How This Life Insurance Agent Did $129,000 in ONE MONTH

And so what I did, I said, "Okay, well, I'm I'm lucky enough that I'm in this stream where I can buy my income. That's literally what I can do." >> True. >> And so I just like push all the buttons up, you know, and I went, "Okay, well, I'm going to triple my lead order. I'm going to triple my down. I'm going to triple my appointment, triple my activity." And sure enough, result came, uh and I end up the month with a $129,000 um issued, and I had the the vacation like the same one as the as the Rolling Stone cuz I can do whatever I want with this kind of money. You don't You don't think about it. >> [music] >> What's going on? Welcome back to the CA Power Players podcast. I'm your host Cody Askins. Today's guest has built a very large agency in France with over 2,000 agents. He moved to the USA 10 years ago um and literally his first year, while he was still learning English, did almost $300,000 in production. Uh he's been with Symmetry for 6 years. He's rocking and working with Edward Pritchett and Brad Smith every day. Love those guys. Um amazing company, cool family. Uh his agency is now doing close to a couple million dollars a year. Uh his biggest month ever though, which is really cool, is $129,000. He had a big vacation he was planning for. He needed a bunch of money to to go after he was the Rolling Stones in France, which we'll talk about. So if you're like, "Bro, how do you push the lever down and do six figures in a month?" He's going to show us how. For the first time ever, which I'm amazed cuz I love this guy. We spoke on several events and stages together. Really cool dude. Loves wine and cheese. I can't go wrong with either. I love that. So please welcome uh from Northwest Arkansas, currently is where he lives, MVM Agency. We got Mr. Max Valery Mason. >> What's up, man? How you doing? >> Great, man. Thank you for being on. >> Well, thank you very much for having me. >> And for making the trip, bro. Like, we've talked about We talked about doing this for, I feel like >> Uh yeah, forever. >> years, maybe. You know what I mean? I think we met 2 years ago. >> ago, yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah, that's what it is. >> It's crazy. Crazy. >> Yeah, time flies, right? >> It does, man. It does. Um how does someone I kind of want to jump out of this like immediately cuz there's a lot of areas I can go, a lot of a lot of places I want to take this. Um and yeah, actually today is your at the time of recording is your 6-year anniversary with Yep. Symmetry, which is like, dude, congrats. Freaking love that. Um if someone is like, man, talk me through like the science of pushing all the levers down. Fir- First, why did you want to have a 129 game month? And then like, also, if you're wanting to follow him on Instagram, MVM Agency. >> Yeah, MVM double underscore agency. >> MVM double underscore agency. Um he he he he had this like you had like this vacation you were planning for. Like, let's talk through why and then we'll talk through the mechanics. >> Yeah, I mean, it was So, we had I I knew I had to go back to France for the wedding of my sister-in-law. >> Mhm. >> And I know going in going in vacation with my wife and my twins and the kids and you know, the put the dogs in the kennel, all of that. And the dollar-euro exchange was was not good. I knew that it's it's [clears throat] going to cost, you know, it's going to cost money and I didn't want to count. I didn't want to do it halfway. I didn't want to go there and say, well, maybe we should like not go to that restaurant and I I didn't want to have to count. I didn't want to have to refrain myself. And so, what I did, I said, okay, well, I'm I'm lucky enough that I'm in the street where I can buy my income. That's literally what I can do. >> True. >> And so, I just like push all the buttons up, you know, and I went, okay, well, I'm going to triple my lead order. I'm going to triple my down. I'm going to triple my appointment, triple my activity." And sure enough, result came, uh, and I end up the month with a $129,000, um, issued. And I had the the vacation like the same one as the as the Rolling Stone cuz I can do whatever I want with this kind of money. You don't You don't think about it. >> So, would you say you had a vacation like none other? Um, you you rented a big place while you were there? Like, what did this look like? >> Yeah, we, uh, so we rented, uh, we rented that big house in the vineyard in the south of France cuz I, uh, the family of my wife is from the south of France, from Marseille. And, uh, we rented that big house in the vineyard with a beautiful view and the pool and the outdoor, uh, barbecue kitchen, chimneys, uh, stuff. And yeah, and that was I didn't have to think about like, can I afford this? >> Yeah. >> Because I knew I did what I had to do before, and I also knew that when I'm going to come back, I can do it again. >> True. How much was it? >> Uh, the whole the whole vacation? Um, about 65,000. >> $65,000? [laughter] I freaking love that. >> Yeah, that was that was cool. We had fun. >> Okay, so and you can tell he's not one to brag or like talk about himself, so he's very uncomfortable, right? He's even he's even even though they're swallowing