Tea, Coffee, and Chow: Celebrating 100 Episodes

Isaac Mashman0:00

Yo, yo, yo, what is going on everybody? Isaac Mashman here and welcome back to your favorite podcast, Chase the Vision with Isaac Mashman. This is the podcast that is all about helping you become more capable individual through me sharing my experiences and knowledge and business, life and personal growth and also having other people and other fantastic guests come on and share their own. experiences and knowledge in their own fields of expertise. Now today I don't really have an interview for you guys but if you notice on the title of the episode it is episode 100. This is the 100th episode of Chase the Vision with Isaac Mashman.

Whenever I started the show in June of 2019, number one it wasn't even called Chase the Vision. It had a different direction and it's went through a lot of different evolutions. But today here with me right now, I have two of my closest friends and people that I go back with years. I'm talking prior to the podcast, prior to Mashman Ventures, prior to a lot of these different things. And I couldn't be more grateful to have them on today for the 100th episode special. But again, I have no idea what the rest of this episode has in store. All I know is it's going to be a great conversation, a great time of reflection.

And so let me go on and introduce the two amazing people that I have with me right now. Number one, we have the chief consultant of Mashman Ventures and the host. of the Eric Chow Empowers Podcast, Eric Shau. I met Eric back in 2019 and started out as a guest on his podcast. We had that synergy and sometimes that synergy just speaks for itself. We maintain contact. Last year when I wanted to grow my company, I said, Eric, let's bring you on, let me train you, let's work together and let's grow together. And so super honored to have him with us today. And then we also have Mr.

Michael Johnson. of tea with Mike. Now Mike is somebody who is my opposite in the fact of rather than drinking coffee, he drinks tea. So I know you're probably surprised that I even have him on this episode to begin with. But hey, here he is and I'm super excited to be having this conversation. Mike and I go back, I think even farther than Eric to 2018, maybe one of the first couple hundred people, the first thousand people I connected with on Twitter, we maintain the relationship and I've seen this man's growth. so much so through his podcast, through his interviews, through his conversations. And he's actually had some really high level people on his own show through Twitter by chance. And so Eric, Mike, what's going on, y'all?

Isaac Mashman2:36

Yeah. Yep. Knowing all of us, how much we all talk and how our conversations go, this is going to be fun. We're going to have to try not to over. Talk one another. Look on that one, right?

Michael Johnson2:52

So thanks for having me excited to be here. And obviously I'm very passionate about connecting with people, networking, storytelling. And I was excited to meet both of you guys through the great and networking tool of Twitter. Obviously, I said first and then Eric, and it's been just great to watch how I Digital friendship has evolved over a number of years even over ago and it's slightly different direction. We all share that kind of synergy and that energy and hopefully one day we'll get to meet in person.

Isaac Mashman3:27

Speaking of which is is it true that you and Eric have been plotting to have me pay for the hotel room and the dinners and everything when we meet in person? Whose idea was that? Was that your idea Mike or Eric?

Michael Johnson3:40

That was the chief consultant side Eric Ashman's adventure.

Isaac Mashman3:44

Eric, sure. Okay. Eric's like, let me wipe this off on the company, company's taxes.

Isaac Mashman3:56

This is great. credit card. What Eric, why is my AMEX ran up 20 grand? Oh, all right. Yeah. That's the that's the mood. That's the that's the energy. No, it's cool though, because we started out just as people who didn't have her shit together at all. Like, you know, Eric, you were a student. You were just now starting your podcast. I think I was like episode five or six.

Isaac Mashman4:28

And then Mike, you have been obsessed with tea for as long as I've been obsessed with coffee, probably even before that, you know, so it's cool to see your growth though, because your shows went from just this general idea of having conversations, but you've stayed true to the to the reason why you started the show. And you've had how many episodes now? Half to 155. 155. Wow. Geez. So I mean, we're going to be there later this year going into next year with Chase the Vision. But you've stayed true and you've also launched your own business on the side as well, marketing agency, if I remember correctly.

And I mean, we all have different things going on. When I connect it with you guys, I didn't have the podcast. I didn't have the book. I didn't have the company. I didn't have anything figured out. And it was a time in my life where it was chaotic, you know, it was my infancy stages of business. And now we've all matured in our own rights with our you know, passions and careers. Very true. No, very true.

Michael Johnson6:43

I'm sure. And then just that whole concept of, um, Just working together, like we all have like slightly different goals, some of them are close together and some of them are far apart. But just really how we get what each other is trying to do and just really being that supportive mechanism. I know Eric you've recommended lots of great guests, including you as a catch, we have lots of great guests for the Tea with Mike podcast. And I know me and Eric have had a lot of unscripted late night conversations on how we can continue to develop. our podcast and then Isaac, and you've been, you're one of the very early guests on my podcast and you really helped me from a confidence perspective and when I didn't really know what I was doing and I think everybody needs that one person that they can lean on as they find a direction and the purpose they want to go in life.

