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When Barbie the Welder first struck an arc, she didn't just fuse metal; she sparked a revolution in the trades. Join us as we sit down with the powerhouse sculptor, author, and social media influencer who's cutting through steel and stereotypes alike. Our candid chat traverses her personal saga of resilience, from facing down naysayers as a single mother in welding school to shining as a beacon for women in a field long dominated by men. We revel in stories of empowerment, the transformative nature of overcoming adversity, and the artistry hidden within the soot-coated corners of the trades.
Our conversation isn't just about bending metal; it's a masterclass in bending fate to your will. Discover how Barbie turned 'F You Fuel' into a manifesto for those who have been doubted, dissuaded, and disregarded. We uncover the power of a proactive mindset, and how asking "How can I?" instead of "Can I?" can be the game-changer in personal growth and entrepreneurial endeavors. From the grit of the garage to the grace of self-acceptance, this discussion is a testament to the potential within us all to achieve mastery, not just in our crafts, but in the narrative of our lives.
Wrap up your earbuds and prepare for a ride through the raw and the refined, as we weave through the importance of branding for artists, the underestimated value of skilled trades, and the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in hands-on work. Barbie's journey from New York artist to Florida influencer encapsulates the universal truth that aligning work with core values is the cornerstone of authenticity. This episode is a love letter to the underdogs and a rally cry for the community-minded; it's about remembering that success is about lifting others as we climb and finding gratitude in the process. If you're ready to be inspired, to celebrate kindness and craftsmanship, and to witness the strength found in the kindness of strangers, this is your call to action.
Speaker 1:
Hello and welcome to Underdogs, bootstrapers and Game Changers. This is for those of you that are starting with nothing and using business to change their stars, motivating people who disrupted industry standards. This is the real side of business. This isn't Shark Tank. My aim with this podcast is to take away some of the imaginary roadblocks that are out there. I want to help more underdogs, because underdogs are truly who change the world. This is part of our Content for Good initiative. All the proceeds from the monetization of this podcast will go to charitable causes. It's for the person that wants it. Hello and welcome to another episode of Underdogs, bootstrapers and Game Changers. I am so excited about the guests we have today. I actually have been following her for quite a few years and before I dive into what she actually does and how amazing she actually is, I want to actually get a chance, before I forget, to say a personal thank you, because when I first started doing anything to do with filming video, it was actually a video about our first business that my business partner talked us into. Barbie saw the video somehow. I don't know how. I don't know if she even remembers this, but she told me I was her spirit animal when you're fearing something and coming into something and somebody as cool as Barbie tells you that. That stuck with me. I think it's led to me developing a little bit of confidence. Starting now, three podcasts. I can't thank Barbie enough for that. She is absolutely amazing. She is a blue collar hero in an industry traditionally not with females. These days she's reinventing the industry. Amazing artist, she's got five books. Passionate about changing the world and has a heart to do so. I want to welcome on Barbie the welder.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so very much for the bottom of my heart. I'm going to cry through this whole thing and keep talking like that. Wow, thank you, thank you. I definitely have found some amazing spirit animals out there. When I find people, it gives me goosebumps, oh my gosh. When I find people who just speak to me creatively, I just got to let them know.
Speaker 1:
I appreciate it more than you know. I made it a. It's not so comfortable, especially like I'm not that macho of a guy but for like us guys that like aren't really good with the feeling stuff, but like I've made it a point now to like, no matter how embarrassed I'm going to be about it, if I think something nice of somebody, I say it right. And it was that little nice comment. You never know the resounding effect like that it's had on my life. Give me a little bit more confidence. This stuff still scares the heck out of me, but I think it's important that people like you are out there and then maybe to a lesser extent me and you know talking about good stuff in the world. We just talked about the news, right, you know like the bad news that's on there, you know, and so like I think there needs to be more people in the world spreading good things, you know, like talking about kindness, like talking about you know the impacts of the average human citizen that's doing something amazing, you know.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's so simple to be kind. Yeah, just hold your door for someone or smiling at someone walking by, like making eye contact, and look at them. You have no idea what humans are going through. We all suffer from the human condition, which is, you know people get sick, you know people get hurt, people die, like things happen and you know. You just never know what people are going through one way, shape or form or another. And just sometimes, just that kind word or that smile, you literally you could be changing someone's life, or you don't know, and it doesn't matter if it's received or not you feel good about yourself doing it, and that right there is just you're. You know you're feeling more love in yourself, which you know it goes out.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, well, and you think of it, we see those sci-fi movies and stuff and you know where they keep their eyes open and they like make them watch all this awful stuff in the world. Like I think that's happening sometimes and so that's why when I like watch what you're doing and like you're out there and you're putting out content and beautiful art in the world and you're not that right, you're something that's good, that's out there, that people can feel good about, and you know and like your story isn't traditional either. You know you're getting into an industry that you know, traditionally women haven't gotten into, and you know, could you tell me a bit about, like, what gave you a passion to actually proceed towards that and was there a fear that, like you couldn't do it at first?
Speaker 2:
No, I was deeply blessed with my father, who was a diesel mechanic. He was actually a tin knocker back when I was a kid and I didn't know it until later on I got into welding and I yeah story for another day, but he was, but you know when I was where I remembered, like you know, when I remember my dad was a diesel mechanic for the army and so he would, you know, fix these trucks and the hemmets and the Humvees, and I was a deuce and a half, and he would drive to the house to test drive them and then, like my brother, would go for a ride. And so, like I grew up in big, gnarly diesel trucks got a little bit older and I could possibly test drive some of them with them. And so I just, I've been around mechanics my life, my entire life, but the smell of the garage is home for me, like, give me all of that. And later on, when I found welding, which I was a mechanic for years Okay, I was a about seven years I was in the industry. I went to Bosie's for it in high school for one year I fought tooth and nail to get in. They I told my counselor ninth grade I wanted to be a mechanic and they were like, don't you think you'd be happier in cosmetology or cooking? Okay, this is still like the fancest my hair gets. It's not my jam and like, yeah, it's great for some people. They definitely want someone who knows what they're doing to cut my hair. But as far as you know and there's an art that goes into that Holy cow, I tried doing it myself once, Not really yeah. It was a time saver. It was not a good idea, but I just I had to fight to get in. It took me to my senior year to get in. I only got one year of that, which by that time, I actually was a single mom of between my 11th and 12th grade year. I had my son and he went to school with me and I went to auto mechanics half a day, which was just. I was so grateful, I was so happy, and then get out and then couldn't afford being a single mom. I was low income which there are single moms out there who aren't low income and I've had some realizations about myself as I've gotten older not more mature, but older. But, yeah, like at the time I was like I thought that's what it was and I thought you know, being a single mom, that I would have low income and so I lived into that. I did go to college for auto mechanics. I had to fight to pay for it. I really just wasn't in a good position. I got a couple of loans but it wasn't enough and then by the third semester I couldn't afford it and dropped out but was in the industry to get. I got hired at Sears as Boston tires and brakes and I've done everything from sell cars to wrench on them, which selling cars is.
Speaker 1:
No thanks, it was definitely like hey, you know what this engine can do. I'm like no one cared about the engine, they wanted the new car.
Speaker 2:
And I'm like it goes well. It just wasn't a good fit for me, but.
Speaker 1:
I mean like I was a mechanic before.
Speaker 2:
I was a welder and so being brought up by my dad, who never treated me different.
Speaker 1:
There was me and my brother.
Speaker 2:
My brother went and cooked with my mom and also he's an amazing wrench with motorcycles and I never learned to cook with my mom, but which my dad's a great cook also.
Speaker 1:
We weren't treated different.
Speaker 2:
There weren't like boy roles and girl roles and so I just completely just was like I never like. It never dawned on me that other girls didn't wrench and love the smell of you know, gas and oil and burning tires.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I've noticed that you've been a part of some pretty big car builds these days too, haven't you?
Speaker 2:
I have not. I've been sitting quietly in my shop Actually. I did work on a couple of. I worked with Bogey Latiner a few years ago, 2017.
Speaker 1:
I think that's what I read about, yeah.
