¶ Introduction to Deon Hodges and AI Hospitality
Welcome to Vegas Circle Podcast with your hosts , paki and Chris . We are people who are passionate about business , success and culture , and this is our platform to showcase to people in our city who make it happen . Today's guest is a powerhouse in performance training and business innovation . He's a partner at AI Hospitality , leading their IBI performance facility .
They're shaping the future of athletic training and recovery . With a degree in exercise science , he's got an expertise in the cutting-edge technologies . Experience working with NFL and NBA athletes . They bring a unique perspective on mental toughness , sports performance and what it takes to build a successful business .
Let's welcome to the circle Mr Deion Hodges man Welcome , deion Welcome welcome , Finally happy to have you , man . We done ran into each other about 5,000 times man .
I was able to make it happen , man .
Yeah , man .
I sent the calendar invite 100% man .
So let's jump right in man . So interesting journey man . I've been , I think , coaching for a long time , and at least in the sports space for a long time . But what I want to first start off with is the AI hospitality , how we actually met through Jay Sean . But how did you kind of cross paths with the team and become a with the hospitality ?
Yeah , no , it was a unique journey early on , when I first moved to Vegas back in 2020 , I've always heard of him . We've had a few mutual friends , a lot of my athletes when they came to Vegas , that's who they would connect with .
And when I transitioned out , I was able to connect with him a couple of times and you know , we was navigating some different things . At the time I was entertaining another facility , okay , and wanted to build and just kind of get plant my flag here in vegas and you know we talked .
One time he was like , hey , man , I might have something that you know would interest you . just be , patient and , um , you know you fast forward . We made the connections and intro to the rest of the team and you know the rest we're still in progress . It was history from there and what is it ?
kind like a branch off , like of the old hospitality dynamic that they're trying to build , and it's like a little subset of the overall arm .
Well , I think collectively , it was really just magnifying everyone's strengths .
Got it Okay , that makes sense .
You know whether it's nightlife , whether it's , you know , a concierge approach just delivering a premium product and for me . And then , once I saw the big picture , I was like , hey , I want to be that . How do we , you know , how do we align properly ?
Yeah , it seemed like everything that y'all do is detailed . It's very strategic , from the Pine Bistro to , you know , jay Blanco , and then obviously IBI you got the high gear .
Yeah , it's very high entry level Like the eye . You got the high gear . Yeah , it's very high entry level , like it's the next level ?
Yeah , no for sure . I mean , like I said , the biggest thing was delivering a premium product to the community and understanding . You know , what could we cater to ? For us , the 99 , 99% versus the one percenters .
That really stands value , love , that yeah .
And just wanted to give a different experience . Of course , whatever you're looking for , you'll find it , but just wanted to over-deliver on that and present a good product to the community .
Yeah , I was really impressed when I first went down to IVI . I'm not even going to lie to you . We've seen a lot of gyms , but it's state-of-the-art man . From your words , though , what makes you guys special compared to a lot of the other gyms out there ?
What makes IVI special ? I mean , I think you kind of hit on it already it's just delivering a premium product . The experience , Of course , you can train anywhere , if you're in a grind mindset , no matter what the climate conditions and things like that . I mean you can really get it and get to work .
You really want to do it , but yeah , that was the biggest thing of just saying filling the void of becoming a sports Mecca . Of course the city has had a history of big sports events and things like that , but you see where the city is trending now . It's like , hey , how can we insert ourself and add a value to the market ?
So that was the biggest thing is just adding the details of not magnifying the . Look at me , like let's find the people that really want to train and take it serious . It's a part of their schedule , it's not . You know , if I feel like it today , it today .
You know the things that you battle with on the day-to-day I love how you're saying to look at me because we're in that flashy hollywood vegas kind of setup . So it's interesting you say that and y'all stay on the ground . It's consistent people that that are working out there , for sure with , I think , some of your nights .
Right , you guys do specific nights like wednesdays and things like yeah , so on monday and wednesday night that was another thing we just developed of how do we meet the people where they're at . Okay , you know sometimes it can be intimidating , especially if you're seeing professional athletes .
For sure you know training consistently , but also you know how can we help you as well . The approach is not any different . Yeah , we're treating you a professional in what you do on a day-to-day . It's the same approach .
We just want to seek out the people that are serious about it and sometimes you need a little extra motivation and it's some and it's good to you know . You look across and you might see your favorite athlete or someone that's in town for the weekend as training and it's like , oh , wow , you know , that's . That's really what I think brings it full circle .
And how important is it ? Cause obviously you're developing these . You know it's a business right . So the business , more people in there as possible , you know making as much as possible , but now you're trying to have to navigate your business model a little bit to cater to specific kind of needs and wants .
No , agree , agree , you definitely have to establish some boundaries in a city of hospitality .
Yeah yeah , 100% boundaries is the key word . Yeah , yeah .
So the complimentary approach , you know it doesn't take long to . You know pick out and evaluate where someone is mentally .
