The Code To Winning - OVERCOME OUTWORK OUTSHINE || BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS DRIVES REVENUE|| NAFE LATU || EPISODE 046

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

From the humble shores of Tonga 🇹🇴 to building multiple six-figure businesses in the United States, this is the inspiring journey of Nafe Latu entrepreneur, master networker, and co-founder of the Freedom Golf Retreat.   Born and raised in the Kingdom of Tonga, Nafe moved to the U.S. in June 2011 seeking better opportunities. By 2018, he had carved out his own lane as a Master Celebrity Barber, later expanding into multiple successful ventures. Along the way, he developed a passion for positive psychology, understanding that to elevate our businesses, we must first elevate ourselves. His mission is simple yet powerful: help others become unbroken in life, family, and business.   Today, Nafe is also the co-founder of Freedom Golf Retreat, alongside his business partner Austin Freeman. Combining Austin’s competitive love for golf with he's passion for the sanctuary it brings, the two created a one-of-a-kind retreat experience.   Freedom Golf Retreat offers: Access to three of Southern Utah’s best courses A luxury five-day, all-inclusive stay in stunning Southern Utah Elite networking opportunities with like-minded professionals Personal and business growth through shared experiences   This episode dives deep into Nafe’s immigrant story, the challenges he’s faced, the mindset shifts that changed his life, and how building strong relationships has been the key to driving revenue and creating freedom.

We moved here in 2011 to the U.S. It was really cool. We would see all of us back together. And yeah, just growing up in the family, after my mom passed away, just kind of went downhill from there. And my two older siblings were already here in the U.S. trying to, like, get us to move here. And so finally the opening the game in 2011, and we all came.

I mean, when I look at family, there's always that one person that's going to hold it together. And for our family, it was her. And so once you was gone, you know, I left that hole in the family. Growing up, the dream is, is everything that I'm experiencing right now in the U.S. It's, there was never a part of the dream. The part of the dream was to get food on the table, right? If I could get to eat on like just one meal a day, that's the dream. So when people ask me about the dream, about here in America, and I'm like, I don't even know,

because getting on the plane, that is unrealistic. That's the thing you see on the movies that it's just not real, you know? When I was in hair school, the skills ended up, like, fall into, like, just the plate because I felt in a lot with the people. I feel along with the process of what you think. And I was enjoying more being there, not because of the getting here aspect, but like the different people it was sitting. And eventually, it just figured out.

Like, I don't even know. I mean, it's hard to explain. But one day, it just click. You know, like, I just never thought that the skills was there. But I just know that whoever comes in my chair, whether the haircut is good or not, we're going to get along. We're talking about 2019. So 2019, I opened up in October.

October, the week of Halloween. We open October, November, December, January hit, COVID hit. All three of them left, and I'm backed in there by myself. And I was like, holy crap. Wow. So we contacted our landlord, and she's like, no. Like, you still had to pay the rent, and I had no choice. I was like, okay, cool.

So from January all the way to July, I was there holding it down by myself. And that was like a good defining moment because I was back at it again. And here I am by myself. And it was a tough times. I went from, like myself, I raised my price. I went from $45 to $100, 100 to $200 to $250. to 250 to 400 bucks and so now at jarge like range from 400 to 800 bucks just depend on who I'm like really really gutting but I was like booked out for like almost like two years congratulations on baby

amelia thank you congratulations the reason why I want to touch on that obviously father's day is approaching soon what has been the biggest blessing you have gained from being a father I think the biggest blessing for me I have an opportunity to Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another episode of the Code 2 winning insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. Today we have a real treat,

an amazing guest. I'm going to give you a brief introduction of who we have in the studio today. He goes by the name of Naféilatu. Not nafe. Nafei latu. So again, I love immigrant

immigrant stories that are pursuing the American dream, a love entrepreneur, serial entrepreneurs that are super inspiring in their journey of how you can overcome the obstacles that you're facing today to become and reach your full potential as well. So after moving to the United States in 2011, he built a thriving career in the barbering industry, a fresh fed away barber in Utah County. In about 2024, he sold at barbershop to focus on new adventures which you're going to touch on today in our episode. As the co-founder of Beauty University and also the Unbroken Community, Nafet dedicated to helping others grow personally and also professionally. He also co-hosts Rules Don't Apply Show and is also known for his community impact, including organizing major

relief efforts from Tonga. And so like I said, we're going to be sharing all these stuff and amazing entrepreneur. If you want to be able to try and overcome the challenges, if you want to reach your full potential, if you want to learn about how you can pursue that all, that American Dream as well. This is the episodes for you. So without further adieu, our amazing guest, Nafelatu. Thank you.

How are you doing, brother? I'm doing amazing. How yourself? Not too bad. There was a Patrick B. David in introduction, don't you think? No, that was the probably the coolest. I just did a podcast last week. And they gave me a long introduction, but I was like, this is the longest one.

You need it. Keep it coming. Yeah, to keep it coming. I was like, yeah, have you ever seen whenever, like, Trump gets compliments? He's just like, keep going. Yeah, keep going. I was like all so stuff my brother thank you so much for coming the studio man I don't know how I'm gonna compile everything in like like a one hour but my gosh man like I want to just kind of figure

out like your journey if you could take us back to you know the kid in Tonga before you're coming can you just give us a brief introduction of your life story yeah um I was born into a family there's eight of us kids um five boys three girls I'm number six and um my little sister, she was only three-month-old when my mom passed away. And when she passed, she only, like, one of her wishes was, she told our, my oldest siblings, like, you cannot adopt the kids. Like, you cannot separate them. We have to keep all of them together.

