Episode 47
How Being Consistent Led to a 7 Figure Business Model - Nick Sorrenti, Studio 11
Today we're diving into the world of leadership and consistency with Nick Sorrenti, owner of Studio 11 Barbershop, who believes that when you’re not feeling motivated, the secret sauce is all about staying consistent!
This isn’t just a story about haircuts; it’s about leadership, community, and the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Nick shares his early days, where a simple favor of giving haircuts to college buddies spiraled into a full-blown career. He never set out to be a barbershop owner – it just kind of happened!
But here’s the kicker: Nick believes being a boss is overrated. He prefers to see himself as a leader, someone who empowers his team instead of just barking orders. He talks about the weight of responsibility he feels as the owner of Studio 11, with the lives of 25 families in his hands. It’s a lot, but Nick thrives under the pressure, viewing it as a chance to grow. He passionately discusses the importance of accountability and collaboration, creating a culture where everyone supports each other – and it shows!
Towards the end of our chat, Nick drops some golden nuggets of wisdom. He introduces a cool concept he calls the 'traffic light system' for communication, a way for his team to express how they’re feeling without any awkwardness. It’s all about keeping the lines of communication open and building a supportive environment. So whether you're running a business or just trying to get through life’s challenges, Nick’s insights will stick with you. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to lead with heart and hustle!
Takeaways:
✂️ In this episode, we dive into the idea that being a leader means building a supportive team, not just being the boss; accountability flows both ways!
✂️ Nick emphasizes that pressure is a privilege because it pushes you to grow, especially when you're responsible for others' livelihoods.
✂️ The key takeaway is to be consistent, even when motivation dips; creating systems in life and business can help keep you on track.
✂️ Nick's journey into barbering began unexpectedly at a summer camp, showcasing how passions can evolve in the most surprising ways!
✂️ A unique traffic light system is introduced for communication, allowing team members to express their emotional state and needs effectively.
✂️ Finding a spiritual mentor can be pivotal; having someone to guide you through challenges can help you stay grounded and focused.
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Nick Sorrenti is a proud father of two wonderful daughters and a devoted husband to an incredible wife. As a husband and father, he prioritizes being loving, supportive, and, most importantly, present.
He is also the founder of Studio 11 Barbershop, with locations in Endicott, Vestal, and Oneonta, NY. At Studio 11, they are built on three core principles: culture, community, and consistency. These values guide Nick and his team in fulfilling their mission to provide a memorable experience for every client, regardless of their background.
Above all, Nick believes that success is never a solo journey. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals and fostering mutual growth is essential. He strives to not only challenge himself but to uplift and inspire those around him as well!
Personal instagram: Nick_Sorrenti
Business: Studio11_nick
Business: Studio11barbershop
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Transcript
Welcome to the One Big Thing podcast, where inspiration meets transformation.
Speaker A:I'm your host, Steve Campbell, and I'm excited to have you join me today.
Speaker A:I welcome guests from all walks of life to the show.
Speaker A:We're going to spend about 30 minutes getting into their story and sharing the One big thing that they want to share with all of you that can help you move the forward in your life.
Speaker A:So thank you for being my guest in the One Big Thing and enjoy this episode.
Speaker B:I think wanting to be seen as the leader, not the owner or the boss.
Speaker B:I don't like being called the boss because I never viewed myself in that way.
Speaker B:And I told my guys on day one, like, we are a team.
Speaker B:I'm going to hold you accountable, and I expect you to hold me accountable.
Speaker B:That is the most important part.
Speaker B:But what I did realize also is because I am the owner, there is no, I'm not doing it today because it's not just myself relying on me or my family relying on me.
Speaker B:I have 25 other families relying on me.
Speaker B:So the pressure, people say, you know, pressure is a privilege.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:It is absolute because it makes you better.
Speaker B:I didn't even see the vision for Studio 11 until I started, you know, bleeding into my team, and they started bleeding back into me.
Speaker B:And then I wanted to create opportunities for them, to allow them to grow.
Speaker B:So I never even wanted to be a barbershop owner.
Speaker B:That was never my goal.
Speaker B:I never wanted that.
Speaker C:Welcome to the One Big Thing podcast.
Speaker C:I'm your host, Steve Campbell.
Speaker C:Got a local connection from my hometown roots in the 607.
Speaker C:Nick Sorrenti joining me today.
Speaker C:I've known Nick personally through his barbershop in Endwell, New York.
Speaker C:But Hector, who you guys heard on our holiday special episode, who helps me produce these episodes, has been using Nick for several years.
Speaker C:And when you're sitting in a barber chair, when you're talking life, you get to understand, you know, the character of a person and what they're working on.
Speaker C:And as Hector and I are always game planning on, hey, who do you think we should bring on the show next?
Speaker C:Who do you think would have a cool story to tell?
Speaker C:He kept telling me, man, you got to reach out to Nick Sorrenti.
Speaker C:And so, Nick, I want to invite you to the One Big Thing welcome to your family and friends that are here champion you and listening to you.
Speaker C:Hope you guys will check out other amazing guests that I've had on the show.
Speaker C:But, Nick, you are now maybe number two in the 607 hometown route.
Speaker C:So for those that don't know you, Nick.
Speaker C:Why don't you give us kind of an introduction as to who you are?
Speaker B:What's up, everyone?
Speaker B:I'm Nick Sorrenti.
Speaker B:Like you said, I'm hometown.
Speaker B:And, well, kid originally moved up here from the city when I was about 10 years old.
Speaker B:But this is where my roots are now, Raising a family.
Speaker B:I guess the most important things to me, just to get to know who I am quickly.
Speaker B:I guess my faith is foremost, the top priority.
Speaker B:I've realized what having faith and having a relationship with the Lord above, what it does for me, it's not for everyone.
Speaker B:What it does for me and my family is what's most important to me.
Speaker B:And then it comes my wife and my kids and then my businesses.
Speaker B:It's been awesome to see.
Speaker B:Kind of my skill set in the barbering career has developed into more of a business and mentorship aspect of it.
