ep46 – Johnny Stellato

We’ve got a very close friend of mine this week. He’s the Director of Education of L’Oréal Professional Products Division. He is a leadership team builder and a personal development specialist. He has traveled the world helping people find peace and purpose in their lives. And he once tried out as pitcher for the New York Yankees. Please welcome to Headcases: Johnny Stellato.

• John grew up in Yonkers, New York. He was into music and sports and really was scouted by the Yankees

• He shares his concept of the quiet mind and how he found calm in the face of adversity

• Hair school was not the best time for Johnny, but it was here that he met Valerie, who would eventually become his wife. This was also where he found his calling as coach.

Complete Transcript

Chris Baran 0:00
How great would it be to get up close and personal with the beauty industry heroes? We love and admire and to ask them how did you learn to do what you do? I’m Chris Baran, a hairstylist and educator for 40 plus years, and I’m inviting all our heroes to chat and share the secrets of their success.

I have to say that I am super excited about today’s guest, because not only is a good friend that but he has been a comrade, we’ve worked together on shows etc, but the last probably 20- 25 years. And that just to let you know a little bit about him, he’s spent the last 45 plus years evolving from a hairdresser to an educator to the Director of Education for LPD L’Oreal, to thank God a leadership team builder and a personal development specialist. He is probably one of the most promise people that I know with the most level head on his shoulders, and he’s traveled the world to help people find peace and purpose in their life. He takes great groups of people that work together and then transforms them into synergistic teams. Whenever I bring his name up to anybody the first words that come out of their mouth is always love. Anecdotally here’s another one for you he did try out for as a pitcher for the New York Yankees. So let’s get into this week’s Headcase Mr. John Stellato. Mr. Stellato I mean I don’t think we’ve ever met before Mr. Money people on here that I that I haven’t met before. But Johnny you go you and I go like way, way way. I’m talking further back than way back. How the hell you doing my friend?

Johnny Stellato 1:55
Good. I’m really good. You know, it’s crazy that we’re I’m actually sitting here having a conversation with the man. First of all, Chris, congratulate. Yeah, yeah. You know, yeah. Congratulations on the on your award and all your that it’s mind boggling how you make this stuff happen. So I know we’re friends. But I just want to say it’s an honor that you even asked me to be proud of as

Chris Baran 2:25
well, Johnny, first of all, you deserve to be here. You know, and I want to, you know, we’re going to do our chip at For everybody watching listening. Now. We’re doing our Chip and Dale routine here where we’re well, thank you, Chip. Oh, it’s okay, Dale. No, no, no, no, really? No, it’s you’re way better than I am. Yes. But I want I want to, just so everybody knows Johnny and I have a lot of history before we’ve been on stage together for like hundreds of years. We’ve broken bread together. We’ve had more laughs and more drinks. Oh, did I say drinks? I mean, more good times together. But I want to throw I want to throw this. I want to throw something out Jim to say a name and want to see if you can remember the incident. Okay, you ready? Yes. Okay. Pam, T hose.

Johnny Stellato 3:15
Oh my god, you definitely said the word.

Chris Baran 3:22
So let me let me let me set this up and and I’ll set up my side of the story and then Johnny can fill in what he believes is the truth which wasn’t just like 100 years ago, when perms were back, and really big i i was the perm guy and I used to travel around teaching perm techniques. And you know, watching somebody do a perm on a mannequin or a model really wasn’t is like watching paint dry. So I was also I loved I believed in props. So I built a life size mannequin out of cotton. And she was all the body parts were all like pantyhose, you know, arms pantyhose, etc. And so we made all this inside. And she would have interchangeable heads that I would take off and I would so she would come on with a styled head. And I had like seat belts that we would hook around onto the onto the chairs, etc. And Johnny Johnny’s. Johnny says to me before the hand before the program says, it tells me the story about how we used to pitch for the training for pitching for the New York Yankees and we’ll get into that story in a second. But I said when I say this word, I said I just want you to take this mannequin that’s with the perm rods in it. And I want you to just throw it out to me from backstage so everybody’s got it. So I’m up at the front of the stage and I’m doing my routine etc. And all of a sudden, off the side of my head this mannequin hits me this side of the head rolls and the audience lands on this woman’s lap and and You know, I’m shaking my head looking around. And so to this day, John, Johnny, Johnny looked at me backstage and said the word yet.

Oh my god. So that’s been our catch for a whole lot. I hope you guys enjoyed that. So, Johnny, it’s been a you know, let me ask you this was that at that show was that the first time we had met?

Johnny Stellato 5:22
That is a very first time that I met this amazing artists that came down from Canada. And you forgot to tell the group here, your hair and your put up? Did you do that on stage? I mean, you not only you know, because he used that very long hair, tall, handsome. And then he will just put it out there. He would say Okay, before you think it, let me just tell you. Yes, I am the Cowardly Lion. And then you go through his whole thing. Put him up, put him up. And everybody will laugh. Right. But that was crazy. Amazing. No. And that was the first time we met. And I thought that would be the last time I would ever have an opportunity to see you. Sure, I was gonna get my ass fired. It was my first show working with a major artists. And I was pretty proud because I had that mannequin cocked it was I could do this. I can’t do hair. But I could do this. I’m telling you. You said the word.

Chris Baran 6:30
Yeah. And I never said the word. I never said the word.

Johnny Stellato 6:34
And as that little Chris was interning, and I’m like, I’m like this. And to him. He’s what perm rods? I could kill the man in the temple with barks. And he just and he just laughed it off. I mean, he’s like, Okay, who did that? Anyway, like, got right into his cowardly lion act, and I knew it hurt. But he just went on with the show. And, and to this day, no matter what goes on, you know, when we’re on stage, it’s showtime. You gotta keep going.

Chris Baran 7:11
So you said I was told him handsome before that. See, now look what happened after he hit me in the head with a perm rod mannequin? Johnny, we we said that now. And I’m sure that there’s people that are out there that know you and love you. And that is part of what I talked about in your intro is that that’s out there. And everybody that means Johnny says I love you. You know that when you get that word, it’s about love. But I you know, that I want to go and down that rabbit hole in just a second here. But the also the part is we mentioned the Yankees and that you tried out for pitching on there. And I would be remiss and people are going to caught in a loop if I don’t we don’t talk about that. So tell us a little bit about Were you always like was that always your major? Like You? You? I know you’re a sports freak? All the while I was not you were? Tell us a bit about that.

