The $12B March Madness Trap & The Viral Dress Code War

Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of the Red, White, and Green Show, where we give financial advice for people who love America and more importantly, you love capitalism. Of course, my co-host and myself, Southside, Steven Rickman. We love capitalism and we love teaching you

about money. Thanks so much for tuning in this week. We've got a great show, Steve. >> Yes, we do. I'm looking at it. I can't wait to help people. And you're exactly right. Especially in this day and age, if you love the greatest country in the world, and you should, which is America,

you have to love money because I think money is the one thing that gives you security and gives you the ability to live life to its finest. >> So, we're going to talk in just a minute, but we got a a great stories here that we're I mean, just great stories. One of them are going to talk

about the capitalism of chain restaurants, which you're going to like this. I'm going to talk a little bit about March Madness. We're in the middle of it right now.

>> No, you should. I mean, that's where we are. That's what dudes do. >> Yeah, it's what they do. They bet. That's what dudes do. >> Dude, I've been betting. Now the wife knows because now she got access to my accounts. We could talk about that one day. Should your wife know everything

that you're buying and spending or just trust you? >> And we're going to talk about what happens to productivity in the workplace and uh why more people are fighting when they inherit money. We're seeing a lot more fighting when people inherit money.

We talked today about they didn't teach you this and what your money personality is. I have found out your money personality. We're going to discuss that. Yes, we're going to discuss that.

>> What is yours? You're like a a lion. >> Me? They call me jackpot. That's That's my That's my money personality. I just All I do is I pull the slot machine and coins come out. No matter what I do, that's they call me the jackpot.

>> And by the way, Ted's giving a summary of exactly where we're going to go on the red, white, and green. But do you see Ted's cool shirt? That's a bicycling shirt. That's probably something out of Italy. God knows what it costs. And you have tennis shoes to match.

>> Oh, yeah. I've got great tennis shoes. This is Aerov. very very difficult brand to get. Um you can all find it online though. >> I got this shirt from my father-in-law.

>> Uh we got great great interviews today in the green room. And of course this money hack. I'm going to show you how to get to Paris, Steve, for you for half price.

>> We Yeah, we have something like that. And much much more right here in the Red, White, and Green Show. As always, uh thank you so much for subscribing. Those of you that are tuning back into this, Steve, I'm getting great comments from people all around the country.

People actually took a few weeks ago when we talked about missing money and how to go online. I had somebody that found over $5,000 from an old 401k. They did not even realize that they have and they found it on missingmoney.com.

>> Dude, that is nuts. >> We put dollars back into people's pockets. >> That is huge. Had they not watched, they never would have known. There's somebody watching for the first time. I would tell them again, missingmoney.com. Yeah, missingmoney.com. So, we got a great

story as we kick into our first segment here with news you can use. And this one, I don't know if you can use it or not, Steve, but it is goddamn funny. It is so funny what's going on right now because there is a major viral story that got started by the Ruth Chris steakhouse.

>> Okay. >> And here's here's how it goes. And I really want your take on this and then I'll tell you a couple interesting points about this. But Ruth Chris basically says proper attire is required if you're going to eat at Ruth Chris steakhouse. You've got to remove all

hats, no baseball caps at Ruth Chris. >> No tank tops, no pool attire, no gym wear, no clothing with offensive graphics. Don't know what that means or language. and no revealing clothing or exposed undergarments. All no, you can't get into the Ruth Chris steakhouse.

>> And it has gone viral because Chili's fireback and Chili's basically said the following. You could be wear anything here. You could be undressed and eat at Chili's. And that's the two extremes right now in the battle. And other restaurants are chiming in. I want Steve's take on this. Is it do you need

to have proper attire when you go out to eat at a place like Ruth Chris Steakhouse? >> Yes, 100%. And I'll tell you, and I'm shocking you probably and anybody else.

And the reason being cuz I worked at a nightclub as a bartender at Rouperts. It was a high-end nightclub. Jeans, jeans were not allowed. So, you were always jeans, no jeans, business attire, slacks. And I saw the people coming down. People enjoy dressing up. Girls enjoy dressing up. People want to look

good and and feel good. And it also allows you to price things a touch higher. You can make more money because your clientele looks good and everybody wants to fit in. If people are coming down the steps and you know short skirts or some dude's got like a testicle hanging out cuz he's in gym shorts.

Guess what? That's not good. You might as well just go ahead and say half dollar beer not on draft. You don't do that. >> I didn't mention that last part of this.

It said after exposed undergarments and it said exposed testicles. >> It does. >> Can't have that. >> No, there can't. It's on the very bottom. Read it. No, but there are people out there that fashion sense they show underwear or do this or girls or

anything. >> Isn't the reality of this that people need to understand that there's a big difference of going out for formal dining like formal upscale dining where you should get dressed and then casual dining and then there's fast food.

>> Yes. >> Right. So, I get it. If you're going to Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Yes. proper attire required. You can't go to a nice steakhouse with white linen tablecloths.

I mean, you'll probably drink some wine or get up high in Yeah. Come on. Cocktail like that. And you can't go that. What does this mean though with revealing clothing? Who decides that?

What revealing clothing? >> The I I'll be honest with you. The toughest job in the world that is normally the easiest job in the world is that person right when you walk in the door that's standing there that all they have to do is go, "Yeah, your name." And they write it down if there's a list.

It's the easiest gig in the world. But it's also their job to assess your outfit and say no. No. >> But does that mean like no ass cheek? >> No ass cheek. No.