Speaker 2:
So that was 2017. I'm like I have time flies, but yeah, that was a 57 Chevy pickup truck, that Bogey. She got the truck and then brought women from all over the country that like to introduce them into the trades. It was a brilliant, brilliant project that I was blessed to be a part of. For a month I lived in her garage like no kidding. She had a little bunk house and I lived there.
Speaker 1:
I'm like I'm blushing, I'm like I got to live in a garage for a month I welded on this truck and it was.
Speaker 2:
I did a lot of work on it. It was unfair. Like many women did a lot of work on it, but it was to introduce women to the skilled trades. So there was people who had never like even picked up a wrench and didn't know what one was. And then there were really skilled, and so we all taught each other and learned from each other, and it was. They gave me a tribe of ladies that I didn't know exist because I have usually been like the only girl usually. Yeah, so it's changing. Thank you, social media.
Speaker 1:
I think the world's wide open for women in the skilled trade industry. You know, like I'm a big proponent of the great idea can come from anywhere in our background, kind of interdisciplinary thinking, right, like if your background is different than mine, then you come with a different set of talents and mindset and framework to a problem, and I think that there's a tremendous amount of talent and art that could be brought from women. And actually I tried to at one point in one of my businesses I really had the idea to a lot of women go to design school, right, and they learned to sew and they learned to design. And you know things of that nature and you probably know this, the upholstery industry is a dying art. There's almost, you know, there's not very many good upholsterers left in the world around automotive, you know, and so I think it's something that needs to be reintroduced, because I think that conveyance is going to go that way, actually more towards interiors, and I would love to see more women, you know, especially coming from design institutes and things like that, given their play on upholstery.
Speaker 2:
Oh, I would love that. I literally just talked to my favorite upholsterer yesterday who was up in horse heads, new York at Flyboy Custon. I'm going to give a little shout out because he's going to be doing the interior of my car someday.
Speaker 1:
Nice I'm so stoked.
Speaker 2:
I totally agree with you. The art behind that, oh my goodness, oh, just so incredible. I love fashion too, which like don't judge. I mean like watching people design clothing Just a huge fan of that, like the clothing, and like I recently found a woman on Instagram who is doing motorcycle seats. I wish I could come up with her name, but it's been a while I've not. I've been working and like I had to head down working and not really doing too much stuff other than that. So I'm a little bit but yeah, like I'm following her so she's doing like this, sewing on it, and you know it's amazing, you sit your buns down on something and you have no idea all the craftsmanship that went into that thing. You know, until you watch, like how it's made. Do you see an Instagram or a TikTok video? Or you know, on Facebook or wherever you see a video of someone creating, it's like, oh my goodness. You know I pick up tools every day and use them and you know, like even as a craftsman, I just don't always stop and think about the work and the details that went into creating that, just thinking up that idea and then creating that with it.
Speaker 1:
It's beautiful what humans can do and you know, whether you probably know it or not, you know it's like I love history, right, go to Egypt and go to. I was just in Greece for quite a while and you know, you see, what humans have built. As far as art, you know, and it's like you're building that art right now. Like how do you feel to like think that, like something you built could be like around in a thousand years?
Speaker 2:
But I do, I do think on that very much. I did not like history in school. I didn't like school in school.
Speaker 1:
Me neither, not at first.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, literally say I'm like I watched, like the rise and fall of the Roman Empire last night, like that's what I'm watching and I'm like that's. It is like the things that people created like back before. You know, like we're blessed with technology. You know I want to see a human face. I can like Google it and get real close and I can see how the cheek is shaped. I mean I can copy it. Yeah, but like the technology and how easy that is and like to pick up a well and just plug it into the wall and the electricity, like so lucky. But yeah, the going to places and seeing what people made and like the history of it. I got to see mummies at a museum down in Miami a few weeks ago and like Egyptian mummies and to think again like this is people's artwork.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And yeah, I am very cognizant today. I haven't always been like. I definitely really. I don't know I'm a new person every day and learn so much stuff I feel like just every day. But, yeah, thinking about like what I'm doing now, like yeah, I mean it's possible that it's around and like, and that people think about me, like they think of Bob Ross or Michelangelo, like I'm like this is possibilities, because they're human and so am I and so and so am I, and that possibility exists for me, and even if it doesn't like exist out in the world, like if it exists up here. if I have a possibility up here, then that exists in the world, because I brought a lot of stuff from up here to here, you know, from nothing to something, and so I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 1:
I couldn't agree more, you know. So part of my hippie hypothesis is and I don't know how many times I've shared it on this show but it's like so, people that come from tough backgrounds, underprivileged backgrounds, poverty, you know they quite often they don't make it, unfortunately. You know there's really big stats around that. But the ones that do and that's why I'm in passion about bringing more underdogs to the world because the underdogs are the ones that change the world right and, like you, keyed in on it perfectly. I think it's just seeing it possible. The problem is, if you're raised in the struggle, people around you are in the struggle. You never see the lawyer that's the normal dude. The doctor that's the normal dude, you know. It's like that's part of what this program is about is like showing you know like people that are underdogs like you can absolutely do everything and actually not to dissuade too much. But adversity is a key. The ability to overcome adversity is a key indicator of success, and so people, believe it or not, that come from struggles are actually more equipped for success. Problem is they let the world destroy them first.
Speaker 2:
It's literally a book that I wrote that I can't repeat the words. That's got a big old square root in the cover up, but it's called.
Speaker 1:
I was going to ask you about it today.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's sitting up here above me. It is completely not really like what saved me. And I didn't understand it as I was doing it, I in the book, I tell people like, explain it like the worse your life is, the more fuel you have for success, the more successful you can be, and it's just, it's kind of an oxymoron, but it really is true. It's like if the more people that have told me, no, it's just more fuel for like, I will show you, like okay, like, please, please, please, because it's just, yeah, it's just one more person I'm just going to, you know.
Speaker 1:
How did you so? I went through like I'm reading parts of your book and I'm like this lady gets it right, it's like I get it. You know she's speaking to me too, because I went the same way. It's like tell me, no, I'll be out there tomorrow, I'll be doing it. You know, if I have to work 24 hours a day to get it done, I will you know. But, like for me, it was a defeated mindset at first. You know, a lot of my principals and teachers told me I've never amounted to nothing. They told me I was stupid. You know, I believe that for a long time it made some really big struggles in my teens and twenties. But then I was able to flip a switch and then it was like you know what? Fuck them, I can do this, right, I can do anything I want in the world. So how did you flip that switch? Because I think that switch is like something I would love to be able to tell underdogs how to flip.
Speaker 2:
Right, Well, looking for that's a. Really it's a good one.
Speaker 1:
I've had a few moments in my life like looking back.
Speaker 2:
It's so easy to see these moments, just goosebumps, probably cry right through it all. I was in a hospital at one point, my own choices, and had a big problem with cocaine and was homeless over it. I was going, they put myself through all of this stuff landed in. I turned myself in to get myself cleaned up. But then, through the realization, through the anger, like when I sobered up, like the anger came out of, like, you know, I had a son who at the time was seven, that was with my mom and dad and so, like, once I realized what we were doing, it was like complete and deep, just like the deepest anger you can imagine, like public strength, anger at myself. But it also, you know, I projected it out, because that's what we do as humans is we project it out Like we do it inside, but we also, like you know, it's getting on everybody, and so I ended up in a mental institute from it because I was violent and dangerous. Cute little Barbie, like I was violent and dangerous. I was so just angry at myself and in the time that I was in there and please, I, just, I like. Someday I'm going to have to ask my medical records. I have no frigging clue how long I was in the hospital, for it could be short time to be long. Time doesn't exist. But unless I have a deadline in which it very much does. I had a doctor that I asked one day ago. You know when am I going to be, like get out and like I mean I was mad and all that but I'm like I also didn't want to make that a lifestyle Like there was a don't, just not my vibe.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it was, but it wasn't.
Speaker 2:
And he's like you're never getting out it was like you're in here, you're never getting out. And three days later I was out. I feel I'll show you. Yeah, I feel I'll show you and it was just like. I feel like it was just weirdly divine and how it happened. Everything's happened for me, not to me. I've gone through so much. I've gone through and again, like I've self-inflicted all of it through my depressed thinking, through my thinking that depressed myself, that pushed myself down, you know you're a single mom, you're, you know you're a loser because you did this, like that was a horrible mistake, like all of that stuff and it's called bitual negative thinking.
