1 00:00:00.780 --> 00:00:02.280 Johny Fernandez: All right, you guys, welcome back. So we are 2 00:00:02.280 --> 00:00:05.100 here with Thomas Long, he is one of the contestants of Equipping 3 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:08.550 The Dream. Thomas, Welcome to Miami first and foremost, and 4 00:00:08.550 --> 00:00:13.140 welcome to, I'm excited to have you live here. So Thomas, you 5 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:16.230 were one of the contestants of Equipping The Dream. People got 6 00:00:16.230 --> 00:00:18.540 to know you, they got to know you, as you know, the family 7 00:00:18.540 --> 00:00:22.650 guy, you know, you came in with experience from the actual 8 00:00:22.650 --> 00:00:24.960 business. He had been doing it for about a year and some 9 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:28.680 change. So first question is why did you end up signing up for 10 00:00:28.680 --> 00:00:29.700 this experience? 11 00:00:30.750 --> 00:00:34.110 Thomas Long: When Josh and Will initially contacted me, you 12 00:00:34.110 --> 00:00:37.020 know, that they were under the guides of training. So sure, 13 00:00:37.050 --> 00:00:40.020 I'll give her some free training that for sure, take a road trip. 14 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:43.470 And then once they told us what really was going on, I mean, who 15 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:46.680 who wouldn't want to take in part with something like this? 16 00:00:46.680 --> 00:00:48.090 Yeah. Good stuff. 17 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:50.580 Johnny Fernandez: Yeah. So let's talk about your experience. I 18 00:00:50.580 --> 00:00:55.020 mean, we saw a lot of different emotions that we, you know, it 19 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:59.130 was stressful, you know, it was competitive. You know, it was 20 00:00:59.130 --> 00:01:03.090 pretty much down to the wire during some days, you know, you 21 00:01:03.090 --> 00:01:06.750 were competing with with RJ and, you know, things got very close. 22 00:01:06.750 --> 00:01:09.480 So when you look at it now, and when you look at the show, 23 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.310 what's your overall takeaway? I mean, it was literally a roller 24 00:01:14.310 --> 00:01:15.360 coaster of emotions. 25 00:01:15.720 --> 00:01:19.650 Thomas Long: Yeah, it was a very intense week, I look at other 26 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:21.390 people's lives, different now in reality, you know, when you're 27 00:01:21.390 --> 00:01:23.850 looking at reality TV show, I think the whole week that was 28 00:01:23.850 --> 00:01:26.940 really about just getting to know others, you know, business 29 00:01:26.940 --> 00:01:29.520 is important. But I mean, what eight or nine of us were 30 00:01:29.580 --> 00:01:32.340 together all week, didn't know each other from scratch, became 31 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:35.400 colleagues and friends and had good moments and fired up 32 00:01:35.400 --> 00:01:39.930 moments, and so my takeaway is just get out there and try 33 00:01:39.930 --> 00:01:41.340 anything if you get the opportunity. 34 00:01:41.460 --> 00:01:44.520 Johny: So something in the training that specifically stood 35 00:01:44.520 --> 00:01:48.930 out to you was that they had told you that you should do more 36 00:01:48.930 --> 00:01:52.290 videos online, you know, you should use that as your as a 37 00:01:52.290 --> 00:01:54.360 brand new source. And you've been doing that, because I've 38 00:01:54.360 --> 00:01:56.970 been following you online. So and I know that's something you 39 00:01:56.970 --> 00:01:59.100 had shared with me that it's a little uncomfortable for you to 40 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:01.770 do, because you know, you we're like I don't know, like it's, 41 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:05.340 it's, it's not normal for people to just tape themselves on a 42 00:02:05.340 --> 00:02:11.250 phone. So how is that experience been able to like maneuver and 43 00:02:11.370 --> 00:02:13.740 pretty much push you forward when it comes to your training 44 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:15.690 