>> What if you're have a woman that shows like some of the bra strap? Although it is kind of like a sexy dress. Is that >> if it's tasteful, but that person at the at the front will make that decision. If you have a problem with it, then they call in the manager and the manager plays the heavy. But you also don't want

clientele that's doing the right thing seeing somebody doing the wrong thing. Why she get to show half a nipple? You can't. >> Yeah. And listen, let's be honest. I mean, I love that Chili's got into this conversation acting like they're some real restaurant.

>> No, Chili. >> Let's remind people, Steve, of the main appetizer that's on the Chili's menu right now. >> You're going to the difference of why you can literally wear a tank top and probably underwear to Chili's silly >> stuffed potatoes or

>> No, no, no. Steve, this is called the triple dipper. Okay? or as as some cardiologists call it, the heart clogger. Because what what it is, Steve, >> is it's basically this is just the appetizer. I'm not even talking about your main meal. Oh god.

>> Three boneless barbecue chicken tenders. Check. 640 calories. >> Two of the cheeseburg sliders. >> Oh my god. >> Check. 800 calories.

>> Check. And then just uh you know put it on with two mozzarella patties >> with some honey chipotle barbecue sauce at 860 calories. Check. That comes in at a whopping 2300 calories for your appetizer.

>> Wow. >> That's a lot. As some people say, the widow maker. >> The widow maker. There's some wives going, "Yeah, go eat that twice a week." And you're telling the girlfriends he'll die.

>> Sometimes people go in, Steve, and they go, "My HDL, it's not high enough. I just if I have a couple triple dippers, I I need my cholesterol right above 200 in a heartbeat. Of course, you can wear anything there at Chili's. They have skillet beef queso there. That's 1,800 calories. Of course, you can wear

anything there. >> Yeah, Chili's is wrong, you know. And I love there's places I'll eat like that. Like you said, I love that fast food I think fast food you're not meant to stay unless there's a playground indoors and you and you've got young kids.

Otherwise, get the hell out of there. Uh take it home, eat it. It's it's fast food, you know, it's something you grab on the way home. It's not dining. Um, but then there's the middle zone, which is Chili's, and that's why they can say what they're saying. Houston's is the same way. Houston's was the first

restaurant that I knew of in Atlanta in the Buckhead area that said no ball caps. Some people were allowed ball caps in the lounge or the bar, but not in the dining area. And I say, way to go, Ruth Chris. I just think honestly you're not that bright if you can't tell the difference that a menu says crab meat

stuffed mushrooms and ve asobuko ravioli as an appetizer means dress like you belong there >> right triple dipper says get out of the pool and put on a tank top. I mean that's what it says.

>> Yeah, I agree. >> So I think we ought to have uh us go on the road somewhere. Steve >> to a Chili. >> We'll just interview people about the proper attire when you go to a Chili's.

I think it'd be pretty funny. >> Oh god, that'd be great. I would love to just like you can't wear shorts and chilies now. Ought to stand out. >> And then ask them if they know how many calories they ate in a meal even though it's on the menu. Even though it's on the menu. I thought it was a pretty

funny story. Uh but the big one in here, Steve, which is super interesting right now is that March Madness is going on. We're getting into the second round in here. And basically what this survey said is 3,032 random US workers they interviewed and they found that fans spend on average

one and a half hours a workday. Not one and a half hours a week. One and a half hours a workday following the NCAA March Madness tournament at work. Now we're talking jibber jabber at the water cooler. you looking on your acting like you're on your computer and you're on YouTube TV watching the games checking

out your brackets talking to your friends. That's seven and a half hours a week. >> That's a lot for an employer. That's a tough That's one day basically you just took off, >> right? You took off a whole day.

>> And and if the average productivity they said is at 107 an hour means that you're losing, 12, you're losing a day worth of work. Yes. Multiply that by hundreds of people means that companies are losing billions and billions of dollars of productivity.

>> I mean, I don't know. It's you can't run it like a school where you're like, "Leave your cell phone at the door now that you're at work." You can't do that. But people have laptops and they're going to do it. The final four, you're right. It possesses people, but a lot of workplaces do a final four bracket or I

say final four, but you know, the March Madness bracket. So you just gym you chalk it up that you're going to lose productivity, but really do you lose it the whole tournament or is it just those first couple of days that everyone >> first couple of days first couple of days

>> and then it's only the people that have a shot at winning. Once you write off your bracket, which most people have in the country right now as we're approaching week the 16 finals, you're already know you're done.

>> And nobody cares about Duke anyway. We know they're going to choke in the end like they always do. So nobody cares about that. >> What he go after Duke?

>> I know there's some Duke left. Duke fans Duke's going hell with that red, white, and green. Did you hear what he said? No, don't. >> We got the Boozer Twins on here. Of course, we're going to do Well, >> that's it, guys. Don't get caught up in By the way, your dad lost, too. So,

you're going to lose as well. >> Yeah, you're going to lose. People are going to lose. George is already out. Kennesaw State's out. I mean, it doesn't matter. Every year is different. Just enjoy it and chalk it up and don't get upset at somebody.

>> I think so. And I think you have to consider when you're running a business. I think this is why I want to talk about this story that there's been a famous saying in business that culture eats strategy for lunch.