while I'm like, you know, trying to get it out of him, he's like, "I don't think I want to say this." >> Well, I'm still I'm still, uh, you know, I I I'm I'm a US citizen, but I'm I still have the the French mindset. And, you know, French people were very like secret when it comes to, uh, money and stuff like that. So, that that's kind of the thing that I'm learning, uh, in the in the in the culture. What I'm I'm still learn learning a ton of stuff, you know? I'm still I'm still learning. And as you say, you know, if if you guys if you if you hear a word that you don't understand, I'm sorry. You know, I'm I'm still I'm still learning. >> Uh, we we. It's >> [laughter] >> We're good. >> But, uh, but yeah, that's that it's yeah, I I don't want to feel like bragging cuz I know I know how good we have it. I know how lucky we are. >> It's cool. >> And I know out there there's a lot of people struggling, so I don't want like to throw it in their face, so you know. >> I want to dive into the mechanics before I do it's like hard for me not to like discuss. Um I feel like most people that have that mindset. Cuz I can relate like even there's different times in business every couple years where it's just hard, you know, and it's tough and something changes and something doesn't go as we think or we think we found the gold mine and then it vanishes you down the road, right? Like you know, it's just life, right? And and and I'm but I'm constantly reminded how fortunate and lucky and blessed we are, you know, and like how amazing our life is and how how much we get to do and how much God has blessed us and like all these things, right? Um normally people that have been through challenging times or been through something difficult are more likely to talk that way and act that way. >> Yeah, so here's here's the thing. When you have to go through tough time, you have two ways. You collapse or you go through it. >> Mhm. >> And what you got to have you got to have a big Y you're doing this. You got to have a big reason, a reason that is going to be bigger than the resistance. >> Yeah. >> And and at the end of the day you make choices. Like I'm I made the choice 10 years ago to move from, you know, France to the US and that was something that everybody back in France, you know, they all told me, "Man, you're you're insane. I mean you're you're crazy. You're leaving with your wife and with two small kids, right?" >> Yeah. >> What the hell is wrong with you? And these are the people that try to like discourage me, you know, of doing this like it's too hard, it's too this, it's too that. Then now, 10 years later, the same people are are calling me and say, "Man, you're so lucky." What? What do you mean I'm lucky? No, I'm not. Do you know what I had to go through? But I did that because I know what I'm fighting for. I'm fighting for my beautiful wife Olivia. I'm fighting for Victoria. I'm fighting for Charlie, for my for my for my twin daughters. That's the best reason. That's the number one. That's what I'm fighting for. That's because I want to set the example for them just to tell them, "Hey, you know what? It It doesn't matter where you coming from, the only thing that matters is where you're going." Cuz at the end of the day, when you were born, you when you were born, you look like your parents, right? But when you will die, you will look like your choices. And make the make the right ones. And if you cannot make the right ones for yourself, find the people are going to help you, which was my case. Honestly, that's that's how I started insurance in America. I was so broke, buddy, that I wanted to be back to broke, you know? I didn't even have the 250 bucks for my license. I had to borrow that money. And when you sit when you sit down, and you're like, "Okay, I am 45 years old, and I do not have 250 bucks under my name, something has to change. It means that the choices that I've made have put me in the situation that I'm at." And so, honestly, I I went to borrow the 250 bucks to my neighbor. I borrowed it to my neighbor. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> No network, no support, no nothing. So, >> How would your neighbor give you neighbor give you 250 bucks? >> We had a great relationship. This was this the first guy that I've ever met. His name was Richard. And first guys that I've ever met in the US. And it kind we kind of we kind of, you know, get get along. And great guy, so he helped me with that. >> And at that point, how much English did you know when you were trying to talk to Richard 10 years ago? >> Well, that was that was complicated. 