Just A Kid with an IEP | Jordan Toma

Welcome back listeners to another episode of what's special about special. If you're a tick-tock soccer like me spending hours going down a tick talk rabbit hole, I guarantee you've seen our next guest. Jordan Toma is a motivational speaker and a viral tech talker, spreading words of inspiration. And support to school aged kids and beyond he talks about the difficulties growing up with learning disabilities and the moment that changed his whole outlook and made him the successful man.

He is today. We really got into everything he was sharing and it hits so close to home for us in this house. Please enjoy our next episode with Jordan Toma. As always, if you enjoyed today's episode, please take a moment to follow and review us on Apple podcasts. Verson gentlemen,

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Welcome back listeners. Today. We have Jordan Toma, motivational speaker in I'm just a kid with an IEP Jordan. Welcome to the show. What's up. Thanks for coming on Jordan. Thanks for having me. So Jordan, we'll jump right into it. Tell us a little bit about, you know, who you are, where you're from, how you grew up.

Yeah, sure. So I'm from New Jersey. I, um, you know, I grew up with learning disabilities and struggling in school and, um, I had a really hard time trying to figure out who I was and how to deal with it. And I was so young, you know, when you're younger, you don't really know how to deal with everything that's going on in your life.

But I had really good parents that supported me all the time and they always would. You know, tell me, Jordan, you know, you can do this Jordan you're, you know, you're smart, you can do this. And I would, I never believed them because it's my mom and dad, you know, and, um, you know, going through school, it was always tough, but like, I didn't, you know, when you're younger, you don't really realize that you're struggling with it yet to a certain point.

So. When I got to maybe third or fourth grade, we would start to read out loud in class. And I would notice that like, everyone else would sound so smooth and they were reading and then I would like read and I wouldn't be able to do it. Or I would like miss words or wouldn't make any sense. And. Like people, like the kids will look at me and then I would get nervous every time I did it, because I realized that it was so I was reading so slow and it was just like, I didn't feel right.

Right. And then I slowly started to like, get nervous about going to school, but I would go, and then I would have to be in a different classroom. I would realize things were different, but I'm still trying to figure out what was going on. And then as I got older, it started turning to like anxiety and every time.

We would go to the bus stop. I would just get this anxiety attack and I'd be in the car. And my brother, I have a twin brother and my sister was a year younger than me. They would jump out of the car and be normal, like down on the bus. And I would, I remember seeing them do that and I'd want to go do that.

And I would just like freeze and I would just hold onto the seat and I'm started to cry and I was like, just get it. Nervous. And I wouldn't know what to do. And then my mom and dad would like, but Jordan, you got to go to school. What are you doing? And I would just like, hang on to that car. And, uh, until my dad turned around, cause I just couldn't go.

And then they didn't know what to do. Right. So then they would start bringing me to the therapist and psychologist and all these things like Jordan, you know, what's wrong with you? You know, why are you doing this? And you know, why are you getting into trouble? I would always want to be in the principles.

I would always try to get out of class. I would just kind of run away from what I was going through. And then it became like this it's like label, you know? And then I was in the resource room and all the kids that were in the resource room with me were all really good kids, but we all just would say things like we know we're the dumb kids, we're in the dumb class and it'd be like this constant reminder.

Like there, we're just not smart. Everyone else is. And this is why we're here in this one room and like grew labels. I think all of us, and I still know these kids today, but you know, and it's really hard to break out of it. And, um, You know, school was just like that, you know, it just stayed like that. And then I, parents would try different medications and someone would make me really sleepy and some make me feel really weird and I wouldn't want to take it.

It was like this constant battle of like trying to go to school for a while. And, you know, I remember in sixth grade I missed a lot of school and almost half the year. And, um, Sometimes I want to go and I'm getting the car and my mom and we would drive and I live across town. And when we would drive, I would talk to myself like Jordan, you can do this.

You can go to school. Cause I really wanted to go because I felt weird being at home. I had no one to talk to you. I was just walking around my house. Then I'm like get to the stop sign. And right when I got to the stop sign, I would unlock the door and dive out of the car. With school because it was just my anxiety taking over and I would just run, Oh my gosh.

And my mom would chase me and do like a crazy K turn, like scream out the window, you know? Cause I was also getting into trouble too. So it wasn't like, I didn't look like just, I had anxiety was like I was being bad plus whatever else was going on. And that was the only way I could really handle it. And I just would do this for a long time.

And then finally I was able to go back to school and, but like I went back like just with this negative attitude, this negative mindset. And I didn't, I just didn't, I go in there and like, just like try to become who I should. It became, I just let all these circumstances just dictate my life. And I just accepted that.

I wasn't smart, accepted that I couldn't sit still. And I would just, just lead to getting in trouble and just giving up basically. That's what I did. And. So school went on, like I just kinda got pushed along and it was time to go to high school. And, um, my parents had joined. We want you to go to this private school.

It's an all boys school. It's going to be for you there. Right. You're going to hear me great there. Right. And I, I never, at this point in my did anything in school, I didn't even. Handing in an assignment. I did nothing. And so I went to this private school, but you had to pass a test to get in. And I don't know how I got in because I took the test.

I have no idea what happened, but somehow I got in my dad went to the school, so maybe he got me in. So whatever happened, me and my twin brother went there. And so it was a very strict school. And. My first day I'm in class and the teacher says, listen, guys, we have a paper due. This is what it's on. Go home, work on it.

It's doing two weeks. Right. And I'm like, Oh my God. So I, so I go home. I'm like, mom, listen. I need a tutor because I have no idea how to write this paper. I need help writing it. I don't know what to do. So my mom's like, no problem. We'll get you a tutor. And this tutor came over and I really wanted to like, try it.

Like I was like, I want to do good. I want to be like everybody else. I just, I remember sitting there going these kids don't know who I am. They're all at high schools, a new start. So yeah. You can like change it. Yeah. I wanted to, like, I didn't want them to like know like, you know, like where it came from.

I wanted to be like everyone else. And I'm like, I just want to be like that. Like they don't know. Right. And. So I'm like, I can get this tutor, hub, this paper, I'll hand it in. I'll get a good grade and I'll feel normal. And that's like, what? I was banking on. Like it just changed my life almost. And I came home and my mom got me this tutor.

She was really cool. And I just sat in my room with this tutor and I'll tell you, I did not want to do this. And I sat there. And I wrote this paper, but it was my ideas, everything. Right. We wrote it together, but she helped me, like she helped me with my spelling cause I'm a really bad speller whenever I get stuck on a word or make it flow better.

Cause nothing really, I never could make these flow, but my periods and just how to like, get what I want to say on paper. And so I, so I worked with her for like two weeks and I, and I can't wait to hand this in. Like, I made sure it was perfectly stable because I was being all weird with my paper and I knew it was like leaving it on my desk.

