Transcription
You may not be happy, but you've got to go deal with it. Are you in or are you out? If you don't do it, we're not. We make you do stuff you don't want to do. These things you don't want to face. A good experience where life will never be the same again.
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Thirty years as an author, strategist, and coach, I worked with millions of people who want to achieve their dreams.
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But now I'm taking on my toughest challenge yet. You don't sit on the couch while your family's suffering. Helping families in crisis transform their lives in only 30 days. The price of admission here is: if you can't, then you must.
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We all have to face the most enormous challenge. Turn it around. You define what your success is.
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We had everything we needed. A year ago, I had a nice house in a nice neighborhood, decent cars. We had a lot of money saved. We put some money away for the kids, for the future. We had it all. I had a good-paying job, but the company let me go after 23 years due to downsizing. So, I decided to start my own business. We put everything that we had, our savings, our 401K, everything into this business. And every month, you know, there was just no money coming in. And I said, "Look how much money you're losing. You have to shut the doors." We pretty much have nothing left. I think it's my fault, and we are here because of decisions I've made. I think my failures as a man, as a husband, as a father. Ron and I are at the end of everything. Our marriage has just gone to pieces. The hardest thing is to try and act like everything's okay in front of the kids. I don't want my children to see me like this. I'm not ready to let anyone see this.
Listen, you don't need me to tell you that we're living in scary financial times. In a moment, financial security can disappear. Like most Americans, Ron Stegner is in deep financial trouble. The bank's about to foreclose and take his home. But Ron's biggest problem is the love of his life, his wife Marie, is considering leaving him and taking their three children. This is a story about what happens when a couple faces what they think is their most intense nightmare, when the American dream falls apart.
"Hey Susan, this is Ron Stegner, following up on that position that you had posted. I have tried everything. I've come to dead ends everywhere. I've tried. Nothing else is helping right now. I don't know where or how I'm going to make the payments on the house. We can't get a lot. All right, I can only get what we really need for lunches. All right. I feel like my whole life is crumbling right now. I feel ashamed. I feel embarrassed. And it kills me inside to say no to the kids. 'It's not on sale. We can't really get that right now, okay? We just have to wait.' Is that all right?"
Marie is scared and she's resentful that Ron lost their life savings, and as a result, their marriage is now on the line. "That business was your thing, you wanted that. And now because it doesn't work out, you want to turn my entire life around. I know it's gonna be... either the picture would help get us out of this, or you don't. I actually raised these kids. It's not like they're all adults. Wow, these are in school. So what does that give you a pass not to to work? I can't look at him like I love him. I look at him as all the problems in my life right now. I want this relationship to work, then I'm so angry at him. I don't know if I can. I'm at that point where I... I just don't know what else to do. I'm saying, 'Help, please help.' I hope to look back on this and say, 'Oh honey, we got through this.' Right now, I'm not really sure."
I'm going to invite Ron and Marie to leave their home and come here to California to sit down with me to see if they can face the real truth. Are they willing to put aside their fears, their angers, and their hearts and come back together, focusing on what's most important and heal the relationship and heal their family? We're about to find out.
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This is a family that represents so many millions of Americans right now because the economy has just changed everybody's world. And Ron, nice to meet you. They have to be united to deal with this. No family can deal with the kind of stress they're having when they're divided. Nice to meet you. We're gonna have to deal with that right away in order to make real progress. Tell me, why do you think you're here? We've taken some chances in our lives with our savings, and basically, we were just upside down. I feel like our relationship is gone, gone, gone. We don't have one anymore. We're like roommates. If Marie ever said she wanted to leave me, I don't know how I would survive.
What if I were to tell you that everything going wrong was the most important thing that could have happened to you? And that wasn't being some positive thinking BS. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, you can turn it around. You can. Whether you will or not, it's not my job, it's yours. Ron and Marie think the problems are financial, which they are. That's a part of it, but that's not the real problem. The real problem is they have not been unifying during the stressful times. They've been separating. My job is to get these two to break this pattern and to start hearing each other.