10 year I started to learn a little bit, but when I got here, I knew three words. I'm thirsty, I'm hungry, and I'm lost. So, just I can survive, you know? That's what it was. And I I kind of learn how to talk when my kids were learning how to talk. >> Wow. >> And that was the first like big uh challenge that I had to overcome. >> Mhm. >> But I had the dream to be in the US since I was 15 years old. That was my That was >> Why? >> Well, I I went in uh like summer camp, you know, my parents sent me in summer camp uh when I was 15 years old, so I can learn English. And of course, I had a great summer, but I didn't learn a single word, you know? I didn't learn anything, but I had a great summer. But I had a feel for that culture, and I I don't know, something happened. And when I came back after the summer and in Paris, I was like crying everything that I could, and my mom was like, "What's What's wrong?" And I'm like, "I love that place, and one day I will live and work over there." >> Amen. >> Took me 30 years, but I did it. >> Wow. >> Yeah, that was That was That's coming from a a long It's It's Yeah, the I I believe in the American dream. I do believe in that. >> Amen. And you're living it. >> Yeah. >> I mean, you're back to making maybe not what you want to make yet, but real really good money. >> not. I'm nowhere near close where I want to be at, but I know I'm on the way. >> Yeah. >> And I know I'm with the right people. Cuz a guy like a guy like Brett Smith that is my brother from another mother, I mean, >> phenomenal human being. >> I mean, here's the thing. When when you Here Here like Let's Let's go back a little bit. When I When I'm broke and I have to borrow 250 bucks, in your mind you're thinking, "Okay, all the choices that I've made have put me in that situation." So, obviously, I don't make good choices for myself, you know? >> That's where my mind goes to normally. >> Yeah. And so, you're like, "I want to find people that have made better choices, that have what I want, because if I do what they did, I'm going to get to the same point." So, always be very careful who you're taking advice from. >> Yes. >> And whoever gives you an advice, that's great. Look at their life. Because if you do what they tell you to do, you're going to get the same. And so I looked at Brad's life and I'm like, yeah, that's what I want. So I'm going to do exactly [clears throat] what he told me to do. So I went, I go get my license. I tried to understand during the course, which was very complicated because the course doesn't exist in French. So Google Translate was my friend, right? Passed my passed my state exam. >> How many times did it take you to pass it? >> Oh, I got it the first time. >> In black the life insurance test? >> First time? >> Yeah. >> Freak, I failed it twice. >> Yeah, well >> Speaking English my whole life. >> Yeah, well I translated it in Google, that's why. And so and so I get to >> already knew a lot of that from living in France. >> No, this doesn't apply. >> No. Insurance in general? >> Well, that would be you telling me, you know what? I know how to play tennis, so because you're good at tennis, you can play baseball. No, it's still a sport, but it's totally different. The rules are different, the products are different, the legislation is different. It's a good point. Everything is different. >> Yeah. >> And so I couldn't lean on that. I had sales experience, but my sales experience in French is not going to help either. And so I um I I end up with my license and I'm like, okay, great. So now what? I don't have a warm market. I don't know people. I know my neighbor, he already gave me 250 bucks. That's pretty much it. I don't have a warm market. I not I was not here in college. I didn't know anybody. So who am I going to talk to? >> Did your neighbor buy a policy from you? >> No. >> Did you ask? >> I did. >> Wow. He gave you 250 bucks, but he wouldn't buy insurance. >> I paid it back. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. That's cool. >> Um but no, because I was maybe not, you know, I was maybe not looking the part enough or whatever whatever it is. >> Sure. Sure. >> But so I I had to find clients now and and our company I'm I'm lucky enough that they have like leads and stuff like that, but here's the problem. I don't have the money for leads either. >> Mhm. >> And so when you don't have a money when you don't have money, you have to be creative, right? And there's a very famous phrase that says impossible is not French, right? And so, guess who was my first client? >> Yourself. >> I took an application on myself. >> Let's go. >> I took an application on my wife, took an application on my two kids, and I did receive about $4,000 worth of commission. Now, I took that $4,000 and I bought $4,000 worth of leads. >> Mhm. >> And now, I have 30 days to make it work cuz I got to pay that premium in 30 days. So, I got my back against the wall, and when I have a when you have your back against the wall, and you it eliminates all the excuses. >> True. >> You have no choice. It's it's it's a run or die situation. >> That's right. >> And so, I I did that. I put a ton of dials. That was a nightmare cuz I do not understand people on the phone, right? [laughter] >> Yeah. >> And and at the end of my first month, I made $12,000 and I was on the run. >> Wow. And you could barely speak English, and you'd never done phone sales. >> No. What I was I was still going from home to home. >> Ah, okay. >> Yeah, because here's the problem with the phone. You know how the voices are different from like when you talk to someone on the phone, it's different. I couldn't understand it. Just for you to know, for French people, American people sounds like frogs. >> Mhm. >> You do sound like frogs. So, all I can hear on the phone and I I don't know. >> Interesting. >> And I had the script. >> You know what? That probably helped you with Yeah, that probably helped you with the