Isaac Mashman7:35

Yeah, well, you know, on Facebook it reminded me of a memory. You know, how Facebook always reminds you of your old self and how much and how little you didn't know, right? And it reminded me, I think it was last month of our interview that we did back in 2000 and probably 18. And I'm looking at the office area and I'm like, number one, I was recording in a chair and I had, I think my camera set up on a, like it might have been a tripod or it might have actually been like a plastic case and I'm looking behind me and I'm like this is the bedroom that I was in at my grandmother's house figuring this stuff out and I'm like my office right now that I'm working out of in my apartment is probably twice the size of that entire bedroom and I'm like god Lee and then I'm listening myself speak and I'm like it was interesting because the way that I used to speak and carry myself was in a confident way but I was almost trying to convince myself that I was confident.

Truthfully, I was trying to convince myself that I was confident because I had to shape myself into this confident person because I really wasn't confident. I was self-conscious. I was worried about things. And so it's like, I remember that was when I was in network marketing. I'm like, yo, what's going on, everybody? Isaac Mashman here, and I'm holding up my phone and I'm recording. And I'm like, if you want to get on a webinar, let me know and I'll send you over the link. And I'm like, good God. And I couldn't even get three or four people. on for the webinar yet Eric and I and Mashman Ventures host one the other day and we had a turnout of two dozen and 30 people and 50 signups and Mike I've seen you go from being that very quiet guy.

like very self-conscious in the way of you talking to, and I watched it happen, which was funny because from the time we first started talking to the time you got your 20th and 30th guest on, the next time that we got on a one-on-one call together, I'm like, who the fuck are you? Like literally, because I'm like, you acted so different compared to our previous conversations. What was that big point for you? Like, what made you go from the quiet Michael Johnson to hey, I'm T with Mike and then now you now you have no issue blasting out You need to listen to my podcast on every single Twitter thread on the platform So I don't so for me It's all it's taken me a long time to kind of find my purpose and my direction in Where I want to go quite frankly, I've I've always loved people.

Michael Johnson10:06

I've always light opening my mouth I always like at talking to different people and being that person in the room that wants to get to know everybody, which obviously has its pros and it has its cons. And I think discovering this whole digital world of entrepreneurship even and podcasting really like piqued my interest. I've done all of the traditional schooling for years of post-secondary and theater and media and communications. But I've never been that person though, wanted to sit in an office cubicle at 9.05, 8.20. five, quite that paycheck and work for somebody else. And I think that ultimately comes down to my personality and my energy and stuff.

I'm just not fit to fit into people's structure and what we deem acceptable in those types of environments. And I think I still think I went on the right journey in the sense of discovering who I am. And it was just by chance that I took a risk on a class assignment for the podcast and I went against kind of the grain like you know, structure with a PhD thought it was a terrible idea. People in my classmates thought that I shouldn't be doing it because it was a cop-out for the assignment. But somehow I pushed on with it and I started not knowing what I really wanted to do.

And the first episode of the podcast was with someone that just took a chance that took an ad chance in. We did it in a study room and like I forgot to turn the lights on. My hair is like a frazzled black mask. What's changed? Right? You've got to be consistent, right? So it's just this evolution of this big journey. But what it came down to was not giving up at finding some supporting people on the way like you guys and just really like going against the grain and developing that self-beliefer, I go in now. I'm trying to look at my own journey and now trying to help others when they don't. Might not have that initial confidence to take that first step.

Isaac Mashman12:22

Yeah, and then Eric, I mean, I'm drawn and I'm thinking about some of our earliest conversations and... You not even wanting to get involved with business. And this is the funny part because I remember we were talking, I'm like, so what are you doing this for? And I'm this guy who's like, if it's not in business and it's not making money and it's not doing like the X, Y and Z, I'm like, what's the point? And so I'm like, Eric, what's the point? And you're like, I really don't even think that I necessarily want to get involved with business right now. Maybe, maybe in the future, you're like, I think maybe that would be cool.

And then we ended up doing that podcast. the interview and then we go and launch our own show for a brief period of time and then we're like okay well we'll get away from the Facebook group and get into a different area and I'm not I don't want to get into all of that stuff but we started the couple projects together and then I you know you I remember and I hope you don't mind me bringing it up but I'm bringing it up anyway you know I'm going on a walk at night and I remember getting a call from you're like hey I know that you are network marketing and you're like what's your perspective on it and I'm like whoa Here we go.

And I ended up listing off pros, cons, negatives, things that I learned, what I learned from it. For the most part, it was positive. I'm just like, be smart with what company you're getting involved with. And then down. You know, the road, you ended up getting involved with a company of your own, which you're still a still a part of on top of, you know, now you're helping me build out mashed adventures is not so much of an entrepreneur of sort, but more of an entrepreneur of, you know, prior to doing this, this, you know, special in this podcast, we were on a call talking about, you know, the next steps for the company in a way for you to generate, you know, your own revenue for us to increase value ads.

So it's like. Whether you liked it or not, you got involved with business and I don't know if that's fate or destiny or you know, just going and taking a chance and saying yes to the things that are coming your way. Mike, can you imagine if you said no to that project or you made it, instead of doing a podcast, you did any other kind of project? Like how different would things happen? And it's like our journeys and our experiences can be changed and dictated and completely redirected with one simple decision, one opportunity that we say yes to.

