In this episode of the MFCEO Project, my co-hosts Ben Newman and Vaughn Kohler introduce themselves and talk about their backgrounds and how they got their start in business and public speaking. We also talk about Ben's protein mixing skills and why you should be jealous of him.
00:00:00.000All I do is work, work, work, never run the sidelines, I only, hustle, hustle, never take your day off, I only, work, work, work, I don't mess around, kid, I only, can't, can't, can't, what he never seems, get you, all I do is work, what's up guys, it's Andy Priscilla, the MFCEO, and you're listening to my podcast, the MFCEO Project.
00:00:21.040If you don't know who we are, fucking Google it.
00:00:23.400All right, me and Vaughn have been sitting here for the last 10 minutes trying to work out an intro for the podcast, and I keep fucking it up.
00:00:43.220All right, guys, so this is the new podcast.
00:00:45.540I'm here with my two badass co-hosts, Mr. Ben Newman, a professional speaker, best-selling author, and performance coach who works with elite athletes and executives all over the world.
00:02:02.000So I am going to put Ben on the spot, though, because, you know, hearing things like professional public speaker and author, I mean, that's pretty broad.
00:02:09.620So, Ben, how would you summarize succinctly and wittily what you do?
00:02:14.660So I would say, you know, my whole life I've faced challenge and adversity, been in sales a long time, been kicked in the teeth,
00:02:22.180but have been blessed to be surrounded by people who have been there to pick me up.
00:02:24.980As a result of always having great people around me, mentors and coaches, I've had a significant career in sales all the way from when I started brokering paper out of Michigan State University,
00:02:36.300then spent about 11 years Northwestern Mutual insurance investments, building a significant practice there that I was able to start transitioning and to sell a few years ago
00:02:47.040to where now I do 100% of my time is spent doing coaching, speaking.
00:02:52.120Speaking started for me in 2006, got paid 500 bucks to speak for the first time.
00:02:57.200I was a 25-year-old kid, thought that was pretty amazing.
00:03:00.100And, you know, now there's the ups and downs and challenges in business, even with what I do today.
00:03:05.500And I think sometimes, and this is what I love so much about the opportunity to be with all of you,
00:03:09.820is that no matter what professional athlete I get to work with, no matter what training camp I get to go to,
00:03:14.780no matter what UFC or boxing match or what boardroom I'm in with a Fortune 500 company,
00:03:20.120I'm still getting knocked down, I'm still challenged, I'm still facing adversity,
00:03:24.060and I still need mentors and coaches and friends like Andy in my life to push me, to motivate me, to get me to that next level.
00:03:30.960So that's what I love about the opportunity to be with all of you, is to share the realness of what it takes to be successful,
00:03:36.340but to also let you guys know that I'm still growing and trying to get better every single day of my life as well.
00:03:40.760So I think that's like the, I think that's the ultimate thing that most people don't realize,
00:03:46.480is they look at people who are out there, quote unquote, being successful,
00:03:49.960and assume that they're not struggling with the same issues or haven't struggled with the same issues.
00:03:54.540I said it on one of the previous episodes, you know, the more success you have, the larger the struggles become.
00:04:00.300I remember a period of time in 2010 where I was giving paychecks back to the company that I represented
00:04:06.460that was more money than I made in my first year out of college, and I was giving that back over a two-month period of time in commissions
00:04:12.720because in the insurance business sometimes they front load your commissions, and if things don't work out, you've got to give them back.
00:04:18.180So here I'm giving money back in a, actually it was back-to-back paychecks, and if you throw in the third one,
00:04:22.940it's about the same amount of money I made my whole first year out of college, and I did pretty well my first year out of college.
00:04:27.520So you get knocked down, but if you want to play the game at a bigger level, you will fall harder,
00:04:33.420and that's the importance of having mentors, having coaches.
00:04:35.800And that's why I love this podcast because so many people say, I don't have the money to hire you to coach me.
00:04:41.040I don't have the money to hire Andy to come into my boardroom and be a consultant for us.