>> Meaning that you could strategize all day long about how to get better results, more efficiency, more new customers, but it's the culture of the employees. So, one way to look at this is to be like, "Wow, I lost a day's worth of productivity for the next couple weeks." Another way to look at

this is that if it bonds people together, they like the company, they want to work extra or they want to work harder in that hour because just as someone works an hour doesn't mean you're actually getting an hour's worth of work.

>> True. >> People always they're doing something during that hour. Not people are sitting at their desk all day getting an hour's worth of work done. So in the end, if these things are good culturally for your company, it could actually boost the sales and results of your company,

not decline them. >> No, 100%. I think anything that gets people on the same team and and common conversations and people involved boosts morale because people need that in the workplace.

>> So here's a big question to wrap this one up, Steve, because in my companies, I've always believed in summer Fridays. So for the last 10 years, what I've done in my companies is that from Memorial Day to Labor Day, we're done at one.

>> Wow. >> We're done at one, >> dude. Right. And people are like, "This is awesome cuz basically I kind of sort of have a three-day weekend because it's nice out." And our philosophy has always been is that happy employees stay. And we've had 90% plus retention in all my

companies because of the culture and the environment that we create that people and you tell them done at one. Not everybody leaves at one. Some people like maybe I'll leave at three. Some people stay the whole day. People work harder during the week because they're looking forward to that half a day. And

it's not a whole year. We're talking about three months. Memorial Day to Labor Day when the sun is out. People can enjoy their kids or families and stuff like that. I want people to consider this that own a business that you might want to do a uh summer Fridays.

>> And I would do summer Fridays for another reason that maybe you haven't thought of it. It also gives you free advertising. And by that, if a person is doing that, the wife of that individual, if they're going to leave town, they get to leave early. They always know the husband's getting off at 1. You're going

to talk to friend groups. You're going to talk to the people that you know, she's going to brag. The wife is on the company on you. And then the husband's going to tell his buddies. And all that does is get your name out in the atmosphere. and and and it also makes you look like a great guy because you

know what they're human beings they're not robots >> so you got to try these things in your business now I got this second story which is a very interesting story because it's almost uh only affected athletes in the beginning but now given that we've got what I call to be a lot

of digital nomads in America meaning there are a lot of people that do their job almost anywhere and they're not thinking about this >> that's a great term >> you like that digital nomad >> I never heard it but I do sound like I'm educ educated.

>> You are Ted went to Boston College. I went to Georgia State and quit. Here's the thing. They had something called the jock tax. And what this really came about is that a lot of the Super Bowls were played in California. And the question is that if I played a game in California, even though I lived in New

York or I lived in Florida, should I be taxed where I live or should I be taxed where I played the game? >> Where you live? 100% 100%. It's not fair to to tax you where you're playing the game.

>> Which is not the way the rule is, though. In the jock tax, it's like if you play this and you earn a million dollars in California, you've got to file a tax return and then have California tax for that money that you've earned in that state. And so, a lot of people now say, "Well, I I moved

because of COVID. I live in Florida. I live in Texas now, but my company is in Georgia or it's in Ohio or it's somewhere else. How's the deal work? If I if I'm working here or I make money, you know, or my company's in another state, how should I be taxed?

>> Right? That's tough for me. I don't like that at all. Here's the deal with California doesn't realize my opinion. If you're playing, you're playing there because the weather's mostly sunny and and that's why they can depend on the game, especially if it's an outdoor event. There's certain states where the

weather's wonky, right? >> So, that being said, you're there. Now you get the revenue of people flying there, traveling there, hitting your hotels, your restaurants while they're in town to see this game and then they're traveling back to their state, including the athletes that stay there

in the hotels and their families are dining in and around to watch them play in said game. It's not fair. You gave them money by coming there. They should not be able to tax you. It should be your home state. Well, this is why employees have to pay attention because just because the headquarters of your

company is in a different state than where you live, you got to talk to your HR department to see where are they actually taxing your money. Now, I brought this subject up because I had a family where >> um the wife lives in Florida full-time because her daughter's in a soccer

thing, >> okay? and she's been getting taxed in Georgia because the company's actually in the state of Georgia. But she never knew to go to HR to say, "Wait a minute, I do my whole job in the state of Florida, which you have no state tax. I should technically be taxed in the state

of Florida." And we went to HR. We went through this and and technically it's it's where you earn the money is where you're sitting. It's not necessarily where the headquarters of the company is. Now, if you're a traveling salesperson or you spend half your time at the headquarters and half in your

home state, it might be half and half, but I think this is pretty critical because I think I think most people do this wrong. >> I'm going to agree with you, but what you just said basically kills the jock tax. It looks like it's where you made the the money. If she's making it

Florida, she shouldn't be taxed on Georgia, even though that's where the headquarters of the company. But what now? Do you agree with that an athlete should be taxed where they made the money?

>> Yeah, I think I think it is. I think it is. I think it's where, you know, everyone's got to earn their money. But here's what states like New York does, which are terrible. This is why New York's a horrible state to live in from a tax perspective.

>> You ever live in New York? >> Nope. Never lived in New York. In New York City now, I would not live there. Um, mostly over the taxes, but they call the convenience of the employer rule, which New York says, "We don't really care where you are as a remote person.

You're still getting taxed in New York." And there are a lot of states that do that, which is why you have to look at the rules in here because you actually could be subject to the jock tax.

>> Wow. And that's brutal. >> That's Let me tell you, that's news you can use. >> Yes. >> Now, I'm excited to get into our next subject here, which is they didn't teach you this.

