Transcript
David Isaacs: hello Everyone is September 30th at time of recording I know it's been a while. But we're glad to be back. Um, As always, joined by...
David Isaacs: Our friends. My co -co -host, Brian. Brian. What up, dawg?
The Big Dog: what up doe oh man it's good to hear your voice david it's been such a long time Just. Happy to be back. Thanks for having me back. Thanks for coming back.
David Isaacs: Yeah, of course. You know, next week we'll have. joe rogan on So. Everyone to be prepared for that.
The Big Dog: Oh, yeah, yeah. Jamie, can you pop up that clip, please?
David Isaacs: Yeah.
The Big Dog: There you go. Wow. Anyway. Yeah, man, so how's it going? tell me about it it's been a while since we talked i mean we did some uh texting back and forth but uh you know hoping everything's all good on your side of the fence
David Isaacs: Yeah. Um, Yeah, texting back and forth and then some... No talk. for a little while. I meant to... You're better about texting back. It's just like...
David Isaacs: I've... ive tried to You know, I've noticed this with my mom, like if something comes up, you know, blinders come on and like everything else, regardless of how. small of a gesture how courteous it could be just like just falls to the wayside Like she is.
David Isaacs: So much like. focused on one thing or like focused on nothing Like and that is just the way that she operates And I noticed I'd been doing that.
David Isaacs: for a long time that I would just put the blinders on and just... you know kind of grind away at a problem. Did it Typically it doesn't. If I was to do it that way, eventually I'd have some.
David Isaacs: Fall. fall out from doing it. Um... But... you know in the near term i think you can kind of get away with it if you're producing output regardless of where it's at.
The Big Dog: Right.
David Isaacs: Um, you know Kind of like distract the distract your manager with the new shiny thing as they're mad at you for not um remembering to do something.
David Isaacs: um but I've Really been trying to work on it. And. Yeah, no, I kind of dropped the ball on. Trying to get some updates out. so I apologize for that.
David Isaacs: um I think it's kind of a mix of. Similar to what I was talking about with my mom of. you know i'm I'm getting better about... you know kind of taking a lay of the land taking a break trying to can compartmentalize what i have to do how much effort that takes where to go with it and you know make sure that I'm you know kind of chipping away in a few different areas
David Isaacs: On the other side of that, it's like the weekend comes or like my downtime. And it's like, all right. you know. brain brain need rest brain hurt
The Big Dog: Yeah.
David Isaacs: And... That's just kind of where I end up. so And that's ah another. thing that we've talked about for a while it's just that balance but you get thrown off You can get thrown off, so... quickly and so easily.
David Isaacs: Um, And. you know It's not all bad. Sometimes it's good to be busy getting visibility in some. deliverables assigned to me by one of our VPs. so um We have.
David Isaacs: you know, planning out for the next few years of like, what do we want to accomplish? What are problems that we face right now? What are potential solutions? So trying to help like frame that discussion and.
David Isaacs: Generate. you know some data around a call to action. Or you know how bad is it really? type things so it's very It's very data driven, but also very conceptual.
David Isaacs: Amen. Like I had not worked at a big corporate place before And now it's like I've... instead of just pulling data or making sure everything's running correctly. It's like, are you pulling the data, telling a story?
David Isaacs: Um, and really just trying to get more of that muscle memory to Like... is less more here, is more better. How do we... you know. make it so somebody can Take a look at this and in five seconds, understand the takeaway. Or like, oh, that line's going up, that's bad. Or, oh, that line's going down, that's bad.
David Isaacs: type thing. Uh... I did go... fishing a few weeks ago Um...
The Big Dog: Oh nice, tell me about that.
David Isaacs: And I was. of Who's left? A friend of mine and his brother. So kind of grew up with them. and uh I was talking to... you know, my friend's older brother about what he was doing. and he's like well i basically You know, I kind of just BS You know, I just.
David Isaacs: present out. Bye. present out information based on calculations I was able to you know do myself and no one questions it and I just get budget. and you know i go out and do what I want to do.
David Isaacs: He's like, yeah. um My brother hates it. uh was just talking to him and like no i understand it and i was like yeah you know i i'm guessing like the first like it's all started from like cave drawings or something like the most popular person in the village was
The Big Dog: You're welcome.
David Isaacs: whoever was doing the cave drawings like it's been ingrained in us for so long between painters, directors, musicians. like You know, how do you.