00:04:45.420But the reality is you're getting it right now if you choose to accept it.
00:04:50.280So, guys, I was thinking I wanted to start something new on the podcast just to switch gears a little bit.
00:04:59.900We're going to start question of the day.
00:05:55.040The one thing that really like made me take a step back and say, whoa, like this is something that's going to change the way people communicate.
00:06:01.680Was somebody asked me during one of my live Periscopes, and if you don't know what Periscope is, you need to check it out.
00:06:11.220What it is is basically, it's unlike any other social media platform out there.
00:07:38.820You can't fake your ability to convey lessons or to be entertaining or whatever it is that people are there to see you for.
00:07:46.580It's a real authentic platform, and I think it's going to really become huge because of that.
00:07:54.140It's something that people are ready for.
00:07:55.920If you think about what people watch on TV, even though these things are now edited, but they're not watching Dukes of Hazzard.
00:08:03.200Well, they're literally not watching that anymore, but they're not watching A-Team or Dukes of Hazzard or the shit that we grew up on.
00:08:10.220They're watching reality TV, and that's kind of what this is.
00:08:14.020And even though reality TV is super edited now, this kind of brings it back to that.
00:08:18.940It's really, really, really cool, and what really made me step back and say,
00:08:22.560Whoa, this is something that is going to be huge is when I saw somebody asked me a question about how do you find mentors or how do you find people to help?
00:08:35.380And I thought about, like, when I started in business in 1999, you know, the Internet was not – the Internet was not – it was barely breathing at that time.
00:08:46.340You know, we had email and we had things like that, but nobody really used it.
00:08:50.320It was more for just, like, you know, looking at porn, for lack of a better term.
00:08:58.160And so we didn't – I thought about, like, where technology has come from since I started.
00:09:05.900You know, these tools that you guys have that are listening at your disposal now, it's unbelievable.
00:09:14.120Like, it's unbelievable the shit that's going on in social media and technology, your ability to connect with people who have done the things you want to do,
00:09:23.060and your ability to, like, really see and understand what people are going through.
00:09:28.760For example, you know, I used to read a lot of Tony Robbins stuff, and I mean, you know, I don't think he's doing – he's not up on social media as much as, you know, a lot of the newer guys are.
00:09:38.080But, you know, wouldn't it have been cool to, like, get him on Periscope and be able to ask him a question?
00:09:42.700Or somebody who was, you know, running a business like yours, like, that was big at that time, and just type in a question and have him answer it?
00:09:56.360You know, there's no – you know, people, you know, they see people speak on TV, and there's a teleprompter, and they're told exactly what they need to say and when to pause.
00:10:16.440And I think it's an unbelievable, real platform where people get to know somebody for who they really are.
00:10:21.260Dude, you know, I've been thinking it through.
00:10:23.580I think it's going to change – I think it's going to – I think that app is going to be the biggest social media app that ever existed.
00:10:28.980I think it's going to be utilized by less than 2% of the people in terms of broadcasting, but the audiences are going to be gigantic.
00:10:37.640And I think it's going to give – it's going to push society in the way we communicate in a different direction.
00:10:44.940You know, I think people are tired of getting that polished, overproduced message from everybody, and the politically correct shit, I think, has gone out the window.
00:10:54.200I think people are tired of it, and I think it's going to allow people to see the authentic people out there.
00:11:01.900And I think those people are going to rise to the top in terms of popularity.
00:11:05.520I think it's going to create – like, you're going to see people on Periscope, you know, being sponsored by Budweiser, and, like, you think about how it's going to change business.
00:11:14.200You know, people are going to be accepting independent contracts to represent companies that have a good following on Periscope.
00:11:20.920You know, it's going to create a whole new way to advertise.
00:11:22.860It's just – it's going to create so much stuff and change the way so many things are done.
00:11:29.660Dude, I think it's going to eliminate, you know, TV as we know it completely.
00:11:35.720Since I've got on Periscope, I've – you know, instead of reading the last couple weeks, I've been watching other dudes' Periscopes that are successful.