Speaker 1:
I was on medication. They told me I'd be on medication all my life.
Speaker 2:
And I was like, hey, let me get you off this stuff. And the lady goes, she says, oh, never, You'll be on it all your life. And I'm like, well, I feel I'll show you. And like that happened.
Speaker 1:
And so I just I don't know how healthy it was.
Speaker 2:
I don't recommend it to anyone, but also like it worked for me. Later on, when I found welding and knew I needed to be a sculptor and I was just an understatement to say knew it my mom and dad were like, when I went to you know, like you're making a mistake to go, I knew it was right and I'm like, ah, you know, this is my path. It just kind of became a way. But when it was time to quit my job, you know, five years later, after you know all the work I put into practicing and learning and the fabrication, they're like you're making the biggest mistake your life to quit your job. And I'm just like you know, it's just another one. Like, really like you guys are supposed to have my back. It's already hard enough to get through all my gobbly cook, all my gobbly cook by my like I've got enough. Crack. Here is it is Like I don't need your help and it was just you know. And then the dude at the small business, who's supposed to have your back as a small business, was like you should quit and go back to work. And I'm like that was a straw, like that was a straw straw. And I'm just like F you, you've got to be kidding me. Like it was awful. I'm like why would this dude ever like? I'm like I went there for help. I didn't know how to run a business and so I was looking for help and this, like the guy gave me exactly the help I needed. So, like, let's look back at all of this, let's thank the guy In the way you didn't think yeah. Like that book, my book F you fuel has been written because of the doctor, because of the guy at the better business or the small business bureau, because, like, because of all these instances and these were like I didn't know it at the time, but that gave me the fire inside, that. It was just like the fire inside me burned deeper than the fire around me and I was just like, I will show you. I mean like I've been living in hell all my life. You know, I'm just like let's just burn this to the ground. I'm like I'm just going to go down in the blaze of glory. I'm like I'm just going to, you know, and it just, it was, it's a Phoenix right, like yes. Phoenix, it's you know I burned my old self down to the ground and I built a new me. I was in love with you know this like this was very much, you know, very slow process over time. And again it's you know I'm on a journey now where it's like I very much look at every little thing. If I point my finger at someone and I go, I'm mad at that person. I know that there's something in me I'm not handling and so, like I like it, like life has changed drastically from from that but it went from that F you all show you to, I was showing myself that I count on myself. I was showing myself that I could show up for myself and that I can, I could trust myself to get through these obstacles that, like I did create, you know, created debt for myself. I got over that obstacle twice. I created homelessness for myself three times. I got over that three times. I started to see, like, look at you know I could trust myself. So I'm like, if you're in, if you're in the fire right now, if the fire around you is burning hotter than the fire inside of you, then just start start looking for times in your life when you overcame something. You know. Just look for something small. It doesn't matter how big it is. It's like oh, there's a crack in the sidewalk and I jumped over it, didn't step in the puddle. Find something, something that you can reference, and then you can go back to that and go. I overcame that. If I could overcame that, if I could figure out how to overcome that, you know. Or like I mean you got to probably look for harder stuff, like you know the death of a loved one or the death of a pet or something hard that you know you've gone through. But look back in your life because if you get a crappy life, you've overcome some stuff, because you're still kicking. I'm saying you're stuck in the air. You're on the right side of the dirt. Look for something you've overcome. If it's getting out, you know getting whatever it is and you can hyper focus on that. The same way you can hyper focus on I'm low income because I'm a single mom. Or, you know, you can hyper focus on the fact that look at someone else overcame low income as a single mom. How can I? And that those three birds. How can I, instead of saying poor me, I'm a low income mom. I just turned it around. It took, like I said, it took years, but here's a shortcut right. How can I? How can I make this sculpture faster? How can I overcome this obstacle? How can I? But having that attitude, it's literally like your focus changes, and when your focus changes, your whole life changes.
Speaker 1:
You impact so many amazing things there. You know it's just, and I think an important message out of that too is like we make mistakes. I made mistakes and they're you know, just like you, what drove me to do the things that I did. Now, if I had a time machine don't get me wrong I would go back and I'd rectify every single mistake I ever made in my life because I'm a perfectionist. But I know a lot of people say they wouldn't. You know, but like I look at it this way and it sounds like you do too it's like so I made those mistakes right. There's no time machine, I can't press a button, so all I can do is make my forward future, the things that I do, the good works that I do, so be so amazing that any mistakes I ever made it makes it pale in comparison. Right, you know, because it we don't just aren't born with these tools to like know how to go get it right. And if you don't have much support like you, people are telling you you're doing something wrong and then you're falling into, you know, like actions that are like you're embarrassed about and you're like then it's like a flywheel system. Right Now you're getting in that and like okay, they're right, I'm not going to do anything in life, I'm just going to be this. You know it's like it's such a tough thing, but then you can use it, like you're saying, as motivation.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I have learned the two words moving forward. So, no matter what I screw up in the past one, I look at it as like I've never made a mistake. Yeah, there's things that, like you know how many people said like yes, I've been in a mental hospital, Like you know. It's something that is like shit happens, man, I was. I had depressed thinking, I was depressing myself, but I wouldn't look at that like that happened for me. I needed that moment, those moments. I needed those to become me. There is something out there for me. What I'm doing today will pale in comparison to what's going to happen in the future. I have no frigging clue. I have no clue, but I know that, like just with advancements in technology, in my high rate, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I'm positive, I'm lucky to have you on the show now, before you won't talk to me anymore.
Speaker 2:
You get on my number and this tax manny time and you're doing amazing things. In any way I can be involved in what you guys are doing, sign me up, man. I'm super stoked for what you're doing. This is, you know, I made videos on YouTube because there weren't any out there, teaching how to weld art. You know, like the book was a humbug the first one was just a complete humbug, but like there was no one that was doing what I wanted to do. You know Bob Ross is like the closest thing I can go and I like, I like in the beginning at zero desire to teach, zero, I hate to teach it. Sorry, teachers, I love you now, I really love you now. I love to inspire people, but never in a million years was like oh yeah, I'm just set out, I'm going to write books and I'm going to teach things and like that is gobbling good. For that, that's gobbling good.
Speaker 1:
It's a hard turn, isn't it? You know, it's like I go into train at my gym these days and it used to be all about my training, right, my training. You know, me, me, me, me. And now I go into the gym and some guy will ask to partner with me hey, tyler, how did you throw that right hand, how did you do this? And now it's all about their training, right. It becomes like you never want to be like that switch turn. You still want it to be me, but then you like, finally, okay, now I've gotten to the point in life Like I need to use some of this knowledge. I need to use, you know, that's what this shows about. Honestly, there's something I totally don't want to miss with you. So I'm going to backtrack just a little bit and I'll parlay it in this way, because I had a similar, you know, kind of story in some ways in high school. Really, I don't know, a lot of what I went through wasn't fair. You know, my dad, father was in prison and so automatically I was a bad kid. You know, because of that, seemingly my parents smoked, and my mom and her boyfriend, so I smelled like cigarettes. I've never had a cigarette in my life, but apparently I was a smoking kid, so I was a bad kid, so a lot of that was unfair and I was told I was stupid and you know things like that. And then, after I got out of that and I didn't care less about high school, I was like give me this job thing. I want some money I've never had. I had my first job when I was 13 years old. I was like this school stuff's just getting in the way, and then it took some time but I eventually got some bravery, because I know this is where our paths differ, right. So I eventually got some bravery and I ended up going to college and I was scared to death because I thought I was stupid, you know. And then I, and then I eventually took some classes and I'm like, hey, I can do this. You know like this is, and not only that, I'm doing good. And then I started thinking to myself you know what? What is the hardest degree they have here? What is the absolute hardest degree? You know like I'm going to do that because screw them, you know. And so I chose biochemistry and I got a degree in biochemistry, mostly, I mean, I loved, I ended up loving it, but mostly because, you know, like to prove them wrong, I think. And there was a lot of motivation there, you know, and it took that because it was full-time work, full-time school sort of thing. But I am a huge proponent of education and getting into it for certain things, right, and that's what I wanted to talk to you about too is because blue collar jobs in this world and I'll weigh in on this just a little bit from a monetary standpoint, if you think you need to go to college to make a bunch of money I had guys that worked for me that made six figures a year as painters, as a pollster, as a window tenor these days, I think, makes about $130,000 a year you don't have to go to college, right? You know, I'll be the first to support you if you want to go for some reason, and I got a lot out of it, but you don't have to go. And Barbie, I know that's something you talk about. Can you weigh in on that too?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I went to college, but it was for auto-mechanics, which I also went for paralegal for a couple of semesters a couple years later, and that's again a story for another day. But I completely like the trains are the place to be depending right. So, like there's people that want to go and like you know, you want, you know, we want the doctors, we want the lawyers, we need these jobs. But there's also like there's a huge stigma or was or is a stigma around having skilled tradesmen be one that they're not smart.
