Speaker 1: 0:26

I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I'm a good boy. I celebrity an author, somebody who has proven and shown to us that why and purpose is not enough. There's an underlying fire that ignites your why and purpose and causes you to show up on the days you don't feel like it, and especially after you win. Some of you may actually recognize today's guest. I'm going to get right down into it because he is a dear friend of mine. We've been able to do significant amounts of work and create impact together, and JJ Mazzo has a book coming out on October the 7th, so this is like return to the burn worthy. And then we're doing this on the day, even though it's going to be after. I love the fact that he's got his Eagles t-shirt on, because I know I get fired up. This is my 13th season working in professional football so I couldn't be any more fired up for the kickoff tonight. In this pursuit of the Lombardi, obviously I've got players on the Eagles. I've been able to work behind the scenes with the Eagles, so I love that they won it last. But you talk about a kid in the candy store. We're supposed to talk about the book. I hope I could keep him on course and not have him want to start talking about the Eagles rather than his incredible new book, perseverance Principles, which is going to come out on October the 7th. I say it's going to release on October the 7th, but this damn thing is already all over the internet, all over the world. This is a highly anticipated book. I will make my prediction right here this book will be a national bestseller. Mark my words. I said it here first. There's a little bit behind that. Number one. I know JJ's passion, I know JJ's success, so people have been waiting for JJ to have a project like this. But I also. I'm just going to say I was the first, maybe other than Kimberly, but I had the opportunity. I was one of the first. Maybe he sent me the manuscript for this book and people send me a lot of books all the time and I stopped everything that I was reading and he can attest to it. I started sending him screenshots every day and I started reading it and I couldn't be any more proud of the book that he has written. This isn't like, hey, I want to write a book like he has written a masterpiece. This is a book that needs to be read. There are too many people that are living on the sidelines. There are too many people living in fear. There are too many people who don't understand what it means to be resilient and to be relentless and to persevere through adversity. I think this book is coming at the absolute perfect time. I think it's written by the perfect person, which we're going to talk a little bit about his life story, and I'm glad that he was as transparent in the book as he needed to be to help people realize like the road to success is not easy and there's ups and downs and things we do that maybe we're not proud of, but we have to persevere. So you guys are probably done hearing from me, but if you can't tell, I'm very excited. October 7th release. We're going to make sure it is easier than easier could ever be for you to buy the book. You cannot get to the end of listening to this and not have it bookmarked for you to buy it on Amazon and to buy a friend a copy or two or three or four copies, because I'm telling you this book is needed right now. Jj, welcome back to the burn.

Speaker 2: 3:33

Thank you so much, brother, happy to be here. Thanks for your support. That was an amazing, amazing intro, so, and thank you for just being a big part of it. Buddy, I couldn't have done it without your guidance and your help and pushing through a really transition and hard period of time and helping me persevere to this. I definitely wouldn't have come to it if it wasn't for you. So thank you, brother.

Speaker 1: 3:53

Well, I appreciate you mentioning that. It has been an honor to be a small part in it. But I do want to mention the period of time in which you chose to do this, because I think it's actually kind of like the perfect foundation for our conversation about the book. And that's what I thought about it was having you back on the show and being able to say, okay, there's people who say they want to write a book. They come up with excuses.

Speaker 1: 4:15

You're in the mortgage industry. I mean, you are one of the Titans, one of the I mean one he doesn't like when people say things about him. This is like one of the top 100 in the mortgage industry in the world. Like he is a titan in the industry. So he's been through the ups and downs, but this has not been the easiest, easiest period of time in the mortgage industry. You have launched an amazing coaching company called Impact that I've been blessed to be a part of many events, and I'm going to have some special time with your group later on this year and into next year, which I can't wait for. So you're doing all of these things when most people would say, for goodness sake, why are you doing this? Like how about you just chill out for a while and go to some Philadelphia Eagles games? You've been successful enough, but you went for it. So why did you choose to go for it in the period of time when most people would be like are you seriously writing a book right now?

Speaker 2: 5:31

no-transcript time. But you know what's next, and I think most people my age started asking those questions. Not that I'm leaving or taking off or retiring anytime soon, but it was just begging the questions as far as brand, and so, as we went through it, this structure of the book, uh, was there. When we were done, we're like, wow, look at this, this, this is, there's something here. And um was able to get together with some collaborators that have a lot of experience in writing books and and put our heads together and and and wrote it. And it took about a year to really push through and go through it. And, um, you know, when you're going through some of these exercises, it's like two days of therapy. I mean, it was like four hours at a time of and I'm pretty transparent about, like you know, my, my success and my failures.