>> We all grow up We all grow up in different kind of homes, Steve. >> We do. >> When it comes to money, >> it doesn't People were born with silver spoons. Some people like me got a toothpick.

>> Yeah. Well, is that what you got? >> I got a toothpick. It wasn't even a >> When's mint flavored? >> There was no flavor. >> No flavor.

>> There was no flavor. It was just regular toothpicks. >> You got a little thimble of toothpicks. >> Yeah. I'll just let you know that not once, but probably 30 times mom went to the dented cans. Do you remember the old dented cans with no labels? They were like 5 cents cuz it was called mystery.

>> Well, you didn't know what you had until you opened it. You didn't know. >> It's like opening a can of spam. >> But hey, I >> You know what? You would get till you open it. Oh, that too.

>> I think this is very interesting because uh you ask yourself as a parent sometimes it's the nurture versus nature. >> Are our personalities really baked in the way that they are or do our children learn from their households? And I have learned in 30 plus years of counseling

people in finances that most of it is your DNA. You're just you're baked a certain way. If you're a worrier, you're always going to be a worrier. And if you're somebody who's carefree that never worries about stuff, you're never going to worry about stuff. So, here are the five money personalities. I'm going

to tell you, like I said in the beginning, where I think you fit into this. Okay. >> First one in here is what we call the spender. And the spenders will break your heart. These are people that live for today. They love experiences like nice dinners and travel. But most

importantly, they have a I deserve this mindset just because >> I deserve this. >> Do you know anybody like that? >> Mhm. Not me.

>> I think you is she? No, no, no. But I know people like that. Yeah, I might be married one. >> Would you share that on air? Wait, >> I just did. I just did. Actually, on air last week, the worst thing you've ever done to me at our Buckhead Studios is I told you which kid was my favorite. That

was horrible. >> Yeah, that didn't come out, did it? >> No, it didn't. I think people have traits. I won't say my wife's totally that, but there is a point to where based on education, upbringing, you have a certain level of life you want to lead lead, you know. Yeah, I always say my

advice to spenders is that the good news today is that in a lot of companies you have things like automatic enrollment in your 401k and you know for those kind of people out of mind out of sight is good.

So if money comes out of their paycheck and then the rest goes in their bank account it's kind of good because that's what they have. But these are people that would go into credit card debt and it doesn't scare them. They're like it'll it'll all be okay. I'll figure out how to pay it off. These are the people

that use BNPL today, the buy now pay later because they don't want to wait for that, you know, new clothes or new shoes or whatever it may be. But I've always said spenders will break your break your heart. They're great people, but they have no control over over what they do with money.

>> Yeah, I might make mistakes. I want to say if that's a pizza, I'm a slice of that. >> The opposite is a saver. And I think you know a guy like this in your family.

>> Yes, I do. >> They track every dollar. They hate wasting money at all. and they feel safest when they've got lots of cash in the bank or under the mattress.

>> 100%. Yeah, I'm I'm not that person, but I have I have a person in my family that is that way. And you're exactly right. Everything's itemized. >> But do you think there are some people that grew up in a house where their parents were spenders and they turned into savers cuz they said, "I just don't

want to be like my mom and dad. They were like living paycheck to paycheck. I always we always at the table like we're running out of money or we don't have this or we don't have that." Or do you think vice versa that there are parents that turned their screws on the kids like don't spend a dollar you got to

save every nickel we're going to we're going to that you saw them cheap out so much that you're like I just I can't be like that as I get older. Do you think that people go the other way with their personality?

>> No, I think it was a I think it's the first thing that you said. I think if somebody pushes like I had a brother that pushed a son into sports and he's always at the field and I see it all the time now even in little league baseball travel teams at five and six and seven they get burned out. If you push

something too hard and you're too rigid, I think they will go the opposite direction. I can tell you in the instance in the person in my family, a father did not ever prepare. He didn't spend right. He overspent. He was short here and there. And that person said, "I won't make that mistake." So, I think

that uh that's what made him to be guy that itemizes it because he saw the mistakes of a parent. So, I think your household needs to have a lot of love. not crazy spending, but it's okay every once in a while to splurge. Third personality is the investor. This is somebody who's just constantly looking

for opportunity out there. They're not like, it's not people who frivolously waste their money on like trips and dinners, but they're like, "Hey, can I get a piece of real estate? How do I get into that stock early?" Um, they tend to be very confident in the decisions they make investment wise. Like you'll hear a

lot of people like, "Oh, I gave that dude 50,000 for his company and it's going to be worth 50, you know, 500,000." But most of the times they lose their money. They're way overconfident people like people that invest money and have no experience. But but they they tend to think about

long-term growth all the time. Like how do I get a buck? I'm not going to stick it in the bank or in the mattress. I'm going to try to find a company or or some stock or someplace I can I can put that.

>> What do you call this person? >> The investor. See, to me, investor is almost like a dreamer, too. Because I think we all hear stories of the guy that owned land 30 years ago and now that land's being turned into a subdivision and he's a millionaire because he saw something coming. It's

that guy that can look a mile, two miles down the road with their money. Number four here, I basically call the paranoid security seeker. And these these are people who are are literally paranoid that they're going to run out of money.

I had a client of mine who who literally every time I get on with her, she basically says, "Please, I don't want to be a bad lady." >> It's like the sky is falling.

>> But people will say that. I had one one guy that said to me, "I'm ready to retire, but please, I don't ever want to put out another resume." >> Wow.

