How to Install Egyptian Carpentry with Shelby Standley with Cadeau Carpentry

All right, guys. Once again, I want to thank our sponsor, Lone Star Appliance Repair, as we're waiting on our next guest. They have been a tremendous supporter of the show. We are so glad to promote them. And honestly, if you need any of your appliances repaired, or if you just need a professional opinion, give them a call. You can reach out to them at— 936-777-7777.

647-2364.

Give them a call. You can text them, you can call them, and they will respond and get your appliances repaired. How you doing, Corey? What's up, brother? How you doing, man? I'm doing good. Yeah? You having fun tonight? I am. Yeah? It's a packed house. Yeah. I mean, like, it's been— I mean, she's been hustling people through here. It's been crazy. Yeah, yeah. She came and got me, and I was like, you're up. And I'm like, I'm here. I was like, we'll continue this conversation later. Yeah, that's right. I got something to do. I got people to meet. Dude, I was, I was talking to, uh, to Matt earlier, and I was, I was telling him about some, uh, and I was telling him I was, I was trying to avoid like the divorce conversation because I was like,

you, you and I and he need to sit down and just have the long, the long convo. Um, but people are begging for it. That's— yeah, I think so. I, I think, I think it'd be a really huge episode. We just need to sit down and do it. Yeah. Um, but some, some crazy statistics I've had come across, uh, Well, so here's the biggest one that I heard. I think it was today. It was an article that came out today about senior citizens in Florida worried about losing their homes because of insurance costs. Yes, it's rising costs. Have you heard about this? Yes, well, it's not just Florida. It's here too. Well, I know it's here, but I mean, like, because so many senior citizens moved to Florida, like, this is like a

major concern for them because like they're— most of those people are living off of, you know, Social Security, you know, like what meager retirement.

Fixed income.

Very fixed income, and they're talking about their insurance, like their home insurance being like $1,200 to $1,500 a month. Yeah. That's nuts. Well, the storms helped. Yeah, right? They've had a bullseye on them pretty hard. Yeah. So this is great. Like, I don't know what the rates— I mean, like, honestly, like, here's full disclaimer. I don't pay my bills, man. Like, I— like, my wife takes care of all that. We have a very inverted relationship as far as, like, traditional stuff goes, right? She's the numbers person. I'm the creative business person. Sure.

So, like, I honestly don't know what we're paying.

Right. She— I mean, she can— she might text into the show, I don't know. But like, hey, hey, you idiot. Yeah, quit talking about our stuff. But like, I was, I was blown away that that was like— like, that has to be like, for most senior citizens living in Florida, I would imagine that's a majority of their Social Security check. A lot of them, yes. It depends on what area you are, what income bracket you are, obviously. Um, but you're on a fixed income even here.

Yeah.

And I bring up here for a good reason. A lot of people bought new builds the last few years, and you're only taxed on dirt. So when you have a new build, a lot of times the lender doesn't prepare them. They'll use an in-house lender for the development, and they'll go in thinking they're paying $1,200 a month, and then the property gets reassessed a year later and the house value gets put in there, and that $1,200 becomes $2,500 overnight.

Yeah.

And the escrow account's short because it wasn't evolved for that. Wasn't prepared for it.

Right.

So, and then not only is the rising cost of insurance, then you have that going on too. And then MUDs are becoming a thing where they're starting to incorporate more MUDs in a lot more of the subdivisions. They've always been a thing, but we're starting to see it more profound than it has been. Well, and this is the other thing I was talking about with Matt, and I think this is something that a lot of people don't understand. Like, I've been talking about the commercial real estate market for a long time, and I think a lot of people don't realize how much the commercial real estate market affects the residential real estate market. Absolutely. And part of that reason is—

and I hate to even like say this out loud, but it's the absolute truth— is service companies make most of their money on the commercial side. So commercial real estate really props up residential real estate and helps keep the costs low because people can make so much on the service end of commercial real estate. Right. I mean, and you were, you were in HVAC for a long time. 35 years. Right. So like commercial HVAC, how much more valuable is it in a commercial HVAC than a residential HVAC? The, the jobs are sizable compared to residential. Right. Right. So whereas you would go do, um, a whole building or, you know, multi-levels, we're talking $80,000, $100,000, $200,000, $300,000 air conditioning

jobs as opposed to an $8,000 or $10,000 job, right? So you— That one commercial job, they don't come around often unless that's your specialty. Now, if you specialize in nothing but commercial HVAC, which there's quite a few companies that do, right, um, they're, they're looking for nothing but big projects, right? So, um, actually used to work for a manufacturer that did nothing but Commercial, and they would do hotels, high-rises, things of that nature, water source chillers, you know, big, big projects. Yeah. Right? So those are a longer burn, so to speak. So you got to order and it goes out in different shipments and you got to take the ductwork and it's all a, it's all a

process. Right. Right? So those are always feeding the pipeline, but those are sizable jobs. Big, big, big jobs. Right? Right. So your residential contractor on a big job, 2, 3 days, he's on it. 3 days is a big one, right? Yeah. So, um, I would imagine most of them get knocked out in like a day. Usually a day. Yeah. You know, and then, and then depending on what's involved, sometimes you can do 2 in a day, right? It just all depends your crew and, you know, how many guys you have on the job and things of that nature. So, yeah. Yeah. So like, and, and the whole reason I was even talking about that, I, and I'm sorry

here's the numbers. Like, we hit the highest inoccupancy rate in the United States since like 1974. Yeah, it got to— it was like, I think it was like somewhere between 16% and 17% nationwide. Houston was number one at like 22.4%. Yeah, it's insane. And so what's starting to happen is they're starting to take some of those office spaces and convert them to apartments. You betcha. Yep, condos, townhouses. Yeah. And so like, that's just you know, that's creating more of a supply. Yep. Which hopefully will drive some of the prices down. Like, we're not seeing that yet. Maybe not. Yeah, I mean, and because I think it was back in October, like, days on market was averaging 52 days. I don't know what it is now. Um, okay, so our latest intel

is about 80 days.

80 days?

Yeah, really? So, but that was also based on the higher interest rate. In the last couple weeks, it has dropped. Okay, which it's like January first happened, and it's like oh now we can go looking for a house again.

Uh huh.

We're starting to see a lot more action on our listings. Good. We're starting to get a lot more calls from buyers. People are like realizing that six percent is not life threatening or it's not the end of the world. Right. It's it's becoming more of a balanced market, which is what we love to see. One side or the other is. never good for the economy. It creates multiple offer situations, hard to get your buyers into a house, overinflates the house, and then when the seller wants to sell it, they can't recoup what they put in it. So there's a lot of disadvantages to having a market that's one way or the other. Right. Right. So, and then you've got a lot of sellers that bought or thinking about buying

another property, but they bought theirs in 2020, 2019, They're sitting on a 2.7, 3.2 interest rate. Don't want to sell. It's kind of like, okay, if we sell this, where are we going to go? Yes. You know, they can't get the same thing they got then.

Yeah.

So there's not an equivalency there unless people are downsizing. And we're seeing a lot of that going on, is they bought big because they wanted big, and now they're like, oh, well, we don't need all this.

Right.

And they're okay with a higher interest rate because they're looking for a downsizing property anyway. So There's— the market right now is becoming more of a balanced market. Right. Which is exactly what we like to see for the economy, for people, for everything. Because literally, your mortgage companies can't— realtors, whatever— you can't sustain an economy with a 2.7% interest rate. 6% is a good average. Right. It's a good balance for income on all parties, everybody involved. You can still get a good turn on your investment and it's not pricing people out of the market. Yeah. So I think people need to understand, I mean, and you know this, but like 6% historically is not bad. Well, no, it's average.

Yeah.

6%. I bought a house in '04 in Florida and I would say it was an '02, '03, '03. It was 6%.

Yeah.

And I was like, man, that's great. Yeah. You know, I had a great credit score. That was a great, great interest rate. Nobody blinked an eye at 6%. People got spoiled with the 2 and the 3. Well, it started with 4.5. Yeah, it came down to like 4.5. And I was like, oh my gosh, that's a great interest rate. And then we kind of hovered around 5 and 4.5 for a really long time. Yeah. And it's like, okay. And everything was kind of balanced. And then COVID happened. Yep. And then the 4 and 5 dropped down to 2.7 and 3.2 pretty quick. And then we stayed there for a very, very— looking at time, an incremental

amount of time, but it was enough to go, I can't get that anymore.

Yeah.

You know, and now everybody's starting to come and realize that 6% is not the end of the world, you know?

Yeah.

So, I mean, just, just like a real life— I'll tell people my situation. Like, we— the property one, and you've been to our place. Oh yeah, it's great. So I think we paid $320,000 for it.

Yeah.

You know, oh, your place is wonderful. Yeah. I'll sell it for you. Right? So like, but like, yeah, no, that's the thing is like during COVID like 4 different occasions, man, I was offered a million dollars. I'm sure. But like, you know, you got a homestead out there. Well, like, but it's like, I, you know, that, that sounds great. Yeah. But like, I start looking around trying to replace it.

Yep.

I can't replace it for a million.

No.

Like, and I can't even get close. Well, you have a generational property. Yes. And those are hard to find.

Yes.

And so it's like, man, like, you could, you could probably offer me 2 and I still wouldn't take it. Yeah. Because like, I can't— there's nothing I can move in that's even like it.

Yeah.

That's going to get me close to what I'm paying right now. Yeah. And that's where a lot of people are that are in your shoes. It's kind of like, okay, I might be tired of this, but where am I going to go? Yeah. You know, that's why people have started moving a little farther north. Not only that, man, like, I'm, I'm sitting at like 2.5%. Yeah. And I'm gonna be done in 10 years. Yeah, done, you know, cash out.

Yeah.

So, and I think there's a lot of people sitting in that situation. Like, they probably, if they had the option, if they had a better option, they would probably move.

Yeah.

