TLDR;
Santiago discusses his personal growth, discipline, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. He emphasizes the importance of hard work, respect for service workers, and gratitude. He reflects on his journey, highlighting his focus on self-improvement, disconnecting from distractions, and finding purpose through his work and community. He encourages viewers to push beyond their comfort zones, create a plan for their lives, and strive to become their own heroes.
- Importance of hard work and discipline in achieving personal growth.
- Respect for service workers and gratitude towards those who contribute to society.
- Finding purpose and fulfillment through work, community, and self-improvement.
- Overcoming fear and vulnerability to pursue one's goals and dreams.
- Encouragement to viewers to step out of their comfort zones and create a plan for a fulfilling life.
Intro and Work Ethic [0:00]
Santiago shares his experience of working hard and cleanly without complaining, noting his improvement in this area. He acknowledges feeling like he's not doing enough for his content and business but takes pride in the unseen work he's doing. He references a quote about getting paid for doing the things others don't want to do, which he applies to tasks like cleaning toilets at work.
Respect and Gratitude [1:51]
Santiago emphasizes the importance of acknowledging, respecting, and thanking those who maintain public infrastructures. He feels strongly about respecting people who serve you and showing gratitude. He recognizes the need to post more videos, write more newsletters, read more, and be more disciplined.
Present Moment and Overthinking [2:58]
Santiago expresses a sense of peace and presence, noting that being busy leaves no time for overthinking. He admits that posting content is where he overthinks the most, revealing his ongoing fear. He acknowledges his YouTube channel, subscribers, and a community where he engages in meaningful conversations, including discussions about the disconnect between the online space and real life.
Discipline and Mentorship [4:31]
Santiago discusses the importance of proving to oneself that you are disciplined and walking your path. He emphasizes building a stack of irrefutable proof through actions. He values his teammate, who has become a mentor due to his experience in the food and beverage industry. Santiago, at 21, sees himself as a sponge, learning to live life better, eat whole foods, buy groceries, run a business, and lead a team.
Overcoming Fear and Comfort Zones [6:09]
Santiago expresses excitement about overcoming fear and no longer pretending to be a victim. He encourages leaving one's comfort zone. He shares an experience on the subway where he saw young people partying and felt no envy, feeling mature and content with his own path. He emphasizes that how you work reflects who you are in real life, especially in the culinary world.
Pride in Effort and Future Goals [8:28]
Santiago questions whether others feel a profound pride in their efforts and whether those efforts have shown results. He feels lucky to carve his own path, do things afraid, and push himself to the point of burnout. He has proven to himself that he can be disciplined but recognizes there's always another challenge ahead. He finds his own life more exciting than movies or video games.
Sacrifice and Focus [10:29]
Santiago acknowledges sacrificing current time and disconnecting from friendships to stay present. He has quieted the voice of judgment and fear in his head. He is early in his journey but feels that the further he goes towards being stronger and more disciplined, the more sense everything makes. He aims to be his own hero and embodies traits he admires in others.
Purpose and Fulfillment [12:02]
Santiago shares that he shows in Hero Academy how he found direction in life and his plan. He believes people want to be led and have a reason to get up in the morning. He has found fulfillment and purpose along the way, defining purpose as something greater than himself. He wants to improve his business but refrains from talking too much about his goals to avoid premature satisfaction.
Gratitude and Self-Perception [13:24]
Santiago admits to being distant from reading comments because they affect him. He sometimes feels that external validation is not enough. He is currently locked in and dialed in, causing fear and worry to fade. He finds gratitude in the pain of everyday life and is disciplined by his job, the people around him, and his choices.
Sacrifices and Self-Improvement [15:19]
Santiago lists things he has given up, such as drinking, partying, drugs, video games, and excessive sweets. He uninstalled Instagram, which boosted his mood. He criticizes blaming the creators of addictive platforms instead of taking personal responsibility. He uses the analogy of blaming the television for being entertaining instead of taking control of one's actions.
The Hero's Path and Personal Values [17:12]
Santiago defines the hero's path as becoming the person you needed in the past and want to be in the future. He does not envy those who wake up and immediately check their phones, those who don't work out, or those who eat only fast food. He has found real dopamine in his disciplined lifestyle, despite past struggles with instability, emotionality, and ADHD.
Facing Fears and Embracing Vulnerability [19:06]
Santiago emphasizes that his fear of being himself and being vulnerable is what he needs to face, which is why he posts these videos. He clarifies that being emotional is not inherently bad but is part of the process. He channels his emotions through writing and journaling.
Transformation and Future Vision [20:16]
Santiago feels like he doesn't recognize himself sometimes, acknowledging that he still has horrible days. He often has his best thoughts in the shower or while lying in bed. He feels like he is constantly building and is happy that things that used to make him happy no longer do. He feels like he's on an adventure with no way back, only forward.
Mental Fortitude and Opportunities [22:01]
Santiago recognizes that pushing himself physically is now a mental game. He advises doing meal prep, going to work, and finding ways to relax. He believes he has a unique perspective, solutions to problems, and inspiration to offer. He has his life to explore, books to read, and more to risk.
Avoiding Regret and Finding Fulfillment [23:26]
Santiago is determined not to regret not having done things because of fear, laziness, or concern for unimportant things. He contrasts fleeting happiness with lasting fulfillment, which involves giving and receiving energy. He needs less motivation to do things and attributes this to his environment and choices.
Self-Love and Personal Growth [25:40]
Santiago emphasizes that he is practicing real self-love, taking care of himself, and building himself up. He aims to improve in sharing information with his audience. He encourages viewers to never underestimate themselves and their capabilities, leave their comfort zones, and embark on their own adventures.
Planning and Defining Life Goals [26:44]
Santiago advises viewers to create a plan and figure out what they want in life. He suggests focusing on how you want your life to feel. He feels like his old self is dying, and something new is emerging. He envisions himself as someone he's proud of, a good and great dad, someone who sees things through, financially free, and entertaining people worldwide.
Dreams and Training Grounds [28:30]
Santiago acknowledges that his dream of entertaining people worldwide is still distant, but other things seem more attainable. He needs to publish more and work on something besides his current work. He now views work as training grounds.
Outro and Product Promotion [29:46]
Santiago thanks viewers for watching and promotes his nose strips from High Strips, offering a discount code. He expresses his continued amazement at how well the strips work. He also promotes his newsletter, Instagram, and Hero Academy, inviting viewers to join his self-improvement community. He encourages viewers to keep grinding and be their own heroes.