Speaker B:So quick.
Speaker B:A long story short.
Speaker B:Went to a summer college scholarship program for about five weeks, where I couldn't leave campus for five weeks.
Speaker B:And about three weeks in, one of my roommates, he asked me for a haircut.
Speaker B:And I was like, listen, I can line you up, but I can't give you a haircut.
Speaker B:He's like, if it comes out bad, you just shave it off.
Speaker B:I was like, all right.
Speaker B:So I did it.
Speaker B:It came out decent.
Speaker B:The rest of this couple, the rest of the two weeks, all the kids from the bar, from the program wanted haircuts.
Speaker B:Then I was on the football team as well.
Speaker B:So I went into school like 90 kids that wanted haircuts.
Speaker B:So it was more just a fun thing for me.
Speaker B:Way to make a couple bucks for the weekend.
Speaker B:And then it ended up turning into something that I started enjoying a little more than I thought.
Speaker B:Got into it, apprenticeship program with a local barber around here.
Speaker B:Worked for him for eight years.
Speaker B:Had a really good experience.
Speaker B:Learned a lot.
Speaker B:Learned more than I KN knew I knew.
Speaker B:So, like the expression is, if you don't know, you don't know.
Speaker B:The same testament goes where you don't know what you do know.
Speaker B:And that came in when I opened up my business with Studio 11.
Speaker B:My whole philosophy was I didn't want to take away barbers from other shops.
Speaker B:That was a really important factor for me.
Speaker B:I wanted to build on credibility and kind of create a culture that was not anything from anyone else.
Speaker B:I wanted to kind of, you know, mold them the way that I thought fit, see fit.
Speaker B:And with that, my philosophy with the guys and the girls were, I can't teach you how to be a good.
Speaker B:I can teach you how to cut hair.
Speaker B:I can't teach you to be a good person.
Speaker B:That was my entire philosophy with opening my business model.
Speaker B:And now, you know, we have three locations, about 25 barbers.
Speaker B:And I think I only have.
Speaker B:I only brought on two barbers that were experienced barbershop.
Speaker B:And that was because they reached out to me and they wanted to join the family and they were the perfect fit for us.
Speaker B:And it's just a testament to what.
Speaker B:When you stick to a foundation, stick to a structure, people start buying into it.
Speaker B:So that's kind of something that I would like to talk about a little bit today, is that one big thing.
Speaker B:And that for me is when you're not motivated, be consistent.
Speaker B:So that is a huge thing for me and how it helped me develop my business and to today how I have it implement into my everyday life.
Speaker C:And I love that you have taken every prompt I've given you leading up to this show.
Speaker C:That is the big takeaway, right?
Speaker C:That is what we're promising to give you is one big takeaway.
Speaker C:Whether you feel like I'm not a barber, I don't care about beautician.
Speaker C:Like, how is this guy going to help me?
Speaker C:Nick, I were both humans, we're both dads, we're both married, We've gone through life.
Speaker C:And I think what's cool is when you're not.
Speaker C:Not motivated.
Speaker C:And part of your story too, right?
Speaker C:You're also kind of a hometown legend through football.
Speaker C:And the show was never about like, hey, when did your big break happen?
Speaker C:But I have noticed just through doing so many of these interviews that people will say my passion came alive when I kind of stumbled upon this one thing.
Speaker C:And it wasn't necessarily because I scripted it and I said, you know what, I have a passion for it.
Speaker C:And for you, it sounds like during that five week camp, you discovered that cutting hair was actually something that, you know, could lead into an opportunity moving forward.
Speaker C:And there's been a renaissance within barber shops, you know, really over the last five to 10 years, where when we were growing up as kids, you probably went to the older Italian guy in town, five, six bucks a traditional, you know, high and tight.
Speaker C:And now there's been this movement towards having an experience around male grooming and everything from a clean shave and, you know, fades.
Speaker C:And when you go into your shop, you got music playing and you got men and women working, and it is way more than maybe how many of us grew up in you.
Speaker C:That is a very specific field of Work to be in because of the cost for sometimes inexperience of cutting hair.
Speaker C:When something has always been maybe not devalued, but people are always trying to, you know, go to super cuts or save money where they can.
Speaker C:You've done a masterful job of creating a very cool experience and I would say almost a hard area that growing up in upstate New York, having a vision for what you have created, that's not a huge city where you know, that is something where you've had to not only have a vision, but now convince the community that taking care of yourself and being in a chair with somebody who's taking care of you is an experience.
Speaker C:So then talk to us.
Speaker C:You know, your one big thing is when you're not motivated.
Speaker C:I think as any listener, you're running three locations.
Speaker C:You got all these people working for you.
Speaker C:When you hear somebody like you say, when you're not motivated, be consistent, what does that mean?
Speaker C:Where did that come from?
Speaker C:And is that more for you?
Speaker C:Or is that something that you have just kind of told people that you've mentored?
Speaker B:I guess the philosophy started when, when I went to, when I found my lease space on my first location.
Speaker B:It was a, it was acquaintance.
Speaker B:I knew I played ball with his kids and I was driving by the plaza and I saw and I was like, oh my God, that's the spot.
Speaker B:I just, I just knew that was, that was it.
Speaker B:And I ended up reaching out to his son, set up a meeting and I just started speaking to him about my vision for a service based barbershop that was community friendly and it stood by these three staples.
Speaker B:It's community, consistency and culture.
Speaker B:That was like the three prominent focal points I wanted to make sure that our barbershop had.
Speaker B:And when I started talking about what my goals were, he looked at me, he goes, listen, Nick.
Speaker B:He's like the mindset that you have and how you want to grow and be different from the standard barbershop.
Speaker B:He goes, barbering isn't going to make you rich, but it's going to be the catalyst to create your wealth.
Speaker B:And I was like, wow.
Speaker B:I was, I never looked at it like that.
Speaker B:So it wasn't maybe being behind the chair, which three, four years ago is a little different than now.
Speaker B:Barbers make are continuing to make really, really good money because the skill has changed, the cost of it has changed because the quality of the haircuts have changed, the demand has changed.