So I go take advantage .
Yeah , I want to commit , or just want to say hey , we're on to the next new thing . You know things are always popping up here New venues , new restaurants , events and things and you know that's a part of it , but it helps you long term . It's a part of the journey and it's helped me out a lot of just being able to see straight through it .
Are you seeing people more like inclined for that flexibility ? Or is it an equipment space ? Is it you know educational piece that they're looking for ? Is it like the whole package ?
For the most part , I think social media has a heavy influence on it . You know , seeing where everyone is training , sure , but for me it's like , hey , we might not be for you , it's okay . That's one thing that I had to get comfortable with being able to say no In the earliest stages in your career . You're a people pleaser .
Yes .
I do it , I make it happen those types of things . But once you start valuing your time , that's really the biggest transition of okay , let me take a better approach . Let me make sure I'm being very direct early on in this relationship and setting the standard . Yep .
With it being like a premium gym , so like , let's say , for example , chris and I , we want to sign up for a membership , I probably couldn't get in . No , you , you whatever . But like , do I bring my own trainer or do I hire you guys or do , or can I just go in and just work out , like how's it set up ?
Because it's such , it seems like a boutique but it seems very high end compared to like a I don't want to say your competitors , yeah no for sure LBA , you know LB . I can't even think of the damn name . I'm thinking of my son's soccer team LBSA , lbsac , lbsac , yeah .
I'm sorry . Yeah , in the business , on the business set , I mean , you have to define volume , you know that's exactly what I was getting at . Yeah , you know the price points and things might not be as competitive . Yeah , some are a bit more premium , just depending on everything that comes with it the amenities , the trainers and things like that .
But for us , um , there's been a pivot as well for us . Uh , we started out , you know , just if you had you had to have a trainer to be in the facility that's all I was curious about yep , um , and then wanted to .
We were realizing we was turning a lot of people away that maybe already had a sense of training and just wanted a privacy approach , so we've made some pivots within the last year of opening it up to a premium membership that gives you access , but also you have the availability to work with a trainer like myself and build out your program with me .
Hey , you need me to program for you Intro assessments and that's pretty much it . Man , less is more when it comes to that . We don't want to overly complicate things . The thing I want to deliver on is making you think less , and that's the same thing with athletes Coming to Vegas . I don't want you to have to worry about anything .
Just tell me what you need . That's kind of tough because now you're working with people , like you said , like high achievers , right ? People that are next level , you would think the next level when they're really trying to develop their own bodies , their own workout programs . Have you felt any pressures like in trying to navigate that ?
Have you always felt really confident how you could build out that platform for ?
somebody at that level . That's a great point . No , really , it wasn't a struggle . It's really just getting to know the individual . You know everyone is motivated different . You know , there's no two people like it's too . No two athletes are like um could be similarities , but just understanding , hey , these are the goals , this is what motivates the person .
So just , I'm profiling in a sense okay , okay , this react a little different when I say these , these things , are these coaching cues , um , so yeah , it's really just a skill of the art of coaching , of what translate I ? I want to keep it simple , but also we will progress .
But in today's society , things are more about , you know , the look at me thing , the crazy videos , the transitions , the , you know the . The fear I also see in the industry of this is why you should train with me and this , hey , I'm gonna let you choose .
I deliver a product , I'll show you choose , I deliver a product , I show you the assessment and then from there , hey , can we move forward .
Yeah , what is like just to ask you what is kind of a price point , like let's say , somebody is really because people want to . You know they listen and they'll say like , okay , I want to go to IBI . What would they pay monthly to be able to work with somebody like yourself ? Well , with the membership .
We have all access . Membership is $175 , and that's just saying hey , you guys want to come in , that's great , that's really good , yeah for sure . And you know there's a stigma of talking price points , but I don't want to blindside anyone . It's a premium product and we love the space , so you know , just to have access $175 .
And then everything else on top of that for us , if you need programming , nutrition prep or also , just hey , personal training on a sports performance
¶ Building IBI Performance Facility in Vegas
, then we'll get into the packages and things of you being consistent , of you know how many times a week , how many times a month are you thinking Okay ?
And are you ever learning off like some of the people that are bringing their own trainers in there ? Cause I would assume some of these NFL NBA they're bringing world class .
you know , no for sure just depending on , okay , you intro me to your for one , we've only had one situation that was like that , but the guy was bringing in someone that I highly respect in the space like your celebrity , I get it .
And once we started talking , shopping things .
This aligns . You know , the biggest thing was not allowing a liability . That was gonna , you know , be a detriment to the , to the brain vision because once it's out there , it's out there 1,000% .
All right . No ego with that too , because it can go quick , it can go real quick . What's some of the things that you got ? I guess innovation right , because people are doing so many different things right . But obviously we know , like you said , the show me set up the click bait . They're trying to do cool things to drive , drive attention .