Isaac Mashman17:33

Well, all those things add up too over time, you know, and then I've often times questioned that as well. I'm like, you know, Growing up, I was that good student. I'm like, I'm going to go to college and I'm like, what the fuck am I going to college for? I had no purpose of going to college aside from having freedom away from my family. And like, for the first time ever, I'm like, cool, I'll go there and I'll have my freedom for the first time. But I wanted to get involved with marketing. I thought I considered and I went through so many different pivots with my own.

And I've never put it into the perspective like this and thought about it this way, but. Growing up, you go through six, seven, eight, nine different career changes that you want to go down. You're like, I want to do engineering. I want to do NCIS. And literally, I wanted to be, you know, the naval crime investigative unit. And I'm like, I, I, my grandmother, like, raised me out of the cradle, practically watching crime shows. I'm like, all right, cool. Maybe that's why I have a dark sense of humor. But anyways, you know, growing up, I want to do this, that and the other. And it's like.

I went through just as many different pivots with what I wanted to pursue professionally and through my career as I did in business, the different businesses that I went through because you go through these different things and you don't know how one leads to another until you look back in hindsight's 2020 and we could sit here talking about the. possibilities and what ifs all day because there's really no telling but they're all linked together. And then you finally have something and a point in your life that you were seeking. You know, I just recorded a video talking about, you know, you're going to find what you look for.

And it's like you're looking for the solution or looking for the next thing. And it just so happens that when you find it, you know it. and then you go after it. And I think that's really exciting. I know that all three of us have had a podcast for years. And I think that it would be really cool to go into a conversation about what are some best practices for a podcast? What are some of the biggest things that somebody should know when starting a show?

Michael Johnson19:29

And Mike, I'd love for you to start out. Yeah, thank you. So number one, definitely self-belief. Like we just heard in my own story. It took a lot of me, you know, like, I'm not happy with how things are going. I haven't found my lane and I tried this podcasting thing almost on the wind. Like, when I started, I didn't know what a podcast was. I didn't know where I could have loaded it to. I didn't know how to edit it. All of these little minor details that I discovered along the way. So number one, self-belief. And number two, ask lots of people, start with a lot of people that you know and fully trying at brunch out.

What's the worst they can do? They can say no and you haven't moved forward and you haven't moved backwards. So you might as well call the oil others very different people as you can, like right off the back. I know for me it was intimidating interviewing you as I call my podcast the first time because I was still new with it. I didn't know what I was doing. Right? My show started improvised and then it moved a little bit more structure because I'm better with structure. And so Definitely take your shot would be my second piece of advice. And third would be be consistent. A lot of people, I don't know the data, but a lot of people like quit after one, two, three, 10, 12 episodes.

And that's too early in the journey. You're starting from nothing and you're trying to build something fruitful and amazing in whatever lane it is. Don't give it a chance to grow then you don't know where it's gonna become so those are probably my top three pieces of advice Mike's like poor oil on everybody.

Isaac Mashman21:12

It doesn't matter start to fire start the smokey the bear would hate you dude Who's that you don't? Canadians Well British Okay, so smoky the bear is the whole thing like man I can't believe you've ever heard of smoky the bear you too can prevent forest fires you've never heard that

Michael Johnson21:32

No, I haven't. That was not part of my childhood.

Isaac Mashman21:36

You've never heard of it, but it was not part of my childhood. No way. You never got like a pin if you went to a fair or something that and you're in California, Eric, I would think that you out of everybody with forest fires and stuff, you too could prevent forest fires.

Isaac Mashman22:01

Wow. Wow. Anyways, all right. So Eric, going back to podcasting, where's some of your top tips for people, you know, who are wanting to start a show or are starting a show or maybe they've been doing it for a little bit of time. What would you tell somebody who's in that situation? You know what?

Isaac Mashman25:30

And then looking back, I bet you both can probably agree with me that a podcast isn't as difficult as you know, a thought. Most things that I found in life, and I'm at this point now to where I'm like, damn, why did everybody make life so complicated? Because yes, there are ups and downs and such, but. I'm having a difficult time now because I'm like, this is all easy. And that might be just because I don't think it's the capability of being able to learn. I think it's more so just looking for ways to get better and ways to improve because I'm looking around me right now.

I'm like, number one, I could start five businesses off of my one business. I could break down, like Eric, if we needed to, we could break down Mashman Ventures into Mashman podcasting, Mashman Publishing, Mashman This, Mashman That, we could break down every single thing that we provide for a client. in five different companies. I'm like, this really isn't that difficult. Or with a podcast, for example, it's like Yes, there are a lot of moving parts, but if you don't let yourself get overwhelmed with how many moving parts there are, it's really not difficult. It just, it takes time, right? And I agree with everything that both of you guys have said and some really great points.

And I would say if I was to add on anything, it would be to go into it with an intention behind it, to say, you know, am I looking to build my credibility? Am I looking to build my business and to generate leads? Am I looking to simply have conversations, promote a cause or promote something that I believe in? And I would go into it. I'm glad that you brought up the statistic you took my fire, Eric, was to go and, you know, not pay attention and not be another statistic because most people stop after that seven episode or 20 episodes, however long it is.

And they never average more than 20 listens per episode. Yet if you were to stick with it and get into momentum and increase and get into directories and build out the awareness, you're going to see more and more people consistently listening to your show without you even knowing that they exist. Right. And personal branding one on one. And then from there, like the opportunities that a podcast can generate for you too, in my own life, I'm thinking of so many different opportunities that have come about. It's really wild. And this is about life, you know, going in and seeking out those things and those ways to, you know, get into the right rooms, to get into the right conversations.

