[John Huffman]

We're mistaken movement for progress. That's how I feel.

[Sean French]

No, I like it, man. I think a lot of us, you know, like, for me, you know, in, in my show, we're still in the come up. Right. We're growing rapidly. We hit a million in 2020.

[John Huffman]

That's crazy.

[Sean French]

I think we'll finish about 1.2. One point. That's not the way things are going. It's. It's crazy. We haven't put any marketing on it yet or anything. Like that's absolutely insane. It's all, you know, and again, it's all because of the consistency. Right. I've been very near where you're supposed to be. I think so, man. Like, I feel like if I could do this, every single people ask me, like, here's the, here's the answer. You know, like I told you, like, building the media brand, like, this is all I want to do. I want to get paid to use my mouth. That's it.

[John Huffman]

Yeah. I mean, that's why we get along.

[Sean French]

Exactly. It's like, I don't, you know, look, look, man, I've done the tow truck thing. I've done the sales thing, done medical device sales. I've hustled payroll. Like, for me, this is the most authentic you will ever see me is behind a microphone.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know, and on camera. And, and I challenge people to seek what that is for them.

[John Huffman]

Amen.

[Sean French]

But when you're on the come up, man, it. Dude, it's. It is hard because it's like, I'm gonna tell you right now, and contrary to a lot of people's beliefs and what they think they see from me is not actual, you know, complete reality is like, dude, I'm making a lot less money than I did when I was in corporate America. A lot less. But this, for now. But I know it's coming.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Because I'm starting to fidget.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And I'm starting to feel this deep, like, pull inside my gut and it's sometimes uneasy.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And it's like, dude, go back to corporate jump ship. Go back to corporate jump ship. And Then it's like, yeah, this is it.

[John Huffman]

It's.

[Sean French]

It's about to hit, and you need to be ready. You need to be ready, Sean, and, like, you know, for the. For the audience. Like, there may be something right now in your life that you are worrying about, and you think that it's time to abandon it. But me and my boy John are here to tell you, like, no, that's when you're onto something. You need to keep going. And if you have to find other things to do to make ends meet, by all means, do it. But don't let up off the gas on what. What your passion is.

[Unknown]

Amen.

[John Huffman]

Well, it's like, I tell people all the time, like, Huffman's construction is the vehicle to do Huffman speaks. I mean, yeah, it's costing me money to. You know, that event I did, that cost me.

[Sean French]

Yeah, you know it did.

[John Huffman]

And I think that people don't understand that that's the ante for your dreams sometimes, man. Again, man, I. I said it. I said it, and I say it a thousand times. Like, comfort is where you go to die, right? That's where you go to die, man. What is the organization that you go to? Where they. Where they make you comfortable before death, Right?

[Sean French]

Hospice. Right? Hospice.

[John Huffman]

That's what they tell you. I'm going to make him comfortable.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

That's where you go to die.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

You look at anybody in retirement that went, retired, went and sat on the couch, they were dead. They were gone. All success and vision is birthed out of discomfort and judgment.

[Sean French]

Bro, how many friends did you lose when you started doing this stuff?

[John Huffman]

Oh, man, I was talking to someone the other day, and I was like, you know, I've got more followers than I ever. I've got them for everywhere now. But it's like, I look back at some of the people that I started this journey with or, like, were my friends, and, dude, they all unfollowed me, you know? And then I don't. I don't know.

[Sean French]

I mean, that happened to me the other day, John.

[John Huffman]

It's me and my wife pretty much.

[Sean French]

Yeah. Dude, it's so weird you mentioned, like, somebody unfollowed me. Like, it's. It. This is a trick. This one I took personal.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know, because I see that. I see the dude all the time, and I never knew it. I shake his hand, and the last time I shake his hand, I saw, like, this weird vibe, and then somehow I just saw that he, like, unfriended me on Facebook, you know, unfollowed me on socials.

[John Huffman]

Like, you got annoying.

[Sean French]

That. I'm like, I guess it's suffocating you. Maybe I. Something I said. But for me, it hurts because I know my heart. Right. I know I'm not a bad person. And it's just like. And it's also kind of like, okay, Sean, drop the bullshit. Like, if you don't. Like, if you're not for him, you're not for him.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And, you know, and this was like, when I was, you know, like, I told you I was eating bad, and, like, I was just not doing what I'm supposed to. All of a sudden, I start exercising again. I started eating well again, and now it's like, it don't care.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Don't care. Like, if you don't. If he doesn't like me, you don't like me. But, like, that's the thing, dude. We lose people, but we gain so many more. And a lot of the people that, you know, that I. That I. That are in my circle now, like, or even in the past, I know I can't call them, but I know I could call you.