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I'd really like to hear your point of view about what happened. Why did it happen from your perspective? Where things are now? Right now, I'm pretty unhappy. I'm living... How much money do you have in your wallet? Because I have to go get $40 worth of food. Do you have enough? How are we paying for this? I feel like it's your fault. I'm sick of it. I can't control what happened. It didn't work out the way we planned. We agreed that you would start working again. "I'll get a job. I'll do everything." But you see, it's not happening. It is trying to make money between these kids' schedules, who's taking care of that? Like there's a sinking ship. You want to do something, or you want to just go down with it? The bank's gonna come and take the house. With this close on this point, me getting a part-time job is right now the real problem in this relationship. It's how they argue. When it becomes "you-you-you" versus "I feel." When everything's blaming you, it starts to get our control. If that continues, there's no question this relationship's gonna end. If we both back jobs right now, guaranteed yours would be priority. You get a job. You will not alter your life as I let me see whereas I would. If you can make Omega haja grant, I'll go kid Li jobs enough tips to make ends meet. If that's what we agree on. They're very specific things that will destroy a marriage, destroy a relationship versus criticism. You, my friend, you gotta stop dictating her like she's a co-worker. And you gotta shut up and listen. Here's what she was trying to say to you. She's saying, "You don't see me as significant. You don't see what I do as important." You did it well, fine. I'll get a hundred thousand dollars and I'll do piddly things with the language you used. Piddly. You know, caring for your children is not a piddly thing. Are you getting what I'm saying? I've totally second piece. That happens is contempt. Here's two people love each other. But when you roll your eyes, what does that do to him? Makes them feel like... So why do you do it? To make them feel like... The first step of all this is to know this is not a financial problem. This is a communication problem, okay? There's some things underneath that. When they get solved, your life's gonna be better than everyone's. Without us in the economy, what we're gonna do is I'm going to give you a series of challenges, and they're gonna escalate each time. So you have to grouse, you have to struggle. Tomorrow morning, I have an experience. I'm not even tell you what it is. I'm just gonna tell you the air gonna find it extremely challenging. It's gonna produce enormous fear. And you can choose not to do it. If you don't do it, then it was great visiting with you, and we're done. But here's what you're gonna have to understand: once you say yes, there's no turning back. Are you in or you out? I'm in. I am holding on to my relationship by a thread, and this is my only hope and my only chance to fix my leg. You know, I'm out of my comfort zone right now. Say yes unless you mean it. I'm in. Yeah. Amen. The journey has begun. Any playthrough you're gonna have in your life starts with a change in your beliefs. When you get yourself to do something you've never done before, and it's radically different, and you do it successfully, then your brain goes, "What else can I do?" So I've invited Ron and Marie to come here to Camarillo Airport, and they have no idea what I have in store for them.
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Oh, nervous, scared. Come on. Here's what you're gonna be doing. This is a Russian MIG fighter jet. That's a fighter jet. Looks like it's the most powerful thing on the face of the earth. I was like, "Oh my God, what are we gonna do?" It goes nearly the speed of sound. It can take person through 10 G's. As we talk about dealing with stress and pressure, it didn't be able to it physically. You can deal with it emotionally. The task at hand, they are going to pilot a MIG fighter jet. Bill here is the most experienced fighter pilot in the jets in the world. So I'm putting your really good hands. I'll see you in the car. They've got so much stress on their life. One way to get yourself stronger, face it, more intense stress. You want to keep your nose on the horizon. They're gonna fly nearly the speed of sound. That's how you know you're not diving. But both going to be pulling about 5 G's. Those people will black out or throw up at that times. This will be the ultimate physical stress. Who should go first? You appear much scared to me. Oh, come on. Best way to deal with fear is do it right away. So ladies first.
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This is it. I was just freaking out. Where's the puke bag?