And like a podcast would be a great way to possibly do that or getting involved with business, you know. So no, I mean, great, great points, everyone.

Isaac Mashman28:02

Okay, I'm good man. Eric's like longer the silence to better.

Isaac Mashman28:18

Skips forward. This is the segment that we would typically have an advertisement, but rather than have the ad there and waste your time and your energy, we're just going to leave a long awkward silence, be it a contemplate what we thought about and to think about your life and your decisions.

Michael Johnson28:40

It's going to be like a tune. It's going to be like tea, coffee, chow, chow, coffee.

Isaac Mashman28:46

It's going to play out and repeat all the loop. You remember back in the day where you had like that that neon cat or like what does the fox saying you had these super annoying ass YouTube like baby shark and you're like stop it We're gonna do that. It's going to be tea coffee chow Tea coffee chow tea coffee. I'm a message Mitchell If you can turn this into a song that's how we're all blowing up right here boys. There we go viral now Oh man. So let's talk about social media and the power it has though. You know, in a serious note, not not not too serious.

Serious. No, social media is one of those things that, you know, we're able to have this conversation. It's funny because Eric, you and I are building a business together and you know, you're you're my right hand man for Mashman Ventures and we've yet to shake each other's hand in person. Ironically, yet we get honestly, we feel like we have, you know, And that's why it's also important to take those online digital relationships into the physical realm when you can. Like there's going to be a day where we go when we meet, whether that means we go up to red deer, you know, Alberta, Canada, and we go in and siftie.

And Mike's like, you don't want to come here. He's either saying that or you butcher the name. I don't know which one. Mike, what do you say?

Michael Johnson30:02

And I don't think you want to come here. I think you'll be disappointed, but I could be mugging. That's part of the choice of life, right?

Isaac Mashman30:09

Discover discovering new environments. This is a kind of tree I've never seen. Is that an insect I've never saw? Like, okay, I feel like that's probably what Red Deer is about nature.

Michael Johnson30:20

Yeah, there's a lot of bad nature in it. It's kind of like, how many Tim Hollins can you count within the same square radius, you know, because there's a lot of Tim Hollins?

Isaac Mashman30:31

Okay, so, well, I mean, hey, I like coffee. That might not be a bad thing. There we go. I'm going. I'm going. No, but what was that, Eric?

Isaac Mashman30:44

But no, there will be a time where, I mean, Eric, you and I are going to be meeting in August whenever we do a company trip for Mashed Adventures, which have no idea when that date's going to be, we're going to have to talk about that to figure it out. But that's the spontaneousness of this. And there's going to come a day where we all hang out, you know, we're like, Oh, it's crazy because we've been friends for years. And now we've taken that relationship and sometimes that's like the those are the best relationships you can have and I'm going to two weddings in October for people that one of the people I've met in person but I met him through social media and then I met him in person and then now I'm going to be going and meeting him again in person flying to Oregon for his wedding and then it's going to be the same thing for the other person I've never met him in person but I'm going to be going to his wedding because you can establish those healthy and strong friendships and relationships and then you go and I mean Coming from the guy who flew across the world to France for a girl I've never met and spending a month and a half in France to Going and meeting my current girlfriend and I've never met her in person and then I flew out and fast 40 year and a half It's like why the hell am I an Arkansas, but it's like that's it's kind of the situation.

I think it's cool So yeah, I mean social media is one of those things that you know It's it's connecting us in a way that we've never been connected before but it also has some drawbacks What are some of the drawbacks that we can all mutually agree on that it has? I think it's easy to be on your phone and be disconnected from conversations that are right around you, right?

Isaac Mashman33:58

Or distracted for that matter too. Like, and this is one of the drawbacks to building a business online. You're like, you can go ahead and you go for messaging somebody or uploading a piece of content to getting stuck on the Explore page and be like, what the... I thought, how long have I been here for? And now you're looking down at your watch and you're thinking about, damn, I've wasted an hour going through Instagram. And you're like, man, I should have been doing X, Y, and Z. And so it's like having that awareness too is very, very important.

Michael Johnson34:27

Mike Shakin has had a bet Mike gets stuck on TikTok. That's been much time on at TikTok. But that is going to add to the conversation by saying for me is I have to try and I'm still learning is trying to find that balance between. been purposeful and intentional with the time that you spend online doing all of the things that you do to hopefully build a better future for yourself. But at the same time, I love like theater. And since I started doing the podcast and the pandemic, I haven't really had that many opportunities to do things physically in person that I'm passionate about.

And I love to do. And there's not that much going on in my city, like on our regular basis. So it's very easy to get stuck in my apartment digitally online. And so personally, I'm trying to work towards connecting with more people in my local community, getting back involved in the theater, for example, and really understanding that you can have connections with different people for different reasons. Most of the people that I connect with locally going to be on my podcast. maybe not, but that's okay. And we can talk about other things like about that business or whether we've met at a place where we have a mutual hobby like karaoke singing or the theater.

So like you said, it's probably purposeful, intentional, but being okay with switching off and embracing and experiencing what's around you just as much as the online platforms. So that's probably what I'd add.