[Unknown]

Amen. Absolutely.

[Sean French]

It's strange how life works like that, man.

[John Huffman]

And I'll tell you, you know, God showed me this recently. You know, the first thing I do in the morning, I. You know, I get creative. That's my creative time with the creator. You know, I always say that we were made in his image. He is a creator, which he's created us to create. Right. And the thing is, he showed me. He said, I'm going to take you here. This is the vision that I've given you. But until you're okay with not being liked, I can't take you there because you're going to take everything personal.

[Sean French]

And I'm on that journey right now. Yeah. And I'm not gonna lie, because it happened. If I'm thinking about it, like, as you're speaking, like, it happened multiple times.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And it's like. And I cared too much.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

That's just the. You know, I think it's okay to care. You're passionate, man, but I. I'm still learning not to take it personal.

[John Huffman]

Yeah. That's the thing. I'm there with you, too, because I feel like I'm ready. I'm like, lord, I'm ready. Let's. Let's. Let's take this thing nationwide. Let's go. And he's like, yeah, you ain't ready yet.

[Sean French]

I got too much.

[John Huffman]

I got to sharpen you a little bit. And I gotta. And that's good to mold you.

[Sean French]

You're in training, baby. You're in training camp and crazy.

[John Huffman]

I mean, and I think, I think we all are, man. And, and we look at some people that may have success and stuff like that, but you know, we don't know what's behind the scenes too. You know what I mean? We look at, man, this Little Joker is 28 years old, driving a Ferrari. We don't, we don't know. We don't, we don't know what's really going on. Have you read that book, Think and grow Rich?

[Sean French]

Long ass time.

[John Huffman]

So good. But one of the things that I found peace and rest in was he talked about that all the people that he interviewed really walked into their wealth in their 50s.

[Sean French]

Well, that's good.

[John Huffman]

They created it in their 40s. They, they. So, so what is. I won't forget it because it gave me peace because freaking Instagram.

[Sean French]

Yes.

[John Huffman]

And I'm sitting there going, I'm freaking late to the game.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

You know, and the only one that says that, that speaks against that's Gary V. But you know, he said, look, you, you, you run it in your 20s, you create who you are. And this tools that you're going to use in your 30s, you utilize those tools and capitalize on them in your 40s. And then you, and then you walk into your wealth in your 50s.

[Sean French]

We ride on time, baby.

[John Huffman]

We're right on time.

[Sean French]

You're on time.

[John Huffman]

We're right on time. And he, he interviewed the richest and the coolest people of his time. And that's what he gained from it.

[Sean French]

That's interesting, dude, because I'm like thinking about this. I'm like, okay, what did I create in my 30s, right? That was my sales career. Yeah. That was my interpersonal communication. That was my ability to, I mean, for lack of a better term, be a chameleon. Like I could, you know, sell payroll to a construction CEO. I could go to a dentist. I can go to an attorney. And it was all the same conversation. I was able to get on their level. I'm like, what the is this gonna do?

[John Huffman]

Yeah. Hi.

[Sean French]

Hi. Here we are. And I, I could sit. I bet you if they put a mass murderer right in that seat.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

I'm having just the same conversation. Open, loving and honest. Hopefully somebody ready to lock his ass back up. But you know, my point is like, that's what I curated or crafted. And I didn't know what I was doing and I was doing it. And then here we are. I Started this when I was 41.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

You know, I'm 46, so.

[Unknown]

No, no, you're.

[Sean French]

No, I'm lying. I was 42. Yeah, I was 42. And right. So now 46 and like, hey, man, I think we're, we're getting there.

[John Huffman]

I think, I think 60 months is the Annie. Yeah, that's what I believe. I believe anything. You. Anytime you start anything, I think it's 60 months. You're. That's what it takes to build a Foundation. It's 60 months, five years.

[Sean French]

It takes that, that long for people to notice. It's like now, like if I. It, you know, it was so funny because I remember doing the show early on thinking I was doing great work and it sucked. Right? And no, there's no feedback. It's crickets now. I get like messages. And I'm gonna say this, like, my friend Tom, right, just moved from Alabama to Florida and. Right. He's in Orlando. I would have.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

A little hot there. You could come back down here. There's at least the coast, right?