So that's, that's, that's, that's been, it was cool. They're going to keep us all together. So when we moved here in 2011 to the U.S., it was really cool. We would see all of us, like, you know, back together. And yeah, just growing up in the family after my mom passed away, just kind of things, just kind of went downhill from there. And my two older siblings were already here in the U.S.

trying to get us to move here. And so finally the opportunity game in 2011, and we all came. But that just so much happened during that time of like 2004 to 2011. 11. It's just, I mean, I have all the time in the world to, you know, just talk about like what happened between them because that could be a really, really cool movie to make, you know, of like what happened in between. Because when my mom passed away, it's just, it's, I mean, when I look at family, there's always that one person that's going to hold it together. And for our family, it was her. And so when she was gone, you know, I left that hole in the family. And I end up like doing, when I did my whole tattoo on my arm, I did that whole piece. And the beast like just represent like we, we love the weave mats. Like in Ireland, we, and mats, it represents like a lot of different things, right? Because there's different level of like mats. And they can make them for like the cheapest until like some,

some good ones that they're so expensive. And there's a tongue and saying it's like, when those mats, like when they're ripped or like damage, you can, you can fix it, right? You can weave them back together, but it won't look the same anymore. So there's a hole here, and that's where I put my mom's name on it. When she bust away, they have a whole date in there. And it's just a reminder is like, it's just never the same, you know? Like I move on living my life right now, and there's always that hole. There's just the hole, and it's just trying to refill it.

And it's been, but it's, it's been amazing. I mean, growing up, the dream is, is everything that I'm experiencing right now in the U.S. It's, there was never a part of the dream. The part of the dream was to get food on the table, right? If I could get to eat on like just one meal a day, that's the dream. And so when people ask me about the dream about here in America and I'm like, I don't even know because getting on the plane, that is unrealistic. That's the thing you see on the movies that it's just not real, you know.

So I'm like grateful. The whole journey is, is like, I'm just grateful for all the things I'm, like, experiencing right now, and it's been, like, a really, really cool journey. Now, I'm grateful for you sharing that. And one of the things I do know as well about, like, Tongan, Samu and culture, I do know that family is such an important social unit, whether or not you're part of the gospel, like family, they're just family-orientated. And mothers are usually, like, the centerpiece of that, you know, because of just,

they just hold the family together. and I can't imagine like the pain that you may face because I'll be honest to this day I'm still a mama's boy and like I'll FaceTime my mom and it shows an answer I'm like what are you doing besides being my mother like FaceTime me back and so I'm grateful for you for you mentioning that and do you know how did she pass away if you don't mind me asking? It was like unknown like illness I mean right now is like

I think everything just play a huge like factor when I look at her whole pregnancy and stuff. I mean, when my wife, like, have all our kids, seeing her going through the pregnancy and being at the hospital, see all the process, I'm asking myself as like, how the freak that my mom gave birth in Tonga, knowing where the hospital, like, condition is like over there,

like, how the freak did she make it? And for me, there's always, like, a part of it where I don't think she was able to recover, you know? I don't think she recovered well from, when she have our, like, my younger sister, you know, like, yeah, so it's just, like, people will say, I mean, my older sibling will say it's like pneumonia, you know, like, so it's the unknown. Like, I mean, I think that the death in the island, it's just, you just never know when they get sick. You would never find the right answer to know, like, that's exactly why they passed away, you know? It's not like you in America, you do a bunch of deaths and you're like, that's why I should. Yeah, they take your blood test, yeah, and they'll do blood tests for, like, five different stuff, you know, from illnesses and, like, trying to figure out, like, what's in your blood and stuff like, yeah, sick will cell, where hepatitis, all that kind of stuff, because of technology as well, you know, so. So I was just tell people, like, yeah, she'd shake, never recover, and, you know, passed away. Sorry, yeah, condolences, boss, condonances.

And as well, one thing I do know is how you've overcome a lot of the challenges that you faced. Was there a period in time where you were ever homeless? I think I read about that a bit. Yeah, I mean, it was like by decision. Like, I left my house. Was that in the U.S.? In Tonga? Back home in Ireland.

You know, like when my mom passed away, our house was, I mean, I grew up in like, our house like turned real quick because my dad moved here already. You know, we're left with an older brother. And I think he was like 18 at the time. And he was the one who watched over us. Wow. And so it was him and I have another older brother and then me, another little brother and a younger sister. And so our house just turned into like that's work on like the party, you know, house.

You know, I grew up like a part of my childhood is like growing like weed. And you know what I mean? Like our house was where all the drunk people hang out and it just the drugs like, you know, alcohol, everything. That's where I like grew up. And it get to a time that when I look at the island. is there's pool people and there's us. You know, it's something that I was never proud of. And, but I didn't know that that was, you know, it was something, I mean, when I look back

at it right now and I'm like, dang, like, I'm very, very grateful that I grew up in that environment. It's just like the learning aspect of it. But it gets to a time when I was like, over there, I would just, just embarrass. It's just embarrassed of being, being there in my house. So I left. I left and, like, moved from one house to another and just trying to find something. And finally, and ended up like going to the same high school as my older brother.

And what changes it for me to like come home was we were in the school together. And the home that I live in, they have meal. They got the basics down, right? It might not be like the wealthiest people, but they got the basics down. Like I know when I come home, I'm going to eat something, you know? Like I know that the mom of that home will be washing my clothes and all that stuff. And so I remember going into high school and seeing my older brother. And they were like a group.

They were just almost like making fun of how he was looking. And it just hurt me because I was like, that's my older brother, you know, but they don't even know. They don't know he's my brother. And so that was like a wake-up call for me. And I was like, you know what? I'm going home. You know, like all this stuff is cool. but that's the real me.

