Cedric The Entertainer: From Selling Insurance To Building a Comedic Empire

28:30Did you ever catch yourself thinking you were better than or now you deserve something and you had to wake up and say, oh, I actually got to keep working for this? Oh, of course. I mean, this is the, you know, I would imagine, you know, everybody's gonna have that as trajectory happens, right? Especially when it's, when you're in the hot spot, when you're in that white hot space where things are just blowing up and you like going, then you like, all right cool, it's things that you need. You know what I mean? Like, you know, like these are things that I feel are requirements for me to get the job done.

29:06And then you kind of realize, really? Do I really need? Do I really know it's green I'm gonna have? Yeah, is that a necessary, like I can't do the show unless I don't have it? Come on, man. You start to go like, that's ridiculous. Right. You know, now I never was that far, but anything along that line, little things that become like, you know, hotels, if I don't have a suite, if I don't have a, you know, this kind of car, you know, like you're like, okay, this is ridiculous. You know, like that's, you know, so those are moments. And I think that you, you know, life will humble you one way or the other.

29:43Yeah. And so, because it is truly an ebb and flow to it all. You know, it's always somebody next. It's always, you know, I feel very blessed to be consistent, what I feel consistent for, as long as I am 30-plus years in this business. Super highs, you know, of course, down periods, but overall, consistent. Like, you know, great career, good life, nothing, no scandals, you know, like just do my thing, man. Like, just me. How do you feel? You mentioned kind of there's always someone next. There's always like, it seems like there's so many talented comedians or people in comedy who are making a name for themselves, growing massive social media followings.

30:34selling out arenas, all these different things. How do you deal with comparison of the younger generation coming up? Maybe they're doing things differently or in a new way. How do you deal with that emotionally or mentally, even with all your success? Even with, you know, being on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, even with all the accolades, does comparison ever creep in? I mean, you know, I think it creeps in to the point that it, you know, for me, it's either a motivator or something I applaud. Most of the time, I just, I love to see people win. Like, you know, and if you win in and you literally, your food and your plate is yours, you know, and people who have learned to be able to be great at that, especially like, you know, the rise of the social media fame.

31:22And you're like, look, these guys are, they're unique. They do these skits, they wake up, and they actually do the work, right? So you can't be mad at somebody that actually gets up and do it. Like, they do it. They shoot them. I don't shoot them. So what I'm going to sit up and critique them, that ain't real comedy. Right. But I never tried one. I never did it myself. I don't do it every day. I don't go and work to build an audience. So what am I critiquing? Something that I'm just observing, you know what I mean, and got opinion. Like, go. You win and kill it, you know. And then you meet. I've met a lot of these guys.

31:57And, you know, the funny, unique, young people. And they motivate you. Now you start to think a different way. And so, you know, that's really been my space. I try to really stay true to who I am. So I actually develop with a lot of young creators to get them bigger projects. You know, your social media is your thing. But, you know, I'm in the world of television and film. And let's take that idea and develop it into a bigger idea. And those are the relationships I have with them as opposed to being anti or hating on or whatever that. Have you always had this collaborative mindset versus being a competitor to people in the industry?

32:35Yeah, I think so. And I kind of feel like that's a Midwest thing in a way. It's very much like, you know, because we all kind of feel like we're here together in our own little niche. And so there's a lot of like, you know, help the other dude up, come on up, and then we all go. So that's always been my thing. I love that environment better. I'd much rather be with a group of my friends and family doing something than to be the only one doing it. You know what I mean? Of course. So we're going to go on vacation. Like, yeah, let's figure out how we all can do it. Like, sure, I can stay in the Four Seasons, but if everybody can stay in the Weston, let's go there then.

33:19Let's go. It's going to be more fun. You know, right? That's different. So, like, yeah. What would you say is your biggest limitation after 30 years in this business? Do you have any limitations? You know, I think, you know, for the most part, you know, this industry is one that, you know, you have to be in the deal flow in a lot of ways. So, you know. What does that mean? That means like, you know, when movies are happening, TV shows are happening, people have to kind of know who you are, right? And if you're hot, that's one thing. If you've cooled off, then you have to prove that you're worthy.

34:02That's a different thing as you get older. Because, you know, you kind of see that in this business always. Hot is always considered next, right? The next dude is the it thing. And then you hit your apex of that, right? It doesn't, you can't ride that forever. Right. Now you have to make sure that people understand that you are something that's consistent and it's still worth value. It's a very interesting space in this town. So you, you have to kind of, you know, that's why, you know, like for me, like doing the neighborhood, doing a television show, end up being a smart move as opposed to struggling to continue to try to be a movie star.