Isaac Mashman36:02

I see it now. Tea with Mike on Broadway.

Michael Johnson36:05

Big like. Well, I used to want to be an actor and I always struggled with a realization. I did a lot of shows, but I never had the vocal ability. It's a lot of my earliest career dreams you mentioned about wanting to. You experienced a bunch of different career aspirations. I did want to be a Broadway actor at the very beginning. Yeah. And the podcast was the hacking medium of knowing that But I don't possess the greatest vocal ability in that sense, but there are lots of other creative outlets for demonstrating my passions and the things that I love to do, right?

Isaac Mashman38:11

You know, and it's funny because I've been apparently we've all been in this nostalgic retrospective energy because the other day I was thinking about some of the earlier interests that I had when I was younger and it's like I've always kind of been interested in psychology and human interaction in the sense of if I do this, how is this person's response going to be? So I'm able to predict and this is something that I don't know if it was like a gift or a skill but I have the natural ability of predicting how a person's going to respond without them having to do it yet based off of my own response to them in previous ways of what do I know about their speech, what do I know about their belief system, what do I know about how they think or how they act and how they behave.

And then now I'm able to make an assumption based off of what they're going to do. And nine times out of ten, it's right. Or going in, I used to be the kid who would read the Lysol spray and I would read off all the labeling. And I'd read it and I just would literally read the label. I'm like, let me read off the chemicals. Let me read off when I'm when I'm spraying in the air, what cancers I'm spraying, like let me read all of this stuff. And I paid attention to the labels. I paid attention to the branding. I paid attention to all of that.

And now fast forward, it's like that is my business. And that is what I'm specializing in. You know, we're reading and having a genuine interest in psychology to where I'm researching the halo effect for a new value out of me created for our clients. And I'm like, man. I'm not bored with this. This is really, really intriguing. Like I could literally go and like go back to school in the future and get a bachelor's in psychology just because it's interesting. But then I look back and like I was always interested when I was younger. And so it's like they do tie in together, right?

Michael Johnson39:50

I think that's an interesting thing to point out.

Isaac Mashman39:53

Now, Mike, we know that you're about tea. We know that you're a tea dude. Everybody knows I'm a coffee guy. I don't have coffee with me because I've already had like six cups today. But Eric, what the hell are you, dude?

Michael Johnson42:22

We should have an eating contest because like you I also have a good metabolism and I can eat a lot of food. Let's go. And I'm also I don't work out as much as you I read mid-leaf but I'm still not too bad from a physical appearance.

Isaac Mashman42:44

It's funny though because whenever I go to like a good like Asian style buffet or Japanese style buffet that has sushi or nagiri or sashimi unlike I don't know how y'all stay in business, you know, because, well, and typically, you know, not even from a monetary standpoint, but if we wanted to bring it down, and this is how I perceive things in my mind, I'm thinking to myself, if we were to go to a normal sushi buffet, I probably literally just racked up a bill of like $200 because I'm like, you know, it's eight bucks a roll. I'm like, well, I just got like 10 rolls.

And so now, all right, this bill would be steep. But at a sushi buffet, you're putting everything on your plate, you're like, man, this is great. And then you have the wasabi. You have the ginger, you have the soy sauce, you have all these different things and you're like, life is good. You know, those are some really good moments. When we do the trip later this year, Eric and Mike, I'm sorry to leave you out, but I'm going to find a good buffet in Miami area that we can go to and Logan can have us run laps afterwards because Logan Mandeville is going to be like, yo, yo, yo, yo. Y'all got to work this off.

Isaac Mashman43:51

And if you're a Logan, you're not invited.

Michael Johnson43:58

I'm saying, please make sure you cap for it as I can't hear you. So I can watch out on my own plate of food and whatever it gets uploaded up like. This is funny. Except I don't have Logan telling me about my fitness.

Isaac Mashman44:16

That's damn it. That's. We can always make that happen. Logan, I need you to text this to this number. We would never do that to you, Mike. But OK, so what is your favorite tea? Out of all the teas in the world, what would be the number one? Is it like Earl Grey, chamomile? Try? Like what is it? Great is revolting.

Michael Johnson44:38

I absolutely hate it. Is this not for me? I don't know. It's just not my cup of tea if we're being simple. So my favourite type of tea, and hopefully they listen to this podcast because I think it can make for a great sponsorship opportunity, is Yok Shiti. It's a strong black tea. That's kind of in its original form. It's made by a brand called Taylor's in Haricco. The connection there is I used to have my haircut and they're where they made all the add the teeth. So we go back way back and I probably drink like four four five cups on average a day and you know for my recent content that puts me over a thousand cups of tea a year and the amount of times that people ask me what my favorite type of tea is. What a great isn't that a great branding and promotional opportunity for them? And so talk about synergy and energy.

Isaac Mashman45:37

I'm just saying need to go ahead and and drop this podcast up and send them over to. So I have a very serious question to ask you my like this is probably the most serious thing I've ever asked. And I can't do it. What is your what is your perspective on Southern ice sweet tea here in America? We have this thing down in the South that's called. You're going to have sweet tea that tastes like syrup because of the amount of sugar in it.