Um, and I'm not saying that I'm unhappy where I'm at. I'm perfectly happy where I'm at. Sure. Content. But like, I think there's a lot of people that would be like, man, if I could get that kind of money. Yeah. but put it into a place that's very similar, I would do that. But like, I don't think anybody's looking at the market going, I can't laterally move. Yeah, it's either up or down. Yeah. And it's going to cost me more to get what I would like. Right. Well, it's, it's, uh, you look, you look at return ROI. That's what we look at all the time, right? Um, people like you are like, not you for instance, But say you were 20

years older and you didn't want to upkeep the property that you have. For sure. Because you've got a lot of property to upkeep. And it's like, okay, time to cash in. Yeah. So we're starting to see a lot of that going on because people are tired of cutting 5 acres and 3 acres and maintaining the flower beds and the pools and all that other stuff. And they're wanting a simpler lifestyle.

Yeah.

And so as the baby boomers age that have big estate properties and things things of that nature. We're starting to see more of them moving into smaller communities that have the maintenance amenities and all the stuff where they can travel and they're not working on their house, they're living in their house. Yeah, actually enjoying it, right?

Yeah, yeah.

All right, man, well, Sarah's giving me the, the stink eye over here. It's time to go. Well, that was quick. So, Craig, dude, thank you. Always a pleasure, my friend. And tell people how they can find you if they need you. So, Corey Reeves, Reeves Realty Group. We're a husband and wife team out of Montgomery. Um, phone number is 281-932-2423. Website is reavesrg.com. And, uh, look me up on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. Um, we're pretty much everywhere.

So awesome, man.

Appreciate you. And, uh, we'll catch that other episode real soon. We're gonna make it happen. All right, so peace out. Take it easy, bud. All right, guys, I hope you are enjoying everybody that we're getting to talk to. We are getting through a lot of people tonight. I—

it's, it's been such fun for me.

Um, hey, how's it going? Come on, you know how to use those?

No, put them on my ears.

I hope that's all I have to do.

That's it. Can you hear yourself?

Um, yes.

There you go.

Well, tell everybody who you are and what you do.

I am Cassie Taylor, and I'm the owner of Tailored To You Solutions, home and office professional organizing and cleaning.

Awesome. And, and like, based off our last conversation, you're trying to lean more into the organization kind of stuff?

Correct.

Yeah. So what does that, what does that look like on the, on the home front?

Home front, um, just whatever space you need that's more cluttered than normal.

Yeah.

I mean, garages.

You're gonna like attack my junk drawer? Is that the—

Totally. You know, you think that that's the bane of your existence?

Is that the bane of your existence?

I do not own a junk drawer, so—

Not in your home?

Nope.

Not at all?

No. Everything has a place.

There's not like a secret stash that somebody's got?

Oh, they probably all have one. I do not.

So, so like, what is there? Is there any sort of like evaluation that you go through? Is there like a conversation on the front end like, hey, what are you struggling with? Like, what is it that's like giving you stress? Like, how does, how does that work for you?

Yes. So on the consultation call, I've got a questionnaire that I go through. Okay. Um, just as a like 10, 15 questions, like quick questions like where do you live? Like basic, um, making sure that we're in the right area. So you're not just calling me out of Canada and hoping I live in the area. I don't know, I have somebody following me from Washington, so—

If they want to fly you up there, why not?

Exactly. Um, but, uh, then, um, after that, if we agree that we're a good match, then I send a longer formal questionnaire for them to go through and get back to me so that when we have our in-person consultation and I'm walking through your home, I've got your answers already outlined, and then I can, um, go in and go room by room. Like, okay, so you said your pain point is your pantry, so why don't we start there first and tackle that?

Yeah.

Well, what other areas do you might need help with or assistance with? And just kind of go from there. Um, we, you know, that's how we'll rank it, like what needs to be tackled, like what gives you the most stress.

Yeah.

That's gonna be the space we want to tackle first.

Is something like the pantry where you find most people struggle, or is there something— is there somewhere else in the house where people like really have a hard time, or is like a source of anxiety, or—

It depends on the client's health. I've done an overhaul on a garage, and that was for a husband and wife, you know.

I can imagine that's like overwhelming even for you. I mean, because Because there's like, tends to be like a garage is a huge space and like people tend to like just stack stuff in there.

Yes. So I just go and inventory everything and I'm like, okay, so this is what I found. And so, um, I had an idea of where they wanted things. So I hung bikes, I hung ladders, I created a fitness area, I created a holiday, um—

So is a lot of what you're doing bringing in tools? And when I say tools, I mean like things that help them sort and organize.

If that's necessary.

Like bins and hooks and things like that, that kind of like, okay, this is where this goes. This is— so like everything has a place.

Correct. Yeah, like I built a— like I purchased a shelf for them. Like they purchased it, but I went and picked it up and I put it together and made sure that it all fit. Right. Um, you know, we measure— I measure twice and buy once.

Yeah.

So I have an ongoing text making sure, like sending pictures like, hey, I found this. Is this something that you're interested in?

Yeah.

Creating Amazon accounts like you. That way I don't handle the money side of it sometimes, you know, like, here, let's create an Amazon. Let's go back and forth and add to this cart.

Yeah.

And see what you want. And then you'll decide on what is best for you and your home.

So is it— I mean, like, and again, like, not to like diminish what you do, but like, why don't they do that for themselves? Is there like just a wall there, a block? I mean, like, what is it?

It can be that, or, you know—

I'm really asking for myself. I'm like, you know, I'm a messy person.

I know you have kids, so I mean, like, that's what takes priority. You're dealing with your kids. My house is not organized like I want it to because I'm trying to raise up a generation, and if I do it for for them all the time, then you kick them out into the world and they're like, hey, wait, where does this go? No, they've got to learn it for themselves.

Yeah. So, I mean, yeah, I get that because there's like a hierarchy of priorities, right? Like, because like, like spending time with my kids, that's gonna come before whether or not like my dishes are color coordinated or whatever that is.

Exactly.

You know, and so like sometimes those things just don't happen, but like I also understand that like at some point Having things out of place creates a level of anxiety that is just unbearable.

Correct.

You know, and I think that's why what you're trying to do is so valuable is because like you can alleviate that and take that off their plate.

Yes.

And get things in order. Is it— so like once you get it there, do they struggle to keep it that way? I realize that's like a— I'm asking like a very broad question. for individual people, but like in general.

I mean, if they're calling me back, then there's a piece that I feel like I missed. Actually, I've gotten some feedback here tonight that maybe doing a membership, like I go back and like, oh, I created— I helped you create this, but you're struggling to keep up with it in one way or another.

Professional scolder. Exactly.

No, everything is met with encouragement and You know, like making sure that they know—

It's fine.

I respond well to that.

Well, I would like it to be on the healthier side. Like, you're not going to invite me back if I'm going to yell at you all the time. I mean, we all have spouses sometimes.

Hey, don't discount it. There's people that enjoy that. They're out there.

Right.

Got to give the people what they want.

You know, personalities. This is why I want to know if I'm— if I work well with you.

So, I mean, like, I'm— is it, is it un— like, because to me it seems like there's certain places in the house that would be difficult for you to tackle. And I'm not saying difficult for you because you're unskilled, but like because they're personal. You know, like, I'm thinking like the bathroom. Like, because I don't know, there's, there's personal products and things that exist in the bathroom.

Right.

Like, I may not want you messing with those. I don't know. I mean, I'm asking for like your experiences. Like, are people okay with that, or is that like, like, I want to come in, I can come in and organize your bathroom and you're going to love it, right?

It just depends on their comfort level. I mean, if there's something in there, then I mean, you really have that conversation. Is there anything in this space that you would not want me to see? And if that's the case, then maybe you should remove that before I get there. And I'll send a reminder like, hey, remember, today's your bathroom, and if there's anything, any personal If you have any personal items that you would like me not to see, then now is the time to go put it somewhere else.

Let me, let me tell you something. I am blown away by the way the things that people are unashamed for me to see when I'm in their home. Oh, I know, right?

I've seen some stuff.

I just like, really? Like, you're gonna leave that out for me? All right.

Thanks for the invitation, but no thanks.

Like, man, I've had— I've gone into people's homes and they're like showing off the stripper pole to me. And I'm like, why? Like, I don't want to know. I don't even want to know that that's there. I want to assume that that was there from the previous owner and that that's not yours.

I want to assume that it's the fireman's pole and your kids are practicing.

That you just sealed the hole up in the top.

Your kids are just practicing how to be firemen in the future.

Please.

Oh my gosh. But yeah, like, it blows me away that people— I mean, or just like, they just— I've had people just like walk in the room and say, oh my gosh.

Right?

They forgot that it was there.

Yeah, it's like, how could you forget that this is there? You made it into like an 8 by 10 and framed it, put it on the wall.

Exactly.

And told me to come in here.

Yes.

Yeah. So anyway, I'm getting the 2-minute Marked from her.

Right.

So what, what is— what has been your most interesting one so far? Or one I— well, that may be private. I mean, you may not be able to talk about that.

I don't know. I mean, I think there's one I'm coming— that's coming up that is just like really— I'm excited about because, I mean, it's, it's actually just about a whole house and—

Oh, you're doing like a whole home?

Um, yes, well, in a sense, like, she wants to make sure that her family isn't burdened down the road. Like, her parents—

Was she older? Yeah. Okay.

But she still has her parents, and they're starting to, like, unload some stuff, and she's like, oh, I don't wanna— I don't wanna be this burden. So just having that insight for this generation, that age group, it's just like, oh, okay, so I, I, like, now have a new way to approach approach a conversation. Like, hey, you know, because like younger people want— have talked to me about wanting to hire for their parents and stuff, and they're like, it's just too personal if I go in. Like, how can you know? Like, I'm unbiased.

Yeah.

Like, I have no personal connection. I'm here to like really genuinely help. Like, hey, you know, and have those harder conversations because again, I'm not there to Witness the aftermath.

Yeah, but, and I don't know if this is actually something you've, you've looked into or not, but I've actually recommended this to several people who have had parents that passed away, is to have someone like you go through and just sort everything.

Correct.

Because like, it's so hard for a child to go through and sort their parents' things.