They're making fun of the real me. I need to go home. And so I redirected. I mean, after like almost like two years, I decided that I was going to go home. And then what was, I love the fact, sometimes people don't want to stand

like a paradigm shift. It's also a big part of it as your surrounding and your upbringing. So the last thing you think about like when you're in certain circumstances is not limo guineas and fancy stuff. It's literally survival mode. what I'm saying, because when you end up arriving,

because I also remember, like, my entire goal was to come to the year, because I studied financial economics, but was to graduate and go to Wall Street. So I did an internship, two internships in New York, before I decided, like, I don't want to let go that path as well. But, like, the nice thing about being in this environment is that you naturally end up adapting, according to what you're other, and you start realizing, hang on, there's so much more to life than so-and-so,

you know, like uplifting, inspiring, at the same time living your full potential. When did that mindset shift from you from survival to literally like you're reaching your full potential? I think the day that I moved here to the U.S. And the reason why I share that, because when just being back home in Ireland, I remember my dad telling us about buffets and how buffet works here in the U.S. And I remember sitting there and I'm listening in to him. And I was like, there's no way.

you know there's no way that you pay like $12 and it's all you can eat and so when I landed here in the U.S. I mean the very first day we went straight to a buffet. Golden Corral? Which one was it? I think it was like an Asian, it was like an Asian buffet by San Francisco. And I remember walking in there and for the first time that I see that there's actually enough food. Wow. You know. And so that has been always my like the thing.

living with my older brother in in California. I remember at one point, because we were just constantly eating, you know, we're constantly, like, just destroying food. He had to double down his grocery. Probably had to go to the grocery store, like, three more times now a week, you know, instead of doing, like, monthly groceries. And so he said at one point, he says, like, hey, like, you can slow down eating. The food is not going anywhere, you know.

And that was, like, for the first time that I sit there and I was like, you're right. Like it's not going to be here tomorrow, you know, because back home in the island, it's like when I'm eating, it's about how fast you eat, right? And when it's hot, like you have to eat so fast. And that's how much food are you getting. It's based on how fast you eat, right? And so for here, it was different because I was like, dang, it don't matter if I eat fast, the food, it just keeps him coming. It's just non-stopping.

And so I was like, I can actually slow down, you know? I can actually sit here and enjoy my food because no one else is going to be. to take it from me, you know? Like, no one else is going to join and, you know, get the food. And I think that was like slowly like the shift. But it, it didn't, hasn't click yet, you know, it was later on being aware of like, huh, that's, that's actually like, that's what happened. That's what's going on. And realizing that here in the U.S., man, they're everything. I got gloves. I remember going to Walmart. I'm like, holy crap. There's like shirts. It's like $5 for three of them. I'm like, oh, like, let's go. You know.

I'm like, load it up. And so I think that was for the first time experiencing the world of like abundant. Then realizing it's like, dang, like it is. Like it's possible. All this stuff is like the thing you see in a movie, it's legit, you know. That's powerful. But then when did you, did you save money to fly to the United States? Or what was that process like in 2011 for you?

You know, I have no idea. All I know, my dad landed, said that we're backing up. we're living like, I think it was like two days later. And we flew from there, from Tonga to Fiji, and we had to go through the U.S. Embassy there in Fiji. And out of all the siblings, I was the one that have like the okay English. For some reason, just like I'm not able to understand it, but kind of like be able to speak it, but I somehow understand some of the words. And so we went over there and I was the one who do the interview. They're asking us is like going to U.S. And I remember what the questions and what the answer was like.

But I remember we walked out and we were like, all right, we're flying to the U.S. So, I mean, that whole process, I don't even know, really know how the process worked. All I know that we flew from Tonga to Fiji, drove three hours. There was the longest drive of my life. And I remember being in that, like, that vehicle. I'm like, what the freak are we going to get to that place? And I'm realizing how small Donga is. Because you go from one island to the other, like from the end of the island to the other,

it's probably like 45 minutes an hour. Wow. It's just so small. But to be able to go three hours, I'm like, no way. And my dad is like, no way until you go to America. And I got here, drove from California here to Utah. And I was like, I thought I was going to die. You know, like, this is long, you know.

14 hours depending on what it is. Yeah. But yeah, but that's kind of like how, like the process. And then we went from Fiji, Fiji to L.A. Got clear through the custom there. and then from LA to San Francisco. Awesome. Now, I love the Bay Area.

Like I told you, I lived there for a while. I felt culturally it's so amazing. And it's also like it's got like a nice cold front, you know, the Bay Area. Because just like, besides downtown where people can randomly just take a turd and crap in front of the area. Yeah, yeah. Apart from that. It's no. Bay Area is amazing.

Now, one of the things that I would say was the beginning for you was the barbering, because it was not just like the skill set that you may have gained, but it was also the connection that was built before end up like selling it to pursue other business ventures. Can you also walk us through the process? When did you realize you had the skill and when did you start? Well, my wife just told me that I needed to go barber school and we argue because it was so much money to pay to going to school. And I was like, man, like we don't have that kind of money.

money to do it. I didn't even know that there's like FAFSA and all those stuff that make it possible for me to go to school. So we argue about it and it was not until like I hate really, really have a tough day at work. And finally I was like, all right. I have nothing to lose now. I might as well just take up on it. So she enrolled me in hair school. I ended up applying for a job at Delta. I got the job. And the first day that was supposed to start, it's the same day that I'm supposed to start hair school. And I was like, screw it. I'm, you know, I'm going. all in and I'm going to her school. But I went into hair school.

The skills wasn't there. But I remember the very first day that I went there, I met the owner of the school. It was a simple question, you know, and I just asked him what's possible. And I just thought him, I was like, is it? Like, you're telling me that if I can go in and I can do this right,

I can literally, like, build almost like anything. So you didn't know to barber before then? You learned how to barbara from? No, I just learned how to barber it during school. Wow. because when I went in there, I went in there with a focus. I wanted to study business because I went to school for criminal justice. Okay.

And I wanted to be like in the FBI or something. And then I'm realizing I was like, dang, I'm going to go in and I'm going to get a degree and I still have to like get in shape and go. And I was like, no, that's too much work. You know, that stuff is like, you know, it would have been fun when I move here from Toma, bro. I'm like, no, I'm not doing that. You're like, I like my buffet. Yeah, I like my buffet, right?

