Bryant Zwart

Full transcript: Bryant Zwart on London Real

0:04 I am here with Bryant Zwart, recent graduate of the Business Accelerator. Bryant, tell us where you’re from, what you do, tell us a little bit about you. Okay. Well, I’m from Talent, Oregon, by way of New York City and Arizona and California and Georgia. So, I’ve been around, and right now I’m working as an accountant, full-time accountant.

0:26 I’ll be getting my certification soon, which I’ve been working on for a number of years, slowly kind of working my way there. So, that’s my deal basically. And then I got involved with this London Real and it’s had a really big impact on me, and I love the whole vibe. And so, ended up in the Business Accelerator and I’m trying to, like, figure out some next steps.

0:50 I find that a lot of people that joined the accelerator were kind of at this crossroads in their life, trying to figure out kind of what was next. Were you in a similar place, and can you tell us about that? Yeah. I’ve been at a crossroads.

1:04 It’s been a little bit of a while, like it’s been… I’m on a journey of trying to find, like, kind of what I’m really interested in, what I want to do, and having more of a sense of meaning and purpose in my life. And I haven’t felt that, but I’ve been working towards it for a long time. And in the meantime I needed to do some kind of work, and what I knew from my background and growing up, but both my parents were professionals, accounting seemed like kind of the way to go, and so that’s the track I ended up on.

1:37 And, like, I’d done a lot of work with Brendon Burchard’s work. I think you’ve mentioned him before, and some other people as well. And always like feel like I was making some progress, but not really getting there. And then I kind of got involved with London Real. I saw the Chris Eubank interview was the first interview I saw. Okay. And I was so impacted by that quotation where he’s talking about fear and how you have to take risks, and if you’re not taking risks you’re not free. And that felt so true to me.

2:07 So that just began my journey. I started watching these videos, and kind of like what you were saying, where you’ve taken a little bit from each person and kind of integrated that into your life and that’s changed you. I really feel like that’s happening for me. Like I feel like I’m taking what I’m hearing from these people and putting it into my life, and it’s helping me change.

2:29 I mean, I think I have to be the one that changed, and it’s really helping me change, and I credit that so much to you and the work you’re doing here, because from the very first moment I really got that sense of authenticity. And I feel like I’ve got a pretty good radar for that. You know, been involved in enough different programs and stuff that I feel like I can sense when it’s authentic and when it’s not, when it’s really coming from the heart in a place of care. And so, I don’t know, somehow that greases the pathways maybe. Yeah. No, thank you for that.

2:59 And so you’re watching London Real episodes, you’re getting a lot from the guests. Business Accelerator comes along. What made you want to go ahead and take the leap? Because it’s an investment, and so you had to have something that made you decide, yeah, I’m going to go do this. What was it? Basically just a huge longing for meaning in my life. I would say for something that feels like I’m meaningful. I felt very adrift a lot in my life.

3:28 And I just got this sense that what you were putting together was something that could actually help me kind of get closer to that. And, like, I don’t know if you remember, but when I first signed up I said, “I don’t think I’m ready, like I’m in this busy accounting and I need to get my certificate,” and you just encouraged me and said, “Whatever, go ahead and do it.” And so I would say it was a deep desire. I’ve got a really strong desire for wanting to have some purpose and meaning in my life. And I know I’ve got a lot of kind of internal fire about that, but I just didn’t know how to do it. I’ve never really was shown, and for some reason I haven’t been able to figure out how to do it on my own. And I got the sense that you could help me.

4:08 What was that first three weeks like on the course? It was incredibly difficult from day one, because I’m incredibly shy and I don’t want to be doing these videos and so on. Like, I’m starting to warm up to it. I think I’m one of those shy people that really wants to be in front of the… on the stage. You know what I mean? So, it’s in me to want to be out there, but, like, getting over the resistance of that was so challenging.

4:38 And I feel like I didn’t have any idea. I didn’t know really exactly what product I wanted. And even before it started, you said, “Okay, get your pitch ready for next week.” And I’m like, “Pitch? I have no idea what my product is,” and so that was just super stressful. And then the hero’s journey was… I mean, they were all big challenges, and every time I was able to do it to some extent. It was a huge learning.