Exactly.

If they have an outside person that's— they're not going to throw anything away, they're just going to put it into piles and make sure that it's, you know, just organized so that later on you can go through it and see what it is you want to keep, what it is you want to get rid of. Because like, it will take you days if you're the child. It just will. Because like, you're just like, oh my gosh, this was my mom's. Oh my gosh, this was my dad's. Like, all that emotion that's tied up in that. Having someone like you be able to come through and like organize it, put it into recognizable stacks. Correct. And go like, okay, this is this, this is this. I— and just be able— and

like, you could probably— I mean, I would imagine you could do it and like just put it into paper.

Yes, yes. That's, you know, it's inventory, it's a spreadsheet, you know, easily accessible.

That's so valuable for people. I mean, especially for people that have parents that are like either like that have become unable to take care of themselves or have passed away, and to have outside person come through and just sort through everything for them. Yeah, you know.

For sure.

Anyway, how do people get a hold of you if they want to find you?

I have a website, tailoredtousolutions.com. Tailored is T-A-Y-L-O-R-D, to, T-O-Y-O-U, S-O-L-U-T-I-O-N-S. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, and my work number is 936-209-2087.

Awesome. Thank you so much for sitting down. Really good to talk to you. All right, guys. One last time, our sponsor for tonight is Lone Star Appliance Repair. As we wait for our next guest, if you have any appliances in your home that are making weird sounds, yeah, whoever.

I don't care.

Yeah. I mean, if you're tired of doing it, just shut it down. I'm not tired. I'm good. Yeah, guys, if you— I was just talking to Sarah. She's the owner of Lone Star Appliance Repair. If you have any squeaky, creaky appliances that need to be fixed, give them a call. You can reach out to them at 936-647-2364. You can also text them at that number and they will get you on the schedule and get your appliance fixed, repaired, and back up and running like brand new. How you doing, my friend?

Hey, brother.

What's your name?

Let's get this. Um, my name is Alex.

Alex.

Craig. Nice to meet you, Craig.

You too, bud. What do you do?

Uh, I own Alpha, uh, Martial Arts.

Alpha Martial Arts?

Alpha Martial Arts.

What kind of martial arts do you guys do?

So we teach kickboxing and Krav Maga.

Krav Maga? Is Krav Maga the Israeli—

It is.

Yeah, it is.

You know what it is?

Yeah.

Okay, not a lot of people know. All right, but yeah, that's, that's what it is. All right, that's where it originated.

And, uh, I could talk some martial arts.

Mainly.

A little bit.

Yeah.

Oh man, that is so refreshing.

Do you know who Jeff Bolt is?

No.

No, I was in his school for a while. He's, uh, he does, uh, Northern Long Fist and Southern White Crane.

Oh, that sounds fancy.

It's not. It really— I know, don't get me wrong, he was a great instructor. Um, have you ever seen like Ip Man?

Ip Man, is that a movie?

Yeah.

Oh, like Ip Man?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so he, he, he can trace his lineage back to that guy.

Holy cow, Bruce Lee's instructor?

Yeah.

Holy cow.

Yeah, yeah, he's like the only American to have ever gone to China and like learned under that guy.

Holy cow. Yeah, yeah, that's big time.

Well, I mean, like, he is— I mean, you know, you know, you know, 7, 7 degrees of Connection. Yeah, yeah, whatever. I know, I know a couple of forms, but I'm like, you know, yeah, whatever.

We all starting a tradition. That's right. I started in Tang Soo Do. Yeah.

How long you been doing this?

Oh man, uh, 2 decades.

20 years.

Really? Yeah, 20 years. I got my first black belt in 2007.

Okay.

I've been teaching ever since.

Okay.

Yeah. And it's— I started in Tang Soo Do.

So I mean, like, you're creeping up on a decade of teaching, man.

Yeah, dude. Yeah. Oh, oh, oh, damn, damn. Yeah, I mean, I just got my 6th degree in— what year is it? 2017. I just got my 6th degree. No, no. Oh, I got my master's in 2017. I just got my 6th degree last year.

Okay, so like, like, explain, explain that to me because I don't know how any of that works.

So, uh, you go from white belt to black belt.

Okay.

And typically that's like a minimum of 3 years. And then after you get your black belt, you can either stop there and, you know, do something else, or you can keep going. If you keep going past black belts, you no longer get belts, you get degrees.

Okay.

Depending on the style, some people call them dons, but degree is standard. So you get your first degree, which is your first black belt typically, right? And then you go all the way up to, you know, 10th degree, which is grandmaster. Typically a style only has one grandmaster. That's like the founder of the style. Okay, the oldest individual. Um, but it's 5th degree is your master.

So, okay, so you're 5th degree?

5th degree. Well, 6th degree. 6th degree.

Okay, we don't want to— we don't want to demote you.

So, and, uh, yeah, Tang Soo Do.

Uh, what is Tang Soo Do?

So Tang Soo Do, well, I say Tang Soo Do, but it's Tang Soo Do based. The actual style is, uh, it's called the Chuck Norris System now.

Okay.

But, uh, it was called Chung Kuk Do, but now it's called Chuck Norris System because Chuck Norris is the founder of it. He's the one that started the style, but it has, uh, a few things mixed in it, but Tang Soo Do based, a lot of the forms are the same.

Okay.

Yeah.

So are you guys like learning like forms? Like, I mean, they're kind of like dances is the way I describe them to people. Like, is that, is that kind of what you guys are working through? Is like—

Yeah, like, like, like patterns in the traditional sense. So there's—

And I don't mean that as like a demeaning thing at all, but like, I mean, it is. I mean, it's very beautiful most of the time.

Yeah, yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's really nice. It's, uh, I guess there's different styles, have, uh, like hard and soft style. Uh, this style specifically is on the harder spectrum, okay, compared to like kung fu.

Sure.

Uh, so there's, I think, 8 different katas or forms, right? Um, I know in taekwondo, some taekwondo organizations only have one form that you learn pieces of between white and black belt.

Yeah, yeah.

But this one has like 8 of them.

Okay.

Yeah, forms, patterns, um, and they all break down to what they call a bunkai application, which is like the realistic application to it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So like, is this a low block? Well, no, it's actually breaking somebody's arm. Okay, oh, explain that to me. Yeah, but yeah, um, that's where I started.

If later on, like, like on camera, would you spar the Rizla?

here. The Rizzler, who's that?

That's this guy right here.

Him?

Yeah.

Look, he looks dangerous, man. He looks dangerous. Like, glasses are front.

Yeah, I don't do the rough stuff. That's why he's here.

So where is—

where is your studio?

So right now we're mobile because I—

Like, you go to people?

Correct.

That's awesome.

And I work with, uh, facilities now. So like senior living facilities. So I teach self-defense to seniors. It's the coolest thing. And I work with realtors because I, uh, recently owned a waffle restaurant that I closed. So I closed the waffle restaurant and I launched this brand.

Okay.

So that's, that's, uh, this brand is fairly new. So I did that. I did that. I, uh, It's always been my passion because I was selling waffles to individuals and it was, it was nice, but it wasn't— I didn't really have the heart for it. Yeah, I saw people, you know, coming in and trying to eat.

You're making me want to ask you about the waffles.

I mean, it was good, you know, it was good for business, but at the end of the day, it's like, you know, you're feeding these calories to people and yeah, they're loving it, but you know in your heart that it's like you're not really selling longevity. And, and, and I, I do better with a membership sort of, uh, like building rapport with individuals.

Sure, yeah.

So I went to, I went to my passion, went back to my passion, which was fitness.

That's awesome.

So the complete opposite opposite direction.

But yeah, no, I dig it.

Yeah.

So I mean, do you have like one-on-ones?

I do, I do. So like in a personal training setting?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I mean, I'm not gonna— no one out there is gonna hold you to this, but I'm just gonna ask, like, what does it typically cost to have you come out and do like a one-on-one?

So usually it's like $75 an hour.

Okay.

Uh, but right now since we're So new, it's flexible. So around $45 to $50.

Oh, okay. Yeah, that's super reasonable.

That's like one-on-one. Yeah, but it's for a limited time because it's so new.

You're getting up and running, you're getting up and going. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So it's a super sweet deal right now. But, um, we're working on a brick-and-mortar facility. Realtor's working on that right now, and it's going to be in the Spring area is what we're looking at.

Okay. Yeah.

So it's gonna be awesome. By the time it launches officially, the network and the base will be built up and the grand opening will be huge.

What part of Spring are you gonna be in? Are you wanting to be in?

Closer to like right on 99 between, I guess, Woodlands and Kingwood.

Okay.

So in that area, hopefully.

Yeah.

So like Spring-Stutner area.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like, like close to the area?

That's where my main office is.

Hey!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we can talk about that later. Yeah, of course!

I love your hat, by the way, dude.

Thank you.

That's dope. That hat is awesome. I had one.

You had one?

I lost it.

Oh no!

Yeah, I lost it.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Do you know how to ride?

No.

No?

Nah, man. I rode a donkey once by accident.

Let me tell you something. That's my kung fu.

Oh!

Yeah.

Like riding horses?

Oh yeah, horses, dude.

That's— my wife loves Yellowstone.

Oh really?

That's her thing, man. That— she eats that up all the time. Like, yeah, it—

like, let me tell you, like, I— parts of that show are gross. Like, just— I mean, like, like, no one wants to be those people. Like, other than just owning the land and the wealth, right? Everything else no one wants.

Yeah.

Let me tell you something, those horses in that show Those horses are amazing. I watched that show literally just to see the horses.

Like the show horses that they took to the actual rodeo?

Dude, those are, those are million, multi-million dollar horses. Yeah, the guy that produces that show is a horse guy. Taylor Sheridan is a horse fanatic. He knows his stuff. He knows what he's looking at, and he puts his horses in the show, and those are multi-million dollar horses. So incredible.

You've gone to the rodeo?

Many times.

Oh man.

That's how I spent most Saturday nights when I was a kid.

Really?

For sure.

Damn. See, I'm from South Carolina, so I'm not from Texas originally. I didn't even know the rodeo was a thing.