>> This I'm not making this up. They said this to me. >> There's pressure that doesn't need to be put on you. >> But if you have $2 million and you're thinking you're going to be a bad lady, you got a bigger problem than thinking you're going to be a bad lady. Like

there's a real psychological This is why you have to understand your personality. Sure. Cuz Steve I hate to say this life. >> The number one problem with people in general is lack of self-awareness.

People in general if you ask somebody say are you are you self-aware? They'll go >> totally. I I'm totally self-aware. Yes. I could explain myself in a heartbeat and I go probably not.

>> Probably not. No. I know me better than anybody. I know me like the back of my hand. Does anybody really know the back of their hand? >> Right. No. No. They really don't. I can't even tell you the wrinkles.

>> What moles are on the back of your hand? You don't even And it's actually kind of soft to the touch because I'm using lotion. True. >> It's always a good money tip.

>> It is a money tip. I will tell you that I uh I don't know where you're going to go with me on this, but I can tell you that my spouse probably does not think I'm self-aware.

>> Well, I think you are actually. I think you are self-aware. >> Really? >> I do. Huge compliment. >> Yeah, I think you are. But I think what happens is a lot of people don't articulate it. Like I feel like I'm very self-aware, but I articulate who I am

and who I'm not. And and if you don't like that, that's okay. >> But I love you. >> I'm just saying. But if you don't like it, it would be okay. I think you're >> I say, what's not to like?

>> Well, you're an entertainer. Yes. >> You've been doing it your whole life. So for somebody from kindergarten on, >> listen, for somebody to say to you now, go do a corporate job >> and basically nice salary, nice benefits, and stuff like that. I could sit here all day long and be like,

"Steve, let me tell you the 10 reasons why this would be good for you." But in the end, it would be bad because it's not you. It's not who you are. And you have to you have to to be successful, I think, in business to make money.

>> You've got to lean into who you are and what you are, not not who you're not. And that's true with money as well. If you understand your money personality, then surround yourself with people who aren't like you or get a spouse who who is not like you so you can act differently, right? Because otherwise

you get two spenders that live together. Man, that's a train wreck. That's that's that's chapter seven. No problem. >> That's why I let Nasty Cat go and we'll just leave it at that. A girl that I dated, I'm just giving a nickname to that I probably shouldn't say her name on our podcast.

>> That's okay. Well, the last one on here I won't go through, but it's the avoider. It's people that never checks accounts. They avoid budging. They're like, "We could deal with this later, honey. We'll talk about this in a month.

You know, we'll look at this in a year." And they just keep avoiding it and avoiding it and until eventually is a problem. Which one do you think you are? >> I think I got I I could be uh an avoider.

>> I could be cuz I'm like if you have blinding faith in yourself and what you're doing and the direction you're going, you know, it'll work out. But I do think there has to be some you got to add it all up and know what you're spending a month as >> you got a combo of the investor and a

little bit of the avoider. And you have that in there. And just being aware of that is going to make you wealthier. It will because you get smarter about what I know how to do and what I don't know how to do.

>> Stay in your lane. >> Who I should surround myself with and and who I shouldn't over time. And it's important to know this. I' I've always been an investor personality, but I would bet on me all day long. camera. I would tell most people that the single best investment that you can make,

period, bar none, 3% a year of your income is in yourself. You tell me if you had a money machine that would crank out $100 bills in your basement, would you put insurance on it? Hell yeah, you would.

>> Oh, I don't want anything happen. >> Yeah, you're the money machine. If you look at your best investment, how much money did you make over the last 40 years? Did you have any investment that made that much money? No, you didn't.

Cuz you're the machine. But people don't think that way of feeding the machine, investing. And this is why I take more advanced designations. I take courses. I read books. I listen to podcasts. This is why you should be listening to this show. We're trying to make you smarter about capitalism and money and how how

it actually works. And and part of it is you got to put money back into yourself. >> I love it. It's great advice. >> Just think about that. It'll help you your money personality. And that's this week's they didn't teach you this. You like that?

>> I love that. No, actually that's very cool. I'm going to I'm going to bring that up to my my wife. I think it's a discussion most families should have. I've been married 31 years and we get along great. One of the biggest things that I ever did is I separated checking accounts. That didn't mean I was hiding

money. But but what would happen is that I used to watch my wife's American Express card all the time. >> It drove me nuts. >> And well, yeah. Uh yes. Yes, it drove me nuts. But in the end, it caused a lot of fights because I would be like, "Hey, looking at American Express card, what

was this $800 for Nordstrom's, you know, or whatever it is?" And it's like >> it's like look at my shoes. >> Yeah. And what would happen is if I made a purchase for myself, I could justify it because I was the earner. I was making money.

>> I got to look good, >> right? Well, nonetheless, I made it. Of course, I could buy. But you didn't make it. And now you spent this without running it by me. Well, that's a problem. And that's what happens. And it causes fights all the time. Every time I see something new, I'm not like, "What'd

you get? How much did it cost? How much did it cost me?" You know, and this happens. It happens a lot of families cuz the couples don't know how to talk about money. Yeah, it's tough conversation.

>> I know that we got a great uh episode this week for uh in the green room. >> Thanks, Ted. And you're right. We are now in the green room. And in the green room with me is a friend, a businessman, an entrepreneur, Ashish, my man Baj Pot.