So we made the adjustment and I wanted to go into school and just learn business. And I was afraid of going in, going to study about business in school because it's going to take me another two years. And I was like, frig. And in two years and I'm going to readjust again and they have to like study a different thing. So what we decided to do that I'm going to go in there six months, I'm going to learn the business side of cutting hair. So that's what I did. I went in there, met the owner, asked the question that I needed. and he pretty much like kind of unfold what's possible for me in the hair industry and I was like

that's it I'm going to do that and so when I was in hair school the skills ended up like fall into like just the plate because I felt in a lot with the people I felt along with the process of everything and I was enjoying more being there not because of the gunning hair aspect but like the different people it was sitting and then eventually it just figured out like I don't even know I mean it's it's hard to explain but one day it just click you know like I just never thought that the skills was there but I just know that whoever comes in my chair whether the haircut is good or not we're going to get along you know it's going to be a good time and so that was kind of like the whole focus on on being there and how the cutting hair come up to be awesome and so you when you started the business

did you because I realize there's so much components you're going to cutting hair because you can get like a few chairs then you can rent out to other barbers or the you you can end up like doing it by yourself and then getting other people that aren't commission or like a fixed. What was the business model that you had for yourself and how did it become success? It's funny. It's like how we find a spot they were at. We're actually like me and my wife were, we went to the movie and at the end of the movie. It was already like 1 a.m. or we're done and we're on a way and we usually like there's a this road that we always take to go to our house. And instead we're like, I'll tell him I was like, no, we're taking this.

road. And she's like, oh, this is downtown pleasant grope. And when we like, we're coming down that road and she's like, there's a salon that's, it's there. Like, let's stop by and see it and see how to set up inside. And maybe we'll have a better idea on how we're going to open our shop. And we literally, like, I was like peeking in. And where I was like, like, looking in, there was like a sign because they didn't at the window because of the sun, right? And so where I was like looking in, there was a sign. It says, like, for rent. And I was like, no way. So we literally called them.

That was a Saturday morning at 1 a.m. We woke up. We called them at like 9 and we signed the contract at 11. No, there's no business model, nothing. I love it. Literally like nothing. And it was just a credit card that my wife had. So we max out all her credit cards to open the shop.

But I just know that I had it in me. I don't know. there was no like really confirmation. I just, I was so confident that I was like, I can figure this out. Like, I don't know,

but just, I just have it into me. It's just one of those stories that I was like telling people and they're like, it does not make sense. I was like, yeah,

it did not make sense. Now looking back at it, I was like, what the freak? That's what we did. But that's literally, that's literally what we did. And so when you started,

did you do it by yourself? Or did you end up having other barbers? Yeah, so when we open it, we have four check. in there. You know, I end up hiring three people that they were my students. Okay. You know, so this is, we're talking about 2019. So 2019, I opened up in October, October, the week of Halloween. We open October, November, December, January hit, COVID hit, all three of them left. And I'm

backed in there by myself. And I was like, holy crap. Wow. And so we contact the, our landlord and she's like, no, like you still had to pay the rent. And, um, and, um, you still had to pay the rent. and I had no choice. I was like, okay, cool. So from January all the way to July, I was there holding it down by myself. And that was like a good defining moment because I was back at it again. And here I am by myself. And it was a really, really, it was a tough times, you know, because I end up falling into like, oh, it's COVID.

I'm not supposed to work and stuff. But what, like, got me going was, like, the fact that my way. wife would wake up in the morning. She did it for a week, right? I did the quarantine crap and, you know, laying there in bed and my wife is getting ready and she's going to work. And so for me was like, I remember when I asking my father-in-law that I was like, I'm going to take care of her, right? And he said to me, he was like, I remember we talked, because I have nothing, you know, like when I asked my father-in-law for his blessing, like no job, no money, no driver license, nothing. There's really, zero thing to my name.

The only thing I have was my potential. That was it. But I didn't see it. They probably saw it. I don't even know, you know. And so I remember that was the one morning, early morning that I woke up and I'm like seeing my wife getting ready to go to work. And I'm asking myself, like, who the freak am I? Right?

Like, do lay in bed, what's my wife go out to work? I'm supposed to be the one they get it out there, go out to work. And so that's when everything changes. I was like, what I'm going to got here by myself all the way to however long, I'm going to do it. And so from there, held it down and just during that process where I'm like figure out. And by the moment that I like six months in, I'm still going, I was like, it somehow it's working on the most difficult time of like, you know, probably ever. And I was like, I'm over here and I'm grinding it out and I'm figuring something out. And it was just and then I end up like finding people along the way, finding the right people.

you know like I have one of my good barber very good friend his name is sam I remember he coming in he joined the team and it was just cool to be able to see just the culture of it just growing it just keep on growing because during those moments I figure out what not to do what what's not working what's working now and we just adjust as we go and I think every time I keep hearing like these stories there's always one defining moment in every single entrepreneur and serial entrepreneur story and it's usually the time I keep hearing like these stories there's always one defining moment in every single entrepreneur and serial entrepreneur story and it's usually the time. time when you all alone and you realize no one else is going to save you but you you know what I'm saying and I feel like that was the moment where everything just started like like a reality check like listen you're on your own and you have to be able to rely on yourself because that's the best person you can run out at the end of the day and I feel like that transition kind of like added value to the person that you are today because everything just went kind of upward trajectory right how long was the barbers shop before you end up selling it um it was there from 2019 and I saw it in last year.

Okay. So five years. Five years. And how much was like turn around and revenue for it? Oh, dude, like we, we pool off. Like, I think one of our best year we surpassed. Like, I think at one year we did about like six or seven, seven hundred thousand. Wow. Just a barbershop. And we have both of my, both of the shop. I mean, from my cutting hair, I went from like myself, I raised my price. I went from 40,000. I went from 40, $45 to $100, 100 to $250 to $250 to $400.

And so now I charge like range from $400 to $800, just depend on who I'm like really, really gutting. But I was like booked out for like almost like two years that I had to like fitting in people. I was like, no, I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I love it. And every time I hear these stories because there's something that, you know,

they say there's two things that men are going to be loyal to. It's their sports team and their barber. Yeah. those are too guaranteed, you know. Of course they're going to be loyal to many other stuff, but those are the most too guaranteed because of the relationship you end up building because of the natural, almost like,

psychologists or therapists that are probably becomes because of the fact that you end up feeling like you can open up and be yourself and also just the genuine conversations that is there because I feel like sometimes the best barbers are the ones that can actually build a connection with their clients and understand that. When you were raising those prices,

were you targeting specific people, like, were you doing, like, professional athletes and celebrities and stuff like that? Some of them, some of them, like, professional athletes. And I mean, I always, like, tell people when they ask me about, like, gittering for professional athletes and stuff. It's like, I just treat everyone as, like, the same. Like, for me, when I go in and I'm cutting, like, any, like, famous people or anything like that. For them, it's just, for me the same. If I end up, like, having to do a favor for them, I think it was, like, a. Alex and Mosey, he talked about, like, if you want to do a favor for someone, you have to do it with, like, a favor with capital F.

