Luis Ramos

Full transcript: Luis Ramos on London Real

0:04 This is London Real, I am Brian Rose. My guest today is Luis Ramos, recent graduate of our Business Accelerator. Welcome. Thank you. Tell us about yourself, where are you from, what do you do? Sure. So I’m originally from Puerto Rico, raised in Massachusetts. I now live in Frisco, Texas, which has just been voted the best place to raise student athletes in the United States.

0:34 And I am a multi-sport coach and athletic trainer, and right now my latest venture is teaching parents how to build the foundation for athletic performance at home. And what was going on, you know, in your business and inside yourself before you decided to join us on the Accelerator?

0:49 Sure. So I’ve done athletic training and multi-sport coaching for over 20 years. Alongside of that, I’ve worked in corporate America, mainly in the airline and travel industry. Shortly before joining our course, I had been let go from my corporate job, and so it was in that, you know, a few days after me being let go, that I found you and London Real.

1:16 I was on YouTube watching Tony Robbins talk about the law of attraction, and there you popped up, and that’s what led me to do more research on you and on London Real. And I found amazing things in videos and interviews of people that were just like me. Your story as well resonates with me, because you were at a point in your life just where I was at that moment.

1:54 And you speaking about that just brought me in to what you were talking about, and just days later I pulled the trigger. Before that, I knew nothing about London Real, I knew nothing about Brian Rose, but the magic were your words and your story. That’s what brought me here. Wow. And what about yourself, was this something you were thinking about doing for a long time? Did you ever think you could turn it into a business?

2:20 Yeah, so I’ve had multiple businesses before in the fitness and training industry. I had an indoor facility in Orlando, Florida, in which I trained student athletes, and the timing was off, and the area was still in its infancy, and so I shut down doors. And then I realised that there was a part of me that needed to give back.

2:55 You know, I have a story and a background that’s unorthodox in terms of athletic training, and so I founded a nonprofit organisation back in 2011 to help student athletes achieve their career goals, and I dedicated part of my life to that, about five years. But I found out that the nonprofit way is not a means to raise a family of five, right?

3:20 And so earlier this year I dissolved it, after a long, long journey with student athletes and helping them develop themselves and achieve what they wanted, which was receiving an education for free playing sports. And so earlier this year I dissolved it, and I decided, hey, I’m going to focus on corporate America, I’ll pay the bills, raise a family, take a break from all the sports. And then this happened.

3:51 So that 20 years of training and background and giving turned into a business that I have now. And I want to talk about, tell me about the first two weeks. You know, you get thrown in the fire, you got the video modules, you got me two hours a week on the calls, you got these 150 people around the world that you’re just starting to meet here in London, you get the accountability doc, the assignments. What’s that like for you?

4:15 It was eye-opening, because in my mind I had a business structure that I thought was the perfect one. And the first couple of weeks, when you have to find yourself and understand your strengths and weaknesses and what it is that you’re good at in terms of your business desire, right, I found that I was very good in leading and teaching and molding people and adapting to change, but my relationship with money was not there. It was bad. It was bad.

4:56 And when I realised that, everything changed. In a matter of days, everything changed. And so finding my niche and understanding my product and business structure was so easy after that, because I allowed myself to be okay with taking money from people. Yeah, and that’s a struggle with you. What does that come from, that relationship with money, do you think?

5:29 So my parents, my parents, very giving individuals, long careers, directors of religious education, always giving back, selfless. And it got to the point where my dad, who had been an almost 30-year veteran for the USPS, had a collapse and lost his career, and now has nothing to show for it.

6:01 And so that, with the situation I’m in right now, and just understanding where he’s been and what he’s done to try to lift his family, made me realise, it was like, there’s got to be a smarter, better way to raise a family and have what you need and grow as a person and change your family tree. Because I just wrote a blog about you, stated, “How a Rose Changed My Family Tree.” That’s great.

6:43 And what was the thing that happened that made you shift that mentality? Was it another student or a module, or what was it that made you turn course? So I have an 18-year-old who’s a goalkeeper, and he’s a bright young man, and he was asking me what my goals were, and it was right after I asked him what his goals were, right?

