Season 9 in review!

[00:00:00] What's next, Brian? Continuing to elevate and raise the bar on the product that we deliver to our Payroll professionals. Welcome to our podcast, Its About Payroll, where your host Brian Eskowar and Walter William Duncan III,

[00:00:20] Whether you're new to the Payroll game or season veteran, we have something for you. Welcome back folks, Its Another episode of It's About Payroll, Episode 17, So proud of just the consistency the numbers were at, man.

[00:00:39] Today we are doing a season 9 in review, but it is one of the fun ones, but before we get into that, Of course, how you doing sir? Man I'm good, happy Sunday to you. I'm alright, can't complain about you. The same man, the same I can complain about.

[00:00:57] I'm good man, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm post is something earlier that was just like positive like just And we see if I could bring it up real quick because it was a reposted on my, how do you see your own thread on IG? Is that possible?

[00:01:17] I don't know, I'm seeing your own, see, see old people, this is probably old people. This is one of them. Stop using your energy to worry, use your energy to believe, create love, grow, glow, manifest and heal. Oh, yes, that's nice. Yeah, so just I like seeing that.

[00:01:39] I think we need that right, we need that constant. There's a zig-sigler, the writer out there and author who said motivations are like showers. We need them every day. Yep, we need it every day.

[00:01:50] Yeah, man, cool stuff. Before we get into the season and review, we got pay news. You want to take us through what you got first? Yeah, so me is funny that, because again, we don't realize that. I just realized that.

[00:02:06] And then you started off talking about consistency and setting goals and stuff. So I could, I wanted to come from a different angle on this show. And because with the middle of the year, we have another year going. Yeah, we track up.

[00:02:18] Yeah, sometimes the half, the second half of the year could be the part that we have to really grind and taxes are coming. We've got to prep for the new year. All these different things from a payroll standpoint at HR standpoint.

[00:02:30] There's a lot of stuff that are going to be coming down the pipeline and the latter half of the year here. I wanted to, because I feel like there's sometimes in my own life.

[00:02:39] I want to talk about the struggles with being consistent and how to fix those things. Right? Yeah, it's an article written by spiritual living for busy people.com.

[00:02:50] And it's a lot of data here. So I'm just going to touch each one like briefly and just tell you the topics of it. So the number one one is it says basically common scenario, right? So we have that initial excitement about things.

[00:03:05] A initial commitment or that initial excitement phase over time, which can lead to inconsistent effort and eventual abandonment. So when it has that work, personal life, those goals can definitely impact you. Number two, they can identify the root of incistency.

[00:03:24] So it's because of our focus we focus on the process more than the outcome. You know how sometimes you could be working out and you don't, and you could be consistent for a long time, but you might not be noticing anything when you step on the scale.

[00:03:40] When I noticed anything, when you're looking at mirror, but you're focusing on the process more than the outcome, change your focus. Okay? And then the number three says plan for consistency. You got to set gradual goals, develop great process. Identify your big, why am I doing this?

[00:04:00] Yeah, and you need to understand that. Right? And then number four talks about steps for being more consistent. So number one is being more present and anticipate the dip. So that means expect those challenges and this through them, even when they cross. And do it anyway. Okay?

[00:04:20] I didn't. I'm tired of doing it anyway. Yep. This is so frustrating. Okay? I get it. Do it anyway. And it says here also to go back to the basics. You're really revisited and master your fundamental skills. You know what I'm saying?

[00:04:35] Yes, you can it's okay to adapt and change and stuff like that. But there are set core skills as payroll, vegetables even people that we can go back to and lean on. Okay?

[00:04:45] Hey, let me go back to the basics and understand this sometimes is good to do that. Yep. I find that somebody is going to hold you accountable. And give yourself grace. I know that's for give here, but I'm changing that to give yourself grace. I know that.

[00:04:59] You know, don't be so harsh on yourself that one of the things I could do is not my worst critic. You can go pretty hard on myself when I don't do something that's that I think I I felt that or I didn't do perfectly.

[00:05:12] So give yourself some grace. Find your joy in the process. Right? Focus on being consistent and present. And that's pretty much it. The second thing here of the same thing. Set clear. And then you can go back to your goals, create a routine, minimize distraction, get regular

[00:05:28] feedback and have that accountability partner. And be open to continuous learning and development. And go ahead. Go ahead. And then the last one here is focus on your well being and make sure you had that work life balance. Remember to take a break.