I remember like waking up and looking at it. I'm like I wrote down, this is awesome. I'm gonna get a good grade. I hand it in. Right. And I'm pumped and we're waiting a few days to get him back. Like my life was like, depending on this, like. And I'm sitting there waiting for this teacher. And the guy was like really strict and kind of like, kind of scary.

And he says, can we start waiting for our papers to sit in your hand back? And he's dropping them all these desks. I'm literally staring at. I'm like where the heck is my paper. Finally, he just drops it on my desk and it just says, see me. And I can't believe I'm so upset. I'm like, but I'm looking around.

Everyone's got like A's and B's. So I'm sitting there, like my heart starts going real fast. And when this guy said, see me, I worked so hard. I worked with the tutor. I did everything my mom and dad told me to do. And this guy is telling me to see me right now. So everyone leaves right. I'm sitting there. So I wait for the kids to leave the bell rings.

And I'll walk up to the podium and the podium is like over my head and he's like standing over me and I'm not tall by five. And this guy's like looking over me and I'm like, Hey, you know, you gave me this paper said, see me, like, what are you, what's going on? And he's like, Jordan, I'm going to ask you one time.

And one time only, like he's pointed his finger in my face. I'm like, alright. And he's like, who wrote this paper? I'm like, I did, you know, cause I did, I really wrote it. I wrote the paper with my tutor and I wrote it. And he just looks at me. He goes, I don't believe you. It's an F you've got to rewrite. It just gave it to me.

And it, like, I was like, I got it. I just like shoved it in my book bag. I remember I walked home and I told my, my mom and dad, I'm never going back to school again, especially that school because every time I do, I did I do, I got done the wrong thing. I get it. But now I did the right thing and I still get the same result.

So I I'm done. Like, and then it really like made me like, yeah, it's discouraging. It was discouraging. I kind of like. Kind of like took me to a point where I'm like, even if I do the right thing, the wrong thing, it really doesn't matter. I'm still going to fail. I'm still not going to do good. So I literally just gave up on that point and that was like an experience that kind of changed my life as I transitioned.

And then what happened was I never went back, you know, I said, I'm not going back. And they, they got the counselors in, you know, they tried to bring me into the counselors. They're all trying to convince me. And then that gets weird, you know? And I'm like, they're all my dad. So I just never went back and I had all apps and all the classes.

Um, because I just never, I stopped going for the whole trimester. Yeah. And then, um, they all gave me DS. They said, Jordan, listen, we're in here, your favor. We can give you all these when you transitioned back to public school. And I was like, all right, thanks. So then my parents made me bank, all the teachers probably be right.

I went in there like, thank you for the D you know, and then like, never do you think, like, it's like the worst it's like, thank you for the D thank you for the day, for the day. And now I can go back to public school. And I went back to public school, like such as terrible mindset, really bad. And I just did nothing for four years, literally, nothing.

Like I went to class, I woke up, I went to class, I put my hood up. I remember I got a muffin and a Snapple, and I put my earphones in and put my hood up and I would sit in the back and I would just do nothing. And then I would just get in trouble. You know, I was in different, I suppose I was in this classical study skills and.

I would just get in trouble and literally just got used to doing nothing. I used to that feeling and I let that kind of just Chrome and control my life and that wasn't going anywhere. Luckily, I was, I was naturally, I was a good rest. I used to wrestle and it was just natural. I didn't train for it. I never wanted to be this good wrestler, but I was somewhat good where I was able to win most of my matches.

So that gave me like this little bit of confidence. I'm like just to get up and go to school, but then I let everything, I struggled with kind of control that too. And I was part of a team and I have friends on the team and that like helped me kind of get through school. And I did okay. With wrestling, like to a point where like someone can do like to a point where I can, I was a captain of the wrestling team when I really wasn't training.

Right. And I could have been a better wrestler. I could have been a better student, but I let what happened in school. Can I control my whole life at this point? And. But I ended up getting through high school, doing nothing. And I had a 1.7 GPA. Right. And I failed home-ec you know, when you cook, I did. It's the same GPA I had when I graduated from high school.

So do you know the pillow? You didn't bring a pencil, right? I didn't care. Nothing mattered. Right. And he just had got used to not caring. He got used to, this is my life. This is who I am. And then everyone started talking about college, right? Like senior year, I'm going to college. I'm like, I'm going to college.

I'm like, I don't know. I don't even know what I'm doing later, you know? And, uh, I remember I came home and I was like, man, I really was going to college. Like, yeah, you're going to go to college. I'm like, how am I going to college? I don't even know what my GPA is. I have not done one assignment in four years.

Like, I don't even know what I'm doing. And so the senior year comes up. Right. Everyone's like, I'm going to be this, I'm going do this. I'm gonna be a doctor. I'm going to be a lawyer. Right. All these things. And I'm like, okay, You know what, and I start going to the, to the guidance counselor that helps you, like find schools and he's like, listen, Jordan, every school is a reach here, but you know, you should go check these out.

Right. And I'm like, all right. So my dad gets us in the car and we get in a car. We go to like everywhere in like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, I don't think going all the way to Massachusetts. But he went like pretty far. And we just like went to all these schools and we would go in like, I don't know if you guys know Muellenberg like in that area, East Stroudsburg, Williamsburg.

Yeah. And we went in, I have a twin brother and he did really good on his act and he had a better GPA than me and my dad, like, all right guys, fill this app out, John you're right, Jordan. I think you have a chance, hand it in I'm like it. And then I would write my GPA on the paper. My dad would look at and go, Jordan, you can't write that.

That's my GPA. It's like right. A 2.0, I'm like, I can't, I'm like, well, it looks better, but you're going to get your transcripts. So I would put like a 2.0 and I would hand it in. I went back home and I started getting denied from all these schools. Right. Every school and my brother was getting in. So I'll get these lighters, like you're denying worst feeling.

Cause I had all those denials and we did the whole school tours and everything. And then I got, I kind of would like psych myself into it cause we went to the school tour and then I would get the rejection letter and be like, all right, this isn't happening. Yeah. And you were like, kind of like liking the school, right.

It cool. The kids are walking around. Like there's like freedom. Yep. And, but like, so I just think we'd get like knocked down every day. Like this letter, like a big now, now, like, you know, this is terrible. So my brother and my brother was getting in and then, um, finally I got used to getting like small letters.

So like, you know, I didn't get any again, but I was just getting, I just wanted to, I really didn't want to go to college. I was not failing. Like I did it. The previous school. I didn't want to go through that again. I just wanted to get in so I can say I got in and then go back to high school and say, Hey, I got into college.

I'm going to attempt. Yeah. And then, um, my dad went to Seton hall university. I'm not sure where that is. To New Jersey. So my dad's, my, my uncle went there and my uncle donates there. Then he wrote a letter for me right there. Like, please take my nephew, you know, just to get in. I really thought I was going to get in.