Right. You want to provide, like, as much value as you can, right? You don't want to just do the minimum of like, oh, I got your hair, but I line you up for free. It's like, no, here's a full haircut. It's yours. It's good. But when I, if we're going back and we're talking about, like, racing the price, I didn't race my price. My client raised my price.

Like, I have a good friend that he owned a bunch of business. And I remember he messes me. he was like, hey, I need to get in. And I'm like, dude, my, like, my schedule is pretty slim, but I can fit you in on these days. And he, he texted me. He was like, no, you're going to need to raise your price. I don't like waiting. I need to get in whenever I want to fit in.

And so that's, that's it. And most of the prices where I raise it up to, it was for anybody new trying to get into my, get into my schedule. Because the people that already have, they're already paying me that, like, that price. I remember when I sit there and people were like, oh, nobody's paying you. that is like no like I'm raising up my price right now for anyone new that I'm taking on the rest of the people that already have they already pay me that price so for me it was just where are you going to jump in and be a part of like the schedule or not I already have the people that pay for it so I'm just I'm good you know like so far with it it's like you know I'm good but most of my client

they're all professional athletes a lot of them they're all like high-end super successful entrepreneurs and they just fell in I don't even know I mean, I was like, tell people when I come down to networking, too, it's like, I just have this energy. And I, every single place is wherever I go, where those people, they're higher than me in, like, ranking or status or anything like that. I was like, tell people it's like, I don't, I don't ever get, like, intimidated by going to those rooms because people have no idea what I've been through, you know? So if they know, they're probably going to be intimidated by me, you know? And so I just fit it right into it. But as far as like pricing goes, I just have those clients earlier on.

And so when those people didn't want it to wait, they're like, no, the price is gone. And I have the receipts. You know, I keep all the receipts of people asking that. It's like, no, we're going back up. And I'm like, okay, cool. We're going to do that. Because what I found with all those people, it's like time means more anything to them. And so if I can save them sometimes, like, that's it.

And so those people, don't like the weight and I have and end up addressing my whole business model when I like when I meet some of the professional athletes it's like if they message you on that time you have to be available that time and for me the only way for to do it was to bring up the price and if I can do that one haircut they save me then I mean when I get paid on that one haircut if you compare it to just a regular barber that's like probably like 50 haircut that you have to do you know because before in in the beginning of my journey I used to brag about how how slam my schedule is.

And I was like, you're telling me that I can do two haircuts? And that's like two days worth of like haircutting that I need to do. I'm like, oh, please, like I'll do that. I'll do that one haircut, you know? They would save me some time to stay at home and do what I needed to do. But yeah, that's just kind of how it came to be. You know, I love that. The reason why I like that is that you start realizing the value you have because of, it's not just

the schedule but the fact that people are willing to say listen i want to be fit in because time is money at the end of the day and you end up getting a a skill set that was valued by clients so they raise the price but not you the reason i like that is i started seeing because right now i'm my youtube i was very and i still am in how i was getting certain guests that all have different stories and at the end of the day i just started seeing the trajectory and how like it was just like it was monetized after. I did Andy Elliott Keaton Hospital, the first two, then it was already monetized because of the watch hours there. And then

as you can see with you as well, and the people have been getting, I start realizing, hang on, like, I'm at the point where I have Project 100K subs, and it's like, what am I willing to do to try and get there? I have to start spending more in ad spends. I have to start spending more with, like,

my edits, I have to start spending more by quality time, getting the right people, getting the right conversation. Because at the end of the day, like, I'm like, I know, I'm at like a 30K kind of stuff, but I'm like, people I'm getting on the studio. You know,

I should be in a million, you know what I'm saying? And so like I value myself that much more, but like what I'm willing to do? I'm going to try and add a bit more value. I'm going to try and get more edits. I'm going to try and get more content. I'm going to try and do performance max campaigns.

I'm going to get them in all forms of social media. And then when you start realizing the potential, because you start like visualizing it, then you start seeing it. Then when you start seeing it, you actually start doing it, you know? So that's one of the things I learned about. you, which kind of segues to networking.

How important is networking being for you, considering how big your network is right now? If people ask me, if people ask me how I did it, it's always connections for me. The key for my life, the key for any success that I have is its connections. At the end of the day, I can pull up my phone right now and it only is going to take me one phone call. If I have to go restart over again, it will be one phone call all the way. it'll be like a simple text message to someone. Someone probably hold it all together for me. And when I come down to networking, I don't take it lightly when I come down to network.

But I also, like, I have no expectation when I go into networking. And for me, something that really, really helped me too when I come down to networking is like, just like I don't, I don't, like, it's giving without keeping the score. and I'm constantly just giving when I'm going into networking is like I realize really quick that you find more friends when you show interest in other people's stuff than you're trying to drag them to become interest in your stuff and so when I go into networking event it's just it's never about me it's never about who I know and all the cool people that I'm around with it's like it's about you you know I'm going to go in there and I'm so invested of like listening to you just asking and it's a simple like how are you doing you know and and I might do some research on

some of the people that I do, that I know for sure they're going to be there. And the conversation is about them. It's what they're building. You know, I remember I went up to an event in Southern Utah, and I met Patrick Manning. And he's with Black Desert. You know, I remember, like, being in the same room with him. And when I had the conversation, I was talking to him about Black Desert because I did a tour there. about every single details that they put onto that golf course and the resort.

And, you know, it was like a very, very short, like, amount of time that we chat, and we part ways. And I did a post. I took a picture with him with, I did a post about it. And I was just very grateful for the opportunity to be able to meet him for the first time. And, and I didn't. I mean, we were an friend on Facebook. But for somehow, he found the post on Facebook, and he did a comment. He wrote on a comment.