Speaker B:But it allowed me to realize that if I can create the systems within my barbershop to Run as a business and not a barbershop.
Speaker B:I can then not have to be motivated 24, 7 where I would have to allow the business to, to be on kind of an assembly line, where if I set it up the right way in the beginning, the days that I'm not motivated, as long as I stay consistent in keeping my systems and the people within my systems accountable, my system is going to do the hard work for me.
Speaker B:And that's kind of what, where this whole philosophy of, you know, when you're not motivated, be consistent.
Speaker B:I didn't create it.
Speaker B:During.
Speaker B:When I was creating my business, I looked back and was like, where did this philosophy came from?
Speaker B:And it started right in high school, right in middle school, when I was playing sports, when I didn't want to go to the weight room, I didn't want to show up to school.
Speaker B:But that's what was showing me success doing those little things that were kind of the map, the draw the map was drawn out for me.
Speaker B:All I had to do is follow it.
Speaker B:And I think that that's, that's part of the school system that we, I think we can benefit from as, you know, as people.
Speaker B:Whether or not we take something away from school or not, the, the thing that we must take away the most is that they had systems in play to help us graduate from kindergarten to first grade to fifth grade, all the way up to senior year of high school and then college.
Speaker B:It was a system and that's why there was a success rate with graduation.
Speaker B:So my question is for people is like, what's your system?
Speaker B:What's your everyday system?
Speaker B:What is your life plan to get you from A to B, from your one year goal to your three year goal to your five and ten year goal.
Speaker B:So that's kind of how I live my everyday life now, where I created a goal for myself within the business.
Speaker B:Every year we do a kind of a, an annual report of where our growth has been.
Speaker B:And with that we set new goals.
Speaker B:You know, this year, going into year four, we.
Speaker B:I had a goal when I opened up the barbershop to be a million dollar barbershop.
Speaker B:That was, that was my goal.
Speaker B:And this year we hit it.
Speaker B:Which was like the most amazing thing.
Speaker B:Yeah, that was like one of the most amazing things.
Speaker B:Because when you hear barbershops, you don't think of that, you know, but when you have people buy into the culture that you're creating, your life gets so much easier.
Speaker B:Where now people are doing your job.
Speaker B:Where now my job is just to make sure those Little systems are running effectively.
Speaker B:So when we can go right back to the premise of this message with staying consistent when you're not motivated, it's because when you start the gym, when you make that first plan for the week, you're so motivated.
Speaker B:You're all hyped up, you're gassed up, you got your protein powder, you got your meals prepped for the week.
Speaker B:And then, you know, that fifth day comes where you have to wake up at 6am and you hit that snooze button.
Speaker B:That's the mindset you have to have.
Speaker B:You're not always going to be motivated.
Speaker B:Life isn't always motivating, but what do you have in play to help you get there?
Speaker B:To stay consistent?
Speaker B:So I'm not always a motivated person.
Speaker B:It's just not going to happen.
Speaker B:I'm.
Speaker B:I'm a very excited person.
Speaker B:I always want to do something next, but sometimes, you know, I need to have that mindset that, all right, listen, I'm not going to be pumped up today.
Speaker B:I'm not.
Speaker B:I'm not amped up today, but I am going to be stay consistent.
Speaker B:Because what I've seen in my life so far is that being consistent has got me here.
Speaker B:And that's kind of the whole philosophy for you guys to take away, is you're not always going to be motivated.
Speaker B:Whoever tells you you're going to be motivated all the time, it's.
Speaker B:They're, they're.
Speaker B:They're fooling themselves.
Speaker B:But what you can do is say, listen, I'm not going to be motivated.
Speaker B:I'm just going to stay consistent with my plan.
Speaker B:I'm going to stick to the plan when I'm not motivated.
Speaker B:Because then when you are motivated and you're sticking to that plan, guys, this.
Speaker B:There's no ceiling to you.
Speaker C:Well, and even in your story, Nick, forgive me if I'm wrong, you were part of high school state championships, right, in football and then went on to even play ball in college.
Speaker C:Did you play it Army?
Speaker B:No, No, I ended up.
Speaker B:So I ended up getting some offers at a D1 level.
Speaker B:I thought I was going to Penn State and then to play linebacker.
Speaker B:And then my brother, which was three years older than me, decided he actually wanted to go back to college and play ball.
Speaker B:So I was like, you know what?
Speaker B:A college recruiter came to my house one time and he said something that really resonated with me really well.
Speaker B:And he said, he said, nick, he's like, if you don't get hurt and you don't go pro, you probably got about 40 to 50 games left in you, right?
Speaker B:I go, yeah, that sounds right.
Speaker B:He goes, would you rather spend 40 or 50 of them playing or only 12 playing?
Speaker B:And I was like, wow, you know, that's.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:At a 18 years old.
Speaker B:That's very humbling when you're the number one player in the state and it's like, you know what?
Speaker B:I want to play.
Speaker B:That's my goal.
Speaker B:If I'm good enough, they'll find me wherever I.
Speaker B:Wherever I go.
Speaker B:So I started using my connections at the D3 level to go on visits with my brother.
Speaker B:And then we ended up finding a school that was willing to get him and I both in for free.
Speaker B:So I decided to get away from the D1 level and.
Speaker B:Which was an eye opener for a lot of friends.
Speaker B:And they were like, why'd you do that?
Speaker B:I ended up rooming with my brother for four years in college and getting to play football.
Speaker B:My best friend.
Speaker B:It was one of the coolest things in the world.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Our relationship got closer than ever been.
Speaker B:The memories I made it was, you know, people can say, you should have done this, you should have done that.
Speaker B:I'm exactly where I need to be.
Speaker B:And because I.
Speaker B:The reason why I know I'm.
Speaker B:I'm there because I've.
Speaker B:I've got to employ 25 different people now in my life that are now benefiting and their families are benefiting.
Speaker B:So the plan was.
Speaker B:It was predetermined for me.
Speaker B:It was destined.
