506 | How To Build a Thriving Community

Apr 7

Chaz Wolfe: [00:00:00] Well, Carson, you know, for you to, to be here, you know, on the stage here today is a big deal. I appreciate you doing that. you know, I first got to interact with you, you know, the cashflow summit back last fall here in Kansas city. And, and, you know, so interesting, you know, neither one of us, I mean, not that we're not, but But, but our main, our main thing is, is, is, support to, you know, the real estate investors that were there.

And so, you know, I just appreciate your idea of community and how you were talking, at least from stage. And I'm going to ask you a couple questions about here, but just. All the things that you've built, but in reference to just helping other people. that's, that's the thing I walked away from is that you really find fulfillment in, in creating spaces as well as, you know, strategies and all the fun stuff that comes, you know, with the tactics of business and insurance and stuff.

But, but I just got the feeling that you just really like to help people. where does that come from? Is that true? You know, what, what wires you that way?

Carson Porter: Yeah, I, I don't know because most folks that know me would say I'm a dick, but no, yeah, I apologize for the, for the crassness, but, but no, I, At the end of the [00:01:00] day, when you lay down at night and you're wearing nothing but your freaking New Balances for some reason, you're staring at the ceiling.

And you have to account for your day. There's been a lot of times in my life where the account for my day had a very negative notion to it. And, and that sucks. That, that really, really sucks to think that, you know, if I am the sum of how all my days ended, my, the trajectory of my life is not headed, you know, I had all these big dreams.

But it's not headed that direction, and the one thing that I found that consistently moves that needle forward every day, and sometimes it's incrementally, sometimes it's in leaps and bounds, but it's always in helping, helping someone else, bringing value to someone else. We, we, in our community, we call it value without expectations, and then, and then we layer that with, With the concept of, of reciprocity and abundance, how, how the hell can I say I'm abundant if I'm so afraid to give away value without expectations [00:02:00] that I've always got to put a catch or a hook on it?

Yeah. And it's, it's been good to us, so.

Chaz Wolfe: You know, it's interesting. I want to ask you some questions about your community and what you're building there. But, your mindset there, it's almost like, you know, you were the one that needed the mindset shift. And so, okay, great. What's the things that I need? And I'm doing it for myself.

And then, oh, by the way, I get to then, you know, implant this same kind of wisdom into other people that, that are in your community. Is that, is that kind of how it stems for you as like coach coach Carson first, and then, and then the others kind of get the benefit of, of as you get to grow and change.

Yeah.

Carson Porter: yes, yes and no. So it's, it's always in a lot of regards. It's like, okay, you know, I am, maybe I'm not a hundred steps ahead, but I'm one step ahead. And because I'm one step ahead, I like, I don't need to be a hundred steps ahead. That's one thing that's crazy to me. People are like, why, if I'm going to get a coach, I've got to have somebody who's a hundred steps ahead, who's worth a billion dollars.

And it's like, good luck affording their time where you're at right now. Right. You, you could get a coach one [00:03:00] step ahead. 10 steps ahead and there the value they're going to bring is viable and it's what's most needed now And as you progress and take those steps if that individual or that group That community is stepping forward as well.

Then you all get to continue to step forward and do life together in an ongoing fashion. If not, if they stay in a standstill, you take those steps and they help you take them. And then you find the next person beyond that, ten steps beyond that. Either way, the most appropriate thing for you to do is that first step or two or three.

And so, yeah, for me, I do try and stay One or ten or maybe even a hundred steps ahead of folks. But at the same time I end up learning and growing what's been incredible dude, absolutely incredible. I thought I was good at sales because I was I am really good at selling insurance and, and financial services and all these things, right?

But learning to sell individuals on investing [00:04:00] in themselves, that is the most difficult sell I've ever had to make. It's crazy. People will invest money into markets. They'll invest into everything else. But investing in themselves, and the biggest consistent, thing that we come up against, roadblock, barrier, is, is people are like, well, I don't want to pay for it and then not do it.

And my question is, why the hell wouldn't you do it? If you paid for it, why, why wouldn't you do it? But, but they, they don't, and they're so timid in that regard. And it's like, Y'all, you have, you are the one thing you have absolute control over. You can't control the S& P 500 or, or some life insurance policy.

Like, you have no control. You have control over you, but it's the last thing you want to put money into? What a stupid notion. But fighting that fight of of learning to communicate with people in a different way and about different things. I feel like I've had more growth and come further. I've had to sit and do more deep thinking, and trial and [00:05:00] error than I ever had to in anything else I've done.

It's been the most rewarding, but also the most challenging. And so, to your question, You know, yes, I feel like I'm always out looking for, for more externally and bringing everyone along with me as I do that. But also the, the internal retrospection, I feel like just continues to, to drive me forward as well.

And, I'm grateful for it. Some days I'm annoyed by it, but, but all in all, I'm grateful for it. So.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah, I get that. I feel the same way. The, I had a, I had a guest on my show a few weeks ago. a good friend of mine and mentor. and he basically has given me a blueprint or a template, to be able to, you know, train my subconscious mind.

And I was doing that kind of before I met him, but this is just a whole new philosophy and just a whole lot more in depth and clear. And, and I've been able to replicate some of that with, with some of our members as well. And with his help, it's been super cool, but you know, when he said he first started, you know, he thought, I mean, everybody's a 12 minute a day technique.

this will absolutely [00:06:00] triple your income, trip. I mean, it can make your whole life better.and, and his mentor said, yeah, this is, this is wonderful. Most people won't do this. It's like, well, wait, no, no, it only, it only takes 12 minutes. What do you mean? They won't do it. It's like, yeah, I mean, they just, most people see success as, or more success as a mere preference, not necessarily as, as like a demand or a have to.

and that's the same thing that you were just describing with that, that person that kind of gets shaky. And it's like, you know, why wouldn't you do this? And it's like, they know. They know their fault and they know what it takes to just commit and overcome and grow, but yet they still hesitate and they won't invest into a community or coaching or whatever bucket that you want to put, you know, that self development in.