34:45Really? Right, you know, because I had a bunch of movies and the movies did okay. Some of them did great and then some of them were hits. But if you do like just all right, then it's hard to kind of. They start to say, well, yeah, let's go to the new dude, right? Because movies is kind of a hit thing. Television is consistent. You're on. And so, you know, there's a strategy for me. It's like I did that wisely and I did it for my kids. It was a couple because movies took you everywhere. We were shooting. Gone for three months at a time. Yeah, in Prague, in Australia, you everywhere. And it was fun when you're young, and then when my kids were young, because they were young enough, but when they started getting school age and got schedules, then now you go three months, four months, and you're missing out on a lot of life.

35:34You're missing out on a lot of the world. You come home, and they're like, I'm sorry, sir, can I help you? We don't recognize you anymore, yeah. new dad. Of course. Please, go to your room. Right. Yeah, they're blocking my son blocking me now. Sure. So, you know, the goal was, what I think I'm hearing you say is the goal was, okay, let me transition from one thing to the next and movies was kind of the apex opportunity for a comedian, I guess, right? Movies and TV. but movies was, movies was kind of like, all right, if you're in the movies, that's the biggest thing. And when I'm hearing you say is if you're not riding at high consistently or the next hottest thing constantly growing up, then for you it's like, well, let's try to make sure that TV, I can get the consistent gig for my lifestyle, my family, but also to really stay, I don't want to use the term relevant, but worthy of being in the industry at this high level consistently, right?

36:36Is that accurate? Yeah, yeah. It became a smarter strategy strategy because becoming a TV star, you're in homes every week and you're in the home. People go to the theater, which is kind of, you know, Denzel kind of explained that really great and I thought that was really wise. When somebody sees you on a 100-foot screen, you're a big deal. You know, when I come into your home, I'm a family member. So it's the thing of like, you know, people seeing you and actually feeling like they know you already. And I get that reaction a lot. you know, somebody can just be doing their thing and they look over and they be like, Say it!

37:14And they'll say it like, I'm their man. And I'll be like, what's up? You'll be like, no, I don't know you, I just know you. But the way they said it, you're like, oh okay. But it's that real familiar nature of like you sitting in your own living room and this person is a part of it, right? Is there a different energy to when someone sees you as a movie star versus when someone sees you as a TV star? Oh, for sure, really. Yeah, yeah. Where it's more of like, they feel like they know you, you're part of the family when you're on TV. In this movie, it's more of like shock and awe when you see them.

37:48Yeah, the movie energy is way bigger for some reason. It's more of the kind of screams and pandemonium energy, you know? Gasps. Yeah, like it's a little more shocking, I feel like, you know, and you react that way a lot, you know? Even as a human being, you can react that way the people that you see in a movie, like they just kinda like, you know, I saw Ewan McGregor one time, and like, you know, and I was like, really? Oh hey man, what's up dog? Really? You had to play it off though, but it was like, because you watching the film, and you, you know, the film just seems like they're really far away, and I mean, I'm in the industry, but it's one of these things, like when that person like right up on you, it just caught me like totally different.

38:37Like, I was like, yo, man, you know, but you see a TV star, you know them, they feel familiar, and you kind of talk to them in a more familiar way. It's just a different experience you're having with them because you're at home. You're watching them in the bed. You're watching them on the seats. You know. Toilet. Yeah. You're watching on your phone in the toilet, you know. You're just like going to the bathroom. Hey, Paul Giamatti, what's up, man? I'm a big fan. I'm a big fan of Billions, bro. What's up? Darius is great. I love that show. He does amazing in that show. Yeah, well he's one of those great dudes that, you know, again, you saw him in movies early on, but again, made some really cool transitional moves to see as an actor.

39:22That's what I love about the space nowadays with both streaming and the way it's done. You don't have to be locked into either. It used to be a time, if you're gonna be a movie star, you can't be a TV star. Really? Yeah, you can't be both. Like, you gotta, you know, movie stars needed to stay movie stars, but now, you know, great actors can find a really good movie they love, and then they can also find a really great character in television, you know, such as, like, what we're talking about, and run that and be like, yo, and be just as beloved and just a big deal. And so, you know, I think I can't even think in the, what's his name, Brian?

40:03I love the character on Succession, the dad. That's incredible. But, you know, like, I mean, he was a big movie dude, and he had that brand. But on Succession is where you see him go, like, now that man is. It's deeper, yeah, yeah, man. That dude can get down. That's acting right there, baby. It's incredible. Yeah. Speaking of fame, what have you learned about fame over the last 30 years? You know, you've ridden the wave of fame for 30 years in different stages and seasons and heights. Yeah. What has fame taught you? And what do you think people don't understand about fame who want to be famous?