Speaker C:Well, even in your story, you've been on teams, right?
Speaker C:And now you get a chance going into studio at 11 to basically have a team of yourself and being consistent even when you're not motivated.
Speaker C:I think what's cool about that story you just shared, though, is a college recruiter came to you and presented to you an offer which gave you some kind of this or that type of scenario to say, well, then I'm going to pursue this.
Speaker C:I think the challenge.
Speaker C:Challenge is as you get into adulthood, your late 20s, your 30s, your 40s, there aren't people like that coming into your life, talking to you about parenting and what type of parent do you want to be?
Speaker C:Or even if you came from a broken home, like, what type of marriage do you want it to look like?
Speaker C:And you don't always have that kind of guidance.
Speaker C:But one of the amazing things that you have the ability to do as a business owner, which you want to back up one second, man, and say, congratulations on the growth of the barbershop.
Speaker C:Barbershop hitting that, hitting that number.
Speaker C:I just think about maybe all the people who don't even realize the good that's in their own hometown and what's happening.
Speaker C:Because I, I just think about maybe the people that drive by your barber shop or drive around town and say, what good is here?
Speaker C:You know, what are people doing?
Speaker C:Nothing's growing.
Speaker C:And then secretly Studio 11 is just hitting gangbusters.
Speaker C:And I think a lot of that is part of your vision in the culture of, again, trying to transcend what it means to just be a barbershop, which is in typically something people would think, million dollar business, 25 employees, multiple locations.
Speaker C:And so you've been part of teams with football, you've roomed with your brother, and now you're getting the opportunity to lead, which is both an amazing opportunity and it's also very terrifying in the sense that there's so much riding on you.
Speaker C:And so what, what has been, like, what have you been learning in the process?
Speaker C:Because these 25 employees are all built differently.
Speaker C:They're wired differently, they respond differently to crit, more feedback.
Speaker C:And so has there been anything that you got this principle of, even when you don't feel like it, being consistent?
Speaker C:That's the overarching theme.
Speaker C:But how have you grown in your role as a business owner over these last several years to get to where you are and what has been the things that you've had to adjust to, understanding that not everybody responds like a football player, where they just take orders and go hit harder, Some people are going to respond differently.
Speaker C:So what has really helped you in kind of your own personal growth and the role that you play?
Speaker C:Let's go ahead and interrupt this episode today to let you know that in talking with Nick about this experience of the One Big Thing, he was gracious enough to offer that if you live in the upstate New York area and you've wanted to check out something like Studio 11, create a barber shop experience where you can go and get taken care of.
Speaker C:Nick has said that if you'd like to schedule an appointment, book an appointment with him that he would offer you as a listener, the One Big Thing, a discount on this experience.
Speaker C:So awesome episode.
Speaker C:You're going to want to stay tuned through the rest of it.
Speaker C:But if you've been thinking about is Studio 11 right for me, is it really worth it?
Speaker C:Book an appointment with Nick.
Speaker C:Let him know that you heard the One Big Thing podcast.
Speaker C:He'll give you a discount.
Speaker C:Create an experience which could create a cool friendship.
Speaker C:One thing I know about Nick is You're going to get friendship.
Speaker C:You're going to get a mentor while you're sitting in that chair.
Speaker C:So check out Studio 11.
Speaker C:Book an appointment with Nick, and until then, enjoy the rest of the episode.
Speaker B:I think wanting to be seen as the leader and not the owner or the boss, I don't like being called the boss because I don't.
Speaker B:I never viewed myself in that way.
Speaker B:And I told my guys on day one, like, we are a team.
Speaker B:I'm going to hold you accountable and expect you to hold me accountable.
Speaker B:That is the most important part.
Speaker B:But what I did realize also is because I am the owner, there is no.
Speaker B:I'm not doing it today because it's not just myself relying on me or my family relying on me.
Speaker B:I have 25 other families relying on me.
Speaker B:So the pressure, people say, you know, pressure is a privilege.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:It is, absolutely.
Speaker B:Because it makes you better.
Speaker B:I didn't even see the vision for Studio 11 until I started, you know, bleeding into my team, and they started bleeding back into me.
Speaker B:And then I wanted to create opportunities for them, to allow them to grow.
Speaker B:So I never even wanted to be a barbershop owner.
Speaker B:That was never my goal.
Speaker B:I never wanted that.
Speaker B:But then I realized I didn't want to end up working for someone else because I didn't want someone telling me, when I have a family, you can't do this and you can't do that.
Speaker B:So I wanted to create a barbershop that allowed the barbers a system to help them grow, eventually being able to, you know, come and go as they please, take vacations and not being penalized for taking vacations and take away the stigma of retirement funds and pensions and all that, that stuff like that.
Speaker B:So the most important thing for me to be the good lead, to be a good leader, was to get to know my players.
Speaker B:That was, like, the most important part of my business.
Speaker B:I had to understand that not everyone is going to respond in the way that I'm going to respond, because the first six months, I was like.
Speaker B:It was driving me crazy.
Speaker B:Like, why aren't they doing this?
Speaker B:Why aren't you?
Speaker B:I was holding them to the same standard that I was holding myself.
Speaker B:And I have.
Speaker B:I literally have.
Speaker B:On the back of my shirt, it literally says, hold the standard.
Speaker B:On my back of my Studio 11 shirt, it literally says, hold the standard.
Speaker B:That is a huge thing that I imply all the time, because, listen, everyone's gonna respond differently.
Speaker B:Everyone's gonna be different.
Speaker B:But there's a standard that we have.
Speaker B:There's an expectation that we have.
Speaker B:So with that, I had to learn my players and see how they responded.
Speaker B:So I knew, you know, one player, one.
Speaker B:One barber I had was really.
Speaker B:He was always showing up late, and it was causing a problem because the punctuality of being a barber is huge.
Speaker B:You got to be on time.
Speaker B:It's like super important, especially when people are paying a higher price for an appointment.
Speaker B:So I knew he was a baseball guy.
Speaker B:He played college ball.