And it's because it's really just for the 2%. You know, the, the folks that are just like, no, no, no, this is absolutely what I'm going to have to do in order to go to the next level. Now you have a huge community and you're, you know, insurance and financial security or financial, you know, products. And, and you've got thousands of members.

And so I know that [00:07:00] it's more than just maybe quote unquote the 2%, but, but you're helping people. Kind of of all walks inside of that, that, that realm. And so talk to just a little bit about that from building a community to people that are just getting started in the industry to people probably have been in it for a while and sold millions of dollars worth and, and how the ecosphere or ecosystem can, can all work together in a community of yours.

Carson Porter: Yeah, so we, what we have, we, I call it agnostic or non denominational. So we've got folks from, you know, Edward Jones and Charles Schwab and Merrill Lynch, and we've got folks from State Farm and Farmers and, and, you know, every walk of life, brand new in business, making millions, and we have all sorts of different levels to try and provide appropriate value to those people, where, when and where they most need it, right?

But I think that the thing that, we've done, That's the absolute best, is we've created this culture, this internal culture. And they say that a rising tide lifts all ships, right? And it does, except for the ships that have holes in them. [00:08:00] And so, through all of our coaching and training and this and that and the other, what we're attempting to do is plug the holes.

Let's plug the holes in everybody's boat, but the community itself and the culture, that is, that is the rising titan. So we do have, literally every single week, multiple times, we'll put on a live training, a zoom call. Sometimes we'll have 20 people there. Sometimes we'll have 200 people there. And we'll have folks jump on that call to collaborate that are making seven plus figures a year and they just carve that out and they are there and they'll take tidbits away here and there, but they're also pouring into everybody else.

And then it gets poured back and it's a very reciprocal Again culture and it helps so those folks making seven figures a year. They're they're learning lessons Like I'm learning as they interact with these folks. They're also building relationships with all these people who Become vocationally disturbed from time to time and decide to realign so that they have a better alignment of core values [00:09:00] and core focus.

And where do you think they go? They go into the person that was able to carve out an hour and come and be a part of giving that value. And then again, on the other side of that coin, we have those brand new people that That don't know what to do. They, they don't even know, like when we, at our lower levels, some of the training we put on, it's literally like, hey, should you be a sole proprietor?

Do you, do you feel like it might be a good idea to set up, an LLC and file as an S Corp? Because half the time you're CPA, they'll do it if you ask them to, but they're not out there like, hey, you should do this. And, dude, we have this, this one gal. She literally, she's been in the business for like three years.

She's not making millions. She's making like 50 grand a year at this point. and improving and improving. She finally went through that training and then hit me up and was like, oh my gosh. I went and talked to my, my tax guy because he'd already done mine. He just hadn't filed them yet. And I was like, hey, what would this have been had we done this?

Well, [00:10:00] technically we could still open, open that LLC for last year and file. So they went ahead and did that and And, backfiled the LLC. It saved her like an extra seven grand in taxes. Yeah. She was gonna have to pay seven grand and instead she got, you know, some child tax credit and, and it's like, when you're making 50, 000 a year, seven grand.

Yeah, dude, that's what a 17, 18 percent. Yeah, something like that. Yeah, that's a huge increase to overall take home So we'll teach them things like that and then you know the basics of insurance and sales and yeah But but again, you know as folks kind of come up through the ranks and they're making more and more We try and really meet the metric where they're at.

Yeah And have them pour back, pour back down.

Chaz Wolfe: And that pour back is a big deal. I know that not just from like a mastermind perspective, but when I was even like coaching sales, when I worked for an organization and I was the top sales guy, but when I coached others, that's when I was keeping [00:11:00] myself the sharpest and people would always ask like, Oh, why are.

I know how much, like, if you got another sale, I know how much, you know, you would make at your level, and you're spending an hour and a half with me, that's crazy, you could easily go get another sale. And I was like, yeah, yeah, but, but I'm the sharpest as I am, because I spend, you know, two, three, four hours a week with folks like you, and, and it's the best type of learning, is to pour into someone else.

Wouldn't you agree?

Carson Porter: Yeah, I absolutely, I think, until you can teach it, you don't know it.

Chaz Wolfe: That's true.

Carson Porter: And as soon as you know it, you don't have to, there's knowing it well enough to talk to another professional about it, right? And then that same knowledge that allows you to teach another professional allows you to not overcomplicate the conversation with the prospect, with the client.

Because the client, they don't, if you can explain how a watch is made. It's easier and easier to just explain what the watch is and how it works. And when I'm making a sell, that's all, I don't need to explain how it's made. I just need to explain what a watch is and how it, how it works. But [00:12:00] I can do so much more succinctly, and really, again, uncomplicate the conversation because I know how the watch is made and I know how incredibly intelligent I am.

I don't need to prove anything to this customer. I just need to solve the problem they have. From a perspective they already own.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah. And if you're like me, back last fall, I took, probably a group of 10 or so of our members to, on a trip to Nashville. And we stopped by a Breitling, shop and talking about the watches.

And I had planned this trip and I specifically was going to buy a specific Breitling watch and, and I'm not a big watch guy, but I've always wanted a Breitling and it kind of made this big to do out of it. And, and, and so sometimes it's not even a matter of what. this clock, this watch doesn't tell me the time.

I mean, it does, but I don't necessarily use it for that. You know, it was, it meant much more for me. It was much more about legacy. That's why I went with the, with the Breitling brand because of where it's come from and the history of such. And I plan to give it to my son and, you know, all these other things.

That was my problem, you [00:13:00] know, I have no idea how the watch was made, nor do I care, you know, to your point, typically the, the, the bigger the opportunity, the less technical selling that you're going to do anyway, it's more, you know, truly finding whatever that, that, you know, need is in this case for me, it was not, not a need.

Carson Porter: I didn't need the watch. but there were elements of what that, what the experience was or what the experience will be for the watch that I was after. so I appreciate your perspective. That becomes the whole sale, right? And the person selling the watch, they don't need to get into all the technical details with you.

It literally just comes down to Well, you you wanted a watch and you wanted a watch that provided this legacy and this backstory and and was a good investment Probably as well And if you could have all that today out of this watch When would you want to go ahead and solve for all that and that's the sell like it's done.

