Doug Sandler, an on-air host, talent expert, and author, joins Neva Lee Recla to explore his superpowers and the entrepreneur Podcaster. He has interviewed hundreds of business leaders and celebrities. As an author, Doug’s book, Nice Guys Finish First, is an Amazon best seller. Doug is a nationally recognized speaker and shares his Nice Guy’s relationship building message with businesses across the country. As TurnKey’s concept development expert, Doug works directly with clients on podcast planning and development. Listen in as he shares his deep knowledge about the entrepreneur.

I’m super excited to have you on. And I, by the way, I was super excited and really ready and I was interviewing Jeremy Slate today. So I was getting into the new media mode.

You were totally getting in the new media mode. You got … Did you ever see his muscles? He’s got some big muscles. Have you ever seen-

Do you know if he was a nerd when he was a kid?

Yeah, so I am still a nerd so that’s actually one of my superpowers I want to talk about is the key to really having fun is being a nerd.

Well, you read my mind because I was just about to ask what are your superpowers?

Oh, totally. My superpower is how to be a nerd and have fun doing it.

Awesome.

So many people try to be something that they’re not and you need to be comfortable in your own skin. And if that means you’re a nerd, then nerd out baby. Nerd out.

Nerd out. I like it. So how do you use your superpowers in your work?

Well, you know, being a nerd is kind of easy in my line of business because I’m in a nerdy business. I’m in the business of podcasting so you can kind of nerd out and everything. You can nerd out with equipment. You can nerd out with technology. You can nerd out by just being a nice guy. I feel like when you’re a nerd, you’re just being true to yourself because I think nerds are nerds at heart and they’re just nice people.

Exactly. I like that. So, did you always want to do business?

I think so. I can remember being as young as 13 and always having a job. And that’s been about 40 years, so I’m 53 years old now and I can always remember loving to work. And it was always a challenge for me when I was working for somebody else because they always had their rules and, oh gosh, I’m not a really good rule follower, Neva. So yeah, I’ve always enjoyed business since 13. And you even got the bug even earlier ’cause you’re, aren’t you?

I started at two.

Oh my gosh. Yes. I don’t think, I don’t even know. I just think I told you this when you came on my show. I think I was just popping in my diaper when I was two.

Like I say, I’m an alien.

Yeah, you are an alien. But you’re are an alien so we’ll let you hang out with us.

Thank you. If you could go back in time and give any advice or just say anything to your eight-year-old self, what would it be and why?

That’s a good one. I would tell my eight-year-old self that it’s good to be yourself.  When you try to be somebody else, when you try to be somebody that you’re not just to impress somebody, if you know, if you have that person that you like in seventh grade and you don’t think they’re gonna like you because you’re the way that you are, then maybe that wasn’t the right person for you to hang out with, to begin with. You should always be yourself.

Exactly.

And when you’re yourself, people that like you are gonna like you and listen, not everybody’s gonna like you and you got to be okay with that.

And that’s something I definitely learned because I used to be very afraid of people not liking me. And I’ve been bullied a few times so I know. I’ve learned that lesson. And because I’ve been bullied I thought to myself that’s why I’ve been so out there and stuff. And I tell kids if people don’t like you don’t hang out with them. Those people, they just don’t see how amazing you really are.

That’s great advice, Neva. Yeah, if they don’t like you then don’t hang out with them. I like that idea.

Exactly.

I think when I was younger I spent too much time trying to impress people and I think that puts your head in a bad spot. And it will take you that way the rest of your life to try and get out of that spot. So if you start out, if you have kids that are listening to your show, that’s probably great advice. Just be yourself. It’s a really good person to be. I don’t think another person can fit inside here anyway. The skin is really tight as it is.

So, I’m looking at my sheet.

Sure.

What advice do you have for kids who want to do what you do?

Oh boy. Okay, so let me ask you a question ’cause this would be kind of easy for you. So, I’m a podcast producer, which means I make podcasts for other people. The people that don’t know how to make a podcast, they come to me and I help them put the whole stuff together. But you’re closer to their age than I am. So, how did you start your podcast? I mean, how did you start your podcast? I mean that’s a good question.

Well, I saw my mom doing a podcast and I thought, my mom’s really cool. I want to be just like her. I want to do a podcast. And fun fact, I actually originally said, “I’m gonna jump right at you and throw you out there like my mom does.”