But what's the things that are really working in innovatively now that you're you implemented in your programs ? Um , for me , man in in our personal space is really not a big flash . Okay , is is pretty much integrating everyone into , like I said , the the progression of . Hey this is where you are . I know this .
This is what we're aiming at Okay , this is how we're going to get there . The coaching cues understanding that you know how to prep , warming up , what's your nutrition like , getting a schedule , you know pretty much setting that . And then , when you get into the technology and things like that , of course I use velocity-based training and things like that .
It helps with the intent versus having to overcoach , because sometimes you can give too many coaching cues and you have this brain fog of wait what was I supposed to do ?
I was supposed to do this eight times or this five times ?
Yeah , yeah so I like to keep it very simple , and then we reevaluate as we progress through the session and then also through the entire program , and then it's seasonal as well , especially with the athletes . That's what I wanted to get into , yeah . So , it's seasonal and depending on where a guy is , if he's fresh out of college , if she's a first year pro .
You know those types of things compared to the you know the veteran athletes . So , it's a different approach . Everything , pretty much , is based on systems , um , but from there it's like okay , that's what the one-on-one hey , this is what I want to work on .
This is what this looks like . Okay , so , will you like ? So ? For example , I know you were just in Philly recently , right so for the game , and I know you're probably going to the Super Bowl too . So what does that look like ? Right , so does a particular athlete , and you can share whoever you're working with if you want to or not .
But let's say it's a particular athlete , do you fly with them , let's say , for example , to Philly , and then you're working them out while they're there too , before the game and things like that , and then come back home , or is it ?
that customizable , yeah Well , yeah , that question has some layers to it . It just depends on the athlete . Okay , when you're early on in your career , you don't have as much leverage of being able to dictate things For me .
I just want to be complimentary to the organization , whether it's on the WNBA side , the NFL side , ufc , kind of like what are you guys doing ? Sure , and then , hey , I just want to take a , take care of the investment and why it's with me . Let's be very transparent triangle offense for me , hey this is what I'm doing . You give me the information , hey .
Hey , this is what I see . Yeah , dion , stay away from this . Just want to be complimentary to the athlete and the organization , so I never want to get the ego involved of this is my athlete , this is what we do . You know what you .
You have some that can dictate a little more , you know , depending on where they're in their career but yeah , for me it's just like I said adding value to the bottom line and knowing that it's no , no liability when it comes to a lack of knowledge or , you know , just mentally messing with the athlete sure , my understanding is how does it kind of work ?
because I know when they're , when they're in the season , right , they have their own trainers that are provided by the , the coaching staff , and then they're off season , they get those same trainers or they have to go find their own trainer um season starts when they're in season for for one .
And which ? Which sport are we ?
talking just really and honestly , because they all have the off season , they all have the season . So I don't know if it's different among sports .
Maybe um , no , yeah , for the most part it's a collective approach of in season wise . They have their own template , their training templates by position um yardage uh , court time , things like that where you're at in a rotation , um . So I have some athletes that want to add things in season . You know um activations are hey , I'm struggling with this .
Uh , we're coming off the bi-week or there's been a long travel . You know , understanding that component of hey , we've been on the road for two weeks . Um we want to recalibrate .
That's a whole that's a whole thing . That's great .
It's a whole system man , it's , it's , it's lot of layers , so everything is is pretty much different for each organization .
Um , but yeah , that's for me . I just keep it very simple . Um , if they want something in season , like I said , I want to communicate that properly . I never want to be a liability to hey . Well , she was training with her trainer and got hurt doing this and you know those type of things .
So I just want to make sure we're being completely transparent yeah and understanding where we're at in the season . Um , the biggest thing is staying healthy later in the season to make a playoff run , whatever it may be . And then on the comeback side of it , it's just , hey , making sure that I'm communicating what you're doing mitts with .
Hey , what's your volume like ? Okay , we're doing grappling today .
Okay , I know when to push and when to be more reserved , so you work wide range NBA , NFL , UFC being the headquarters is here , so you're working with everybody .
Yeah , that's one of the narratives that I've had to overcome , being the football guy .
And I'll be honest with you , I was biased on that . I honestly thought it was NBA , and NFL is what I always thought .
Which , like I said , it's a good problem to have . Like I said , I play football , so I see why that . You know that gave me my opportunity to work with professionals . So the more I educated myself and it's hard to see different cities and the need it's like , oh well , let's do a little research and do my due diligence on this .
How can I add value to this market ? Women's sports , for sure , was the huge , the huge , undervalued . So it was like like that was another angle that I was like , hey , this is something that I could really plug into and add a premium approach to it as well .
Everybody is Sorry . We got the aces here , but we got everybody here too that people forget about , and I'm sorry , go ahead , Chris .