David Isaacs: How can you make me feel? Um, And that's just kind of the basis of it. because Uh, Jobs in general, I know, are like kind of a social concept. and You have your.
David Isaacs: subject matter experts and you have you know, the buckets of people, um some. Very intelligent, very good at what they do. but maybe they're not good at.
David Isaacs: Articulating that. And I think i'm I'm somewhere in that bucket. where I'm getting better at. articulating things. Bye.
David Isaacs: Um... It's really you got to have. You have to be good at what you do, and then you also have to make yourself visible. Whereas I'm sure there's a lot of people that... are very good at their jobs better than I am.
David Isaacs: with. Just... don't have that visibility And then you have the worst of them, people that are not good at their jobs and have visibility.
David Isaacs: Uh... End. yeah and the people that aren't very good at their jobs and have no visibility but in any case what i'm Well, I'm just sitting here talking. about how to...
David Isaacs: have someone take away something quickly. I'm on two minutes here, but the takeaway basically is, you know, there's a lot of things go hand in hand. Or most of the time what you need is.
David Isaacs: a little of at least two different things Um, And in work, it's definitely. Well, you have to know your stuff. and also have that visibility. So that's what I've been working on.
David Isaacs: Um, The side effect of that is the amount of work. at any given time can be multiplied by 3. Uh...
David Isaacs: So, yeah, kind of back to the ebbs and flows thing. and I even talked to my therapist last week because this has been going on for you know multiple weeks. VP's coming came over from California last week so I think it was last Wednesday.
David Isaacs: If I'm not mistaken. Maybe it was two weeks ago. In any case, like you got to prepare for that, for like that meeting. And then after that meeting, you get notes and. You got to. put in like what they ask for from the notes and the actions. And then you do that and then they come back, you know, it's just a lot of back and forth.
David Isaacs: um but it is relatively difficult. Uh, Not only it's kind of like UI work, right? Like you have to make.
David Isaacs: the web page function You have to. Make it so that. Um, You know you get all the functionality out of it, but then you have to look at it from the other side of like you know, is this. uh good to look at from a user perspective.
David Isaacs: And I think that's really where a lot of those. a lot of the work gets done i mean it's kind of abstract in a way
The Big Dog: Yeah, yeah, I feel you. Kind of. going through something similar like myself at work, you know, like I'm. not exactly terrible at my job just because like you know at the heart of like really what i want to do is was coding you know i was initially hired on to do data work but you know my my
The Big Dog: firm my uh job is very excel heavy and i just i don't enjoy excel like i'm i'm decent at it i'm not like uh you know i can do some macros all you know kind of all the basic stuff but like when it comes to like pivot tables and you know, UI. Um,
The Big Dog: like building a uh data visualization and like power bi i or um Tableau or anything like that. just It's not that's not for me um kind of exhausted my limits. So, you know, moved over to What I initially thought i was going to be.
The Big Dog: coding heavy but it's more like i'm essentially an administrator right and like i'm you know my title is webmaster so like I'm in charge of making sure that, like, all the content on our website functions, make sure the website actually works. And, you know, testing. Now I'm doing project coordination. so you know like wearing a lot of hats and it's like I feel like I'm like I feel like I'm that that picture of... the swimmer where he's like.
The Big Dog: drinking water right like i'm like barely holding my head up but like then it's just like i just like Something else comes up that i'm not familiar familiar with and i'm just like I don't know almost feels like i'm drowning myself i know that's not what that picture actually was but um you know,
The Big Dog: I'm kind of just like i have the visibility like a lot of people respect like my opinion and you know but it's like there are times where i forget things because there's a lot of You know, I, I don't have a process down for this because like our, my flow has changed so many times over the past like year and a half that like, it's hard to even get into a rhythm and like.
The Big Dog: Our site isn't... completely functional yet because we our go -live date is in December. you know We're going through user testing. currently and so it's a whole long boring process but you know To your point of... um you know i i have the visibility but I'm not I guess I'm terrible at my job and that's like not putting myself down. it's There's a lot of room for improvement. and You know.
The Big Dog: I just got to the point where I'm confident in talking about my code with my boss because she doesn't fully understand. I mean, she's somewhat technical, but, you know, I obviously exceed that from a code level. So I'm just kind of comfortable with that. But like now I have to like run meetings and start talking about the administrative side. And I just, you know, I really lack confidence.