Michael Johnson46:05

What's your perspective? Well, firstly, I've never had it. Somebody who could do some follow-up content. Secondly, I'm on principle, and this is only opinion based of cost. That just sounds like, I don't know, just bad for your tea. I'm just going to leave you feel all like unproductive and gooey and sticky. I think tea should be very refreshing. I think that it's one of the best ways to start meaningful, like conversation, like podcasting. Obviously you got the tradition of English tea and people meet up and they sample different cakes and savory items over tea and it's very long lasting. I just think the sweet-ice tea would... I cut the conversation shop if I'm being blunt. That's my gut. I'm just going to get based off the question.

Isaac Mashman46:58

You know, it's I've never had a conversation over sweet southern iced tea that's been overly productive. So got a good point. Just saying like I've never I've never had a conversation with somebody sipping sweet iced tea and it's like. So let's talk about business or conversations. It's normally having to do with a bunch of food that makes you feel bloated and you don't do anything and you just all complain about uploaded. You already want to sleep. So America. Yeah. So Eric, man, what is what is your, your favorite kind of food to go ahead and have this conversation? This is a typical conversation that I wouldn't have on a podcast, but I'm enjoying this because this is.

Isaac Mashman48:40

So I know what I'm going to do. So I already have a bunch of these different ideas to get you for your birthday coming up later this year. Okay. What was that? Okay. Well, you already know some of the different ideas that I have. I'm not going to disclose them on the podcast because it'd be funny. But I won't. I'll spare you the embarrassment there. I'll wait until I do an Instagram post instead. I want to do a t-shirt that says, thank God for my metabolism.

Isaac Mashman49:13

This is going to be the reason Eric Chow sees and departs mashed adventure so he can start his own clothing line called Thank God for my metabolism.

Isaac Mashman49:29

You could do socks, you could do underwear, you could do hoodies, you could do everything that just says, Thank God for my metabolism.

Isaac Mashman49:44

Let's talk about business. What is one of the most important business?

Michael Johnson49:50

When it comes to business, what is one of the most? A lot of piece of chow? Oh my god. I love this.

Isaac Mashman49:58

So what is one of the most important pieces of business advice for somebody who is in... any business, any field, anything like if we were to do a quick segment that says business tips for beginners, what would it look like? What would be your number one tip, Eric?

Michael Johnson51:24

For me kind of a little bit like Eric, let's say you had a three year plan to start a business. If I was going backwards now, for the entire first year, I would just get involved with local community events, give up some of my time. I'd meet as many different people as I possibly could, both physically and then also digitally. I mean, if you held three conversations. new conversations every day. That's over a thousand different people that do you now know as part of your network and then you might be able to identify whether some gaps in the market or what they may need. I mean, it may not lead you to starting another business, but you might find initially that perfect job or that perfect opportunity helping someone else build out their dream whilst learning some of the hard skills needed in business.

And then you can use all of that knowledge to eventually branch off in Canada. do you run things so it all comes down to giving back to your community, establishing yourself as that guy's is there for everybody else. Then hopefully there's someone that's like what can I do for you and that's potentially another way of looking at it.

Isaac Mashman52:35

Very, very creative piece of advice that I wasn't expecting honestly. That's something that not really anybody has ever said. And I think that's an important aspect of building a business even on the online space is going into that physical realm and having conversations, going to city council meetings, going to community events, nonprofit, things like personally, the times that I'm the happiest when I'm out and about is when I'm doing something for a nonprofit. And that was a part of me growing up, going to Boy Scouts and doing cleanups or going and being a part and active at church and opening up the door for an old woman, you know, for, for an elderly people.

Like everybody loved me back in church. Cause I was like the sweetest thing. Like they're like, Oh my God, you're so sweet. The walk gladed to the car, put the walker in the back and send her off by, by Carol by Esther, by Esther.

Isaac Mashman53:35

Yeah, right. Well, none of them had the name Karen though, honestly. I've never, I don't think that there was ever one Karen at church. I wonder if that's a coincidence. But no, Mike, I absolutely love that. I would say, honestly, for anybody getting involved with business is to remind yourself of the importance of personal growth and learning from other people. Like reverse engineer, another person success. This is something that I did a lot of. I used to reverse engineer what somebody did to become successful. And I would say what principles, what app, what things, what techniques, what strategies can I rip apart from their own journey, from their process and make it my own.

If it worked for them, chances it worked for another person and then the chances are it'll work for me. And then from there, it's like, I got on Twitter. for the first time. And that was like my number one platform. Ironically, I give the man credit. I don't agree with most of his stuff, but Gary Vaynerchuk. He got on Twitter first. He built out his audience on Twitter first and I was like, shit, I could do the same. I started my first podcast because he had a podcast and it worked. And then I did all of these different things and understood the power and the benefits behind them, even though I wasn't aware of it starting out.

And speaking of the garage sale in Gary V. I don't dislike the guy. I disagree with a lot of what he talks about now, but it's funny because I started out and he was like the number one guy who I studied for like a year straight and then I'm like, I feel like I graduated elementary school because I feel like there are levels to content and I felt like he was like the elementary education of business and I'm like, let me go to middle school now and then, you know, graduate, but Mike, you ended up interviewing him. Right? And tell me about that process. How did that come to be and how was that interview for you and being in the room with him?