00:11:45.140What's the guy's name you told me to watch from T-Mobile's guy?
00:12:14.620And they think, oh, man, he's just a regular dude.
00:12:16.240Well, speaking of raw and uncensored, my first Periscope is going to happen in a couple weeks, and it's going to be Andy Frisella of the Unauthorized Biography.
00:12:23.300It's going to be behind the scenes because everybody's always asking me, what's it like to work with Andy?
00:12:27.040And what I really tell him is, remember that show, The Joy of Art on PBS with Bob Ross, you know, the guy with the afro, who's like, let's paint those.
00:12:34.520I said, that's the way Andy is in real life.
00:12:36.660He's just this gentle, quiet soul without the afro.
00:14:09.540I remember there was somebody had shared something with me.
00:14:12.940It was about some controversial radio show.
00:14:17.640And there was somebody who was like would listen to the show in order to write down criticism, like four hours at a time to write down criticism of the show.
00:14:27.600And then to criticize the people who had chosen to advertise on the guy.
00:14:39.120And then those are the same individuals who are going to say, like we talked about on our last, you know, on the last podcast, not the question and answer, but on the kill it every day.
00:14:47.880People are saying, I don't have time to be successful.
00:22:13.440So you just made the point of what I'm trying to get across here is that if you do a good enough job, you're going to create loyalty to the company.
00:22:34.320But the customer service experience, when it's over the top, you're going to guarantee loyalty from the customer as long as you're solving the problem that they have.
00:22:45.020Because this is an issue that you need to understand.
00:22:47.720Man, there's a big difference between being nice and making a friend with a customer and being nice and making a friend with a customer and solving their problem.
00:22:56.320Because if somebody comes to you and it's real easy to be nice, shake their hand, write them a thank you card, treat them good, and all that shit.
00:23:03.040But the reality is, is if you're not solving the problem for what they're there for, you're going to miss that part of the retention equation.
00:23:10.080It's interesting that you should bring that up because, Ben, you were talking about your experience.
00:23:13.820My experience, I went to the Chesterfield Airport Road S2, and a guy named Mark helped out.
00:23:19.980And he was incredibly friendly, and he didn't know who I was.
00:23:23.120But to your point, Andy, it wasn't just friendliness.
00:24:20.700And the education trust aspect might go back and forth a few different times.
00:24:25.900You might go talk to the same car guy, the car salesman, two or three times over buying three different cars.
00:24:32.800And after a while, you learn that that guy knows what he's talking about.
00:24:36.280And instead of having to go back and verify the education, you know, education, trust, back to education, learn something new, trust a little more, back to education, learn something new, trust a little more.
00:24:47.960You're going to automatically know that person and you're going to trust that person 100%.
00:24:54.320And that's whenever loyalty, it clicks over to loyalty, okay?
00:24:57.700Now it's not, now it's like what you just said, Ben.
00:25:06.020And then you've got a customer that not only shops at your store, but basically what you just said about that experience, you're going to tell that to anytime, anytime the conversation comes up about getting in shape, you're going to say some version of that story.
00:25:22.440And that becomes the ultimate marketing, especially in the social media world where we can share our opinions about exceptional products and service or terrible products and service instantly across the globe.
00:25:34.760Okay, Andy, I'm going to interrupt you because this is such good stuff that I'm going to take a second to recap.
00:25:40.100Okay, so the basic principles you said were, number one, it's always easier to retain than to get new customers.
00:25:45.920Number two, you talked about creating this amazing experience.
00:25:49.900And a few minutes from now, we'll talk about the details of creating an amazing experience.
00:25:53.660We've already touched on that a little bit.
00:25:55.380But then you talked about this cycle of education, trust, and loyalty.
00:31:57.040Why don't you tell them how your special ice machine shaves off this particular ice cube that makes the snow cone absorb the flavor better?
00:32:06.660I mean, why don't you just show them what's up?
00:32:08.380Show them how you pour the flavor on and why it's important to do it in a swirl.