And I remember I get this letter back from Seattle. I came home and was like it's senior year. And I'm like waiting to open it up. And I see my dad home ready, and he's never home early and he's looking at the letter and he throws it to me. Right. I'm like open it up. And it says like, you have not been accepting this.

I was banking on this school, just in my car. And I said, dad, are you kidding me? I said, uncle Jim wrote me a letter and he's like Jordan newborn. And they got in with a letter from the president of United. So I started laughing at my, me and my dad had a good relationship. So I started laughing. Cause it was funny.

Right. Cause I was like this guy's right. You know, my, my grades were that bad. So I went, but I went up to my room. I kind of felt bad. And I remember I started to cry cause I was like, man, this thing's so, and I was beat up from it, you know? And I went, so I went back to school and I'm like, whatever. And then my guidance counselor, which was really cool to do it.

He was like, listen, Jordan, you've got to apply this one more school. Like last one. It's not far it's in New Jersey. It's called centenary on a fair, has ever heard of it center in college. And they were like, you got to apply here, give it a shot at this point. So I did and I applied and I think when I submitted it, my mom drove to the school.

Like literally drove there before the application got there. And I don't know what she did over there, but the day before graduation, senior year, I got the packet and the mail. It was a big packet. And I actually got suspended from high school the day before graduation. Oh, geez. Something. And then I walked home and I remember I opened the mail and the mailman was like, I got to put it in and he saw me.

I knew him and he just gave me the mail. And I remember walking the driveway and I'm like, You know, this is cool. I got to pack it. I remember I opened it up and I said, you got in? And my mom like fell to her knees. I had in the Harvard. Right. And I was like, kind of scared, like, Oh no, now I got it. Now I got to go.

That's not right. I just wanted to get in to tell her. But senior year ends tomorrow. I came and tell anybody my whole plan. Like, didn't make sense. So I'm like getting, having a nervous breakdown, then mom's like he read and keep reading. I started reading it and it's like actually says you got in, but you have to go to the summer school starting on Thursday.

This was Tuesday. So I couldn't understand what's going on. And so I don't know if you're familiar with this program, but there's programs in college. If you have learning disabilities there's programs that colleges have, where you go. Before college starts to help you with the transition kind of acclimated with college, the work, everything, but you gotta be willing to do it.

And, um, it's like a cram course of like six or seven weeks in the summer. Right? Yeah. And if you get tutors there, you just learn how to kind of navigate through college before the kids get there. That's great. You know, it's and it's really good, but, but when you're like 18 or 17 and you're. No, your summer's coming up and you don't like school anyway, are you losing your mind?

And I start to lose my mind. I was, are you kidding me? I'm not going to summer school. I'm not going to quit. I'm not doing anything. And, um, my mom's like, what do you mean? Like, I'm not going to join. You have to go on my I'm not going. I went upstairs and I called the director of the program who I'm friends with now, but I called them up and I said, Hey.

I said, I'm not coming. And he's like, well, Jordan, that's up to you. I'm like, yeah, well, I'm not coming. Just letting you know, you know, I got to be in English. I just made something up. I don't need to come now. And then I remember I threw like this giant, it was like an old, it was 2008. My parents had this big house when I threw it on the bed.

The batteries went everywhere and, um, I didn't, I went through graduate high school the next day. And then I walked across the stage, did my thing, got my diploma. And I went home, I went to bed, I woke up and all of a sudden, all my bags were packed. Like everything. No, it was plastic containers to take the college stuff.

Right. And my parents like get in the car, you know, I'm like, are you kidding me right now? And I was not getting up. And then my dad was like, dragging me up and get up and yelling. Everyone was yelling at me, but I just like listened. And so it was like five minutes from my house and we got to the college and this was like the transition of my life.

Like I always feel like I was born in 1989. I'm 31 right now. But. I didn't come to life until this point, because like, this was like the real, like, I've never opened my mind like this in my life. And they got me in the car and we drove and I remember driving up there, like panicking, but I was so angry.

Like I was angry at my mom. My mom was ruined my life. I thought my mom went to centenary, convinced them to take me as a summer student. I didn't need to do it. And I was like angry. My mom and the end, the director. I was like, I really like had this anger towards him. And I was like so mad at them. And. I get there and I see all the kids moving in right.

Or moving into the dorm and I'm getting anxiety. And my dad's like, Jordan, don't worry. We're gonna get you a nice pillow. And there's a Walmart down the street. I'm like, I don't want a pillow. You know? And then he brings me in there and I got this pillow and I remember I slammed a pillow into the cart, you know, and I was like, you know, I don't want to do this.

And they just bring them into this program. It's really cool program. And for anyone that's even listening here, like if you ever think you can't do something, you're struggling with life or college, I, this is like, An important moment. And they, my parents just dropped me off and left me there. And they're like, all right, guys, give me your car keys.

Give me your phone, your laptop. We'll give you a laptop. This is what time you wake up. This is what time you go to bed. These are, this is your schedule. This is what time you study. You know, it was like, I was like, what? And they're. And they're like, parents, your kids are going to call you. They're going to beg you to come get them.

Don't answer laugh. It's like bootcamp the bootcamp. Right. But, but, but like, but these, but nobody was like, I felt like everybody was on board, but me know everyone was like, this is normal. And I was like, this is not normal. I can't do this. And they just left me. And then I was in a dorm, all of these guys and they were cool.

And I remember I went to my room and I started to cry. I don't want these guys to see me crying. I was so angry. And I had, so I was so nervous. I didn't know what to do. And I just was crying in my room and I remember like texting, like I had a girlfriend at the time, like saying like, you gotta get me outta here.

Yeah. And it was, I was on the first floor, so I can open that. I was like trying to figure out how she can calm and everything. Yeah. And then for some reason, I'm like I ran to the bathroom cause I wanted to get like the tears off my face and I didn't want, because we had to go eat. Anybody wanted to see me and I ran to the bathroom and I turned the lights on and I was like crying.

And, um, I was like looking at myself like, you know, this is what I want. Always delay. Every time things got hard. Every time I would have anxiety, I would just run, like, jump out of my mom's car and not go to, I would just run from like where I had all this, this, these problems and I'm like life. And I remember like asking myself, why do I do this?

You know, at this moment, And like, I can't run anymore. I can't live like running my whole life. I have to like face this. And I remember, I just like wipe my face, went, went to eat, uh, back to my room and I set my alarm for 6:00 AM. That's what I told him to do. And I woke up the first time, my wife for school on my own.