appointments cuz you didn't know what they were saying, so you you really didn't like listen to objections. They tell you like just ignore objections. You were ignoring them automatically, probably. >> Well, I mean, yeah. I was it's it's just that I was not getting offended. I was not taking it personally cuz I didn't know. And you know, when I do not understand and when they say something that I do not understand, all I was saying is and that's a good rebuttal, you know, guys, when when people tell you something that you don't want to hear, you know, uh Yeah, that's exactly why I'm calling. >> Mhm. >> For all I know, they were talking about my mother in not a nice way. >> why I'm calling. >> But it doesn't matter. >> Yeah. >> It doesn't matter. So I didn't have to take it personally or whatever. >> So now get That's a nugget. I'll be here I'll be here thinking about the amount of agents who speak uh okay English. The and 92% are still failing out of business and you're like dude I can't even speak English. And you're coming in and struggling but but not quitting and succeeding. You know. >> If you don't struggle you're never going to be successful. I've I've heard that for the longest time. If you if you're looking to make 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 50,000 dollars in this business, you have to do the same amount of mistakes. You want to do 10,000 dollars, make 10,000 mistakes. The question is how long it's going to take for you to make those 10,000 mistakes. You you can take like five years to make it or you can do it in a month. It's up to you. >> True. >> It's based off of your activity. You just got to work your your your butt off. >> So on that note um you did what's like so so you let's talk about the mechanics of okay someone's like bro I need to make 12 grand 40 grand 129 grand. Like I got bills to pay. I got 30 days, right? A lot of people are going to be listening to that bro I got 30 days. Like people are stressed. It's almost harder to do it too when you're like freaking stressed and you're backed against the wall and pressure's on you. You're going to perform or not but like what so you you mentioned leads, dials, appointments and that you tripled your leads, your dials, and your appointments. >> Mhm. >> What was it before and then what would it triple become? >> So on >> And were you doing the same amount of revenue premium? Was it like 40 grand and then you tripled and then it was 120? >> Mhm. Yeah, well roughly that's that's how it works because the more activity fixes everything. >> Mhm. >> It fixes everything. It doesn't matter where you're at in this business and I understand you know sometimes you're like I'm stressed it's the stress that you have and you have you're holding on to your last 500 bucks. You're going to spend that 500 bucks anyway. >> Mhm. >> How you're going to spend it is very different. >> Mhm. >> And and you get to choose. It's It's It's a It's your choice 100%. >> You can blow it and little by little, you know, spend it on the $5 uh terrible Starbucks coffee, or you put it in leads and you you try to do something with it. >> Yeah. >> And at the end of the day uh I I was doing roughly like a a thousand dollars a week because I had to do a lot cuz I I was so bad at it, man. >> [laughter] >> I was absolutely terrible. I was so bad at it. >> But the more you do it, the better at it you are. It's not that the job gets easier, you just get better at it. And the the most important thing is you have to spend the time and the energy to get good at something. And this is worth getting good at. >> Yeah. >> And what amazes me is most of the time people do want to spend like 90 days or 180 days to get good at this because they don't have that patience, right? But they do have the patience to work for someone else for 40 years. >> True. >> What's up with that? And what I That's what I say to all all all the agents in my team when they're like struggling and stuff like that. I'm like, "Okay, well, I I hear that. What's the alternative?" >> Mhm. >> What's your alternative? >> Amen. >> You want to You want to go back to where you were before? That's exactly what you're running away from. >> Exactly. >> And you're going to go back to that feeling that it's kind of your comfort zone. This is not your comfort zone. This is the zone that you know. >> Mhm. >> And not knowing and you're you're going to be scared and everything and I get it, but do it scared. I mean, I was scared to move in a country that I don't speak the language. I was scared to move in a country that I don't understand the culture. I was scared of all of that. >> True. >> And so what? And so what? The alternative is for me to stay where I'm at. And you know what they say in the military, if you stay put, that's where you die. You got to move. >> Mhm. >> to move. That's how you stay alive. >> That's good. >> It's funny when you said Starbucks, like hey you can whittle down and spend your 500 bucks on coffee or you can invest in your business. >> I mean if you're if you're not >> Caffeine or cash. >> But here's the thing. If you do not invest in yourself, how can you expect other people to do it? >> Correct. >> You're expecting people to bet on you, invest on you, and spend time with you, and teach