Speaker 1:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
And two that they're like uneducated, and three that they don't make a lot of money, which is so wrong. In every way In every way, more than ever. In every way, one is such a huge sense of satisfaction. In my experience, there's a huge sense of satisfaction working with my hands, whether it was turning wrenches as an auto mechanic or welding art or you know welding and fabricating, you know like brackets and stuff. When I was at a custom fab shop, there's such a huge sense of satisfaction of just working with your hands. For me, the physical labor is cathartic. I mean like I'm a high energy person, like I like to go and FSU and I'm just like all the time, and so like coming in here, I'm like it's cathartic. It is like the body, like a body by steel. Oh man, I'm like I got some muscle. I'm in here and I'm like abs are great. I'm like leaning back and grinding. I'm like one. I'm like you don't need a gym membership. I will tell you that.
Speaker 1:
But, it's.
Speaker 2:
the money is huge, especially today, because there's a huge push for the trades. There is so many ways to get into the trades that you don't even have to pay for your education. There are companies that will pay for you to go to school If you've got the right attitude. You need to show up ready to work and have that good attitude and the work ethic and there are companies that will pay you to go to school. You've got the. You also have the unions, which will train you on the job. I use the phone for the unions. It just there are so many opportunities and what's amazing is, like you know, yeah, look at, there's robots out there doing some welding and stuff. There's robots out there doing some of this work, but don't let that freak you out. There's people that need to learn how to run the robots. If you're like video games, get your ass to college for that. I mean, like there's something for everybody. You're like working outdoors? We have that. You're like working outdoors we have that, too, you want to work up, high or down low underwater. I mean like you want to work on the space station. I mean like there's literally like the, you know, the trades go into every single, every single. Well, every job, like pretty much every job, is the trades and it's just huge satisfaction If it pays good, you get to work fast because you don't need look at, you don't need a ton of skills to get to work. They can teach you a few things and you get to work. You will learn so much more on the job and, like these companies are really looking for people with the great attitudes and work ethic yeah, show up.
Speaker 1:
Talk about business opportunities. Oh yeah yeah, huge business opportunities. I mean you can't. You can't find good contractors in so many different ways, you know right now, and they make an incredible amount of money, you know they. They get to kind of write their own bill. One of the things that I'll pre-warn people about, though, getting into the trades, especially in business, is like, eventually, you work your way through the labor work and now you've got to change. Right Now you got to further educate because you got to run your business, you know, and you're going to be working less with your hands and more with your mind, which is a huge transition for me. You know it's like I still have to get out there and do labor work all the time, because that's fulfilling for me. It's easy to see, like, the results of your labor when you do labor work. It's hard when you start working here right, or paperwork, or office stuff. You know it's like that's a big transition. So if you, if you, enjoy seeing the fruits of your labor, that's going to be something I would say. You know, for people that open businesses in those categories, it's going to be your biggest transition when you go from working in your business to on your business.
Speaker 2:
That right. There is something I did not understand when I I didn't understand. I was in business when I quit my job, go full time as an artist. I only. I'm glad because I want to quit, I really want to. I am successful because of what I didn't know. It's like because, if I didn't have this stuff I wouldn't have. But also, I learned on the job. You know that. You know I just knew I needed to create art. There was nothing more for me. It's just, it was all about creation. And then, after like nine months, I'm like I burned through all the money I had, you know, saved up and cashed in my 401k and all this and I'm just like man. I'm like I realize I have to go and sell, so I have to learn to be a salesman, which had a really negative connotation for me. I'm like sales and a marketer. Yeah, marketing, sales, branding, like three things.
Speaker 1:
Oh, and I'm a pro editor.
Speaker 2:
I do all my own stunts. Right now it's you know, and it's like talking to companies and like working with companies and pulling. You know I had sponsors for a while that you know working with sponsors and like.
Speaker 1:
I'm talking to multi-million dollar and billion dollar companies about working with them. Like little, you know, I sit at a tailgate and drink a cold beer, and bonfire.
Speaker 2:
I like to weld stuff. Man, you guys want to work with me? I mean, like it's just kind of a yeah, it's definitely a learning process, but again, it goes back to trusting yourself and knowing like I overcame an obstacle like of I didn't know how to weld when I started, when I had the idea of being a sculptor. I never even welded before.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, Even in automotive I didn't even touch torches in automotive.
Speaker 2:
I didn't like, that was your tune, probably. I only got one year, so like I like, but someone else figured it out and that's my go-to phrase Like well someone else figured it out out of you know. Look at, there's really successful artists out there, like deeply successful, making more money than anyone else you can imagine, Like millions of dollars and I'm like if they could do it, so can I.
Speaker 1:
How did you realize it was a business? What? When did you realize it was a business?
Speaker 2:
Shoot.
Speaker 1:
And how did you come to that realization?
Speaker 2:
And I learned. I like I figured I had learned to sell, like. I'm still like. I'm nine years. September first is nine years as a full-time artist. I'm still learning to run my business. I'm still very much Not handling the.
Speaker 1:
The financial side is really what the hell, I had no idea, like people said, I would be a starving artist.
Speaker 2:
Y'all are wrong.
Speaker 1:
I'm gonna send you. I'm gonna send you one of my accounting videos, if you need it.
Speaker 2:
I'm just work. I'm like I'm doing a lot better on my budgeting of it and like looking at my account and not mixing my money between, like I'm Literally still learning to run a business. I'm a very in my humble opinion, I'm a deeply successful artist. I do exactly what I want every single day. But there's some stuff like I'm now like looking a lot more long-term, like I'm 47 after look at my, I'll act. Look at my brains percent I'm 47 years old man Like, yeah, there's stuff coming up that you know I'm now more aware of than I was five years ago and I'm like I want to make sure like I don't have like the health insurance and all that stuff. And so now it's like really starting to like, let's think like a business owner. So, when I was really running a business. I'm gonna say 2023, this year.
Speaker 1:
All right.
Speaker 2:
Really changed, like my move from New York to Florida and like this, just it changed Everything for me. Just like mentally I'm in a whole new like, I feel like I'm ten levels above where I was in New York, just thinking wise and really just the slowing down and thinking what's really important right now and what's gonna be important in the future, how can I position myself? I really like I haven't been super strategic in my business other than like I have moved towards what I felt was right until your time, and that's keeping the first thing first and that's creativity and craftsmanship and like what I'm creating and then showcasing it. But you know, I scrolled out for a little bit with sponsors, which I it was a great move Like a great move. But also I'm like I was focused on promoting other people and like, look at, I couldn't afford gloves. And so when the like the sponsors showed up and started handing me gloves, I'm like I was like taping gloves up and I was like this I'm like I could not afford an eight dollar pair of drivers gloves in which to weld in. So I was, you know, going through my scotch tape and just taping them, you know. And so for a few years I've had sponsors that are just like no, they pour money under my business, they pour products, do it I will please wear our glove.
Speaker 1:
Please wear.
Speaker 2:
But what happens is I realize this year is like here. I am like because I, like I, you know, I took some time off for my move. That was a big, huge transition.
Speaker 1:
So, going back into business, I went back, like going back to work.