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I don't know any other housewife doing a flip Magette. It was the coolest thing I've ever done in my life. She was petrified, but it didn't stop her. She took the bull by the horns. She flew that jet. The whole time I was scared. That's the lesson of life, right? You're scared. We can do it. Anybody can. I can't even believe I'm proud of you. Think about what this is like compared to your life, huh? So now it's gonna be your turn. And now here's your task. You got to do more than 5 G's. I take it up another notch. Ron needs to show up and be the man again. And out of that's gonna come some real pride. Lose a little belief in himself. Being human. It'll be really important after he does is that you comin living how you really feel, whatever that is. You know, my heart was in my throat because I just didn't want to mess up. I never would have imagined being this position ever in my life. And I was just enjoying it. It was a moment I'll treasure for a lifetime. I'm very proud of him. I can't believe he did it. It said a lot about their relationship that underneath it all, there's this deep, deep love. It's just been hidden by fear. And when you get people to do things that they once thought were difficult or impossible, makes a little shift in your head. It starts on man. If I get myself to do that, what else gotta get myself to do? It's setting them up for the next test, which would be much more severe. They have no idea.
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Challenge one: we survived. Mmm-hmm. All right. Are you guys? I'm not joining for just a couple minutes. I think you now know that your real problems are not financial. Your problems were more relationship-driven. You both lost perspective and perspective on what you do have. When you think about two-thirds the planet lives on less than $2 a day, and we just lose that. We all do it because we're fortunate. You got to get out of the environment you're in. So I'm not sending you home to New York tomorrow. I'm sending you downtown Los Angeles, literally to Skid Row. And when you go to Skid Row, I'm gonna send you the Midnight Mission. They serve 700,000 meals to men, women, and children that truly have nothing. I'm sending you there so that you can live there as almost be. You'll stay there until you really truly get the lesson, however long that takes. Their deepest fear is that if they had no money, they'd have no life. They need to experience something like that to show themselves that they can make it under that stress. You can walk around and find someplace to live. What do we do? I don't know. I'm gonna be sleeping on the street.
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The area of LA. I don't see a TV. So I decided I would have him spend a week as a homeless couple in Skid Row and downtown Los Angeles.
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Yeah, right now I'm too scared. I can't. Listen to me. I am gonna go. Not going. I'm not going first.
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People.
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I can't take this. I was just... I was so overwhelmed. I was actually numb. You are too late to get a bed ticket, which meant that we were to sleep outside in this courtyard. But you want to do is you want to lay the cushion down first, put the sleeping bag on top of that, and then the blanket. We look around. Other folks are getting ready. You're doing the same thing, just taking out your territory. All I see is just tons of people. All kinds. Some look like they were crazy. Someone looked like they just were living on the streets for years. My leeteuk was that I was there to protect my wife's safety. You know, that nothing was gonna happen to her. But inside, I'm getting torn out.
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This is reality. This is reality. I'm gonna get stronger. This.
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You know, I don't want to go in your spot. Where is your spot? Don't worry about it. Don't worry about all the guy had been homeless for, I think he said about 20 years. He gave us some ins and outs, do's and don'ts. That's trying to keep to yourself. Somebody is passing. You said, "Kabi, kabi, kabi." They're talking about that. They're driving that cab. They're talking about selling drugs. Do they check you when you come in? No, they don't. Hater number weapons either. There are hardcore people all around us. And I'm business, and I know that I have to watch everything I say, every move I make. You just don't know what's gonna happen next around here. I'm gonna be right next year. You're not getting out of my sight. You're not getting out of my reach. I was afraid to go to sleep, but he just stayed in front of me, totally protecting me. The whole reason I gave him this assignment was to create a new bond in the relationship. This was a chance for them to discover what matters most and how much they need each other. Question is, will they get the lesson or will they just get the pain?