you, and all that, but you're not ready to do it for yourself. How do you think it looks on the other side of it? >> It's good. It's good. Is that what holds most most people back? >> I think what hold most of the people back is that that this business you can get lonely pretty quickly. >> Yeah. >> And I think the number one thing that holds people back is can you um can you hold your own words? Are you going to do what you said you're going to do? >> Mhm. >> Cuz when people look at look at you or look at Brad or anybody in the industry, and they're like wow, I want what they have. Everybody wants the greatness up until they see the invoice. And and that's the biggest problem. So they want all of that, and when they say it, you know what? I genuinely think that they mean it. >> Yeah. >> They mean that. They said yeah, I'm going to do it. But for some reason, I don't know if it's a chemical stuff in the brain or whatever, but when it's the moment to pick up the phone, that thing weighed a thousand pounds. >> Mhm. >> What what Again, what's the alternative? You chose to do that. You made the sacrifice. You you paid for your license. You learned all of that. Now you're you're like very close, and you're just not going to do it. What's what's the point? And I think that's the number one thing that is holding people back is just like keep your word. Keep your word. You said you're going to do it, do it, and do it long enough. And I've I've >> Yeah, Yeah, just keep it once. Like keep keeping it. >> I mean, do it long enough. Just just give it a real try. >> How long? >> For me, it needs your full commitment for a year. But full commitment. It's not uh it's not one foot in, one foot out. >> So, explain full commitment then of like, okay, an agent full >> commitment is you're going to have to work 8 to 10 hours a day. And don't talk >> Yeah. Don't talk to me about work-life balance. Talk to me about work-life harmony. Don't talk to me about work-life balance. >> I've never heard that. I've never heard of a harmony piece. That's good. >> Well, because you're you're going to be happy, so yeah. That's for sure. I I work harder. Uh I will try to outwork everybody. Because I'm I'm I'm starting from behind. >> Yep. >> You know, I have I'm going to make the mistakes in in English and people are going to hear my accent and it's going to be like, is this legit? And stuff like that. So, I have to >> legit? >> Yeah, of course. I mean, they question that. >> Legit. Legit. >> They're They're going to question that. >> I love that. >> Wouldn't you? You're on the phone and you hear a guy with an accent, you like, uh really? >> True. >> So, that's why I'm trying to do video calls all the time, though. >> Who works harder, you or Brad? >> Uh I'm going to plead the fifth amendment. >> [laughter] >> He's an American. >> Yeah, I can't I can't No, uh Brad works really hard. >> Yeah. >> It's just a different work. Because he's at a he's at a different stage. >> That means you work harder, but you both work really hard, so I agree with you. Yeah, we both work really hard. Dude, you know who else is working really hard right now? It's Edward, man. Like he that dude's dialed in. You guys are all like >> [snorts] >> really really locked in. It's cool to see. >> There is nothing in this world that has a value that comes cheap or free. Like Cody, think about this. When was the last time that someone give you something of value for free? When did that happen? It did happen once. I know that because it did happen once to all of us. >> Sure. Uh >> When your mom gave birth, that's it. >> Yeah. >> You know, when you were born, that that she gave you life. That was not free to her, but that was free to you. But that's the only time. The only thing that goes on sale, it's cheap stuff. >> Mhm. >> Cuz high quality costs what it cost. >> True. And I'm not a fan of free at all. Like I almost have like a disdain for like don't give me anything. Like I had some buddies that uh gave me three three buddies came gave me a thousand bucks for uh some new golf clubs, which is very generous, by the way. But also they're hoping I'm going to stay their friend, so it's not totally free. >> [laughter] >> And and there's probably a good chance I will now. No, I'm just kidding. I would have either way. But like they they you know, that was kind. That was cool. But it's hard to It's hard to receive free, but also I If something's free, like that's why we don't do any free events anymore. Like everything's paid because I just don't see value in free. Like we were talking about this earlier about like people paying and investing themselves to go to an event. People in the industry are like, "Ah, I don't want to I don't want to invest my business. I don't want to hire somebody. I don't want to go to this event. I don't want to train. I don't want to >> Well, back to what I was saying, if you're not ready to invest in yourself, why would people invest in you? And if you want things to change, you have to change first. You have to initiate that. That's the You are the first one that is going to start this. And again, that's that's what I was seeking when I when I said I'm going to move from France to the US. And that was that was a heck of a journey, man. >> Yeah. That's That's