The Big Dog: about what I'm talking about, especially once my answer is a question, because I'm like. Uh... line you know like i like i don't um I just...
The Big Dog: i feel like i'm just i need to talk to somebody you know somebody has a question it's like it's just like one of those bumps in the road that i have you know i didn't get how to answer and it's like i almost get like defensive and there's no there's like no purpose for that you know so Um,
The Big Dog: So, you know, it's ah as we talked about. checks and balance or um you know balances it's like Um. I feel like...
The Big Dog: For me personally, it's just kind of like. tough to find that balance at work between an administrator and just like coder so I kind of feel your your pain on that. And, you know, I feel like I'm kind of past the point of like where I do something I don't.
The Big Dog: especially with code it's like i don't i'm not that popular first person you to the caveman you know it's like i kind of just do Whatever somebody asks of me, I'm not, you know.
The Big Dog: I don't have all the solutions yet. I'm not quite that lot senior level, you know, so kind of. somewhere like mid -level where I kind of understand your concept and I believe I can make it work it's just still take me a minute to kind of visualize if and and all that so um you know, I'm kind of.
The Big Dog: Two to three minutes in. i just rambling on but you know if somebody were to take away something that's um you know sometimes there's you may be signing up for one thing and don't expect others as part of like a job or just in life and Bye. It is going to come.
The Big Dog: have to pivot and you know Bum. Give yourself a little bit of grace of that. Put the time in and maybe eventually I'll get. you'll get better as long as you're putting um You know perceive yourself to be doing the best so
David Isaacs: Yeah. Um, No, I mean every day. Today was actually pretty good. or at least this past week. um you know being present and being able to look back as far as you know, meetings go.
David Isaacs: being able to run meetings or sit in meetings like voice opinions and that like i have gotten quite a bit better with it Um, you know in terms of data and how to view it. and how to understand it.
David Isaacs: um you know I think that comes with time. Uh, the best person at sequel that doesn't you know, to kind of take the understanding. take the time to understand the data is not going to be that great with it.
The Big Dog: Right.
David Isaacs: Um, Bye. Yeah, I think in in work in general. It's like... none of the ebbs and flows of like we're really busy and sometimes there's more downtime but in terms of day or in terms of week.
David Isaacs: you know there's certain things that I enjoy doing. And I'm always going to be a little bit more. um I'm always gonna lean in a little bit more to trying to do those things.
David Isaacs: But... There's also things that come up that i I can't really skip that I don't really want to do.
The Big Dog: Right.
David Isaacs: um they have to do them anyways so That's right. you know i i can kind of have an appreciation for the structure of office work in general because it kind of forces me to do things that I don't want to do or learn more about things that I'm not. too good at.
David Isaacs: but It is yeah tough to try to. you know where a bunch of different hats and jump between a bunch of different things. Um... Bye. maybe you doing one certain thing is going to go faster than anyone else doing it but then you might be called upon to do something that you know, might go slower if Uh,
David Isaacs: might be going slower because you're the one doing it but um I really. you know started to get into this concept and thought around What do we... Um, What do we do with time?
David Isaacs: And like. asking myself, am I spending time or am I investing? time. Like am I might. If that makes sense, but in any case like you know if it's uh ad hoc or something like I leave every.
David Isaacs: every bit of like how i grab data like i just leave it And. my My snowflake looks awful. I call it the drunk drawer. It's like... do you have this it's like yes but it's probably going to take me more time to find it than if I was to just rewrite it real quick so I'm just going to do that Uh,
David Isaacs: But... Yeah, I think. You know, individualist. individualistically. how we navigate. you know our our jobs and our life is um Pretty interesting.
David Isaacs: you know i've I've come to... I've come to the conclusion like I'm just on a different wavelength than other people and I've just leaned into it.
The Big Dog: right Right. I totally get that. Um, Yeah, I get that. It's like... Sometimes like...
The Big Dog: You know... I guess. still using the workplace as an example it's like sometimes like Mood or the vibe of the office is like... Um, Like, we've we got a new... i shouldn't say new it's actually a new position because we've never really had one before but we had uh i hired a mic marketing director and His...
The Big Dog: i think she's in there like early 50s she has a couple kids but i mean not relevant to this the story but i guess maybe to fill some background um so she's she's a bit older she has a ton of experience in marketing and especially leadership and Sure, you still work for... a plumbing um like manufacturing company so she's very familiar with like our type of work and her husband's and I think construction of some kind of that.