I never did that. My life woke up, got dressed. I walked to the cafeteria at eight, I sat in the front of the class and for the first time in my life, I sat, I remember saying, I'm going to sit here no matter how hard it is, no matter I'm going to hold onto this seat. You know, I'm going to take my notes, even though I can't read my handwriting, I'm going to just do this.

I've never done before. And for the first time that program, I'll never forget. I passed the test like a pop quiz after class, like on my own. I never did that. And when I handed it, I got this gray back and it was like an a, and I'm like, Oh man, I could do that. I just got an a in college. I never in my life thought I could ever do this.

And I, and I did it and I would go to my tutors after class. And then I was like, I've been selling myself short my whole life. Like I can do this, you know? And it was like this almost relief, but also I got like this crazy obsession where I'm going to get all A's. Forever, you know, and I went crazy and I was like, you, they would give me the syllabus.

You know, I would get a syllabus and I would go home back to my dorm. And I would do like seven days in a row on a syllabus, or I would go in the study hall and I wouldn't leave until I was done with like seven days in advance because I was so obsessive with doing everything. Cause I never felt this feeling of success before of like being good in school.

Yeah. And I was like going crazy. And then I did this for the whole summer. Like I didn't even lift my head up. Right. Burned out at the end. I was insane. Right. And I, and I, I didn't even call my mom, nobody. I didn't talk to anybody. And I remember at the picnic, I won this award. It was, um, most best work ethic.

Right. And I ended up graduating that program with a 4.0 wow. Which is insane for me and the cooling, the 4.0 transitions into the college. Right. So you start off freshman year at a four point. Oh, nice. So you start, I started off at a four point. I was like, I gotta keep this, you know, and all the kids are coming back, you know, in September.

And nobody knows like what I just did or where I came from. So I don't want anyone to know any of my friends and I'm starting to make friends with the guys. Right. I ended up not wrestling there. I was just wanting to be me and my own start. And, um, I was like, kind of hiding like my past, like with everybody, nobody knew because I was part of project able that's the program.

And in project able you go to class and then you schedule a tutor right after class, if you want you, but it's available. Right, right. And every Wednesday you can go speak to a social worker, right. Or they call them a learning specialist. And I would do that every Wednesday at 9:00 AM. I would talk, I'm stressed out, you know, I'm losing my mind, let's go through this.

Like, and then she would talk me off the ledge. Like, Hey Jordan, you can do this. Let's let's look at your syllabus. Let's, let's get a tutor lined up for this. And always like, be there for me to get through it or just, just, just, just to talk. And I would use it. And I would use all these accommodations on these proper programs in place.

I would get a note-taker a test reader. So when I was in class, I would take my own notes, but right after class, I would get an email and the notes perfectly taken. Oh, wow. Because I couldn't read my handwriting or I wouldn't really make that much sense on my notes, but I would get, be able to get the ones that were really good.

So I, these were the accommodations that were available in the college and nobody knew you were getting this. You were like a regular student. That's great. Yeah. So I would like hide this from my friends and stuff, but that's like true include, I feel like instead of what a lot of the school systems do where it's just like, Oh, you're getting pulled out of a classroom and it doesn't help morale.

It doesn't help. Any of your self-confidence or anything. So you kind of stop applying yourself the same way. Right? Right. And then you start looking at yourself differently and everyone knows, right. You don't like, it's not like, it's not like an intimate thing. Right. And I'm like, all right, this is cool. I can do this.

So then throughout college, I, um, I did the same thing. I got the syllabus when I got a test, whatever it is. And I started making friends. So I was like, Jordan, you're obsessed with school. I'm like, you have no idea says it's coming back from something that you have no idea. Yeah. Yeah. Like, why do you love school so much?

I'm like what I don't. And um, I remember this girl, I walked out of psychology. Cloud's a psych major and, um, I used to read the chapter before class. So I knew what was going on. Like I never did this stuff that would just because I had to. Yeah. And because I wanted him to know, like, I know if I sat in class and they went over to the chat, I wouldn't get it.

But if I read it, like I would used to rewrite them. If I rewrite it and read it out loud, it sticks into my head. Right. The chapters over and over again. And I'm like, all right, I got this. I'm gonna go to class. So the teachers would ask questions and I raised my hand to answer. I knew the answer. I remember I walked out of class and this girl said it was like this.

It was this nice girl. I still friends with her today. She's like, so Jordan, you're one of the, one of those smart kids. I'm like, okay. You have no idea, you know, and I just kept my walking, like laughing to myself like that. Can I record you saying, it's not like anyone's ever said something like that. Right.

But it was like, I get this girl knew, you know, and I was in my room, like rewriting this paragraph 500 times trying to answer that question. And so I just did this, like I did this throughout college. And, uh, they'll tell you guys a funny story. So I would, I'll go into like where I'm at now and we'll go into it, but this is like the ending of it.

So I ended up going through college. Right. I ended up graduating with a 3.3 GPA, made some friends. You know, and, um, I there's a national honor society called Delta alpha PI for kids with learning disabilities. It's nationally known that graduate college with a 3.0 or higher. And I never, you know, graduated with cords on my neck.

And I remember in high school, everyone had those cohorts. I didn't know what they were. Yeah. He says, you know, I'm just wearing, like, this is out, but it doesn't even fit me. I look like weird. Yeah. I have these nice cores looking like they're going to Harvard, you know? And I always like wanted to have those cords.

I feel like smart, even though I knew it wasn't like a direct correlation of who you were, but I just felt good. Yeah. And my senior year of college, I got those chords because I was part of Delta PI, and I graduated with those cords. I still have them. That's awesome words, you know, because I worked so hard to get them and my friends would always make fun of me.

Like my one friend would see Jordan we're in the same class. He's like you study for like three weeks before our tests. And you get the same grade as me and I studied for three minutes before the test. I'm like, I know do, but I have to do it. You know, that's just how I study, you know, he's bust my chest and he's my good friend.

So I was, we were just laughing about it. I would go in my room, I locked my door and be like, Jordan, you come out like, no I'm studying, dude. You know what I'm saying? Our points. And then we would always get at the end of the day, that that year was senior year. I ended up getting a B minus, right. Or a B, and he got a C plus like one point difference.

Right years later, I hired him. Right. So I, now I bust his job. He's the worst man anymore. But I was like, Hey dude, you were making fun of me. I'm like, but, but I try, I said, but it was because of like the work ethic. I put this message out on my chick talks. Like, even though we got like basically the same grade and he, he was able to pass the test in a minute, but it took me three weeks.

It was the work ethic and everything that I was doing to put me in a situation where I can handle anything in my life. Like whatever came. So like, whatever came next, then I was ready. Cause I was doing things I, and most of the kids weren't doing. So when it got really hard, I was able to sit there for four hours and rewrite something that was so boring.

