Brian Mazza

Rebuilding my life one small win at a time.

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

What’s Your Cover Charge?

One of the most important lessons I ever learned came from working the doors of nightclubs and lounges. I didn’t learn it in a book, or from a podcast, or at some motivational seminar. I learned it in the real world—loud music, long nights, high heels, handshakes, and velvet ropes.

It was the concept of the cover charge.
At any solid club, it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter what your excuse is. If you want in, you pay the cover. No negotiation. No exceptions. No VIP “just this once.” Pay. Or step aside.

That principle stuck with me far beyond the hospitality industry. Years later—after enough failed relationships, one-way friendships, and energy-draining interactions—I realized I had been letting people into my life without charging them anything. No standards. No barriers. No boundaries.
And when there’s no cover charge, people don’t value the access.
They come and go as they please.
They make a mess, drink the best bottles, and leave you with the tab.

So I changed the way I operate. I implemented a personal cover charge. Not in dollars. But in character.
If you want access to me—my time, my energy, my loyalty—you’re going to have to pay up front. The fee?
• Respect
• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Reliability
• Kindness
• Effort

Those are the traits I now require to enter my space.
That’s the cover.
No exceptions. No bottle service loopholes. No “but we go way back.”
Because here’s the truth:
The club isn’t always full because it’s easy to get into—it’s full because it’s worth getting into.
And your life should be no different.

Life Mirrors Nightlife.
The nightlife business was my training ground. It’s more than just parties and pretty faces—it’s a masterclass in human behavior.
You learn:
• Who shows up just for the perks
• Who leaves the moment the lights come on
• Who respects the rules and who tries to manipulate them
• Who pretends to know the owner but really just wants a free ride
Now, zoom out—and that’s life.
Business. Friendships. Dating. Even family.
People will test your boundaries if you don’t define them.
You wouldn’t let someone walk into your home uninvited.
You wouldn’t let someone eat at your restaurant without paying.
So why are you letting people access your mind, your energy, your peace—for free?

The Velvet Rope Principle
The velvet rope exists for a reason. It signals exclusivity, value, standards.
It says: "Not everyone gets in here."
That doesn’t mean you’re arrogant—it means you’re intentional.

We live in a world obsessed with being liked and available to everyone. But in trying to please the crowd, we often neglect our own standards. When you raise your cover charge, a few people will walk away.
Let them. Because the right people—the ones who see your worth—will never flinch at the price.

So now I’ll ask you:

Do you have a cover charge?
Do you have a set of non-negotiables before someone gets access to your energy, your world, your trust?

Or are you still letting people in just because they showed up?

This isn’t about ego.
It’s about value, boundaries, and self-respect.

Because when you truly know your worth,
you stop letting people in for free.

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

Live More Life

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

Inaction is the devil…..

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

My wife dreamed of being on the Today Show, here is how she did it:

Established a goal

Mapped out a path

Worked very hard & networked

Was always reliable

Worked harder

Executed task after task

Saw an opportunity

Knew her worth

That’s how you turn a dream into reality

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

In my 20s, I was fixated on my bucket list, but it wasn't until my 30s that my checklist turned those dreams into reality.

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

Buying a sick watch is cool

Buying a sick car is cool

Training and running with your like minded amigo everyday.. is way cooler @SahilBloom

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

Pt 2.
I spent on average 53 min per day on fitness. That comes to 0.8833 hr × 365 days ≈ 322.41 hr

322.41 hr (fitness) / 6,205 hr (awake) x 100(%) = 5.19% of my day spent on fitness

That leaves you with 94.81% left in your day awake to accomplish anything else you want.

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

My breakdown of time spent on fitness pt.1 in 2023

365 days × 24 hr= 8,760 hr

365 days × 7hr = 2,555 hr of sleep (my average for 2023)

8,760 total hr − 2,555 hr of sleep = 6,205 hr awake

[Brian Mazza @BrianMazza]

As I approach 40 the stark reality is that time is running out, and there are no shortcuts. Time waits for no one, just as adversity is indifferent to our circumstances. I can't stress enough how vital it is to be present with my children every day as I watch them grow so quickly