The Big Dog: and I'm not sure if it's like general contracting or or what, but... Um... She's just kind of come on and I think she'd... It hasn't really taken the the time to...
The Big Dog: Maybe like... learn things. of About like... It's weird. like I guess like the social structure. like that sounds weird like you know how people interact with each other she's kind of just like turn things like she's like grouped all marketing together and that kind of upset some people and how our seats are we're you know were and some people chose
The Big Dog: these seats so they're in the back row and they can get work done or just you know like whatever they can probably scroll amazon when no one's looking whatever they whatever the case is So that upset people and... you know. ah I had made lunch for everybody.
The Big Dog: Yesterday. And for whatever reason, she she decided to like. i don't know if she's just like didn't want it just didn't care like whatever the case is but she's just like we're gonna take our marketing team to launch because it's like our first week and it's Traditionally what?
The Big Dog: Um... Our team does. when a new person's higher they always get a like a welcome lunch and then a lunch on their birthday Kind of cool. I don't I'm sure it's like nothing compared to what some other companies or bigger companies do but it's kind of like our thing and um she just like the decided of that the day of that she was going to do that and like that kind of pissed me off but Yeah. you know, like sometimes it's just like about Maybe.
The Big Dog: not coming in and like totally upending and everything or kind of like wrapping structure to like Your needs and wants. It's like you kind of got to like. Slow roll that.
The Big Dog: A bit I think. um like work dynamic, like in your. your subordinates or your your direct reports like that that's fine but like when it affects like other people who like you don't even you know.
The Big Dog: aren't even on your direct team i guess i don't know i'm still kind of trying to process that and not be as upset as I am. but I think...
The Big Dog: You know, it maybe it's just like her just trying to like that. who she is at her core but she's like it's just weird she's like just like very personal and she has like a lot of questions like she saw my picture of my You know, my I have a picture of my wife and son on my desk. and I also have my wife's.
The Big Dog: college graduation photo on there and you know she's she's asking all about that so it's like it's not like she's not like socially inept or anything like that she's like it's very personal and very outgoing i think it's just like Just sometimes.
The Big Dog: The optics. Um... Or like... Maybe just trying to do her own thing or set a tone. I you know, I don't know whatever I think I'm overthinking this but I guess my my point that I was trying to make is like...
The Big Dog: Sometimes you just have to be... comfortable with the uncomfortable especially like when you hire it like in my situation where they hired a new person it's kind of just like adjusting how that person kind of operates rather than like vice versa and you know the vibe in the office has kind of just been all off anyway like there's just like a lot happening and i think just like We don't have...
The Big Dog: Like. Eh... My office is is strange in the sense that like we all work together in a collaborative sense very well. And like we share like and we joke around. But then it's like there's just like awkward in between. Right. Like.
The Big Dog: There's no like When it comes to like having to like object to something like like no one says anything and then like we get like months or weeks down the project and they're like, Oh, well I don't understand why we're even doing this in the first place. It's like,
The Big Dog: Well, then say something. week You know, weeks ago, we could have... like not invest all the time in the resources of something you weren't one passionate about and two it probably didn't make sense just because like you didn't speak up you know like I...
The Big Dog: I've kind of like. I'm trying to be more. comfortable and be like instrumental in that because it's like I think like people look to management or company as like.
The Big Dog: Having all of the ideas in the world and you know Bye. they shouldn't we should all kind of just be objectively making our little ecosystem a little bit better and i think that goes for broad saying of like you know whether it's family life or you know going to the gym like just be respectful and have like go like that extra mile to kind of have just like communication skill like not even that just like make sure you're doing like Wai.
The Big Dog: you're supposed to be doing and speaking to your you know, to who you are as a person. Like I just. I guess I just don't understand why it's so hard for some just to like... even say like oh well hey maybe i think we should do this like maybe they think it's they're not comfortable with that kind of conflict i guess i'm not sure but I don't know. That was something that I kind of got off on a tangent there. I apologize about that, but something that just kind of bothered me this week.
David Isaacs: All right. Yeah, no, I get it
David Isaacs: But this new person had a new job. I typically Amen. give the people that I think it's like their idea to do something. But it's... kind of outside of the interest of...
David Isaacs: Like... what you were doing to you know bring food in so yeah like oh yeah food for everyone that's a good idea and then couple hours later like oh we're just gonna go out for food.