Right. Or right. Not stop until I get and do whatever it takes. And most people aren't willing to do that. And I had to learn to do that and he, he could just pass a test and in a minute I couldn't, but then later in life, I need to hire someone. You know, he was the guy because he was looking for a job because he wasn't used to putting that work.

And he's a smart guy he's in his own way. But so that, that, and then I, now I'm able to bus his job for the rest of my life. I think that, you know, I really like that the there's all of a sudden, I mean, you went years maybe without the support or the correct support you needed, maybe it wasn't recognized, but I love that the school had you kind of just found your niche right there with the school and the supports that they had.

Would you. I mean, do you think that there is a need to hit or to give those supports to kids at a younger age so that once they get to like middle school, high school and it gets really difficult to transition that they've already got those kinds of tool sets? Yeah, for sure. Like, like the ones that make sense.

No, nobody knows. Yeah. I think they should do that everywhere. I think that should be like something where like they factor into the situation because as soon as you like. Put the kids in one room and say, here, this is your room. You're automatically just thinking like, you know, you start acting up and you're just automatically think it's just not, you're not good.

You're not good enough to be with the regular kids, even though there's, even though it doesn't matter, like there's no regular kids. Right. But we want to be able to say, Hey, listen, this is who I am. Right. I'm going to embrace it. Yeah. I have a note taker. I have a test reader. We want them to know that like, we want them to be okay with that, but we don't want them to really like, hide, hide it, but we don't want it to be like, Hey, it's like, I'm smacking them on my forehead and everyone.

Yeah. Well, you have a label on you, whereas somebody else doesn't. Yeah. You're young. Like, it's really hard to think, like what I'm saying. It's super hard. You know how it is. Like when you're young, it's hard to say, Hey, this is who I am. I'm a bad reader. This is cool. Yeah. Like just, you know, it's tough and kids are mean, you know, and you feel so different and it's hard and it can go into so many different directions after that.

Like, like I remember, like I could have fell through the cracks and like, this is something I think is really important for the kids that struggle in school. I think that if we can, like, Stop like the feeling of like, this is a bad thing. This is a label instead of a, Hey, this is, this is, this is actually a good thing because later you're going to see why, you know, and then be proud of that.

Maybe not like this label on your head all the time and kind of do what the college did, that type of transition. We could stop a lot of kids and falling through the cracks and then making those bad choices after school that never had the chance to do it. Or didn't have a supportive family that maybe a supportive teacher could have pushed them in the right direction and get them there because.

Like if I wouldn't have like my mom, I drive to school, convincing them to take me in there. Cause they told my mom and you know, Jordan on paper, we don't teach students like him. Please take my son, you know, please he can do this. And, but like who knows where I would end up? I don't know. And I was getting suspended, but up until the last day of school, I don't know what was going to happen.

Right, right. We can stop it with these types of things. I believe in. Well, I think too, like, especially now with like virtual schooling and everything that's going on, I've talked to so many parents and we've seen it ourselves before. COVID our son. We would, we would see things at home where he'd be struggling and I'd say to the teacher, are you seeing any of this?

Like, it's gotta be affecting him in class and they'd say, Oh no, no, he's doing great. You know, he's very quiet, you know, he's socially does. And I'm like, no, I understand. But. At that time, he was only in second grade, first and second grade. So I think it's harder to recognize academically where they're struggling, but this year was a transition of third grade, which is a big jump, like even in the classroom, they go from like sitting on the mat together or in groups to like individual desks.

And it's just a different mindset of how they have to focus. And so then that switched into home and the work got a lot more difficult. He had to write long essays and do discussion topics and. Even just like math and everything. And I wa now that I'm home with him, I'm watching his struggle to just keep, even just keep his body still long enough to listen to the teacher on a zoom, you know?

And I think what would be happening if he was in a class of 30 kids with one teacher, he would just look like the class clown. I mean, that's what they label him as he's Oh, he's the class clown. I'm like, yeah, he's sitting there making jokes because he's frustrated. Like I watch him do it. He can sit and be quiet.

When he either interesting to him or it's something he already knows, as soon as it's something he has to like work at, I'll walk in the room and he's, you know, dancing or making a joke or being silly. And that's his way of coping when things are hard. Yeah. So I'm thinking like, Oh, they just keep calling him the class clown.

Oh, he's, you know, it's tough to keep him quiet. I'm like, yeah, because he can't. He's just making a distraction. Yeah. And I wonder if the schools had a program like this, because I can't expect all the teachers to just recognize every kid's needs. But I think if there was a program like this in every school, they would be equipped to recognize if there was a need and be able to just support it.

Yeah, for sure. For sure. And I think like the biggest thing to, to have like someone to talk to, like having like that therapist or a social worker at like 9:00 AM on Wednesdays, that was like a huge help. Because like you hold everything in, you know, you're stressed out, you don't have to feel weird about talking to some people don't like it, but like they just listen and you just talk, I mean, do it, you know, and you just get it off your chest and just move on.

But it's, um, that was like a huge help, but I think that should be like mandatory, like. Like it's factored in. And like, that's, that's even better than like a class like of geometry, right? Like, whatever, like go to geometry, but like, let's take a break from drama. I still just talk it out, you know, in the middle of the day, I just, just talk it out for an hour with whoever you want.

I think that's a huge help too. They should definitely add that in like all schools should do that because. That would get me to a point where I would be so worried because if I got, I feel like I'm lost in one class and the next class, then I would go to this therapist a bit. Right. And that would regroup.

Then I would go to my tutor and I would get the hang of it and I get a grip on it, then I'd go. And she would get me lined up with the tutor. You know, when I was feeling overwhelmed, that would just push me through it. Like it was really important. So. Tell us well, what came first? The tick-tock or the motivational speaking.

So what really? So it came first is, um, so like after college, I didn't know what I wanted to do. Right. Just like everybody. And I, um, I applied to jobs all over the place. Cause I wanted to like keep this momentum. I was like, I gotta do something. Um, I just graduated college and I never thought I could do, and now I can do anything.

Possibilities are endless. Yeah. I was like, so like insane. Right. So I went home and like, or like, I remember when I won these awards, my pipette, my mom, like couldn't believe this transformation. Like she still can't believe it today. She was like, you Jordan. Cause I don't remember like my life and she's like, Jordan, you have no idea how scared we were.

Like all these things. Right. So I came home and I went to my computer. I just applied to jobs all over the place. Like, uh, like a crazy person. I got this job. Um, That's selling windows door to door. Like I had to basically the job is this. You literally get a map like Jordan, this is a map you're in jumping his van, put a polo on and we're going to drop you off.

And this street can ring every doorbell and you're going to sell windows. Right? That's it? Nothing else like, no, just sell the windows. I might just ring the doorbell, sell the windows. This is fun. Right? This is great. And it was all until we get in the car. All these dudes, a little guys. And I'm looking at everybody.