[00:05:44] It's okay to take a break sometimes and balance those things out and don't overdo yourself because you could find yourself being pumped out. Yeah. There's a stat here that says 89% of employees at companies that support well being initiatives, report higher job satisfaction. So that's all I have.

[00:06:05] I would like to say that like that stat you get so if I may, just going to run through the other stats you had here. Yeah. 80% of employees who set specific challenging goals perform better than those with easy or no goals. Wow.

[00:06:19] And employees who follow a daily routine are three times more likely to feel productive at work. Wow. Reducing strength can distractions can lead to 31 more 30% increase in productivity and consistency. I love this. I got to have more to say to 68% of employees who receive regular feedback,

[00:06:38] feel more fulfilled and consistent in their roles. Yes. And 94% of employees who would stay longer out of company that invest in their learning. 94% that's big especially for payroll folks. Man, I keep telling you this is important. And then you said the other one already,

[00:07:00] 80% of employees at companies that support well, but that's 90% of employees at company that support well being report higher job satisfaction. This is really good stuff. And I'm going to be honest as I look through this document, where we come up when we prep what happened was a sign.

[00:07:20] What about oh, oh, my son is all right. That's all right. That's all right. Y'all see it right. That's all right. Well, people like, oh my god, he's something that's so good. No, it like full transparency right, you know,

[00:07:35] coming in and prepping foot the show and we go over our docs and all this preparation. And I looked at your headline, I didn't read through it. I was just like the reasons why you're struggling and because assistant at first.

[00:07:46] I was going to push back and be like, this is for payroll professionals. We need pay news and I stopped myself and I just had to think through it. And I was like, nah, this is important for all people.

[00:07:59] Heiried and then we're talking about it as a release. So work because we're in that halfway mark in the year because we're like, look, some of the time vacation time is here. All that good stuff people are at that burnout mark. But that yes, right.

[00:08:14] And this stuff is important, man. And yeah, so I appreciate that you put this here for us and we're talking about it because it was definitely a lot more important than I thought. No, thank you. Think about what we started this right. I AP. Why we got it?

[00:08:28] Because we came out with it. We had a different name. We came out with it. And then we didn't remember and stuff and then we were like, hey, we're talking about people. It's about payroll. So yes, sometimes I, yes, this is about this is a podcast about payroll.

[00:08:42] Absolutely. But we are still people. Your payroll people. And so thank you. Great for seeing that. Thank you because I think it's real, right? I think it's something that we all do face. We all face. Yes, right. Thank you.

[00:08:56] We all have outside noise outside of the normal work things. Yep. We face these different things. So thank you for seeing that. Yeah, don't do. Thanks for putting it there. Thanks for being mindful like that. Awesome stuff.

[00:09:11] And my article is basically around the FLSA increase that's happening tomorrow. Tomorrow being July 1. But Texas, the state of Texas blocked their FLSA increase. But here's the clarity. It's only for Texas employer employees. So it's only for the state of Texas as an employer.

[00:09:37] So if you work for the state of Texas, it's not for Microsoft that has employees in Texas or rather McDonald's. So I just, you know what I'm saying? It's not for the everyday business or non-textless business. Basically, the government of Texas blocked it for their employees. Why?

[00:09:59] No, I'm sure in the articles it does. I didn't get that far but it's just crazy. Texas is not smooth. I love how states throw their weight around and it is a big state. And I think look, I don't know what's going to develop of that.

[00:10:13] But just if you're, if you work for the state of Texas and something that you might love, but if you don't, don't get, don't, if you're a pay roller, an HR person out there and you see this article.

[00:10:25] It doesn't mean that your employees and Texas are exempt from this exemption. I mean, it means that unless you work for the state directly, this does not apply to you and your employees in your locations in Texas are still after year to the update.

[00:10:42] Yes, it's very interesting development for it. And I'm not surprised because the FLSA increase usually gets a ton of pushback. And sometimes it doesn't get past at all because of the pushback. So I'm very surprised that it's, it's very telling that it is getting pushed

[00:10:59] through at the federal level. But yeah, pay rollers be mindful. Look it up if you in Texas just make sure you're still in compliance. It's a good honor. Yeah, thanks. Yeah, I thought it was interesting. This is just a relevant topic for our pay rollers.