Speaker B:So I had to figure out a way.
Speaker B:How do I use it in a way for him to correlate baseball with.
Speaker B:With.
Speaker B:With being on time.
Speaker B:And I saw that he was a big team guy.
Speaker B:He wanted to never let the team down.
Speaker B:So I talked to him.
Speaker B:I was like, listen, dude, these guys look at you as a leader.
Speaker B:I think you can be a leader here.
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:But you not being on time, you're letting the team down.
Speaker B:You're not showing them how to do it.
Speaker B:You want to be.
Speaker B:You want to be the guy in charge, where you're showing them the ropes, which you are.
Speaker B:But you take away all the.
Speaker B:The respect that you're earning in the shop when you're showing up 10 to 15 minutes late.
Speaker B:You know, it's just.
Speaker B:And then I had a guy that.
Speaker B:He's a Marine.
Speaker B:He was an ex Marine, and I understood that he was a soldier.
Speaker B:If I said, jump, jump, he's going to say, how high?
Speaker B:You know, you just have to learn how to speak to.
Speaker B:In order for people to buy into your system and buy into your culture, even your family.
Speaker B:I had to learn.
Speaker B:I lead men all day.
Speaker B:When I close that door, to go out of my car into my home at night.
Speaker B:I have to leave it, lead an entirely different way with my girls at home.
Speaker B:I have to lead with love.
Speaker B:I have to lead with gentleness, with understanding, with a tone of voice that is not as aggressive or exciting.
Speaker B:So learning how to lead within yourself, I think is the most important part of any success that you can have in life.
Speaker B:You got to lead.
Speaker B:You got to learn how to lead yourself and what's going to ground you to stay on your consistent path when you're not motivated.
Speaker B:And then in order to lead others, you have to learn the strengths and the weaknesses of your other people and how they respond.
Speaker B:What's going to keep them consistent is you picking on them all day.
Speaker B:Are you picking on your daughter for not doing something or your son for not doing something all day actually helping them?
Speaker B:Because discipline doesn't mean to punish.
Speaker B:Discipline means to teach.
Speaker B:And that's Kind of the, the whole philosophy where I had to learn, where when I say faith kind of took over my life, I had to understand what that word discipline meant.
Speaker B:And it's totally, it's to instruct and to teach and not to punish and to hurt.
Speaker B:So my intentions were always to teach my kids or teach my, my colleagues.
Speaker B:And that's kind of been, I think, the recipe for success in my, in my business.
Speaker B:Just because I treat everyone as a way for me to get better.
Speaker B:It's not, it's not just about them.
Speaker B:It's about how do I become the best version of myself for you so that we as a whole can succeed.
Speaker C:You got so much to unpack.
Speaker C:And if you guys are kind of curious, we have not been hacked on the one big thing.
Speaker C:Nick is actually recording from his barber school.
Speaker C:And so there's some announcements going on in the background because you're, you're doing the thing and I think that's important.
Speaker C:And you just laid out, you just laid out a really interesting parallel that I don't think it's just a man thing.
Speaker C:I think it's all of us as people where we have kind of dual roles, but yet we're the same person.
Speaker C:You know, you have your work life and your calling, which is to go out and to provide for your family and you know, do the thing for almost 80% of your life that you do with other people.
Speaker C:And then you have your family who is the legacy that we're all building.
Speaker C:And I think many of us maybe struggle with feeling successful in one area, but maybe not the other, or just being so overwhelmed that we're kind of doing both of those roles in a half hearted way.
Speaker C:And one thing that you had just shared is learning to deal with these different personalities and, you know, providing value to why things are important and how people look at you.
Speaker C:And I know that there's a standard that you had talked about that you set yourself to.
Speaker C:And I think one of the things I struggle with on the home side is that I have such a high standard for what I've learned at 38 years old now, for a lot of the failings I've had and falling on my face and getting things wrong and getting better and getting sharper.
Speaker C:And yet I have four beautiful children that are also young that are doing things that I don't always understand why they're doing.
Speaker C:And sometimes I put this expectation of why aren't you acting how I would act, you know, and doing things the way that I want to.
Speaker C:And I think when you're out in the workplace and you have people your age, you're able to have a maturity level of conversation.
Speaker C:And so I wonder what that transition has been like for you with the girls at home, where you have these processes in place with the barbershop.
Speaker C:And I want.
Speaker C:You have to kind of get through this to kind of speak to it, too, so we don't forget that.
Speaker C:I follow you guys on social media, and it looks like you do a lot of team camaraderie stuff, internal barbershop meetings, doing life beyond just cutting hair.
Speaker C:And so I want you to come speak about that in just a second and kind of where that came from and what's been working.
Speaker C:But what is home life for Nick with the girls, the things that work at work, the processes and the procedures?
Speaker C:Do you just duplicate that at home?
Speaker C:In.
Speaker C:In.
Speaker C:Does it look different?
Speaker C:Because we can have business plans, but I think many of us would acknowledge we'd like to have a family plan of where we're going and what we're doing.
Speaker C:So what does that look like, the home life compared to business?
Speaker C:What's different?
Speaker C:What's shifted?
Speaker C:What have you had to implement to help you be intentional and present with your girls who are your whole world?
Speaker C:What does that look like for you?
Speaker B:I wish it was as easy it is for the business as it is at home.
Speaker B:I think it's easy when you're.
Speaker B:When you're in control and you're the.
Speaker B:You know, you're the.
Speaker B:You're the top guy.
Speaker B:It's really easy to implement systems.
Speaker B:And this is the rules.
Speaker B:This is how it's going to go.
Speaker B:But when you have a partnership, when you become one with someone as the man, I had to learn to submit to my wife.
Speaker B:I had to learn that my way isn't always the right way.
Speaker B:And without my wife, I would not be even a fathom of the type of father that I believe that I am.
Speaker B:Because she has held me accountable.
Speaker B:She's taught me a different type of love in regards to what discipline should be.
Speaker B:You know, I was raised in an Italian family.
Speaker B:If I misbehave, I got a smack on the butt.