Chaz Wolfe: I love that when you're when you're thinking about community, I mean there's A lot of people that have put their trust in you of like, okay, I'm going to be part of this, this group of people. And, and like you said, the rising tide is that community [00:14:00] aspect. And we think the same thing. I mean, I can, I can put a group or I can put a, I can put a training on, but the people that are in the room.

Make the training either that much better or, or that much worse, you know, for that matter. And so, you know, focusing on the, the who and who's in the room and, and, and making it special, that's the culture piece that you were talking about, but what's the tactical piece inside of that? Like, what are you and your team thinking about as new members are joining, as you're like filtering through people and making sure that it's a good culture fit?

How do you guys determine that for, for the community?

Carson Porter: Yeah, so, obviously we have, I, I'm a big fan of EOS, big fan of EOS and one of the things, one of the biggest things that, that EOS gave me was, was the very intentional breakdown of core values and core focus. Yeah. And I think we even take it to another level that, that EOS doesn't even get that in depth.

We, we talk about how to build the damn watch, right? So, so we won't just, you know, overlay, well, you know, my core value is honesty. Well, what the hell do you mean honesty? Cause if I say I value honesty. [00:15:00] Right? You're probably thinking, okay, I better not lie to him. And then if I pull a Rafiki from the Lion King, and I'm like, look harder, you're gonna be like, well, I shouldn't lie to myself either.

I'm gonna be like, no shit. But what I really mean when I say I value honesty, it's one of my values, is that I value a trait in people that drives them. They are willing, able, and driven to make and keep commitments. I feel lied to the most through omission, not commission. Honesty is something you have to go and commit, but how the hell can I hold, whether it's my employees or this community of hundreds and thousands of agents, to that standard of be willing, able, and driven to make and keep commitments unless I can clearly communicate that.

Accountability can't exist. And so we have these, again, core values, several of them, but every single one of those core values. is very well defined. Anyone who comes in knows exactly what they're getting into. [00:16:00] They know exactly what's gonna get them booted out, and they know exactly what we're, we're up to.

Do we want to put on some cool trainings about all the neatest new index universal life insurance, or infinite ben yeah, sure. But what we're up to, our core focus, is to develop the largest community of honest, ethical, productive, and authentic insurance agents in the world. If you can't meet that metric, don't be here.

And then we put teeth in it. Right? There's always a carrot and a stick, and the carrot is being a part of that. The stick is, if you can't meet those metrics, then we'll give you your money back and you're gone. And, and you can watch all the fun that we have and all the money we make, and, and so I think that's what's created, you know, that, that cohesion, that fusion within, within our cultures.

We have people that are pre vetted, Through, through our funnel, frankly. We don't, most people don't find us on a website and buy into what we do. We pretty much, we don't pick up the phone and cold call. We run a, a free group, a free Facebook group, [00:17:00] and we have people pour into there, and they'll spend months, sometimes even years there getting to know us, getting to know our values, seeing, you know, how we put on free trainings, how we handle You know, certain scenarios when people want to pop off and be idiots or not.

They know exactly who we are and what we're doing, because we live it very out loud, before they even say, hey, I want to be a part of this. And, and I think that also helps to filter for Again, that cohesion. It's not a perfect filter, but it works pretty stinking well. So,

Chaz Wolfe: yeah, I appreciate that. I mean, it's, it's, you know, like you can just be genuine, right?

You're expected, to, to be clear and, and then also asking them, you know, to be, to be that in response, I think is, is huge. It shouldn't be big, right? If we're talking about just humans and getting together and spending time together, it, you think some of these things would just be like, you know, unspoken, but, very much like you that we, we, we speak these things clearly because it actually matters.

and then I think. When you think of a lot [00:18:00] of people that have been part of communities or groups, and they maybe haven't had that experience is because, you know, people were just thrown into a room and, and, all for the sake of just, you know, making the sale. And, so I appreciate about your approach there is similar to ours, but it's like, you know, if you're, if you're genuinely after the culture or the actual community being built properly, then, then the inside experience is like, Oh my goodness, this is like nothing I've ever experienced before.

and, and you wouldn't have a large group like you do if, if that was the case, what do you think is the most rewarding thing for you? Like looking back at, you know, all these lives that you've touched or insurance agents that you've, you know, impacted or financial services folks, or just the community itself, like.

What's the one thing where he's like, wow, I'm so proud of this.

Carson Porter: Yeah, it's, it's seeing one, I mean, one of my best friends on the earth at this point. I met him through that. He came in because he needed help. He, he was really struggling with his life insurance sales. And inside of 12 months, we turned him into a million dollar round table producer.

I love that. But he was willing to come [00:19:00] in and do, we have this slogan, we call it, do the damn work. we even put on an annual event. We have some of the industry's giants come in in their bow ties and all, all prude and primmed and proper and, and they come to an event called do the damn work. So, but, but you know, it's, it's moments like that.

I, I've met some of my best friends. I have business, we've started businesses together that have been, that have come up through the ranks of this. And I've also had times where. You know somebody in the group would reach out to me and they're like, hey, I just really need to talk someone and you ever get that feeling when you're like, I need to, I'm busy, but I need to take that call and so you pick up the phone, you call them and you know, they're sitting under a freeway overpass with, you know, a little pew pew in their lap thinking about you.

Taken a very permanent solution to a very temporary problem and you're able to talk them through that and because they get through that day They find the courage to go try one more time and because they tried one more time [00:20:00] reciprocity Right, they they have that little win and they realize that holy shit I don't need some big win.

All I need to do is just keep stacking these little wins and that's how a wall is built Right? Yeah. It's just stacking that little stuff and their courage and confidence to live another day, to work another day, to feed their family. it goes through the roof. It fixes marriages. It fixes, you know, homes.

We've, we've seen people come back out of foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorce. I, myself, you know, a lot of what we teach, it's the same stuff I went to work on 11 years ago when I got in this business and I almost went bankrupt. And was in foreclosure and almost got divorced because I was being an asshole because the money was bad, right?

And, so it's, it's just been, when you talk about the most fulfilling and enjoyable part, that's it. It's seeing the way, it's not about selling that policy or whatever, it's seeing the way that the, that everybody's lives are affected.