Johnny Stellato 8:02
Yeah, yeah. I mean, growing up, it was quite, quite different growing up, you know, I grew up in Yonkers, New York, you know, and my real name is John Carlo, and John Gallo and growing up, you know, there was no such thing as that John Carlo in the neighborhood, you know, so I allowed outside influences to affect my life, you know, because I wanted to fit in. And not knowing, not knowing truly what my name really meant, because in our family junk caller, we’re both grandparents, John and Carlos. And so I decided to shorten my name because I wanted to fit in. I was outcasted, because I’ve hardly spoke English and a little bit of Italian. And there was no such thing as a John Carlos. So I allowed outside influence to affect our lives. And yeah, and so a lot of learnings kicking in from that day. But what got me through was music. I’m a drummer was music and sports. I was gifted with a real strong right arm and yeah, you know, sometimes, I, when I first went to Yankee Stadium, you know, we only have black and white TV at one time. And I realized the stadium, the grass was green, the wall was blue. And, and I knew, and I knew one day that was going to be me. You know, I saw it, you know, think about when we have a dream, you know, and if you see yourself and his dream, sometimes they come true. But the idea is you got to be careful what you ask for it. Sometimes they come through. So fast forward, pitching, you know, with school, and for some reason, somehow there was an opportunity that there were scouts in the audience, and I was invited to come pitch with the tryout for the New York Yankees. And so I got the letter, and my letter said you suck and you can’t pitch with us. You know? And that’s that was my field. realtors and and then I didn’t know that then but that’s what I wanted to hear. And that’s what I thought they said. But meanwhile the letter was really a very beautiful letter, but I did not make the team. But hey, how many kids in your neighborhood ever had a rejection letter from the New York Yankees, right? So I’m very proud of that. You know, and sometimes, you know, if you have a dream, and if you don’t lean forward and do what makes your heart sing, you’re going to be 89 years old, sitting on your rocking chair wondering what if, you know, so, things happen for a reason, I got to meet this amazing young lady. And, and here we are 47 years later when? And Valerie is my, my baby, she’s my wife and my friend.

Chris Baran 10:45
Life. Right? You know, and I know that I what you wrote that down, I just wrote down the word universe. Because, you know, that might have been, you know, let’s face the universe, where would you be are you probably would be still doing this after your career with the Yankees. But that’s sometimes the things that we think what we are destined to do is not necessarily what we’re destined to do, and that the universe sometimes will go. And it’s really hard. And I’m not saying it’s easy. And just because we say, yeah, the universe says no, sometimes it’s it can be really hurtful. So, how did I mean that? I imagine that must have been very. So what I’m looking for most of us have heard?

Johnny Stellato 11:33
Devastating.

Chris Baran 11:34
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, what, what? So just sort of go forward in that. Now, if you had to look back at that thing, knowing where you are now, as I’m sure you’ve done this many times, but just for the people listening and watching, what what would you say to that kid? After you got that letter? might not want to hear it? Yeah, but what would you say? What would you say to them knowing that that future is what it is?

Johnny Stellato 11:59
Yeah, I would say to that kid, this age, knowing what happened back to that kid back then say, You know what, your future is going to be frickin amazing, you know, and you are not to be a Yankee you will be to be with this amazing woman, to have these two amazing children, and to work with an amazing group of people. And to expand your wings greater than you could ever imagine. You know, so it’s okay. Sometimes we strike out in life, if you will. But you know, there’s always another time to get the bat. And then next bat, when you get up again, you know, you’re gonna hit that home run. And I would definitely say I did the right, I would never do anything different. Yeah. And that’s

Chris Baran 12:44
it, it’s the wildest thing, you know, especially because there’s what what I’m noticing is, is what’s the word I don’t, I wish I could give him a baseball metaphor. And right now, but I can pick the one is, is I was never good at sports. But the point is, is the the recapture the recoup the the setback, the choosing another fork, a fork in the road, pick a multitude of metaphors in here, but I, you know, I’m speaking on behalf of you now, because I know you. And we’ve been friends for 100 years. So I’ve always seen everything that you do is always first flip forward, and do the best I can. And, and I really believe that that’s why you are right behind him. And I think you’re the epitome of that, that sign that’s right behind you. You know, and I know that’s your motto. It’s what you do. But for those of you listening, it says just be and even Johnny is known as Gianni just be now. So tell us a little bit about the transition from or where just be came from? How did you happen upon that? And why?

Johnny Stellato 13:55
Yeah, you know, just the noise in our heads, you know, growing up and all the all the barriers and the obstacles that we all go through, you know, you could talk about your story. And I guarantee you, Chris, when you tell your story, a lot of people could relate because they’ll put themselves in your story. Yeah, and, and once we get past the noise, and just be you can ever just be present, you can never just be present, because time keeps moving. And that was five seconds ago when we spoke about that. But when everything is still I this is what this is my perspective. When everything is quiet when everything is still when you’re okay, where you are right now. It’s I focus on the power of one. Like what’s the most important thing right now in my life is to be here with you, Chris. And that’s the only most important thing so just be where you are and do the best you can you give us Self 100% with pure intention, and you’re not going to be perfect. You know, and, you know, we sometimes, you know, when we teach, we say, you know, we learned from mistakes and mistakes are okay and, and go forward with that. And everybody plays along because they want to play along because they trust you a little bit. But quite frankly, be inside their heads mistakes and not okay, that goes on about you. But growing up, especially when I went to school, when I made mistakes, I got my ass kicked. And, you know, so when people tell me, it’s okay, that you made a mistake, I have something to prove to them, meaning whoever they were to teachers, and so on, that the ones who put us down that you weren’t good enough, instead of teaching those that is a possibility, to potential. And who knows that all of this stuff, that growing up that we all go through was molding, preparing me, and like most of us coaches to be to be a voice, you know, to be a messenger. And, and doesn’t mean that we own it? Is this something that we live through, and we’re sharing. So we talk about people’s pain? And it’s okay, you know, so just be in is, if you’re not in a good place, recognize you’re not in a good place and just be with it, and then move forward from there. What can I do now to recognize I’m not in a good place? What’s one thing, one thing that I could do to ripple away from it? And, you know, it’s just basically just being where you are? It sounds so much it sounds so easy, but it’s so freakin difficult.

Chris Baran 16:46
Yeah. You know, Johnny, it’s, you know, when you said that, that you’re thinking about just a one, it was the power of one. And I want to throw something at you, because I always learn from you. But I remember and I think we were in the same program together when Michael Cole was giving everybody a class on, on quiet mind. I don’t know if you remember that. But I want to see if there’s a comparison to this. So let me let me give you this, the people listening a bit of backstory. Michael Cole was talking to everybody about how your mind works. And when you want to come up with a new idea, new thing, you don’t want to go back into what he called Your act of mind. Because in your act of mind lives, old ideas, and I’m just I’m really giving you the Reader’s Digest version. But so if you try to do something new, you’re gonna go back and see just old thoughts, and you’re gonna try to put them together a little ways that my paraphrased way would be, you know, 10 haircuts, and you’re just going to try pieces of those 10 haircuts and fit them together and make a new haircut. But they’re still all old ideas. Whereas like an hour, old grade Indian culture that we have in North America or First Nations, they they have a saying called quiet mind where you just don’t think about anything. I know that there’s a joke that’s out there that men said, Men are easier men, this is easier for men. We don’t think about anything at all. But the reality is, is you people think about when you’re driving down the road and you see a picture or you’re in the shower and you have, you’re just not thinking about anything, the idea that you want will come to you and it could be new, it could be fresh, and it could be innovative. The question I have here, Johnny is is like, is there a comparison? You talk about the one and that?