"I think I know you kind of gotta go wait online for a meal ticket. Here's the routine. Every morning, they wake you up around 4:30. Be up, out at 6 o'clock. You start lining up for your breakfast ticket. Thank you. Single file. Go in and get your morning grub. The next step is to wait in line for a safe sleep. In order to get a tie, don't you go where though? There was no way. It was asleep outside in this courtyard again. I... Are you alive in escape? See, 65? No, no, no. Hear that guy? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. That's what they call crack around here. Cabbie three Stegner over 26 is wrong. Part sticker. Thank you."
The mission is a program to help people. We kind of made it clear that whoever needed us in any capacity, that we do want to help. So we are keeping the same. By keeping busy, if you don't keep busy, it's like an eternity waiting around. Watch. What would you grab from out of here? Because there's syringes, crack pipes, broken... Oh, nice. You've seen it all. Yeah. At times I feel very stark. Crazy. Hour by hour, minute by minute. Today he's just linger on and off. It all just kind of sucks the life at he. I don't know how much more of this I can take. We can not eating right. I'm almost go looks like I was like 5 pounds already. Sleeping on the floor for five days. I'm taking a shower outside. This weekend, no toilet seats on the toilet. And tired of wearing the same clothes I wear all day in the dirt outside to sleep. When I got freaking put the same clothes back on. This is not like good for me. Ronnie, I can't do this anymore. I tried to hang in for another day or two, and I'm like, hanging on by a thread. Yeah, I know how you feel. I know. I'm just drained in every frickin way possible. Let's just get through this night, you know? See what tomorrow brings. I mean, it... it's almost over. My wife is at a fragile breaking pie right now. She's endured way more than I expected. It's very, very close to just packing this whole thing in. I don't know how much longer I can do this for.
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The only way to deal with your fear is go through it. You know what's the old phrase? When you're gone through hell, keep going. If you can do that, then afterwards, it doesn't have the same hold on you. At this point, I'm not sleeping good, probably 2 to 3 hours a night. Not eating right. Ron wants me to stay in. I don't want to let him down, but it's really difficult for me to keep going. So what's going on? Just trying to get a feel of how it is sucky down here, you know, how to survive. Me myself, I had drug and alcohol problems. I was a stripper for 30 years. And at times, I really, really hate it because it gets really rough. The high life for women, people looking like, you know, you're nothing, you can do anything. Jeff, yeah. Maria, see women who've been homeless, who've been through hell and back, all kinds of abuse. And hopefully, she starts to get some perspective. You just have to live it, understand. They're part of my design. This process is for her to begin to appreciate what she does have, especially in her marriage.
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I don't feel good. I mean, I'm hanging on so late so we could get through this, but I never thought we would get this far. Never. Well, it's craziness all about, and we just kept working together and making decisions together. I can't tell you how proud of you I am. There's no way I could have stayed here without you. No, no. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and Ron was there for me. This was the place for Ron and I to be able to connect again. People are stronger than we give them credit for. People usually step up when they really are put on the line. That is, if you can unify them. Look pretty damn good, probably better than you feel, huh? Oh, depends. I slept on my car 17 years old because I got kicked out of my house. Okay. I brought you here because I know that after that experience, I appreciate everything. I want to take you guys home. But the only way you get to go home now is by the people who are around you judging now. I decided to create this group interaction at the end with strangers and people they worked with to decide where they could go home or not. Because to win those people over, they're gonna have to be completely authentic, and they're gonna have to really own the lesson, not just understand it intellectually. So there's gonna be meeting in the cafeteria, and what you're gonna need to do is to get up and share what lessons have you gotten from this into the majority and say, "You got the lessons, you're going home." If they don't, you have another week here.
