craig price

What do you get when you cross a Polish who can do math with an Asian who is allergic to alcohol? You’ll find out soon enough when you watch a very, special backstage episode Phil and I recorded off the cuff after fueling up on some margaritas.

I happened to be in Phil’s neck of the woods giving a shin kicking development training workshop on Friday. So Phil and I decided to huddle up at our Milwaukee hub (Phil’s coworking office at Hudson Lounge in the Third Ward) to record our first ever in-person backstage episode to recap the first 25 episodes of The SHUT UP Show!

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some SHUT UP Love:

We are not the authority in anything. We are guinea pigs and this show is an experiment. @BerniXiong on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

We all have feedback to give. We all have insight that someone needs. @PhilGerb on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

Berni and Phil do the robot dance right before every episode goes LIVE ON AIR
None of the questions are contrived. They are asked off the cuff to keep the conversation real and raw.
Phil may or may not have been twerking before this special backstage episode went LIVE
Berni really has Asian Flush, which means she “experiences flushes or blotches as a result of an accumulation of acetaldehyde, a metabolic byproduct of the catabolic metabolism of alcohol” (via Wikipedia)

Defining SHUT UP Moment:

Berni nixed a weight management coaching project the week she was about to launch it to the public because it was excruciating work. Even though she had clients lined up and a clear plan to monetize as a newly certified weight management specialist, she decided to instead pursue what she truly enjoyed. That’s when Berni shut up and chose to go all-in with The SHUT UP Show, a project that has no guarantee of monetization, because she’s having the time of her life.

Phil recently got his ass kicked by his accountability coach only days before he was about to launch a new project. His coach helped him to realize the project was not in alignment with his core values. After 3 hours of crying and reflection, Phil decided to follow his heart, instead of leading with the prospect of making a ton of money, and completely derailed his original plan to stay true to his values.

SHUT UP Tips (Highlights from First 25):

I told people to shut up a long time ago and decided now, as my life is changing and I want to start a family, is the time to shut up myself. – Scott Ginsberg

Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Get over it. It’s just a part of being an entrepreneur. You’re going to do things that don’t work. Lean Startup: fail fast, learn, regroup, retrench, relaunch. – Catherine Morgan

If you try to play this game on an island, you’re not going to succeed. If you think you have your little baby–your idea–and you’re almost afraid to show people because you’re afraid they’re going to tell you the truth that maybe its an ugly baby. You need the flip side too; you need good people to be honest with you. – Greg Hartle

If you don’t come up with ideas every day, after 2 weeks your idea muscle will atrophy. – James Altucher

Do what you love in the service of those who love what you do. – Steve Farber

The day it really hit me I realized this is my life and it is my one and only. There are no encores. There are no redos. I don’t get another one. This is it. When you recognize this is not your practice life. This is all you have. Everything changes when you really get that because your choices become more urgent and that fear of “Am I gonna make it?” is much less relevant. – AJ Leon

Special Thanks to Guests from Our First 25:

