0:00 I didn't get to my spot by trying to be like somebody else. I got to my spot finding my >> you were trying to >> I was trying to catch up. That's different. And then I realized I never could, so I turned. And that's what That's how you find yourself. >> All right, it's another one of those moments where we give advice because who the hell are we to give any useful tips on anything, right? Don't listen to us, but here's a here's a little issue that I was thinking about. Um you know, like you may not have ever felt like this, but there might There might be some things that you feel like this about. Do you ever feel like you're past your prime with something? Whether it's anything, a skill, um you know, uh >> sex >> Uh sex, yeah, sure. Some kind of uh um adventurous nature that you you know,
0:51 you're kind of it's behind you. Anything like that. What's some advice you have for adults who feel like their time is up on something? >> [sighs] >> I recently did a a video on my Instagram about like whenever it When when is it too late for anything? Like kind of like on this topic, right? And then a lot of people were like, "Dude, that's so true. Like sometimes you're never too late to do anything. Like every Like it's just up in your mind that it's like, "Oh, it's too late to like enjoy something." Or it's too late to pursue painting or whatever it is, right? But um if I feel that something's too late for me, it's because I think a lot of physical activity is something where I feel like the older
1:41 I got, the less risk I wanted to take. >> Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> So when I was younger, I think I had a lot of fun doing more extreme sports stuff. But now if I like surf or skate or anything, I just want to a I don't want to push the limits and try tricks and go wilder like some some folks are down with that but like I think something in me made me go I have plenty of joy just enjoying driving straight. Or like riding and feeling the you know just feeling it. But then some might argue that's because you come from a place of accomplishment. Like it's easier to to be content doing mundane ████ when you have cool ████ to look back on. But what if you someone's like I don't have stuff like that. I've always wanted to do something that you
2:33 know felt like it gave my life a fulfillment. I get I get what you're saying. Um I think I think there's actually no age limit. Well, so for example I got into golf a little too late to ever think that I could To be a professional, right? Yeah, to to hit some version of a prime. But like ironically the only reason why I even cared to think like that because like doll I'm never going to be any version of a professional golfer. But we've also maybe it's just because I've understood what it took to like learn a physical craft and understand the work ethic that it took to become a version of a professional for something with movement and like body like awareness and all that stuff and like improving the physicality so so I understand the athleticism or version of it. But I understand that I'll never reach a point that I would love to but that doesn't mean I guess in this your question that
3:24 like because I'll never get to a point of like some version of satisfaction or greatness I can't be some sort of influential phenomenal person in that space in a way or it participate in a way that it's like rewarding. Okay, yeah yeah yeah yeah. Whether it be like a you know I I see I've had thoughts about like coming up with like a golf fashion brand. I've had thoughts about like put putting together like a gentleman's club of people that you know or like a little action Strip golf? that play golf and then just like creating you know a movement or like type of events or or club competitions or tournaments, you know, to like I have dreams of opening up a golf simulation type of like swing room and stuff, but like it can't just be a place where people practice. There's got to be a vibe. It's got to be like the Garrison from Peaky Blinders. Like >> Too late for Tiger Woods, too late to be Tiger Woods, but not too late to be involved.
4:14 >> And at the highest level still too. It just depends on what you're genuinely like follow the interest and the curiosity, but still play in the realm that makes sense to where you're at is all. >> Yeah, but what I don't get is people that are like, well, if I can't be Tiger Woods, it's just not even worth it. >> They're just trying to find excuse not to start. >> Yeah, that's what it really is. >> But I think that's what it is. It's It's the all or nothing. Do you really love the thing that you do? Cuz then you'll get involved some way, right? >> But think of all the people that have been doing it since childhood and they're still not Tiger Woods. So, I'm like that is already just a stupid ass thing to think that you'll be number one Michael Jordan in anything and then it's like >> Oh, well, I'm 35 now. I can't do it. But being a participator is always there's no age limit. What do you think about like let's get really real for a sec, all right? We both know lots of dancers
5:04 who kind of, you know, started when we started or even before and kind of never achieved anything really that, you know, they just but they didn't work uh you know harder or less hard, whatever. They in the game the same way that we were. Uh When somebody asks you like, "Hey Anthony, give me your honest opinion. I want to I want to make it as a dancer. I have huge dance dreams." >> 45? >> Yeah, well, they're not 45, but let's say they're like 30 and they're just like, you know, um do you think I have a shot at greatness in dance or am I like those other guys that did it for ████ 30 years and nothing, you know? >> Both politically correct and honest answer that I give people is that like you [snorts] definitely can do that in the dance world. In the dance