Right.

And I really started this past year, I’ve started to make this podcast my own.

So how did you even get started? How’d you know? Did you just … Are you using her equipment to do it or did you have to buy your own equipment? Or what are you doing?

Well, I have, I actually use my iPad. So I have my iPad and my earphones have a microphone on them.

Yup.

I have my sheet of paper.

Yup.

And I have a book that I put my iPad on so it raises it. And I have a kick in my confidence and that’s all I need.

How do you get the podcast to go from your iPad to the world? Because I think a lot of kids are “Well I have an iPad too, but I don’t how to get my show to go anywhere.”

I don’t really know because my parents edit this whole thing for me.

Oh, really what you should do is if you don’t know something get other people that do know something to help you do the things that you don’t know how to do.

Exactly.

Exactly. I do that all the time. I don’t know how to change my tire so I call AAA. I call the car people to come and fix my tire.

Nice. Have you ever locked something in your car accident?

Oh my gosh, yes. So there used to be a time when we didn’t have the little clickers on your car. So when you didn’t have that you used to have to get a coat hanger and go in under the window and there used to be a little thing that you pull up to open the car. So you go under the thing and you just kind of riggle it around and pull it up.

That must have been hard.

Yeah. That was a long time ago. So ask your mom and dad. They probably had to open a car at some point that way too.

We were at Starbucks and it was cooler out. We parked in the shade. We accidentally locked our dog and our cheese in the car.

Oh no.

And so we called everyone, but we got a hanger and we luckily cracked the windows so she was okay. But we’re trying to call her over to open the window for us. We’re trying to get her to step on the window. And everyone in their mothers came to help.

So how did you get it opened eventually?

All thanks to a guy and his hanger.

Oh, a guy and his hanger. That’s cool. Yeah, see hangers work.

I know. We unwrapped the hanger. It was one of those wire ones and we used it to open the window. It was scary ’cause we just wanted some Starbucks.

When I podcast I get thirsty. Do you get thirsty? What are you drinking? Is that water?

It’s a can of sparkling strawberry water.

Ah, just some nice cold ice water.

And if I’m congested I drink tea.

Tea is good. That’s good.

I have one more question before the break and then we’ll take that and we’ll get right back, so what, do you have any pets?

I do. I have a pet. His name is Snickers. And Snickers is a coton de tulear. That’s stands for cotton, cotton in French. And he’s a really tiny little dog. He’s only about, let’s see. I think you might be able to see him in the mirror there.

So cool!

He’s a tiny little dog.

Is he in your house right now?

I’m at my mom’s house today, so he’s not at my mom’s house, but he is at my house.

My dog’s a toy schnauzer. Seven pounds.

Yeah, my dog isn’t quite that little. He’s like 11 pounds. But he is a cutie. His name is Snickers.

Yeah, that’s so cute. My dog’s name’s Callie, named after Goddess Kali.

Yeah.

Goddess of destruction and fire.

Oh, oh.

So I say she’s a goddess of destructing your hands when you play with her. But a fact, if you kiss her so much and you love on her so much, she will actually start playing.

Oh, that’s interesting.

So if I’m bored and I don’t want to play my iPod or play with Barbies I try to get the dog to play with me.

Neva, you have to have so many friends. I can’t imagine you have no one to play with you have to result, you know, you only have a Barbie and a dog. I’m sure you probably have millions of friends.

Well, I have … Most of my friends are adults.

I believe it.

And I have siblings from dad’s previous marriage. My sister Danica is 17 and my brother Caden’s 21.

Oh, so they’re older than you.

Yeah.

Do they pick on you at all?

Not really. And my sister does use my head as her armrest sometimes.

‘Cause, well you’re a lot shorter than her.

Now that’s kind of our little game. And that’s fun. So, yeah. What, actually two questions, where can people go to find out more about you?

They can go to turnkeypodcast.com if they want to get all sorts of fun information about our company.

Go check it out because they’re amazing.

Well, thanks, Neva.

Okay, so we’re gonna take a quick break. So we’ve been talking with Doug Sandler and the entrepreneur podcaster, so we’ll be right back.