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

But I just, you know, he's like. It was one of my guests, Peter Jensen. And you know, he went to, he went to prison. He went to this RDAP program for, you know, tax evasion and loaded like multi level marketing companies, like, just crushed it. And he was talking about discipline and, you know, he wasn't paying his taxes. And he said, because I was drunk at the wheel, I wasn't, you know, in there for alcohol, but I was there because of alcohol, right? Because I was drunk at the wheel and I wasn't taking care of. Why else would you not pay your taxes? You're making the money, you're drunk. And my buddy's like, you know, you're your show. So I'm gonna say it. You know, I'm listening to this guy and he's talking about discipline. I'm like, what in the world do you know about discipline? You didn't pay your taxes. And he goes. I kept listening and kept listening and boom, he goes. It was all brought home. And it made me realize the gift of that conversation. And dude, these stories, these people, like, it just, it like I never. And like, I almost. I'm like, dude, is this. I mean, is my boy, like, he's emotionally feeling this?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And I'm like, my point is when we start getting that feedback, we know we're on the right track. Because, dude, that's. That's the best feedback.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, no, it's awesome, man. Especially like people you, you know, and you know what I mean? Been on that journey and get to see where you came from. And it's a beautiful thing, man.

[Sean French]

He'd been there. He, he, he was listening when this show was in the, in the, in the car, I think, or just had just gone into the extra room in my house called the den.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

So he's seen the evolution in the, in the progression too.

[John Huffman]

Cringe sometimes when like a pop up will come, motherfucker.

[Sean French]

Sometimes. Sometimes. Oh my God, bro.

[John Huffman]

Like I started with construction videos when I had innovative. I gotta go see, dude, this little rolling poly dude with my shirt tucked in. This is baseboard. It goes on the floor, across the floor, dude.

[Sean French]

It's. I remember, dude. It's so funny because I look at some of like, you know, you get. Facebook gives you these, these awesome memories for you to go back to. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm like, okay, let me, let me click on this. And I'm like, like, you sucked, Sean. But I, but I think that you know what's so important and I want the audience to understand this. You have to. Willing to be so shitty at something.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Because you know, in that moment, you're giving it your all, but then you go back and you look and you see how much you've grown. You're like, oh, damn, that was terrible. But you know what? Thank God for those terrible moments that you thought was terrible. Right. Because now people can see that growth, that progression. And I don't mean that in an egotistical way, but those. That's your audience, that is that your people that have stuck with you because they believed in you when you weren't at your best and you weren't on top of your game. And now you're here and I'm going to tell you, I'm now where. I'm nowhere close to where I want to be. I always, I believe in continuous improvement.

[John Huffman]

No. Up until the day he takes us home.

[Sean French]

Come on, man. We don't know when it's gonna.

[John Huffman]

I ain't found retirement in the Bible yet. I've been looking for it.

[Sean French]

He's not. It's not there. It's not there. No, you didn't give that. No, you didn't give that direct.

[John Huffman]

No. He's work.

[Sean French]

Is there anywhere in the Bible says to be continued? Because I feel like.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, there's plenty of that.

[Sean French]

Yeah, he left that one out, huh?

[John Huffman]

There's no retirement. I cannot find it.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Because, you know, I think we're always meant to serve in some capacity. Right? In Some capacity, and. And everybody serves in a different way, and it's up to us to listen to that intuition, to that voice. Right. And it's usually coming from the higher power.

[Unknown]

Yeah, for sure, man.

[Sean French]

You know?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Unless it's telling you to steal some and that's it.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Not him, dude. Yeah. Look, dude, let's. You know, we're coming up on Thanksgiving week, and I want to ask you this question, man. What are you thankful for?

[John Huffman]

Mostly, man, I'm in a new level right now, bro. Like, all my kids want to hang out with me.

[Sean French]

Oh, it's so awesome, bro.

[John Huffman]

You know, my son, I took him fishing just yesterday Sunday, him and his boys.

[Sean French]

Oh, that was with your kid? Yeah. You crushed it out.

[John Huffman]

Yeah. And, dude, I got. They let me pray over him at the end of the day, and I just, like, blessed. I, like, got him in a circle. I said, man, pray. So I just prayed and was, like, prayed over the husbands they were going to be and the. The kingdom leaders. They just thought that was so cool. And. And I'm. I'm cool with them. You know, they burn and stuff. You know what I mean? Not. And I think that really helps them know what a man of God looks like, because we're out here having fun. I'm cutting up with them. You know, I'm not. Hey, watch your mouth.