Scott Ginsberg – Scott Ginsberg on Shutting Up and Not Giving a Shit – Episode 2
Bryson Andres – Bryson Andres on Becoming Discovered by Playing From the Heart – Episode 4
Amy Clover – Amy Clover Moves Us to Be Strong Inside Out – Episode 7
Srini Rao – Srini Rao Teaches Us About the Art of Being Unmistakable – Episode 8
John Haydon – John Haydon Helps us Flip Our Middle Finger to Fear and Doubt – Episode 9
AJ Leon – AJ Leon Helps Us Define Our Moments So They Don’t Define Us – Episode 10
Greg Hartle – Greg Hartle Teaches Us How to Succeed Starting From Scratch – Episode 11
James Altucher – James Altucher Takes Us From Broke to Choosing Yourself – Episode 13
Dat Phan – Death, Sex and Fear: What the Hell Dat Phan? – Episode 15
Craig Price – Craig Price Gives Us a Reality Check & Lots of Laughs – Episode 16
Susan Baroncini-Moe – Susan Baroncini-Moe Breaks World Records & Runs a Profitable Business in Blue Jeans – Episode 18
Jia Jiang – From Foe to Friend: Jia Jiang’s Love Story with Rejection – Episode 19
Catherine Morgan – Catherine Morgan Helps Us Get from Point A to Point B – Episode 20
Steve Farber – Steve Farber On Being More You & Infusing Your Voice with Work You Do – Episode 21
Matthew Kimberley – Matthew Kimberley Helps Us Get a Grip & More Clients – Episode 22
Paul Jarvis – How to Be Whole-Assed & Awesome at Online Business Like Paul Jarvis – Episode 23
Bob Burg – Go-Givers Have More Fun (and Make More Money) with Bob Burg – Episode 24
Chris Brogan – Love in the Time of the Owner with Chris Brogan – Episode 25

Find Berni & Phil:

What do you do when you’re an introvert who talks about negativity and has no answers for a lot of questions you’re asked? You start a podcast featuring subject matter experts and approach strangers every day asking them to have a conversation with you. Well, at least that’s what our friend Craig Price did.

Craig is a highly sought after business keynote speaker who has helped thousands of people learn to find the value in negative thoughts and emotions. In this very special walking dead episode (you’ll get the joke inside the interview), Craig shares with us how he gave birth to Reality Check Podcast after gum surgery literally forced him to shut up for 4 weeks and why “not knowing anything” has helped evolve his life and career.

Watch the show (uncensored & unedited)Listen to the show (coming soon)

Share Some Shut Up Love –> Ignorance is my favorite tool. I don’t care if people think I’m goofy or stupid. @realitycheckpod on #shutupshow (click to tweet)

Fun Facts:

Craig did stand-up comedy for years.
Craig is a natural introvert who finds it uncomfortable seeking out strangers to talk to.
Craig is the founder and host of Reality Check Podcast.
Craig is the author of Half a Glass: The Realist’s Guide

Defining Shut Up Moment:

I don’t have a fear of trying, but a fear of results. I moved across the country at 20 without knowing what I’d do for work. I found a job shortly after. I then moved again to do stand-up. I was affected by the economic crisis and, as a result, I moved again. That’s when I went to work for the Olympics and where I met my wife. I’m not afraid of taking risks. I’m more afraid of what happens after I take those risks. But I assess the temperature of the water before I jump in.

Shut Up Tips:

It’s not the end of the world to be wrong. Unless it’s a life-altering decision, not everything is as important as we project it to be. – Craig

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid. – Epictetus (via Berni)

In order to succeed, your desire for success must be greater than your fear of failure. – Bill Cosby (via Berni)

I assess the temperature of the water before I jump in. I’m not yes man. I say no to a lot of things after thinking them through. I’m really good at researching so I can make a decision quickly. – Craig

Most people are indifferent, they don’t really care. That kind of rejection is sometimes helpful because it’s teaching you what you did wrong. Sometimes they don’t have a need for what you’re offering. You’ve got to put rejection in the context. A lot of people take everything personally when 95% of the time it’s not personal. It’s really what their needs are vs. what you’re trying to sell them. – Craig

Q-TIP: Quit taking it personally. Often it isn’t about us, the reason we experience rejection. – Phil

Craig Recommends:

Reality Check Podcast has evolved into an eclectic, non-demographic audience featuring Craig’s guests and catering to their communities. Know an expert who should be on Craig’s podcast?

Find Craig:

Reality Check Podcast – Craig’s podcast hits 100 episodes in August 2013. Check out his new episodes every Tuesday (our very own Phil Gerbyshak is featured on episode #96).

SpeakerCraigPrice.com – Craig gives talks on turning negativity into productivity.

Follow Craig’s Reality Check Podcast guest list on Twitter.