[00:11:13] And then before we get into our season and review, we got a word from our sponsor. Time track go. Thank you guys. Summer has arrived and with it the perfect opportunity to plan your dream vacation. Whether you're envisioning a relaxing beach getaway or an adventure pack journey,

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[00:12:41] I always love these because it's a little informal and we get to look back at the season and just really watch stood out. What were the highlights? Things like that you want to go first? The first question we have here is what stood out to us about season 9.

[00:12:56] For me, I always, and this might be played out but I always say that it's the people that's the guests that we had on. I really wanted to, one of the episodes that I really loved was the episode with the guys from Pactiv. Aaron Martin and Christopher Vero.

[00:13:12] When they talked about that earned wage access and the strides that they're making not only them but the industry around earned wage access and how it's benefiting employees because again, by people and we're trying to help employees and help employers help those people out.

[00:13:29] That was big but then also a part of that conversation was that they're still a long way to go because people in positions of power or leadership that just don't quite understand the need for earned wage access.

[00:13:43] And they have a misconception of it still and think that is not important. So that was one of the many things that stood out to me. Amy Travis, I loved the conversation with her and how she was focused on empathy in payroll.

[00:13:57] That's all of my feels and stuff like that, you know, but that was big for me right because she spoke to that about us having empathy for each other and for the employee and understanding that this people's centric, right?

[00:14:09] I really love that shout out to Amy and everyone at the Georgia chapter here. Shout out to everybody there so yeah those are some of the things that stood up to me what about you?

[00:14:19] So again, yeah we always have great guests. I think it's on purpose. We pride ourselves on the guests that we have. We curate, we vet them. We make sure that they're going to bring something of value to payrollers and payroll professionals.

[00:14:34] Extend that like one time I had a conversation or like a back and forth with a company and I was like hey, we're going to dig into how this is a payroll solution by a lot of and they're like oh, we're not going to get that deep in this part of that part. And I'm like,

[00:14:49] I'm going to be on the show because if you look, this is not although I'm all about brand awareness and advertising and can't paint it clearly right we have a sponsor shout out to time track go.

[00:15:03] Even that we've vetted that product before they became our sponsor right we used it in a mock scenario before we and we were like, yeah this is really this is a good product.

[00:15:17] And then they became and I wouldn't have done it any other way and that's going to be the same for any product that any of our sponsors we need to vet that product. So I think that it goes without saying that we have amazing guests and just to give folks a background how we do it again,

[00:15:32] we make sure that our guests are going to add value for payroll professionals period. We had Bart van the storm this season where Bart released his book and again, I got say it all the time there only two not now two different authors both from another lens Bart reminded me that wrote a payroll book that is not a textbook.

[00:15:52] And we need more hope to be one of those authors one day that contributes to that pool every guest I urge all the guests to do it is this crazy.

[00:16:01] Before you say because yeah, I like the fact that you could you been consistently saying that right now consistently for these past few seasons and I think that. Bart also said he said because somebody you might be able to connect with someone in a way that I can't.

[00:16:19] So I didn't identify with the way that you're speaking it could be like it could be life changing for them, it could cause it thinking a different way just because of how you articulated in the pages of your book.

[00:16:31] Yeah, whatever it is. Yeah, like that is the importance of it right there. Yep, sometimes I think people don't do it because oh, nobody wants to hear me. Nobody wants to. Nobody gonna identify like it's not never know.

[00:16:45] Yes, not true. If somebody is interested like for me if I get interested in a subject. Yeah, then I want to know everything about me and wifey we will watch a show right. We start obsessing about the actors the back stories of the actual characters in the show.

[00:16:59] This is that we just want to be fully immersed and I take that approach with everything is hey if I'm studying in payroll if I'm researching payroll I want to read all the books on payroll and hear all the podcasts on payroll you know what I mean.

[00:17:12] And I think like Bart says it's you're gonna everybody is going to bring payroll to the table from a different perspective.

[00:17:20] Yes, and we want to read that right we want to understand how Bart's claim to fame and I need to retain claim to fame and hurt spin on things and now she's on her second book actually.

[00:17:30] And those different things man we had Anthony on there as a crossover episode where we shared it was a cybersecurity expert who shared.

[00:17:39] We posted this episode both on our it's about your paycheck platform and about your it's about payroll because what we realized is some subjects cross over right.

[00:17:49] Because we're very intentional about it's about payroll being just about pay roller pay and I don't know if it's like me saying that pay rollers but payroll professionals.