40:42That's a good one right there. I mean, for me, probably is the false sense of finance fame gives you. Fame makes you think you're rich. You can be famous and don't have the money to back it up. Be broke. Yeah. So I think that's one of the real things that I feel like, and I saw that kind of early on with people I thought was famous when I first started to kind of get into the business. And you thought, you knew that you knew that you were famous, but then you saw the financial side and you realize like, oh, I believe that you were all of these things. Not realizing that your fame can get you caught up because you think that that is enough to be famous is enough to take care of everything else.

41:32And so you do have to understand that inside the fame, you got to go to work. You got to be humble. You got to have connections. You got to stay busy. You got to stay aggressive. You got to still strategize about who you are. And you can't give your fame over to the machine. That's the other thing. What does that mean? This is most people, they kind of work very hard to build their careers. You know, as a stand-up, you build your stand-up. You travel, you do a wrap, what I did. You go to all these clubs, you puzzle, you grind, and then I get one TV show, and I believe that the agents, the managers, the lawyers in the town know me better than I know me.

42:16And I give it up. I give it over to the machine. Don't get me started on this. Right. Yes. You trust them, because you believe. Oh, you guys are the experts. They know. They're doing this for so long. And if you had any little pop and they were a part of it in any way, then they make you think it was because of them. And now you kind of like you don't do your part anymore. You show up as the commodity, not as the, you know, not as this thing that's there to do the work, like, you know, to build it up, to shape it. So only, you know, great creators and people who really grind, And you'll see people that's able to do a number of things.

43:00And that comes from their hustle. That's what I would say for me. I'm stand-up. I'm movies. I'm television. I did Broadway. I write books. I'm not going to be in your box, bro. I'm not in none of those boxes. I can do it all. I do side businesses. I'm an entrepreneur. I'm not sitting around counting on that I'm famous. And even just saying, okay, I only do TV and that TV's going to be around forever for me. We're always going to get a show. I think a lot of people can get stuck in that if they're not willing to not diversify, but have other projects going on as well, the main thing also. Yeah, no, for sure.

43:44And I think that that's important. And you put family on top of all of that, too. Like, I got a great family. I've been married, coming about 24 years. Got kids, wonderful. good house, good life, good wife, all of those things, good friends, all those things are important to the ecosystem. And so fame can oftentimes make you feel like all those people owe to be a part of that. Really? Yeah. You know, I mean, you've seen it, you know, it's kind of a very telltale Hollywood story. When people get extra famous, they started to kind of believe it's all them, but that's what kind of fame will lead you to.

44:24The friends and The person usually believes it's all them, and then the friends and family have to fit into that. And if they don't, then that's why divorce is big, and that's why kids are all separated and don't know your dads. It's a very Hollywood tale. How have you navigated that? Obviously, being from the Midwest, I think, might have helped support you with those roots and the values that you grew up with. but how have you stayed happily married, have kids that are grown and still want to be in your life and like you, and also navigated, I'm assuming, that for 30 years there have been people and friends and family who said, I want money, I need this, give me this, I deserve this now.

45:14How have you navigated those elements of friends and family maybe wanting something from you at different times and you just being okay with all of it or navigating that? Yeah, I think, you know, again, it's a combination of being honestly, you know, being, you know, true to who you are. Kind of go back to that Steve Harvey, you know, untrust that part. Like, so, you know, people got to earn and they got to, you know, they got to earn their space around me. So, you know, you know, yes, is there some, you know, benevolent behavior for, you know, certain family members that you just take care of and love and give it to them.

45:51But most people, you want them to learn to be self-sufficient and independent. And if they're going to be a part of this, they've got to truly come in and contribute. And so find the space for that. Earn it. Show me something. Add value. Add value. And if you're going to add value, then good. We'll figure out how to make that work. And I think that that kind of goes all around. Again, you kind of say that to your kids. Y 'all wake up every day, y 'all got this beautiful home, you got all these things. What do y 'all bring to the table? Really? What y 'all do? Y 'all just keep. Right. So good grades is a part of your thing.

46:28Do it in your chores. Being a kind person and a good, that's a part of what you offer to the family. You don't do none at all. You're going to be a jerk. You're going to be mean to people, and you're going to have to have a talk with me. Like, that's not. So what is your contribution until you become an adult, until you get a skill set or something you love where you can start earning money. I always say that. I got a scholarship program, and I tell the kids, my scholarships are loans. You know what I'm saying? Yes, you can go to school, but if you quit, I want my money back. It's a joke, but that's what I do.