7:11 And so my goal in life is not just to give back, but it’s to make sure my family is set, right? Make sure that I can provide and that I can leave a legacy for my family, and I’m going to do that by helping other families. That’s my structure. Yeah, and once you saw that, you’re like, wait a second, this is win-win, whereas in the past a money exchange looked to you like a lose-win situation. Like, yeah, like, I don’t want to take your money, I just want to teach you. Right, right.

7:43 Right, but that was keeping you from helping more people. Correct. Right. And I felt that resistance from you in the first two or three weeks. I felt like you weren’t coming on board with us, but then something changed, and then you started going in big. Yeah. In the last few weeks you finished like a champion. Yeah. What was the biggest win for you on this course?

8:08 One of the biggest wins, I would say, is just having a relationship with money, right, and the right relationship, right? And the individuals within the course that I’ve met, right? So we talk about projects and talk about, you know, things that are coming down the pipeline. The ecosystem that I’ve created has allowed me to allow other people to join in what I am doing and create JV partnerships and collaborations that not only help me gain, but others as well, right?

8:52 And so that’s what I’m about. It’s about creating opportunities for others and allowing people to grow. In corporate America, the last year, and, you know, it’s funny how you sit back and reflect on things right after eight weeks, and you understand that the last 20 years have been just stepping stones for this moment, right?

9:14 And affirmations that I was practising a year ago in conference rooms in a travel company, when we would go out on the table and I would say that I would be travelling the world teaching people, are not just coming, becoming a reality. It’s crazy, it’s crazy. Talk to me about some of the success you had on your webinar, courses you sold, and some of these JV partners. Like, what all happened that last… ’cause it all happens at the end, right?

9:48 Right. What are some of the big quantifiable things you can share with people that happened those last two weeks? Well, my first webinar, I went all in, all in, and I sent messages to over a thousand people, you know, over, totally, three times that, right? And only seven showed up. And so I was, man, you know, you get those thoughts. Am I doing the right thing? Is this the right thing to do, the right product? Am I reaching people, am I not? Are people blowing smoke, right, saying, yeah, you’re doing a great job, but not showing up?

10:26 But I gave my first webinar and it was great. It was like a class. I had people, you know, grab pen and paper, and you’re learning or teaching, and got great reviews, great reviews from that. And that just allowed me to just do a second and a third. And I sent you a message saying, hey, I had one scheduled and I got conflicts with the soccer tournament, and I had a makeshift office in my car. I put a blanket up, paint it with the sunroof, and two people bought.

10:58 All right. So getting over those moments of resistance, right, and understanding that you have a lot of power, and when your IP is strong, there’s nothing that can stop you. Nothing. Amen to that, that’s the greatest line I’ve heard all day. Yeah. And you got one or two of those sales, and again you fought through resistance where you could have… I ended up with 20 sales, 540 dollars, and it’s growing, right?

11:27 And when you talk about JV partnerships, I just have people approaching me left and right. Remember the first couple of days after the first webinar, I would post messages, and I know you commented back on them, and you said that Luis Ramos is on fire. I was, and I still am, right? Everywhere I go, if somebody approaches me and I just talk about what I do, they’re like, hey, how can I help, what can I do?

11:57 And not only that, it allowed me to go back to Module 1 and add a piece to this ecosystem. So I created Our Student Athlete, which is helping parents lay foundations not just for athletic performance, but leadership, nutrition and academics, right? One key item that nobody talks about or does is social responsibility and community service, so I add that piece in there, right?

12:29 And when we ended the course, I was looking back and I’m like, okay, so what happens after the student athlete does what they got to do, then what? Because the majority don’t play professional sports, right? They become community leaders and parents. So I added Our Human Athlete. And so now we mold children the right way, and we add a piece that they continue to perform in action throughout their whole lives, right?

13:03 And more collaborations appear. Right now I’m working with my cousin, who is a professional boxer from Puerto Rico, who was devastated this summer by Hurricane Maria. And I’m also working with Aletta, one of our classmates, to start holistic fitness camps around the world in communities that are in need, and that’s bringing more revenue, which then I can use to help more people, right?