5:54 space, right? Like somebody who wants to be in the film industry doesn't mean everybody's going to be an actor. There's literally a position where you can be in that industry and participate on the greatest projects of all time, but you might be a PA. You might be the gaffer. You might be the lighting assistant. You might be in wardrobe. You might So like script supervisor. >> Yeah, you're still [clears throat] in that realm. >> If you're really passionate about that craft in that realm, there's not one avenue to participate or build a career out of it. And you could still stay exposed in the thing that got you in. So So even in dance, you wanted to be a professional dancer like 30, right? Yeah, maybe you're not going to be going on tour with like the hottest pop artist like of the world. Doesn't mean you can't go on tour with like a smaller artist in your like country or city or whatever. Doesn't mean you can't throw tours or get into that space or or open studios or throw events or like recitals and stuff. Doesn't mean you
6:45 can't participate in that world at the highest level still. >> Well, what if their dream is just to >> I don't ████ care. >> What if they're saying straight up, I want to I want to be like you, Anthony Lee. How do I do that? Are you able to at least like remove yourself from the like Can you be mean enough to be like Ain't going to happen. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, I'll I'll be I'll be honest enough to be like the second you anybody says be like you is the second you're going to fail. Like >> Oh. >> I I didn't get to my spot by trying to be like somebody else. I got to my spot finding my >> trying to >> I was trying to catch up. That's different. And then I realized I never could, so I turned. And that's what That's how you find yourself. >> But let's just say like let's without the pivoting, right? If someone just straight up goes like, "Dude, I want to be a singer." >> Okay. >> And it's like I I I would argue that music is probably one of the hardest industries to
7:36 >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> But they could be the biggest importer of karaoke mics. >> They could. >> [laughter] >> You know what I'm saying? Like >> Yeah, but without without without pivoting because I think your point was it's probably easier for us to pivot cuz we've made it somewhere. So it's not it's not like can I do it? It's more like I can find something else that would crush it, right? Whereas like if someone's never done it, that's the thing that they dreamed of is I want to do ballet. I want to do that thing, right? >> Okay, that's yeah, exactly because they're asking from a place of they're not doing it right now. >> They're not doing it. >> They're just like if I started, can I get to what you're doing? >> And my answer to all of that all the ████ time is they're so in love with the idea, but most of them won't go through with it. >> even like the thing itself, huh? >> I'm like are you down to ████ work 10
8:26 hours 7 days a week? Cuz you can I mean people could get to a mastery level if they practice enough. Obsessively. Like and they could be a good technical singer, maybe not the greats, but they could they could be above average in a lot of things with the cuz I believe in the 10,000 hour like philosophy. If you spend a lot of ████ time on something, you'll be good enough. >> Yep. >> You'll be above average. You'll be above average. But >> [laughter] >> You'll be better than you started. >> You guys know there's a lot of people in the game that don't ████ practice. >> Yeah. >> So like they'll be like I don't know why I don't ████ make it, man. And it's like how many auditions did you go to this month? None. How did you practice anything? Like no, you're being outcompeted because you just have hope and you're not practicing. You're not doing any work. And you do a lot of work
9:17 in your head cuz you're in your head a lot and you think, but I'm like a lot of the guys that did lose out, it's their work ethic. >> Yeah, I guess so. >> But I would say that first and foremost I'm like what do you want out of this, right? And I'm like I want to be ████ number one. And I'm like People [snorts] that people [laughter] that are still working I don't know if they can still make it. >> What I do honestly tell people cuz I like I do get that question a lot. Every time I go somewhere, I'm getting some version of that. >> Especially if you go to other countries, yeah. >> And the truth is, crazy people can do crazy things. But, that's also why like not everyone's meant to be successful, only the crazy people are. So, if you're willing to be crazier than everybody that you know, I think the answer is yes. But, if you can't do that, then like you're going to be working really, really hard. So, have fun with whatever happens. Like, just just take the ride. Like, the destination, right, pointing at it is
10:08 like rarely ever where you end up and are satisfied. Even if it's that linear and you can get there, you're still going to be hungry for something else. Or even in the journey, you find yourself somewhere else. Like, that's that's also a great journey. >> change your answer depending on like, let's say the person asking you? Like, oh, can I can I do you think I can do it? Do you Does your answer change depending on when you look up where they are now? Like, like you Okay, let's see how good you are. Or do you just have an answer? You know what I mean? Do you actually like watch the videos of them dancing? >> It depends on how much you care about that person. >> Well, if they send you a video and they're like, "Take a look at this. Can I make it as a dancer in LA?" And they want to move it all from ████ Kazakhstan. >> Judging on just their talent alone doesn't mean anything. There's so There's so many people that are like decent, but they just know how to play