47:08But I say that to let people know there's no real free money. People can take that attitude. Like if I do something for you and you decide like, ah, I'm not going to do it, then, you know, hey. Am I right? Shoot me the money pack. Yeah, run that back. Right. You don't get to just kick it. Right. You got to deliver on something. Yeah. You have a number of things happening right now, which I love about you because you're multi-talented. You're not just on TV. You're just doing one project. You're creating a lot. Flipping box cars. is the book that is about to drop. Can you explain a little bit about this book and why you're deciding to do a book right now?

47:51Yeah, man. So Flipping Boxcars is a novel, and it's a novel loosely based on my machinations of my grandfather that I never met. Okay. So this is my father's mother who I would just, as I started to climb in my career, he would pop in my head sometimes with... Never met him. Never met him. He would say things to me, and I could see how he's dressed. I knew what he smelled like. And he would have these cool sayings about, you know, the suit don't make the man, but it makes the difference. You know, you'd be like, okay. You know, like, you know, like, and I would wake up and be like, oh, you know, even if it was a daydream, I would just have that, and I'd write it down.

48:36I was like, yo. And so I would have, I had these for a long time. And so when I had the opportunity, they asked me, did I want to write a book? And I said, I got this novel idea about my grandfather. I never met him, but I have these little tidbits. I got little stories from my mother, little stories from my uncle, but I see him as a whole character. Wow. So we created this fictionalized tale and made him the center of it. So it's little true and a fictional tale. Interesting. So, and that's what flipping boxcars is. And it's so much fun, man, because of course I had to go in and dig up some family history and go back and do some research and all that was great.

49:21And then at the same time, get to tell this imaginative story of someone in the 1940s. If he could have been me, he would have been. That's basically what I feel is the connection, is that he was a person that, you know, the world was totally different. He was in a small southern town in Missouri where, you know, as a black man, there's only so much you can do. But if he could have literally been who he wanted to be, he would have been his whole self, like me, like a person that's like I can't be stopped by nothing. And I don't have nobody stopping me. So I can literally get up in the morning and try to do things and not do things.

50:04And it's on me. Nobody's saying, you can't do that. So in 1948, we based a story around that. The 4th of July, he used to host this. But he was a gambler, like a famous gambler shooting dice. And back in those days, dice players were likened to the poker players we know today, like how we know famous poker players like then. But dice players were known. People knew these guys, you know, Blackie Johnson and Bay Boys. They were known. Like they would be on Billboard, like on the flyers that you stick on a light pole like that and say, they're coming to town to gamble. You're like, so my grandpa was one of those guys.

50:49He also had a business with my grandmother. They had a cafe in this place called the Sportsman Hall that also had a big banquet room in the back that they would turn into a casino certain nights of the week. And then he was friends with the sheriff. And these were real things. And so I took that whole story and made a caper. And so Flippin' Box Cars is about dice. So a pair of sixes is considered the boxcar. And then on the dot, then it's a whiskey caper going on because they're moving liquor. He and his partner, the sheriff, are doing this big caper and they have to do it with the trains. So the boxcar is on the train.

51:38And so you flip the boxcar. There's a whole little thing that's going on. And so it's a great story. We had so much fun writing it. and Harper College, Amistad and Harper College is putting it out September 12th, people go check it out. And it was special and a real great journey for me to allow that kind of creative come out. That is beautiful. It's interesting, it reminds me, my great great grandfather wrote a book about, wrote just the history of his life and we have it in a book format. Yeah. I think like 20 people have read it in our family but I have this historical data of what life was like back in the early 1900s from a grandfather's perspective.

52:22It makes me want to go back and read through this and really dig in and see what his perspective was. So I appreciate you doing that. I want people to get the book, Flipping Boxcars. We'll have it linked up. We'll put a graphic up. Make sure you guys grab a few copies of that for some friends. That's really cool, man. I'm glad you're doing that. Yeah. you also got a show on A &E called Kings of Barbecue. I love the nod, the Kings of Comedy. But amazing stuff, so people can watch that. Saturday Night's on A &E. It's all barbecue-related stuff. You've got an amazing brand also out there called AC Barbecue, which is in Walmart and I think it'll be in other places soon as well.

53:02Sauces, rubs, more things. So look for AC Barbecue. you. I think it's a brilliant thing, you know, that you're matching media and your own business and brand, which I think is brilliant that you're not just thinking I'm a talent and I'm just going to do talent work. Yeah. But you're building businesses, you're building products, you're adding value to your community and extending and using media to promote these things. I think it's really smart how you've strategized your career and your business mindset through the process. It's really impressive. Then you also have, you're in the sixth season of The Neighborhood, which you're, I believe you're an executive producer.

