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Torch what you Like to Build what you Love | Matt Manero | TEDxSugarLand


for most of my adult life and most of my

for most of my adult life and most of my business career I had one goal you may

business career I had one goal you may

business career I had one goal you may agree or disagree with it but the goal

agree or disagree with it but the goal

agree or disagree with it but the goal was to build a hundred million dollar

was to build a hundred million dollar

was to build a hundred million dollar business and to do that from a dumpy

business and to do that from a dumpy

business and to do that from a dumpy one-bedroom apartment with no contacts

one-bedroom apartment with no contacts

one-bedroom apartment with no contacts no money a folding table and a phone and

no money a folding table and a phone and

no money a folding table and a phone and a Yellow Pages if you remember what a

a Yellow Pages if you remember what a

a Yellow Pages if you remember what a Yellow Pages really really seemed like a

Yellow Pages really really seemed like a

Yellow Pages really really seemed like a pipe dream but in 2013 after fighting

pipe dream but in 2013 after fighting

pipe dream but in 2013 after fighting and kicking and scratching my team and I

and kicking and scratching my team and I

and kicking and scratching my team and I hit that number we had built a hundred

hit that number we had built a hundred

hit that number we had built a hundred million dollar a year business it was

million dollar a year business it was

million dollar a year business it was supposed to have felt better right

supposed to have felt better right

supposed to have felt better right and we fought so hard and it didn’t

and we fought so hard and it didn’t

and we fought so hard and it didn’t didn’t feel great and when I would lie

didn’t feel great and when I would lie

didn’t feel great and when I would lie in bed with my wife next to me and our

in bed with my wife next to me and our

in bed with my wife next to me and our three boys in their rooms I just

three boys in their rooms I just

three boys in their rooms I just couldn’t get comfortable with the fact

couldn’t get comfortable with the fact

couldn’t get comfortable with the fact that it was sustainable I said it’s I’m

that it was sustainable I said it’s I’m

that it was sustainable I said it’s I’m gonna lose it it’s it’s not I can’t keep

gonna lose it it’s it’s not I can’t keep

gonna lose it it’s it’s not I can’t keep it it’s built on sand the reason I felt

it it’s built on sand the reason I felt

it it’s built on sand the reason I felt like that the reason you might feel like

like that the reason you might feel like

like that the reason you might feel like that in your business is because every

that in your business is because every

that in your business is because every business is the reflection of the owner

business is the reflection of the owner

business is the reflection of the owner guaranteed so the chaos that goes on in

guaranteed so the chaos that goes on in

guaranteed so the chaos that goes on in your business and maybe in your

your business and maybe in your

your business and maybe in your employees lives for whatever those

employees lives for whatever those

employees lives for whatever those reasons are are a reflection of you and

reasons are are a reflection of you and

reasons are are a reflection of you and as I began to search for it I kept going

as I began to search for it I kept going

as I began to search for it I kept going back and back and back it was a wild

back and back and back it was a wild

back and back and back it was a wild time for me to start remembering all of

time for me to start remembering all of

time for me to start remembering all of the pain that created this incredible

the pain that created this incredible

the pain that created this incredible fuel that fueled me to get the goal of a

fuel that fueled me to get the goal of a

fuel that fueled me to get the goal of a hundred million dollar business and it

hundred million dollar business and it

hundred million dollar business and it took me all the way back to when I was

took me all the way back to when I was

took me all the way back to when I was six months old and my birth father left

six months old and my birth father left

six months old and my birth father left my mother and I high and dry piece

my mother and I high and dry piece

my mother and I high and dry piece gone never seen from never heard from

gone never seen from never heard from

gone never seen from never heard from again

again

again I remember the visualization of the kids

I remember the visualization of the kids

I remember the visualization of the kids teasing me in school being bullied being