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You guys ready? Okay, let's bring them on out there. Hey guys, which I have a seat. They're on your side, but they do want to hear what lessons you got. Well, 20, I'm going to disrupt a little format, and now it's my turn. I know you said you had been a homeless at one time and appreciate that, but tell you the truth, that doesn't compare to what we've been through. But until you go through seven nights on Skid Row with your wife, don't tell me about living in a Volkswagen because it doesn't compare. The greatest challenge is not facing homelessness. Our marriage had been suffering because my priorities were mess. So first and foremost, my challenge was to put her above every other priority in my life, and I've done that. That's the number one lesson. I wanted you to have, but I watched you overcome it because of your caring for her. You weren't focused on yourself before. Was all I'm not getting what I want, and so you don't matter. Now it's like, I'm gonna do things I hate to support you because I love you. Marie, what's changed for you in your perspective and where you guys going? These people, how can I even complain when these people have gone through what they've gone through? I honestly feel in my heart that the only thing that means something to me is my relationship with my husband and my children, because if I don't have them, I don't have anything. I feel like I'm so connected with him that now I just want to go forward. That was the other lesson is to realize what you have, really realize what you have. Failing worthless. Have my kids asked me, "Are we poor?" And I'm not poor. I'm broke. I'm not poor. I watch you guys over the seven days. I saw the terror when you walk into our courtyard the first time, but I also saw you guys sharing with people and treating somebody like there's somebody. It's a gift that sometimes it's worth more than any wealth or money. So, do you think they've learned the most important lessons that will empower them when they go home? If you believe that's true, I'll count three, and I'll ask you to just stand up for it. If you don't, remain in your chair. One, two, three.
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I feel like I accomplished what I came here to accomplish. I feel the oneness with my wife right now. We have so much love boiling over, making our family stronger. Let's go.
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We've accomplished so much. We've gotten to the core issue of how to put this couple back together. But there's another issue still needs to be dealt with, and it's the practical one of economics. Now it's time to bring in the whole family for on this family meeting to face his fear of looking like a failure and tell the truth about where they are financially, but also to get them to face that they have to do something. There is zero plan, and we need one now. Tell us where you really are financially. Pretty scary. We closed the business, almost $100,000 that we owe to the franchise. The bank is foreclosing on our house. Credit is shot. So, what's your impression? What do you're feeling? Look at what you've done in two weeks. You're enormously powerful people. In two weeks, you have completely transformed a relationship and your lives. Remember that awareness that we have as far as the immediate fix. As a family, we can all pitch in to help each other. Other than that, Marie probably has to get the job that's most available. Work that situation for a while, and let Ron be a little bit more flexible, because jobs will come with that. Let me tell your next task. I'm gonna introduce you tomorrow to a woman who heads up Mom Corps. Mom Corps is a national organization that's designed to help people in the exact position that you're in. They're gonna meet with you, and then they're gonna have you hit the pavement. You go, you go, you go until you get damn good and not just taking interviews, but closing the deal. Just go for it and have fun doing it. Get to like a paycheck, get to like that paycheck. Everything. Okay, here's your test. What if I told you I could get you back on a career track? Why do I start? Listen, used to meet a man that's named Willie Degel. He's an entrepreneur. He decided to start some steak houses in this economy, and he's growing like crazy. In order to be that successful, his level of standard is completely totally insane. What he expects of people is inhuman, and he fires people right and left. But if you can keep up with it, if you can deal with his absolute craziness, then there's some amazing opportunity with him. Are you up for it? Sounds great.