13:37 So yeah, it’s another JV partnership, Belize. There’s a group of individuals that want to create and build a training facility out there, and so we’re going to be working with them here in the first two quarters of 2018 to make that dream a reality and establish a program, you know, off the bat. Turkey, I have another one in Turkey that we’re working on a deal, and in India as well. I also have another collaboration in Canada, and they just keep showing up, keep showing up.

14:19 And this is all happening because of the course. Social media? Okay, any social media platform? Well, it has allowed me to reach so many people, and I’m not afraid to send a direct message. Every individual that has liked or followed anywhere, in any platform, I have sent a direct message, whether it’s thank you for the like, would you like to collaborate, how can I assist you, and that has brought collaborations, partnerships. Were you a social media guru before this?

14:56 Not at all, not at all. I had a couple of accounts here and there. I don’t remember the last time I had used my Facebook account at all. But I understand that if I’m gonna dive in to what the course is asking me to do fully, then I’m gonna take advantage of it, and I’m gonna do it, no excuses, just do it, right?

15:30 And so from there, my first two collaborations were from Instagram. I suggested… and I’ve gotten replies where people are telling me to F off and, you know, unfollow me, and that’s great, that’s fine. But the ones that have replied, there’s greatness coming their way. It’s unbelievable stuff coming their way. Yeah, you’ve got like JV partners on four continents now, just like that, in a matter of weeks. You are on fire.

16:05 And then you figured out social media, probably because of Module 4. Yeah. But also it’s just people are feeling your energy through a different medium. I think that’s what it is. Tell me about your classmates. What’s it like to have these people, what’s it like to meet them all tonight? Just explain it to people that have never been in a course like this, what’s it like?

16:21 So coming from a teaching background, that’s all I’ve got, a crazy background, right? I went to civil engineering school, right, and so I love numbers, I love physics, I love geometry. It’s my world, and I like teaching it, and I correlate to, and I use those terms to help people understand things. In our group, especially our team, we have the most amazing group of individuals that are selfless, smart, energetic.

17:05 And when they decide to tackle something, they don’t just run through something, they blaze through something. And week four, I had some resistance and had something going on, and one of our teammates, Michelle, was a great individual from Canada. He helped me immensely achieve my goal, because our weekly goals need to be met, and not met by the deadline, but beforehand, so then we can all go back and review and provide feedback for each other.

17:38 And so when you see people like that, that sometimes care about you more than your nucleus and your circle of friends, your immediate circle of friends, it’s a lot to say. You can’t buy that, you can’t, you know. And I’ll bet you, Brian, there’s nowhere in this world that you can see a group like that in this type of forum, because it’s not like it’s your neighbour or your teammate, you know, from across town. It’s people in different countries.

18:19 It’s amazing. You, my friend, are doing something incredible. Incredible. Thank you. It’s all you guys, it’s just amazing to watch, like, this incredible energy. And again, like, Team Rose was crushing it, but all the teams were too, but, like, you guys were literally blazing. You were not only turning into the fear, you were like going a hundred miles an hour into it and crushing things.

18:46 Yeah. And like you said, it’s this weird environment, and you described it so well: smart, selfless, high energy, and just going for it. And the beauty is you have these people for the rest of your life. Yeah. And so for the next 12 months you have scheduled meetings with them, and I’m telling you, I said this in the first call, I said the network here, the group of these people, are the value in this course. I’m gonna do a lot of things and there’s a lot of value there too, and everyone was probably thinking, yeah, okay.

19:15 But it’s amazing that, yeah, the value add is a hundred times what it costs for you to come into this course, right? And you come with one mindset, thinking, oh, I’m gonna build a business and it’s gonna be quick, and I’m gonna start making money and pay the bills and provide for my family. No, you get the opposite. You get a life-changing experience that helps you grow as a person, right?

19:43 And you learn skills that allow you to build a business for you to help others, right? Not just your family. So in the United States, for example, engagement is critical, right? And they talk about corporate America, employee engagement is ridiculous, right? Corporations are losing over 580 billion dollars a year because of disengaged employees. You, in eight weeks, have multitudes engaged into what they’re doing, right?