a heck of a journey. That's crazy. Um you went by plane, not by boat. >> Yeah. Yeah, I flew in. Yeah. Yeah, I know. >> There's There's a long >> No more No more Mayflower, man. No. >> [laughter] >> Or you did not. >> I I flew from Paris to Miami. That's where I landed the first >> Oh, cool. First place in the US was Miami. >> Yep. >> Bro, that's crazy. That is such a unique part of the country that most of the country is not like Miami at all. >> Well, no, but here you know, >> [snorts] >> the struggle started the minute that I that I landed here because I was going to Tampa. So, I flew from Paris to Miami, which is about a 10-hour flight. Jet lag and all of that. >> Yeah, I've flown I've flown that trip. >> the two babies and blah blah blah. And now what I had to do is rent a car and drive from Miami to Tampa that same day in the middle of the night. And I remember I was driving like 50 or 60 miles an hour with the window wide open, my head outside of window like that like a dog just to try to wake up because it was very hard. And so, that's how it started. And I was like, man, it's it's going to be a journey, but I know it's going to be worth it. >> Which side of the road do they drive on in France? >> Oh, the same the same. >> Same as here? >> Yeah, only only England is on the other side. >> Ah, got it. Got it. Got it. >> No, the only difference is we have like a real shift and all your cars here on the drive and, you know, automatic. That's the main difference. >> Yeah. We have a yeah, automatic instead of manual or stick shift. Yeah. >> But yeah, I mean, it's it's insurance for me, honestly, is the best industry. That's the only industry where you can go you can go from self-employed to business owner. That's the only one that there's a door. There's a path that you can go from self-employed to a to business owner. That's the only one. It is hard, but anything that has a value needs a fight. >> And it should be hard. >> Well, yeah. >> It's weird if it's not. >> I mean, if I mean, let's face it. We're we we are making great money. >> Mhm. >> Right? We're making great money. But we're making great money because everybody can do it, but not everybody will. >> Mhm. >> And so, if everybody would be able to do it, then we all would be making 10 bucks an hour. And I didn't uproot my family, came into our country to make 10 bucks an hour. I didn't come here to be average. It's absolutely not what's going to happen. I refuse that. >> Amen. Also, um what what do I feel like like when you were doing you know 40 grand and then you go to 129 grand in a month. I feel like it Tell me if I'm wrong, but I feel like it when you hit a massive achievement like that when you increase two, three, four, 10x, whatever. Like you do something much bigger than the norm. I feel like it unlocks something in your brain and and it releases this like confidence that >> It changes the what the norm is. Normality is something that is extremely personal. >> Mhm. >> What is normal for you, what is normal for me is not the same norm for Edward or Brad or anybody. >> For sure. >> is different. It's something that is very personal. It's just changing your compass. And so now it also shows what what is possible. >> Mhm. >> It gives you like, okay, if I if I ever need I I call you know, that's that's a a syndrome. I call that the the Monday morning fridge syndrome. >> Monday morning fridge, what is that? >> Well, if Monday morning you wake up and your fridge is broken >> Mhm. >> for 95% of the people out there, they're going to have to wait 2 weeks to get a paycheck so they can get a new fridge. >> Mhm. >> I can decide, oh, my fridge broke. You know what? I'm going to go to my computer. I'm going to increase my lead order right now. I'm going to get those leads. I'm going to call them and the very next day I can go to wherever I want and get my new fridge. That's the ultimate freedom. That's why I say you can buy your income. >> Yeah. You don't hear people explain it that way. You can buy your income. Like you decide, but what you can't decide is I'm going to spend a thousand bucks and make 129 grand. Like how much how much did you spend on leads if you needed 129? >> that month was about $12,000. >> Okay. Is it normally about 10%? >> 10% it's roughly what it is. >> 10x your money is pretty incredible by the way. Like >> I mean that's >> think I don't think normal around the industry, but like that's really good. >> Well, here's here's the thing. Uh you can't you you you need to invest money to make money. That's that that's since the world is exist, you know, I I think that's what it is. And you don't want to fall into that trap saying, "You know what? I am just going to dip my toes in there, and I'm just going to you know, put $50 in leads, and if I get all that ATV, if I can make all these commissions, if I get all the title changes, if I get all the praise, then I will go all in." Nope. Backwards. You got it backwards. You It's It's like Do you remember Do you remember when you learned when you learned how to swim? Do you know how old you were? >> Roughly. >> I'm sure I was probably like five or six I don't know. Four or five or something. Four or five probably. >> Okay. Did you learn how to swim by reading a book and looking at the pool, or