David Isaacs: and they just don't really associate Um, That was like... any of the Not like consequences, but... Yeah, how it could rub people the wrong way.
David Isaacs: Um... So I don't know.
The Big Dog: Right.
David Isaacs: Bye. I think you already talked about it. like That person doesn't seem like they're... Like they would do that on purpose So. We're hoping it would. you know. get better along the way.
David Isaacs: I always have a... I feel like I have a hard time with first impressions. but Now those people get to know me. i think it uh
David Isaacs: I think I do better. So.
The Big Dog: Yeah, yeah, I mean...
David Isaacs: maybe that's just the type of person. That they are. I don't know.
The Big Dog: Yeah, I mean, you know it says coming up on the end of week two so you know it's uh We all kind of get, you know, we're all just dogs kind of just sniffing each other out still. Sniff each other's butts. Yeah.
The Big Dog: whatever uh other analogy you want to work on or not work on but but using that scenario you know it's It's a growing experience for everybody. and you know it It's such a dynamic shift because... Our e -commerce team was all... Reporting to my boss. um and then we had one marketing girl who's reporting to our vp it was just like a weird structure and i don't And the marketing was like.
The Big Dog: This doesn't make any sense because we have so many people, like we have three people working on econ, but we only have. one per person working on like our wholesale distributor side and like That's a lot of work and you know we put on like we put on food events for or like our customers and you know that's that's all summer like every friday so like
The Big Dog: you know But yet the whole marketing team had to be there. So it makes sense as to why we we hired this. this person. um you know everything's hopefully we'll be smoother and there's a lot of opportunity. where I mean, we're still a growing company and we're.
The Big Dog: We have a whole analytics team who's... Um... You know, I think we just. I think they just saved our company like a quarter of a million dollars by not using our packing foam that we're required to by our insurance company for like some of our bidets and washlets. Um...
The Big Dog: But these ones specifically don't. necessarily require that packing so literally just as a whole company they save a quarter million dollars so you know we're we're getting there we're it's a company that's over 100 to 106 years old you know and we're kind of just starting to bring everything into the modern day so Um,
The Big Dog: But theres with that, there's going to be. growing pans and that. That goes along for. Any relationship, doesn't matter how long you've... been together with this person or you know how long a company has existed you know you've done enough to survive and you know at some points it just kind of comes comes time to evolve and you know, um, with that, again, it comes, comes growing pains. Like I'm experiencing that with like.
The Big Dog: you know, my wife currently. like There are some things. That, you know. And kind of speaking on like the inner. personal like conflict we'll call it of like i'm still learning like telling my wife no like i don't want to do that and it's not like it's an anti -social thing it's just that there are certain features that i know however going to play out and i'm just going to
The Big Dog: i'm going to be miserable and like why would i want to make other people miserable it's like there's certain scenarios like where i just have to like kind of remove myself but like She might be mad at at the moment, but I know for me personally and for our relationship, was it's a better move. so um You know.
The Big Dog: I think we can all... You know, speaking from experience, I think we can all just learn to communicate a little bit more, just go that extra step and, you know. Yeah. get to know get to know that new person you know i'm finding out that she had, like...
The Big Dog: she had she's like in her 50s and she has a whole Her whole left arm is a tattoo sleeve. You know, like, not that I wouldn't. And she's... gen x so it's like That's good.
The Big Dog: For me, that's kind of when. Um, like the generation that started making tattoos popular i mean look at all the you know. metal bands from like the late 80s early 90s like those I'll wear tattoos, you know, and it's like tattoos are. And every millennial or what seems like every millennial and Gen Z person, you know, it's just kind of becoming the norm.
The Big Dog: But like. you know. Would have known that and we asked her about it. Her tattoos so, you know I don't. have a person it was just like a weird Weird scenario, weird timing. with with this particular food thing coming and you know it's Don't want that obstruct.
The Big Dog: Um... getting to know this person or hold it against them you know it's just like we have to kind of mature ourselves and You know, I'm... Learn to be a...
The Big Dog: learn just to be a better person or just be a more communicative even if i'm you know I by nature am. a you know very quiet reserved but there are also times where i just like being there for the most part i like being around people you know i don't necessarily need to communicate all the time
The Big Dog: So. You know, I like to ask questions like a good person one -on -one rather than as kind of like a whole whatever. I've never really been comfortable with that unless I was, you know, drinking or a mic in front of me with. while doing comedy and i like i have to kind of uh i guess in a way be a put on a character you know i don't know i'm still kind of working that through through therapy but by nature, i'm I'm an introvert. So, you know, I'm just kind of.