Chaz Wolfe: [00:21:00] Yeah. And actually your clients get that same, you know, dopamine hit or that feeling that, that, you know, of, of the folks that they've helped, you know, whether it be an actual like death payout, you know, for, for a family member and, and thank goodness that they sold them that policy, or even just some of the financial services products, you know, as, as wealth gets accumulated for people and being able to be like, man, I had a, I had a small, placing that because I made that call because I took the, the jump, you know, because I, I,took 17 knows, you know, what the, the hour before I met that person, you know, I, I was able to, to step in and, and, be part of their story, you know, especially if it's, you know, like you said, some of these, some of these wins, you know,

Carson Porter: That is, it's, it's so cool on that side of the coin to be able to sit across from, you know, an elderly couple.

They're like, well, shit, we, we don't have enough. We're going to have to, we retired, but now we got to go back to work and you're sitting across the room and you're doing all the homework. And you're like, you know what? You could go back to work or. You could look at restructuring some of the things you [00:22:00] have and you can pick up some guarantees here through this product and, and some income extrapolation through that and, and you know what, do you have any plans to like haunt your house when you, when you die?

Because if you don't, a reverse mortgage might just be that piece that says, hey, not only can you afford to retire today and stay retired, but You don't need to go back to work. You have a guarantee you're not gonna have to go back to work tomorrow as Inflation continues to occur to these new reverse mortgages are lights out amazing.

It's one of the most powerful financial tools Out there for for this generation coming into retirement and it's so cool like the you talk about dopamine hit it is when you get a sit across from them and And you smell all the icy hot on, on their sore knuckles and, and they're talking to you. You know their body's hurting.

They're talking to you about like, shit, I got to go back to work. And that look in their eyes when they realize they don't. You just needed to be a little bit smarter about how they structured this or where they put that. That's right. And dude, [00:23:00] it, it is, it's one of the most fulfilling things on earth.

Hey, Kings and queens, Chaz Wolf. I wanna talk to you about something that's super important to me. We put a lot of time and effort, we meaning myself and my team into this podcast, into the content that goes out every single day. And if you have been getting any sort of value or insight from this, we want it to be able to reach other business owners too.

So we would love if you would like, comment, share, leave a review, post, share again, all of the things. On social media, on all the different platforms or even on the podcast mediums of Apple and Spotify. We would love to be able to get our content into more hands, more entrepreneurs so they can grow their business as quick as possible.

Together we are building a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who are committed to growing their businesses to new heights. So let's do this. Let's help each other grow.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah, I think in both of those scenarios, you know, you had mentioned this earlier, just the power of deep thinking and being able to sit and just, you know, process a situation, whether it be a problem or just even a question. I [00:24:00] do this a couple of times a week, even just, you know, for my business, for my life, I just sit down and have a question before me and just really let my, you know, let my mind process things.

And the subconscious always delivers, you know, information, especially if you know how to do that. And so, I think that's super cool that, you know, you can take your sales game, you know, from not just wanting, you know, to kill something and provide for you, your family. Okay, cool. That's good. That's level one.

But then level two is not just even helping them, but like, you know, dramatically like sitting down and like rearranging things to, to make a deal happen. That's a, that's a whole nother skillset. And, and all the top players have that, you know, and that dopamine hit is just like another, like. You know, it's just part of the game.

Like, hey, give me one of those, you know.

Carson Porter: It's so cool too, especially when you, because when you sit and think about it, all of a sudden, the butterfly effect comes in and you're like, wow. Because I was intentional about that, and I helped them there, they were able to retire, so they got in the, the car and they drove across the country to Little Junior's you know, soccer game, and they brought him an end of season [00:25:00] present, and it was a, I don't know, I'm, I'm dating myself, but it was a Walkman, or a Discman, and, and a couple CDs, and he loved those so much, that, it just blew his mind, and opened his mind to the world of music, and now he's a top selling, you know, pop star, and it's like, butterfly effect.

Oh, yeah. That never happened unless you helped Grandma and Grandpa retire, because they couldn't have afforded the present, and they couldn't have been there to give it. Yeah. It's like

Chaz Wolfe: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Especially, I mean, I've, I've done, you know, actually on this show to have, you know, the butterfly effect of just decisions that we make as a, specifically as a leader, you know, like if I make a decision today, you know, of course my, my business partners, my, my teams, you know, my wife, my kids, but then like the clients, their families, their kids, the community, You know, like the ripple effect is like pretty big as an entrepreneur and we're making decisions.

and, and of course, when you're trying to help a client, specifically, you know, leverage something like that, it makes, you know, it makes it even, even stickier. But that way of thinking, as far as like the butterfly effect or the [00:26:00] impact, you know, the multiple layers. That can either be really sobering or it can be really inspiring.

and I think both are probably applicable at different times, you know, to be able to give you the juice to keep going because it's, it's real. It's like, man, this one decision that I made today is like, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. As far as like an effect. and a lot of lives, you know, get impacted by that.

Speaking of kind of just impacting lives and, you know, we've kind of danced around a little bit about just impact and stuff like that, but, but you're married, you've got kids and, and, you know, you've made, adjustments in your life, you know, around like where you guys stay. And we were talking about this before you, you know, before I hit the record button, but you know, your income is not dependent upon.

a location. And so a lot of people, you know, over the last four or five years since COVID have gone, you know, what, what are we doing? Why are we doing this? Where do we actually want to be? And so just talk about, you know, maybe not necessarily like the location per se, but that decision, you know, and, and how you were able to kind of come to that with your family and, and what.

What fruit is that producing on, on the tree?

Carson Porter: Yeah, we, we were just, we were living in the city [00:27:00] and, and we wanted kind of a different lifestyle. We wanted to hunt and ride dirt bikes and do all the things. And

Chaz Wolfe: yeah,

Carson Porter: I, it's what we already did. We just wanted to do it a lot more. we wanted to get out of the heat where it's not 120 degrees in the summer.