10:59 the game. So, it's like that's actually so much of the journey and everything, not just dance, right? And literally every just networking. We were just talking about the Seattle trip. Like, so much about it is just like how you present yourself because everybody's trying to do it, but like who stands out? Who's a pleasure to work with? Who are you willing to work with again just cuz you're a good person, not how talented you are. >> give that advice to the same person if they're 35 years old? And you know what I mean? Does it still apply the same way? Like, if they're 35 years old and they're like, "Dude, there's is a for a high school kid that they're Do you think I could make it? And I'm like, "F███ no! You look like a grown man. The ████ is wrong with you?" >> I put that point is like my responsibility or my goal to like inspire but with less hopium and more realism. How can it stay inspirational
11:49 with reality? >> Everyone needs a Anthony to be like, "I could kind of do it, but he's right." >> you know there's some people kind of like me where if you told me I couldn't, I'm more motivated than if you said I could. >> Well, that's cuz you actually accomplish ████ >> But then it makes me like want to be like, "He said I couldn't do it." >> Because you were you were crazy enough to be able to actually make it. Not everybody is crazy enough. >> That's true. You It's an unreasonable thing to want to do. >> If people haven't made it, right? Like let's say they're they're having this midlife crisis, they're If they ask this question, it's because they think you're certified to judge the realism. >> Yeah, right. Yeah. >> They're thinking like, "Well, you've been in the game and you've seen a lot." >> They won't even start until they get an affirmation. And then they go, "Oh, well, I guess I could probably do it cuz so-and-so said so." >> Yeah, but I do think that when I'm being asked that and I see if they're older,
12:39 I don't want to put false hope in people because at that age you're probably abandoning more than if you're a young person to do this thing. You know what I mean? Like >> Yeah, like you're abandoning your kids. >> might have kids, a family. Like I'm not trying to tell you to ████ start doing head spins. >> I usually tell them I I usually tell them you got to just practice more. >> Really? 35-year-old guy wanting to be a uh competitive fighter? >> I'll be like, "Nah, dude. You got to do something else." >> But usually it's it's a it's a physical limitation. >> Do something >> Cuz is there a liability on encouraging somebody to go fighting? That's way different versus >> I'm like, "You got to be >> and get that stage, bro. Get on that stage." >> But here's the thing though, this is how we look at it in fighting, right? It's like everybody says they want to fight. Everybody says they want to fight. But are you willing to to the actions that it takes to get a fight. >> Ooh, ████
13:29 >> You know, like that's the whole different thing is like you showing up for a fight camp, you doing all that stuff. Like Like that's how that's how you know you're about it or not. >> You're willing to do it all for nothing. >> It's always the guys that are like, "Yeah, I'm ready to fight. I'm going to be champ." It's always those guys. And then the random dude who's just mopping the mats that's there every single day, doesn't say a ████ word, and we're like, "Oh, you're ready to fight, I think." >> It's almost better to be the guy that watches fights and keeps saying, "Man, I would have beat that guy's ass." >> [laughter] >> I think to participate and also be above average, I think that is actually possible for a lot of people. >> That's That's highly realistic. >> But, to be top ████ dog, you better You got You better be training from a child. Cuz the greatest like You talk about Michael Jackson, everybody, right? They're doing ████ from like 3 years old. >> [laughter] >> Can I Can I go on some more just like really meta just last thing zoom out
14:19 though, honestly? To even have the opportunity to consider chasing a dream, you should take it. >> It's true. >> There's way There's way more people in the world that don't even have that option to think about it. >> world ████ >> And that's That's That's what my sister said to me. My sister said that to me when I was like I had I didn't know if I was going to try dancing and she was like the last person I was like, "I don't know what I'm going to do. Uh you know, like I just got laid off from this other thing, blah blah blah. Should I try and chase this?" And then she was like, "You're the only one in our family who has a chance to try something that they want to do versus all My sister, my cousins, all of them, they're just regular, you know, you go to piano school, you go to Chinese school, you You have You have to go to this Ivy League school, you have to get this type of job." Every one of my cousins is ████ balling and smart as ████ like that. So, I was my dumb ass who wanted to play games and spike my hair and sag my pants and do stupid ████ finally is asking this question of
15:09 like, "Should I try and chase the dream?" And then her logical smart ass is like, "You're the You're the only one who has a chance in our whole family, you should at least try." >> That's a very good point, yeah. I didn't think about that. How old were you when you asked? >> This was 2012. >> So, how old were you? >> So, what is that? What is that? 14 years ago? I don't know. 26, 25? >> Wow, see? Even at 25, you think you're washed up, you can still make something happen. >> And that's a that's that's actually a pretty late age to be like, "I'm going to start dance like as a professional career." >> I started [snorts] dancing at 18. >> See? >> Yeah, I started YouTube at 23, which is old uh for YouTube terms. >> Yeah, you're right. Yeah, everything. What if Okay, fighting aside, if someone was to ask you like, "Hey, like I want to I I have a dream to be like the funniest guy in a podcast. Is it too late?" >> I'll be like, "No, you just got to get a bunch of other guys who are just not funny at all, and then >> [laughter]
15:59 >> then you'll stand out. And you'll do really well." >> [laughter] >> He gets us every time. >> Thanks. Thanks, Nick. >> Calling us all not funny. >> No, I'm not saying you guys. I'm just saying if you were to start a podcast, a brand new one, >> No, I'm not saying you guys is lit.
// end of tape