The Big Dog: Learning new things about myself every day and you know giving other people graces like it's not a personal attack on me. That's, you know, that would have been the old Brian move. so Sort of.
The Big Dog: evolving I guess I've been trying to work on. lately
David Isaacs: Yeah. No, I get it Kind of the same way. you know Like... Yeah, it's just kind of one of those like work and concepts and of uh You have to be around these people.
David Isaacs: So I think for the most part, we... Want to kind of play nice and um Yeah. like someone new to the mix i mean it is interesting kind of keeps things fresh but yeah definitely uh different people working on.
David Isaacs: um getting to know each other. in different uh pieces. So. I mean, it's people at work that I meet. all the time or I haven't really talked to. and just end up striking a conversation one day. and It goes pretty well.
David Isaacs: um Yeah, I think... for me at least just kind of keeps things interesting and approaching it from an open mind of you know, the world's not out to get you and people aren't doing. this tea. to like spite you.
David Isaacs: Um, is kind of the first thing that i have to say in my head because that's the first thing i think
The Big Dog: Yeah.
David Isaacs: Like, oh, this. you know this person hates me Um... But... Yeah. It is. At least for me. like Keeps things interesting.
David Isaacs: and uh Yeah, it is. for you at least, interesting and all the growing pains that come with, you know, trying to.
David Isaacs: Urbanize, almost. like how you're
The Big Dog: Heh.
David Isaacs: Company operates. like You know, they've been they've been on well water. and clotheslines and Uh... Yeah.
David Isaacs: You grow what you eat. Type. End. you know, kind of changing all that. so I'm sure for you. um Yeah. keeps things interesting and you probably wouldn't want to do.
David Isaacs: Anything else? but regardless of that. Sentimental. yeah some days it's tough for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes just one reason, sometimes a a bunch of different reasons. but um In the other sense, sometimes it's good for...
David Isaacs: One reason or... for a lot of different reasons. so Yeah, every day, balance. Take the good with the bad. and Um...
David Isaacs: I guess. Yeah, my brain. i've been i've been using too much of my brain lately i'm a little spent so
The Big Dog: No, all good. um I like it. I think I hit all my points that I wanted to hit anyway, but I mean... it How's your particular, I mean, if you want to.
The Big Dog: divulge this information how's your your family or the person you know who has gone through a mental episode doing.
David Isaacs: Oh. You're doing well. For the most part, I think. You know. Kind of like me and you know about the... the process. how long it takes So I think it's...
David Isaacs: Still... kind of in around that area of Why did this happen? What if it happens again? Um, But... Yeah, she's taking... um She's taking the right steps.
David Isaacs: um I think it is. You know, one of those moments where. It is... like a opportunity to learn. And she seems to be taking it that way.
David Isaacs: Um, But... For me, I know. there are a lot of times that Something like that would happen to me. And it's like, all right, I got to change some stuff. And then you change, start feeling better and then kind of just revert.
David Isaacs: So. Um... Yeah, I'm hoping that's not the case. I don't think that's going to be the case but that's just kind of my fear.
The Big Dog: Yeah. i ah i get that that's that's For me personally, it's happened a lot, you know, I mean. I'm. On the up and up with. weight loss um but it was a struggle for you know, really since the pandemic, it's not to blame.
The Big Dog: That. pandemic address. you know, a complete mind shift. and working outside my comfort zone. you know i was working in comic books and my wife was right down the street so i just felt like i had a comfort zone there and you know i could control what i eat so i was able to lose a lot of weight that way especially motivation to for my wedding quote We moved in together we you know, I had. a kid. i had I had to get a
The Big Dog: better paying job because and also for just for insurance purposes because i had a child on the way and um the owner of said comic book store clothes was Not closing but selling the business. So I had to...
The Big Dog: kind of get out that way and um You know, it was just a lot of. ups and downs of trying to navigate corporate America. and Um... working for a big company at the time that was very production heavy and you know all you're key metrics were measured to the t and if you aren't eaten you know it's like um Yeah, I was just kind of on a...
The Big Dog: journey of struggling and i reverted back to my old ways a lot of drinking and eating late night nachos. and Prince, rather pete wake up.
The Big Dog: hungover or you know whatever but Finally have. kind of broken that cycle and i'm down almost 60 pounds as of my last weigh -in on Monday, so...