And, and so we, we literally, you know, we, dude, we were up here on the 4th of July, one year, laying in bed at the hotel. And my wife was just like, do you still ever think about moving here? And I was like, yeah, sometimes. And she's like, should we do it? And I was like, sure. I'm, I'm not even shitting you.

A Penske truck rolled out of the, of the house down there. And was headed this way on the 28th of that same month. Like, it just, but, you know, it's been a huge blessing in a lot of ways. There's been some hard things. The food was way better there. I'm gonna tell you that right now. I'm gonna tell you that right now.

But, a body like this does not maintain itself. It takes some quality feed.

Chaz Wolfe: That's right.

Carson Porter: That's right. Right? But, being here has been a blessing in so many [00:28:00] other ways. We spent more time together as a family. We've grown more together. My boys have been afforded opportunities and not just outdoorsy stuff, just literally everything, you know, down there, they wouldn't play as much on the sports teams.

They wouldn't, you know, the sheer volume of, of what we can do. And yeah, there's not a, there's not a, you know, big concert every single night. And, and, but you know what, that wasn't what we were. What we were looking for anyway, so I feel like we've been able to grow closer as a family and, do some incredible things, have some awesome experiences, our boys have started to come into their own, find their own personalities, and, and, and, I, I don't know, we, we may not stay here for the next 20 years, but the last few have just been absolutely incredible, they, there's been some ups, there's been some downs, but all in all, it's, it's just been, One of the coolest experiences of our lives.

So,

Chaz Wolfe: yeah, yeah, we, we live on Smakeridge here in Kansas city. [00:29:00] And so we're in the city, but not really, you know, and, you know, our kids get to go outside and, and, and learn from the dirt and from the Creek and from the pond and from the trees and, you know, all the things that, you know, Julie and I had discussed around, like, how do we want our kids to, to operate and to learn and, and how do you truly have autonomy?

If. If you're, you know, in a, in a, in a school setting and, you know, got to follow the, the, the line every single time. And so then therefore we homeschool and just being able to make decisions where it's just like, Oh, you guys do too. Cool. But when you, when you have that, like that filter of like, what do we want?

And then. Why aren't we doing that? And then, and then, so you just start rearranging things, not just for the family, but this applies to, you know, an insurance business or an entrepreneur who's making decisions in their company. It's like, if this is what I want, why are my actions not lining up with this?

You know? and like you said, maybe you don't stay there forever. Okay, fine. I doubt we stay in our house currently not forever, although 10 years. But what, why are we here? Is it, is it [00:30:00] serving what it is that we want? And so that's probably the decision frame that I'm asking you about is, you know, none of us will miss.

Not so much has that location helped your, your family. It sounds like it's been amazing, especially for your boys. How has the decision of sitting back and going, what do we want? And then adjusting that for your family. How's that affected you as the entrepreneur? Because you doing all this stuff cool every for your family is cool.

But like, how is that affecting you as the entrepreneur?

Carson Porter: It, so it's been really incredible. When I first got in this business, I was living in Southern Utah, and we had, everything was brick and mortar, I had a whole bunch of people coming in and out of my office, I had, dude, we were knocking doors for insurance, and I had a team of 11, 12 people knocking doors for me, plus customer service reps and sales reps, and, and we were banging, we were banging a whole bunch of business, but we were so tied to that location, You know, we're utterly dependent on it and what's been really cool about this is realizing, you know, [00:31:00] was, was moving, you know, from there we went to Vegas and then from Vegas we, we came up here.

But in this move it's been like, man, we are not tied to anything. It's been really freeing. It's also helped me, it's been a good compass. Where, where should I invest? Should I invest more in brick and mortar? No, because my revenue has not decreased in any way, shape or form. And even if it didn't initially increase my profitability did because my overhead expense went through the floor And so no, I don't need to go drop a million dollars on a commercial building to have an office.

I don't need Marble floors and this and that and the other. 99. 9 percent of my appointments are a phone call or a Zoom call anyways at this point and, the ones that are in person, half the time they're at the client's home. It's, it's like, there, there's just absolutely no need for all that. So when we talk about, Hey, we might not stay here.

We might, we might decide we want to move to Aruba tomorrow. We could. Because [00:32:00] of the ongoing investments that I've made, in my businesses, everything's transferable. We would literally get on the plane, land, you know, get over the jet lag, and then just turn on the computer and go back to work. Yeah,

Chaz Wolfe: that's interesting.

you know, that, that, and not everybody obviously, is in a business that can do that, but, but I think people should push the limits. I mean, I started a construction company three years ago and, it's still today, is remote now grant. I mean, we go to people's homes and we remodel them. Okay, cool.

But like, you know, there's a lot of things that people used to do in a showroom that we'd. without a showroom. And it's not that, you know, maybe one day we will, I don't know, but we're, we're doing pretty good. And, I like the idea of pushing the limits on, on freedom and flexibility, especially not just for me as the owner, but, but for the, the folks that are, are, you know, coming and going at whatever position that they're holding in the company.

And I think that that is just, it's just a fresh way of thinking. And, you know, us as millennials probably just. You know, [00:33:00] are always going to think like that, no matter what. and then of course our kids aren't going to know any different, you know? So, it's super interesting when you can push the limits and go, wait a second, why actually do I need this?

You know, why do I need that? Or why, why am I doing this? And it's like that old, you know, that old phrase of, you know, the Thanksgiving story, you know, that, you know, they're, they're cooking the ham and, and, you know, the cut the ends of the hams off and like, why do we do this? And I'm like, oh, well, you know, mom's in the kitchen.

Let's ask her, well, you know, grandma always did it. Grandma's in the next room. We asked her, well. It's that the pan that I had back in 1942 was only this big and so the ham wouldn't fit in it. So I had to cut the, cut the ends off. And so all these years later, we still cut the ends of the hams off. It's like, well, why are we doing that?

You know?

Carson Porter: Dude, there's, so you talk about that. so I actually come from the automotive repair industry before I got into this business and was born and raised. That's what my old man did. That's what my first couple of businesses were, were shops. And it's, it's. The mindset I have now, it's so incredible, because you'll have, as an auto repair shop, if you're one of the lucky ones that figures out how to be successful and expand, you start looking at, okay, well, I have a shop here, [00:34:00] and I'm in a town of, say, 50, 000 people.