Because no matter your viewpoints on the guides, like he is a celebrity, somebody who is worth hundreds of millions of dollars or at least a hundred million, which I mean is better than anybody else in my life. So it's like you have to give him credit where credit is due.

Michael Johnson55:32

What was that like? I guess it was a very crazy moment. I hope you have already talked about it earlier in this podcast episode, but just... However, what has started from zero was kind of figuring out as I went along and met you guys along at the journey, which really helped me develop as a person. And then actually, the pandemic was a blessing in a lot of ways because he started at T with Gary V and I didn't even know he'd started this, but then my community on Twitter told me that, hey, look, Gary has started the show. Did he copy you? Did he do this or not?

And I was like, I don't think he copied me. I don't have a bill for his lawyers, so let's not say that. But what it did do was it kind of sparked my curiosity for what he was gay. He was all about so I went and checked it out. And stuff and I was like, this is great, but everyone's really going in. Like, what can they do for me? Like, what can I get out of this experience? And I'd listen to a bunch and I'm like, nobody's ever asked Gary, like what's his favorite type of tea? And I'm like, that's bizarre considering it's called a tea with Gary V.

And it's, it goes to the point about doing your research and trying to find those different strategies. at helping elevate yourself to a different level. And I got to give you credit to Isaac because like, do you remember when we were on Twitter and you helped seal the deal because someone posted something? I commented and like, you retweeted it and that type of thing, do you remember? I remember, yeah. And so then I developed how the strategy, kind of how I was going to get on this podcast. I started making a team related. content and picture that it him in different ways of some T facts that turned out into tweets and then I got this opportunity to be on and I've never been more terrified in my entire life.

You guys both know because I talked to both of you around this time you know as we jumped up it was like an hour call I had a big list of things. I was gonna do, I was gonna do, you're like, no, no, no, this is okay, but you probably got like five, six minutes, like two minutes if he's in the button rude or he has to like, prince somewhere, you've got to really like own it, oh, well, you're asking and I remember, I mean, that was good development for me because you asked me a series of kind of like questions that made my mind think a little bit more analytically, which is not typically how my and my work, so anyway, trench it fast forward, get on tea with that Gary Vee and stuff.

I got really lucky that I was like the third person on that day. Couple of great people before me really kicked his energy. I was kind of, I was glad to be in the middle because it's usually when the most people are watching. I got right at the end when he's got it rushed to something else. And so I got my like six, seven minutes with him and then I like executed that I want to beat him. I was freaking out but I guess it worked and stuff so. And then he was like, yeah, you can meet me, come to an event near where I lived.

And then that was it for like the longest of time, the pandemic delayed it twice. And then on the day of the event, like after several postponement, I was so, so blessed that it still happened, even at the height of the pandemic, one of few events that actually made it. We got there, we got there too. Two hours before I was in Edmonton where my family could go into the event and some other stuff. And I got this text message from a D-Ralph kid's cameraman. And he was like, yo, we just touched down. I wore the hotel. And you'll have 10 minutes with Gary in the green room.

And I'm like, what are you talking about? I just thought it was an opportunity to meet him versus actually recording a piece of content. And D-Ralph was like, oh, I'm so sorry. And you. We just default into thinking everybody wants to interview him and I'm like damn well I can't let this opportunity go to waste. I've never done an in-person interview. I don't have any equipment with me. I'm like shit I've got a hurricane curse. That's like the first time ever. I'm freaking out. I don't want to let this go. And so I somehow persuaded like DRock to like capture it and I remember I walking into the dressing room.

He's looking at it. I phoned and he was just like, it was me and this other guy I'd need to bobby and because he was doing something too and he was just like, hello gentlemen. It was crazy how down to earth it was. The room was silent and stuffy and it was just crazy how generous he was with his time. It was the thing that he had to fulfill after the meeting for a sponsorship reason. But he held it off so we could get the full 10 minutes and stuff so. Always grateful to him and his team. all the people that have patted and it was just like me with goosebumps. I don't know like... Michael, you've got to break down in tears.

Isaac Mashman1:00:38

I feel like you're about to cry. I feel like this is such like a moment right now to where you're going to start crying. I'm going to start crying. Eric's going to start crying and it's like we're just going to...

Michael Johnson1:00:48

And nothing at the end of the podcast. Yeah, I just... I'll let the end before it gets to that point. Yeah, but anyway, I can't remember what you asked me. But it was just a... I just had goosebumps the entire... The time I did his team upgraded me to VIP. I was sitting in the second tier, so I got a bit of like the second time for photo. And this is a true story. I wish it was captured, but sometimes the best moments are just moments that are not captured on camera too. I remember when I was standing there, like to get my photo and stuff.

I met up with some other people by accident that I didn't know were going. And he said, Mike, you know what? I really enjoyed that time that we spent together. And... That's in the top three moments probably in my life and it's something I'll never forget, but at the same time, knowing that I can go from zero to accomplishing now, it's that hunger, it's like, what can I do next, right?

Isaac Mashman1:01:36

I love that, I love that. And that's one thing you can never fault him for. He's that down to Earth guy who gives up his time. Like that's something that I still have respect for him for. Cool dude. That was really really cool. And you actually led into the next question that I wanted to ask to kind of wrap this conversation up and that's what's next. What's next for you too? What's next in life? Eric, you're over here doing that long Eric chow size. So, you messed something on your mind.