The Big Dog: Yeah.
David Isaacs: hell yeah
The Big Dog: Yeah. um you know, and building muscle uh you know don't uh not gonna look like you know arnold schwarzenegger in his prime but you know i'm starting to just get back like my full hip mobility and you know i got strengthening my core like i even started doing yoga so You know.
The Big Dog: I'm working my way. back to where i was as far as physically when i was you know 30 years old and
The Big Dog: Didn't feel like I was gonna run out of breath going Walking up a flight of stairs. Yeah, it's... it. life isn't easy and you know sometimes you freeze frame things and in time, and you kind of hold yourself to that, and I was just getting down, frustrated, like, why can't I lose weight on my old diet, and, you know, I just, I needed a change, uh, it was, took a long time, but I kind of just accepted, uh,
The Big Dog: you know, that. what i was doing wasn't working and it needed a change and i give this one a shot and it's working so So. but again you're Long -winded.
The Big Dog: to your point of uh yeah i get it it's uh it's not never an easy journey and you know, especially after something like that, you think, um, Even if people say they're there to help you still feel kind of.
The Big Dog: alone or can feel that way. um
The Big Dog: you know but ultimately at the end of the day it's your choice to change so i you know hope that person does not revert back and gets the help that they they need and take the support when they're given it so
David Isaacs: Yeah. Um, Comes back to... problems we didn't know we had. solutions we didn't know we needed. Um,
The Big Dog: Yep.
David Isaacs: and that's the uh strange thing, you know, throughout life. and Coming to figure some stuff out
David Isaacs: Why did I know this sooner? Why did I do something sooner? And... Sometimes it just takes time. We'll figure some things out. whether or not someone at work is spiting you or...
David Isaacs: Um... just made a mistake or... if uh you know, what I'm dealing with right now. am my Or... What I'm going through right now, am I dealing with it adequately enough?
David Isaacs: Um, Allowing ourselves to feel. allowing ourselves to to grieve or feel happy or sad or mad or, you know, whatever it is and having the.
David Isaacs: avenues to be able to deal with some of those bad feelings as well as some of the good feelings. Um, M. Yeah, so.
David Isaacs: Yeah. always check in on yourself and You know, really just.
David Isaacs: I was going to say, like, talk to yourself. You don't have to talk. You don't have to talk to yourself. but Um, Yeah, just getting more in tune with... ah With who you are.
David Isaacs: how you're feeling. and what you care about. and Yeah. At least. That's what I've been trying to do and be more comfortable in myself. and Things seem to be
David Isaacs: wouldn't say easier but um There's kind of just less to worry about. I guess Not trying to. Cover for yourself.
David Isaacs: Um... If you can realize that there's a problem and that you need to fix it. and you try to figure out a way to do that, then you'll be better off in the long run. So.
David Isaacs: Yeah.
The Big Dog: Yeah. um you know I think once you for me it was once I kind of started actually trusting myself and you know not just doing the easy way out Although. with some things they just like with cooking there's sometimes where i'll just i'll get a a bag of frozen you know peppers and onions because i don't feel like chopping them but You know, like when it comes to actual.
The Big Dog: life choices and things that have ramifications yeah i started to trust myself and you know making Just having the feeling of not everyone's out to get me. You know, when they say, hey, don't I don't think you should.
The Big Dog: You know, like. i don't think you should chop it that way or i don't think you should do whatever you know like I don't. don't take things so personally i guess you know working on that. um allowing myself to you know. um Be better. you know.
The Big Dog: I don't want to be. Stuck in.
The Big Dog: depressed and all this for the rest of my life so it's uh taking actions to to be better and happier and enjoying my life and um you know not retreating inward so
David Isaacs: Yeah. Definitely. It's the... It's the hardest stuff man. It is. So. Let's see who I am. you know kind of a lot of people fall into these habits like I know I have.
David Isaacs: But... Yeah. Every day gives us the... opportunity to be better. So.
The Big Dog: Yeah, sure. I just got to keep an nice some optimistic. view even when it Hurts.
David Isaacs: Alrighty. Did you have anything else?
The Big Dog: No, I think I'm all set I felt like I got everything out.
David Isaacs: Alrighty. Well, thanks, everyone, if you've made it this far. We appreciate you. And hope you took something away from it. And we will see you soon.
The Big Dog: Yep. Bye, everybody.