teasing me in school being bullied being

teasing me in school being bullied being called fat Matt almost my entire

called fat Matt almost my entire

called fat Matt almost my entire elementary career and then when my

elementary career and then when my

elementary career and then when my mother remarried and her husband adopted

mother remarried and her husband adopted

mother remarried and her husband adopted me I remember being called idiot moron

me I remember being called idiot moron

me I remember being called idiot moron retard stupid

retard stupid

retard stupid everyday by him see I believe that we

everyday by him see I believe that we

everyday by him see I believe that we create lives not to be who we are but

create lives not to be who we are but

create lives not to be who we are but who can protect what we quarantine we

who can protect what we quarantine we

who can protect what we quarantine we build lives around the pain that we

build lives around the pain that we

build lives around the pain that we quarantine and what that ends up doing

quarantine and what that ends up doing

quarantine and what that ends up doing is creating an opportunity for us to

is creating an opportunity for us to

is creating an opportunity for us to never be us we create a personality a

never be us we create a personality a

never be us we create a personality a persona an image that is connected to

persona an image that is connected to

persona an image that is connected to quarantine the pain to playing it safe

quarantine the pain to playing it safe

quarantine the pain to playing it safe to preserving it don’t let it creep out

to preserving it don’t let it creep out

to preserving it don’t let it creep out don’t let that pain seep we never really

don’t let that pain seep we never really

don’t let that pain seep we never really live a life of our full potential it

live a life of our full potential it

live a life of our full potential it started to make me crazy I wish I could

started to make me crazy I wish I could

started to make me crazy I wish I could say I dealt with it well but I started

say I dealt with it well but I started

say I dealt with it well but I started to get crazy literally maniacal the

to get crazy literally maniacal the

to get crazy literally maniacal the morning meetings that used to be so

morning meetings that used to be so

morning meetings that used to be so motivational to get us on the road right

motivational to get us on the road right

motivational to get us on the road right became bitch sessions and beat downs and

became bitch sessions and beat downs and

became bitch sessions and beat downs and those underdogs that I fought my whole

those underdogs that I fought my whole

those underdogs that I fought my whole life to help I started to call him out

life to help I started to call him out

life to help I started to call him out in front everybody now I’m not terrible

in front everybody now I’m not terrible

in front everybody now I’m not terrible they were what a loser they are that

they were what a loser they are that

they were what a loser they are that they couldn’t do what they’re supposed

they couldn’t do what they’re supposed

they couldn’t do what they’re supposed to do and one day I had a live radio

to do and one day I had a live radio

to do and one day I had a live radio show back then and it was in a studio in

show back then and it was in a studio in

show back then and it was in a studio in our offices and our sound guy could

our offices and our sound guy could

our offices and our sound guy could never get it right like we could never

never get it right like we could never

never get it right like we could never get that mic right we would get the

get that mic right we would get the

get that mic right we would get the caller on the phone and we would drop

caller on the phone and we would drop

caller on the phone and we would drop the caller every single time

the caller every single time

the caller every single time on live radio and I said to him you’re

on live radio and I said to him you’re

on live radio and I said to him you’re gonna this week you’re gonna get that

gonna this week you’re gonna get that

gonna this week you’re gonna get that radio show right you’re gonna do your

radio show right you’re gonna do your

radio show right you’re gonna do your job and you’re gonna get it done right I

job and you’re gonna get it done right I

job and you’re gonna get it done right I sit down the light goes on dead mic I’ll