and in business and stepping out of your comfort zone? 45 00:02:16.590 --> 00:02:18.960 Thomas Long: Great question. I appreciate it. I don't mind 46 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.170 public speaking. I just was not familiar with the whole camera 47 00:02:22.170 --> 00:02:26.850 thing. So that week, in New Hampshire, I got over the camera 48 00:02:26.850 --> 00:02:29.910 fright. Like I've, I mean some kind of fear. I have no fear. 49 00:02:29.910 --> 00:02:32.970 Now. I've done a bunch of videos, I want to get my message 50 00:02:32.970 --> 00:02:36.720 out there still defining what it is. But yeah, I mean, I'm, it's 51 00:02:36.720 --> 00:02:39.420 just camera, be real and screw up and people are okay with 52 00:02:39.420 --> 00:02:39.690 that. 53 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:42.180 Johny Fernandez: So I know one of the things that they had to 54 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:44.760 talk to you about is your voice when it comes to training, you 55 00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:47.850 know, just phone training, phone advocacy, that was something 56 00:02:47.850 --> 00:02:50.460 that they trained you on specifically during the show. 57 00:02:50.550 --> 00:02:53.070 How has that been now that you went through that training, and 58 00:02:53.100 --> 00:02:54.660 go back calling, how is that? 59 00:02:55.320 --> 00:02:59.130 Thomas Long: It's been a game changer. Literally, I have, like 60 00:02:59.130 --> 00:03:01.680 every one a couple of things going on. But the way I talk on 61 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.730 the phone, it is better. And as far as equipment financing, I 62 00:03:05.730 --> 00:03:09.840 get I get applications. I just just talk to these, talk to 63 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.090 people like they're your friend and ask them would you like to 64 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:15.690 see what you can qualify for today? Yeah, it's been 65 00:03:15.870 --> 00:03:18.360 incredible it was that simple all along. I just didn't know 66 00:03:18.390 --> 00:03:19.080 how to do it. 67 00:03:19.440 --> 00:03:22.530 Johny Fernandez: So what was the biggest game changer for you in 68 00:03:22.530 --> 00:03:25.890 regards to what you learned and bringing it back home? What is 69 00:03:25.890 --> 00:03:29.610 the thing that clicked in your mind? That made you say, when 70 00:03:29.610 --> 00:03:32.790 you got home like, yeah, I can do this? And why didn't you 71 00:03:32.790 --> 00:03:33.150 quit? 72 00:03:33.930 --> 00:03:34.770 Thomas Long: I'm sorry. What was that part? 73 00:03:35.050 --> 00:03:40.120 Johny Fernandez: changer what was it that made it click and 74 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:41.920 then why did you keep pursuing this? 75 00:03:42.770 --> 00:03:47.510 Thomas Long: The game changer was giving it my all for a week, 76 00:03:47.750 --> 00:03:51.020 because we all work. But do we work that hard all the time. I 77 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:53.960 don't. But it was so intense. And just like, wow, if I can do 78 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.340 that once in a while that can change your life. And I don't 79 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:01.610 want to give up. I didn't give up because I mean, if those guys 80 00:04:01.610 --> 00:04:04.490 can do it, I can do it. Again, practice, practice, practice and 81 00:04:04.490 --> 00:04:08.060 put in the work, the work ethic. It takes a lot of work. That was 82 00:04:08.090 --> 00:04:10.940 shocking how much work it actually takes to get these 83 00:04:10.940 --> 00:04:13.160 people signed up and to finance with you. 84 00:04:13.550 --> 00:04:16.190 Johny Fernandez: So talk to me now after the show's done. And 85 00:04:16.190 --> 00:04:19.730 after everyone went home, do you talk to any of the contestants? 86 00:04:20.210 --> 00:04:22.400 Thomas Long: We stay in touch via text and so forth. 