And it's just, he was just saying, it's like, oh, it was. it was good to meet you and he's like i've just been telling i've been telling people that you're one of my contact of the year wow and i'm like sitting there reading and i'm like i sent it to my um i send it to our to my group me and my business partner and i was like what the freak it just just happened you know and i didn't know that he ended up calling another friend of mine and when i met the friend uh he actually giving the speech and when he was giving when he was giving the speech he was talking about how I met Patrick because Patrick called him and he told him, it's like, look, do you know, do you know this guy, Nafet? And he's like, oh, yeah, I know him. He's like,

I don't think he know what the freak he's doing, but I like him. I like him a lot, you know. And I was like, that was it. That was the perfect way to describe me. I may not know what a freak I'm doing in any single business that I'm doing, but you're going to like me. You're going to like what I'm doing. And I'm not, you know, quitting. That's not even a bottom Michael vocabulary. I'm going to figure it out. And so I just share that story because that's what networking does for me. I love that, man. And I noticed, which is the reason I, it kind of segues perfectly there.

Because as much as people focus a lot on like your network is your network, which is true. I like the fact that you touched on just building meaningful connections without expecting anything in return. But in essence, looking for the fact of trying to learn something from somebody because everyone's got their own story. It doesn't have to be a fancy story of how they became something, but it could even be

just overcoming the trauma as well, which is perfect to what I want to go into about the Unbroken Community. I think that's how I reached out to you as well first. I loved that it targets people that want to try and reach their full potential because somewhere or another, we've all faced something,

a minor setback, maybe a trauma from a young age or something, but what's unbroken community free. Unbroken for me, it's simply, it's one of my belief that through thick and fin, I'll always find their learning. And what I share about that is that you can put me in any situation. I promise you that I'll figure out why I'm in the situation, even stuck in traffic. I sit there and I'm like thinking, I was like, and I'm, I came to realize that I'm constantly

living in the world, maybe. That may be the reason why I'm stuck on this traffic because the person in front of me or the person that cut me off or the person is causing this traffic is probably in rushing, rushing someone in their family to the hospital or something. So in my head is like, like, okay, then I'm going to sit here and I'm going to enjoy being here in traffic. Or maybe the reason why I'm on traffic right now is to be able to give someone a call, someone that's been on my mind or call, or maybe a podcast that I've been telling whoever it is that I'm going to be listening to the podcast or like a commitment that I, you know, and so for me it's, that's what the word unbroken is, is it's finding the

in whatever whatever the situation and that's how I build it together and so when did you start this community um I started it back in 20 21 and is it connected to like your your black risk uh black desert resort yeah black desert resort um no not necessarily like that was like one of my first thing that I started because when I blew up in the hair industry um because I've done like bunch of different events in the hair industry. I'm realizing that a person like me can create anything. And so I'm like, I'm simply sitting there asking myself, it's like, how many people like me, you know, dealing with like a death in the family or just some hardcore stuff or maybe drama? Like, how many people like me out there? That all they have to do is just flip that switch

and they can be on the savage mode and build crazy, amazing things. And so for me, I come down to that where I'm like, dang, I can really multiply myself. You know, and so that was the whole purpose. That's why I started the community was bringing like-minded people, people that didn't think that they have it in them. And my goal is if I can just awaken them, like, you know, just give them a little tap on their shoulder of like, just open up like so they can see the possibility. This is literally what you can do with whatever you're dealing with right now.

That maybe the struggle that you're going through right now was maybe maybe the fact that you were like going through this financial hardship and and here you are come out of it was to be able to teach somebody how not to do it or teach someone else is how to overcome it and for me that was like a huge part of my story because um part of my struggle was like I blame my mom on everything you know when I when I go in and and my mom was in the back of my head was like I was willing to kill it in life because I know that someone else is to blame so if I'm not doing well it's always like oh you know my mom is not here you know she wasn't there to race me right like and so all this like blame all this like all this blame has been um that's been like

about like you know my mom not being there when i'm realizing it was like that was a moment and uh that moment was i got invited to an event that it was like it was my first time ever going into a freaking networking event and it was like a retreat and it was in tennessee and i went over there and it was for roofers i remember asking the guy you hold was like, why the freak did you invite me here? There's 29 roofers here. I'm the only barber that's sitting here in this room. What the freak am I doing?

I'm not going to open a roofing company. Like, what am I doing? And my dude was just like, no, just like I saw something. I don't know what it is, but I believe that you're supposed to be in this room. And he ended up, like, walking me through where the first time that I get to really, really face my mom's funeral. And that was huge. that was huge for me. It was for the first time that I get to grieve

that I finally can let go and I finally can cry that my mom really did bust away and on that defining moment that I realized it was like, wait a minute in the moment of me crying and just like, you know, just going through all the crap

and that was a moment that I realized I was like, dang my mom was the first entrepreneur in my family. And guess who the second one is? I am. Out of all the eight kids, I'm the one actually, like, stepping in. So it's like, wait, if a mom actually, like, leave a legacy, it's like, I am a mom's legacy.

I'm doing every single thing she was doing, you know? She'd make food and stuff, like sell it at the local, like, high school. I'm no difference. I'm creating a product right now and I'm selling the product. It's the same thing that she did. And so maybe the other reason why my mother passed away was to give me an opportunity to step up, an opportunity to shine. And that was it. I lock in in that belief that maybe that's the reason why she passed on

earlier on was to give me an opportunity to step up. And in that moment, I was like, there's literally nobody, like, nobody's going to stopping me from this, you know? And so from that healing moment of going through that, where I was like, that's it. Like, everything just not making sense. I'm like very patient with myself. And I, I was committed myself to be a better person, you know, to just step up in every single, like every single way I had my kid already, you know, my son. And I was like, you know what? Like, I'm going to be the best parent.