Yeah , you're 100% right , it's getting big , but how do you find ? You know ?
kind of not , too , because you're only one person . You know you can't have 200 athletes , or can you , like I don't know what the bandwidth is for , like that ?
yeah , uh , being a startup company in vegas , you know , like I said , this is year five for me , so you know you're , you're not turning anything yeah , that's 1000 , but also that's where the systems come in place and setting those boundaries of hey , this is what I'm working with and then also understanding like I had to learn how to say no to certain things
of until I can continue to build a team , uh , build a trust . But also sometimes , when you've with an athlete for a while , it's like you know , don't ever put me with this person again . You know , I'm coming to you for you . So , understanding that .
So you always want to empower your circle and anyone else that might be in the part of the triangle offensive therapy , pt recovery and those things . But you know , some athletes okay , some have their , their yeah .
I know , I know exactly what you're getting at . Yeah , what would you say ? Mindset wise , right Like I had little kids right , so they always paying attention and everybody's YouTube , happy , they think everybody's just two minutes doing a quick drill or whatever it is .
But what's really the mindset of professional athletes that you're seeing , or or or even college players right , cause you're working with that are elite athletes ? Um , what's their mindset like of of trying to continue to push themselves and be there ?
Um , you get a wide range . A wide range . You really have to be able to adapt and meet an athlete where he or she may be , but also you sprinkle in your influence of hey , you know , why did you do it this way ? Or , you know , let me help you develop a tool belt , cause my biggest thing is how can I educate you when you're not with me ?
It's easy to say , hey , you can't do this because I'm not there . You have to , you know , bring me a part of this Like hey , no , I want you to be able to properly activate warm up . Hey , this is what I'm dealing with . How can I overcome it ?
Lacrosse ball , this is my travel bag of things that I could help you with , versus me physically having to be there . So I feel like every situation , this is what . Oh , I remember I was dealing with the low back . This is how I can help . You know also , hey , I have someone in the city that you're headed to . You know if you can get some table work ?
there if you can't get it with the team or you know the weight , especially when you dealing with team sports , and it's a big roster , Sure , Um . But on the professionals , most , most athletes are starting to develop their own circle , which I can truly appreciate .
This is what we're doing we take the information , we pass it off and you know that pretty much has been successful for me .
These people are just like just natural , just like they don't need to work out .
Like man this guy just gossip all the time . He's like , no matter what I do , he don't listen .
He's still out there killing it . No matter what I do , he don't listen and he's still out there killing it .
No , you have those one-offs where it's like you know you will look at it and say , okay , some people are just naturally talented . It's always something we can work on for sure . Okay , I don't want to create problems mentally If it works for you . You know , my biggest thing is can you duplicate it ? Can you duplicate it ? Can you do it again ?
It's one thing to go out and ball one week or , you know , not get as much rest , live this lifestyle , then get caught up into those things . But for the most part , can you duplicate it in consistency . Yeah , five years , ten years , you are what you repeatedly do .
So that was the big point for me of like , okay , I get it , you give and take , but yeah , that's the biggest thing for me To piggyback on .
What Chris was getting at is like Kobe's documentaries out right now . So do you think you can teach mental toughness Like , for example , Kobe that went and shot a free throw at the what Pulling his Achilles right , or shot two free throws and walks himself off ?
You deal with a lot of premium athletes like that are in football and all these different sports that they got to work through the pain For sure . Do you think that can ?
be taught . I definitely think you can elevate a guy's mindset . A lot of things are from the neck up , sure , but for me , just navigating youth , sports , grassroots , all the way through the professional level , a lot of things start at home , at home , you know , for us I don't think I've heard anybody say this- yeah . Mindset .
You know just you're taking in information , Like you're seeing how your parents navigate or whoever , your guardian or whoever you're living with Certain things of how to navigate adversity and things like that .
So a lot of that is established early , whether you're conscious of it or not , and then some things can be later developed as you mature and decide who you want to be .
I'm glad you're bringing that up , starting at home , because you got people that live through their kids with sports , right , you didn't make it to whatever certain level , right , and you try to live through your kids .
And then you hard on your kids and that can sometimes hurt them the right way , I'm sorry , hurt them the wrong way because they might not be taking it in , no for sure . How do you help combat ?
that Well with youth sports and grassroots . I get that all the time from parents Because it's crazy right now these games . I say it all the time you know , get your rest , get off the video game , but if it comes from Coach Hodges , it's like gold . So , also , sometimes the message is just who it's coming from , you know .
So I understand that as well , and that's the biggest thing . It goes back to the education and just keeping it simple . If it's a nutrition issue , you know the quick thing , coach , should I supplement ? Should I do this ? Hey , how about we start from the kitchen table ? What's a protein ? What's a carb ? The basics , what does that look like ?
You know , are we getting it from the kitchen table and then from there as they progress and mature ? Then we can . You know and I'm just using nutrition as an example , because that's usually a big one with the grassroot level of okay , what can I do to get a competitive edge ?
The biggest thing is just staying consistent and evaluating yourself and being realistic , because sometimes we can put these like you said . You're living through your kids and I get it . I get the passion behind it and wanting to see your kids be successful , but sometimes it can be detrimental , especially if you're not having those conversations For sure . Yeah .