Speaker B:That was just how it went.
Speaker B:And you're gonna figure it out by yourself.
Speaker B:And if you don't like it, you'll get another smack in the butt.
Speaker B:It was just.
Speaker B:It was just how it went.
Speaker B:And I thought that was normal.
Speaker B:I thought that was like.
Speaker B:I thought that was the way.
Speaker B:I thought yelling was the way.
Speaker B:Like, if you wanted me to hear you, I have to scream.
Speaker B:That was.
Speaker B:That was like something that was so normal in my household because that's what I was raised in.
Speaker B:And then 20 minutes later, we're eating dinner and everything was fine.
Speaker B:So I thought that was cool.
Speaker B:And then when I met my wife, she made me aware.
Speaker B:Nick, why are you yelling?
Speaker B:Like, we hear you.
Speaker B:Why are you yelling?
Speaker B:And I wasn't even aware of it because no one ever made me aware of it.
Speaker B:So I had to learn that I'm a man, I'm a very exciting person where I get excited and then my voice raises very easily when I'm passionate about something.
Speaker B:And because I care about my kids so much, I'm so passionate about teaching them the right from wrong.
Speaker B:But I had to learn that sometimes before you could teach, you just got to show a little love.
Speaker B:So what I started doing is just give me a hug.
Speaker B:I'm mad at you right now.
Speaker B:I'm super mad at you right now, but give me a hug.
Speaker B:One, it grounds me into understanding this is my daughter.
Speaker B:I'm teaching a little kid how to be a human being in today's world.
Speaker B:And two, it makes her feel safe.
Speaker B:That's the most important thing.
Speaker B:Someone is not going to listen to you.
Speaker B:If they're scared, they're not.
Speaker B:They're gonna.
Speaker B:They're just gonna want you get through it so you're.
Speaker B:So you leave.
Speaker B:And I had to learn that because when I first met my wife, that she.
Speaker B:She had a daughter at 4 years old, she's almost 9 now, and we started getting really close.
Speaker B:She started calling me dad and all this stuff.
Speaker B:And I got mad at her one time, and I saw her at face, and I didn't want her to look at me like that anymore.
Speaker B:That was like.
Speaker B:It was a.
Speaker B:It was.
Speaker B:It was a heart.
Speaker B:It was the first time that my heart ever hurt for someone else, you know?
Speaker B:Like, I've never.
Speaker B:I've never experienced that before.
Speaker B:Like, when your kid's sick for the first time, it's like you hurt for them, you know, And.
Speaker B:And I experienced that.
Speaker B:And that's when my wife, you know, how to talk to me and really teach me about, you know, how to parent in a gentle, more gentle way.
Speaker B:And I didn't even agree with it at that time.
Speaker B:I genuinely didn't.
Speaker B:I was like, no, this is how it needs to be.
Speaker B:It wasn't until I met my spiritual mentor and we got into the word, and he really made me understand that love always wins.
Speaker B:Love always wins.
Speaker B:You can never be wrong by loving too much and by doing that it just grounds me because I'm still listen.
Speaker B:I'm human.
Speaker B:I'm gonna.
Speaker B:I'm gonna lash out sometimes when I don't want to, but when you're not motivated, stay consistent.
Speaker B:So I know what works.
Speaker B:Grounding myself in love first when I'm mad calms me down.
Speaker B:It calms the family down.
Speaker B:It calms my daughters down that I want to listen to me.
Speaker B:And it allows my wife to back me more.
Speaker B:It allows her to support me more because she knows where my heart is.
Speaker B:So at home, totally different than in the barbershop, but by learning that, by learning how to be more empathetic and more gentle, it has allowed me to be a better leader in the shop as well, because I won't react.
Speaker B:I'll definitely be a little more calm.
Speaker B:I created a.
Speaker B:It's called the traffic light system I created.
Speaker B:And red, yellow, green, for instance.
Speaker B:And you can do this at home for you guys that, you know, either have to say something to your wife or your kids that you just want to know where they're gauging at.
Speaker B:So a green means you're good.
Speaker B:Every life is good.
Speaker B:I don't need to talk to you.
Speaker B:We're good.
Speaker B:A yellow means something's wrong.
Speaker B:We don't have to talk right now, but it's something that we should discuss when we have time.
Speaker B:A red is, stop what you're doing.
Speaker B:We have to go talk in private.
Speaker B:So that is something that has helped my business tremendously, because now when we're in front of people all the time, all day, and I see one of my barbers is off, I just go, hey, where you at?
Speaker B:He goes, I'm at a yellow.
Speaker B:I had a barber this morning.
Speaker B:Text me.
Speaker B:I'm at a yellow.
Speaker B:Text them.
Speaker B:I'm about to start a meeting.
Speaker B:Do you want to talk about it at lunch or you want to talk about it tomorrow?
Speaker B:Because we can talk about it tomorrow.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So I know it's not super important, but now I don't have that on my head all day, that I have to worry that something's going on internally at the barbershop.
Speaker B:So that's a great strategy, in my opinion, to bring into the household where.
Speaker B:With your wife or if you're in front of people and, you know, you don't want anyone to hear it, you just talk to your wife.
Speaker B:Hey, I'm at a yellow or I'm at a red.
Speaker B:We got to talk.
Speaker B:Something is wrong.
Speaker B:You know, that's just.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:That's a nice, helpful skill that I Feel like has helped me tremendously.
Speaker C:Well, in the last few minutes, one of the big things that I always try to do as a host is let's.
Speaker C:Let's give a super high level one big thing.
Speaker C:But then as we come to a close, let's give the really practical.
Speaker C:What does that look like for you and how do you implement.
Speaker C:And you've already touched on one that I think is a very cool, easy to remember frame of reference.
Speaker C:The.
Speaker C:The, you know, traffic light system.
Speaker C:You have to implement that and you got to make sure everybody's in agreement that we understand the standard.
Speaker C:So, you know, you can't just take information from a podcast and go home today and say, green light.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker C:Stare at you.