Johnny Stellato 18:35
Yeah, very much. So Chris, you know, everybody has their thoughts on what that is because we’re we humans are still trying to figure it out. You know, by going to quiet mind and just being it’s the place of solitude is the place, again, my perspective of calmness, and lack of thinking, you know, when we’re thinking, we get ourselves in trouble thinking is the killer of dreams. You know, if you have a thought, It’s good that you haven’t thought so what are you gonna do with that thought? But once we start thinking, we get in our own heads and and we crash and burn in our quiet minds. Oh, JSB. And so yeah, very much. I believe. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not an expert on it. But I think it’s the same thing. When when we’re not thinking about anything that’s not from the past, or anything that’s not coming up in a future. There’s no comparison. So we’re just being but it’s so difficult as humans because we have baggage and our ego, we end our ego, it will either become an enemy and an obstacle or put into something. And that’s our protection. We’re protecting ourselves from the pain of the baggage that we still can’t let go. You know, and many times when you hear people say it, leave your baggage at the door, you know, okay, very nice. But we can’t do that. Yeah, no. And the idea is slowly all the stuff the the schooling or culture behavior, neighborhood barons family, it’s just not that comes on top of us. And it didn’t come all at once. So we have to just peel it back one little bit of time. And just telling yourself, I’m working progress, and it’s okay. You know, it’s crazy. I mean, just this past year, where I what I’ve been through either naturally through one year ago, tonight, Hurricane II and hit Florida, one year, right now, it’s, you know, whatever time it is here, it was 160 mile an hour winds shaking the house here, and here your year, and it’s put things in perspective, like, you get, you become very quiet, and you become very understanding of what really is important. You know, that day, who know we could have been blown away, like, so many people didn’t make it through, you know, and then this past year, I went through personal stuff, and all and either you let it beat you up, or you beat it, you know, and, and it teaches you understanding how, how valuable and how crucial and delicate life is. And we just get on our own heads with stuff that’s not important. You know, we just need to take a breath and do the best we can while we care, while we do have breath to help to help and serve the best we can. Because it’s just so beautiful. When you see people’s lightbulbs, my light bulbs go off, and then you can see their light bulbs go off. And we know we’re making a difference. And it just seems it just seems to my heart.

Chris Baran 21:52
Yeah. I remember I think that would have been a year ago, like you said to the day and I remember talking to you, because there was so many of us that was concerned about you. We knew what was hitting you right where, where your home was. And I remember we’d get sound would go in and out. But we get in touch somewhat through the day. But I remember you saying that you had to literally live in a closet. Yeah, with the was Didn’t you say there was mattresses or something that you had packed around you? Or?

Johnny Stellato 22:23
Yeah, well, they told us, you know, get into somewhere where there’s no windows, and we went into our bedroom closet and just protect yourself as much as you can and just make sure nothing could fall on top of you. You know, and if the noise noise just wouldn’t stop for 18 hours. Yeah. So yeah, it was crazy. It was just too late to leave. I literally just got home that morning from an event. And and like we finished putting the shutters up at the house ran a house and the rain started. And for 18 hours. It didn’t stop. It wasn’t moving. It was like seven miles an hour storm. But here we are, roof is back on our house and life is good.

Chris Baran 23:08
Well, thank God for that. Thank God for that. It was Yeah, so the I’m gonna just this. What was the catalyst that I mean? Where are you? Here’s be the first part. I’ve always known you to be calm, you know, you’ve always had that quality about you. I know, we’ve had a couple of chats that we, you know, we’ve got pissed off at the world and so on. But you’ve always seemed to have that quality about you was that quality there? Or was there a linchpin somewhere that you learn from that gotcha there.

Johnny Stellato 23:44
Yeah, that that was, that was definitely my dad. That was definitely my dad who taught me that, you know, when whenever adversity comes your way, you know, I mean, my dad went through so much when adversity comes your way, you have a choice, you could be completely crazy. And people think you’re crazy. Or you could take it and keep it inside and stay calm and have a choice how you behave. You know? And then you have the other side of it, my mom, and she will, she’ll be the looney tune cartoon character.

Chris Baran 24:20
I met her. I met most of them, and they were amazing people.

Johnny Stellato 24:25
So yeah, I think the calmness and even though you stay calm, you’re deep inside, you’re definitely in deep thought about what do you need to do? And how are you going to choose to respond? You know, how are you going to respond to this? You know, wait, sometimes we have choice. And the choice is either, you know, my attitude needs to be in a positive mindset or a negative mindset. And if we don’t have control of the choice, you have choice either to get in or get out of that out of it. And so, you know, at the end of the day, it’s it’s our lives. It’s my life and how you know, And, and what what I, what we do what I do, when I go out and teach, it helps me stay grounded. Because we have to be authentic, we have to be so real because we have to be you. So it’s not just something we do for six 810 hours, four days, 10 days and you go home, and you’re this crazy person. So we have, it teaches me to learn to walk the talk, because I can never, I could never look in the mirror and say you’re saying this, but you don’t do that. Right, you know? So this whole dynamics where the universe took me, kept me completely grounded, you know, and I’m just so grateful for it

Chris Baran 25:48
was like, was there? What are you always there? That was like, when you were a kid? What was that? You’re going okay, good. Um, I gotta be grounded. But what was the was it was your dad. But was there something that happened to catalyst that was somewhere along? Like, I don’t, I can’t even imagine you losing your, your, your whatever, on somebody. But did that ever happen? And what like, what do you always get that it was just inherent? Or was there something that you went? Oh, my God, I can’t be like that I have to be more like my dad is or whatever. What was that?

Johnny Stellato 26:19
Well, yeah, growing up, you know, I was the I was always the older brother, the friend, the older brother, you know, that type of thing. They were all my age is somewhat even older than me. But the parents always came to me, and to be the older brother. And I remember, I remember growing up in the late 60s, early 70s. And there was a lot of racial stuff going on. There was a lot of craziness going on the march, you know, Martin Luther King, and we’re trying to find unity, you know, back in the day look, and here we are, we’re talking today, right? And, and I just, I just never got it. Because I think to me, it The streets were crazy. Growing up, we were I remember, we were in a in a ballpark playing basketball, there was kids were shooting hoops. We were playing baseball. And next thing, you know, we see these bottles, glass bottles come flying down on top raining on top of us. And it was a whole completely different gank. And so I grabbed my friend by his neck, and we ran and we hit, we jumped over the fence. And we hid and the national guard comes down. And all I kept seeing was the national guard with their sticks, and just didn’t matter who it was just beaten the crap out of these kids. And I held on to this kid so tight, you know, and I just didn’t understand what’s going on this kid was his name was Jesse. He was a bass player and our band, it was a black kid. And I just didn’t know what the hell was going on here. And I suggested we got to do something we got we can’t let this happen. You know, and so I maybe I’m just too naive to the fact but I I don’t know, Chris. Maybe it was just something inside me that to be a protector? Yeah. You know, I don’t know, I don’t know where it comes from, you know, the communist part. Trying to stay in control was definitely my dad. Yeah. But I don’t know where, where stuff like that happens. I remember anytime there was really the crap hit the fan. Like, I had to take care of the kids. Meanwhile, the kids were my friends. They’re going I was thinking that that parents were going to come after me. Because they always said keep an eye on them. Right? And

Chris Baran 28:51
they must have had a level of trust on you for that. Because otherwise your parents gonna say that to another kid halftime, you know, they were more wary of the friends that they were hanging around with. But, you know, I could certainly see that quality because we’ve been friends for years. And I’ve seen that in you all the time. Because I know that that was a bit heavy. And I know when they do your life story and make the movie out of that part. I can see that that that that that Johnny they’ll get I don’t know who they’re gonna get to play you. But I can see Johnny coming out all of a sudden and breaking everybody up and everybody goes together at the

Johnny Stellato 29:31
kids corrugated would you fix Excuse me? That’s not right.