I want to back up just a little bit about your specialty of exercise science . Right , that's what you got the degree in and for our listeners , what ? What is exercise science ? As far as from your perspective on what you bring to the table , A great point , Um one one .
One thing for me . Um earlier on I wasn't too aware of exercise science or exercise phys . Yeah , initially , going into my senior year , I tore my ACL .
Oh Jesus yeah .
Tore my ACL in a spring practice In football right yeah , football . And the recovery process with that was okay , you go to a PT . These people , this is gonna help me back on the field and it wasn't up until I started working with the PTs that there was a sports science behind that .
You know it's one thing to have an issue or something that you're navigating and go get treatment and therapy sure did you get back to your everyday life , but what does that look like for the athlete ? So at first you know it was PT for me .
Okay , so just the physical therapy Straight physical therapy .
You know , I had a great relationship with the team that was helping me in high school . Hey , this is what it's going to take . It's a long process , you know , this is what it looks like . And then ,
¶ The Philosophy of Premium Training
once I made it to Southern Miss , I got introduced to the exercise science program . I was like , oh wow , this is something that I can be a part of life after sports . You're interested right away yeah this can keep me close to whatever sport it may be . It's competitive , the knowledge is there and you can stay sharp in the industry .
At first I was completely unaware of it and then , when I touched campus , I was like , oh , this is a program . This is something that I'm really really interested in .
Yeah .
Are you a ?
sports fan in general , like just you know not the outside of this , but like For sure He'd be at every game man . He's literally at every game , For sure .
Yeah , definitely a sports fan man . Some things have grown on me as I matured , seeing different markets , different . You know , in in Mississippi it was football was king , so that was the driver . But um , once you hit campus you see different aspects , different sports , um , athletes from different countries .
You know I was like , oh wow , this is , this is bigger than than that , you know , on a global scale . So that's what really , you know , caught my interest and helped me , you know , kind of navigate what lane at least I thought I wanted to do at the time .
Sure , yeah , and this is ongoing debate , right about sports . Who's the best athlete ? Is it NBA players ? Is it NFL players ? Is it , you know , soccer players ? Is it ? Now the UFC is huge , agreed In your perspective . I want to hear from you , man , Put you on blast . Who would you say ?
is the best athlete , because you know they asked lebron about this too . Yeah , so no man , that's , that's really a tough question sure there's so many components go into it yeah , yeah , position wise , you know just your natural anatomy , sure , um the environment .
you know mindset , you know I've seen a lot from an athlete that was particularly from a certain area compared to oh oh , this guy is super competitive . Sure , he might not do all the little details right , but when the lights are on he's competitive . So it's kind of hard to single out one sport .
I truly value the competitive edge , but also the , I would say , mindfulness that I see with a lot of athletes that can keep that composure .
Okay .
Never , never too high , never too low . So for me , that's the thing that I look for the most . Of course , everyone wants to be the , you know , the athlete that takes over the game , the dog , whatever you want to , you know , glorify it as , but just understanding , okay , this is how they've overcome adversity .
You know , I've had a , a few guys that go down to some injuries . That was , you know , just a part of the sport . There wasn't any soft tissue or anything like that . And you know , the problem is not the problem how you're going to respond to it yeah , you know . So that's the thing that I value , whatever the platform may be .
It's like okay yeah , I see it sure , yeah , yeah , what do you can't get away ? Who do you think ? I think NBA man .
I would say NBA too . I think NBA and the only reason not just because I played . I mean I never played up to a professional level . I played college basketball . I just felt like NBA . You just do something . You know what I mean . Like those athletes can play football , you could a lot of them have played soccer . You know what I mean .
So you can transition .
Yeah , I mean , the volume is different . Baseball , I mean I'm hating on baseball , but you know baseball player , you know what I mean .
They can play everything , they can dunk and it's a long journey , you know , depending on if you make it to that professional level , even on the baseball side . Sure , you know minor league and navigating this to make it to the bigs , no man you have . That's a great point . For me it's just mindset . That's what I value the most .
It tells me a lot about you , know you as an individual , and then outside the sport , who are you on a day to day ?
Sure Cause they're all special , definitely no doubt about that .
Like , I remember we were sitting down with him and he tripped me out when he had . He said that he never gave his all and I was like what it was your biggest regret ? I never gave my all . One of his biggest regrets is he never gave it all .
And I'm like , and you in the sport of boxing , where you can't play boxing at all , it's just one-on-one , so it's interesting , man . So what's the most memorable lesson for you ? Like , like , were you working with an athlete and you might see them do something you've worked with him consistently on , or she on ? What's one memorable lesson ?
thing that stood out for you that this , this , it's exciting . You can applaud it . You know what I ?
mean , uh , definitely had several moments . Um , I always try to stay out of it just because I don't want to feel like I'm taking credit . You know , you're so humble brother .