Speaker 2: 6:19

And as we went through it, um, there was a really good story to tell here. And then, you know, then was introduced to Wiley and he's like, hey, you need to bring this to. Wiley sat down with them, pitched the book, they interviewed me on it and the next thing I knew we were getting published. So it was, you know, this was Jesus all day long buddy and I've worked really hard on having and working on my relationship with him over the past four years and I have to give all the glory to him on this one and I was just kind of a part of it and I hope for me it was just helping other people, man, at this point. You know all the proceeds go to charity from this book. If we can help somebody one, two, three people then I'm proud of it in that way.

Speaker 1: 7:00

I just I want to mention something because I've been around the book world for a long time and been blessed to write eight books us to write eight books and I can share that. I've kind of run the gamut from literally self publishing my first three to now having, you know, bnc publishing in a publishing arm and helping people you know write books and publish books. But I was a while I guess I wasn't, a former Wiley author, once an author, always an author. But my first big contract was with John Wiley and Sons for Own your Success in 2012. And I'll never forget that moment to where they accepted the manuscript and you're like, wait a second, this is a top five publisher in the world. This is not like, hey, I'm going to hop on Amazon, write a book and be published in 24 hours. This is like the real deal. So I couldn't be any more proud and that's what I want to highlight. That because when somebody hears me, oh, he's on the burn, so of course he's going to say the book was amazing. Like that's how amazing this book is, that the first book, the first go around, the first try, it's being published by a top five publisher in the world. So I just, I think it's absolutely incredible and excited for you and a lot of it. It's the, it's the message, it's the book and I think it's the timing, in my opinion.

Speaker 1: 8:15

Tell us why you chose, because I think a lot of people they'd write their first book and it's like let me tell you who JJ is and I might tell you I've been through some hardships. Why did you decide to go all in on perseverance? Why do why are you so transparent in the book? Why, like I mean, you give it. You give the real story of the ups and downs, the, the having absolutely no money, to high levels of success. Why did you choose to just go all out and say you're getting the real story?

Speaker 2: 8:47

Yeah, I think, um, they got most of it. It got to a point where I was giving him more and they said it's too much because you'll depress the reader. And I was like what do you mean depressing you? This is like, totally, this is my life. I'm good like I've owned that part, but I get it. So, most, most of it's in there, uh, believe it or not.

Speaker 2: 9:04

And so we, we ended up, uh, at the end of the day, it was perseverance, because that's what I realized, that it happened through all the years. And I think the timing of it was perfect because in 08 and 09, for instance, one of the toughest times during the great crash, great recession, going through that period of time was one of the hardest. And I look at today that we're what we're in in our marketplace and it's very, very similar. It's different, but it's very, very similar. And because of the differences was, then I didn't have these principles to push through. I was actually living the principles, and today I have those principles and things look much, much different. And so the timing of it was like, wow, these are the things. As I, as I dove deep into my story, these were the things that I didn't realize that were being taught to me and that I was learning through them. What if we could share these with people so that they had not just a book and my story but a playbook on how to go through hard things going forward, whether you're in real estate mortgage which people will be able to identify to that pretty well, obviously, because of my, my, my background but anyone to be able to go back to these seven principles and be able to revisit them depending on where they are in their hard times.

Speaker 2: 10:21

Writing about perseverance, honestly, was probably one of the worst things I could have done. It's like asking God for patience because you're like, oh, perseverance, cause you know I'm going to be OK. You want to talk about perseverance? Then cool, we're going to put you through some more stuff for perseverance. So having to relive the stories over and over again I mean, you're rewriting chapters eight, nine, 10 times was very, very hard, and persevering through a lot of those things, having to persevere through selling a book, is really hard and imposter syndrome, not being good enough, not feeling like you're good enough, reliving the shame All of those things required a lot of perseverance, more so than I ever imagined, the more I'm putting myself out there. So it was. It was a double edged sword for sure for sure.

Speaker 1: 11:16

Well, in addition to my prediction of this becoming a wildly nationalized national bestseller, perseverance Principles, I'm going to make another prediction. I think your name is going to become synonymous with the word perseverance, and it was something that somebody shared with me that when I came out with the book the Standard now given, of course, the word perseverance has been around for a long time there were plenty of people who were saying the Standard I mean for years and years and years. But having now written the book called the Standard, and you know the success that we've been blessed to have with individuals like yourself and Alabama football and the Philadelphia Eagles and being part of championships at that level, there was just something that happened. It was like now, like the standard, it's a blessing, it's humbling, it's like a synonymous thing. I think that's going to happen with perseverance, and it's so deserved, because one of the things I love about you, jj, is that through the ups and the downs, you're just a real dude. You're like the you make people laugh. You know you could.