Speaker 2:
I Went back in the same way. I started like looking for new sponsors and because I had entered my sponsorship deals, knowing I was gonna take some time off, and like I you know I can't serve you right now, we're gonna end this year like pick back up and we'll see and Moving back. Yeah, I started moving in that same direction, but something wasn't feeling right and so it took me a little bit to realize I'm like I just need to do business in a different way. Like here I am like and listen, like the stuff I'm using no, I'm using it because I love it, which has always been the truth like I would not hawk anything. That like knowing that I couldn't afford an eight dollar pair of gloves, I wouldn't wear a pair of gloves that I wouldn't stand next to and say, look at, these are worth the eight dollars, whether you can afford them or not. Very cognizant about that. And it's always gone back to that for me and making sure that I'm just, I'm integral in it, because there's people that are watching me and like they're like oh, barbie's got that. Like that's something. It's just like it's. It's spooky that I'm like, but I am responsible to hundreds of thousands of people that are watching the videos, and so I'm like what I'm showing, make sure I'm safe, make sure it's damn good, sacrifice a meal for their family or whatever else to buy a product that I'm promoting, something that I really believe in. I've turned a lot of stuff down y'all, but I've been Promoting these people and I'm like I really need to change and I need to look at my business a little bit differently.
Speaker 1:
You're, you're a brand and, just like a any brand, that is a business. You know you have to protect that brand and you're right, the long term of it is not using gloves that are gonna light on fire or you don't feel like you stand by, and so sometimes you have to Turn that stuff down, you know, and sometimes you have to. I was actually telling this story the other day. It's like when we, when I first started my business, you know like it was very underfunded, you know. And so any opportunity that came, you know, oh, for extra money was really needed, yeah, and and, and and. So this company approached us and I'm not gonna name it because I don't want to get in trouble or whatever and they wanted to film a Naughty video inside of our location and you know, like it, the money was really needed, right. Then, you know we could really use used it, but I turned it down because it didn't line up with our brand. Our brand was nothing to do with naughty videos, you know, in our, in our place of business, right, you know, and I still am glad that I made that decision. So people need to realize that, like your brand is everything and with personal brands, you know, like it's absolutely imperative because you know people do follow you and see what you're doing. I will. I want to actually ask you about that too. I had a friend in little similar saga to you, where he actually he was actually on the show last week. Nobody knows him and he's this guy I've trained with for years and he got frustrated with regular workout equipment. So he started like making his own in his gym, right, and then he started getting into welding and he does a look incredible fabrication work. Now you know, I'm making like equipment that you've never even seen. I would love, if you ever get out to Phoenix, I want to do do she, do him and we'll get down there. I'd love to see your minds together for a minute, but but he's definitely afraid of, you know, getting out there and like promoting his personal brand, even though he could be so helpful, he's so knowledgeable. What advice do you have for people that are afraid? Because, like we talked in the intro, it's like we need more people that are good, talking about good things, not the. You know, keep your eyes open and hate the world.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that's a tough one, because you have, like, it depends on what his purpose is, because his purpose might just be able to Just to do this stuff.
Speaker 1:
So the first thing I do is I see someone that's got a talent.
Speaker 2:
I'm like dude, you can make so much money with that, because my brain is literally wired for business now, because I've spent so many years and now I told you I'm not like like the whole brand thing. I'm like I'm really getting me, I'm niching that now I've been running a business doing okay, but now it's time to get serious. But like I Constantly can look at, like everything I look at, I'm like yeah, that's a business. That's a business if you did this, isn't it? I'm always like it's just a it is. It's like I look at well, I look at businesses, it's what I do. But yeah, that is like it would depend on what the person's purpose is if they're out there like, if they like you know some people just like to create art for themselves.
Speaker 1:
They don't want to show it off.
Speaker 2:
They don't want to let anyone else know that they're doing it. It's masterful way, better than anything I've ever thought of doing. They're way better than me, but they just need it for themselves and that's a thing and like maybe that is just something you know, but also like you know.
Speaker 1:
Is that a shame?
Speaker 2:
I made art for me. I still make art for me. I didn't understand like, look, I had no desire to go, like they don't let me be an influencer, let me write books and let me teach, like no clue, I fell into all of it. Like I fell into all of it and just like when I first started doing videos and teaching it because they weren't out there and I go, you know what I can teach someone else to do this? I'm like it would be really cool. I don't even know where I had the DALLS to do that, but I just started it one day and it was so awkward, so awkward, like I like I love interviewing. Now I'm so at peace with this. I'm so late, so comfortable. When I first, when I first started, I was like, very like when you won't move your world. It was just awful because I wasn't comfortable with myself and you know, and I'd say the camera, it's a phone I wasn't comfortable. Anything that's uncomfortable, anything that's scary, you just haven't had enough practice yet, if it's something yes want to go and you have to do it. Yeah, it's just like jump in, look at, I look like a frick moron. I leave all the like. There's 2015 videos up on YouTube. Go back and look at my old videos, people. Yeah, but you're still awkward Because I'm just like this is who I am. I'm yeah, that's my vibe. That's what you get when you get here cool art, fun, awkwardness but it's just. You know, it's just. It's taken a long time for me to be comfortable with myself, but that's practice too. It's like when I started walking, I sucked at it, I fell down a lot, I got bumps, I got bruises, but I'm really. I can walk and chew bubblegum now and I'm pretty proficient. I can blow bubbles, like you know my Walk and chew a bubblegum, you know. But it's just. It's just taking that practice and it's getting in the arena and look at if you were going to do something new, if you're gonna go start a new business, if you're gonna go start a new career, whatever look at someone else before you has started the business. Might not be the same business, but they've started a business. They have also felt awkward. They also didn't know what they were doing.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, what you do is what.
Speaker 2:
I do is I'm like this, like stuff on sculptures, like look it, I have no frigging clue what I'm doing on a day-to-day basis. I just continue to show up with a great attitude and a great work ethic and go what can I do next to move this forward, like moving forward, what can I do next? What's one thing, one tiny little thing, and sometimes I don't know what to do on my sculptures. I've that problem. Yesterday or the day before, time doesn't exist, and so I'm like I know I figured out I was starting to get frustrated and like this happens to me. Every single sculpture I make is like I'll get to a point, the armpits on something I can't talk about. I'm like I'm making armpits, you're welcome, but I couldn't get it and I was so far like I'm the, I'd already like cut an arm off to do it and then he welds the arm back on. I'm like how come? I can't figure this out. I'm like I've been welly for 15 years. I bet you know full-time, of which you know like I'm putting in 10 hour days at least. I like you know it's on a time I'm like how can you not get it? And so there are sometimes I have to step away from that physical work and I sweep my shop. Oh, that's, it'll come to me. I know the answer will come to me. It's being in the arena and it's just playing in that arena and like I don't work anymore either, play I know I'm not allowed to work. I love what I'm doing. I'm like why are you taking it so serious, girl? You're just playing.
Speaker 1:
No big deal, it's like it'll come to you.
Speaker 2:
Just keep playing around with that. Let's go like my words and how I'm speaking to myself and like makes a huge difference.
Speaker 1:
How do you know when you've reached mastery? Was that a hard thing for you to understand?
Speaker 2:
I don't know?
Speaker 1:
Did you know when you got there? I reached mastery.
Speaker 2:
I don't know what mastery is, like it's.
Speaker 1:
Well, how do you? Know, when you're good at something.
Speaker 2:
Oh man, that's a great question. How do you know? You know what I know? I'm good when I step back and I feel really good about what I'm doing, like when I look at what I'm doing and I step back because, like everyone, else's opinion at the end of the day, like it only matters here and here. When I look at what I've done, I step back and I'm like there's nothing else I would change on that. Like that's how I feel good and I definitely like moving forward. There's some, there's sculptures I have from 2018 that I still own and I'll look at them and I can go in there in my kitchen. I'm like I would change this, this and this, and so I don't ever want to have that feeling again. So in 2018, I wasn't the artist that I am today. Now I did the best I could like completely best. But the sculpture which I can't have it on my bench because I can't show it yet, it's on the floor. But the sculpture that I'm working on I will not finish that, even though time is of the essence, like I will still. I will work like around the clock until there's not one more spot on there that I would change. Like that's how I know I've reached mastery is like something that I will stand next to and be like I wouldn't change a thing and like that's me today, right. Like I think we need to look at ourselves as that. Like for what I've been doing. I'm like I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in right, but also like moving forward, like I wouldn't change a thing about me today, can't Right? So being at peace with that, like being at peace with that and then moving forward. You know, I don't ever want to stand next to myself and say I would really, I want to change. I don't like how I'm treating that person or I don't like how I'm treating that person. You know, it's a lot easier being nice to other people.