20:13 When corporations are spending thousands of money on platforms because they can’t figure it out, right? So you’ve got a great formula and it’s working, right? And I benefited from that. It’s beautiful to watch. Yeah. Let me ask you a question. If we went out downstairs and walked around the Old Street roundabout and bumped into the Luis that didn’t take this course, how was that guy different from the one I’m looking at right now?

20:45 He’d be cruising along, trying to teach people individually for free. Yeah. And it was killing… doing it that way. Yeah. It’s, you know what, it’s hard to… You’re pretty emotional about this whole experience. Why? Why? I can see ahead. What do you see? The community is changing, families changing. I’m leaving a legacy, and it feels good. And it feels good.

21:46 Okay. Yeah. Feels like it’s a long time coming? Yeah. Is it frustrating that it didn’t happen sooner? Not at all. But I don’t know, because as I go back, you know, I’ve had many setbacks. I’ve broken a femur, I’ve been in a wheelchair for eight months and learned how to walk again. I’ve been a single father of two, homeless at some point. I’ve had my peaks and valleys, right?

22:28 And you asked us, you know, not too long ago, hey, you guys ready for this? All right. And I reflect back and I’m like, 20 years, it hasn’t been struggling. 20 years I’ve been building blocks, and I love it. I love it, because when at the age of 14 you have the only person that can teach you sports who’s an alcoholic, when you have an uncle that tries to kill your mom, you know, it’s easy for me to do all these things.

23:08 Easy. When you go to 12 different schools growing up and have to adapt, I’ve done all that. And so now the tears and the emotion is not because of what I’ve been through, it’s happiness, because I know I’m gonna help. And all of that has prepared you for this moment now. Heck yeah. And I can feel, I can visualise, like, these tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and maybe millions of people you’re gonna help.

23:39 Yeah, and I can see it. I don’t know if you can see it. I couldn’t see it, I can. It’s beautiful, beautiful. And so now, you know, now that I have a great relationship with money, now that I understand the type of business structure that I have to utilise to tackle my goals, now that I know I have the IP, right, and it’s been here, right? Piece of cake, right? Piece of cake.

24:10 Yeah, so now I’ll put in the work, because now there’s no way anybody can outwork me, because I have the tools, right? So it’s just a magical experience, a magical experience. I love it. Final thoughts? Anything you want to ask? Yeah, I would add, anyone, anyone that is thinking, hey, scratch that, anyone that has a passion in life has the IP to create a fulfilling business. That simple.

24:50 And if I can do it, anybody… anybody. If you can go from having two kids and being homeless to this, it’s not that… The pursuit of happiness is real, and we’re looking at it right now. I love it, man, I love it so much. I remember our first one-on-one call and I’m like, right, this guy’s special. You know, I can tell you, you just care. You care about these kids, you care about their parents, and you got the IP inside of you.

25:25 And I just kept thinking, man, if we can just unlock this and get this guy out of his own way. I could feel it, it was like, right, damn, yes, holding all this stuff, and it was like, we got to get it all out there. And, you know, now I see it flow. Yeah, look, right, I’ve collaborated with the NBA Wives Association, I’ve collaborated with the school for autism in Orlando, Florida. I train kids with autism.

25:55 I’ve been in symposiums with the German U21 national soccer teams. I’ve done all this for free, and it wasn’t my own doing, my own doing. We talked about having connections and having gatekeepers. I have all that, and I’ve never tapped into it, but now I will. You will, and that’s the difference. Yeah.

26:29 Beautiful stuff, man. I love hearing more about your story. I can’t wait to spend a weekend with you and all your classmates. Yeah. I just want to thank you for going all in, you know, for forcing yourself through those tough moments, because now you got so much to give this world, and I can’t wait to watch it all happen and help in any way I can. You know, you’ve been so much help to your classmates. You know, everyone’s getting so much energy off you, and everyone keeps saying hi, Luis, Luis, Luis.

26:58 And they’re excited to hear this. And thanks for making the journey to London. It’s my pleasure, thank you. And welcome to the family. Yeah, it’s now official. Yes. And look, we’re gonna be on this journey for years and years and years. I can’t wait to see you absolutely crushing it, and if we can help in any way, you just let me know. I appreciate that. As I say, it’s about the journey, and let’s do this. Let’s do it. Thank you, sir. My pleasure.