Speaker 1: 12:13

We, we've cried together, although you know we, we look like really tough guys. You know we go to the same barber, but we both we've cried together, but like you really do, you live perseverance, you, you. You know life has not been easy, but you've kept fighting. What's the one thing you could tell the listener who's really struggling right now? Like they just, they just want to quit. It's the person who wakes up and he's like, yeah, like this person's been through it, but they don't understand and they feel like the world is against them and they will never, ever get ahead again. What could they expect from the book and what's something you can share with them right now to let them know that that there's hope and they can persevere too man, I would tell them, if they feel that way, they're not alone and they there are more people around them than they realize that feel that way.

Speaker 2: 13:01

Um, that's for sure, and people, the people that you look at, you would never think that. I would tell them that read this book and it will help and give you some clarity. Most importantly, principle four just tapping into a support system. Because when you're going through hard things and I remember in 09, going through things where I just I wasn't, I was still contemplating being alive, and there's been more than one time but it was the support system around me where I felt that I could whether it be my therapist, multiple of those, or my close circle or people outside my close circle that I could just feel that they understood what I was going through. There are so many resources now where you don't have to be alone and I think that's the most important thing that if you just did that and started there, you would be in a much, much better place. Just reading that, yeah, I love it.

Speaker 1: 13:58

Two more, two more questions. One, people who know you know this. I'd love for you to speak to it. You have a beautiful family, two beautiful daughters, beautiful wife Kimberly, who I think is absolutely amazing.

Speaker 1: 14:31

So persevering through growing up in a marriage and battling, raising kids and teenagers, getting them into what you'll soon have to in college, in the home, I have to continue to be an example when sometimes it's hard enough to just be raising, you know, kids and being in a marriage, when you face some of what you face, I mean literally like waking up to I'm like the business is failing, like we're not going to make it, there's no money, they're going to repossess everything we have, but having this responsibility where I have to be a leader, like there's no other choice, what were the things that you thought about and what are the things that you think about today?

Speaker 1: 15:10

And I know that there's tremendous amounts of financial success because you've worked so hard and built teams of amazing people around you but what would you say is the most important thing for just enduring as a leader in the home? Because I think that's a lot of. I think that's a place where a lot of people they, they delegate, they try to give it away, they try to hide, they try to get lost in work and forget to be a leader because they. What advice would you give to that person where it's like you got to maintain your leadership at home, no matter how tough it gets?

Speaker 2: 15:40

Yeah, I remember going through and it's not stuff that I'm super proud of but even raising the kids, there was a lot of self-medicating, that I did a lot of depression, that I was going through things that I just I hadn't even dealt with, uh, during that time, and it probably did a really great job covering it up. I think, uh, there's a lot of people that are there and you just have to say that that's okay. You know, you, it's a decision that we have to make at a certain point to be able to change our habits and behaviors and having a reason to do so, and there's no better reason than the family. So, no matter how much you think you've screwed up in the past, you can restart whenever you want. Christ has made that really clear to us. Like you can be in the worst place and choose and start over again.

Speaker 2: 16:26

And I would say I thought I was going to screw my kids up, or that my kids were going to get screwed up way more than I did, and I think that's every parent. You get to a point where you see your kid in a certain light and you're like man, I really did not screw this up as much as I thought I would. You know, and it's usually seeing them talking to other people in the world, acting like human, amazing human beings, or just sitting down and having conversations with them, and just you have this epiphany of like man. I did not screw this up. So, one, don't be so hard on yourself to. You can decide to make a change and change course. And three, they're the best reason and excuse to do so at any period of time, because it's never too late.

Speaker 2: 17:03

You know, there's people that I know, that are very close to me in my life, that were able to rekindle relationships, and some of us that weren't able to rekindle relationships, and I think if we could go back and rekindle those relationships over again and just start with grace and forgiveness, we would do so in a second. So just have the grace and forgiveness for yourself and then be able to move that forward and just understand the light will always beat the dark. Always, every single time, the light will beat the dark. So as long as making sure that you are doing everything you can to bring the light into the house and into yourself for them, it'll be through any darkness that you have.