Speaker C:But having a conversation around the importance, one that you touched on, though, which we didn't talk about before the beginning, which, which you just brought up in conversation, was a spiritual mentor.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And I think, you know, if I had to think about maybe practical.
Speaker C:That is very practical because that is you going out or someone coming to you.
Speaker C:You are seeking the fact that you understand that there's a lot of roles and responsibilities on you, and there are certain things that you can't take to your wife because she won't understand that.
Speaker C:Having a spiritual ment.
Speaker C:Mentor.
Speaker C:And so when you think about staying consistent, talk to me then about those that maybe if they look around in the car, you know, you're driving right now, you're thinking, like, who do I have in my life outside of my spouse, my best friend, that I can just share my insecurities, who I am, what I'm working on, what.
Speaker C:How did the spiritual mentor relationship come about for you?
Speaker C:How long have you been in it?
Speaker C:What did that process look like for.
Speaker C:For you?
Speaker C:If somebody raised their hand and was like, like, I need somebody in my life, what did that look like for you, Nick?
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, even if, like, I'll explain more about my spiritual mental.
Speaker B:But like, church this weekend talked about having a mask.
Speaker B:Like, we all have that mask.
Speaker B:Like my pastor said, you know, I have a mask.
Speaker B:I have to perform for my people.
Speaker B:He goes with that.
Speaker B:I have to be able.
Speaker B:I have to be human enough to take off that mask with someone.
Speaker B:I have to be able to be vulnerable with someone.
Speaker B:So for you in the car, who is the person that you could be most vulnerable with?
Speaker B:Where they're not judging you, they're truthfully trying to help you.
Speaker B:And you could be transparent with them, and they could be transparent with you by being able to do that with someone in a spiritual Manner.
Speaker B:They're able to typically go somewhere in the Word and teach you something.
Speaker B:That's probably the coolest thing about my discipleship.
Speaker B:We don't really call it Bible study anymore.
Speaker B:It's more discipleship where my mentor, he's discipling men.
Speaker B:That's kind of his.
Speaker B:His.
Speaker B:He feel like that's what he was brought to the world to do.
Speaker B:And so what happened was I had someone tell me about it for months.
Speaker B:What's funny is that this gentleman.
Speaker B:We had a decent relationship, but there was always something that I couldn't put my.
Speaker B:Put it.
Speaker B:Couldn't put my, like, finger on it where I didn't know if, like, he was my type of person or not.
Speaker B:And then over the last.
Speaker B:It was like a six months to a year.
Speaker B:Started coming to the barbershop, and we started getting annoying and he just started changing where his.
Speaker B:That whole uneasy feeling I was having kind of went away.
Speaker C:Yep.
Speaker B:And just.
Speaker B:We just started talking randomly.
Speaker B:And he goes.
Speaker B:He goes, nick, I think it's honorable what you're doing.
Speaker B:He goes, you're.
Speaker B:You're pouring into a lot of people.
Speaker B:And I think that's awesome.
Speaker B:He goes, but, Nick, I got a question for you.
Speaker B:He goes, who's pouring into you?
Speaker B:And I go, I haven't thought about that.
Speaker B:And that's when he's like, listen, I want to invite you to Tuesday night at Mike's.
Speaker B:He goes, I think it'd be really good for you.
Speaker B:I go, okay.
Speaker B:So I committed to it.
Speaker B:And I realized that growing up, you know, when you start seeing success, you know, you had the cars, you had the home, you get the girls, you know, all that stuff.
Speaker B:But it's temporary success.
Speaker B:It's cool for four months, two months, six months, and then it's gone.
Speaker B:The satisfaction is gone.
Speaker B:I kept having this hole in my stomach that I couldn't fill, and I didn't know what it was.
Speaker B:I committed six weeks to his.
Speaker B:His discipleship.
Speaker B:And I think it was the second meeting I gave my.
Speaker B:My life to Christ.
Speaker B:And it was from that.
Speaker B:That night alone.
Speaker B:This is the first time I've heard that her.
Speaker B:Felt that Jesus heard me.
Speaker B:It was the first time I felt a connection in a way that I never felt.
Speaker B:And it's a journey, you know, there was.
Speaker B:I drifted away.
Speaker B:Not drifted away, but I wasn't as consistent as I was for a little bit.
Speaker B:And guess what?
Speaker B:Because I wasn't being consistent, my life started going in a bad place.
Speaker B:And by being.
Speaker B:Then by realizing that, my wife made me aware she's like, Nick, you got to go back.
Speaker B:You got to go back there because you're a different person when you're there.
Speaker B:And that was really humbling for me.
Speaker B:So I suggest for any of you guys looking for something in terms of the spiritual realm, start by just finding a church.
Speaker B:Just find somewhere to go on a Sunday and be able to build a relationship with Christ and worship in a way that allows you to be vulnerable, just to start thinking about.
Speaker B:Because when you're singing and you're listening to her, your mind's clear, you realize what's important to you, what is most important for you to be happy.
Speaker B:And by doing that, allows you to start coming up with a plan to continue to be consistent with that happiness.
Speaker B:So I'd say start with a church.
Speaker B:Hopefully they offer small groups.
Speaker B:Get into maybe a small group once a week, and you'll know.
Speaker B:You'll see someone.
Speaker B:You'll meet someone that you will be drawn to, and that's where you start.
Speaker B:You don't have to go start looking for the glory and this and that.
Speaker B:Just start by going on a Sunday.
Speaker B:Going on a Sunday.
Speaker B:See what you like, see what's important to you, because your eyes and your heart will open up, and that's the most important thing.
Speaker B:You could read the Bible, but until you're digesting it in your heart, there's no change that's going to be made that's going to have a significant impact in your life.
Speaker C:Well, this has been such a great conversation with you, Nick, because again, you got people from all walks of life, different faith backgrounds.
Speaker C:But you and I share a very similar story in the fact that my life really took off as I surrendered my life to following Jesus.
Speaker C:And I've always wanted to have a podcast where people could just come get super practical stuff.