Speaker 1:
Can I say that you know and hopefully you don't mind I've actually known you for quite a while. You know through online and you know a little bit of discussion here and there. It's like would it be fair to say that we were very normal people that decided we weren't going to be anymore and we decided to put everything we had into a passion, because I want kids to understand out there right now that it's like I can speak for myself and I'm going to try to speak for you too. It's like we were normal, normal people, right, and we didn't probably think we could do much in this world. And then you find, like that thing, that you have a passion for a mission, for you use that chip on your shoulder and now you can absolutely have. There's not a single person out there right now. I'm positive of it. That can't be amazing at something, absolutely positive of something.
Speaker 2:
So I completely agree with you and, like I, like nobody's normal, but also we're all the same. We're literally all the same. So, like whatever like Elon Musk is doing, like we can all be Elon Musk. If we put in Elon Musk time on whatever it is, it's in front of us. You know I'll be talking, I'll be barbie. Like I'm obsessed Like what you're looking at, like online. I do feel like the people in the world that stand out are the ones that are, you know, again, like you said, like very normal people. They just are hyper focused on one thing that they're deeply passionate about and they've put in time to where, when you look at what I'm doing, it looks like I'm creating miracles over here. Like I have people that are like I've been welding for 30 years and I don't even understand how you do what you're doing, and it's just like I haven't. Well, but it's just like I am obsessed with details. I'm obsessed with the welding. I'm obsessed with, you know, creating mastery. Like it'll probably never happen. But also I'm like who knows right. Like there are people that look at my stuff like, oh, it's perfect, I'll look at it. I'm like I got about a hundred more hours on that and I can fix it. You know, but it's that, like the obsession, the time it just boils down to, like it really just does, like focus, loving, joyful, peaceful focus on that which brings you joy. Like what do you?
Speaker 1:
know what do you have.
Speaker 2:
if you're a gamer, like, go put in the time on the games, go like understand you can make a lot of money if you want to, and that's like, and that's the thing is like some people just do it for the joy, like for me, I'm doing it for the joy, but also I get paid back. Like I'm like you've got to be cramping me, like really, I'm like I would do this stuff for free, but I don't have to, but I don't have to. I'm so like I'm living like this wildlife, because I had, like this that you know, people are following me, like you followed me. I'm just like, hey, I'm just, like you said, a very normal person. I'm saying, like I make armpit fart noises and, like you know, whatever it's like, I'm just normal. I just I'm stunned that when people come up to me that they're like people come up and meet me and they're like, oh my God, this is like the weirdest thing in the world. I'm like.
Speaker 1:
I just like to weld stuff. Man Like, I'm like no different than any other welder that's out there, that welds it loves it Right.
Speaker 2:
Like I'm no other, like a race car driver, you know, if you're passionate about what you do, like if you could find something that you're passionate about and this is something else it's like people like, oh, I don't have a passion, I don't know what it is. Here's a really cool way to figure it out Go back to your childhood and think about what you really liked doing, right. What did you enjoy doing as a kid? Did you play with Legos? Did you like to draw? Did you like to read or write? Did you make stuff? What were you doing as a kid? Like when you would just get lost, completely lost, and just like time would disappear. Like. That's a really great way to. It's a great place to start and looking for those times in your life when time disappears, because time doesn't exist for me, like I said, unless I have a deadline.
Speaker 1:
I think that's amazing advice. And here's the thing I think. So hear me here. I think there's two different types of people. I think there's those like you that do what they love and they fall into that. Do what you love and they never work a day in your life. You know like, and that is beautiful, good for you, like. You know like and like. I think that's wonderful advice. Going back to your childhood, I tell the other side of the world do what you hate, right, if you hate something in this world, do something that's going to change what you hate, and that's where I actually fall in the bucket of you know like. There's things that I can't stand, so I invent businesses and tools to change that, and it could be something as simple as you know like. So I make it dramatic because I think the world should be about a mission, but it could be something as simple as, like, I hate the fact that I couldn't get a good hamburger and good customer service, right, so maybe I should start that business. I mean, I hate the fact that small businesses get picked on and you know, I hate the fact that we don't take enough care of underdogs and a lot of underdogs in the world don't think they can have what they want, and so I've opened a company that basically supports and elicits underdogs to get into business around the educational aspects. Right, so I'm doing something I hate? Right, you're doing something you love. I mean, their passion is still there. It's still a mission for both of us.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so it's such an interesting way of looking at that and it's, yeah, what a brilliant insight and I would have never thought of that. It's completely opposite, but it makes so much sense. I'm constant looking out and like again it goes back to that could be a business. That could be a business like any kind of number of things. I really dig on that.
Speaker 1:
You know, that's what's tough about business too, because you get into what you know like you're fortunate if you had your passion. You know, like you knew this was your passion and it just happened to turn into a business. I think that is absolutely wonderful, and I think the best businesses and most fulfilling ones happen that way. And then there's the other side of the world. It's like that here's online, it's like I just should open a business, I'll work my own hours and you know like I'll make millions of dollars. And then they get into it and they wonder why the failure rate 70% is? Because they've been set up for failure. They chose the wrong business first off. They didn't spend any time like pre analyzing it before they started, and then, when it got hard and it wasn't everything, the internet promised right, you know so like it's impossible to quit when you hate something or love something, like we do, right, we can't quit. It's impossible, it's part of us.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it makes so much like for me. Like I feel like I don't know the numbers or anything like that, but I feel like this I didn't get into business to make money. I got into business because I was drawn to scope, Like I must, I like I needed to breathe and like that's all I could. Like it doesn't make any sense, but I knew I needed to and never done it before, didn't even like, but I'm like I must do this. So it's like I got into it because I was drawn to it, like magnetically drawn to it. If I'd gotten into it for money, I would have failed because the money wasn't there. But if you go into a business for a passion, whether it's you passionately love it or you passionately hate it, you're there for passion. And when the money doesn't show up at first, and maybe you'd be lucky and maybe you're one of the bazillion like well, 1 million, bazillion percentage of people that actually make money in the first 80 years of your business. But I mean like, if the money isn't there and you go into business to make money and the money's not there, it's like you're gonna quit. It's easy to quit because there's no, there's no mission or passion behind it. So if you've got mission or passion in front of you, you're drawn to it, versus like you know, I have to force myself to go to work every day and like no, I'm like drawn to go to work, and that's a really great indicator. If you're in a good business for you, it's like, are you drawn to it? Are you really just like, like Peppi La Pew right? Like I don't know if you guys remember Peppi La Pew the skunk and he would like follow the scent. Like, or two cans, sam, follow your nose. Like that's what I'm like completely about my business, like I'm completely drawn to scope. I think people get.
Speaker 1:
I think people get confused on that point too. It I think so. Steve Jobs says do something you feel is great work and that, at the end of the day, is it too. You know, not everybody loves exactly the business or what they're doing, but they have to feel like it's something that is decent, right, or at least the tools that the success gives you, allows you to do something that's fulfilling, right. It's hard, hard, hard to quit a mission, a passion, right, it's easy to quit a business. So I tell people first analyze what you want to do with your life goals and then make sure that business idea fits into there too, you know, because, and then it could be well, I'm just going to start this business for two years, I'm going to sell it, it's going to lead me to the next one. That's fine, as long as you know what you're doing. But I've been, I've spent a lot longer than I should into businesses. I shouldn't be in for the wrong reasons and like luckily, I refuse to quit because I have all those people chirping behind my ears that I will, you know. And so I'll never quit, you know. So I was lucky enough to have that, you know, even in the businesses. That didn't align with me, but now I'm like huge proponent. You have to make it align with who you are and what you want out of life and the missions you have.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and that's like it's creating a business that serves you, like when.