Are you disappointed that there's not coleslaw on the burgers? Is that— are you, are you that mad?

Nah, I'm not mad, man. Coleslaw, man. Whoever made coleslaw, go, go somewhere else with that mess.

Is that not a thing though? They put coleslaw on the burgers like at McDonald's.

right? I've never— I don't eat coleslaw.

But I mean, like, that's what I'm saying. Like, in South Carolina, they're like, they put coleslaw on the burgers though, right? Isn't that a thing? Is it North Carolina where they do that?

It has to be North Carolina.

Okay.

Yeah, if they put coleslaw on the burgers in South Carolina, I don't— I'm not involved at all. I know they do oysters out there.

I'm down for oysters.

I don't know about oysters on the burgers.

What about like a white sauce? Oh yeah, you down for that? Yeah, like some vinegar barbecue?

Oh yeah.

Okay. Yeah, man, there was some guy that was making fun of you earlier. I was like, dude, it's good.

White sauce? Yeah, I eat that up.

That's what I'm talking about. All right, so we're getting the signal. Dude, if people are looking to get into some, some, uh, some kickboxing and some Krav Maga—

Yes.

How do they get a hold of you?

Yeah, so I'm on Instagram, Sensei_Alex, or Sensei_Lex is who I am on Instagram.

Okay.

I'm also Alex Gardner Awesome.

Alex, thank you so much for sitting down with us, bud.

Hey, thank you, brother.

Dude, good to meet you, man.

You're awesome.

Right back at you. Who we got, Sarah? Come on. I'm just gonna awkwardly stare at him till he comes over here. Don't worry, while he's not here, I'm gonna put your logo up on the screen. Tell them, tell them they can both come over here.

What's going on?

I told her the whole time you didn't come over, I was just gonna put her logo up on the screen. What's up, Miss Christy? How are you?

Good. Is that mic working?

Yeah, that mic's working. You can turn it up. You just— we just don't have a headset for you. She's gonna have to keep it close to your, to your face there. Did Kevin tell you I saw him? No.

Somewhere.

Here, let me get you— let me get him— let me get this set up here. It's not fun without the headset because then I can't really hear myself.

All right, let's just switch.

Let's just switch. Okay, he's good. What a gentleman, isn't he though? Yeah, don't tell me. Oh yeah, that's so much better. All right, because I really like to hear myself talk.

That's why, interestingly enough, that's why I don't want the headset.

You don't want to hear yourself talk? You don't like the way you see? I don't like the way you sound either.

Happens. Yeah, that's what the drink is for.

How you guys doing?

Really good. How are you?

Y'all having fun?

Yeah, it's been a great night. There are so many businesses here.

It looked like there was a bunch of familiar faces, unfamiliar faces.

Yeah, it's been a great night.

I just talked to like a 6th degree master black belt. in like Krav Maga. Did you guys see that guy?

See, John's gotta stop telling people that. He is not that. He's not even in the right shape for that. He's really got to stop telling people that.

Yeah, well, he's gonna get jumped in the parking lot if he keeps talking like that. Oh gosh.

Yeah, by my girlfriend if he keeps it up.

Shoot. Congratulations on the girlfriend, huh? Yeah, yeah. Is it— is that the girl? Is she here?

No.

No. Is this new?

No, no, it's just a joke.

I was about to say, I mean, we just went through this. I mean, it's real enough, Craig.

Next subject. Let's go to the next cue card.

We just went through this whole thing and he's talking about this. He says, well, you know, this— she's a really nice lady. I'm like, when you add the word lady, I feel like it's not a good mix. I mean, how old is this woman?

Like, She loves the Homeowner Show, by the way. So we are moving to the next cue card.

She must be all right.

Can we press this enter bar on the teleprompter? Let's spacebar up a little bit.

That's right. So what's been going on with you guys? Anything fun?

There is a tidal wave of business coming. It has been huge, the amount of people that are at least even interested in doing home renovations in the month of January. Yeah, is far and above anything that I personally have seen in my history, uh, doing it.

Um, I mean, I'm one of them, and I'm just trying not to stress you out. So why do we— why is that?

I don't know. I think there's just so many things going on with it being election year. With it being the Fed announcing that the rates might be dropping, there's just so much good out there that it's made— it's making an influence on the market. And pretty clear, I don't know if you've seen it in real estate, Chrissy, uh, but in the home remodeling section, we are far busier in January than we have in years, which is awesome, if I didn't make that clear. clear. Uh, but it's great. There's a lot of really cool things going on, a lot more people in the market it seems, which is exciting because, you know, last year was a struggle for a lot of businesses. For sure.

Yeah, yeah. I, I mean, I, I think there's certain businesses that are probably going to struggle this year as well. Um, I, I don't know how that's going to, how that's going to play out. I was, I was just talking to another real estate person just a minute ago, and I, I had read an article that back in October the average day on market was was like up to like 52 days, and he was telling me, he's like, it's up to like 80 right now for like average day on market. It depends. It depends on where you are. The Woodlands area, it's still multiple offer. And really, the biggest issue I think in, in real estate is that there are still— we still need inventory.

So until then, there's no more inventory in The Woodlands. I mean, they're tapped out. Yeah, there's none. So, so The Woodlands is still— if you have a house that is special, that is, it's still gonna go quick. I mean, I've put 3 offers in and 2 of them were multiple offer.

Wow.

So how far away are we in The Woodlands? Because I mean, this This is their 50th year, right? And, and for those that don't— I mean, people listen from across the country. If you don't know what The Woodlands is, just look up The Woodlands, Texas. It's a weird, unique place in Texas. Number one place to live in the United States right now, right? It's crazy. But how— I mean, because I know what some of the houses are like in The Woodlands, and like, let's be honest, like, some of them are falling down. Small, itty-bitty, what, 1,500 square foot?

Yes.

Home that is selling for a ridiculous amount of money.

How—

and this is opinion, like, I don't think there's any numbers to back this up— but like, how far away are we from like a Heights situation where people are literally just buying the property to raise it and then put something new? They're already there. They're already there? So Grogan's, people are buying the property, tearing down the house, rebuilding it. That doesn't surprise me at all. I mean, because like some of those houses are just absolute trash. Yeah, at this point. Not because— again, like, they're 50 years old and, and some people just haven't taken care of them, and so it's, it's easier to just—

But here's a lot of that.

Here's my question, is that a lot of those— I mean, they put so many houses and they're just right next to each other, and it's a pretty small house. So I mean, I guess if you have all the money in the world, then you, what, buy 2 houses so that you can get 2 lots so that you can actually fit? That's what they did downtown.

Yeah, and there's a lot of '70s and '80s homes around, in and around The Woodlands area that are doing remodels, and when it's done, it looks exactly like one of those HGTV homes that everybody wants. And just like that, it's now, you know, doubled in value. So much so that even areas around The Woodlands are being huge and, and coming up with a master-planned community. Woodforest is coming up and they're doing a lot of big things right down the road from here. Yeah, yeah, down 2978 down there. So there's a lot of people love The Woodlands and need more inventory, so they're trying to do the same exact thing. Bridgeland, Woodforest, I mean, there's a bunch of

those master-planned communities that think they could do it better than The Woodlands, all around The Woodlands sprouting up. So it's a, it's a very, very hot area.

But you mentioned Bridgeland, man, and that's an interesting— have you, have you sold any homes or looked at any homes in Bridgeland? I haven't sold any, but I went by there like last week. That is an odd— it's odd for me. Now, I come from Austin, Texas. I love trees. I love I mean, I think that a community should have trees. Sure, they have none. I mean, they just— that is the flattest land I've ever seen in my life. There is nothing there.

Yeah, it's like Towne Lake. Yeah, I think that's what they did. They ran out of houses in Towne Lake and took it up to the next spot. It used to be— but I mean, there wasn't even a lot of trees out there to begin with, to be fair. I mean, a lot of that was cow pasture.

That's true.

That's true. But isn't it like Bridgeland is the one where, um, they have like a lot of lakeside properties, right? Where you can take your boat—

Lakeside but not boat. So Bridgeland has a lot of waterfront property that you're not going to have accessible by boat. And the reason I know this, because I was looking in Bridgeland and I was like, heck yeah, let's be a part of this movement and going out there. And there's a lot of waterfront access, but you don't— you can't put a dock out there. You don't You're not gonna be able to have a boat. In Town Lake—

Is Town Lake the one with boats?

Yeah, you have boats and you go up to the, to the, the boardwalk there.

That's okay, that's the one I'm thinking of.

Yeah, all that stuff, real cool if you've ever been on 4th of July.

And everybody's got like a pontoon, they can take it over to the Crust Pizza and— yeah, yeah, yeah, uh-huh, yeah, yeah.

I thought that worked well, so that's why I was excited about Bridgeland, but they're like, no, unfortunately it's more of just a pond with water features kind of thing instead of Well, they're getting ready to put in kind of a something similar to what they have at the Woodlands Mall.

So they're putting in the whole little lake area with the stores around it.

Yeah, nice.

Well, I mean, the whole, the whole 99 Highway thing, just, I think that's what really transformed that whole thing over there. Oh yeah, it's, it's crazy.

Brought a renewed interest to the North Cypress part of town, but also to the northeast side of town. Kingwood, if you take 99 past 59 and you start losing track of civilization, it's beautiful out there. Cow pasture and there's nothing. It's not gonna take too long to spread that way.

And they have trees. Well, it's the same thing, like if you— have you guys been out to Blue Jack yet?

Where?

Beautiful, right? Blue Jack.

Blue Jack?

Yeah. It's a golf course community. It's the golf course that Tiger Woods designed. Right. But it's like on the northwest side of Montgomery. And I have a couple of clients that they literally just have like townhomes out there so that they can golf there. They don't even live there. They don't stay there. They just want places there so they can go golf. But like, not cheap to live there. No. But then like the custom homes that are in there will blow you away. It is crazy.

Really?

And then there's like all these other communities that are like cropping, cropping up around it. I don't know what those look like, but like, it's, you know, it's, it's pretty crazy.