Hi kids. This is your Super Power Kid, Neva Lee Recla. And today we have on our show a very exciting guest. Doug Sandler. And we met at News Media Summit. And he’s the author of The Nice Guys Finish First and it is an Amazon bestseller. And you should definitely go check it out. I bet it is amazing. And he’s the host of Nice Guys Business Podcast. So without further ado, will you help me welcome our very exciting and amazing guest, Doug Sandler. Hi Doug.

Is it dance party yet time? Is it a party … yeah. Oh, Neva, you’ve got so many better dance moves than I will ever have. Ever have.

Well, thank you.

I’m so happy to be here Neva.

I’m super excited to have you on. And I, by the way, I was super excited and really ready and I was interviewing Jeremy Slate today. So I was getting into the new media mode.

You were totally getting in the new media mode. You got … Did you ever see his muscles? He’s got some big muscles. Have you ever seen-

Do you know if he was a nerd when he was a kid?

Yeah, so I am still a nerd so that’s actually one of my superpowers I want to talk about is the key to really having fun is being a nerd.

Well, you read my mind because I was just about to ask what are your superpowers?

Oh, totally. My superpower is how to be a nerd and have fun doing it.

Awesome.

So many people try to be something that they’re not and you need to be comfortable in your own skin. And if that means you’re a nerd, then nerd out baby. Nerd out.

Nerd out. I like it. So how do you use your superpowers in your work?

Well, you know, being a nerd is kind of easy in my line of business because I’m in a nerdy business. I’m in the business of podcasting so you can kind of nerd out and everything. You can nerd out with equipment. You can nerd out with technology. You can nerd out by just being a nice guy. I feel like when you’re a nerd, you’re just being true to yourself because I think nerds are nerds at heart and they’re just nice people.

Exactly. I like that. So, did you always want to do business?

I think so. I can remember being as young as 13 and always having a job. And that’s been about 40 years, so I’m 53 years old now and I can always remember loving to work. And it was always a challenge for me when I was working for somebody else because they always had their rules and, oh gosh, I’m not a really good rule follower, Neva. So yeah, I’ve always enjoyed business since 13. And you even got the bug even earlier ’cause you’re, aren’t you?

I started at two.

Oh my gosh. Yes. I don’t think, I don’t even know. I just think I told you this when you came on my show. I think I was just popping in my diaper when I was two.

Like I say, I’m an alien.

Yeah, you are an alien. But you’re are an alien so we’ll let you hang out with us.

Thank you. If you could go back in time and give any advice or just say anything to your eight-year-old self, what would it be and why?

That’s a good one. I would tell my eight-year-old self that it’s good to be yourself.  When you try to be somebody else, when you try to be somebody that you’re not just to impress somebody, if you know, if you have that person that you like in seventh grade and you don’t think they’re gonna like you because you’re the way that you are, then maybe that wasn’t the right person for you to hang out with, to begin with. You should always be yourself.

Exactly.

And when you’re yourself, people that like you are gonna like you and listen, not everybody’s gonna like you and you got to be okay with that.

And that’s something I definitely learned because I used to be very afraid of people not liking me. And I’ve been bullied a few times so I know. I’ve learned that lesson. And because I’ve been bullied I thought to myself that’s why I’ve been so out there and stuff. And I tell kids if people don’t like you don’t hang out with them. Those people, they just don’t see how amazing you really are.

That’s great advice, Neva. Yeah, if they don’t like you then don’t hang out with them. I like that idea.

Exactly.

I think when I was younger I spent too much time trying to impress people and I think that puts your head in a bad spot. And it will take you that way the rest of your life to try and get out of that spot. So if you start out, if you have kids that are listening to your show, that’s probably great advice. Just be yourself. It’s a really good person to be. I don’t think another person can fit inside here anyway. The skin is really tight as it is.

So, I’m looking at my sheet.

Sure.

What advice do you have for kids who want to do what you do?

Oh boy. Okay, so let me ask you a question ’cause this would be kind of easy for you. So, I’m a podcast producer, which means I make podcasts for other people. The people that don’t know how to make a podcast, they come to me and I help them put the whole stuff together. But you’re closer to their age than I am. So, how did you start your podcast? I mean, how did you start your podcast? I mean that’s a good question.