[Sean French]

Hey.

[John Huffman]

You know what I mean? Like, I'm like, hey, what are you doing right now? Did you just lose that fish? Did you pop a gummy before you. Come on, bro. I told you that stuff ain't good. But, you know, I'll mess with them and they'll laugh, and so I think they just see that real, authentic me, and, like, hey, man, I get to tell them my story. They've been opening up, you know, about their insecurities and stuff like that. So it's really cool. My daughters both work for me. They're a little mad at me yesterday because both of them want to go to college. Jalen, who runs Huffman, she's been with me back in the innovative days, since she was 15 years old. So when I tell you she's 23 years old, and I'll put her up against any admin office coo. Dude, my daughter will crush them. Like, I don't want to lose her. Yeah, I know she wants to be a psychiatrist then. My other daughter just came home last night saying she wants to be a teacher. So I messed up. I made them all mad yesterday. I met that we're about to eat dinner, and I go, what? Did I do as a father? Like, what? What did I do that y'all are okay with? Average. And they're like, you calling me average? They're all mad at me, but, like, I'm thankful for, Like, I have that with my kids, you know, where we get real. Me and my wife, you know, she runs the office at Huffman's and does real estate, and I just. I see God building this legacy. I've got friends that are coming to my life, Bryce. Like, where we're not. It's not like this high school thing where it's like, bro, you didn't call me. It's like, man, we're just. We're doing life together, and when we holler at each other, we holler at each other. I like it when we make money together. We make money together, and it's cool. So I just see God just doing a new work, man, and I'm really thankful for all of it, man. My grandma's down here. I got to have lunch with her. So I'm really grateful for that. So I got a lot to be grateful for. Here's the main thing. I'm grateful that I'm able bodied, bro.

[Sean French]

Yeah, man.

[John Huffman]

I think. I think that's one of the biggest things that we discredit sometimes or we don't thank him for.

[Sean French]

So we take it for granted, man.

[John Huffman]

We take it like your eyesight.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

The function of your hands, the ability to work out, the ability to get up and go.

[Sean French]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

So I'm just thankful, man.

[Sean French]

That's awesome, dude. It's so funny you mentioned your kids. My wife and I, before I left, I was like, hey, I'm gonna go shoot my show with my boy, and I'm gonna go to the store. What do you guys want for dinner?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And she goes. She goes, anybody want tacos? I'm like, oh, you want street? Y'all want street tacos tonight?

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And my tacos. Dude, you can't go to a restaurant and get my tacos.

[John Huffman]

They're fired, dude.

[Sean French]

Ridiculous.

[John Huffman]

Okay, I'm coming to your house.

[Sean French]

I'm Mexican. Like, no, I'm from California. I really do think I'm. I don't know my dad. Hey. I don't know my biological father. Right. I'm telling you, bro. Telling you, I need to start checking different boxes on that. On those applications.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, man.

[Sean French]

But, dude, so I'm like, hey, I'm just gonna go. And then when I get home, you know, I'll cook.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And wife text me when I pull up here. Hey, the babies really want to see you. They want you to come home. They want to go to the store with you.

[John Huffman]

Oh, wow, dude, that's g, bro, bro.

[Sean French]

I mean, that's what that.

[John Huffman]

That's success.

[Sean French]

I'm not going to want to cry right now. I want the audience. I want the audience to sit with that.

[John Huffman]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

Like, what are your kids saying? What are your loved ones saying? That is your measure of true success. You can have all the money in the world. You could be Michael Jordan, you can be LeBron James. It doesn't fucking matter. But what does matter are your kids feening for your ass to get home.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

And to me, man, I already got everything.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

But when I reach the pinnacle of what we're doing here, then I'm able to give them more. I can take more time and do more cool with them. Right. That's what I want all the money for.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

I don't want it to flex, bro. I don't already drive my dream truck.

[John Huffman]

You saw.

[Sean French]

I drive a trx. That's my dream, my dream car.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Sean French]

I don't need anything.

[John Huffman]

A nice dream car.

[Sean French]

I don't.

[John Huffman]

Badass, right?

[Sean French]

Badass. I mean, it's dope. But, like, I don't. I don't need a 50, you know, 50,000 square foot mansion.

[John Huffman]

No, I mean, I'd be good with.