Chris Baran 29:35
Yeah, no, uh, you mentioned your dad and I want to get just more tomorrow to the lighter side here. I can remember when we were at, you know, read and I my lovely lady would come out we’d be at your house. And we used to have we’d be drinking wine and laughing are laughing just laughing hysterically. You know, but I remember so much You telling me the story of your dad? When when he moved to the town, and he went into the stores and he kept seeing these big replicas of things that they sold and that you got to tell people that story?

Johnny Stellato 30:16
Oh my god. Well, what? Again, we have to put yourself in the shoes. We went to the shopping center outdoor shopping center. And this was a Sunday thing. We would go to church, you go to Mass, and then we would take the baby, my youngest sister Teresa in the carriage, and my oldest sister would be there all dressed up in a little hat. You know, this goes back a long time. And I wanted to push the carriage you know, but they won’t let me push the carriage because I was too young, but I wanted to push the carriage. So my dad will let me push the carriage. But he would have his big paws guy was a monster he wouldn’t have his claws on top of my making sure that I wouldn’t let go the carriage and then he sooner or later let go as we’re walking in a storefront that he looks at and it was this big pair of pants. And it’s and it says an Italian. Oh my god. Oh my god. You bond alone Arabia, those pants who was are they? My mother says you asking me I’m with you. I don’t know. So she so he opened a door and he yells in he yells in the store. He says Yvonne Dahlonega? Yeah. And the guy goes, What’s your say? It was all it comes out. He goes about the moment what you say. And my mother says what? So that was going on. And then there was a shoe store and there was a big shoe in a window. And they go while I walk away or a parachute that big. And my dad was always a comedian. He was always looking. He’s always poking. So he opened the door and they’re like, like they understand tie and they go is this guy bigger? Yeah, the shoe was Whose are they? And the guy says what you say you guys I knew it. So he comes out. He turns to my mom like See, I told you it’s what you say. So now we’re getting into car. We’re putting the carriage in the trunk and then we’re trying to get out of the shopping center and his big procession is mineral going by and we’re waiting and we’re waiting my father’s like, Oh, this must have been the mayor This must have been a big person. Look on his cars waiting here a long time so my dad gets downy and yells out good lord who died? The guy goes what you’re saying. He goes on model and he goes I can’t believe that watches they died. I never met them

when you say get in a car you’re always doing it was making progress. He was always a joker. He was he was always always singing always happy my dad. Oh, yeah.

Chris Baran 32:46
Yeah, the so the I want to talk a little about you because you’re your history. How did you get like all of a sudden something happened? You you wanted to get into into hair. How did your hair story start? Where did it?

Johnny Stellato 33:04
Well, you know after the whole Yankee day, okay, now what? So, I had a few family members telling me you should do hair. You should try hair. I’m like, what? I play drums. I play sports hair. Like where does that come from? Like, what are you talking about? Oh, you should do you’re very creative. I different geography for a while. I went to a school in Manhattan and I did photography and that didn’t work out. Because the company moved to California. And my mother grabbed me by my throat she goes you’re not leaving the family like I Tickity you know Italians you don’t leave the house until you get married and then maybe they come back you know. So I finally went to beauty school and I went to Wolfert Academy at White Plains, New York, you know, and I hated it. Chris. I hated beauty school because I wasn’t present. I I should be pitching for the Yankees. And here I am putting freakin rollers on a mannequin head. Like what is happening here. So I hated my teacher. I hated school. And that was a rough first month, you know, and the kids used to make fun of me because I used to walk from school with my little white jacket with my nametag my little box of rollers. And they go Hey, Johnny has the hair business. Take it easy, right. So, so about a month in, I met, I met this young lady and she wanted to practice her manicuring and then and she looked pretty fine to me and I alright, you want to hold my hand for an hour? Go get it up, go for it. You know. So, long story short, that that that young lady became my wife, Valerie, you know, and it’s amazing how the universe puts things in front of you. You know what made me go to that school, but maybe know that school at that time. What made me and it’s just mind boggling. I truly believe that it’s already written. Maybe I’m a little I don’t know. But whatever our story is, it’s already written. And like things that we do and doesn’t work out. It was supposed to be like that, because it’s already written. So there’s something in life that we’re looking for. And we don’t have just take it easy. It’s not time yet. And I learned to be grateful for who and what I do have. And, and just focus on that. Yeah,

Chris Baran 35:32
yeah. Did you ever watch? Did you ever see that there was a movie out called sliding doors? Do you remember that there was a movie out and it was, I can’t remember who the stars were in it, etc. But the premise was, is about this girl that went to the subway and believe it was in New York, and the doors opened, or no, she was running for it. And the doors closed, and she didn’t get on the on the train. And what they did is they took that they’d made the whole thing about two scenarios, what happened if she got on the train? What happened? If she didn’t? How did they distort? How did their life play out? And I always think of that movie, when, when that crossroads those doors opening and closing, you know, that was kind of that, you know, the kissing didn’t work. You know, and, and, but your life did. And you’ve got Valerie, you got hair. But what you know, there was so was but there was also thing that I see in our industry, so much. So where people choose hair, and enter, there’s always a saying, and I realized that I might, this might sound a little mixed up. But stay with me on this, is I always hear this. And I was I was gonna ask you this later. But it just seems right now. I’ve always been told and are always people here, say, Here’s hear them say that. You’re that you’ve always reinvented yourself, which I’ve never really believed in, I think that you either find stuff that you can do. And then when you can level up, excuse me and get to the next level or you can you find something else within that frame that you love to do. And then you take that path. And so it’s it’s just this gentle wind to where you end up in your future. And I know that you you started as the hair, then you became an educator. And then I remember and I want to tell the story here about I remember and I don’t want to listen to the time. But I remember you were in a class that we were doing. And we were doing a train the trainer program. And I remember that as people were wanting to be coached they the member use you were sitting up in that back right hand row. And people would say stuff and we’d ask people, okay, who has anything to offer, and you gave these amazing points that most people would have never saw. And then I remember being in there when every person wanted you to coach them on stuff. So I remember that so vividly. And then all of a sudden you that was the track all of a sudden you became a trainer, you became an education manager. And and that led you to where you are now.

Yeah, wherever the hell that is, right?

Johnny Stellato 38:26
No, no, it’s your day. You know, it’s funny, because you’re saying the doors that open and close. I was actually walking through the halls while you were on stage work. I think it was for Sam. And I was walking through the halls. I was I just finished a meeting. And I heard stuff going on in a theater. I wasn’t supposed to be part of the class. But to the analogy, the door opened, I walked in and quietly tried to sneak up to the corner and sit in that corner. And that’s what that’s when everything completely changed. Because at that point was an educator with the brand. And that’s when everything completely changed when there was an opportunity to go international. Yeah, no, for some reason for me to walk into that room. And then that you even said, Johnny, you know, would you like to, you know, chime in here, you know, and, and it’s amazing. Just just that scenario how things happened. Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to be part of that day, because I really propelled my career to do what I needed to do. We are crazy weird.

Chris Baran 39:39
This episode is sponsored by the salon associate accelerator from trainers. playbook.com. Are you struggling with the time and cost of associate training? Do you feel like your salon is running you will get your associates on the floor, all with 90% Less time from you. So you can get back to building your business. Get them world class design, finishing color and client care skills they’ll use every day for the rest of their career. While you focus on realizing your vision, go to trainers playbook.com and get the salon associate accelerator. And now, back to the show. And so I mean, read, because that was when you were the International Education Training Manager, and or director, I should say, and so tell us a bit about that. What was that like? Because it’s one thing teaching in America, when people are have the same culture, and they’ll, they know that as soon as you start you, they everybody’s involved. But then you had to go international, and you were teaching all over the world. What was the what was like, at the beginning, teaching the way you taught at home, and then having to learn things that you can cannot do and so on, when you’re an international?