53:43Yeah, executive producer. Executive producer on the show as well, which is hilarious. I think I told you, I used to do CrossFit with Max like 10 years ago, almost for like every day. Oh, my God right there. Funny guy. This is probably like just a tenth of what you're doing. Yeah, right. But it's amazing everything that you're up to. So I want people to check out Flipping Boxcars. You can order that now. I want you to check out Kings of Barbecue if you want to laugh and see barbecue on Saturday nights, A &E, and then the neighborhood. Yeah, man. We can't get enough of you, man. We need more from you, man.

54:18We need more from you, man. I'm outside. You got so much other great stuff, but where can we follow you just to see everything else you're working on? Yeah, yeah, you can follow me. You know, my IG is saidtheentertainer. You look for the blue check on IG. And I am Cedric is my website that kind of has everything. And I know that I'm on Facebook and Twitter and all those. But your website and Instagram are kind of like the main place. That's what I mainly rock with. Okay. Cedric and Intainer. Yeah. I am Cedric.com as well. We'll have all the stuff linked up. Yeah, it has all the other links to everything.

54:59Amazing, man. We'll make sure to link all the stuff in the show notes too. this is powerful i've got two final questions for you uh this is a question i ask everyone towards the end of my interviews called the three truths okay so it's a hypothetical scenario hypothetical question imagine you get to live as long as you want okay long as you want and you get to continue to live your life the way you envision it family friends career it all goes the way you want it uh but for whatever reason in this hypothetical scenario it's the last day on earth for you you got to turn the lights off and you can't leave anything behind that you've created so flipping boxcars any other book this interview kings of comedy all the tv shows you've done and gonna do the movies for whatever reason they're gone but you get to leave behind three lessons to the world so without having access to your content anymore you get to leave behind three funneled truth.

55:58This is all we would have to remember you by. What would be those three lessons you would leave behind or those three truths for the world? Oh man. I think that, well, nobody can be you but you. So trust that your DNA is necessary, it's an individual thing, and that it is a reason to be. You're you. Trust that part. Be a good citizen. I think that we just live in a space where civility, understanding, sensitivity to others, what their circumstances is, is super important. If I can give you that as a citizen, you just live and I'm civil, we good. Don't come over here with your nonsense. I won't come over there with mine.

56:56And then, you know, laugh, man. Laugh, man. Just try to get a good laugh here, man. That's it, find a way to laugh, man, in life, and find joy. Those are the things I think are really important, man. Like, you know, if you can have those moments, It's those those they they lift you and they help you ride. They heal you. And, you know, they always say laughter is a good medicine. But really, you know, that that good laugh is one of those things that can really change the trajectory on a rainy day, on a sad day, on anything. So figure out how to get you a good laugh. Those are good truths. I love that.

57:45Before I ask the final question, Cedric, I want to I want to acknowledge you for a moment like I did in the beginning for. man you showed up for again the St. Louis community you showed up for the country in so many different ways you bring healing energy through your entertainment your laughter your ability to be creative and and bringing people together through your way of being so I just want to acknowledge you for your consistency it's I don't think people realize how challenging it is to show up at the level you do for 30 plus years and do it with a good heart, a kindness to you, a good energy, a consistent creativity to you.

58:26So I really want to acknowledge you for being a leader in this entertainment world, in comedy and beyond the way you've done it. It's been really inspiring to grow up watching you, to know you now, and to see you continue to thrive. I acknowledge you man. I acknowledge you. My final question, what's your definition of greatness? Definition of greatness, man, that's a really interesting one, man, because I think you have to, I think my definition of greatness would be to be excellent and then one step past that. Like, so be as excellent, as proficient, be as unique as you can as a person, as an individual.

59:16And then to be great, you got to somehow cross and step right past that. And, you know, it's a thing that's... So that means that even when you are excellent, when you are at the top, that you've decided that I can actually put something else in the world that everybody else can now aspire to. The line has changed, and that's what greatness is. It moves the line. It moves the line up to where now we've got to keep going because if we all right here, that's dope. We're killing it. But that one person that did that, you're like, oh, I didn't even know we can go there. And then you keep doing it.

1:00:01And that's what greatness rings about. I hope today's episode inspired you on your journey towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description for a rundown of today's show with all the important links. And if you want weekly exclusive bonus episodes with me as well as ad-free listening experience, make sure to subscribe to our Greatness Plus channel on Apple Podcast. If you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend over on social media or text a friend. Leave us a review over on Apple Podcast and let me know what you learned over on our social media channels at Lewis Howes.

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