5:03 The biggest one was I accidentally put up a video on Facebook, my personal Facebook. I thought it was just going to the Business Accelerator group and I put it on my personal, and my friend… I was talking to my friend the next day and he’s like, “Oh, that was kind of a cool video you did.” And, like, I kind of went white even though I was by myself. Like, “Oh my god, that wasn’t… you weren’t supposed to see that.” I was really worried about it.

5:27 And it turned out to be probably my best one, actually, the one that I get the most, because I was a little bit looser, because I thought I was just going to this other audience. And I think of all the vlogs I did, that was the one that got the most positive feedback. And what does that tell you? It tells me I need to do more of that, you know? It tells me I just need to really just get it out there and, like you said, broadcast yourself.

5:49 What did you find when you started to understand more about the members in that Facebook group? The other class, other people in the class? How so, like what they’re like? Yeah. What did you expect? What did you think at first? What do you think now? That’s a tough one. I was surprised at how many people there were, because I thought… I wasn’t sure.

6:14 But I had an idea, like, the previous accelerators were like 20 or something like that, or I think it started real small and then got a little bigger, and so when I saw so many people I’m like, “Oh my god.” Like, the first week I was trying to respond to everybody. I’m like, “This is just too much.” I think what was really great was the smaller breakout groups, and so I started to be able to get to know people a little bit, and so that was really positive.

6:36 It was just interesting to see people all across the board doing all kinds of different things. Some were really, like, it seemed like on top of it, putting themselves out there, and some people were more shy, and some people were kind of doing it. I was so surprised when some people didn’t like it. So, occasionally there were a couple people, was like, “Oh, they’re complaining or something.” I was shocked, because to me I’m like, this is like gold to me.

7:01 And I was like, wow, I’m surprised. It kind of made me think, any business you do, there’s going to be across the board, no matter what you’re doing. Yeah. Sometimes it’s just different stages of resistance too. Sometimes fighting their own issues about getting out there, and so they’re like, “Ah, this doesn’t work for me,” when sometimes they’re just wrestling internal stuff. I think that’s a good call. Yeah, that’s right.

7:25 What was one of your prouder moments on the course, where you did something on one of the modules where you were like, “Man, this was a win for me”? Pretty much every time I did something and followed through with it, it felt like a win. Getting those vlogs done. In the beginning, just getting all the work done for the weekend felt really good.

7:47 I think doing that webinar, it was really tough kind of pulling that together. Huge amount of resistance to that one. And I got a webinar. It was okay. I had my sister, my mother, and Corey, who’s on the Business Accelerator. So I was really proud of that. And doing the review, putting a review up publicly, because one of my things is sharing kind of authentically to the world where I’m really coming from.

8:17 Like, a lot of my… I’ve been doing a lot of kind of inner work and, like, this kind of stuff, personal development, but I never speak to that at all on my social media and Facebook with friends. And so when I wrote that review for this program and posted it publicly, that actually felt like a win for me, because I was like, this is true for me, that I feel really strongly positive about this group, and this is something I’m involved with, and these are people I like, and to share that publicly.

8:46 Yeah. Because it’s kind of like when you were saying shares, you’re putting yourself somewhat on the line, right? Yeah. When you say, “I like this.” And I think I’ve been scared to do that in the past, just to put it out there, like, this is what I’m about. This is something that’s valuable to me. So that felt like a win. Yeah, it is a win. And your vlogs are great. I really enjoyed your vlogs.

9:11 Thank you. You put time and you put yourself in there. And again, like, we were back and forth, like what’s the idea for you, and do we do this or do that, but just to see you execute on those things. I was getting connected with you, just listening to you be passionate about running and the things you were saying. So yeah, that was my feedback to you. Great to see you do it and execute, and you know how to do it, and I found that really powerful.

9:37 Yeah, thank you. I feel like I’ve learned so much that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as going back into that content and just continually doing it. It’s like you kind of got everything in our minds and in our heads enough that at least I feel like I’ve got a lot to work with. It’s just up to me, you know.