Johnny Stellato 41:01
Yeah, you know, a lot of homework, a lot of homework on culture, and know and how people behave and their culture, and, and respecting the culture. And I did a lot, a lot of reading on that, for instance, if I had to go to Japan or Norway, wherever it was, understanding how the behavior is, then you’ll want to model that to show respect. Yeah, on the other hand, here we are, we’re launching our brand. And, and to be the point of difference, and you have to play the game of the point of difference, right from the get go. And, and to see and to have enough courage, and I have enough strength inside you to tell to tell yourself to Okay, do you truly believe this is the right thing to do? And if so, lean forward, and just be because you are the spokesperson of the brand at this point, this has nothing to do with me, you know, but I am the messenger of the brand. So let the message go through. There’s been a lot of times that I was warned. Not to name countries or people but I remember being picked up and and from the airport. And they would say don’t expect my chair because we don’t do what you do in the States. You know, and so at that point, I said, then, that’s okay. If you want, you could turn the car around and take me back to the airport, I will go to a country who will be open for it. And they said no, no, don’t misunderstand that you could do what you wish but don’t expect much. said okay. So Showtime, you know, if you will. And I learned Chris, if you treat people with respect and with honor, you know, and yes, there are certain cultures that I would have to learn on the outside, I would have to learn that behavior, and be flexible enough to make some kind of movement and a shift, that they understand who we are. So next thing, you know, people are people, people love to learn. People love to learn, like adults, people love to be treated like an adult. And people like to have fun. Doesn’t matter what language you speak, I work we all come to this planet with the one thing we want to be recognized, we want to be loved, we want to touch each other. And we want to be knowledgeable enough to share information. You know, I mean, they just so much, but the whole thing I truly understood was to learn to respect and honor who are in front of you. Because all they wanted was to learn. You know? So, for five years, it was a beautiful, beautiful ride, you know, and, and the brand gave me a life of friends around the world I can never ever repay right now. And I know you and I many times and we share times together. And you know, we pinch ourselves like, and they pay us for this. You know, we’ve got to go into the

Chris Baran 44:08
real world do what I love to do. Yeah, and I get paid.

Johnny Stellato 44:12
It’s amazing. It’s amazing how the brand, trust us enough to understand that we’ll definitely be the messengers on their behalf. You know, and we made friends for life to this day.

Chris Baran 44:25
I remember, we have to tell Do you remember, I remember when I got there and the first time when I said, I’ve got to have Italian pizza. And you and I were there together and we went to that pizza place. Do you remember what we got like four or five different kinds of pizzas? And I remember looking at you and I went this is like I said, I’ve never had potato pizza before. It’s like, what? What do you have a bread pizza that you have as well. And remember when I remember the four of us, you and Val and Rita and I are sitting outside and we’re having a Have the pizza. And this little gypsy lady comes by remember that? Yeah. And she was trying to sell us. What was it? Rose? Rose? Rose rose? Yeah. Rose rose the beads. Yeah. And she started. And I can’t remember where they said no, or what to get what I want to door and she started screaming at me.

And then you understood Italian when you walk away? She was calling me the devil or something like this?

Johnny Stellato 45:32
Yeah, yeah, it’s amazing. You know, and, you know, some beautiful, great times. Some amazing, beautiful, great times I remember, we were one of the countries together. And you were teaching you were doing amazing work, the hair cutting and I was in a different room doing business and talking about how we could grow their dollars in their salon. And, and as I’m speaking, Valerie and Rita come to mind, and I did. And I remember saying, here we are, we’re trying to teach you how to save money and make money. I know my wife is spending way too much money in your country right now. I gotta I gotta leave as soon as possible. And remember what remember when we went back to the rooms that they had all these bags, and Valerie says, and she’s like, it was on sale?

Chris Baran 46:26
And where was that? Where was it in Korea? That we were in Korea together. And we were teaching I know, this wasn’t the same time but I’m just reflecting back because I think we were there. And you were telling me this story with a check. Oh, you have to you have to that was Japan. Yeah. To tell the story that I wasn’t there for this one.

Johnny Stellato 46:48
Yeah, you know, I, I mean, I love going to Japan, it’s so difficult to how do you say their names, and vice versa. So I became John son, Johnson. Johnson. So I always Johnson. So when I used to walk in the office, I had names for all the young ladies at the front desk. They were Charlie’s Angel. And they were like all there was so happy Charlie’s Angel. And then we had names for another guy in the marketing team. We had Jackie Chan. Yes, Jackie Chan. And then we had the educational manager shogi. So it sounds like Yeah, sounds like respect, sir. So soon he he wanted to be James Bond. I said, Okay, you can be James Bond. And then every time we got together, you will, he would open with shake and notch third. Okay. Very nice. So we were doing a training, we were in Tokyo and we had to go to Osaka so and after the training, we had customers coming. And so here we are, I go shogi and, you know, meet Chris sometimes that could get a little twitchy. You know, which stuff like we knew. And I’ve gone down the checklist. I go sugar, you have the signs. Yes. Yes. Yes. Sign? Yes. Okay. You have the products. Yes, yes. And I’ve gone through all the things we need it for the training. So we get to Osaka we find it we’re in the building. And I’m like looking for him and I can’t find him anywhere. And we need to set up right. So I go sugi we need tables is like tables. I go Yeah, people so they can sit and they’ll table a table. Ah, okay, I check. I learned when he says I check. That means he has no clue what we’re talking about. If it goes right up to the table, I go shoot, hey, where are the products products? I check. And then I start getting a little twitchy. Nothing was shipped, nothing was shown no. So okay, that was a train. We got past the training. Now it’s showtime. And in the back of the theater, there was a big American flag, right. And so he says, ah, American flag. I go Yeah, I got Thank you. I said, Where’s the Japanese flag? They’ve got American flag Japanese flag together. Because Ah, okay, I check. And he and he leaves. He comes back, Chris. The frickin flag was the size of the wall. I mean, he came he came back with his Japanese flag and American flag look like that big. And he points to it. And he says, ah, Japanese. I got Yeah, nice. Very big. So then I said to him, I go. Sure. Okay, we need ice. We need ice for the tables. Ice. Yes, we need ice. He goes, okay. So now I run backstage. I’m getting my headset on my translation headphones on and it was supposed to open all the other kids or the artists that back there. They’re all nodding. They don’t speak a word. And I’m like shooting wish to be and You’re all nodding, you know, like, okay, he’s not here. So you hear the announcer I understand where they were saying I put the headset on and they’re introducing shogi and he’s not here. So, oh god, I gotta get that sugar Shawn. Everybody’s clapping. He’s nowhere to be to me. So, no suggestion. So I walk out. So I say, okay, sugars, nuts. Okay, so I know everybody’s laughing. Alright. So I did my thing when I was still geek. After we did the opening, I find him. I got shogi Where did you go, go? The opening, he was supposed to be on stage with me. And he’s like, shogi get ice, he left the building. He left the building, they get ice. Dress, you gotta love them. Because they’re so humble. They’re so caring. And so they just want to make you proud. You know, and, and, and he became shogi. I check he and everybody you remember, at the exchange louder, you want to tell that story.