Wow.

So, um, and Sarah's giving me the wrap-up sign. Uh, so we haven't gotten to talk to you guys for a long time. We need to come in and like do like a big long episode. episode with— we do. Yeah, because we've been talking about doing one with Zeke. Absolutely. Because like, I mean, you guys are the kings. Well, I am, if I'm not mistaken. Have we been dethroned? Because I feel like— No, no, no, you guys, I think you guys are still number one. Okay. Were you the one that was saying that you, that you were up there at the top? Somebody was saying they were up there. He had other— I'm like, he had other issues.

Yeah, I had other stuff outside of on her show.

Okay.

But I didn't know there was a competition for something because normally I win. So what is this competition?

It's not a competition, so— but if it were, I would be winning. I can tell you the numbers afterwards, but like, they have like the number 1 downloaded episode of all time.

Really?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Her and Zeke.

Okay, so you and Zeke together?

Yes. They did a first-time homebuyers episode, which I mean, like—

Interesting. What's the cutoff for the competition?

What's the— I mean, how much longer do we have? No, no, it's like, it's encompassing, it's encompassing all time. I just got this crazy look. I mean, we can do updates from month to month. I mean, I'm fine with that.

We will compete to increase this viewership.

Hang on, hang on, let me get Zee to call me.

I'm gonna get somebody to call the Homeowner Show.

All right, so we didn't do this on the front end, but like, tell everybody what you guys do. I mean, you guys have both been guests before, but like, people that haven't seen you before, let everybody know what you do and how to get a hold of you. So, Christy Finnell, I am in residential real estate. estate in the Conroe, Woodlands, North Houston, Houston in general area. Yeah, um, with Coldwell Banker. Awesome.

And I am Adrian Rojas, your cosmetic remodeling specialist. If you need to get hold of me any time of the day, I repeat, any time of the day, you can call me at 832—

I feel like you need to backtrack for this.

Again, that is 832-797-9465. You call me with whatever your needs are.

All right, that was like the late night DJ voice, right?

You just wait, game on.

He's, he's, he's pumping those downloads is what he's doing.

I mean, it's a good word for it.

Where have I seen this Adrian guy before? I'm a little frightened right now. Yeah, that's fair. I don't— okay.

You know, you should hear all the taglines I've got going on in my head.

You're looking for flooring clients?

Flooring?

I've got all the flooring you're gonna need. I mean, it's a homeowner's show.

If you have any need for any kind of hardwood that's out there, I've got it. Flooring, cabinets, countertops, painting. You want it? I promise you, I've got it.

Oh my gosh. Things just got interesting, didn't they? Real quick. We may need to renegotiate the, uh—

You're laying it up, I'm knocking it down.

So with that, Greg, I would certainly like to thank you for having us on your show.

Very well done episode.

Adrienne, you'll be receiving my restraining order. Oh my gosh.

Well, thanks for having us on.

Oh yeah, the lines just started lighting up. It's right here.

It's that time of the night.

No, it's the FBI right here. There they are. Thank you guys.

Yep.

Thank you so much. Good to see you guys. All right, again, thank you to Lone Star Appliance Repair for sponsoring this episode. Great appliance repair company, one of our favorites. They've come and repaired many appliances in my home. Um, we have great appliances. They just, you know, sometimes they get a little, little knock in them and they need it. They need some love and care. So we give Lone Star Appliance Repair a call. We give them a call at 936-647-2364. Uh, man, we are at almost 2 and a half hours. Rizzler, are you tired yet? You ready for like 3 more? He's, he's got it in the tank.

We're good to go.

Is it, is it JoJo time? Come on, girl. Are you my last one? Hi, Mom! I made it! You've arrived.

Hey!

Hi, friends.

How you doing?

Hi, friends. How's your night been? Oh my gosh, I was just telling them we're like— hang on, let me fix the camera real quick. Yeah, no problem. Oh, did I break it?

No, no, no.

I had to put it in a wide wide frame for Adrian. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh no! It's okay. You got this.

There we go.

There. Okay. All right. Can you hear okay, or do you need the headphones? I can hear you. You can hear me? Yeah. I'll try to keep close. I just don't know with like the music and everything.

Mm-hmm.

So yeah, yeah, you're good.

What's been going on?

Not much, just having a Level Up event. The founder of the Feast. Yeah, yeah. It's weird when people say that and like introduce me as that. And even though like technically it's true, I'm the scapegoat that pays taxes on this thing. Yeah, I really feel like it's y'all. I'm nothing without y'all, essentially. Like, I don't need— Just, just me though, right? Just you. Okay, you heard it here first. I don't need my members, our members to push the net. Right. I need you to push yourself because when you shine, I shine.

Right.

That's my end goal. Networking provided that for me.

Right.

Like my version of success was being able to stay at home with my daughter, not necessarily have to worry about finances, and that came from the fact we were in a networking group and we do this. that y'all support my husband's AC company so that I can do this. Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, I mean, like, this event that we're at, I mean, I don't know how many people we had here tonight. Do you have any idea? Um, I will know later tonight when I check, um, like registrations and stuff, but easily over 100.

Easily over 100.

Yeah, yeah.

So, like, I mean, because, like, when, like, when the other one that you and I were in kind of internally collapsed, there was like, what, 5 of us?

Yes.

Yeah, and, and like we just kind of all hung in there. Yes.

And then—

It was so crazy. I was telling something about someone about that. I said we went for almost 2 years of no like, um, umbrella to put ourselves under. We just— you're my pest control guy. Yep. Um, they're my health insurance agent, my this, my that, and the other. Like, I just trust and believe in y'all. We've had 4 kids, like, between all the— like, people are having babies, people were losing close loved ones, and it was— trauma bonded isn't the right word. It's fair, it's fair. Truly. And then I have so many best friends that I love and adore, but when I say, I don't know, um, are they a 1099 or are they a W-2, they're like, what?

Yeah.

But like, you know that answer. Yeah. Because you're in it. I needed to surround myself and make myself a room of people that could help build me up, you know. So, yeah. Yeah. I mean, oh, and like, and you, you know this probably better than anybody, but like, how, how, what, what, what is, how much of a game changer is having a close-knit group of like-minded people? Changed my entire life. life. Yeah, not a corny cliché like sell gimmick. No, like, I'm— this changed my entire life. Yeah, yeah, in, in, in a good way. No, yeah, for sure. I'm like crying. I'm like, it's terrible, guys. Hopefully a good way. Hopefully a good way. It changed my daughter's life to be able to spend that time with her because a lot of my

fellow working moms like they don't get that opportunity necessarily. And I just really want to— I've got the tools. I will give them to you. Whether you use them or not is up to you.

Yeah.

There will be members that come and go that are like, I didn't get anything out of this. That's okay. You either didn't put anything into it or we're just not your right fit. And that doesn't take away like they're good, we're bad. we're good, they're bad. It's just like finding the right network, you know? So, I mean, like, I'm gonna ask you this because, like, I want you to, to speak to it because I have zero perspective on it because I'm not a woman, right? You heard it here first. Yeah, no, officially, officially declaring that my pronouns are exactly what they look like. Um, but, like, I, I think, I think what you're expressing is a lot of what a lot of women want, you know, is to be

able to have a family but also be able— and I don't want to say like contribute, but like be part of like the workforce. They like, they want to have a career, they want to do something. And like, I think a lot of that seems unattainable to so many of them. 100%, yeah. And so they end up feeling like they have to choose one or the other, you know. And so like How difficult is it to find the tools to be able to accomplish that? That's a great question. I think I got lucky with having my in-laws live so close and like being able to help watch Stella, my daughter. Yeah, it's difficult because when I am working, I sometimes I kind of like click back in, I'm like, oh my God, I like, oh,

just missed bath time, just missed read-a-book time. But then when I'm with her, after I put her down to bed, I'm like, well, God, I need to get all this stuff done. Like, it's finding the balance, the spaces in between. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because when I'm with my daughter, like, at the very beginning, I was not present with her like I should have been, like, because she's Still like a blab at the beginning, you know what I'm saying? So I just like— she fell asleep on me and I answered emails and worked, right? But now that she's like a human, you know? Yeah, when I'm like talking back to you.

That's a whole nother episode.

Craig, just this morning we got in a huge drag-out. Not huge. She wanted to wear high heels to school. Of course. Like, that's— this is everyday, but this one, like— Grizzler, you can relate, right? It matched her pants, it matched her, like, uniform. Like, she was looking cute. She was like, no, like, I'm wearing these. And I said, you can't. She wore them all the way to the parking lot of the school, and I brought her tennis shoes to change in there, and she still was like, no, help me. But no, I really love that for her. Like, I do. It'll be fine. Back to what you're talking about. Sure. Yeah, yeah, it's— God bless stay-at-home moms, for one.

Sure. Their contribution, which not everyone sees it this way, that, you know, we're older, but the way I see it is that if you weren't doing those things at home, your partner, your spouse, your husband or your wife couldn't go to work and make that money and keep it like A cohesive unit, right? I forgot who told me this, but I heard one time that like in marriage someone is the picture and someone is the frame.

Hmm.

And seldom do you get to play the same role at the same time. Oh yeah, yeah, for sure. So for a long time I was the frame for Jehu when he opened up his AC company. I'm his number— I'm I'm still his number one, like, affordable air repair, 936-446-9329. I'll help you out in the Northeastern area. Yeah, but, um, at that point he was the picture, I'm his frame, and I felt a switch to like, right now he's at home with our daughter, you know, and I get to be the picture for a little bit. So it's just kind of doing that dance. Yeah. What's a good relationship is when you can swap those roles and not do it with any sort of like

animosity or jealousy or all those kinds of things. Like, okay, now you go do that and I can be here and do this. I feel like you and Brandy are really good at that too. We're pretty good at it. Yeah. I mean, but like, we're also just like really flexible. I mean, like— But the reason you can be flexible is because you own your own business and that you're able to like There's nothing better. Like, for me, that's my success, is flexibility. Yeah, you know, like, if my daughter wants to play hooky from school one day, yeah, let's do it, you know? Yeah, I mean, like, honestly, that's, that's part of like why we do life the way that we do life, is because we want to

have the freedom to make our own decisions, to not be like held under like the thumb of any sort of like entity telling us like where our children have to be or where we have to be or any of those. Like, we're willing to make less money to have more freedom. Yes. Amen. So, but like honestly, it doesn't usually work out that way. Like usually if you're willing to have a level of freedom, eventually you'll make more money. Yeah. Yeah. Because like you'll pursue freedom and freedom usually means that you need money in order to do it. And so you'll do the things to make the more money so that you can have more freedom. Yeah, yeah. And it's a lot of like long nights. Like after we

put her to bed, we would go back into the office. There are definitely nights like that.