[00:17:59] And we obsess about that that's why this show is what it is because it's only delivered to payroll professionals anybody that touches the payroll process right you don't actually you could actually wear a different hat.

[00:18:12] But process payroll as well as part of your job so you still a payroll professional even though you your title might be something else. But again we have we find these crossover opportunity because we're like wait our payroll pros needs understand this too.

[00:18:26] So and employees right because on it's about your paycheck we're just talking to everybody that is an employee contractor in the US is very specific to the US particularly now where we have some point will have a global perspective and we invite that right.

[00:18:42] But so that's one of the things I liked about that this season. Yeah, I'm looking at the head the list of those roster of all the episodes in the guest and I'm pretty sure. Pretty sure it was amazing like what yes she's right. Yeah, it's he.

[00:18:59] Of ambition of.

[00:19:01] Of just have Brittany for has and she's right she just came out of nowhere and I guess I was like, well, is this but that's how LinkedIn is we don't see everybody on that's also social media is we can see everybody because the algorithm controls with blah blah blah.

[00:19:16] But she admitted not admitted, but she's no I was in the background for a while until one of her mentors told her hey you need to get on LinkedIn and you need to be present you need to be out there.

[00:19:26] And thankfully she did because what a breath of fresh air to payroll she is right and that episode was campaign people be creative.

[00:19:35] Yeah, and I think we all are we just don't share it because we talk a payroll right and so that's yeah she was amazing Christine stole Bay just ended the season with us.

[00:19:47] You'll see that episode today actually that post today on June 30th and gosh who else Melissa V we have.

[00:19:55] Yeah, this is a draw of course I think was in here somewhere and we're collaborating with Gerard Hall on his FPC course and we haven't gotten more into it but it's about payroll will be sponsoring will be gifting an education grant to one lucky person for Gerard Hall's FPC test.

[00:20:16] Taking course okay more to come if you're interested you hear this reach out to us. We haven't put anything formally out there yet, but we we're doing the planning still right if you feel that you are.

[00:20:30] eligible or deserving of this or if someone reach out to us inbox us on LinkedIn and say hey I have a person or I would love to take this test I can afford the course for it.

[00:20:43] And because it is a big investment and because we talk so much about investing.

[00:20:48] We are going to stand behind our word and stand on that business and actually sponsor somebody through this education piece and that'll hopefully be a continued effort for us to always host to sponsor someone in their education efforts in payroll.

[00:21:35] And see what's changed what's new. What about you. Yeah, definitely want to get you right what would we revisit is a good.

[00:21:43] We say we've been saying this a lot lately how like we thought we were going to run out of content to talk about and then we realize this is an endless dream of information.

[00:21:55] And what's another piece of that is that we can continue to talk about these same subjects in more late again it updates it's evergreen not only is though are those episodes will they be valid for years to come but the topics are still valid this topics are still evolving.

[00:22:16] The topics we can kind of come back to and still talk about again so yeah you're right it's everything but what we've what sticks out for me what sticks out for me being an apparel author sticks out for me my for myself for you even because I keep telling you you got this the he.

[00:22:32] What is that that grace give yourself grace right I feel like you can talk a whole show book series on that so I encourage what to kind of keep building on that brand.

[00:22:46] Keep building on education piece right teaching we started teaching in the past six months which is awesome right teaching just the education I think is a revisit the authoring the spreading the word is a revisit.

[00:22:59] I definitely like pay active episode and it wasn't eye opener when they told us that a lot of their friction and their challenge is getting past the CFO or the CEO understanding that.

[00:23:12] This product is useful for their employees I thought it was a no brainer I was like why what do you mean they would telling me stuff and I was like but it's free in that and in some respect it's free to the employer.

[00:23:23] Why would anybody not sign and they're like oh they just don't think it's useful for the employees or they think that the employee should manage their money better like they are trying to manage it better that's why they need the product so there's more there's so much more there to keep talking about.

[00:23:37] As far as awareness because these tools enable payroll professionals to really deliver a higher level product.

[00:23:44] And that's what it's about is what product are we delivering to our customers meaning other employees yeah we could also collab on a book exact course we can right I just make sense because we collab on a weekly basis.

[00:23:57] What else so education the authoring of things that those little again that for that earned wage access it does stick out as a kind of we need to keep building awareness for that we need to build awareness for the salary guys that that tool.