did you learn how to swim cuz you were in the water? >> My dad just threw me in. >> Threw you in. There you go. That's how you learn. Otherwise, you can sit down at the library, grab a book, and you're going to learn a ton about swimming, but you don't know how to swim. >> True. >> You have to get in the water, and in the beginning you're going to swim like a little dog just to put your you know, your head out of the water so you can breathe and stuff like that. And then you're going to figure out that you can push on the side, and then you're going to It's It's a learning curve. There's a learning curve in every business. But this is what I know. This is the only business. And that's that's actually I think you can Google that, but I think it's one of the two business that creates the most millionaire. >> Yeah, it is. >> One One is technology, the other one is financial services. Insurance is financial services. >> You're right. >> You You do not get wealthy by being an employee 9-5. You do not. >> Yeah. I I It's interesting you said about swimming. I signed up for a I did a half marathon in 2020. Then I did a half Ironman in 2020. Three three months later. I It was 70 total miles. Um 1.2 mi swim, 56 mi bike ride, and a 13.1 mi run. The swim though, to your point, I was in a lake practicing swimming, and I was swimming with my head up, but I'm like, this is terrible. Like, this is I'm exhausted, I'm not getting very far. So, I hired a swim coach to learn how to swim. Because to do that, you have to swim for at least 45 to 60 minutes nonstop. >> In the ocean with waves, right? So, I'm practicing in a pool, but >> But so I But I hired a coach. And dude, before you know it, within a couple months, like Literally within about a month, I could swim for an hour nonstop. >> Yeah, but your coach put you in the water, he didn't put you like in a library. He didn't correct talk to you about it. >> We got in a pool. >> Well, that's >> Multiple times a week. >> That's the two type of people that we have in this business. We have the players, and we have the spectators. But guess what? Only the players get paid. Because they play. The spectators paid to watch. >> That's right. They They get paid that they become players, and then one day they're on the podcast, and they become >> power >> players. >> Well, no, and and but you know what? I was I was thinking about this when I was driving this morning. I was like, man, >> [snorts and sighs] >> who would have thought? Like, what were the odds that a guy like me, like Cody, what were the odds for a guy from Paris to end up in that seat in your studio today? What were the odds? >> They were a lot harder and worse than the agent that grew up in the US that has done some sales and joined insurance. >> So, you know what it means? It means that the only ceiling that exists in your life is the one that you built in your own mind. >> It's true. >> That's it. >> I bet it was one in a thousand, by the way. >> Well, maybe. Maybe. >> Well, and then maybe it's worse, cuz then you got to get in that chair. But like, you know what know, Just in general, to be at the level to be able to be in that chair. One in a thousand. >> Uh, I like I said, number one number one thing is the why. You got to have a strong one. >> Yeah. >> And I that's how I'm raising my kids. And I'm I'm so proud of these kids because I I mean >> How old are your kids? >> Uh, they just turned 13. So now they're teenagers and I'm like, wow. >> Twin girls? >> Yep. Only girls. I'm surrounded >> 13. >> I'm surrounded with girls at home. Even the dogs. I mean, I got one dog, but he's neutered so it doesn't count. >> [laughter] >> And I'm surrounded with those girls, but I'm I'm trying to show them what what what does it look like? And they start to get it because I remember that was like maybe three or four month ago I came back home. It was it has been a rough day. You know, you have rough days. You know, you have rough days. >> a little bit rough for me. >> weeks. But I do know that if you keep doing the same thing, you will not have a rough life. You know, you you got to make you got to make a choice. And so I came back. It was like ish. And my one of my daughter Victoria looked at me and say that are you okay? I'm like, yeah, that was that was a rough day, but that's okay. And she looked at me dead in dead straight in the eye. And she said, yeah, dad. Life is tough. Get a helmet. And you're like, okay. Well, you're saying that when she was like 12 at that time. And I'm like, I'm doing a good job with these kids. You know, if they have that that mindset. >> That's awesome. I love that. >> I think that's cool to see that and hear about that just because of the I like seeing kids that you know, they're they're raised to be mentally tough and they're raised to be >> I mean, you need to raise them at their I I I I had this conversation with with an old friend of mine the other day. And the way we were raised, we were raised for a world that do not exist anymore. So we can't raise our kids this way. >> Yeah. >> And so we have to give them different, you know, weapons and stuff like that. And I know we're like deviating from that from the insurance subject. >> Sure. >> But the reality is insurance is just a vehicle. >> Mhm. >> I