Well, I saw my mom doing a podcast and I thought, my mom’s really cool. I want to be just like her. I want to do a podcast. And fun fact, I actually originally said, “I’m gonna jump right at you and throw you out there like my mom does.”

Right.

And I really started this past year, I’ve started to make this podcast my own.

So how did you even get started? How’d you know? Did you just … Are you using her equipment to do it or did you have to buy your own equipment? Or what are you doing?

Well, I have, I actually use my iPad. So I have my iPad and my earphones have a microphone on them.

Yup.

I have my sheet of paper.

Yup.

And I have a book that I put my iPad on so it raises it. And I have a kick in my confidence and that’s all I need.

How do you get the podcast to go from your iPad to the world? Because I think a lot of kids are “Well I have an iPad too, but I don’t how to get my show to go anywhere.”

I don’t really know because my parents edit this whole thing for me.

Oh, really what you should do is if you don’t know something get other people that do know something to help you do the things that you don’t know how to do.

Exactly.

Exactly. I do that all the time. I don’t know how to change my tire so I call AAA. I call the car people to come and fix my tire.

Nice. Have you ever locked something in your car accident?

Oh my gosh, yes. So there used to be a time when we didn’t have the little clickers on your car. So when you didn’t have that you used to have to get a coat hanger and go in under the window and there used to be a little thing that you pull up to open the car. So you go under the thing and you just kind of riggle it around and pull it up.

That must have been hard.

Yeah. That was a long time ago. So ask your mom and dad. They probably had to open a car at some point that way too.

We were at Starbucks and it was cooler out. We parked in the shade. We accidentally locked our dog and our cheese in the car.

Oh no.

And so we called everyone, but we got a hanger and we luckily cracked the windows so she was okay. But we’re trying to call her over to open the window for us. We’re trying to get her to step on the window. And everyone in their mothers came to help.

So how did you get it opened eventually?

All thanks to a guy and his hanger.

Oh, a guy and his hanger. That’s cool. Yeah, see hangers work.

I know. We unwrapped the hanger. It was one of those wire ones and we used it to open the window. It was scary ’cause we just wanted some Starbucks.

When I podcast I get thirsty. Do you get thirsty? What are you drinking? Is that water?

It’s a can of sparkling strawberry water.

Ah, just some nice cold ice water.

And if I’m congested I drink tea.

Tea is good. That’s good.

I have one more question before the break and then we’ll take that and we’ll get right back, so what, do you have any pets?

I do. I have a pet. His name is Snickers. And Snickers is a coton de tulear. That’s stands for cotton, cotton in French. And he’s a really tiny little dog. He’s only about, let’s see. I think you might be able to see him in the mirror there.

So cool!

He’s a tiny little dog.

Is he in your house right now?

I’m at my mom’s house today, so he’s not at my mom’s house, but he is at my house.

My dog’s a toy schnauzer. Seven pounds.

Yeah, my dog isn’t quite that little. He’s like 11 pounds. But he is a cutie. His name is Snickers.

Yeah, that’s so cute. My dog’s name’s Callie, named after Goddess Kali.

Yeah.

Goddess of destruction and fire.

Oh, oh.

So I say she’s a goddess of destructing your hands when you play with her. But a fact, if you kiss her so much and you love on her so much, she will actually start playing.

Oh, that’s interesting.

So if I’m bored and I don’t want to play my iPod or play with Barbies I try to get the dog to play with me.

Neva, you have to have so many friends. I can’t imagine you have no one to play with you have to result, you know, you only have a Barbie and a dog. I’m sure you probably have millions of friends.

Well, I have … Most of my friends are adults.

I believe it.

And I have siblings from dad’s previous marriage. My sister Danica is 17 and my brother Caden’s 21.

Oh, so they’re older than you.

Yeah.

Do they pick on you at all?

Not really. And my sister does use my head as her armrest sometimes.

‘Cause, well you’re a lot shorter than her.

Now that’s kind of our little game. And that’s fun. So, yeah. What, actually two questions, where can people go to find out more about you?

They can go to turnkeypodcast.com if they want to get all sorts of fun information about our company.

Go check it out because they’re amazing.

Well, thanks, Neva.

Okay, so we’re gonna take a quick break. So we’ve been talking with Doug Sandler and the entrepreneur podcaster, so we’ll be right back.

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