sit down the light goes on dead mic I’ll

sit down the light goes on dead mic I’ll fix it I’ll fix I’ll fix it get it next

fix it I’ll fix I’ll fix it get it next

fix it I’ll fix I’ll fix it get it next caller comes on the line hey caller

caller comes on the line hey caller

caller comes on the line hey caller dropped and then probably the lowest

dropped and then probably the lowest

dropped and then probably the lowest moment hard for me to even admit that I

moment hard for me to even admit that I

moment hard for me to even admit that I did this but I did I literally took the

did this but I did I literally took the

did this but I did I literally took the mic and I ripped it out of the steel

mic and I ripped it out of the steel

mic and I ripped it out of the steel holder that it was in and I smashed it

holder that it was in and I smashed it

holder that it was in and I smashed it through all of the flat screens behind

through all of the flat screens behind

through all of the flat screens behind me and then I smashed all of the

me and then I smashed all of the

me and then I smashed all of the lighting equipment in the suti I

lighting equipment in the suti I

lighting equipment in the suti I destroyed my own studio and then you

destroyed my own studio and then you

destroyed my own studio and then you know what I did

know what I did

know what I did I threw the mic at the guy I opened the

I threw the mic at the guy I opened the

I threw the mic at the guy I opened the door to leave the studio all of my

door to leave the studio all of my

door to leave the studio all of my employees were looking at me with fear

employees were looking at me with fear

employees were looking at me with fear did I kill the guy manera was officially

did I kill the guy manera was officially

did I kill the guy manera was officially lost it was the look in their eyes they

lost it was the look in their eyes they

lost it was the look in their eyes they were afraid I had officially become a

were afraid I had officially become a

were afraid I had officially become a monster I had become everything I said I

monster I had become everything I said I

monster I had become everything I said I was supposed to fight against to be the

was supposed to fight against to be the

was supposed to fight against to be the underdog man to fight against judgment

underdog man to fight against judgment

underdog man to fight against judgment the fight against the establishment to

the fight against the establishment to

the fight against the establishment to get my piece of the American Pie to get

get my piece of the American Pie to get

get my piece of the American Pie to get rich and I completely flipped it on its

rich and I completely flipped it on its

rich and I completely flipped it on its head I went into my office I shut the

head I went into my office I shut the

head I went into my office I shut the door and I cried I said that’s it I’m

door and I cried I said that’s it I’m

door and I cried I said that’s it I’m gonna fix it I’m gonna change it I’m

gonna fix it I’m gonna change it I’m

gonna fix it I’m gonna change it I’m gonna torch the whole damn thing I’m

gonna torch the whole damn thing I’m

gonna torch the whole damn thing I’m gonna burn it to the ground I don’t care

gonna burn it to the ground I don’t care

gonna burn it to the ground I don’t care how much it cost me I don’t care if the

how much it cost me I don’t care if the

how much it cost me I don’t care if the company goes to zero this is not who I’m

company goes to zero this is not who I’m

company goes to zero this is not who I’m supposed to be this is not how I’m

supposed to be this is not how I’m

supposed to be this is not how I’m supposed to treat these people who help

supposed to treat these people who help

supposed to treat these people who help me build a business i’ma fix it you got

me build a business i’ma fix it you got

me build a business i’ma fix it you got the courage to do that in your world –

the courage to do that in your world –

the courage to do that in your world – you need to do it in your world

you need to do it in your world

you need to do it in your world because the fuel that you have whether

because the fuel that you have whether

because the fuel that you have whether it’s pain whether it’s happiness might

it’s pain whether it’s happiness might

it’s pain whether it’s happiness might be one of those lucky happy ones right

be one of those lucky happy ones right

be one of those lucky happy ones right or you didn’t have any pain

or you didn’t have any pain

or you didn’t have any pain whatever that fuel is it burns out and

whatever that fuel is it burns out and

whatever that fuel is it burns out and you got to find new fuel and you got to

you got to find new fuel and you got to

you got to find new fuel and you got to get to the next level

get to the next level

get to the next level you got a torch what you like to get

you got a torch what you like to get

you got a torch what you like to get what you love you cannot live a life

what you love you cannot live a life

what you love you cannot live a life that says I’m good I’m okay I’m safe I’m

that says I’m good I’m okay I’m safe I’m

that says I’m good I’m okay I’m safe I’m secure you want to push you want to

secure you want to push you want to

secure you want to push you want to challenge yourself you don’t want to be

challenge yourself you don’t want to be

challenge yourself you don’t want to be acceptant in the fact that you didn’t go

acceptant in the fact that you didn’t go

acceptant in the fact that you didn’t go for it

for it

for it and to do that you may have to torch the

and to do that you may have to torch the

and to do that you may have to torch the exact thing that got you to a life that

exact thing that got you to a life that

exact thing that got you to a life that you like and you got to cook it and burn

you like and you got to cook it and burn

you like and you got to cook it and burn it I brought everybody and I said we’re

it I brought everybody and I said we’re

it I brought everybody and I said we’re calling it the torch by the way and

calling it the torch by the way and

calling it the torch by the way and here’s the first thing we’re gonna do

here’s the first thing we’re gonna do

here’s the first thing we’re gonna do forget everybody together we’re gonna

forget everybody together we’re gonna

forget everybody together we’re gonna start talking we’re gonna create a

start talking we’re gonna create a

start talking we’re gonna create a mission statement you’ve heard some

mission statement you’ve heard some

mission statement you’ve heard some people talk about how important your why

people talk about how important your why

people talk about how important your why is the reason most people don’t have a

is the reason most people don’t have a

is the reason most people don’t have a lie is because they don’t know how to

lie is because they don’t know how to

lie is because they don’t know how to structure a why it doesn’t come natural

structure a why it doesn’t come natural

structure a why it doesn’t come natural to them you need a system to figure out

to them you need a system to figure out

to them you need a system to figure out what your why is you find your why when

what your why is you find your why when

what your why is you find your why when you create a mission statement that you

you create a mission statement that you

you create a mission statement that you stand for why do you exist it’s

stand for why do you exist it’s

stand for why do you exist it’s important in your business too if you’re

important in your business too if you’re

important in your business too if you’re struggling in your business is because

struggling in your business is because

struggling in your business is because your people don’t know what your

your people don’t know what your

your people don’t know what your business exists for start with a mission

business exists for start with a mission

business exists for start with a mission statement why are we here

statement why are we here

statement why are we here we move to four core values what are we

we move to four core values what are we

we move to four core values what are we gonna tolerate what line in the sand are

gonna tolerate what line in the sand are

gonna tolerate what line in the sand are we not willing to cross my favorite core

we not willing to cross my favorite core

we not willing to cross my favorite core value is core value number two we call

value is core value number two we call

value is core value number two we call it personal happiness we’re here because

it personal happiness we’re here because

it personal happiness we’re here because we want to be here that’s the whole core