[00:24:12] Yes, elevates the payroll function and then elevates the product that we deliver we need this across the board. Shout out to you for all in the hello. Yep, at celery.com like celery like the vegetable. Yes, I want to revisit Christine Stolping create it. Yes.

[00:24:32] And wage creaking right you know what I'm saying like. Yeah, we just keep that company you know what I want to revisit all these things because I want to see what is changed.

[00:24:43] What is happening how they're adapting and stuff like that and everything so that kind of leads us into the next question here what's next. My continuing to elevate and raise the bar on the product that we deliver to our payroll professionals.

[00:25:00] Yes, that's it that's what it is for me that's what it is really focusing in on that. For our payroll professionals I want this to be an all inclusive platform that folks can go to and feel safe and feel and know.

[00:25:14] I'm getting good payroll information from these guys because we do our research because we're also practitioners. We're not just. We're not just. We're not just out here talking to talk with rhetoric and a lot like we're not politicians right where we are practitioners.

[00:25:34] We're teachers and we learn right so it's that ecosystem and that combination of things that keep us at the top of this game. And again I just promise to keep delivering at a high level.

[00:25:49] We we try to have fun as much as we can but there a lot of this stuff is serious man. Oh yeah, you really got to be intentional about doing a good job and that's what this is for that's it.

[00:26:02] Folks who want to do a better job who want to be better at payroll want to know more. But you can come here and listen and learn and absolutely. You're articulated that so good because.

[00:26:15] Yeah, we're going to continue to do what we've been doing and that's exploring that's discovering because this is getting it's not just about providing information for others. We're learning that along the way as we are.

[00:26:26] Yeah, we're just hoping up all this information we're learning from these different interactions and these different connections that we're making in the payroll industry. And it's so refreshing it's so uplifting again going back to what I said multiple times during this episode.

[00:26:40] And people are amazing like we live in a world that is chaotic crazy and everything like that but there's still some good people out there. And there's a lot of good people in payroll. Oh God, I haven't met any bad people in payroll.

[00:26:53] I don't think they last I don't think you just stay. No, I'm serious think about it because if you're they be they become on our true payroll time folks if you're bad at payroll you're going to end up on the true payroll crime side.

[00:27:06] Because I say it all the time, HR and payroll folks need to be beyond reproach. And that pours over into your normal life if that mostly means that you're probably a really decent person human.

[00:27:17] What I can't what I do see though is we are a lot of us are introverts. Yes, right. Yes, because payroll like Christine like Christine stole, they said, We don't all have to be forward facing custom refacing. Yes, and you can easily get comfortable in that.

[00:27:35] And there's some days that I need that that I need to just not be custom refacing just to get worked on right because we get so used to it.

[00:27:43] We get so used to doing our work in a silo like on our own and we get when that's comfort. So I have seen that. You know, shout out to key and Julia. And we're going to look out for the next season.

[00:27:58] There, that we did a swap cast with them meaning we bought we recorded together and one show but we're going to report we're going to post it on both platforms. Yes, they're going to post it on there HR and payroll two point oh show.

[00:28:11] We're going to post it here. It's about payroll. It we have so much fun with this and guess what? It was their first video recording. So we're part of their first video posting on HR and payroll two point. Oh, so I love it man.

[00:28:26] Like just building those connections there going to pay con even though it was not like as a show but we and I still have some content I need to share.

[00:28:35] I interviewed the two folks there and I need to post it on LinkedIn or something just to get it out.

[00:28:41] And going to pay con was an amazing experience and we did that inside this season meeting Nick day our heroes man like Jody Parsons and Sarah Chassney and Laurel.

[00:28:53] Laurel meeting Laurel you can reconnecting with Laurel and meeting all the payroll or folks and leave just amazing like we met all the powerhouse is in payroll man.

[00:29:04] It's amazing for us and to be recognized by them and was also a great feeling and again they just they love what we're doing for the payroll and it's like getting those thumbs up from people that you have been that we've been admiring from far through LinkedIn.

[00:29:22] We could see how look at these payroll powerhouses and then another thing is that they're so approachable.

[00:29:28] So yeah, they're so willing to extend all of those to help and improve you and say it because I think everybody in payroll to your point wants to see for the most part wants to see everybody else grow and succeed. Whatever ventures they're doing right.