It's not—

I don't want to glorify it. That's when the real work happens. Yeah, right? Isn't that crazy? Yeah, yeah. So it's just been like a lot of learning and growing. Figuring out my identity. Not to be like corny, but like, when I had Stella, I couldn't help but being like, oh my God, like, I'm a mom. That's it. And that's why I started doing it. I was like, I need like an identity outside of myself or my relationship to other people, you know? Yeah, absolutely. Which probably sounds selfish, but I'm okay with that. Look, I mean, like, there's, there's a certain level of selfishness and greed that is healthy, and there's, there's a lot of it that's very unhealthy.

Yes.

Right? But like, there's, there's a certain degree of it that's like really good because it promotes in you the things that are healthy for your family and for your loved ones. Yeah. And creating, you know, systems and processes that that protect them. Yeah. And you. And I'm not— I'm like a big proponent of like selfishness at all. Yeah. But like there's a certain amount of it that's like, okay, like this, this is— that, that in me is not just for me. It's for those around me that I love and I want to protect and provide for. Yes. If I, if I don't get time in the every day, whether morning, middle night, whatever, Yeah, to like

literally sit in sweatpants or a big husband t-shirt. Sure. And either like play a word game on my phone or just like read a book.

Right.

I'm not as nice of a mom or a wife, you know?

Sure.

So like, really, I'm doing this for you, boo.

Well, no, really.

I mean, like, you can't, you can't bring your best unless, unless you've provided the best for yourself. Yes. In order to prepare to do those things. Yeah. You know, and like, you can't as a sick person be healthy, right, for the ones that you want to provide a healthy environment for. Yeah. And I don't want my daughter to like— because she is, she is on me like white on rice. Like, she'll say some things, I'm like, wait a second, you aren't supposed to hear that, girl. Like, who are you? I just I'm just like, I want to— I'm so conscious of being a good example for her as a strong woman because it's really important, you know?

Yeah. I just, I don't see any other way. I don't want her to have to struggle as much as I did. Yeah. You know? So I will tell you one of the beautiful things about doing a show like this, and I said this to a group of entrepreneurs once. They're all very successful, but none of them were in like the content creating area.

Sure.

And I said to them, like, one of the, one of the things that I'm most excited about, about having done this show for such a long time, is that my kids are going to be able to look back and see what dad was like throughout the years, you know. And so like, like what you're, what you're saying right now, I'm thinking like, okay, it's like what Is Stella gonna look at and think about that in 20 years? I think about that all the time. You know, and so it's like, what, like, like right now? All the time. And I think it's gonna be so cool for her to hear that, that she may not remember being alive at this time. Yeah, yeah. You know, because

she's what, how old? 3. 3? Yeah. I don't remember anything from when I was 3. Hell no. You know, but like she can look back and go like, when I was 3, my mom said this, and this is what she was trying to provide for me. Um, and this is what, like, the, the times that I, I thought about, you know, her and like when I was angry with her when I was 15. Sure. You know, now that I'm 25, I'm looking back and like, this is what she wanted for me. Yeah. You know, like, this is what she was striving towards for me. This is what my mom and dad wanted. Like, that's, that's gonna be like, that's, that's an experience like you and I don't get with our parents. No. Because like they Like, they may have had like a

VHS camcorder, but like it sucked and nobody got any sound. And but like now there's so much stuff that they're gonna be able to go back and look at and see what we were like.

Yeah, I—

we don't have to go on a big tangent, but I wonder if those— this current version of technology will even be accessible. Like, it's gonna be like microfiche, you know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, do you know what microfiche is? Thank you, exactly.

So—

Point, JoJo. Will they even have access to see all of the things? I— and I like— I'm glad you brought this up because I went on Shutterfly. If you want to sponsor, reach out to Craig. Shutterfly and made like little books for each year of her life so far. So there's only We're working on the third because we gotta wait till it's all the way done. It's a whole— but like, of like pictures of her, because God forbid my phone is get— that's the only way I have it right now is on my phone, and if it's gone, it's gone, right? You can't get that back. Nope. You know, so I made little scrapbooks of her.

Hey, can you, can you get this guy's attention right here?

The hood?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He needs to come sit down with us. I don't— you haven't met him yet, but you need to.

Single mom.

Pop mom.

Oh, that's what it is. Pop mom.

What is she doing? Black card sale?

No, no, no, not, not— I'm sorry, I saw somebody else. There he is right over there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's sitting over there by himself. Were you going to sit down?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, right there.

Hang out with a Come on, come on, JoJo. Let me see, let me see if he's in the shot. Not quite. All right, hang on, scoot him closer. Good grief, y'all, it's getting close to 9 o'clock. I know. We could talk to you all night though. Don't tempt me. All right, so introduce yourself. Let everybody know who you are. He's not turned up. Hang on, start, start over because he didn't have you turned up.

I'm Michael Ward with eXp Realty. Okay, I'm on the Paul Edwards team.

Awesome. And so like, how long you been at this?

About 2 years.

How long you been here tonight?

Been here tonight? Yeah, yeah, since About seven. Yeah.

Yeah. Do you meet anybody?

Yeah, I met a ton of people actually.

Have you met JoJo? He told me he was a realtor. I paraded him around to all of our clients.

Oh, did you really? Basically got pointed at everything.

So yeah.

I'm an AC person. We're not a power wash. Did you meet the home inspection?

Like yeah. Yeah.

So I got I got a I got chauffeured around.

There you go.

But I met a lot of people.

This this is my boy right here. I saw what he was telling. Yeah yeah. Yeah, dude, I was super happy that you came.

Yeah, I know. I was, I was, I was a little late, and so I like, I saw you already doing the podcast.

Yeah, I was like, no, like, time to beer.

Yeah, you're fine. No, yeah, but I was like, well, this is my only in to meeting anybody. So I was kind of standing off to the corner for a minute like, well darn, when is he gonna get up for a second?

Yeah, no, it's not gonna happen. Not on these nights. Yeah, yeah, dude, did you have a good time?

Yeah, no, this is awesome.

Awesome.

I, I've never been to a like a networking event like this before. I've been to like seminars and stuff.

Isn't that amazing? Yeah. First of all, 20 years old, knows one person, can't even talk to him the whole night, started his own business becoming a realtor and went to a networking event. Yeah, like solo dolo. That's impressive. It is. At 20 years old, I was a degenerate. You know what I mean?

Well, thank you.

No, truly, like, I was not doing these things at 20. I was— I probably could have been drinking. I probably could have been promoted to degenerate. Yeah, yeah, that would have been a promotion. Yeah, it took me a second. I got there. Yeah, that's funny. But that's amazing.

Good for you. Yeah, it's— I mean, I definitely get kind of— I just kind of go where people tell me. That's kind of what I've learned is like, there you go, do what you see other people.

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, dude, like one of the best lessons I ever learned early on was there's successful people around you.

Yeah.

And oftentimes if you will just ask them how they did what they did, they are so excited to tell you and that someone asked them how they did it. And so like if you can just like hang out with successful people and just ask them questions, like you will receive well more than you ever got in a college education. And again, like, I went to college, have an undergrad, have a master's degree. I think all that's great. But like, having conversations with people about how they did the things that you actually want to do with your life is so much different. That's a real conversation. That's real information. That's, that's different than what you can read in just about any book, you know.

Right.

And so just, just like hanging out with those people is just so valuable. Yeah, so yeah, yeah, and I'm sure you have like other like real estate people around you that you like.

Oh yeah, no, I mean like I would say I mostly spend my time networking with other realtors. Yeah, like realtors and like lenders would be the biggest ones for sure. But like, yeah, meeting other people is definitely very helpful. Yeah, and so I mean, it's just kind of hard to like— I don't normally run into like Plumbers and electricians walking around. I do run into lenders because they just like, I think they can just like smell the realtor and they like, they like know that I'm a realtor or something. And so they're like, ah, this is the— I got to get in with him. But like plumbers and electricians and roofing guys and stuff like that, like they're all people I need to know.

But yes, you need to know the right ones too. Yeah, especially if you're like standing in a house and like clients like, well, I don't know how to take care of this. Like, like you need to be able to go like, well, I know the guy.

Yeah.

And most, like, when you're with a brokerage, like, they kind of just throw you like a list of people, like, they're like their preferred lenders. And so, I mean, they'll come and meet with you and stuff, but like, it's not very organic. It's just kind of a— it's almost like having a substitute teacher come in. Like, you don't really know a whole lot about them.

You just kind of meet them a little bit. Dude, so, I mean, I'm actually interested because you're a younger guy than most of the real estate agents that we get to have on the show. Like, what are you seeing in the market right now that is surprising to you? Great question.

Um, I mean, I feel like I came in at like the tail end of like the post-COVID crazy where we had like 3% interest rates and like, yeah, people coming in from out of state with like just beaucoup of money and like, yeah, and buying houses at crazy prices. And so like at that time was when I was getting my license. I got it like the very tail end of that. So I was like, oh no, I walked out of the office, you know, I'm like, awesome, I'm gonna make so much money, and then it just died. Oh no, market just kind of— it didn't tank, but it just, it slowed down a lot. So I think

when I started, the people I started with have like all quit. Like, they're— of the class I was with, I think there's like one person who's still left out of like the 12.

Wow.