Speaker C:And if faith isn't for you, hey, green light, red light, yellow light, implement it in your business, in your work, go do that.
Speaker C:But what you talked about is real spiritual transformation, where you can connect with somebody outside of your spouse, or if you're single, another human being.
Speaker C:And somebody had once told me, a mentor of mine, you know, you are loved when you're fully exposed and fully accepted.
Speaker C:And there is something to a brotherhood, which I have with Hector and which I have with guys that are older with me.
Speaker C:Where there is no mask, there is no fluff.
Speaker C:There is no faking it till I make it.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:Dude, I need you to pray with me right now because I'm losing it.
Speaker C:And I snapped at my kids.
Speaker C:Or I snapped at my wife, or I'm just not showing up in the way that I want to.
Speaker C:And a real mentor will not pacify what you've done wrong, but they will call it out and find ways to help you through what we're talking about through the Bible channel.
Speaker C:The fact that God has called you to something significant in your life, it's grace.
Speaker C:It's, it's baby steps.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:It's moving the ball forward.
Speaker C:And that's the whole point of this show.
Speaker C:And so, Nick Sorenti, I want to thank you for being a guest on my One Big Thing I.
Speaker C:As you've shared today, you may not always feel like it, but the key is being consistent.
Speaker C:And you share two really practical insights of the traffic light system, but also the need for mentorship.
Speaker C:Whether it's spiritual mentorship, business mentorship, find somebody outside of your immediate nuclear family that can sew into you and has no biases.
Speaker C:One way or another.
Speaker C:If you're coming to them for guidance, they're going to look at the good, the bad, the ugly, and tell you what you need to do.
Speaker C:Nick, we will put in the show notes information for Studio 11.
Speaker C:If you're in the 607 area wanting to create an experience.
Speaker C:I've been in your shop, dude.
Speaker C:It is fun.
Speaker C:I'll have to have you back for some of the workshops that I'm planning because I think you could really sew into both men and women's lives.
Speaker C:But appreciate you taking, taking the time and coming on the podcast.
Speaker B:Steve, I appreciate the invite, man.
Speaker B:It was a pleasure.
Speaker B:Hope that you can.
Speaker B:Anyone that's listening hope there's one thing that you could take away.
Speaker B:I can help change the trajectory of your life and your family's life.
Speaker C:Love that.
Speaker C:Thanks, bro.
Speaker C:I love connecting with people from where I grew up.
Speaker C:And Nick Sorrenti, what an awesome guest.
Speaker C:You know, part of this show is not only providing one big thing for you as a listener, but then also some practical things.
Speaker C:Let's not just have this grandiose statement of when you don't feel like it'd be consistent.
Speaker C:You might feel like I'm doing everything under the sun, trying to show up as a parent, trying to show up as a mom or dad, trying to show up as a co worker.
Speaker C:And I just don't feel like I have the motivation to do it if.
Speaker C:If that's you, we're all human.
Speaker C:We all get it.
Speaker C:But I think what Nick did a really nice job is he gave us two practical takeaways right at the end, which if you want to use them completely up to you.
Speaker C:The.
Speaker C:The traffic light system, how cool is that?
Speaker C:You got to get on the same page with whoever you're going to implement that with, because you could see how that would be a very awkward system of communication and values if you haven't communicated.
Speaker C:But I know I'm going to be challenged with my wife Stephanie, to say, how could we talk in that way so that not every conversation is.
Speaker C:Is the conversation or we don't let too much time having unspoken conversations that we should have.
Speaker C:So having a green light, yellow light, red light, what an easy to implement system.
Speaker C:And then the other part, whether faith is a part of your life or not, I get it.
Speaker C:We all come from different backgrounds.
Speaker C:Faith is.
Speaker C:And following Jesus is my heart.
Speaker C:And I can tell you the value of mentorship, discipleship, which Nick talked about.
Speaker C:And so if you felt like you feel alone, you could be married, you could have kids, you could have everything on paper that you're supposed to have at this frame of, you know, know, season of life, but still feel like something's missing.
Speaker C:Maybe that one thing for you that's missing right now is mentorship, who is, like Nick said, who is sowing into your life right now in this season, that maybe you're giving your all to your kids and your spouse or your business, but who is sowing into your life and having conversations to make sure that you are doing okay.
Speaker C:And the One Big Thing is all about helping you move the ball forward.
Speaker C:I had talked to Nick and one cool thing.
Speaker C:If you've never experienced a barber shop and you live in upstate New York and Main and well, Nick has offered that if you want to schedule with him at Studio 11 and just let him know you heard the one big thing, he's willing to offer you a discount on the Experience.
Speaker C:So how cool is that?
Speaker C:So take advantage of it.
Speaker C:You know, reach out Studio 11 schedule with Nick.
Speaker C:Go get the Experience.
Speaker C:It is pretty amazing.
Speaker C:But as always, thank you for listening to the One Big Thing.
Speaker C:Hope you'll check out some other guests.
Speaker C:Subscribe to the podcast so you never missed episodes.
Speaker C:You can follow our YouTube channel too, as well, which we'll have links in the show notes.
Speaker C:And if this episode meant a lot to you, leave.
Speaker C:Leave a review on whatever platform you use.
Speaker C:Your ratings and reviews help other people know that this show might be worth their time.
Speaker C:So to Nick's family, friends and co workers, love you guys.
Speaker C:Keep champing you.
Speaker C:Thanks for being on with him today and until next time, thanks for stopping by the One Big Thing podcast.
Speaker A:Thanks for checking out my show.
Speaker A:If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to write a review or drop a comment wherever you're listening or watching.
Speaker A:And be sure to stay connected.
Speaker A:Did you know you can subscribe to my YouTube channel, which is tevecampbell PR.
Speaker A:That's Steve Campbell PR, and I'm a real person who's reachable.
Speaker A:You can find me on all my socials and connect with me.
Speaker A:If you have topics or guests you'd love to hear from, let me know.
Speaker A:But thanks for being a part of this journey with me.
Speaker A:And until next time, enjoy other episodes of the One Big Thing.