Right. And I'm like, just crazy. And I couldn't figure out the map. Right. And I couldn't like, I didn't under cause like I'm, I'm dyslexic. I'm not good at maps. Like I have no idea. Like Jordan go on this street on my, like, this territory has already been hit. So I'm like, whatever, I'm not, I'm just going to whatever door I say, I'm gonna this map.

So I get out of the car and I see everybody else walking. Right. I'm like, and it was summertime. I just graduated. College was like, may June. And I started to run every door. Right? I'm like I'm running to every door. You'd be like out of breath to every door from like 9:00 AM to eight o'clock at night. And I would ring the doorbell the first day I sold the most windows in the whole company I'm on the East coast.

Right. That, that day I actually didn't know the pitch yet. And I was driving home in the van was eight o'clock at night. And the vice president called my phone and he said to her, how did you do that? I'm like, I don't know. I'm like, I don't know. And then he's like, all right, I'll see you when you get back.

So they bring it back to your office. And then he like talked to me. He was like, Jordan, that's insane. You know? So I'm like, yeah. So the next day I came back and I did it again and again, and then I just became then, but this is really cool. Like, I was like, wait a minute. So I just like my whole life, I was worried about school.

Then I got out of school, made it through like the hardest thing ever. And all I had to do to be really good at this one. Like we're out my first time I liked was just sell windows, right? Like I didn't have to do math. I'd have to read it. This is insane. Not using anything that I've been learning for the past 12 years, it was such a good fail.

Exactly. I said to myself, and then I started making money. Then I was like getting paid like from S so I'm like, so there's a reward too. I'm like, now I'm getting paid. I'm getting these giant paychecks and I'm living at home. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm just saving all my money is I don't have any bills.

I'm brand new. And I'm like, this is the best thing ever. And then it became like this habit light. You know, I, whatever I had, like this work ethic and like this mindset that I picked up in school, like to do this, and now like, I'm like all the kids that were smart, like, it doesn't matter. Like now I can do this, you know, I like, like I used to ring the doorbell, right.

When you're wearing a doorbell, you have two seconds to make them like you literally right. The face. So I would come up like these with these one lines, like to get them to laugh right away. So I'm like, I'd ring the doorbell and lady would have like a turtle on her shirt. I'm like, Hey, you know, we're going to give you the turtle discount today.

And I would just say something like that. And then she would just like start laughing and then, or whatever it was, I would just try to say something and that would help me like do this. And then. For six months straight. I sold the most windows. Every, I would sell so many windows by Thursday that I wouldn't come in on Friday because I already did the goal.

Right. And they were like, Jordan, you know, but they were like, Jordan, you gotta come in you. And long story short, I, but I didn't want to sell windows for the rest of my life. Right. So I was like, all right, I can't do this. I can't run around in a poncho when it's pouring rain out, selling windows, you know?

And when it's freezing it, like, it was crazy. It was a crazy job. But that job I'll tell you right now taught me a lot about myself too. Like Yvette. Yeah, dig deep. Like when it's like seven o'clock at night and you have no sales and you have one hour left and you're ringing and it's in stark and the people open the door and they want to like attack.

You make them like you in five seconds, then you've got to put them on the phone and they got to confirm their appointments. It's insane. Like now a coronavirus. I don't know if this will ever happen again. You get out of your phone and, um, no we're doing it all a whole different way. I work in that kind of field and it's just, yeah, it's amazing.

It's insane. It's insane, but you got to like figure it out. And then, um, so long story short, I had to, I, I left the company. I was like, no, like Jordan, they tried to get me a Stanley. I can't do it. I gotta move on. Then I got a job in the financial service business. Right. But you can't just like work there.

Are you going to be like an advisor? You've got to pass tests. Right? I, it depends eight tests that I'm not a good test taker. Like I couldn't believe this again. And I'm not kidding. I almost didn't do it. Like I literally like, didn't want to do this. You know, I didn't want to study for task, especially like finance tests.

Right. Uh, worst ever. Like, I can't tell you how bad this is so bad. And I remember I'm about to like, say, no, I'm not going to do it. But then I'm like, you know, what if I don't do it, like maybe like, I'll look back on my life and I'll like, regret it. And like, this is the reason why I died here is because I went through the things I don't want to do.

I'm like, I'm going to do it. So I committed to them. I'm going to do this. I don't care about what's going to happen, but I'm going to do this. And I had to pass like seven, eight tests. I failed 11,000 practice. I failed every 10 years, but slowly I would pass one and I would pass one. I would pass one.

Finally I have like seven tests, right? It's one test was really hard and I studied literally for one year straight and I failed every practice I ever took. I was studying so much where I would re I rewrote the book probably a thousand times over. I remember I went to a cramp floors on wall street. I did everything right.

And I, um, I would have to change where I was sitting in my house. I was losing my mind. I would sit in the basement, I'll sit in the bedroom. I would sit in the middle of the kitchen. My everyone else was like, I wish do crazy things. I'll go to the library. I'd be in the trunk of my car. I was like losing my mind.

And I was still failing every test I would pay. I paid tutors. Right. They weren't help. Nothing was helping. And I was still failing practice tests. And then, you know how, like when you take a test, there's like an exam you take before the test and it tells you if your pass failed that one. So now I'm like, are you kidding me?

I go in and take the test. You need a 72 to pass. I got a 71, right. And this test, you have to get 94, right, right. 94. And this was like a big, like this, like in life, you know, there's certain parts of your life. Like school was fun. This was like a really like a turning point in my life where I was like, okay, I failed at that.

I remember I started crying. I was crying of anger, like a year of like, I was crying. I was so angry and I'm like older navigate. I was like 24 and I'm like crying in my car. I wanted to rip my steering wheel off my car. I'm driving home down the far. I try not to rip it off. My dad was called. My uncle was calling him, was calling me to see how I did.

And I couldn't, I couldn't, I couldn't say I fell because I didn't start crying again. So. But it was anger. I came home. I remember I walked in the house and I, and my parents saw my face. They didn't even talk to me. And I went upstairs in my room and I'm like, I'm not found that again. I went to my room that day.

I took a 250 question test. I told myself, I'm not leaving this room. I actually Googled, how do you pass a test? What helps your memory? They're like eat blueberries and no deodorant. So I'm like, I'm doing that. Wanting mom, go get me blueberries. And stay away from me, you know? So my mom came all these blueberries.

I just ate blueberries. I didn't shave. I had a beard at the here I didn't shave and I didn't do anything. I sat her. I literally just took tests. For 30 days, cause you have to wait 30 days to take it. And if you fail it again, you've got to wait six months. If I had waited six months, I was done, it was informing.

And on top of that, all conversation is really hitting home here because it's not in the same field, but there's a construction test that you have to take to get a license. Yeah. And we are in the X to the exact same boat. And he's like emotional right now, because one point he missed it by one point and now we're taking him again in a couple of weeks.