Speaker 1: 17:41

I love hearing you address that and I love hearing how many times you've brought faith into this conversation today, and you know, faith is such an important piece of perseverance. When I accepted Christ in February of 2008, it changed my life and one of the first Bible verses that I learned. I'm going to share it and then ask you this final question. But it really speaks to perseverance and I've read it every single day since since February of 2008. It's James 1.12, blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, for when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And I think it's such a powerful quote that speaks to perseverance, speaks to the need for perseverance principles which, once again, we're going to make it as easy as possible for you.

Speaker 1: 18:26

In the show notes. I'll be pushing it on social media the week that the book goes out, october the 7th, I'm telling you it's going to become a national bestseller. The message is absolutely incredible. But in addition to faith, in addition to you being the example, in addition to how damn amazing the book is, there's another thing that you've done with the book which I just think speaks volumes to your heart and who you are as a human being, and you're donating the proceeds of the book to charity to pay it forward. Tell us about the decision to do that. Tell us the charities that'll be impacted.

Speaker 2: 19:00

Yeah, so it was. It was really a no-brainer just from the standpoint of I wanted to make sure that it was clear to myself, to God, to others, that this was not a self-indulgent, that this truly was, and I think I needed to prove it to myself more than anything. So that was the easiest way to be able to do it. I don't. Obviously the financial aspect of it is not going to help me as much as it helps others, and that's what matters most. The book itself has helped me a lot but, man, I sure hope it helps others more than it's helped me. And so this is going to go to help people at Robin's Nest as well as Orange County Rescue Mission, which are two charities here in Orange County that mean a lot that we've been a part of.

Speaker 2: 19:44

The Robbins Nests are for teenagers that have been either orphaned or abandoned in their teen years. It's very, very hard for folks, and that's a story that my wife has gone through and persevered through in a very, very close charity to her heart, has gone through and persevered through in a very, very close charity to her heart. And then, on the Orange County Rescue Mission, just people, they're centered in Christ and they're people that not getting a hand out but getting a hand up, and I love the program that they put and help people through, and I've watched people go through the program and then come out the other side graduating and becoming just amazing human beings in society where before they just didn't feel or or weren't putting themselves in that position. So it couldn't have gone to a better group of people. That it's all about perseverance and so that's why we had picked those two charities jj I, I am so excited for you.

Speaker 1: 20:34

I'm excited for the impact this book is going to have on the charities, on the readers and on you because you, and on you because you deserve it. You've been an example of perseverance and I think the abundance of opportunity where you're going to pay it forward even more is going to come from the message and the implementation of the action people will take when they understand the power of these principles for them to endure and persevere in their lives. I do have to ask one final question Eagles going to win tonight? Because people are going to hear this after the game. So, eagles, are they going to beat the Cowboys tonight?

Speaker 2: 21:09

Yeah, damn straight, buddy, this ain't the Cowboys year. It hasn't been their year for a while. And if they don't, I'm not coming home tonight because my wife's a Cowboys fan. So talk about perseverance. I got to persevere every single football season.

Speaker 1: 21:27

And do you believe that the Philadelphia Eagles can repeat one of the hardest things?

Speaker 2: 21:29

to do repeating and professional football? I do, I absolutely do. I think we have the team to do it and we got the best fan base to do it. And, uh, and if I said anything other than that I wouldn't be an Eagles fan.

Speaker 1: 21:41

Well, everybody, you have heard it here first the Eagles are repeating Perseverance Principles is going to be a national bestseller. Make sure to get a copy. Make sure to get a copy for somebody else. And the reason why I'm saying that is because everybody is going through something. Jj is a perfect example of you can perform at the highest stages of life and performance in what you do, and you're still going to have to endure and go through adversity. And most people that make it to the top, they make it to the top because of strength that they built by going through adversity and persevering. So, jj, I appreciate you, I love you, man, and just couldn't be any more excited for you and the book and all the great things you're doing in the world.

Speaker 2: 22:24

Thank you so much, brother. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate you. Thanks, everybody.

Speaker 1: 22:28

Guys, I tell you again, we're going to make it so easy in the show notes to stay connected with JJ, to be impacted by JJ, to get a copy of the book and to continue to have the opportunity to persevere in your life. This has been the burn, Another amazing example and now a book that's going to speak to when you persevere and you stay connected to that burn and unites your why and purpose and causes you to show up on the days you don't feel like it and especially after you win. This has been the burn and we'll see you next week.