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Ron needs to be tested. If he's gonna have a new career, he needs to step in a million percent. He can't be hesitant. He's never met anybody like Willie Degel. I mean, he's tough as nails. Rod has his hands full like he can't even imagine. I can't wait to see how he's gonna respond. What he needs it. Well, you nice to meet you. Welcome, Uncle Jack's. Ron. Thank you. You got this far. The rest is up to you. Good. So what happened? You went into your own business. I want it to be the best damn recruiting company in New York. I really thought it was a no-brainer not to ruin what risk as long as you learn from it. I'm learning, and I'm learning hard. This is a rebuilding process for you. If I'm gonna put time and effort and bring you in here and give you a job, you've got to shed all of that. You've got to say, "I'm ready to give this guy my soul." You're ready to go? Really? I'm absolutely ready. So stand up screaming because I can't hear you. Do what? I'm absolutely ready. I'll exceed every expectation you have. I'm gonna live what I guarantee you that when you want to quit and you want to doubt yourself and you want to say no, you want to cry, you want to whine, remember what you just said. I'll give you a shot as long as you're on that team, you're acquitted with throwing you right out the window. Always an intimidating guy, no nonsense. My nerves were going. Haven't been in the restaurant business in over 20 years. I'm not quite sure what to expect. This is the major leagues, man. Yeah, Midtown Manhattan, right off of Fifth Avenue. Yeah, this is the most fine-dining steakhouse in the city. Every morning, we start our day with a complete and thorough walkthrough of everything. Once you take some time, go around, check this out. There is a lot involved in setting up to stretch on for lunch. This was a tremendous learning curve for me. It's totally overwhelmed. I'm in the quad making sure the sidewalk is clean, no hazards. I gotta be honest, man. I'm watching yet. You're doing your thing over here, and I just turn around, you just spit right in front of the restaurant. In a dining room full of gas, dinah, pull-up bar, and you're spitting on the sidewalk. I got on like a multi-million dollar restaurant to run, and it's not with people who spit in front of the restaurant. You're probably not for us. There are so many people who have to take care of the kids and have to work, and it doesn't matter if it's hard. It's time for Maria to step up and be a full partner. Can I get you anything to drink? No, thanks. I mean, the reason for me to go to work, other than the obvious economic challenges, family has to deal with this. This is a larger pattern that has to be broken. Marie needs to be able to trust herself again in new environments and not just think of herself as one-dimensional. I've actually been out of the workforce for probably about eight years. When they asked me what have I been doing there, is that little fear? I would certainly mention working for your husband's business. What did you handle the bookkeeping? Well, it's not on my resume. I guess I should add it. Absolutely. I would say I have been home for eight years, and I am dying to use this other side of myself. I haven't been in the workforce in years. I don't think my resume is good enough, but I'm doing it. If Ron's going back to work, then I'm going back to work. I never expected after I set LAN up to go to work at Lily's restaurant. They screw up on his first day and get fired by the manager there. Where is this guy? Where's he hiding? This is the problem. Like you don't realize. You see that side. What we scrub that sidewalk every day. You gotta get that. You spit on the sidewalk. Cafe stop. Don't. Yes, mean deck. Did you put your jacket on and get downstairs, please? Fortunately, Lily was very gracious, and he gave me the shot. And I hope to act the Bron learned his lesson. I'm going to do whatever it takes to prove myself, show what I'm worth, whatever it takes to get the job done. Take out 30-foot street. How may I help you? Come on, let's keep rolling. This is a lunchtime right now. People gotta go, man.