And there's a lot of pressure. You're in this boat right now where I'm at in my life right now.

I to take that back. But yeah, it's been rough. I get it. Trust me as though you're at this one point, right? You were so close. Right. And it's like a dagger because you've studied so hard. And like, the problem is you take these steps. You don't know what question you're getting met. You don't know what test you're getting.

Right. It's going to change. You're afraid it's going change. So like, and you don't even know how to prepare for them. Cause you don't really know what's on it. They don't know. You're just studying everything. So it's a crazy situation. So now it's the last day, right? The next day is the test. And, um, I'm like, yeah, I'm sick to my stomach.

I can't sleep. Do you want to get a good night's sleep as you want? Like, and then your pressure on the sleeping is like, not allowing you to sleep. I mean, blueberries I'm like crap like that. And like, my dad's like, you want me to drive? I'm like, no, I'm driving myself. I went in there like a, like a caveman, like, they'd probably be like, who is this guy?

My appointment was at like 10:00 AM. I got there at seven. I'm like, dude, I need to take this test now. And I'm like, I'm going to forget it. You've got to get me in there because. Also to add the pressure. I was buying a book of business, but the next day, and I had to get this license to buy it. And I saved up all my money from working for the past, like three years.

It was another practice. This one was retiring. I was buying it. The lump sum was $150,000 down payment. I was paying off the rest. So all this pressure was on. Right. And on top of that, the two days before I was speaking back in my college, right. So all this stuff was happening. I go in and I go in and I take.

The test. Right. And I'm taking it. And, and it's one of those tests where like, if they come up, ask you a survey first, I'm like, I don't wanna answer the survey. Just give me the test. You know, I take the test, I'm starting to answer the questions I started. I'm like, Oh no, I don't know anything. I don't know anything on this task right now.

I'm reading the questions. I don't know it. I'm just like, yeah, I get up and you have to like, leave to go to the bathroom. They have to like Pat you down, you know? And I go to the bathroom. I'm like, Jordan, you are not doing this. And I threw water on my face. I remember I was like 20 questions in. And I went back in there and instead of like overthinking, I just went with what was in my head.

Like I knew, I knew I studied for literally a year and a half, but you knew the information for sure. I knew it. Yeah. I was like, I'm not second guessing myself. I'm not changing the answer. I'm just taking this test. I literally clicked through, clicked through, clicked through, just blew through it.

Literally what it felt like a second. It went through all of a sudden I was at the end of the test, 140 questions. And I just hit submit. I didn't even care. I just hit it. It starts like going like this then. Boom. It says 72. I got 94, right? Seven 72. I got a 72 on the test. I literally sat there in my arms, in the air and the, and the lady came over like you, okay?

I'm like, I pass. She's like, Oh, well, you can't talk to you. You got to get it. I'm like, Oh no. You're like, I have no interest in staying here at this point. You again. And I, it, I'm not kidding like that. It wasn't even like that to this day telling you that story is the best feeling, no matter what I've accomplished in my life and I'll get into it, what happened after, but like that test and what I've been through.

When it was like everything, you know, like the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life. And after I got through that, I was like, whatever, let's go, like let's sell life insurance. So what, like, I sell it all day long after that I sold the second most life insurance in the country. Most apps in the country, the second, most light apps in the whole country, the past two years in a row, I qualified for million dollar round table, which is a top 1% of advisers in the world, all this stuff, whatever, you know, I bought the practice.

I built my practice, all these things I did there, wasn't hard at all. The hardest part was testing that one test. Yeah. And then long story short, I did all that. Right. And it's cool. And I loved it and I put my effort in, but then I was like, you know what? I want to be a speaker too. You know, I wanted my own business, you know, and I was speaking for free a lot, you know, and I was doing, I was, I actually went back and spoke at the college where that program I went to now every year.

For the past 10 years, I go back and speak to all the kids coming in to tell my experience. Cause I know how they felt going into that program. So I called up the school, they listen, I want to speak to the kids at first day, they give them this one go in. So I started to do that for free. And then I made it like an LLC in 2015 and nobody wanted to hear from me, you know, but no one wants, I literally would.

Go to competence Broward when with the insurance business competence, but in the same hotel would be teacher conferences. And I'd walk in with like this PDF that I wrote and laminated, Hey, can I speak to everyone at lunch? And the guy like this is inappropriate. I even know who you are. You know? And I was trying to get into these conferences when I was at my other conference, but they would never let me in and I would leave it in like leave my, my bio and like gas stations and stuff like that.

Or like I would go like the airports, leave it everywhere. Because I didn't know how to get my name out there. And then slowly I would work out at work at it. And that's when quarantine came and Tik TOK was around. I'm like, you know what, I'm going to start, like just making these little videos, you know?

And I just started doing that, like just being myself and like sharing little points. All of a sudden I was like, let's figure out like half a million views on this is insane. And I'm like, and then all of a sudden, like another million, I'm like. Crazy. Then I woke up and I had like 30,000 followers and like, this is crazy.

And all of a sudden it just kept happening. And then I started and then I got gigs prior. Like I was in Oklahoma. I was in Arkansas. Like I've done a lot of conferences and stuff, but it was it's, you know how it is. It's hard to get your name out there. No matter how much you're doing, it's just hard to get your name out there.

And then there's Tik TOK just blew up. And then that's when I, I got like, I started getting gigs and calls and like insane stuff. And just by posting like little stories of like what I've always been doing for the past, like 10 years, right. Talk made it more of a way where, you know how it is, or you could post one video and go viral and your whole life changes overnight.

Right. You know? Right. And that's what happened. And then it just happened like that just snowballed. And then they, then parents reaching out and say, Hey, can you do a video for my daughter? And I started to do that, you know? And I just started doing it, like, you know, just for fun, like, Hey, let me just help this kid out.

Let me help this parent out. And then that led to like, now you have 10,000 requests on email came and do them all, you know, and then it just needs some more opportunity. And now I'm here, you know, like I like, I'm like, all right, I got all this going on. And I also involved in real estate. I bought a bunch of rentals.

And, um, storage units throughout the process of all this craziness. Right? Cause I'm like, Hey, am I gonna pass that test? And I can get the school. I can go buy rentals to, you know, like here's, here's 200 grand, let's drop it in. Let's hope we're a good return. Like I don't care. I'm not scared of that. I'm scared of taking the test again.

Right. But I'll leave my whole life savings on the line for a return. I think I can, you know, I'll, I'll go for it. And um, and that's what I did. And you're now like I use all those experiences like. You know, if I can do all that. And that's the message I want to all these kids, like, you know, that those tests are so hard for me.