Chris Baran 51:12
The so we’re at the exchange, we’re doing a train the trainer program. And we had all the training managers from all the different countries in the in the room. And so we had this one gentleman come up from France and is is Christian. And so Christian is standing on the stage, and he’s talking to people and I’m, the whole thing is we’re trying to get him to project meaning that like he would, he would say, so when we’re talking about this product, it’s like that, and I would say okay, okay, Christian, you have, you’ve got to, you’ve got to project you have to your project, and he would so everybody would stand up and Okay, okay, when we’re doing this and XYZ, and this would be the tone that he would talk in. So I said, everybody, okay, everybody stand up. And I want all the audience to go to the back back wall and put your hands in the back wall. And so I said, Christian, okay, you have to make the people in the back of the room, understand your voice. So he would say, yes, when you were applying the product, you do it like this crazy. And so I said, you have to do it. Louder. And so he would say, and then he would what? I remember what he said, Did you say louder?

Johnny Stellato 52:23
Louder? Yeah, you said Christophe, louder and louder.

Chris Baran 52:31
When he said like, louder, he would say it louder. And louder. Louder. And now you have to imagine I’m gonna turn around. So if you’re listening now, well, you have to imagine all the people on the back wall with their hands on the wall facing the wall. And you can see all their shoulders going up and down to him. Because they’re just killing themselves laughing because and so he came away with the name louder. So that name from that that point on

Johnny Stellato 52:57
my god. It was every time we had a meeting, every time we had a meeting, they would ask is will louder be here? named Chris became louder.

Chris Baran 53:09
Oh, those are good times. For sure. So we were talking about the evolution of how you went to where you are, and, and it’s sort of an evolving thing. So you went through that international stage, and you gained a great following there. But then then, I can remember we, you, you went from corporate life, to private life, whatever, that is what you know, more contracted life. Yeah. What was that like for you at the beginning? Yeah. Because I remember you and I having a really frank conversation outside, I think it was the Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. There was this time when you had to move from corporate life to, to private life. What was what was that transition? Like for you? Yeah,

Johnny Stellato 54:01
thank you, you know, you know, sometimes you, you get to a place and I’ll at that time, I was director of training with the artist and I was responsible for a group of artists to help and coach them. And I was doing a lot of what I do today, and you know, and bless and bless my, my leadership team saying, you know, you want to do that you can do that, as long as you still do your responsibilities that we asked you to do. And the momentum just kept building and I realized that I felt I wasn’t given 100% respect to the artist as a coach, because this became larger. And so in a way I, I asked, I asked to no longer to be part of the corporate world and to go and become a contract, you know, just become an artist, you know, not just but going away from corporate world. And that gave me the opportunity to do Do what I feel I was really meant to do at this point. You know, I feel like right now I, you know, I look at it, sometimes we have a career, but I think this is my calling right now where I’m at right now unless things change. And it was, it was scary. Because now now you you hope the phone rings. And you hope that people even know you because as a director, you know, you’re you’re, you’re seeing the potential of all the amazing artists and who they are and what you could do to help in a small way. But you’re always behind the scenes, and somehow, some way the word got out. And I mean, there really isn’t a discipline and what we do here, you know, as a coach of personal development, and team building, and leadership skills and all this stuff, I feel I don’t earn the right to do hair any longer, because it’s been a very long time, when I actually did hair as an artist. So I, I focus on my learnings through international as a director as a coach. And to take that because I feel like, Yeah, we could teach you a discipline, you know, we could teach how to cut and color hair, but I can’t teach you how to behave. I can’t teach you to be a good person, I can’t teach you how to teach quiet those damn voices or control those voices, but I can help recognize them and help to do something about it if you’re willing, you know? So that was about eight years ago.

Chris Baran 56:37
Yeah. Wow. Every year so like, what? Why do you think it is? I’ve got a couple of questions for you here that I think is really important. Why do you think it is right now? That so many, I mean, you’re on the road, every week, or sometimes you’re going from week end to mid week traveling from business to business doing this? And you know, that’s from salon to salon event to event? Whatever? Why do you think that there’s so many people right now asking for team building and leadership? And what do you think that is?

Johnny Stellato 57:17
Yeah, I mean, through my learnings and understanding, and that goes, when I have conversations with the groups, it’s pretty much the same line that we talked about COVID kick the ass COVID did a number on us humans. And, and right now, people have different perspectives of themselves and their behavior and how I want to show up and, and how, how do I play in the game? You know, and, you know, we talk about, we talk about team building, you know, and the idea of team building is, you know, it’s bigger than what it sounds it’s not like the idea of like falling back and grabbing you build your team. It’s how you get a group of people to come into into an area, your playing field, if you will, the salon or the whatever you teach wherever you live. And the objective is, why are you here? What’s your intentions? What’s the objective? And what’s the purpose? Now, once we realize that purpose is to make money? Okay, great to have your guest, and how do you empower your guests to look and feel good? But now how does that team become like we talk about like, the Navy SEALs, having each other’s back, no long left behind all the minutia. But everything else but being laser focused on team, you know, and not well, it’s not my job, I don’t do this. I don’t do that. But it’s for the greater good. They’re coming into your home. These guys, they could go anywhere, they’re coming into your home. And here’s an opportunity for you. You have you have everything that you could possibly need to grow to your potential. And sometimes we don’t see it because it’s too much work. And and I don’t want to I want to maybe I want it to be handed to me. I don’t know. But every every conversation, every class is different. But that’s the idea when we talk about team building is about what is it that makes you a little wiggly with the team, you know, a little nervous, a little upset. And quite frankly, what does that have to do with the objective? So what it is sometimes, Chris, if I say something, and your ears perk up, and it touches a nerve, I have nothing to do with it. It wasn’t me it was something that that we carry that we still didn’t let go but I just happened to be the messenger. And now you’re angry at me because I said that but quite frankly, we’re not were angry at the baggage that we still don’t let go. You know and so that’s that’s we dig quite deep in our events. Sometimes it could be a half a day. Sometimes it becomes a three four day retreat, ending Whatever, whatever it looks like, but you know, again is just is trusting your gut is trusting your gut to really to be a servant, as much as possible to serve because eye to eye to been through that, you know, whatever that is, maybe the story might be a little bit different, but the pain you’re talking about, believe me, I felt that, you know, it’s up to us to make that shift as a team as a group. You know, and, yeah, so there’s, it’s just amazing that it keeps evolving every day, something new.

Chris Baran 1:00:39
Yeah, I agree with you that I think that COVID really did a number on us as humans, and even primarily, I noticed that everywhere, but we noticed that particularly because we’re industry, it happened in all industries. But we noticed that most what happened and ours, and I, just on behalf of the industry, Johnny, I just want to say thank you for what you do to help them to get some sanity back into us. You know, I, I know that if anything that half of what we do is, is is talking about how to develop people, as a team, how do we develop them personally, and, and, you know, I often and I’m gonna throw this at you at cetera. But I need to tell you a story. Because I think similar thing, not the same different results, but in 2008, when that crash happened, and I remember right at the same time, I was looking at doing the same thing, doing a program with Blair singer and, and at that time, because everything was about how do I build up my business because everybody had lost so much money, and then 2008 in the, in the crash, and, and I was talking to Blair, and everybody was doing everything they could to take financial planning classes, how do I make more money? How do I get my salon more profitable? And I remember, Blair said something that was truly profound. He said, All of these people are seeking financial classes, and how do they make their position more profitable. And he said, I’m paraphrasing here, he said, it won’t work for them, because they won’t do anything. What they need to do first is they need to get personal development. And he said, you need the personal development. So your body so your mindset, can actually handle the things that you need to do to become financially viable if you’re not right now. And it stuck with me forever. So Johnny, can you tell us I mean, and even since then, he said that and I tell you, I had to go on the internet. And what does personal development mean? So would you share us just again, your opinion, what you do in your classes that help can help to help people develop? Personally?