we want to be here that’s the whole core

we want to be here that’s the whole core value that’s it I mean what’s better

value that’s it I mean what’s better

value that’s it I mean what’s better than that I want to work with people I

than that I want to work with people I

than that I want to work with people I like I want them to be happy coming to

like I want them to be happy coming to

like I want them to be happy coming to work and then it’s finished the torch

work and then it’s finished the torch

work and then it’s finished the torch finished with an employment agreement a

finished with an employment agreement a

finished with an employment agreement a trust agreement if you will in which it

trust agreement if you will in which it

trust agreement if you will in which it said a few simple things you can leave

said a few simple things you can leave

said a few simple things you can leave our company at any time you can go to

our company at any time you can go to

our company at any time you can go to work for one of our competitors you can

work for one of our competitors you can

work for one of our competitors you can go into business for yourself in our

go into business for yourself in our

go into business for yourself in our industry competing against us you just

industry competing against us you just

industry competing against us you just can’t do one thing you can’t take food

can’t do one thing you can’t take food

can’t do one thing you can’t take food off our plate you can’t take your

off our plate you can’t take your

off our plate you can’t take your customers seven people my top people

customers seven people my top people

customers seven people my top people refused to sign that and just like that

refused to sign that and just like that

refused to sign that and just like that we were 30 million down how much of a

we were 30 million down how much of a

we were 30 million down how much of a price would you pay to torch it are you

price would you pay to torch it are you

price would you pay to torch it are you financially sound in your business that

financially sound in your business that

financially sound in your business that you could actually take a step like that

you could actually take a step like that

you could actually take a step like that I’m here to challenge you do it anyway

how do you know if the torch will work

how do you know if the torch will work though how do you know whether it was

though how do you know whether it was

though how do you know whether it was worth it or that it’s actually working

worth it or that it’s actually working

worth it or that it’s actually working out i’ma challenge you and say that

out i’ma challenge you and say that

out i’ma challenge you and say that you’re not going to know that you’re

you’re not going to know that you’re

you’re not going to know that you’re gonna feel you’re gonna feel when that

gonna feel you’re gonna feel when that

gonna feel you’re gonna feel when that laughter comes back around you’re gonna

laughter comes back around you’re gonna

laughter comes back around you’re gonna feel when people out of the corner of

feel when people out of the corner of

feel when people out of the corner of you eye of your eye are smiling at you

you eye of your eye are smiling at you

you eye of your eye are smiling at you again you know that feeling right

again you know that feeling right

again you know that feeling right they’re looking at you and they’re

they’re looking at you and they’re

they’re looking at you and they’re saying he or she is good again you’re

saying he or she is good again you’re

saying he or she is good again you’re gonna feel it when like it happened to

gonna feel it when like it happened to

gonna feel it when like it happened to me not too long ago one of my top guys

me not too long ago one of my top guys

me not too long ago one of my top guys came into my office and said can I close

came into my office and said can I close

came into my office and said can I close the door I said sure he said I just want

the door I said sure he said I just want

the door I said sure he said I just want to apologize to you I know that I fought

to apologize to you I know that I fought

to apologize to you I know that I fought you so hard against this torch but I

you so hard against this torch but I

you so hard against this torch but I hated you

hated you

hated you I hated who you would become you had let

I hated who you would become you had let

I hated who you would become you had let me down he said I didn’t trust you

me down he said I didn’t trust you

me down he said I didn’t trust you anymore he says I just want to tell you

anymore he says I just want to tell you

anymore he says I just want to tell you today I like you and I do trust you and

today I like you and I do trust you and

today I like you and I do trust you and I’m all-in

you’re gonna feel when it works when

you’re gonna feel when it works when maybe you’re sitting next to your spouse

for the first time in a long time

for the first time in a long time he or she’s gonna reach down and touch

he or she’s gonna reach down and touch

he or she’s gonna reach down and touch your knee and you’re gonna reach back

your knee and you’re gonna reach back

your knee and you’re gonna reach back and you’re gonna touch his or hers

and you’re gonna touch his or hers

and you’re gonna touch his or hers you’re gonna feel the power of that

you’re gonna feel the power of that

you’re gonna feel the power of that connection again the power of what it’s

connection again the power of what it’s

connection again the power of what it’s like to be on a team you’re gonna know

like to be on a team you’re gonna know

like to be on a team you’re gonna know it works and you’re gonna feel it when

it works and you’re gonna feel it when

it works and you’re gonna feel it when you walk through that front door and

you walk through that front door and

you walk through that front door and those kids run to you again and they hug

those kids run to you again and they hug

those kids run to you again and they hug ya and they say dad how about we go

ya and they say dad how about we go

ya and they say dad how about we go throw the ball and you say sounds like a

throw the ball and you say sounds like a

throw the ball and you say sounds like a great idea thank you

”

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