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Kristen, are we doing, my friend? You ready for tonight? It's Friday night. We're expecting a rush. I just wanted to be on point with everything that was going on in that restaurant. There was no way I was gonna let this man down. Bobby, ye to cook. Long walk. I'll be shorts, medium well. That's a good thing. You can be good for two kids. A problem. All right, good boy. We apologize for the delay. That's what you do. You walk there, you walk up, you walk, you around. So the VIPs are good. Jose, they're all good. Thank you. Thatta boy. How's things, ladies? It's talking to Bobby while Bobby should be taking care of the customers. Bobby, amigo. Run it. It's a mayor now. Hanging out with the staff. How is everything so far, folks? Here we come. Swatch. That's his life. Are you gentlemen? How's everything on? He says, "How's everything going?" One more time. Unbelievable. It's a lot to ask from a guy never been in this business, but you know why? You gotta get it. Okay, Ronny, come on in. I was up here watching her and the cameras. You're too lackadaisical with the stamp. Your buddy-buddy. You're not a true leader. I'm trying to do the best I can here to build relationships with these guys so that there is some trust. They... That's that corporate mentality, okay? You're buddies with the guy next to you in the other booth here. Your job is to lead the store. I'm on. Ron, straighten up his act and have some balls in leadership. I really don't know. I gotta go. I'll talk to you later. Right. I'm trying my best. I wanted to make him proud, but he kept coming at me. You're gonna work for him. That's what you're gonna be dealing with, and this is how I do it. I feel come back in a fix. Talk to him. Okay, great. Bye-bye. You could sell. What's up, Ronnie? It's 1:00. If I can take a minute your time. I don't know much about the restaurant business right now. You know a lot. There's a few things that you can't teach me. I am loyal to a fault. I can do this job. If you give me the opportunity, I will make this place the absolute best. Good day. You know, Ron, I interview guys have been doing this job 20 years, but they don't have your heart. I see some good things, I see some bad things, but can I build a store around you? I don't know yet. I'm not perfect, but I worked as hard as I could, and I did all that I could to try to impress this man, and now it was up to him as to whether there was any room for me or not.
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Both time for all the pieces of the puzzle will come together now. They call it Ron and Marie. And I'd given them 24 hours to get here to LA to the Wadsworth Theater. Thank you. And so this is the final task. Can you convince a couple thousand people that you got the lesson, that you've locked in the change?
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Really grateful you came tonight because tonight is a story about something that unfortunately not only most Americans fear but too many Americans are actually experiencing. Where for the first time, people are unemployed who are incredibly skilled, who have tremendous ability, and the times demand more from us. And so tonight, we're going to meet a couple that managed to find a way to reclaim themselves. They came on an incredibly difficult journey, but they grew on levels that are extraordinary. Please bring out Ron and Marie Stegner.
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What lesson, or what meaning, or what experience would you share with anybody who might be at home tonight? We've really learned that the important things in life are each other, our family, and where we're gonna go from here.
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So you're worrying about taking care of kids and the priorities and how to take care of them and work. And so I first sent you to meet somebody by the name of Allison O'Kelly. Allison, where are you? Give her a big hand. She come on up. So Allison's, you interviewed her. How did she come across? For starters, she was great. She would make you think that she's just been a housewife, and that's not the case at all. Is there a company here that's willing to employ her? After all these interviews, Made Brigade, who you interviewed with, is so excited about you, and they want to offer you a position as a consumer health advocate. I went out, I did it. I got a job. I am so happy and so proud of myself. I'm bringing money in. Oh my god, this is what I wanted. This is it.
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Why? There's a particular entrepreneur that I thought could be a mentor for you. What's it been like working for Willie Degel? He's a very demanding boss. He's animated. He's intense, but I enjoyed it immensely. Willie Degel is in the house. Willie, would you come on up?
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Tell me about this man. He came to work for you. If you get to me, I give you a really tough interview because what I feel is, if I scare you on your interview, I don't need you to work for me. Does he earn the right to really join your team with all that he's done? So you're gonna give me a hundred? Ron, yes, sir. Okay, because I'm gonna give you a hundred thousand dollar job. You're gonna be a restaurant manager. I'm gonna set the budget, and within one year, you work your butt off, you showed me you got more in you. I'll open a restaurant, put you in charge, run it. You'll be a working partner. Are you ready for this?
[Applause]
I am so grateful. Thank you for giving him the opportunity. Thank you. He worked hard. You should be proud of him. And I won't let you down. I'll work as hard as I possibly can and do everything I can to make you proud. It really was surreal. I mean, everything is falling into place for us. Marie and I are as tight as to be, and we're moving forward, just enjoying the journey every step of waiting. I am so proud of you. You have done everything, everything that I have always wanted. You have stood up for me, you have loved me, you have protected me. I am just so proud of you. You have come such a long way, and I'm so happy that I was on this journey with you because I love you so much.
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