87 00:04:22.460 --> 00:04:25.580 Everyone's busy, you know, promoting, promoting the show. 88 00:04:25.760 --> 00:04:28.700 It's easy to get on the rabbit trail of social media. You got 89 00:04:28.700 --> 00:04:31.160 to put your phone down and go to work. But yeah, we stay in touch 90 00:04:31.160 --> 00:04:33.800 and everyone's we haven't had dinner yet, but yeah, we're 91 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:34.790 gonna visit while we're here. 92 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:38.210 Johny Fernandez: That's awesome. And then in regards to you know, 93 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:41.780 the person that won the show that the competition, did you 94 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:43.040 say contact with that person? 95 00:04:43.490 --> 00:04:46.730 Thomas Long: Yeah, just on the group. I was able to meet that 96 00:04:46.730 --> 00:04:49.400 individual here today. And it was very Yeah, I mean we're 97 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:52.070 great. Good stuff. Good stuff. Good people. 98 00:04:52.070 --> 00:04:52.960 Thomas Long: I don't know if everyone realizes we did not 99 00:04:52.960 --> 00:04:54.295 Johny Fernandez: So what was the hardest part of the whole of the 100 00:04:54.295 --> 00:04:54.341 know what was going on until really noon or one on the first 101 00:04:54.341 --> 00:04:57.008 whole experience? I mean, that was an experience that was 102 00:04:57.054 --> 00:04:59.674 intensively sweet. It sounded overwhelming. What was the 103 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:00.750 hardest part, for you? 104 00:05:00.750 --> 00:05:10.210 day, even when we got there, there's not a great wealth of 105 00:05:10.210 --> 00:05:13.540 information that you all provided. So it was like it was 106 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:18.370 a little bit crazy to not know until literally, you're on the 107 00:05:18.370 --> 00:05:24.040 phone. That was shocking. You guys, kept it yes, very sneaky, 108 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:24.670 but it worked. 109 00:05:25.990 --> 00:05:28.630 Johny Fernandez: And then let's talk about the big blow up that 110 00:05:28.630 --> 00:05:32.740 happened on the show, you know, things were intense. And you 111 00:05:32.740 --> 00:05:36.310 know, there was a part of the show that, you know, was a 112 00:05:36.310 --> 00:05:39.430 little bit of a blow up moment. And you were involved in that. 113 00:05:39.490 --> 00:05:40.060 What happened? 114 00:05:40.930 --> 00:05:44.920 Thomas Long: I don't really know. Just just got emotional, 115 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:48.940 fired up. I watched yes, the shows out. I've been watching 116 00:05:48.940 --> 00:05:52.450 the show. I was pretty, still still smiling and stuff. I 117 00:05:52.450 --> 00:05:57.310 wasn't you know, wasn't fighting mad, just, yes, I want to do my 118 00:05:57.310 --> 00:05:57.820 best. 119 00:05:58.540 --> 00:06:02.200 Johny Fernandez: So you're a reality TV show superstar now, 120 00:06:02.830 --> 00:06:05.830 when your family saw the show, what did they think? Do they 121 00:06:05.830 --> 00:06:08.620 even know what was going on as the week progressed? 122 00:06:09.050 --> 00:06:12.230 Thomas Long: Yes, they did. I gave them updates. They love it. 123 00:06:12.260 --> 00:06:15.050 My wife's in sales and business. My son loves business and 124 00:06:15.050 --> 00:06:19.340 finance. So they're just, they just had no idea what really 125 00:06:19.340 --> 00:06:22.550 went into this business. So we watch it as a family. And they 126 00:06:22.550 --> 00:06:26.030 were like, wow, Dad you did good. So it's been nice. 127 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:28.370 Johny Fernandez: So from the time that the show wrapped up 128 00:06:28.400 --> 00:06:31.670 until now, how much business have you gotten? Like kind of 129 00:06:31.670 --> 00:06:32.510 walk us through that. 130 00:06:32.810 --> 00:06:35.030 Thomas Long: I have taken what I learned from the show and really 131 00:06:35.030 --> 00:06:37.970 trying to apply it in all my businesses. So like my phone 132 00:06:37.970 --> 00:06:41.330 etiquette, we've had a very good couple of months financially, 133 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:44.810 not all of that was in the equipment financing space, but 134 00:06:44.810 --> 00:06:48.350 it's part of the package. And then I think just understanding 135 00:06:48.350 --> 00:06:51.440 whatever you're doing, again, that work ethic, you know, you 136 00:06:51.440 --> 00:06:55.580 could sell burn handles, but if you do it and work it that hard, 137 00:06:55.700 --> 00:06:57.260 you're going to you're going to be successful. 