And so like the people that are sticking with it, I think we're all seeing like it's coming back up.

Yeah.

And the reason is like the market itself, like nothing really changed with the housing. We got more volume, but we also had more buyers. So like that didn't change. What changed was people saw the interest rates and were like, oh, it's 7%. But, you know, Aunt Bessie got hers for 2 pennies. Yeah.

Right, right, right.

They're waiting for it to come back down. I think what we're seeing now is like people are finally starting to like realize that, okay, we're not getting 3% interest rates back anytime soon or even in the near future. And so that was honestly surprising for me because it's— it was, it was pretty rough, like seeing like every time I had a conversation, it was, you know, when are the interest rates coming back down?

Yeah.

And now it's kind of shifting more towards like, oh, where are the new homes at? And it's like, so the conversation is more like people are actually interested in it again. Yeah, which is really good. Yeah, so it's not— I wouldn't say it's crazy right now, but I think it's gonna get a lot better pretty soon.

Persistence overcomes resistance. Every time. Every time. If you don't quit, it will happen. Yeah, it already is. I mean, the fact that like you're— yeah, like you're the one left standing out of 12. Yeah, exactly.

That was kind of the goal, was like, I was like, well, I think if everybody's quitting and I just stick through it, then like, I mean, for a brief period of time I'll have really low competition and I'll know what I'm doing at least a little bit more than the people who are like, oh, it's back up, I'm gonna get my license again.

Or yeah, yeah, yeah, dude, there's a lot of, there's a lot of people that will jump into it when the market's hot. Yeah, you know, and because they think it's easy money, you know. And it's literally the opposite. Yes, real estate is one of the hardest, like But you're playing— Would never, would never. You're playing what I would call the Bear in the Woods game. Are you familiar with Bear in the Woods? No.

No, I have no idea.

No? Yeah, tell us about it. The objective is, is I don't have to outrun the bear. I just have to outrun you. Yeah, exactly. Ah, I love that. You know, and so like, that's what you— that's pretty much the game that you're playing. It's like, I don't have to outrun the bear. I just got to wait for all you suckers to quit.

And especially because, like, I mean, that's great too. The benefit of being young as a realtor has a lot of, like, cons, but one of the benefits is, like, I don't have family support, I don't have any college loans, you know.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm not, like, hard-pressed for a ton of, like, money to support a bunch of people. And so people who joined, like, for instance, like, the class I had when I first started was, like, a lot of them were, like, business owners beforehand and they either sold their business or like hired a manager and like were just like disconnecting themselves from it because they thought, okay, now's the time I'm gonna make a bunch of money in real estate and like either take off or like just go back to my fallback.

Yeah.

And so for them it was like they have a certain amount of time that they can last without being in their old position with that income.

Sure.

And so like, I mean, I outlasted them just because I'm cheap. Like, that's pretty much, pretty much how it works. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think, yeah, definitely persistence is—

it's everything.

It's the long game.

Yeah, it's everything. Have you— I mean, have they changed the laws yet on your ability to negotiate your rate? Interesting.

I don't— as far as I'm aware, no.

No, so you can still negotiate that?

I know there's been some lawsuits, but I don't think any sort of—

I know there's some big lawsuits, but like—

There's some big lawsuits, but I don't think any sort of laws been put in place. I know that some of the brokerages have changed some of their, like, not rules, but kind of like the way they coach people on it. But I don't think it's affected anything yet. And I might honestly be wrong.

Keeping up with stuff in real estate. It's constantly changing right now. So I mean, like, yeah, I mean, like, by the time this comes out, it could have changed. Yeah. I mean, I'm not holding you to it at all. I'm just curious like what your experience has been.

From my experience, no, nothing's— nothing has changed in my sphere. Yeah, so awesome. Yeah, I don't— I know that for sure they won't change like the negotiable commission. They might just like transparency laws, maybe something like that, but I don't foresee them like changing the actual like being able to negotiate a commission.

I hope they don't. I really don't. I mean, I know there's a lot of guys out there making a big fuss about it, but I really hope they don't. I've got to help somebody. Yeah, yeah, go do your thing. Well, I'm getting the— Good to meet you. So, I mean, did you give everybody your contact? Affordable Air Repair, give us a shout. Dryer vent cleaning, duct cleaning. If you're fighting with your spouse, this room is too hot or too cold, we're your people. Thank you, JoJo. Thank you. And how do people get a hold of you, bud, if they want to want to sell, buy, what—

yeah. My email is just michaelward@exprealty.com. That's about it. It's the best way to get a hold of me.

Awesome. Yeah, cool, man. Dude, thank you so much for sitting down. Oh, you have a shake on that. Yeah, glad you came, bud. Thank you. Is it— am I talking to you?

It's National Plan for Education Day.

Of course.

Well, then we need to talk. Huh? We need to talk.

What do you tell me? I thought we needed to scoot out.

Say what?

Don't we need to scoot? Like, what time is it?

No, I don't care.

You're here. You'll be here all night. We can talk about vacation all night, right?

Rizzler's got to pack it all up when we're done.

I mean, it's okay. No, I'm good.

I'm good.

Do you want to?

It's up to you.

Come on.

Put the.

Do you want to put the headset on?

Do I need to?

If you want to hear yourself.

I don't want to hear myself.

All right, well, just make sure it's close enough.

Are we close enough?

Yeah, here, let me—

I think so. Can you hear me?

Yeah, yeah.

Where's Sarah?

Where's Sarah?

Yeah, she's behind me.

Say what?

Sarah is behind me.

Oh, okay. Is it— is this my last one?

Yeah.

Yeah? Are you ready to go home? Is that— is that what you're telling me?

She's ready to go home. So we'll make it really, really super short.

Okay.

And we'll just say it's National Plan for Vacation Day.

It is National Plan for Vacation Day. It is. Yeah. And so where are people wanting to go?

Actually, right now everybody's big thing is Europe. So booking a lot of—

All right, real quick, let everybody know who you are. I mean, I know you've been on the show before, but there's people that haven't seen you. I know that's hard to believe.

It is hard to believe.

It is hard to believe.

So I am Mary Ann with Memory Making Vacations, where from the mountains to the Maldives, to obviously the magic of Disney. We plan and you pack. So we do all-inclusives, we do cruises, and we do custom Europe itineraries, and obviously Disney and Universal.

No, no, no, no. Can we— and we can't talk about that, right?

I mean, you know, here's the thing. We, we love Disney. We've been booking Disney for a really long time.

I love Disney. I've grown up around Disney. I will— I send people to Disney all the time.

Yeah, stayed at every resort on property, go multiple times a year. We pretty much— people think we get our mail at Disney, right? Like, that's kind of the thing.

I kind of believe that.

Yeah, yeah, probably so, probably so. But, um, no, Universal does have some pretty epic things coming up in the summer. I couldn't resist, right?

I couldn't resist.

With, uh, you know, Epic Universe is going to be— actually, it's a little bit south of, uh, Universal Orlando, so it's actually a little bit closer to Disney property. So it is supposed to open summer 2025. And so right now I already book a lot of combo trips with Universal Disney for families. So it will, um—

It is surprising how many people want to do both.

It is. And you know, the thing is that Universal's done some really smart things with— they have a shuttle. So, you know, Disney did away with Magical Express. You do have to pay for the shuttle with Universal to their resorts, but it's still available. Not like—

and it's a dedicated Universal Is Magic Express just completely gone?

Pretty much.

Really?

The, um, you know, Mears— the Mears contract, right? So Mears is still running it. You can still take the Sunshine Flyer and all, but as far as Magical Express is concerned, they're kind of done with that.

That's so disappointing. That was like one of my favorite things, honestly.

Well, you know, the other thing though that Universal does is they actually have an option where they will pick you up at your Disney resort and take you to their park.

Of course they will.

Yes, they will. Yes, they will. So, um, you know, Epic Universe is actually going to be a little bit closer than, um, than Universal Orlando is right now. So, and, you know, you've got the, uh, basically the entrance, which is the Celestial Park, but then you have the 4 lands. So you've got the Dark Universe, the Mario, Harry Potter, and what's the other one? Dragons.

I know, you're so excited. How to Train Your Dragon.

And then they are going to have a hotel.

But that was the part that seemed the most unique to me, is like the hotel is actually like integrated into the park.

Right. Right. I haven't— I mean, I've only seen the drawings like everybody else, right? I've only seen the concept art, but it kind of almost reminds me of like in Disneyland at California Adventure where you have the Grand Californian Hotel that you just walk out the back door right into the park. You don't have to go back through the front.

Which sounds incredible.

You just literally walk out. Yeah, right, right. You just literally walk out of the— out of your resort into California Adventure.

So Well, let me, let me ask you this because there was something when I watched the video for the, uh, what is it, what is it called? Universal Epic?

Epic, yeah, Epic Universe.

Epic Universe, is that what it is? Yeah. Okay, the way they said it was like, okay, we're gonna have 5 different parks.

Well, it's what they— so we're gonna compare it to the world, right, where you have different lands.

Okay, so it's gonna be like Fantasyland, Adventureland.

Right, right.

Okay, okay, it's gonna be like that.

So you have like just those, yeah. It's one park but it's like Yeah, you have like the Celestial Park is the— when you— is your entrance, right? So you're gonna enter through the Emerald Gate, right?

Right.

You have these different lands that you go to, and then the hotel is in the back, right? Okay, kind of in the middle. You got 2 lands on each side and then the entrance in the front.

Yeah, I'm excited about— I'm like, here's the thing, Disney has always been my favorite, right? Like, not— it's not even like contest. I love Disney. I love Disney. One of the things that I've, I've been telling people for years that I think where Universal has gotten an edge on them, and I think Disney's trying to catch up, but where I think Universal has an edge is it's funner to stand in line at Universal than it is at Disney. Now I think they have started to up their game, right? You know, like when you start looking at Flights of Passage, like super fun to stand in line. You start looking at, uh, the the Snow White Seven

Dwarfs ride.

And then you've got, you know, um, you know, Rise of the Resistance. Yes, all those other things. Soarin', where you have the interaction in the queue and those kind of things, right?