Isaac Mashman1:03:05

That's a misconception people have the thing that business is supposed to be like Some boring ass thing. Yeah, not it should never be a bore It should be something that excites you something that you you look to as Entertainment almost you look to and view as a game.

Isaac Mashman1:04:08

So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A balance between the technicality side, the logic and emotion, right? And I think that there has to be some degree of balance to that in business because you get to emotionally, emotional, your heads are your heads in the clouds and you're not getting anything done because you're always thinking you're too logical. You can actually think yourself into cripple. to where you don't do anything, right? And so yeah, I mean, a lot of different things to take into account there.

Michael Johnson1:04:41

Like when you opening up your own T line, that would be so cool.

Isaac Mashman1:04:51

You know, I don't know. You know, I'm sure to drain me of all my money.

Michael Johnson1:04:57

Goddamn right. So definitely keep developing out the podcast, you know, like want to get to 10,000 podcasts downloads this year really trying to accelerate it a little bit. Maybe even if it's not much, maybe get what I wanted to podcast sponsorships, even if it's just for a single episode, you know, really test. out that water and stuff. There's only so much you can read on Google before you kind of just kind of experiment and I figure it out. Definitely try what you mentioned in the webinar the other day which was a really great webinar and I came along to support you both and especially you Isaac and I really thought you had delivered.

Even for someone like me and I know there were some other people in the room. There are a few steps forward from starting from scratch, but you can always learn from each other. So yeah, definitely some local podcasts, monster ships. I want to do some traveling. My traveling was low on my bucket list, but we've been stuck. I realized now I haven't gone anywhere in eight years because of the pandemic and because I was in school and just really re-prioritizing once important and then also getting involved in my local community. I do hopefully do some theater again and I really get my name out there locally because I'm in this weird space where I started the podcast and even the business in a pandemic.

If you're connected with me and you follow me digitally, you know who I am. But if I walk down the street, 80% of people don't know who I am, which might not necessarily be a bad thing. But that's just a weird predicament of how the journey's gone, right? So those are some of the things I would say and just really looking to connect with more people every single day. Even since the even since the webinar, right? So the connection with some people that I didn't know in the webinar to see what they've got going on. And it might not be, I think, more than a conversation, but I don't think you should always put pressure on expecting something from every conversation that you've got sometimes it's just a check-in on an infrequent basis to see what they've got going on, right?

Isaac Mashman1:07:08

So that's what I'd say. Brilliant. Man. I'm excited for that. I'm excited for that and travels something that I think all of us are looking for too You know, I think that's one of those missing pieces as I go man But um, it's been a great time having this conversation with you guys too a lot of laughs exactly what I thought poking fun at one another this Hey, this this checks all the all the marks on What I would want a hundredth, you know episode special to be like tea coffee and chow baby tea coffee and shell So with that being said, do you guys have anything else that you want to want to say to wrap things up working people find you all that all that fun jazz that always comes at the end of a Conversation where we say goodbye Okay, so you know my next off I'll carry on so just first congratulations to you on a hundred episodes it's at no easy feed as Just it takes a lot of work and we won't get off the side time but just congratulations

Michael Johnson1:08:07

And I'm going to say it publicly for the first time. I appreciate that both of you guys as friendship Isaac, you helped push me out of my confidence and helped develop my confidence and really helped me figure out sort of where I was going in life so I can never not thank you enough for that. And I just want you to know that I'm thankful and grateful that you're both in U2 as of the year. in my life and people can find me just if you just Google at key with Mike here, you'll see my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, websites and if we're meant to connect, we're meant to connect.

So that's all I'll say because people will find me if it's meant to be, right? So I won't go on on a long scale about promoting myself on a very special day for you.

Isaac Mashman1:08:54

No, come on Mike, grateful for you brother.

Michael Johnson1:10:04

Yeah, it was a scripted conversation. It was a very honest minute impulse thing too, wasn't it?

Michael Johnson1:10:35

Yeah, the wider Chase the Vision at community and family.

Isaac Mashman1:10:39

Yeah. Yeah. I appreciate that and appreciate both of you and Eric's like, I will promote everything about me right now. And I'm just kidding, the complete opposite of what I'm just playing. So the Instagram enough. If you want to work with me, it's it's not not masculine ventures. No, I mean, it's good. And you know, I think that this is just the beginning for a lot of different things and. I'm happy. I'm excited. I'm really, really looking forward to what's next in a lot of different ways. And it's good. It's good. So here's to 100 episodes and here's to 100 more. I'm happy and grateful for both of you guys.

All right, guys. We just wrapped up filming and you just got done listening to episode 100 of Chase the Vision with Isaac Mashman, the podcast that is all about helping you. become a more capable individual through our conversation today with Eric Chow and T with Mike and Michael Johnson. I know that you guys got some laughs, got some knowledge, got some insights and hope that you are now going to apply it. If you've been listening to the podcast for any amount of time or think that you've got any amount of value today, I ask it, you pay the fee, you pay it forward and you send this episode to somebody else in your life could be a business partner, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, a friend, a family member, somebody that needs to get off their ass, send them over this episode. and be on the lookout for new episodes coming every Monday and every single Friday. Much love.