How's it going? >> It's going great, man. Thank you for having me. >> Yes. I love when I see him. I'm like, Baj Pot, what's up? Uh, no. We lived in the same subdivision uh for for many years and you know got to know you and I know what you've done and I want our

listeners on the red, white and green to understand how you got rich. It's good to be successful, make money and uh you know he lived in my side division. He's like well Steve obviously what I'm doing is kicking in. And if you don't mind, I'm going to upgrade and go over to the golf section, but we don't have to say

where we are. But you run a business out of Alpharetta Milton area. And the cool thing about this area and other areas that I've, you know, I've lived all over Georgia, every once in a while, you find yourself in that high percentage of income. You found yourself running a business in that tenth percent of the

income, but that's that's crazy money, but yet you love to do homes and it doesn't matter the price point of the home. You actually deal with the client and what you do, which is painting right now.

>> Yeah. So, we I mean, we are we're painting specialists, right? >> Specialist, which I love that. >> That's that's all we do, right? I think a lot of painters will do a little bit of everything because they happen to be there. Um, you know, we specialize only in repairing to paint. Um, a lot of how

we got to that point. I mean, so I have I've probably had two or three careers in my life. Right. Well, if you've had two or three, and that's where we want to start because what the red, white, and green is is obviously this is where a she is now. And there's conversations to be had with family, friends, the

wife, the kids. What's the risk you're taking? But I think there's a lot of people out there in the greatest country in the world that are caught in something they don't want to do. They don't know whether AI is coming for the job, what's coming for the job, what's the next uh manager to come in that

might personally not like me. How do I replace this income? What's my backup plan? It's scary. And I think a lot of people like yourself want to be in business for themselves.

>> Yeah. So, so scary is is an understatement, right? There's there's a lot of days where, you know, you just especially when you're starting out, you you're you're trying to learn a little bit of everything. I mean, I >> I came out of the corporate side doing corporate strategy for a Fortune 5

company. >> So, you went to college to do what? >> So, I went to college to do mechanical engineering. >> Were you living in Minnesota or you just went there?

>> No, I I was living in Minneapolis. So when you met your wife, you were working for a Fortune 500 company which is led because what was your your niche? What what were you good at?

>> So at that time I was running warehouses. Okay. >> Um so that was I don't know if I could say can I say the name of the company? >> Yeah. It was with General Mills.

>> General Mills. >> So I was running a warehouse for them outside of Chicago. >> Okay. >> Uh >> great city.

>> Yeah. Met my wife there. You know, she couldn't take her eyes off me. And so, I mean, as old as time, it's what happens, man. That was into me. Freight train. Um, either that or she she was staring at me to try and figure out why I looked the way I looked. I don't know. But I took it as a positive. There you go.

Gave me the confidence I needed to to shoot my shot. >> Perfect. Perfect. So, you get the woman and you got the job, but then what happens to make you leave General Mills?

>> So, I went to grad school of Indiana. um spent two years there doing my MBA. Okay. >> Uh and then I joined AT&T here in Atlanta.

>> So that was >> 2011. So I was there about 12 years. >> So when I Yeah. So when I met you, you were working for AT&T. >> No, I had just left there and and joined a small biotech in San Francisco. So I was doing some e-commerce stuff for them. You know, great great products,

very poorly company. Well, you just said I'm going to hold you there. What you just did is what people need to think about. Look where there's a need. That's what you should gravitate to. And Ted, uh, which Ted brought this up on the show, I'd never heard the term maybe you have red sea, blue sea. If you go to the

Red Sea, that's where all the sharks are. Everybody's there. Everybody's doing it. So now you're going to be nipping each other, undercutting each other, spreading rumors, everything because we can all do this. But if you go to the Blue Sea where it there's nothing and you go to fill a need, now

you're wanted. And it sounds like that's what you did. If you find a poorly run company and you can help change that bottom line, that's job security. >> Yeah, it was risky going from a large company to a small one.

>> Did the pay go down? >> No, the pay went up. Um, which which helped, right? >> But you felt like the security was that a tough call for you and your wife? Um at that time it felt like the right risk to take. Um I would say eventually you know the the COVID work from home stuff

started ending and they wanted us to move to San Francisco and so that was not that was a very easy decision to say no to that. >> Yes sir.

>> No. Um God just I mean would they would they have paid enough for you to afford that city? >> Lord knows. Lord knows. I don't I don't think you I don't know how much you would have to pay me to move to San Francisco.

>> Me, too. It's not for me. >> It's going to be over. It's millions. Just letting anybody know that once us in San Fran, maybe you see the potential in the two of us. Uh yeah, millions.

Because God knows that's you're just throwing money out the window. Um so then comes the time that I like the best because I met your brother. They're running through the neighborhood shirtless. Your brother's very attractive. And I can say that as a common man because what I do is I see a

dude is like you can date who you want to date. And that to me is a high five. But in in business, unless you're in business for yourself, I think the hiring practices, I think it's education. I think it's uh charisma. I think it's appearance >> and and I and abilities in there, you

know, it's all there, but it's a show you got to put on if you're going to get and I think you'll agree to the higher ups in the corporate ladder. You have to climb that ladder and you have to be hitting on everything.

>> Yeah. >> But to be in business for yourself and go where there's a need, you get to finally be you. >> Yeah. It's a I would say that, but I think I think to your point, you got to be hitting on everything and then some when you go into business for yourself,

right? >> Because I think the biggest difference is when you're when you're going in for yourself, you are everything, right?

like you've got to stand behind every product, every every project. Um there's no backing of, hey, I've got this team of, you know, 500 experts behind me that all know their little one thing and I can kind of pull them all together. Like you're to me that's the biggest difference, right? You're doing it and

you've got you've got to know all those things. And so you kind of have to be very well-rounded. There's times where you're scared because you don't know that you can make payday. Yeah.