138 00:06:57.470 --> 00:07:00.200 Johny Fernandez: So Will and Josh they invested a lot of time 139 00:07:00.200 --> 00:07:03.200 in you and in the other cast members, what do you have to say 140 00:07:03.200 --> 00:07:03.590 to that? 141 00:07:04.430 --> 00:07:07.160 Thomas Long: Thank you. They're great. We stay in touch. You 142 00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.740 know, they have their programs that they're showing here today. 143 00:07:10.550 --> 00:07:13.070 Yeah, talk to them if you want to get in this business, and 144 00:07:13.070 --> 00:07:14.600 they will assist you for sure. 145 00:07:14.690 --> 00:07:17.690 Johny Fernandez: And what was overall the life changing a 146 00:07:17.690 --> 00:07:21.500 piece of advice that you got from that experience, that you 147 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:22.010 carry on. 148 00:07:24.020 --> 00:07:27.320 Thomas Long: To be real with people, cut out the nonsense, 149 00:07:27.320 --> 00:07:28.550 and just relax, a little bit. 150 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.370 Johny Fernandez: And then anything you want to say to the 151 00:07:31.370 --> 00:07:32.810 other contestants that aren't here today? 152 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:36.590 Thomas Long: If you're watching, it's been a pleasure to know 153 00:07:36.590 --> 00:07:40.070 them. I love them. I think we'll be in this business together for 154 00:07:40.070 --> 00:07:43.010 a year, decades. So see what the future holds. 155 00:07:43.010 --> 00:07:45.640 Johny Fernandez: And then if anyone watching has not been 156 00:07:45.640 --> 00:07:48.400 able to tune into the show or hasn't seen the episodes, we've 157 00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:50.260 shown the trailer a couple of times, what do you have to say 158 00:07:50.260 --> 00:07:50.710 to them? 159 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:56.440 Thomas Long: Six episodes wealth of knowledge humor, intensity, 160 00:07:56.950 --> 00:07:59.200 check out the show on your lunch break, use it as a training 161 00:07:59.200 --> 00:08:00.760 session at the office. 162 00:08:00.810 --> 00:08:03.420 Johny Fernandez: So last question your kids when they saw 163 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:07.500 their dad on TV as a reality show contestant What did they 164 00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:07.950 say? 165 00:08:10.260 --> 00:08:12.319 Thomas Long: We kind are like that anyway home little bit 166 00:08:12.366 --> 00:08:15.174 dramatic. We dance, we sang, we carry on we do. You know all 167 00:08:15.221 --> 00:08:17.936 that stuff anyway, there was just a camera in front of you 168 00:08:17.983 --> 00:08:20.885 this time, but it was real, they appreciated that it was their 169 00:08:20.932 --> 00:08:23.880 dad and he was just being their Dad you know didn't know didn't 170 00:08:23.927 --> 00:08:25.800 put on a show or anything for that week. 171 00:08:26.270 --> 00:08:27.901 Johny Fernandez: If we asked him to come back for season two, 172 00:08:27.938 --> 00:08:28.680 would you come back? 173 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:30.880 Thomas Long: I would. I would. I might negotiate you know, like a 174 00:08:30.921 --> 00:08:33.020 million dollar rate or something per day, but yeah. 175 00:08:33.020 --> 00:08:35.476 Johny Fernandez: We'll sign off on that. All right, Thomas. 176 00:08:35.535 --> 00:08:38.928 Thanks so much. Great seeing you again. Have fun and we'll 177 00:08:38.986 --> 00:08:42.379 definitely, you know, hopefully see everyone together soon 178 00:08:42.438 --> 00:08:44.310 within the next couple of hours. 179 00:08:44.310 --> 00:08:44.850 Thanks, Johny. 180 00:08:44.850 --> 00:08:47.526 No problem. Thank you, Tom. All right you guys Thomas Long from 181 00:08:47.569 --> 00:08:50.160 Equipping The Dream and we're gonna cut to a commercial break 182 00:08:50.203 --> 00:08:51.690 right now. We'll see you guys soon.