Johnny Stellato 1:03:17
Yeah, well, thank you, you know, personal development, you know, we talk about it, are you mindful? Or as you’re mindful? You know, and I say that again? Did

Chris Baran 1:03:26
your mind

Johnny Stellato 1:03:27
is your mind full? Or are you mindful?

Chris Baran 1:03:31
Yeah, oh,

Johnny Stellato 1:03:34
just personal development kicks in, because my mind is very full, I have a lot of stuff going on in my life. And I don’t know how to handle it. And yada yada, yada. You know, you don’t have no clue. You think your life sucks, you know, and all this stuff. You know, and sometimes people just love to bitch and complain, you know, no matter what happens, you know, it’s frickin raining out, you know, or while the grass and the flowers need water to, you know, depending on how you look at things, you know. So, the idea is, you know, personal development like Okay, so what is it? What is it that what is the once I break it down? I try to keep it as simple as possible. If you could wave a magic wand, if everything could be calm in your life, right now, what is one thing that gets in your way? What is it and then they’ll come out and say something and then we realize it’s either a fact or story? And if it’s a fact, then we’ll just basically ask them Okay, so what are you gonna do about it? Like, what do you mean I can’t do anything about it? Well, you can know it’s out of my control. If it’s out of your control, but you do have choice. So you and allow it to take you take over you and allow it to hold you down. Because you don’t have any self worth. That’s what you’re telling me right now. Yeah, so now and or I take control Hold, either I don’t have control. So either I get in the game and do something about it and learn to live with it, or get out of it. You know, no one’s twisting your arm to be there, you know, while you have no idea, because if I do that, and then what happens is, it’s the thinking, thought, thought, creates dreams. Thinking is the killer of dreams thinking is the killer of personal development. So we could stop thinking about the game of what if, you know, we could want for ourselves to death? You know, the idea is, what is your intention? If there’s one thing you want to do today, Chris, if there’s one thing that we want from this day, what would it be? What’s your intention today? And is my attention to work? Here’s my intention with my family. Here’s my intention for personal life. Here’s my intention for my finances. Here’s my intention for spiritual whatever that is. So when you get mind boggled, when people throw crap at you, and you allow them to affect your life, go back to your intention. You we are stronger than we could ever imagine. The brain is so strong that we could we could do anything. But we have to start believing in ourselves first. There is no magic pill. There’s no magic pill, you know, we need Johnny or we need Chris, we need Sammy, we need these people. They gotta come in and vote motivated. No, no, we cannot motivate you. Well, the team is not motivated. No, they aren’t motivated. They’re motivated not to be motivated. That’s their motivation. Everybody has a motivation? What kind of motivation do Yeah, I can’t motivate you unless your mind is open? You know? Yeah. So so we get in our own way. So then we dig a little deeper to find out what are those barriers? What is it? If you could wave that magic wand? And you could get rid of that one thing right now, that keeps poking at you? What would it be? And they off they go. And they would write these things down and we go to a bunch of activities, and all of a sudden they realize it’s not so big. The all I have to do is take be responsible and take accountability and just make it ripple? Just one step forward. Is the needle moving slightly forward more now than it was yesterday? If so, celebrate that one bite at a time, you know, we have a life worth the history baggage is not going to go away with one class. Just like that. So the idea is we’re working towards it. We’re working progress.

Chris Baran 1:07:38
Yeah. It’s like, it’s like when we have these sayings, like, they gave 100%. And yeah, oh, that was perfect. You know, and when there is no such thing? I mean, everybody talks about giving 100%? And yes, you can do, and you could exhaust yourself giving out every little bit of ounce of energy, you can but yeah, there’s probably not going to be 100% on the result. And if people could just get past that, and just understand that it’s, it’s more about progress, than it is perfection. So if you can just take a couple steps forward, and then you’re better at what you can do that. And then I think you hit a really critical part. And I loved what you said about the celebration, because that’s what shifts your mindset into that. Okay, good. I did something and you know, like, we always talk about lizard versus lizard brain, knowing your lizard brain is meant to kept you to keep you alive and keep you safe. And it’s called, he’s going to tell you that you can’t or you shouldn’t, or you wouldn’t, or you’re not going to be safe if you’re going to do it, or you’re going to feel bad or you’re gonna feel uncomfortable or whatever. But you remember that your lizard brain is always the one that makes good decisions. You can’t let your lizard brain take over your wizard brain, you know, and, and I think there’s so much to that. Yeah, Johnny, it’s like before, because I know we’re, you know, I’ve still got a few more things I want to chat with you about here. But where people I know that people out there, they love you. And there’s people new ones out there that are just getting to know you and going, Oh, my God, this people can help me. How, how can people get a hold of you like if they don’t, because I tell you and I’m gonna say this, I don’t want you to have to say it. But this man, if you if you want to help with team building, if you want to help with somebody that can really help to bring your team on to greatness. It’s this man right here. So if somebody wants to get a hold of you, somebody wants you to come in and do a program for you to put them through those steps that you just talked about. And holding you

Johnny Stellato 1:09:31
Yeah, if we’re talking about salons out there and they worked with the L’Oreal brands, they could go to their DSCS and they could go directly to them and they could book me that way. If they wanted if anybody wants to DM me, I’m on I’m on Instagram and Facebook and and ask me questions directly. I’m fine with that as well. But I think the easiest way to book ourselves right now would be through their salon Cedric or state and RDA in the United Ah and outside the US to go to the educational managers first. That’d be the quickest way right now. And they’re welcome to hit me up on my Instagram and Facebook. Take it easy.

Chris Baran 1:10:12
Is that what it is? Take it easy. What is your Instagram? John? John’s?

Johnny Stellato 1:10:18
No Instagram is Johnny just be Johnny just be Yeah. Johnny just be his Instagram and. And on Facebook is Johnny stellato. Yeah, but I do the I do these will weekly. Take it easy thoughts with Johnny on Instagram.

Chris Baran 1:10:38
Yeah, well, Johnny. And this sounds like I’m signing off. But I’m not right now. I you know, we all go and we all have sometimes a little bit of a wrinkle in our day. And we get you get into our head and you get a little bit pissed off or whatever. And just some of the things you were talking about with intention. Gianni, you’re always a great teacher. And and we always doesn’t matter who you are. You have rough spots in your day. And I just wanted you to know that you helped me with mine. So it was it was a it was good. Thank you. Thanks. So there’s, you’re welcome, Jen. I want to go this is this is what I call the rapid fire segment. And I’m just gonna throw out questions at you. And, and just whatever comes to your brain. If it’s one word, it’s a thought if it’s a sentence, whatever, so good. Okay, so what turns you on in the creative process? Like when you’re trying to when you’re coming up with a new program or being creative on something? What what what? What turns you on?