And I'm gonna open up another shop to compete with all the other shops plus this shop and then try another show and and you're gonna Expand into three or try and expand into three or four locations in a market that may already be saturated versus Yeah, and and not just saturated, but maybe that market is is Southern Utah at the time So Southern Utah is really starting to pop now But when I was living there, it had a very very like average median income was like 30, 000 You know, people were not driving brand new pickup trucks and brand new escalades and stuff.

Now, there's a lot more about, but back then there was a lot of old Toyota pickups and Datsuns, right? And, so it's like, well, does that person have the ability to pay a 3, 000 timing belt bill or something like that? Versus Again, now, and, and it's the technology, it's the mindset, it's the, the reality that because of the assets we have today, if we'll use them, if we'll implement and [00:35:00] use them, I can manage effectively, a business in a location, like, instead of opening up another shop here.

I want to live here, so I'll have a shop here. We're doing well, we're profitable, but if I want to open up another shop, why don't I put it in an affluent area, where I can sell bigger ticket items, and I can, and I can manage it just as effectively. Location doesn't matter. All of a sudden, all of a sudden, boundaries disappear and your footprint expands just through the usage and utility of, of again, a little bit of, of brain power and intention and then the technology behind it to back it up.

It's absolutely incredible what you can do. So,

Chaz Wolfe: yeah, I had that experience. My first business was an edible arrangements franchise, and I ended up, building up seven locations in three states. and, and then most of that was in my twenties. I'm, I still have one of them now, but I've exited most of them.

And I remember people when I, so I had some in Kansas city and then I remember buying a couple, starting a couple three hours South and people were like, Oh my gosh, like, what are you going to do? [00:36:00] You know, it's like, how are you managing this three hours away? And then when I bought one in Florida,about, about the same time, it was like, wait, what?

You you're, you're in Kansas. You're in Missouri. You're in Florida. Like. How, wait, what? And you know, for me, just like what you just said, it was a brand new way of thinking of going, okay, so I can't get there. I physically can't solve whatever problem that is at the store today. So I have to now solve that problem differently.

who do I call? What reports do I need from my, from the app or from my phone? to be able to make decisions and I can sit right here, you know, now granted there's, there's with retail or with shops or whatever that there's, yeah. There's got to be some physical, you know, human there at the shop. And so it, it did, it did cost, you know, some resources in that way of having the team bill, if I'm not going to be there, somebody has got to be there.

But. You know, that, that mindset that you're talking about can be applied in any business, because that's the age that we live in because, you know, things happen super fast and I can manage everything from my phone. I remember this was [00:37:00] probably 10, 12 years ago, you know, me, me managing multiple locations from my phone.

And, you know, my wife actually at that time, this was kind of the really first time we had to have this discussion is like, I was on my phone constantly. Yeah. But I'm, I'm running four businesses, you know, like you get it. You think I'm scrolling on. On Facebook, but, but I'm, I'm running like multi million dollars every single day that are flowing through these things.

And, and that, and, and isn't this a blessing that I can be sitting here and in between a couple of these things, talk to you and be with the kids and, and change diapers. And, oh, by the way, go back to running. Huge businesses like this is this is an incredible opportunity to live in the age that we live in, you know But even more so for folks that are in insurance.

I mean goodness like you don't need an office You don't need any of that, right?

Carson Porter: Yeah, you you really don't I like to have an office I think there's a lot to be said about For me and there's different personality types for me I like that, just the physical act of getting up, getting ready, going to my place of work where I'm going to work.

It puts me in a frame of [00:38:00] mind. and then it's also easier for me because I, I am an addict. And man, I will I don't want to quit. Yeah, it's, it's so hard to, to quit. There's been times I've worked from home. When we first moved here, I didn't have an office. Took a couple months to find a, a little location.

It's nothing fancy, right? But took a couple months. And man, those were, those were hard times because it's like You know, 10 o'clock at night, and it's like, well, you know, all the work stuff's right there still, so might as well just, you know, plan it, and that was kind of a learning lesson, but, but again, for me.

It's so much easier to leave it. I don't have to leave it at the door at home. I can leave it here Right that that works for me other folks don't need that and that's okay But yeah in insurance and financial services in you know, you know like a cash flow So you could be a real estate investor. You could be a real estate agent.

You're you're Your business is paper, it's words, it's For people in that type of scenario and career, [00:39:00] expanding your footprint is such a pivotal piece. I've got a buddy that runs an agency out of West Virginia. And, West Virginia is a great, great place. Nothing against it at all. He's run into some saturation problems.

He's in a very small town, town of like 5, 000 people, and they have 10 insurance agencies. Yeah. It's like, there, there's just no way you're gonna meet your financial goals. Right. Without expanding your footprint. Right. Yep. That's right. It's, it's been really hard for him to step out and kind of think in this different way.

Like, okay, well, like you were saying, I can do everything I'm doing here, there. I might need to solve for it a little bit differently. Like instead of sitting face to face with my clients or kneecap to kneecap. I think that's the weirdest. If my client's knees touch my knees, I'd get the heebie jeebies.

Right? Crusty old kneecaps. That's

Chaz Wolfe: right. But

Carson Porter: rather than sitting there like that. Maybe I need to invest in not just Zoom, but I need to have a professional Zoom account. I need to [00:40:00] set it up. I need to maybe spend a couple bucks on some lighting and a decent camera and a decent microphone. Yep, and whatever.

Maybe even take a 30 minute course on how to make sure that the camera's not pointed up my nose.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah.

Carson Porter: Those small little things and all of a sudden I can be just as effective as I was before. I just helped a client out of Arkansas. In December we closed the cash value life insurance policy. It's 80, 000 a year to this day haven't shook I didn't fly out there and shake his hand and and if I'm ever out that way you bet your buckets I'm gonna call him up and be like, hey, let's let's grab some lunch.