[00:29:45] So that's for me stands out you know saying this has been an amazing time Brian it is before it's a more and I'm excited I'm excited for what's to come in so yeah. Let's go to our game here.

[00:29:58] You know, I saw that we have really haven't done this for you and I know that all we did it with Chris and Aaron and there's they say you were them or whatever so we're doing that for us.

[00:30:11] Let's see those are six questions and we're going to say either you me or my other of us right okay. All right number one I'll do the first three and you do last year guys which of us is more likely to win a spelling bee.

[00:30:26] I think you yeah thanks. No doubt who was more likely to order a meal what does that mean though order a meal or out tea who's more likely to order out.

[00:30:39] I think that's both yeah I know you want to say me but you're as order out just as much. No I was thinking both too. Oh no actually I was leaning towards more so myself because I feel like I feel like you're always cooking more.

[00:30:55] Thanks thanks yeah yeah but that's a struggle like we when we talk about saving money that's a struggle man. It's so convenient. Especially the long days yes and if you forget you forget to take stuff out. You got to take me out folks right bro.

[00:31:11] Got to take something out you got to pre prep unless you do meal prep and you have even that any who next one.

[00:31:17] All right my last one who is more likely to enjoy book me that's you yes I'll do book but I'm more on the creative side of the world. Yeah you know whatever so definitely yeah you might have a deal. I just might.

[00:31:34] Yeah who is more likely to recite Biggie lyrics that's you I don't know.

[00:31:41] I just I just know the mainstream popular songs I don't know any of this other records and stuff like you may know some of his from his albums another solicitor so much and you know worse something in you.

[00:31:52] But I got a funny story around this right me and wifey went to a karaoke bar before we moved out of New York.

[00:32:00] It was with her nursing school crew and I'm like oh this is fun people are ripping it there's a whole by the way there's like a whole underground karaoke movement like I don't know if it's still like I would imagine it's always this way.

[00:32:15] Like if you go to karaoke there are regulars that go that could really sing.

[00:32:21] I don't know if it could really perform like and they used this I don't know as a way to I don't know whatever but I would they would like real legit performers when we went I was like yeah oh this is crazy so any who.

[00:32:32] me and wifey we're gonna we did it we were gonna do a one together we went up to do it together and I we picked the biggie song and I'm like fuck got this right. Nope it's different because we didn't hear I wasn't we couldn't hear.

[00:32:46] The lyrics singing along. To the song is very different than hearing the music and having to. Yeah, so. wifey killed it kill she was carrying the song and I'm like. Yeah, it was all the dream.

[00:33:08] She was always I'm just saying oh yo she let's we got done and she's what happened to you I was like God or no I never did this before I thought I had it I was like over the confidence. Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

[00:33:22] Oh my god. Oh my god. Who is more likely to accept a speaking engagement? I would say me. Yeah. I love talking I love teaching though not just talking yeah I like to share helpful information. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

[00:33:37] If it's not helpful I'm not I'm not gonna just talk to talk some people like hearing themselves talk right some people like talking. Yeah. Last one or is it the last one. Yeah. Who is more likely to do something spontaneous? I'll say you.

[00:33:52] I think so, I think so. I think I don't know if it's necessarily taking risk but. It doesn't have to be though. Yeah, it's a spontaneous. Yes, I think right now because I don't have kids.

[00:34:05] I don't have anybody to that's why I think there's more leeway for me to do that. But I think it would be different if I was in a different situation. Okay. Yeah, that was dope.

[00:34:18] Don't know what I want to do next time and maybe we'll do it only on the season and reviews. I want us to create this or that's for the other one. Oh, that could do that too man. That'd be cool.

[00:34:28] Right. Let's do that on the next season and review season 10's review. Okay. That would be dope. Yeah. That would be dope. So all right, we got a safe talk question. What was the hardest thing or biggest hurdle in season nine? Ooh. That's a good one.

[00:34:43] So hardest thing and biggest hurdle in season nine. I think for me, it was staying consistent. Bro, I think yes. Because right for me, it was just like life pushed in. And I was just like, oh my god, and I'm still struggling through it.

[00:35:04] But I see the light at them. I think I'm at the tail end. I see the light. I'm almost out of it type of thing. I see hope. I feel hope. I feel better. But yes, that's been tough. What about you? It's the same. But how?

[00:35:18] It's the same. I'm going to be vulnerable here. I've been riding a used to work at the same place and then I transitioned to a different thing. And so that opened up for opportunities and learning opportunities for us.