I, like, you know, like, I know that there's the saying of like every single parent's out there that they just won the best and they want their kids to have more than they ever have, you know, for me, that was my mindset. But now it changes. It's shift. I want my kid to be more than I ever be. you know i i i want my kid like to constantly like healing from stuff that the struggle that he's going through right now will be way different from my struggle but i want him to know that it's okay it's okay

to go to therapy it's okay to go ask for help it's okay to like feel his emotions like all those all those stuff that i was dot not too like that's not okay he's like no you're good you're good oh you know your vulnerability is safe with me you know and we can talk about this all day and it's been like it's been really cool but that's man I wish there was a mic drop for that that was no I appreciate that the reason why I like it so much I've also experienced grief but how grief works like that people don't understand if they haven't like experience that is that grief comes in waves you know so sometimes when a tragic event has happened or something a loss of a loved one one thing what you don't realize is that it comes to different people in different stages as well

so it might not really occur at that point in time because there could be a state of a denial that you might be facing and then like it could be a few months along the line or a year they're like what the heck just happened or like what you know what I'm saying and then it starts hitting you and then as it starts hitting you you have to face it face value because that's that's how the healing process works like and the beautiful thing about like the unbroken that you spoke about, a community of uplifting each other, but also understanding that there's a time to play for you to be vulnerable and acknowledge what has happened. But like everything you just mentioned is there's steps, that kind of stuff.

But the one thing I do like about grief is that it also provides agency and a choice for you to be able to take accountability for the fact that you can either sink like quicksand or you can use this as an opportunity for you to learn, grow and understand that heavenly father has got a path for you to be able to understand the situation that you've been through. Thanks for sharing that, my brother. How the hell are we going to, this is like, I have like, can we stay for three, four more hours? Is that okay?

Anytime, anytime. He's like, I got to go golf, right? Yeah, that's usually how long I go golf for. We're good. Man, I want to, I want to know, so the retreats and stuff. So that pops up a lot of my Instagram. And I like the fact that you guys have built. this community. How do people join in that? And is it like a networking golf retreat? How does that work?

I think it's so important for people in network. Yeah, so definitely. So the freedom golf retreat, it was an idea because, I mean, I'd done like different retreats with the Unbroken. I've done all over here in the, in Utah. And I did, ended up like expanded down to New Zealand. I did an event over there. And in the hair industry as well, I did the same thing with the hair industry. Why have you not touched South Africa to Africa to be a girl? Like, why are you? Yeah, there's just so many places where I'm, like, doing. So I've just been in that space for a long time, like, just being, being in that space, hosting different events and all that stuff.

And so, and one of my business partner, Austin, we met an event. It was funny. It was like, it was a personal development event, you know, like, I walk in there and I was like, like I said, like, I committed to being better. And I was like, you put me in every single room that you feel like that. it's going to make me better than I am yesterday. I'm in. I'm, you know, I'm, like, invested in it.

And so while on the event, that's where, like, we connected, we clicked. And one day, he invited me to go golf. And I was so offended. And I'm like, why the freak would you invite me to go golf? Like, no. You know, Tony Vinaw is, he's, like, very, like, very, like, I mean, his family to me, you know. And I've been, like, doing his hair for the past, like, few years. And, you know, people think he's like, oh, this day how you got into,

do a golf and I was like no no no that's not it and so he invited me to go golf my wife is been trying to get me to go golf like two years prior and she's like no just go and I was like no I'm not going to do it my little brother he's a good golfer been trying to get me to go in and so finally he's my friend Austin his little brother was moving out of Arizona and so they were doing a little farewell round for him and so that's why he invited me to go and he's like bro it will mean a lot lot to him if you come and I already pay your tea time so you can bail and I was like freak so dude I was like I remember just sitting there and I was like dude this is probably the time where I'm going to bail and I just didn't want to go you know I just didn't want to go but

I told my wife I finally like come to a agreement I was like okay I'll go but when I went before before my wife Alex like dropped me off she she she made me promise her that I'm going to put my phone down. I'm not going to touch my phone. I'm going to go in there and I'm going to be present. Like she specifically told me, it's like, just go in there, be present with them. And because I was on that, I was running, dude, like my schedule was usually like up until 4 or 5 a.m. in the morning, just working. Just come up with ideas, building every single thing that built in. That was my flow state, you know. And it was unhealthy, but I'm like, dude, that's, that's where most of my ideas come from. Right.

in the middle of the night. Like, what are you doing this stuff? And so, but she promised me, I'm going to finally put my phone away and I'm going to be present with those people. And that's what I did. And holy crap, I finished that round. And I was like, I'm screwed.

I found a new home. I'm hooked. I'm hooked wherever I've been, like, all my life. And then we chat about it. He saw what I was already doing with events and stuff. And we start talking about, like, golf. And it was funny When we started talking about golf

We start like Just bringing in like different ideas together And so Just having like Clients that they've been in like the BGA tour All of them just kind of like share the same experience Of what it's like to be on the tour The experience of walking into a room

You have all your stuff like set right there on your bed You know like just a VIP service and all that stuff So we're kind of like bring that whole service in And then we're like all the people that I've been like, you know, all the pro athletes, all the like celebrities, all the, you know, high-end entrepreneurs that I meet along the way every single time, like, I'm with them or when every single time we're like part ways or leaving, they always like, say it's like, oh, let me know if you ever need anything. And in my head, I was like, that's it.

If I can bring them all together, have fun, you know, and whoever's intending, they have an opportunity to be able to connect with my network, right? Like, I just didn't want to like just let any, anyone else is in. I wanted to make sure that all those people coming in there, they're very genuine about, you know, those connections. And so we literally, yeah, and then like a week later, we're like, all right, we're pulling the trigger on this. And so we start announcing it. We announced a Freedom Golf Retrie and we just send it. And we host our first one back in October. We have a Menteeil. My good friend, Justin Prince, was there. We have like a lot of like, legit like you know people coming in there and it was like it's it's five days and it's a luxury

all inclusive exclusive golf retreat where you get to go golf but then we have um we have like networking opportunity we have like seminars we do Q&A with some of the special guests you have an opportunity to play with the special guest um but it is just like a whole legit like experience and it's really cool and um if you don't mind me asking how much does it cause if somebody wants to join And what if somebody sucks at golfing? Oh, it's perfect because most of the people, like, our target audience is like, yeah, if you end up knowing how to play golf, it's awesome, right? But if you don't know how to play golf like myself, like, I only start playing golf in, like,

May, June, July, August, September, October, like five months later, here I am, like playing and I just suck. Like, I have so many videos of people taking me, like, horrible. But that was not the point of it. The point of it was to be able to connect. You know, when I go into every single retreat, there's always a vision. Our last retreat was to have fun. You know, like, I always, like, set a vision very clear.