I mean I feel like , hey , if , if he you know , if she had never met me , she probably would still made it this too smooth too smooth with it , okay , but understanding that component , um , it's been a lot of things that I've definitely been proud of , sure , but a lot of it is , you know , that dark space If there's an injury , I've seen athletes that
navigate .
you know , I've had one big time guy that I would consider he had his first injury like ever when he when he made it to the league , and that was a time that I was like , oh wow , he's human you know , in the sense of okay , not want to talk to anyone and I kind of connected in a sense to comparing that to what I felt like when I tore my acl in
high school of you know , friends are not hitting you back . Everybody's kind of still going on with their life sure um you know , you kind of create this , this chip I'm going to get back .
So seeing those type of things , those moments where you really have to overcome adversity , and depression too , man , you get into a bad I was listening to Derrick Rose man .
Going into a depression makes your mind go crazy , no for sure , Seeing the athletes navigate that . Of course you want everyone to be healthy and have a great career , get extended contracts and things like that .
Yeah , but those things mean the most to me , you know , just because those are vulnerable moments , you know those are really vulnerable moments of you questioning . You know , why did this happen ? You know , then you start second guessing , you know , did I really prepare myself properly ?
You know , whatever the play may be or whatever , how did the injury happen , but those things really carry a lot of weight for me because it's bigger than the sport for me . You know , a couple of my athletes we've become family .
That's what's up . That's a weird thought , because you think you're one of the only people who get to see him in that moment . Right , it's not really a lot of people Vulnerable .
Yeah , you know , sometimes you just need someone to check up , like yo . We're good . You know , I've seen over the last couple of weeks we've had , you know , two guys go down to something that was pretty tough to navigate , especially in the playoffs . And it's like you know what do you say yeah , like yo , we locked in .
You know , we'll , you know , we'll get , we'll get everything .
Yeah , don't overthink it . I know it sucks right now . You embrace these moments and um and from there you know that's that's more fulfilling for me to be a part of that , of that support system . The training part is easy in a sense , but it's like , okay , the buy-in .
It's like they see things of okay yo , you really checked it wasn't hitting me up about tickets or what can we do ?
Or can you , I got this business idea and all these different things . You know you have so many people pulling at the athletes on all levels .
So I never want to be put in that boat of you . Know what is DM ? What are you calling me ? You know those things . So for me those moments mean a lot to me of seeing it but also how to handle success .
I've had guys , you know , I had female athletes that were had some success on the court , on the field and things like that and it's like , okay , can you do ? It again yeah , so it's that approach .
It's just that high of continuing to keep going . Yeah , yeah , yeah .
So it's , I mean okay , you've done it once .
Can we do it again ? What does that look like ?
Nobody teaches you about that , though , right Like you just learn by yourself .
You can learn , you know , exercise , science , but nobody teaches you how to be kind of a therapist in a sense , very true , man , and that was the thing that I was navigating with myself just mindset , how to connect , you know , how to just really commit myself to the athletes of understanding . Hey , I'm here as a resource , you know .
Just understanding who are you from the neck up is a big thing for me . So , um , that's usually my approach , man , and it's got me to this point and I'm still learning today . Um , I know that I know nothing , um , cause things are changing . You evolve , but for the most part it's happening . So quick back to the fundamentals .
Um , that tool belt that we talked about earlier , um , usually that's what presents itself . Again , it's easy to want to get into the sexy stuff and go fat , you know for sure . Oh , we want to train , we want to do this , want to do that , like no , let's slow it down .
Basics yeah , yeah and just glorifying that , and sometimes it's it's more humbling , yeah , like , okay , it's going to be a time and a place where we're going to get after , but right , but , right now let's just be consistent is the main thing .
You got to be excited about all the sports coming to Vegas , man .
We get everybody now , and now I've heard .
Obviously we already knew about the NBA , we knew about the A's coming here , athletics , and then I've heard MLS is really , really sprinkling in Part of it . I think what's the train that's coming here ?
yeah , part of I think um what's the train that's coming here .
Uh , the bullet train that was going , yeah , between here and la , but what's it called ? Uh , I have no idea .
Uh I'm gonna think of a second .
I'll think of it in a second but it's the same one as in miami to orlando , is the same one coming from here to la ? But I'm I'm hearing that the mls is going to be on top of that stadium , the mls stadium similar to like a madison square garden . That's what I'm getting to hear , so we're going to get . Soccer supposedly is going to be happening .
So three more sports , which Vegas is just , and how do you feel about that ?
I mean , this is your profession . That was the biggest thing for me of understanding evaluating markets . You know where the athletes want to be . I feel like Vegas is a hub that at some point you have to come through , our 100% an event conventions . Yeah , marketing deals it's something sporting events especially yeah , yeah , those things .
So that is something that helps me solidify . Hey , this is where I need to be and , um , you know , I'm gonna put myself in the best situation and how do these ?
you know that's a good sidetrack , I think , but at least you know , uh , because you're not necessarily only working with vegas athletes , right ? You have a lot of people in different markets , are they ? Do they come here specifically to just be with you on the off season or the moment where they live here normally ? Like , is it a hybrid ? It's a hybrid ?