00:32:36.400And we got an argument about how, you know, their service is blue collar and this and that.
00:32:40.940And it didn't matter and this and that.
00:32:42.240And the point is, is that, you know, when you shut your mind off to opportunities, I could think of 50 different things they could do to improve their business.
00:32:50.000And he argued with me about everything.
00:32:59.000Doing customer service to the ultimate extreme possible is your ultimate marketing.
00:33:04.800It's your ultimate way to build word of mouth and build your company and grow your customer base based off of the idea of how fast word of mouth is spread across the globe now.
00:33:17.000So, you know, when you give up the tire example we just used, when you give up a $5 tire patch, which is probably, honestly, a dollar, all right, to get the business back over and over and over again.
00:33:30.200Do you think when I drive off of that lot that I'm ever fucking going anywhere else to get a fucking tire in my life ever again?
00:33:39.580But the reason companies don't do that kind of stuff is because they are so focused on today.
00:33:47.440They're so focused on every single penny that comes out when if you would just take time to think about what it's going to be a year from now or two years from now and make that investment in your service and make that investment.
00:34:14.780And companies cannot grasp the concept.
00:34:17.440So what would you say to these companies, and I'm thinking in this case of cable companies, who say, yeah, just be available anytime between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.
00:58:24.840Social media is changing the way word of mouth travels, the speed at which it travels.
00:58:30.760You can no longer do the things you used to do.
00:58:33.780And for you to succeed in business, you have, have, have to do the right thing with passion.
00:58:41.120And it all starts with how ridiculously dedicated and passionate you are with your own employees and your customers.
00:58:48.860Guys, in addition to the show notes that we're going to have for this podcast episode,
00:58:52.580I'm also going to, I'll talk to Andy after the, after the session's ended here and just get an additional recommendations for books that deal with customer service.
00:59:00.920I know you're big on Jeffrey Gittimer's book.
00:59:08.760That's the best book on customer service you'd ever read.
00:59:10.800There's another local author, good friend of mine, a mentor, Shep Hyken here in St. Louis, and he's a Hall of Fame speaker, and he's written six books.
00:59:18.200I mean, he's one of the top guys in the world for customer service.
00:59:37.520So you can find all those show notes and resources, themfceo.com slash p10.
00:59:44.540I want to do something a little different to close out, guys, so indulge me on this.
00:59:47.760Okay, Ben, we're going to start with you, and then we're going to have Andy finish this up.
00:59:51.620But, Ben, I want you to give a one minute.
00:59:53.520This podcast is going to come out on Tuesday, so people are going to have the rest of the week to basically kill it, all right?
01:00:01.780So I want you to take one minute or less to give whatever's on your mind to help them kill it this week, and then, Andy, you're going to finish up.
01:00:10.080Believe it or not, I'm going less than one minute.
01:00:12.620Find what you're passionate about in your business and allow that passion to fuel what people feel that you do business with.
01:00:20.220And if you get fired up and you get passionate about the things you enjoy, people are going to feel it, and they're going to want to do business with you.
01:00:27.180Listen, if you want to kill it this week, start by changing your thinking today about what it means to service a customer.
01:00:36.620Servicing a customer is no longer taking their money and providing them with a product.
01:00:42.420Servicing a customer now entails educating, trusting, building loyalty, providing a solution, becoming friends, going the extra mile, and put all that shit together.
01:00:54.420And start thinking of your customers, not as customers, but as people who are going to go out and advertise for your business.
01:01:04.300And if you start thinking of your customers today and beating this into your brain, that they are people who will go out and advertise for you, you'll automatically treat them a lot better than you used to.
01:01:21.640Well, you got to sign off for us because we're done.
01:01:23.560Listen, guys, we're going to follow this up with other podcasts in detail, step-by-step directions on customer service.
01:01:30.380I promise you I'll share with you what I know in every detail when it comes regarding the subject because the companies that are going to be great from this day forward are going to be built around the idea of long-term customer service.