[00:35:29] And then things about things I didn't know things I haven't experienced. Just stuff. I had little did my toe in before, but never deep dive stuff. It exposed some areas of opportunity for me that I need to grow in.

[00:35:41] And so okay, those things happen. I was just like, man, like, I started going into that imposter syndrome and this and that and then Like, talking through those things and that and when I get that,

[00:35:53] I can start a go inward and internalize things and kind of shut down a little bit sabotage sabotage. And then like I said earlier, I'm my own worst critic. I'm like, okay, man, are you good at your job?

[00:36:08] And then start questioning myself and then wanted to be better. And actually, absolutely, I wouldn't be in this position if I wasn't good at my job or good at payroll. But I still have to realize hey, I can grow and take those things as

[00:36:20] Challenges, not instead of hindrances. A chest or something, a hindrance can stop you from progressing. A challenge is something that you can work through in my opinion. So I had to take those and reframe and take those things as

[00:36:36] a result of just instead of hindrances and that wouldn't prevent me from going on. Because me, I shut down. I shut down and I just get stuck, especially when I'm my head. So that was that kind of happened during season nine in my own way.

[00:36:52] Because you and I have had those talks just being vulnerable here in person right here. We were on the detail of stuff, but you and I have had those talks Brian like during season nine where we're like, man, I'm going through this. I'm doing that.

[00:37:03] I'm facing this and we've had to encourage each other in the shop that I am stop for the night. I'm going to encourage each other to push each other through. So what's happened, it wasn't really season nine in itself. It was like those outside. Oh, just happened.

[00:37:17] Buring season nine. Yeah. And it has impact. Yeah, it wasn't or anything directly with this. What I found though was doing the show after the show. It released my endorphins and I felt like this is fun for you know,

[00:37:31] and I always every Sunday after we're record, I'm recharged. Yes, you know, that's come away. Man, feel great. Yes. You know what I mean? So that's been part of it. So it's been our saving grace really. It's been our outlets.

[00:37:45] But there's some days that I didn't want to do it. Yeah. You know what I mean? There's some and shoot. This is actually the season that we took the most breaks in. Yes. Luckily for lost tapes because we dropped lost tapes in the season.

[00:37:57] I don't know if you guys noticed, but we took because of this. So it's really interesting conversation because when we didn't want realize that we had these lost tapes that we could post as content as shows.

[00:38:10] There was shows that you guys never heard before or see absorb before because they were part of our website at one point. And then we didn't do that on the website and we were like, oh wait a minute. We got content just sitting here.

[00:38:22] So we started and I think we have a few more. I don't know if we got to do an inventory, but we released a lot of them during this season. Yeah. Don't worry. Are you going to. Okay. And we're going to be breakfast.

[00:38:33] But that gave us the break that we needed because we were struggling this season. Yeah. We were struggling. Yeah. Struggling like life. All good things. Life was life. Life was life thing. Right. Yeah. I had to say during the season. Nobody died. Yeah.

[00:38:54] So it was like it's not death although we there has been death and friends and family but that kind of always had that's life. Yeah. But yeah, man.

[00:39:03] Anywho this is this we took the most breaks and not days not recording on Sundays and that was him that actually hurt because we didn't get that release. We didn't get that out of it on those days. Yeah. Really good conversation man for sure. I love it.

[00:39:19] I tied in to everything, tied in to the thing about consistency and yeah. Yeah. We're a human too right. Yeah. So if you're listening to this and you're struggling talk to someone. Find somebody that you can talk to connect with. Have those outlets.

[00:39:36] You know find something that you can enjoy and find that work life balance. Find some way to improve your well being. There are people out there who will have your back or support you. The payroll community is as a great community. There are great people.

[00:39:52] You can connect with Laurel Sarah at pay org. Or is it great? She's all about people and well being. There are great people in great positions. We chat to everybody. Yeah.

[00:40:04] One of the things that I had resonates this this is not this season whatever just in the last while we were doing nine is like the idea of who you spend your time on. Yes. Right.

[00:40:16] And if you spend your time with negative people that just don't have the hope and ambition and the thought, just a positive thoughts. Yeah. That's going to affect you. That's going to impact you and how you operate.

[00:40:30] So if you don't want to be that unfortunately you have to change the people you're around. Right. And that's that idea is exists a lot in self help as you read. If a self help reader or listener or content absorb consumer of the self help. Yep.