>> For the guys that you're employing, you know, you've got a much bigger responsibility because their livelihoods are now dependent on you. In closing on the red, white, and green, and I look to have you also on my show, the Yeah, come on show as well next week. I'd love to just if we're we're moving. Um I love

highlighting somebody that's doing it different, that is an honest business person that takes care of their employees. I know what a great dad you are. Um, and I just, this is all I want to do is put spotlights on people like you that have been coming up. No failures really. Nobody.

>> We've we've had some failures. I mean, just, >> you know, year one was full of tuition checks. >> Yeah.

>> In the painting business. I mean, I think >> at the end of the day though, I wouldn't call them failures, right? Because they're things that you're gonna have.

You're gonna learn from them. you're you're not going to you're going to tweak your process to make sure that those things don't happen again. Um, and I would say I mean any home services, right? Like that every house is a little bit different. Things are going to happen. I think what separates like our

company and and other companies, there's a lot of good ones out there, is how they deal with those those hiccups and those issues, right? Are they willing to make it right? Um, you know, we're we're doing some of these doors right now.

we're taking them back off and and redoing it cuz it didn't it didn't look the way they expected it to. Um, fair enough. >> And so that's I think that's, >> you know, at the end of the day it's it's how do you finish it? How do you make people feel through the process and

and can they trust you like enough to to tell their friends and family? That's that's our goal. >> Well, there you have it. in the green room. It's a sheish Baj Pie, a personal friend, but a businessman, a guy that uh figured it out and bought a business and has now made it better. And that's what

you want. That's in the green room. And that's a get come on. >> And that was in the green room. So, uh, great interview by the way. >> Thank you. Thank you. It was a lot of fun.

>> I'm about to change everybody's life right now for travel. I know there's a lot of complaints. I'm not going to fix TSA. I'm not I'm not going to fix how they pat you down at TSA. Uh where they touch you at TSA.

>> So even when they come back, you think now that they've had a break and some people are calling in they'll be less touchy. >> Oh, I think it need to be more physical.

>> Oh, I mean I haven't slapped something in a while. I I think I need to I need to do that if they can get them back period. I mean that'll be we'll see what happens. But this is the uh get the green and our money hack this week. I've got a great one today. This is the ultimate airline money hack. Take out

your pen, your pencil, and paper. Write this down. And I'm going to give you the one word and explain it to you here, Steve. It's called skip lagged. >> What?

>> Skip lagged. Skip lagged. So, >> okay. I like this. >> What if I told you you might be paying double >> for the same flight that you're paying now? You're paying twice as much as you should be for absolutely no reason.

>> I'd be upset. And what if there was a website that could find you cheaper fairs by showing you what the airlines don't want to tell you when you book flights?

>> I'd be happy. >> This is what shiplaged does. And here's how it works. Let's just say that you want to go to Paris. >> Okay.

>> Okay. And what you're going to be thinking is you're in Atlanta. Let me figure out a flight. I don't want to do a connection anywhere. Go to JFK then to in Paris. It's just more work. Let me just book a flight to Paris. And let's just say it comes up for an economy ticket at a,000 bucks.

>> Wow, that actually sounds good for Paris. >> Now, I encourage you to book a flight from Atlanta to Rome. Wait a minute. Why would I book something in Rome? I'm going to Paris, but there's going to be a connection.

>> And the connection is going to be in Paris. >> Okay. >> So, now it's New York. It's Atlanta to Paris to Rome.

>> So, but I'm going to Paris. >> That's right. That is actually the hack, Steve. Which means you are never ever going to take the second flight. And that's why you're going to skip that flight. That's right.

>> Skip flag. >> That's exactly what it is. >> You can skip the flight. I got a cheaper price because I was going to go to two destinations.

>> It's always cheaper on the connection flights than it's going to be on a direct flight. >> That is brilliant. >> So the airlines don't want to tell you that. Even though sometimes when you look at the flights and you're doing it yourself online, you're like, gosh, I I

could basically go to California this way, but I got to connect to Minneapolis. I don't want to do that. I'll pay the extra 100 bucks and then I'll just go direct. In this case, you actually are going direct. It's going from Atlanta to Paris. You're just not going to Rome. Now, there are some rules

with this, which means first of all, you can't check luggage. So, that's a problem if you're going for two weeks because the luggage is going to end up in Rome.

So, if you don't carry it with you, it's not like it's going to get on the baggage claim there in Paris, >> right? >> That's going to be right. That's be very, very, very important in here.

Number two, you don't want to use your airline accounts, okay? Because this alerts the airlines of you basically cheating the system, which is really what you're doing, >> and they realize it, and maybe not.

>> They don't want they don't want the empty seat on that second flight. They really don't. Okay? Um, and you can actually get flagged for this. And you only want to book them as one-way flights. So, you're not going to book a round trip. You're going to book one way here where you skip lag through Paris,

which is where you're ending up to Rome. And then you're going to book a second one that starts in Rome. It's going to connect in Paris. And now you're going to get that connecting flight from Paris to come back to Atlanta.