9:56 What do you think will be the big takeaways that you use for the next few years on the course? Either concepts or mindsets or changes in yourself. I would say before the course there were… there’s three phrases that have come to me from the inside out. They feel genuine and it’s tough to live into, and one is the no excuses. One is no regrets. And then I have a third one which is escaping me now.

10:34 I’ve got a third one that’s also big for me, but it is coming up constantly in my life these days. Like, I’ll be struggling with something and be like, “Oh, that’s just resistance. There’s no excuses.” Like for me, “Oh, this is hard for me to… oh, I don’t know exactly what I want to be doing” kind of thing. I’m like, “Oh, that’s an excuse. That’s probably driven by some fear underneath, and I’m afraid of actually putting myself out there. That’s probably where that’s coming from.” So, I’m like, doesn’t matter. No excuses. Move forward anyway.

11:08 And then no regrets. That’s been one of my big fears, that I’ll be an old man, look back and all the should have, woulda, coulda. And it’s like, I think maybe there’s nothing worse than regret, you know? It’s just so painful, because it’s all about your own choices. I mean, you could have done it differently. So, it’s like, I don’t want that. And so, on a personal level, those are huge.

11:33 And then on the content level, I mean, I think everything there is valuable. I think social media, especially video, is still at the early stages. As far as the business, where I want to go with my business, one of my concepts is I want to document the whole thing. So I’m, like, documenting, using the vlogs to document a person like me trying to go from accounting to this new thing. So it’s kind of cool. It’s like a Russian doll concept. Very meta. Very meta. I really like that.

12:03 Yeah. And then that way people can relate and can participate a little bit. And so I think if I can really make that happen, I’ll be well positioned, because that’s where everything’s going anyway, you know. So if all of a sudden have those skills and I’m out, like, marketing that way… like, media is going to become so much more important, I think, in a way. And so it’s like all the content is just great across the board, I think.

12:30 What if you bumped into Bryant on the streets, but it was a guy that didn’t take this course, and you had a quick conversation with him? How do you think he’d be different than the way you are now? I think he’d be a lot less directed, because it’d be in the same kind of floating sea, more or less. Like, that’s the metaphor that I’ve had. Just kind of a boat on an open sea, and a lot of heart, a lot of desire, a lot of energy, but just paddling to nowhere, without having any sense of how to find direction there.

13:10 So I feel like I’m on a track now, some kind of a track. I’m not sure exactly where it’s going to go, and I have a lot of work to do to continue to put myself out there. I think that’s a big key. So that’s huge for me. It gives me the chance to make the most of what I’ve got available to me.

13:39 If someone’s watching us now and they’re just on the fence whether they should take the course or not, what advice do you give them to the Business Accelerator? Yeah, I would say to just go ahead and just go for it. I think they have to have a really open mind. Just open your mind to it. It’s going to be difficult, and you take as much as you can from it.

14:10 You know, some people really hit it out of the park, and some people not so much. And I think I did okay, given where I was at. And I think I did pretty good. So, and even just with that, I got so much out of it, and so I can just continue to grow. So, I would say, because that’s maybe a concern someone might have, is like, can they really take it on and do it? You can only do it to the best of your ability.

14:46 Yeah, it’s been great having you on the course. Great having your energy, and you’re a different guy than the guy I spoke to 12 weeks ago on that call. Do I seem different? Yeah, you seem much more directed, and like you said, you might not know exactly the track, but you know where the track is, and if you keep doing these things, like express yourself and put yourself out there, you’re going to get there. And you seem much more confident as well.

15:12 And the guy I spoke to on that call, you were really… you knew you needed to do something, which I think you pulled the trigger, but you were really… I think you were just uncomfortable not knowing what was happening next, but now you seem very comfortable with it. So, congrats. That’s big growth. Thanks. So, it’s been great having you on. Great having you in my group, and I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do in the next year or two.

15:35 Yeah. I appreciate it so much. And I’m very happy to be part of this whole kind of family in a way. And you’ve said before that you kind of see yourself in 50 years still knowing these people, and so I would love to be part of this whole thing years down the road, too. Yeah. Be part of the family. That’d be so cool. Cool. Thanks so much, man. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Cool.