Um for sure we . We have athletes that are transitioning to Vegas . They see the benefits tax they see the benefits on the upside . And then you know we ha , I do have some athletes that , hey , I'm doing my off season in Vegas with you , yeah , um , which is fulfilling as well .
Yeah , that'd be fantastic .
People to uproot what they're doing . You know six months out of the year to come and be , you know , in your city and train with you , for you know eight to 12 weeks , depending on how long you have them or whatever the sport may be .
Yeah , that's what's up , man . I applaud you , man , but right , because you new bit new in business now with the hospitality company . But what would you say , just a nugget from something that you've learned , man , because we all hit our heads sometimes that what's the lesson that you've learned just in business that it might be able to help .
You know our listeners business advice .
Um , it's several different things that I hospitality has introduced me to yeah , for sure I was completely naive too .
wait , wait , what ? Yeah , that's what you have to do .
Sure , to keep it simple , the biggest thing is just asking the questions . You know , understanding , just being more vulnerable ? Yeah , can you help me understand this ? Yeah , compared to the ego of just sitting back and being quiet and faking it , I get it . I get it .
I mean , I know those are some things that we talk about on the day to day of knowing everything . I know that I know nothing . When it comes , especially to the restaurant space Wait , what Front of house , back of house booking marketing it's as hard as industry , as restaurants .
Advice , wise , I mean for sure , just being more vulnerable to the space um , doing your homework , doing your due diligence is one thing that the guys that I'm involved with with Aya has shown me outside of the training aspect is is really taking it from A to Z .
A to Z is a big staple , uh , and statement on our day-to-day conversations of okay , you can go about halfway . Oh , I think I got it done .
What do ?
you mean , you think , did you get it done ? And that's what I definitely appreciate those guys for educating me on that aspect and it's it's just a spillover to how you do everything . Sure , you know how do you manage your household .
Yeah , buddy , it's a thin line adds up yeah , you know , if you're sloppy at most things , you know your day to day , it usually shows itself at some point .
Very true , you know . So I'm so glad you brought that up . And I'm a side check for one second Tony Robbins . I was just listening to him on a podcast .
He has a personal investigator for every business partner he goes into and he allows them to do the same exact thing to really understand who he's getting into business with , because a lot of these deals might be a million , might be a hundred million , might be a billion dollars .
I think he's invested in I don't know how many companies , but that was the first person I heard say that , and you're right . It starts at the home front . You don't know what the home front is like .
You got to really know people to really understand what they're about and when do you really get a chance , a snapshot , to know people Riding the kids ? Man , yeah , riding the kids . That's a good one Riding the kids . I'm sure it starts at home .
Because my kids will tell you straight up like no , he don't do that .
You know what I mean Exactly . You know you could sit and say certain things , but you know the people that goes into when adversity strikes .
Things are not going right who are you ?
I know that , you know it's easy to sit here and say we did it and we developed this podcast , and you know , sure , you know , I'm sure there's some stories by the journey of being used .
Yes , all the business partners yeah , it's .
That's the thing that
¶ Mental Performance and Athlete Mindset
yeah introduces you to who you're at war with , and that's the thing that aya has definitely shown , yeah , and and helped me understand of okay , you know , I really got your back . What does ?
that look like sometimes things I mean it's not always easy .
So well said , when you see , those things like okay , this makes sense .
That's what's up you leading by example you know , you're helping . You're navigating , you're you know . Hey , what do we need to do next ? Sure , collectively . Sometimes it's just hey , yo do you , don't be a robot , do you ? Yeah , we got you you know those organic .
Yeah , I love that great to be in that environment . It really helps you be your best self yeah , that's always y'all got some great partners .
Man , shout out to all your partners your partners man , we always ask . We can't leave out . We're in the food mecca and I know you eat a lot , just like I do , man , so I got to know what your favorite restaurant is in Vegas .
Don't say yours , I was about to say that's a loaded question . Say something else , man . You're trying to get me fired . Yeah , I would say , outside of our personal venues . Okay , for me I think . Oh man , that's a great question and you can shout about it . No , for sure , we will get to that .
I'm going to be honest with you . Pine Beach Show is excellent , and I'm not just saying that it's excellent food , excellent ambiance , j Blanc . I was just there recently . It was excellent .
Excellent food for me with with our personal venues , thick and thin .
Oh yeah , I always forget about the thing .
Yeah , just because it's it's complimentary to the day .
Right next to IVI . Yeah .
So with the protein shakes , wellness juices , those things , um that's , that's a huge staple for me . It provides that convenience but also understanding it adds to the experience of the of the facility . So I definitely appreciate Veronica and the team over at Thick and Thin Treats that that's a part of our every day .
You know , that's our convenience store in a sense . For sure , you know , I always educate the athletes . Hey , what did you eat today ? Yeah , understanding nutritional windows and things . Okay , it might not be what I'm eating , but when I'm eating , sure , but far as Vegas man , it's easy to want to go with the big time places .