Johnny Stellato 1:11:42
Wow, my turn is beyond being creative. I can listen to music. I love music. Yeah, and then when I hear music especially rock you know gets my gets my brain going and it gets me pumped gives me that energy.

Chris Baran 1:11:55
Nice what stifles creativity for you. Say it again? What stifles creativity

Johnny Stellato 1:12:01
myself. Oh, really? Yeah. Thinking like I you know, I don’t know if I could do this. Why are they asking me to do this? i What do I know about this? And then my other side says Stop it, but on a rock and roll music. But yeah, I staple myself quite a bit. Yeah, not

Chris Baran 1:12:22
that that’s again, our lizard brain telling us to keep us safe. An event or a show that you’ve done, that you loved the first one that comes to your mind. I know you’ve done many, but just what’s the first one that come doesn’t mean it’s the most important, but the one that comes to your brain right now.

Johnny Stellato 1:12:38
Alright, the first one, I came to my brain when I was in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It was a business program. There were about 400 people in the audience. And just seeing the how, how they were so open to understanding about how hard they work, and then not going to retire working as hard as they do. Charging the money they charge. It was a it was it was it was almost like a rebellion in that place until they realized it was it was amazing. But I had to throw it out there. They’re worse Right? Exactly. There were Yeah.

Chris Baran 1:13:19
Okay thing, a thing in life that you dislike the most.

Johnny Stellato 1:13:26
I think in life I dislike the most that’s a great question thing in life. I dislike losing people that I love.

Chris Baran 1:13:37
Oh, wow. Yeah. And things in life that you love the most.

Johnny Stellato 1:13:44
I, I love I love that I’m on this planet to still have air in my lungs, and I love my family more than anything.

Chris Baran 1:13:54
I would think nonetheless. Most difficult time in your life.

Johnny Stellato 1:13:58
Most difficult time in my life. I think one of my mom was ill. And for about two years. I didn’t understand it. I was very young. And I thought she just gave up and hated us. But uh, yeah, but oh, you know, she lived to be 89 years old. She was perfectly fine. You know, but it was crazy for two years and I was very young. That was hard

Chris Baran 1:14:24
thing that you dislike most about our industry. This like, yeah, dislike

Johnny Stellato 1:14:30
this like that people that our industry. We need to start believing in ourselves that we can do this, you know that it’s an amazing industry. And when we truly understand that we are blessed because there is so much think about it that the opportunities are huge that we could do and I dislike people giving up so quickly. Yeah,

Chris Baran 1:14:57
good. Good on you proudest moment in your life.

Johnny Stellato 1:15:01
Wow. Besides being married to this amazing woman, my two kids when they were born.

Chris Baran 1:15:06
Yeah, yeah. Wow. Nothing’s like that, right? Yeah. A living person that you would like to meet

Johnny Stellato 1:15:15
a living person. I would like to meet the Dalai Lama.

Chris Baran 1:15:20
Oh, wow. person. A person that you admire the most?

Johnny Stellato 1:15:30
My wife? She is. She is. She is my rock.

Chris Baran 1:15:36
Yeah, and I know she’ll, that we’ve got so many stories we can talk about you and your wife and Rita night, but we’ll leave those on for another, another episode. Something that people don’t know about you. And I think I gave away we already gave away the two of the most but yeah.

Johnny Stellato 1:15:54
Something that they don’t know about me. When I was very young, I did spend a year in Argentina. In a lead to Argentina. We lived in Argentina. And then from Argentina. We came to the US. Wow. Yeah.

Chris Baran 1:16:09
I did not know that

Johnny Stellato 1:16:10
bonus reo. So I was living in Bordeaux. sarios. Argentina.

Chris Baran 1:16:15
Wow. Okay. You’ve got a month off. Where would you go? What would you do?

Johnny Stellato 1:16:20
Ah, a month off. Where would I go? We’ve been cruising once a year lately because life is so short. And we’re grateful for what we have. I love going to Europe and if I could take a whole month. I love Italy. We have we have family a family there. And but Valerie loves Italy. And I think I think when I see her happy. I think it really makes my cup full. And I think I would cruise with Valerie for a month. I think that would be amazing.

Chris Baran 1:16:59
Nice. Excuse me. What’s your greatest fear?

Johnny Stellato 1:17:06
My greatest fear of not being good enough.

Chris Baran 1:17:10
Plagues a lot of us doesn’t it? Favorite curse word.

Johnny Stellato 1:17:16
Okay, you poop head.

Chris Baran 1:17:18
Oh, there you go. Wow, you really went down the rabbit hole. I think we’re gonna have to edit that one. Your favorite comfort food?

Johnny Stellato 1:17:25
pasta. Pasta.

Chris Baran 1:17:28
If you could change one thing about yourself. What would that be?

Johnny Stellato 1:17:33
Change one thing about myself. I wish I had my father’s voice. Oh, he had an amazing singing voice.

Chris Baran 1:17:41
Wow. You’re your your most treasured possession.

Johnny Stellato 1:17:50
My family. You want to if you want to, if you want to call it that. And material stuff? Doesn’t doesn’t matter.

Chris Baran 1:18:03
Something in the industry you haven’t done. But you want to

Johnny Stellato 1:18:07
something in the industry? I haven’t done and I wanted to. Maybe I wanted to be on the other end of pantyhose and see how that felt.

Chris Baran 1:18:23
Love it. Okay. If I know you said earlier that you wouldn’t do anything over again. But if you if you had one do over that you could do in your life in your career and something along the way. What would it be?

Johnny Stellato 1:18:37
Yeah. Maybe to pitch at least one inning for the Yankees. Yes, and see how that feels? Yeah.

Chris Baran 1:18:48
Okay. Tomorrow, you couldn’t do anything that had to do with our industry or teaching? What would you do?

Johnny Stellato 1:19:00
Tomorrow just I would just go outside and just lay by the pool and just just be Yeah, just hang out. Just breathe. Just breathe. I think I may do that tomorrow.

Chris Baran 1:19:11
Yeah, what a concept, huh? Okay, Johnny, one last thing. Okay. If you had one wish for our industry, what would that be?

Johnny Stellato 1:19:26
I wish that that everybody’s dreams come true in our industry, and that that not to give up on these amazing educators that we have and what about education? This, think about where we came from years ago to where we are today. My wish is never ever, ever give up education. And if we do that the industry is going to blow the world apart.

Chris Baran 1:19:55
Yeah. John stellato The French teacher mentor to many people and myself. You are such a giving soul. And I just want to thank you on behalf of all the people that have been watching and listening. I we’ve got to get you on we have so many more stories to go through so many you have so much information to give out to people. We have to make this happen again. And, and I just want to tell people that are out there one more time to so just please you know if anybody needs help for building their salons, this is the man you want to go to. Johnny.

Johnny Stellato 1:20:35
Thank you, Chris,

Chris Baran 1:20:36
thank you so much.

Johnny Stellato 1:20:37
Thank you. Thank you sincerely. Thank you so much for the invite. It’s an honor. I mean, I know you’ve been doing this for a while and looking at your lineup i like maybe he misunderstood it. Does he really want Johnny to do this like, sincerely, Chris, thank you. I’m humbled and I’m so grateful and thankful. Thank you,

Chris Baran 1:20:55
John, you have so much to give and thank you. I really appreciate you being here.

Johnny Stellato 1:21:00
Be Well cheers.