[00:40:49] You will see that like the people you are around and I remember my oldest brother used to tell me all the time when I was a teenager. He's he's show me who you walk with and I'll tell you who you are. Yep.

[00:41:00] And how would be like man crazy. I know why. Yeah. I know why. I don't know shit. You know what I mean? But he was absolutely right. Yeah. Absolutely right. And I'm like, oh, and I'm telling this stuff to Mike children. You know what I mean?

[00:41:16] Oh, you know, old older. Yeah. So yeah, this is just be careful what you consume. It was a word back in church when I used to go to church a lot. The word always even though I didn't I don't agree with all the things that organized religion does.

[00:41:31] But I try to take away because I think that today that if it's good folks up there they try to give you a good word. Yeah. I have to clickable. Yes. Beyond the biobitrona give you something tools to take into the world.

[00:41:44] And one of those folks was talking about the content that we consume. Yep. You know what I mean? And he liked it to like your blood, right? If you put bad stuff a bad chemical in your blood, you're going to get sick. Yep. You know what I mean?

[00:41:59] If we ingest poison and stuff, we're going to get sick. And our body's going to reject it, right? Just think about that. If we're consuming this bad stuff all the time. We're getting our brain sick. What is that? That's another saying you are what you eat. Oh yeah.

[00:42:16] You are too consume. That's another way to kind of think about it, right? That's another way to think about it, right? That's another way to think about it, right? That's exactly right. Yeah.

[00:42:23] That's a great technology too because if we eat bad foods all the time, you're going to be an unhealthy person. Well. Period. Period. Right? So these are the ways to kind of, when it takes time is taking me a lifetime to get to this point.

[00:42:34] And I still struggle with positivity and negativity. I'm still overly sensitive for things. And like that, it's right. It's a struggle man. It's a struggle. I love it. I love it man. This is so hopefully we love you folks. You know, hopefully it took some nuggets from today.

[00:42:52] Show. And again, I always love the season and reviews. And again, it's like I think it's a cheat code for listeners because if you haven't heard the show, listen to all the season and reviews. And we'll talk about what had happened.

[00:43:04] You could be like, oh wait, who was on it? Oh man. It's like a little. It's like a tear. It's a table of content in in in review really because we don't know the whole season ahead of time.

[00:43:16] We don't know what we're going to do all the time. You know what guests will come up and things like that. We're just so well that I do want to build a roadmap for the next 12 months and have some ideas already plotted out. But even that things change.

[00:43:30] We, hey, I'm going to do it and then they don't do the show. We got to stay very flexible and dynamic in that manner. But one of the things we do know is that swap cast is going to happen because they're recorded it.

[00:43:40] So look out for that on payroll in HR 2.0 podcast. And on it's about payroll with Pete and Julie Fernandez. Julie was just awesome. Yeah, I love Julie. I'm wrong. So she's so cool. And Luke. I know Pete was such a rebel. He's a rebel. Holy cow.

[00:44:00] Yeah, check out. He's like the, yo, fearless leader man. I love it. He did an amazing thing for that real quick. I'm sorry. The confidence survey that he did for payroll folks. That mean what we're a part of. He got a lot of us together.

[00:44:14] Access questions and we just went through survey and he built this data deck on the state of payroll. Really. So please go check that out and what are you going to say? Well, no, you're right.

[00:44:26] One thing I, that kind of resonated with me from Pete during the swap castle is his passion for payroll. His passion for the people in payroll and for mixture that payroll is heard. Tillie us. Tillie uncles. Yeah. Yeah, I'm old. I didn't realize that because I, and again,

[00:44:44] I've heard a few, his episodes as I pay attention to all of the payroll podcasts. But I shoot. We got into it. He was getting live. He's going to work. You got to be. Yeah, yeah. So doubt. Hopefully it's more to come there.

[00:44:59] We want to do some panels and really again continue to deliver an amazing product for our payroll professionals. And we'll leave ended on that note and have a great day, y'all. We love y'all. Until the next time. You just happy before we sign off.

[00:45:16] Here are a couple of quick things. Don't forget to follow. It's about payroll on LinkedIn and it's about your paycheck on Facebook. And TikTok. Thank you for being part of our payroll community and thank you for being a part of this journey with us.

[00:45:31] Until the next time, keep learning, keep growing and most importantly, keep going.