Speaker 1:
I talked about that.
Speaker 2:
I don't have to go to the gym, like I am so physically fit from working in here.
Speaker 1:
You know when I lay my head down at night, like I put in nine, 10 hours of what I feel dead and the shop that's before.
Speaker 2:
I do my website and all the video editing and stuff. Like physically, I go to the shop, so like when I go to bed at night, man, I'm so satisfied with the fact that I put in a hard day's worth of work, like there's such a deep sense of success. I even set up taller. Just thinking about it, I'll be damned. It changes your physiology. If you're in a job that you hate or like you're working on, it doesn't matter what you do, it's a craftsmanship. Like, just, if you are focused on like, how can I do? Like I hate my job? This sucks ass. I don't want to be here right now, but also I'm gonna be the best XYZ that I can be. Well, I'm here because it only serves you, moving forward, right, but also, like you know, work on an exit plan, get yourself set up, but look at how you know understand what your business is gonna entail. I think that, like I never go to any of this stuff, like, looking back, it's so easy. Like you know, I did. I have sculpted my business over the years to serve me on a deep level. I'm not, you know, I'm not serving my business, I'm serving my clients. Oh, and it just like that, right there is. It's like that's a huge difference, but my business serves me Like I love to travel. I took off eight months to move from New York to Florida Because I wanted to go on a racetrack and ride my motorcycle around. Daytona and I wanted to go play and have fun with my friends and so. I built a business that I could do that. And now, when it got time to go back to work, I'm like, oh, I can't wait to be back. Because then I'm like, well, what were you even thinking? But I'm just like I've had the best year of my life, Literally. I'm like it serves me, like my books are making money and my videos are made Like I've set this up. I know I love to travel. I know I love to be around amazing, creative people. You know I say yes to podcasts, I say yes to interviews because then I get to leverage your audience, I get to inspire even more people. You know service.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely, and so it is.
Speaker 2:
I'm working on now, like moving forward, it's all about service, like I built a business that serves me and now I'm going to be able to take that and it's going to allow me to serve other people on such a infinite level. And that's where, like that's where I must be.
Speaker 1:
And that's what people you know. The other thing about wanting to help the world is you have to have resources to help the world. That's why I love business for people. Right, you open a business now. You have resources to change the world. That's why I'm passionate about bringing underdogs into business too, because they bring their hearts for where they came from and the things they were frustrated with. Now we give them some resources through their business that they've earned themselves. Yes, what they're doing, they're changing those areas of the world. You know, I think that's how you create collateral systems and impact, you know. So you and I have big hearts for people. I see every single day that you're doing something you know like for people out there and you have some charity stuff that you do. You really you tell people about Blue Carler and women that can get into the trades. It's like you're doing good work and you should feel really good about it, right, and you're changing things for people.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it is my greatest desire, that is. I know like with this, like underdogs. I know the best people I've ever met in my life have been people who have been kicked really hard by life.
Speaker 1:
Yes, and have overcome it, and ones I know like I know people that have been to prison.
Speaker 2:
They've gone through the drugs, they've gone through like all kinds of stuff, you know, and they are the most wonderful human beings on earth and you know to be able to, you know, reach out to someone, like, look, I just like I said, I'm just a normal person. If someone reaches out to me like, hey, barbie, I'm a tough day, I'm like, dude, I got your back. I'm like let me find all the people that are having a tough day Like it's weird because of like how like social media is. Like I've got a big following on social media because of my art. I'm still just a normal person and I still have bad days. You know, I still have days off and stuff. And like there are people out there it's like if I can take this gift that was given I worked my ass off for it, but it's still a gift because I didn't expect this. This is a happy side effect of obsession. Is what it really is? It's this beautiful side effect of my obsession with the art. Is it like people like look to me for stuff and I'm like man if I could take a couple of minutes a day and just be like hey, dude, you're my spirit animal, or I'm proud of you. You know, like that stuff, like that man.
Speaker 1:
Like.
Speaker 2:
I only imagine, like when Jesse Combs like I don't know if you know what Jesse Combs is, but I met this woman who I was just completely like enamored with in the automotive industry. She really worked her ass off and she honored herself, she honored the automotive industry, she honored all women by who she was. And I met her and she knew who I was. I'll tell you what I fangirled like. I fangirled on her Like I was so like just in awe of who she was and it meant the world to me that she had said kind words. I mean, there's a few women in the, there's a lot of women out there. Like Instagram for me has been like the most incredible place to connect with. And like the trades, the sisters if you're looking for a sister and going to the trades, because, man, I will tell you what it is there in spades. But these women are just like, they're so kind and so I'm like I mean, like it makes me think I'm like dang, if I like. She said that to me and it made me feel like so good, I got a picture on the wall. I'm like how can I do that for someone? Cause I've been blessed with this. I didn't ask for it. I had no frigging clue that this would turn into what it does man, but to be free around I think it was less. Give me a second, I'll get his name Les Brown, this dude. He says each one teach one. Man, les Brown is a BAMF. I love him very much. It's been a while since I've heard his. I used to listen to his videos a lot. He says each one teach one. He says if you get yourself up to a level and you, like you, you know you do something for yourself. He says you turn right around. He says you reach your hand down and you help someone else out and like that's like that's lived, so like that's so personal for me, right, because I'm still like, yes, I'm barbed in the wilderness, I'm making bank now and I'm like I'm living like this dream life, but I'm also still, you know, the girl that has gone through all the stuff that she's gone through and so like there's still like that, there's still that little girl that lives inside of me. They got you know, got beat up they got like, and again I did this to myself. I made all my own choices that led me all the places. I'm so grateful for it. But I was like and it's made me who I am. I'm grateful for it because it's made me who I am. I wouldn't change it and that's why, because I'm in love with myself today, but also, you know, every now and then, the little girl that has self doubt in me, you know, in here it creeps in. Sometimes I'm like, oh, y'all, you're screwing up that scope. You don't do this until like, you know, and so like, just, there's a whole bunch of me's out there, you know, and I just want to help as many me's as I can Cause like we've all, like we're all in this together, right, yeah, oh, I believe that, I believe that whole heartedly, yeah. A couple of people can change the world. I'm no different than that. You know the Kardashians and, like all these people, it just we're all the same person Like. We're all out there doing everything we can to make it through the human condition. You know I've been blessed with this platform. If I can use it for good man, then please, please, help me use it for good, you know.
Speaker 1:
That's you know. That's what I see, and I'm not saying there's not good people from every level coming out, but I've seen an especially amount of high percentage in underdogs that come out and change the world. How, in your opinion, do we make more underdogs into success?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, we make more underdogs.
Speaker 1:
No, how do we? How do we help more underdogs get into success?
Speaker 2:
I got you.
Speaker 1:
I was like how do?
Speaker 2:
we make more underdogs so they can overcome being an underdog. I'm like that's actually a good thing, like maybe we should make more underdogs, yeah, but they do turn out and listen, like the underdogs say. The underdogs are the lucky ones, man Cause I'll tell you what. I do believe this very strongly. I have seen people grow up in the same house with the same parents, with the same set of circumstances, turn out completely different. This is all through history, right, like all through history, this happens, and so you'll have a house that has one person's underdog and the other person's been given everything. Weirdly. And I'll tell you what, man, I like being that underdog. So I damn well like being that underdog because I've seen, I've seen that and I've seen that the underdogs that want to end up coming out on top Eventually. I've seen it a whole bunch, man, and like it's weird and it's because we're forced to handle our own shit is what it is like. We're forced into the position of Look at, you have to walk on your own. No one's gonna hold your hand. If someone is holding your hand your whole life, if you continue to be given things and life is easy for you and you don't have hardships, man You're gonna be used to have oh so much as welcome. Your life is so easy Because if anything ever does come up your man, you're screwed. You will never know how to handle that hardship. Our underdogs that have been there and done that when the going gets tough.
Speaker 1:
They're just like.