[Sean French]

About 5,000 square foot. Chilling, man. Just chilling. But my point is, I want all this money so I can keep doing what I'm doing on a bigger level. Yeah, right. Make it bigger and better and more impactful internationally and then on board. Hey, you guys want to go to the Bahamas this weekend? Yeah, that's why.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[John Huffman]

And I'll tell you, man, it's a fundamental practice, man. It. It's better to give than receive. What you paint in the ground, man. It's popping up, you know? God commands us. He commands us. It's not a request. He commands us. He says, bless the poor. How the hell supposed to bless the poor from poor? It says leave. It says, a righteous man. A righteous man. Right? And the word says, our righteousness is like filthy rags. There's only two places where it says, you're righteous. Abraham was righteous by faith. It says, a righteous man falls seven times and seven times he gets back up. So it says someone who fails willing to get back is righteous. Then it says, a righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children's children.

[Sean French]

See, that's the key. That's a.

[Unknown]

That, that.

[Sean French]

That's a legacy.

[John Huffman]

There it is. It's a Legacy, it's his principles. So if you're thinking, how do I serve, how do I give and how do I make sure my children's children are taken care of financially and spiritually. You're passing on your characteristics, the things that you spoke and sewn into their heart, their beliefs. That is the legacy.

[Sean French]

It is, man.

[John Huffman]

It's. It's so simple. And I say it's simple, but it's not easy.

[Sean French]

Well, I mean, my buddy Matthew hadn't always. Like I said, simple, not easy. Yeah, Matthew, I'm not coining it, but I. Dude. Yeah, it's not original.

[John Huffman]

I love it.

[Sean French]

I'm just kidding, buddy.

[John Huffman]

Truth is truth.

[Sean French]

But dude, like, yeah, like what, what is simple is never easy. Right? It's waking, working out. Simple. It's not easy. Yeah, you know, dieting, simple. It's not easy. Everybody knows how to do it. Yeah, you say you don't know what to do. You're full of shit.

Yeah.

You just, you don't want to do it.

[John Huffman]

Yeah, because eat less calories than you burn.

[Sean French]

And you, and you prioritize protein and healthy carbohydrates, not really processed foods. It's not rocket science here, here I am fat right now. But we're getting there.

[John Huffman]

It's easy, it's simple.

[Sean French]

I appreciate you, man. You know, I want real quick before we land the plane for you to tell the audience one where they can find you on socials and then also how they can, how can they work with you on Huffman Speaks, your coaching program?

[John Huffman]

Yeah, man. So John Huffman speaks calm. You can go on there and fill out an application. Check me out, man. I do multiple things. Come in, train your teams. I have group coaching, man. We talk about process systems. Mine, it's a weekly call. Wednesday, every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9. It's very affordable.

[Sean French]

In the morning.

[John Huffman]

In the morning. Yep, yep. Thank you for that. And yeah, man, at real John Huffman on Instagram, Facebook, John Huffman, Tick Tock, the real John Huffman and John Huffman speaks dot com. Yeah. And then, and if anybody, your viewers are looking for a renovation, man, I have a construction company. This is what we do. We transform homes, man. So Naples construction.net how you can look that up too.

[Sean French]

Okay, cool. Well, there you have it, guys. Again, reach out to my boy John if you have any needs. All of that information will be in the show notes so you can just click the links, go check him out. But, but definitely give him a follow and listen to his positivity. I just want to thank you guys so much again for listening and joining me today as I speak to my boy John here. And always remember guys that you are one person away. And the one thing that I'll never forget that John said the first time I actually met him in person, he says don't think about what you need, think about who you need. So all to say is just remember that your success in your world is meant to be driven by people and the right people. So I love you guys again. Share the show with somebody you know. Love and trust. Until next time. Stay determined.

[Unknown]

So I've tried a lot of protein. You know what I've always found is all the flavors. You can taste artificial flavoring in them. With raw it's exactly that. I don't taste that. It's a clean protein source, tastes great and I'm not putting a lot of things in my body that aren't good for you. The biggest thing that I will say that I love about raw nutrition and bum energy is they're all natural ingredients in the third party tested. So what that means is an actual lab test is to make sure what's in the product is actually what is stated on the label and then you'll see on the website of Raw Nutrition that it is signed off on. So there's no banned substances in these products. Athletes can use them safely and not get tested and popped for a failed drug test for performance enhancing, you know, ingredients, it's completely safe, guilt free baby.

[Sean French]

Sean French what up? This one luckily let the pain inspire me. I put my all in Everything I'm doing up until it's done I meet for the entirety I put it in overtime I be working Just know I'm a go for mine cuz I earned it. They watch and I know it's time I confirmed it the whole society determined determination.