At the very first day when people get there, I always have a vision of where I want to direct the retreat to. And last time was to, like, have fun, you know, like have fun. And we ended up to an incident in one of the golf courses in Mesquite. And I got yelled at on the pro shop. and the dude was just pissed off. And it was funny because it was a cool teaching moment because all my guys were there, you know. And the dude just went on it on me. And I just sit there and I was very cool, very chill.

And it's like a whole different part. I mean, if he would have done that like three years back, it would be a whole different story. Oh, like he did. And I was like, I'm good. I'm ready to pay you're good. You know, I hope you're having an amazing day. And we move on. And it was a cool, like, teaching moment.

But just kind of, like, bring it back into it. Like, we always have a vision. It's, it don't matter. It's for any level of, like, people, like, playing golf. On our last one, we have so many people that was the first time playing golf. Like, first time ever swinging a club. And they were having the best time of their life because it was not about how good you are at golf. It was for you to be able to connect.

Because golf from me, you can expose, like, like that true idea. identity about like you can tell a lot of like about a person when you go play golf and I think one thing I I personally never really care about what I'm doing I care about the right people in the room and not even necessarily about the insights I'm going to gain from them but also the meaningful connections and friendships you end up building with the people that could end up like adding value to your business and vice versa as well because at the end of the day like the ship rises with the tide and So like if you're in the right room, you're with the right people that help you get the right way. And what a privilege it is to still end up swinging because you can get your frustrations out there for those teams that are letting you down, you know.

I know we are we slightly started late, but I want to try and touch on two like two or three last questions. Congratulations on baby Amelia. Thank you. Congratulations. The reason why I want to touch on that, obviously Father's Day is approaching soon. what has been the biggest blessing you have gained from being a father? I think one of the, I think the biggest blessing for me, I have an opportunity to create an example of all of my kids

of all the things that I learned, the thing that I heal from. And I think, like, I have an opportunity to be able to, like, teach my kids and raise them in a way that I always thought they will be very helpful. And also, like, the biggest blessing, I think the bigger blessing, I think the bigger blessing is it don't matter what I do every single day I can hear my kids voice I can run into any situation where I'm about to like be so frustrated and I can I can just hear my kid especially my oldest one my oldest one is like what I'm like talking in the moment that my volume of my voice goes up when I'm happy or I'm like frustrated you're always

going to check on me and see if I'm okay and he always like tell me it's like like, dad, dad, be nice, you know. And it's always kind of like cool for me as a father to know that that's what my kid is like, you know, there's our environment that he's like growing up and he's experiencing in. And to be able to hear my kid like master, like I am sorry. And it's just a whole different environment. It's the whole different parenting of like how I was, you know, raised growing up. but I just know that whatever I'm doing,

whatever adventures I'm on, whatever business I'm starting, I just know that on difficult times, I can count on my kids to pull me out of it. That's a light at the end of the tunnel for me. I just know that I can literally just close my eyes and I can think about one of them. And I don't know for sure that just the thought

of someone counting on me, it's like, it's there. you know and i'll be all right i'll find a way to be able to figure it out so i don't even think i can ask the next two questions after that they're in the interview right year and then right you know i i love that man and i've seen how much you love your kids i've seen the blessing it it was that's when i saw baby amelia born just a few months ago like i think that's when life begins when you realize it's a bigger why than yourself you know and i'm grateful for you sharing that which kind of you know segues to

Our last and final question, the code to winning. You know, it's known for insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. I mean, after what you shared in your definition, like, what does it mean to be winning? I think winning for me is sleepless night, a lot of tough conversations. There's going to be a lot of, like, stumping blocks,

so uncomfortable. But above all of that, it's just worth it. And so I think I think it was like Team Grover he wrote a book about like winning and he talked about it like like winning is sprinting with no finish line

and I believe that that's kind of like where I'm on I feel like that I'm constantly like just sprinting there's no there's no stopping and I just I think at the end of my life is like whatever it is that I'm accomplishing and whatever it is that I'm doing and I'm on currently on and currently working on that will be the winning for me that's powerful man now I appreciate that if you

could let our viewers know where they could get a hold of you um if they want to jump in in the unbroken community in like your golf retreats and like you know if any courses they want to try and learn just get our viewers know where they can get a hold of you yeah um I'm I'm I'm on on all of the social media platforms, but I'm huge on Instagram. If you're trying to get a hold of me right away, email is always the best. I can be able to see it. Or else, most of the messages are buried on the DMs and all that stuff. We have a, with the Freedom Golf Retreat, we have one coming up in October.

We'll be spending a couple of days at the BGA door. Oh, wow. So that's one of our, like, we're kind of like shifting some things on this one. So we're adding in the BGA tour in there and I think it would be cool to be able to have people. And our price online as well. Yeah. Yeah, the price is available online on our website. It's freedomgolfretreat.com.

You can go in and you can find all the information's in there. We do like different tournaments and most of our events are all invitation only. So if you want an invitation, just shoot me a DM and our invite. you personally you but yeah that's where people are at

unbroken same thing too like we have our page it's you are unbroken unbroken and you can just find all the information

is out there and yeah and I do a bunch of different of stuff but like that's the that's the tool that we talked

about here on this podcast so no I appreciate that no thank you so much I will add everything in the description

section both on all our social media platform with all the websites as well so if you're curious

find the links below the retreats and unbroken and stuff like that. So the coat winning nafe la two insights you need today to seize the world tomorrow. This is the episode for you. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. You made me cry on this world.