Like school was so all this stuff was hard for him, but you ha it's preparing you for like life, like, yeah. And now I'm just giving an IEP. Like I want to be a speaker. Right. And I, I used to say to myself, I have to tell myself I'm like the best speaker in the world. Like there's other high school speakers out there and stuff that might have to have all these big websites.

And I are really busy, right. No one knows me yet, but I'm like, I know I can do better than that. Like I gave me the mic, you know, let me figure this out. I don't just let me do it. And then I got denied from a lot of speaking bureaus, like, you know, speaking bureaus, like you could sign up for it and help you get in schools.

Like they denied that Georgia. You're not good enough to know. And I would get like angry then I'm like, I want to prove them wrong. Now give me just wait. They're going to wish they had me, you know, and all these things. And then they would try to sign me up to classes. I'm like I had you learn how to assign, to, uh, to speak in a class.

I'm like, I'm not doing that. I'm not paying for rent. Teach me how to speak in a classroom like drew or you don't understand you'll change your life. I'm like, no, I went to school, dude, and I don't remember anything. Then you also, you then you're just like every other speaker. Right. And that's not setting you apart for sure.

Well, I definitely think that what you're doing is so important to the community. Um, and it's just needed now more than ever with. With the struggles. A lot of these kids are going through with, you know, COVID and being out of school for a year. There's a lot of kids that maybe, you know, I'm here with my kids, I'm seeing what's going on, but there are a lot of parents that aren't able to do that.

And so there's going to be kids that get lost in the cracks between now and getting back into school. So now more than ever, I think what you're doing is so important because it's giving these kids an opportunity to really understand that it's okay. You know, this is just a year. And you'll get back on track.

You just got to get your head in the game. It's really getting your head in the game. So we ask all our guests this, and I'll, you've given a ton of amazing advice already today. If you had a few seconds to speak to the community, what advice would you give them? I would say the biggest thing that I always say is the most important advice that for like the community that's listening, like the students, the parents, everyone would be like, I w it's not about like the grades, like I said before, it's like, it's about who we become to get those grades.

Like in that, in that mindset, like, don't focus on the, A's the, B's the C whatever you, but like, it's who you become. Throughout that entire process that is like the grade, like that's who you are. That's that can't be taken away from you. Like you can get all A's graduate college and nobody, no one cares.

Right. But who are you when all that's gone? Right. And I think that who you become to get those grades and then wherever you end up wherever you do, you'll you're, you're that person. So like, The grades, I think it's a, Hey, this guy's coming at all. A's in, in college. Like, so, okay. But like, if you're not like, who would you become to get, if it was easy to get, they don't know if it was hard to get, they don't, they don't know anything, but if it's who you became and if it's, if you're ready for anything at that point, but that's what you got to focus on.

The grades don't matter. I think that's important. Remember for, even for the kids, like your reading level, like whatever you're going through, it's who you're becoming like. You failed a test. I put that fail test on your wall, like look at it. And like, that's gonna make you write not the a plus you got, you know, so that's the message really is just like, who, who are you becoming throughout this process?

Like don't, it's not about the grades you get it's who you, Oh yeah. Nobody. You're not going to walk, you know, 10 years after college walk into a job interview and they're going to say, what was your GPA in class? They don't care. They want to know what your life experience was and what you're going to bring to the table.

What can you bring to the table wherever you're going? That's it. And then, and then Yemen, and then you could say, listen, this is what I'm gonna do. And then you put me in there and I'll show you, you know, it's who I am like, let's go, you know, and I I've been in job interviews and they told them that Jordan, you're not good enough.

You can't do this. Like. They told me this all before, like I got these jobs, I did like it, my resume and some people, and really like, some people like, actually look like they want to know where you went to college and they kind of judge you off that to something like that. It's just part of life right now.

They do that, you know, but I'm there like, well, he went here. I went here, but I'll tell you my role was way harder. So that's why you got to hire me, you know? And that's the truth. Yeah. You want to hire the guy that kind of had the climb up the mountain, you know? Cause they're going to do the same thing for you and your company.

Yeah. That's what you want. You want that guy on your team? I'll always take that guy. And if they don't want that guy, it's not the right place for you. That's it? Like if you're going off, like we want to go like no one heard of my college. Like where does that? You know? I'm like, whatever. It's, I don't know where it is up.

Route 80. Yeah. What's coming up next for you, Jordan. Really just I'm writing this book, I'm adding new things to my website. You know, I'm going to start doing one-on-ones, I'm going to set that up. Nice. And I really am. I want to start traveling again, more schools. I got a lot more stuff going on. I want to start getting out there more.

And when I really want to, I want to, I want to be the number one guy like that comes into school for my message. I mean, I don't think my message. It could be universal, you know, it's just to somebody who struggles in school, it's just what, any type of struggle, you know? And I, yeah, when I got to get out there and I want to go help these kids and like, in my mind, like I can.

That can help a lot of them. And, you know, I want to do so many things, you know, but right now that's it, I'm getting the book and I want to just get out there. I want to buy more real estate. I want to be free, you know, and I want to, I want, the more harder I work to build my residual income will be the more I can help people.

And that's what I'm building right now. I'm building that independent wealth. I'm building, you know, a foundation to help people. I'm building freedom for me and my family, all that stuff. And hopefully I can do all that with helping. Been doing what I want to do in my life. And I encourage everyone else to do it too.

Like, like you've got one life here, you know? And I, and I always tell my wife, my Kate, one day, we're going to be like 80 and 90. And like nothing, none. It's nothing. No, one's going to really remember anything. Right. We're going to just remember our life and what we did while we were here with our son or daughter, whatever.

Like, if we gotta, like, you gotta trust me, we gotta go for this. And like, and I'd do it. Like my, like my wife is like more conservative, you know? So like, So like, I'm more like we gotta, we gotta do this. Like we gotta sacrifice here, do this, you know, damn, I really don't want chance. Jordan. Not like, like, you're like, you're always like, you're trying to do something.

I am always trying to do something. I'm always coming up with something new and I want to do it, you know? And I, and I think we should all do it. Like it was like one day we're going to be like literally 80 or I'm going to move, you know, I'm going to do it. I'm not gonna able to go travel across the country in one day and go speak at a school and then come back and go back to work and then go to another school.

There's no way I'm going to do that. Like right now I have the energy. Yup. And everyone like, go for it, like take your risks. Like put yourself out there. Don't be scared. Like you will not regret it. Like there's no way where regretting I'm 900 that everything like I'll use up every day. Like it's my last day.

Yeah. Jordan, this was it's too important. Not to get your information out to the community. You're you're an awesome inspiration. I can't wait to see where you go and I appreciate how you grow you guys. I appreciate it. Keep doing it. Yeah. Keep going. Thanks for working on it. It's a lot. Yeah. I get a woman doubts herself and stuff.

Have a good weekend.

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