Yeah, and they've even like upgraded like the Peter Pan line. Yeah, you know, like Guardians.

Guardians is pretty cool.

Well, I haven't been on that, so don't rub it in.

You've got to go, it's amazing.

I haven't even ridden Ratatouille yet. Like, it's just—

Have you done Mickey and Minnie's Runaway?

Yes.

Okay, so what's the same concept, just you're a mouse in Remy's— in the kitchen. So you're just like mouse size running under, uh, all of the kitchen appliances and things like that and being chased. And I mean, it's kind of fun. Same concept though, same— that trackless ride.

I, I do think— I do think the Mickey's Runaway Railway is a very underrated ride. Yeah.

Um, although I don't know, I've seen the lines for it sometimes. It's, it's up there.

Well, no, it's up there, but like, I just— I mean, like For what it— I just— because it opened around the same time as like some of the Star Wars stuff, right? You know, I don't think it got the love that it deserved.

Correct.

But I'm also still like a little offended that they took away the Great Movie Ride.

So I was about to ask, how do you feel? And I mean, that's, that's a thing too, you know. Everybody's like, oh, Great Movie Ride.

But why couldn't we just have both? I don't understand.

What do you think about Country Bears being gone now?

Is it gone now?

Yeah, they just had their last show the other night. They did.

Were they replacing it with something?

They are. Don't know what, but they are. I mean, it'll be another show, but it's— they're— the old, you know, original is gone.

Okay, so like, okay, like, look, that whole area over there I'm mad about. So like, like, I'm mad that like Splash Mountain is now Tiana's.

Yeah, it's okay. I can almost tolerate that more than I can them taking my Country Bear Jamboree, to be honest with you.

Well, like, look, I— okay, so I, um, I have, uh, I'll have to show it to you sometime. I have like a first edition of like the Uncle Remus, uh, Disney book. Oh, wow. Where like it's, it's written, uh, phonetically.

Okay.

So like when you read it, you sound like Uncle Remus.

Yeah.

Like, and it's like I grew up reading those stories to my kids and, uh, I love those stories. And like, I don't know if you've ever read like the original stories of Uncle Remus, like the ones that he transcribed. Oh wow. They're beautiful stories, like part of American culture. I'm just frustrated that like that's being like— and I don't want to get into like all the political stuff of it, but I'm just, I'm just frustrated that like it's being taken away as part of like Americana. And I get that there's aspects of it that are like a offensive and problematic and all that kind of stuff. But like, there's still like— those are like really good stories that don't exist anywhere else, right? Um, that come from that culture,

and like, they're so good.

Yeah, no, I agree, I agree. It's— it is an interesting, you know, the direction that things are going and the direction that they're taking with things. But I mean, they've made some really good changes too. And I mean, we were just in Epcot, um, a month ago, and the new area is It's beautiful.

Is that the, uh, Moana stuff? Is that—

So Moana, uh, Journey of Water, it's basically like a big splash pad, I guess.

Yeah, I mean, is it up and running?

It's beautiful. Yeah, no, it's open.

Um, is the whole front part all done now?

So the front of the park is, and then there's that little area in the back where the fountains were, you know, when you had Innovations East to West. So right there, it's really much— it's very much like a park looking. So you have like long tables, they've got outlets charge your phones. They've got another area that's just encased in like flora that's got Adirondack chairs and you can just sit and hang out. I mean, it's very peaceful. They have a statue of Walt sitting on a bench. You can sit next to Walt and have the Epcot ball behind you.

And, um, that's cool.

Yeah, I mean, it's cool. It's very quiet. It's a very cool area. They've got some places over there that look like they're gonna put in some like quick service dining type stuff so you could grab your food and sit and eat at a bench, at a table.

And yeah.

It's a pretty neat area. It's a pretty neat area.

I've always loved Epcot. I mean, like this— I mean, like, for me, for like just me and my wife to hang out, like, that's my favorite portion.

Drinking around the world, right? Yeah, for sure.

Food and Wine Festival, baby.

Food and wine, food and wine, right?

Right.

Start in Mexico. I would probably make it to China and I'd be done.

You're starting on the wrong side.

Right?

Yeah. Oh man, I can't, I can't hang with those people.

No, I mean, you're telling me stuff I didn't even know. I mean, that's, that's awesome. I didn't even know that stuff was done now. It's been such a long time since I've been. I think it's been like 2 years since I've been.

Uh, you need to go back.

No, you go back. Well, maybe I need to talk to somebody about it. Who knows how to get me over there?

Maybe, maybe, I don't know, maybe there's somebody you know that looks Disney.

It's gotta be somebody that could help me.

Probably so. Yeah, but so Disney is obviously always big. Uh, this year Italy and Greece have been huge. I've done a lot of—

Talking about like the actual countries?

The actual countries.

We're moving beyond fantasy into the real world.

France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain. Those are really, really big this year. I've already booked 11 of them so far this month, just building custom itineraries where I go in and I talk to people about what they want to see, what's important, what they want to do. We built some custom where they do a land and to see. So maybe they go in to fly into Venice and do a cruise down to Rome and spend a few days down there, and we build that kind of a thing in so they can see everything. So I've done a lot of that kind of stuff that's been really, really, really popular, even more than all-inclusives, which usually it's cruises, all-inclusives.

For sure, yeah.

But especially cruises with the new Jubilee that just came out and had its inaugural sailing from Galveston. That's Carnival ship in December. Of course, the Icon, just made its inaugural sailing, so it's the new biggest city on sea, I guess, Royal ship. So there's so many new ships that are, that are coming out. So cruises are picking back up, um, and it's— and all-inclusives to me are— I'm not seeing as many bookings. I'm seeing just more custom Europe things right now, which is interesting. Alaska sailings are picking back up a little bit, but—

Are you seeing, are you seeing more people wanting to go to the bigger ships Are you seeing more of a trend to go to the smaller ships?

Um, people with families are really liking the larger ships just because of the number of amenities they offer, especially if you've got a lot of children and they wear, you know, they have— there's a wide age range just for things for them to do. Like, I mean, they've got zip lines and wave machines and arcades. Yeah, carousels and you name it. I mean, so right now it's really easy for families families to take their kids on the ship. The kids programs are phenomenal, and they can leave them— parents can leave them at the kids program and go hang out by the pool, right? Like, so hang out in the Solarium, those kind of things. So

they're gaining some popularity. The smaller ships, I find that my older couples like me, you know, like us old people, we, um, with empty nesters, right?

Yeah.

Um, Celebrity has an amazing, uh, brand and amazing design with their balcony staterooms right now with the infinite, um, balcony edge balconies. So those are gaining in popularity with people maybe more my demographic. But as far as families with kids, still they're looking at Disney and Royal Caribbean and even Carnival mostly right now.

On, on some of the smaller ones, what are the more interesting ones that you guys have access to? Um, like what are, what are like some unique locations that people maybe, maybe not even be thinking of that like could be, could be interesting?

So the thing about some of like the smaller ships is that they can get into ports the larger ones can't, right? So you end up like sometimes even with like your Southern Caribbean sailings, like your St. Kitts and St. Martin and those where they've got maybe a little bit smaller ports, it's easier for the smaller ships to get in. Um, although I will say that I have seen some bigger ships get into those ports now, so I think that at this point, everybody's just like— the cruise lines really like the bigger ships with the more people on them. And so I think that it— I'm not seeing as many small ships.

Yeah.

You know, um, bookings. Uh, Disney has the, the Wonder and the Magic, which are their smaller ones, and they go out of Galveston, and those sailings do book up. But, you know, they do the Western Caribbean, right? So they're going to do Cozumel and Costa Maya and that kind of thing.

But, um, which I, I mean, I'll plug that. I mean, if you've, if you've never done like Western Caribbean and done like a cenote tour, those are super cool.

No, they really are.

I mean, they really are. Yeah.

So when are we booking that one for you?

Listen, like, here's, here's the problem is like I've done so many cruises now. Like, I just, like, the, the one cruise I— the only reason I want to do this cruise is because I think it's the only way I can get my wife to go.

Okay.

Is because I want to go to Alaska.

Yeah.

But like, I don't— here's my problem. I don't want to go to Alaska to go on a cruise.

Okay.

I want to go— I want to go to Alaska and I want to see the caribou migration.

Okay.

That's what I want to go see. Okay. And but like, interesting, I don't like— so like, but that, that's like camping, right?

Well, a lot of people that, that want to go to Alaska, they're like, they want to see the aurora borealis, right? So that's a big thing.

I'd be down for that.

I tell you what you need to look into. It's called the Borealis Base Camp.

Okay.

They are igloos, and you pick 3 or 4 nights, and they take you dogsledding. But they're beautiful. Like, you— so they're not like igloo igloos, but you've got like the glass dome so you can see the sky at night. You have a day going, uh, dogsledding, another day going snowmobiling. Um, they take you out to see the Northern Lights, and then they feed you. And I mean, it's It's just a beautiful experience and it's not that expensive. They pick you up from the airport, they take you, yeah, you spend 3 nights and then you can add on before or after.

I've talked to some guys about some of the stuff that, like, like that what I want to do in Alaska. It's not the stuff my wife wants to do. Ice fishing?

Are you doing ice fishing?

No, no. I mean, like, I, I would probably do it if it was there, but like, it's not something I would go seek out. Um, but like the stuff, some of the stuff that I want to go do, like, people are telling me like, look, you're gonna to hire like a bush pilot.

Okay.

You know, and it's like, that's like $1,500 one way, and it's like, golly.

Well, you know.

But like, but that's, I mean, that's just the stuff that I want to go see. Like, yeah, but like, if I could go with my wife on a cruise to go see some of it, I'd be down for it. Oh, for sure. So I mean, just to get to go see, because I've never been. It's one of those places like I think you need to see before before, like, you exit, right, whatever this place is, right? Right.

Well, and you know, I mean, Princess does an amazing job in Alaska. Princess has got a really good itinerary. They've got some really unique features about some of the ways they do their, um—