mean I didn't I didn't wake up one day and say, "Hey, when I'm going to be a grown-up, I want to be an insurance agent." No nobody said that. Everybody wants to be a fighter, pilot, or astronaut, whatever. >> NBA. >> Yeah, whatever. I mean that's that's There's Yeah, FIFA. There's it's not sexy insurance agent because the image is not the the good one. But who cares about this because what I see is what it can bring to my family. >> That's right. >> And to my legacy and to my last name. I'm a the first generation American and I I want to settle something strong. >> Mhm. Do you think this that that's changing the the the view like the dictionary view of the average insurance agent? Do you think that's changing? >> Yeah. >> I do, too. >> I think the image of you know back in the '80s of a guy like wearing like a terrible suit and knocking on door knocking on doors uh >> Yeah. >> uh doors after doors after doors and having like that you know craft paper and stuff like that. Now because of the whole digital era >> Yeah. >> anybody can do it. >> 100%. >> not everybody will because what it takes is that was the problem back in the days and it will is the problem today and will be the problem tomorrow. >> Mhm. >> That's why we're going to keep getting paid like we're getting paid because there's a small amount of people that are willing to do what we do. >> Sure. >> you actually want and if you switch open up your mind, switch a little bit your mindset, and look at differently >> Yeah. >> this is going to open a door that I mean it it's your your wildest dream or going to be are going to be possible. >> Mhm. >> You're you're just going to make it happen. Because in this world the ceiling is so high then the floor is high. And I I would not understand people that have the opportunity to do it >> Mhm. >> and just push it on the side. That's something that I don't I really don't understand. >> Happens. >> [sighs and gasps] >> Yeah. >> Sad but yeah. >> happens out of fear more than anything. >> I think so, too. >> I think it's fear, fear of the unknown, fear of the failure. But if you if you look at any any person that is successful >> Yeah. >> name me one guy that is successful that has never failed. The only people that never failed are people who never try. >> Yeah. It's It's inevitable. It sucks, but it's like you can feel it. You can see when you're around somebody that's had has some scars. You know? >> Yeah, but I don't think it sucks at the >> too. No, at the end of the day it doesn't. >> Because it's Yeah, >> it's building you, you know? >> Yes. >> It's building you. It's giving you that >> grateful for it because of who you're becoming, right? I agree. >> Yeah. >> I agree. I see that, too. >> That that thicker skin is going to help you to go through stuff. Because if you think that because when you're a Brad or Edward, you have no problems, absolutely not. You have bigger problems. >> Correct. >> You know? >> Yeah. >> With the rappers, more money, more problems. >> Yeah, that's [snorts] but that's true. >> Yeah. >> But you are able to handle it because you have a thicker skin. >> That's right. >> And my father used to tell me that, yeah, well, that's you opening your you're like breaking an open door because >> you better be >> wealthy and healthy than sick and poor. Yeah, okay, thank you very much. But you're going to be able to handle your bigger problem with more like [snorts] wisdom calm, knowledge, emotional stability >> Yeah. >> is extremely important. >> True. I got another question, but I'm going to save it for our bonus content of CA Studios. Very unique question based on something you said in the podcast. If they want to learn more, connect with you, keep learning from you, uh, what do they do or where do they go? >> Well, the easiest way to reach out to me is go on Instagram. Uh, you go MVM two underscores uh, agency. And, uh, I would be more than happy to have a conversation because that industry and the people that I'm working with have changed my life. It changed the trajectory of my life. And >> I feel like, uh, not a mission, that's a strong word, but if you're stuck somewhere, there's another road. >> Mhm. >> There's another route. And like one of my mentor, Chris Clark, is saying all the time, it doesn't have to be like that. >> Yeah. >> You can choose to change. What do you have to lose? >> Amen. >> no pitch, it's just a conversation. That's all it is. >> I love it. And I hope I hope it, uh, I'm sure it'll help and you've done a lot of help on today's podcast, so thank you for being on. >> Appreciate you for having me. >> Appreciate you. Uh, real quick, two things. One, MVM, that's Max Valery Mason two underscores agency IG. Second, I'm about to ask some extra bonus content for CA Studios. If you haven't checked out Studios, there's live recordings of actual sales calls. There's recordings of all of our conferences we've ever done. There's private behind-the-scenes coaching content. There's every course I've ever recorded. And there's bonus content with Max Valery Mason. You can go to CAstudios.tv to check it out. It's like a Prime Amazon Prime membership for insurance agents. CAstudios.tv. We'll see you behind the scenes and on the next episode of the Power Player Podcast. Kaboom. >> [music]