Speaker 2:
I've been there, done that and this ain't no kill for a climber, and so that underdog, I think, is the greatest asset that you can have. Like, give me the underdogs. I'd much rather put someone that's been through hardship beside me in the trenches, because when the going gets tough, you know, I'm saying who's the one that's got the wear a fall and I want someone who's got wear a fall.
Speaker 1:
So well said. And here's the thing I keep telling, like the younger generation to, especially the business people that come to me and say when can I get funding and working, where can I get this loan and this?
Speaker 2:
Go make a good, figure it out, man Don't ask and you'll be good work for it.
Speaker 1:
You'll be glad for it when you make it right. Because it's like Garth Brooks was actually Talking to JFK Jr and he's like what should I warn my daughters about? Right, as as growing up, as Garth Brooks kids and JFK Jr Says let them know right away, no matter what they do in life, nobody will ever think they earned it. And I don't want that out of my life, like I don't want anybody. I mean Jeff Bezos. You can ask him he's the richest man in the world. If you were to ask him today If he would take that loan from his parents. So every single person on the planet says well, jeff made it because he got all these loans. You know, at the beginning Jeff would probably start with nothing again. So if you're out there right now and you think that you can't start something because you're not getting a loan, you don't have a wrench uncle or whatever. I guarantee once you make it you'll be glad you didn't yeah, figure it out for yourself, man.
Speaker 2:
Go figure out for yourself. Stop relying on other people for your happiness, for your financial security, for your anything. Figure it out yourself, because there's such a sense of pride. I did that, man. That was me, that's right. There's the best feeling on earth. That's the FU fuel. Right, there Is yo. I did it against all odds. He's even better when it's against all odds, man, because I love the underdog story, you know. I mean like I mean that's what money is Right?
Speaker 1:
I fell. We buy. We buy things that we think are gonna make us feel something right. We'll buy a fancy sports car because we think we're gonna look cool and people are gonna look at us awesome. You know like. It's a feeling you can't buy. When you make it yourself, a feeling is more valuable than anything, because we try to pay for feelings all the time. You know. But yeah, I Don't know if that lands like, but I think that's part of the key to knowing. I mean, average business is started with $6,000. If you can't get out there and I tell people work a job, you hate, work a job you absolutely hate and be the best at it because guess what, that hate for that job will keep you motivated. When I started my first business, I used to keep a picture of a bartender below my desk and I'd be like you want to go back to that. You're having a good day. You want to get, go back to getting called the help and say clean up this mess. And you know like, you know Treated like a servant. No, I'll stay, I'll stay here, stick it out. They wasn't that bad.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, stay motivated like that, having that Physical. I'm a visual person, which I think everyone is well, not everyone, but like I'm a visual person, so having that picture, or having a very clear and definite, like what am. I aiming for or what do I not want to go back to Having that's probably really powerful in my shop Normally. I've got a picture of the tent that I was set up in selling selling art when I first started. It's got three different four, including the top three different colors on it. I like I have Tarks around the side. It was ghetto, is all ghetto and I Because like as. I'm, you know, welding, for you know, just like the I'm hunting money that I'm working for now I just on real and the companies that are reaching out to me and I'm just like, but I keep that there because it's like work hard but also remember where you come from. Man, like, remember that there's a lot of people out there doing that too, and like taking, no, taking my time, and like if I can talk to someone, if there's one person out there that's gonna hear this and say, you know what Barbie said follow your passion and don't give up, man, it's gonna feel good eventually if I can have like please. You know it gives me goosebumps. I'm like, just keep that. You know Like what's got me here. You know like here, like my heart, like will get me like to wherever, but like just yeah, they like I wear my heart on my sleeve. It makes I this problem my best assets. Not that you asked, but like that right there, I'm like just that feel-good thing and like no one that maybe I can. You know, just getting online for me is, as it's been, less and less about like oh, you know, can I get more reviews? And it's more and more about like how can I go in and serve other people, like we go, support other people and see what they're doing and follow you know following, you know just going and other people because man, like having that support. Can I even begin to tell you how much that means to me to have you? You know, for years to to connect with me and watch what I'm doing and you know to just that's huge. You know how can I do that for other people?
Speaker 1:
You know, I have to tell you this because I think you'll appreciate it right, and so my whole life, probably every my parents. I love my parents but they're not like amazingly supportive, you know, like they're not the type of people and I think it's because of you know their system it's like we just hope I think our family creed, you know, if you look back 400 years ago, is hope for better days and that, you know, that kind of explains my parents, you know, and so and so all these people in my life never totally Supported me in the things that I was doing right and so, and I got so used to just doing it on my own, proving I'm wrong, things like that. And then I went and I got asked to go give a lecture to a group of underprivileged, first-generation college kids from rough backgrounds and stuff. And this kid stands up at the end of the speech, which I was deathly afraid it was one of the first things I ever did in public and he goes Tyler, I'm gonna watch you because I can't wait to see what you do next. And I got goosebumps. Right now it's just thinking about I hit, I think of that kid a couple times a week. I'm like man, I better get something going. I better do more today. You know I like that kid's watching me and he's counting on me. You know he's like he's cheering in my corner right now and I better keep. I better not to let him down, right, and so that's such a weird feeling transition from. I'm gonna prove him wrong too. I can't let people down, right.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, um, I've been given, I've been given a platform. I'm like several channels, I've been given a platform and again, I didn't expect it. But I'm like how can I use my powers for good, because I may have been given this? And it's like what can I do to serve you know? How can I give back? What should I be showing, what shouldn't I be showing? You know, and just, and then that's a thing to my social media, like that's a business, it's you know, and it's like, solely, how can I use this so that I can serve, serve the most people, or what moves can I make that will serve the most people? You know it's it has turned from F you Into gratitude and like, and that's what the the book is about, that words, it's like that, like F you all show you. You get to a certain point in your Just, in your journey, where you've just it really does. It turns into gratitude. You'll have these successes like a small success. You know that's not too bad. Like no kidding and just it could be something as simple as like finishing a project, but like just yeah, ends up rolling into that, that gratitude, yeah, that that responsibility to others. I definitely think keeping that is that responsibility to self? First, because, at the end of the day, like I'm the only one looking me in the mirror and if I didn't put it, full days worth of work.
Speaker 1:
If I was over here.
Speaker 2:
Fussing around and, you know, playing on Instagram when I should be sculpting. You know which happens. I mean we, we can't help anybody else before we help ourselves. Right, we have to have successes to make big impacts.
Speaker 1:
This has been like I've wanted to have this conversation with you for a couple years and like Now we're like I don't want to take your whole day because I know you got stuff to do, but you're amazing, like I love your mindsets. We're in so many ways similar, in so many ways different too, and I think it's like it's so important to hit it from both sides, because there's people out there that'll get what I'm saying. There's people out there that will get what you saying. We're not what you're saying, you know. And then in the middle we meet quite often, you know, and so, like I, you're an absolute Thrilled to watch what you're doing. I can't wait to see what you keep doing. You know I'm glad to have you in my network of amazing people. You give me hope for the future and you know, like I think you're a tremendous underdog, game changer and bootstrapper. You know, and I really want to thank you for you know, taking the time to come to a chat with me today. You can find Barbie the welder everywhere too. You know, I wouldn't bother. Your social media links are going to put posted on my website. I highly suggest you follow her, even if you're not into the, the trades and welding and art, which I don't know anybody that's not but you know, like just your daily outlook on life. I think it's important to watch.
Speaker 2:
That means absolute worlds, but I'm so grateful for your support for a long time. It just I'm mind blown by that, but I'm also I'm super stoked to see what you're going to do next. I'm definitely watching closely, so I I super appreciate it.
Speaker 1:
I want to thank you all for tuning in once again underdogs, game changers and bootstrappers and please keep going, and if we can ever, ever do anything or talk about anything that's going to help you with your underdog journey, please feel free to reach out. Thanks again.
Barbie The Welder is an American metal sculptor, skilled trades advocate, & author from Pompano Beach, Florida. Barbie's hand sculpted masterpieces have been installed by cities & companies & are collected by discerning clients across the globe. Barbie's use of repurposed metal in her masterpieces honor her Mother & Father & the creativity they instilled in her.