But No, we were just as effective. I helped a gal. She's 67 68 now, this was a few years ago sold her an annuity This was like the fourth or fifth annuity she'd ever bought. She'd always bought him from her You know, hometown financial advisor. But someone had said you should talk to Carson and that's how we got connected.[00:41:00]

And, we got done, and we always do this little survey. Hey, how was it? What can we do to improve? And, and then the, the build on that, because we know how good we're doing. A lot of times, we're like, nothing, that was great. It's like, well, if that was great for you, I'm probably gonna get along with all your friends as well.

Could you do me a favor and introduce me to two or three? Right? Easy, simple ask. But, but no, her feedback was, wow, I bought, I've been buying annuities for 20 years. I've had face to face financial advisor and my guy is, is phenomenal. But that was the best annuity buying experience I've ever had.

Because we weren't so hell bent on the kneecap to kneecap mentality that Right. It was simple. She didn't have to take time out of her day to drive across town to play 20 questions. It was like, no. Seriously. Yeah, we've decided you want to do this. Let me text you a link, click the link, put in your information.

As soon as, as soon as you're done with that. It's even going to allow you to attach a statement on your previous account to that. It's automatically going to come back. My team and I will prepare the [00:42:00] application for you and then send it to you to review and sign. Right. Simple, easy. And she's like, this is just.

The bee's knees, right?

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah. Yeah.

Carson Porter: I mean,

Chaz Wolfe: that's it right there. Like that's you Creating an environment, you know for her to basically make it easy just to be able to say yes, like of course That's what I need. Yep. Yep. Yep, and and then doing it for her. I mean, I think I think that that's that's the biggest miss I think right now You know, in 2025 is this, this mindset that we're talking about is that we're just stuck doing business how we always have and, and we're not willing to, whether it's technology or whether it's, you know, new strategies, like, like you're sharing, you know, for, for insurance agents and, and financial services folks, or entrepreneurs where, you know, we're serving the same person, but just different niches.

And it's like, if you get into rooms. If you get into Carson's room, you get in to gather in the King's room, like this is how you learn stuff like this, like where you're like, Oh, you know, I've never thought about it like that. That's interesting. I wonder if that could work for me. And, and so if you're listening right now with insurance, or financial services, obviously you need to check out Carson's community, but this [00:43:00] is, this is like, you learned it from here, us talking, this is how this stuff works.

and this is how you leverage, new pieces to be able to, you know, to make decisions in your business and change, as time changes is that you get around people who are already doing it. you want to add anything to that real quick?

Carson Porter: No, I, I think that's, that's spot on. At, at the end of the day, it's exposure, right?

And when, when you join, it doesn't have to be, I would love to have, you know, insurance agents and financial advisors as my mastermind. But there's other masterminds out there that are great too, right? So, so pick one and run with it. Pick somebody that's a step ahead, ten steps ahead, whatever it is. But then, yeah, you're going to have to pay for it.

What you're paying for is, it's not just, oh, there's some trainings and there's this and that, how the watch is built, right? It's how the watch works. It's sitting in the room, having the exposure, sitting with Chaz and, and not just saying, oh, well, I could, I could put on a training, but it's a whole different thing when we're sitting there having a beer and we're actually applying that thing.

And, Yeah. The education goes through the roof. [00:44:00] So,

Chaz Wolfe: yeah, yeah. Kind of on this topic here. And last couple of questions here around the mastermind principle, but you know, you know, Napoleon Hill chapter 10, thinking, grow rich. I talk about this often because it's like, try to how I, you know, not just my whole life, but specifically gathering the Kings, but I feel like it kind of like has tangles and all of my, the areas of my life.

I mean, my relationship with my wife is a mastermind, my relationship with my team and my business partners is a mastermind. Like, how is this, Applicable to you, to your life, to your marriage, to your group, this side, this concept of two or more working in harmony unto achieving something specific. It seems so like, like, Oh, of course I would want that.

But how's that? How's that working for you? What do you think about this principle? How are you operating in it?

Carson Porter: Yeah, so I just want exposure. I want it. I want to vet people for core values. I want to vet them for core focus. In other words, let's, let's be the same type of people and, and value the same type of things and be headed the same direction.

But once I know those two things, I want to be around you enough that To be comfortable, letting all my guard down, because that's when I learn the most.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah.

Carson Porter: And, [00:45:00] like you say, that's with my wife. That's with the people in our mastermind. That's with other masterminds I've been a part of, and am a part of, and, and other coaches.

I want that, because when I, when I let that guard down, all of a sudden the conversations start to shift. And, and they become so much more Applicable. Everything becomes more applicable and, and the blinders start coming off. How the hell were they going to help me when I had my guard up and I'm sitting here, you know, and even if I'm not making a liar out of myself telling them I'm something that I'm not, how the hell were they going to help me when I just didn't tell my problem in the first place?

Chaz Wolfe: Exactly.

Carson Porter: It's when we start talking about the cause and effect of our problems that we start to find the most applicable solutions. But that, that only happens once you reach this, this level of comfort. And so. I think it's one thing to belong, to a mastermind or be in a marriage or, but it's a, it's a whole nother thing to.

Just be comfortable there. Become, make the damn payment. Pay your damn bills and, and [00:46:00] happy wife, happy life. So that you don't have to spend that time fighting and stressing. Be in a comfortable situation, because that's when the coolest conversations happen. And you realize, you know, it may, dude, the biggest, the biggest pieces I've ever gotten were in those settings and scenarios.

Again, whether it's at home or in a mastermind or whatever.

Chaz Wolfe: That's right.

Carson Porter: But it's, it's outside of the training. The training is great, it's there, it's structured, very tactical, I love it, but the best things I've gotten were in those other moments where somebody wasn't even trying to teach, they just said something and it was like I do that too, you know, yeah, and it's been life changing.

I had a call this morning with I told you kind of an industry titan and it turned into a little mastermind set I mean dude has been a mentor of mine for like 10 years and and he just starts riffing about someone else We've got 10 years of becoming friends and I don't even pay him to mentor me or coach me anymore But we're so comfortable at this point.

He's riffing about somebody else and it's [00:47:00] like shit. I'm doing that too. I got a Of course, correct. And that was, you know, that took 10 years of investing in a relationship. And at one point that was a fiscal investment, right? And the rest of this time it's been time and energy and, and give a damn. but that's, that's where all the magic happens.