>> What? >> Two one-way tickets, all carry-on, which can't be done for everybody. I realize this hack won't work for everybody every time, but a lot of times people are like, "I just want to take a 4-day trip." Well, damn. Stuff the stuff in a one suitcase. You didn't make it for 4

days. I get it for two weeks. You can't do it. That's how you actually beat the system. >> That's crazy. >> Skiplag.com is the website where you can look at the flights this way and it will show you how to beat the system.

>> And the airlines are aware of this. >> Oh, they hate it. >> They're about to say they can't shut it down. there. Well, no, because you know if they know your airline account, they could shut your airline account down.

>> Yeah. >> They could take away your status in an airline. There's all kinds of stuff you can do. But if you're booking this tickets one way, >> right?

>> There ain't nothing that they can do. They don't know that you're not going to go to Rome. You decided, hey, I'm here in Paris. I'm going to stay and I'm going to have a good reason why I stayed.

>> Yeah. Don't need any baggage. I have it with me. >> Yeah, dude. That is brilliant. How much do you think you're saving there? 20, 30, 40%. So, I ran about 20 flights that are on here. I would say in an international flight, the average savings is $350 to $500.

>> Wow. >> Each way. >> That's un like that's >> 350 to 500 each way. Domestic is a little bit different in here.

>> Okay. >> Although I don't know if you really want to do it domestic, but I think a lot of times people are like, I want to go to Amsterdam. Okay. Lot to do there. But you would go to Amsterdam and maybe the second would end up in Paris, right?

Mhm. >> So it would be in Atlanta to Amsterdam to Paris. You're just never going to make it to Paris. Just you're stopping in Amsterdam and hitting that first coffee cafe and it's all it's all, you know, thumbs up from there.

>> Call the airline. I got the flu. I'm not leaving. I love it. >> I want to encourage people right here. And the airlines can call me if you don't like it. Or you can, you know, write a note here in red, white, and green. Tell me if you think this doesn't work because I think it does. Because

it's not about gaming the system. This is capitalism 101. This is not about gaming the system. Oh, Ted, you're gaming the system. No, no, I'm not. No, I'm not. There are rules. There are rules. I have identified a crack in the rules today, which is not gaming. It's called strategy. It's called

intelligence. It's called how people make money in this country, right? They they see the angles and then they play the angles. And when you understand the system better than the system understands you, that's how you end up making a lot of money.

>> You just saved a family of four over $3,000 if they want to go to Paris. So, that was this week's money hack on get the green. >> Get the green.

>> You're going to get it good. One mad question we had this week and then we'll wrap up for the show in here. Uh, somebody asked this week, Steve, can you borrow on your 401k?

>> Yes. No. Wait. Yes, you can take it. I know you're not supposed to, but you got to pay a fee. >> Well, I think you actually answered both sides of the question.

>> Okay. >> Which is why no. >> Well, yes, you can borrow on your 401k. No, you generally should not borrow on your 401k. Under most plans, you can borrow 50% 50% of your 401k >> to a maximum loan of 50 grand.

>> Wow. >> So, in some cases, it if you like way desperate, last move, nowhere else to get money. Um, that may be an idea. I'm not a big fan of it personally borrowing your 401k, but I realize hard times hit people and it's better than taking money out of your 401k because then you got to

pay taxes, then you got to pay penalties potentially where as a borrowing money, you do not have to pay those taxes and penalties. >> So, if a person knows that they're going to be coming back, say they're in a hole for a second, but they they see within that year they're going to be able to

put that money back in, borrowing would be the strategy, or is it better to just pay the taxes and then now? Oh, I I'd be a bigger fan of borrowing if you know you could put it back in.

>> Okay. >> And by the way, if you never pay back the loan, it becomes taxable, >> which was already going to be taxable anyway.

>> That's right. That's right. So, >> okay. >> Uh you can I don't recommend it on here. And uh now for our final just wrap up this week of Red, White, and Scene. What to watch for in the upcoming week. Um you know, a whole bunch of things on here. I've got something next week and

they didn't teach you this, which are four money rules to live by. Four that I have figured out over the last 30 years. You got to tune in for that. I think it's gonna be pretty great. Um, this one I know you're gonna laugh at.

>> Go ahead. >> I know you're gonna laugh at it. >> Maybe I don't. Maybe I take it serious. >> I'm getting invited back to the Today Show, by the way.

>> Woo. >> Okay. >> Now, see, now I'm a cheerleader >> and I want I'm not going to give away my whole segment, but to get the green, I want to tell you how tennis balls.

>> I'm already starting to crack some. >> I want to tell you how tennis balls can cut down on your cleaning bill. You want to know that, don't you? >> I got a wife that plays out. Here's the deal. We got a ton of tennis balls. Tell me what to do with them.

>> Is there any better sound in life than opening up a can of tennis balls? >> I do love the sound. And then I don't know. It's kind of like copy paper. I go, except I think that's poisonous and I'm probably going to die.

>> We're going to talk about that. We got great news stories that are coming up in here. As always, Steve, for people that are are watching the show or tuning in for the first time, you can go to our website at redhand green.com. We're updating that now. You'll be able to see all the shows and much much more that

you can get access to. Uh if you're thinking about getting your finances straight, use our AI tool at exitwealth.ai. And uh certainly if you're on here for the first time, subscribe, share it with your friends. Channel keeps growing every month because we're teaching

people about capitalism. We're giving financial advice to people who love America. That's what we do every week right here on the Red, White, and Green Show. Thanks for tuning in.

>> Yeah, come on.