But for me I want to shout out one of my good friends , Kai Kamaka . He's one of the MMA fighters and we connected over Island Sushi Island .
Sushi is more of a local approach . Okay , where's that at ?
I don't think anybody's mentioned that it's over off of Eastern Okay .
Island Sushi . Shout out to them .
Island . She is one of uh , one of my staples , and I just appreciate the community level . I get it to want to go to the big chain . Sure , yeah , yeah , flash , and you know yeah , I get it .
Yeah , for sure , I get it .
I get it . I love that with parking valet doing 100 . I know so island sushi . Um , you know , I did the fried philly roll noodles , that's what's up ? That's not good , it's one of the things that , okay , I mean for twice a month , maybe every other friday , um , okay , you there . Um , another one , um , I don't want to butcher the name .
It's in north vegas , uh , me being from mississippi . Yeah , soul food , okay , so I'm looking for catfish , okay , um , maybe you can help me think of the name .
I can't think of the spot in North .
It's over on Lamb . What is the name of that spot ?
they got soul food .
We used to go there way back in the day when we were at .
Sonata right down the little shopping street .
They just opened a new location or which one you're talking about , way down on West , going on Craig .
Is it East North Las Vegas , like when East side I ?
think so . It probably is . We'll think . I think I'm trying to think of the daggone name . It's in that low plaza over there .
Yeah , I don't want to butcher the shout out , but no for sure , for me it was just a taste of home , it's . It's something that , like I said , just it's a taste of home that helps me . Okay , this is very similar . I get it Calling my mom to send a care package about something . I get it . You know . You speak about language , catfish things like that .
Speak about language , yeah .
But yeah , man , um yeah , outside of thick and thin , for sure , not to say that I don't appreciate the other ones . You know , when the athletes come to town , that's the first thing . Can we get a reservation here ? Can we do this ? So I get it .
But for me , the local experience of just being able to unplug and not have to you know , compete with traffic and things like that . And if you guys can educate me on anything else in the market .
No , you know , you know I'm a big foodie , but you know I'm glad you said that because people like your hospitality company . You're putting nice restaurants and good food off the strip . That has that experience of being on the strip , yep , so I got to salute you guys . Like Paul , everything that you just mentioned is excellent because it's got that feel .
You know what I mean to mean the high-end premium feel you want to put , like I said , at the grassroot level of the community of hey , we don't have to , like you said , go to the strip to have a premium experience but also we understand what we're in . I don't want to say competition with , but we want to get the community involved .
That's the biggest thing for us . I love Cleaver's Natalia's Little Kitchen Thai food . If you like Thai food , definitely check those out .
I just went to the , finally , for the first time , Cleave what's Cleaver's other Herbs ? And Rye ? I just went to Cleave Herbs and Rye for the first time . It was excellent . Yeah , shout out to them . What did we forgot to ask you , man that on , or something you just wanted to add to it ? Um , I don't think you guys left out anything .
I have a question for you guys . How soon can we come by , ivi , and get it right ? Yeah , I need to get my . Get my weight off , man . You sound like sound like jay shaw , my wife must have texted you saying , saying get him , get him in there .
We need to come through . You said premium athletes , that's where I was like premium , but it sounds like it really is a great facility . I think I've been by it a lot consistently , so definitely you could tell it's an exceptional and premium .
But I think I got . We need to get in there . Stop making excuses . That's the thing . You're overthinking it . That is 100% right . Just try it out we have to accountability .
That's all you . You were 100 right salute to you , man .
Excuse me right away , he's 100 , right , man , because we just talked about it . So that's what's up , man , baby , shout out to dion man . I'm glad I said I get a chance to sit out with you , man . Um , what's your social handles and how people can reach out to you ?
and then ivi and all that so far on instagram and twitter . Well , x , yeah , underscore d . Hodges is my handle . Okay , I don't have a Snapchat and I'm still navigating the TikTok world . Yeah , I think we all are . I'm figuring it out , but but yeah , that's , that's me on on social Instagram and X man . Underscore D .
Hodges . Okay , Well , check them out , man . Dion is is , uh , somebody that's motivated man and so , humble brother , you were humble as hell , man , Great stuff . So we want to continue to keep supporting you and have you continue to keep winning man . So we applaud what you do .
That's not for sure . I appreciate that . Yeah , maybe we can circle back in a few months 100% yeah . I would love to , yeah , get an update , talk through off-season training and things like that leading up . I know we have the Super Bowl coming up . The WNBA should be kicking back off here pretty soon .
I would love to come back and just talk shop about the more things like that . We can dive with some more athletes if you guys are open to that .
Yeah , let's keep it going , man Keep it going .
Help me out a little bit .
Keep it going .
Shout out to DDI man . Check us out at TheVegasTurkeycom .
Appreciate your time , brother .
Really good stuff , thank you .