That's the cool stuff.

Chaz Wolfe: It is. It is. I mean, the, the mastermind, the thing that gets developed when two or more come together, it wouldn't have never existed if we didn't come together or if you hadn't have had that meeting or if you didn't, if you weren't vulnerable with your wife and, and shared about those things that you've been wanting to talk about or whatever.

all of those things create then that, that third element that would have never come. and so that, that's, you're right. It's the magic. You know, we tell people, you know, that, you know, the calls are good, you know, the trips are good, you know, all of it's good, but like, yeah. There's nothing that I'm going to do from stage or a speaker that I'm going to have be brought in that's going to like radically change your life in a way that someone, you know, out in the hallway or, you know, you guys just connecting outside of [00:48:00] a regular meeting, you can't get from there either.

Right? Like, okay, sure. A speaker come in, maybe I say something and you're like, Oh my gosh, that's amazing. Living life with someone and like rubbing shoulders and like doing the thing that you were just discussing how you just heard it. And you're like. So it's those moments. You're like, okay, I got to make a change.

It's time to level up.

Carson Porter: I had a religious leader one time. I'm not a very religious person, but, but I was born and raised in a very religious family. And, and one of those religious leaders in my, in my childhood and young, Adolescenthood, adulthood, whatever, was very impactful, said a lot of things that, that, to this day, I, dude, I quote, and I've, I charge people money to tell them that, but one of the things he said is, it's, isn't it interesting how we all pray for help and then we sit alone with our problems?

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah.

Carson Porter: Whether, whether it's God or the universe or anyone else around, like, how's Chaz gonna help you unless, unless he knows how to help you? Right. And, and, Helping you is, what's crazy is we all think we know what our problem is, but we don't, [00:49:00] you know, insurance agents are like, well, I'm not making enough cells.

That's not the problem. The problem is you're flat out not seeing enough people. How many appointments did you have this week, right? Well, why didn't you see more people this week? Well, because I don't have money for leads. Well, you don't need money for leads There's a neighborhood behind you with 500 doors go knock them your problem, but I wanted to spend

Chaz Wolfe: time on tick tock

Carson Porter: Yeah call reluctance.

It was so much easier to do that than the the pain

The pain of the anxiety of going to do the work. People don't realize that, that pain, like it keeps them from doing the work and that pain is more painful than the pain of doing the damn work.

Chaz Wolfe: Yep.

Carson Porter: Right? But instead they sit alone with their problem and they never, they never talk to somebody to get those blinders out of the way and it's like, you're right.

It's not that hard to go knock on that door. It's not that hard to pick up that phone and make that call. It's actually easier. It's, it's much easier than sitting here for the next week wondering where I'm going to get paid from.

Chaz Wolfe: And thinking that I've got a sales problem and all you got is just an action problem.

Carson Porter: Yeah. [00:50:00] Yeah. You're a phenomenal salesman. You just don't talk to enough people. Nobody closes 100 percent of everybody. You need more volume. But, but that's, you know, just a microcosmic example. You could apply that to, to everybody, you know. We all want help, and we think we know what the problem is, but the best help comes when it's an answer to a problem we didn't know existed.

And someone else uncovered that problem. And like I said, we, we want that help, but we won't let anybody in. What an oxymoron.

Chaz Wolfe: Right? Yeah. Carson, man, you've obviously got, just years of experience and intelligence around these, these mindset topics and, and you're doing it. You're, you're, you're You're living the exceptional life, as we say, and you're helping other people do it, inside your community and other insurance agents and, and final services folks.

And, how can they find you? How can they find your group? how can they go to the next level? If they've been just like, dude, this is incredible. I got to get more Carson. How can they find you?

Carson Porter: First of all, feel anyone, feel free to reach out to me anytime. You can find me on most social media platforms at C Porter three, eight, nine on every single one of [00:51:00] them.

so Facebook, Instagram, Tik TOK, whatever I'm on there. and then if you're in insurance and financial services, come check out, we've got a free Facebook group. Nobody's going to sell you anything. There's tons of free training. There's tons of hundreds of tools and resources. Nobody's ever going to solicit you ever.

You're going to find that when you jump in, you probably want to go to another level with us, but it's absolutely free. It's called winning at insurance. Come check it out, hang out and, see what, see what you might pick up.

Chaz Wolfe: Yeah, we'll put all that in the show notes too, but winning at insurance is the group name.

We'll put that in the show notes as well. But, Carson man, I've, I've enjoyed my time with you. like I said, I enjoyed listening to you from the stage, back in the fall and just look forward to rubbing shoulders with you. at my stage of this life or this, this, stage in my life is like, I want to continue to get around and just incredible people that, that stretch me.

And, and, you've done that here today. I appreciate you stretching my listeners as well, but. I hope that, you know, you and your family, you know, not only just the new location, but this, just 2025, 2026, [00:52:00] 2027 are just some of the best years for you guys. And, and, the family piece is just a big deal for you.

So appreciate you being here. Blessings to you and all that you've got your hand on and all the people you're going to be impacting this year, man. Thanks.

Carson Porter: Awesome. I appreciate it, dude. Thank you for having me.

Thank you for listening to Driven to Win. I hope that you were able to pull out a few nuggets to go apply into your business right away. More importantly though, I hope that you're realizing that it takes more to be successful than just being by yourself, doing it all on your own, carrying the weight all by yourself.

What I have realized, not only in my own journey from multiple businesses and multiple different industries, and now interviewing over two or 300. Other very successful seven, eight, and nine figure business owners is that it's tough to do it alone. And so gathering the kings exists to bring together successful entrepreneurs.

In fact, we are putting together 1000 kings specifically, who are grateful but not done. We're intentionally assembling kings who fight tooth and nail for their business, family, and [00:53:00] communities. And here's what we believe that in the pursuit of excellence in those areas. That it ignites within us the responsibility to govern power and forge a lasting legacy.

So if that relates and resonates with you and you know that you need people around you, sharp, qualified, other very successful business owners, I want you to go to gathering the kings.com. I want you to take a look at what we're doing and see if it makes sense for you to be part of our pursuit to 1000 Kings Talk soon.