Be nice: How to Stop Fighting Too Much (And Fixing Too Little)

What do you do when rejection is constant and life still requires you to keep going?

In this episode of Quick Before You Forget, Ty Schmidt welcomes actor Brent Bailey (yes — Kris K / Target Santa but also so many more amazing roles) to talk about reinvention, resilience, and staying grounded.

Brent shares what it was like going from a shy, introverted self described “computer nerd” to building a career in Hollywood, and the mindset shifts that help him handle rejection without letting it define his worth.

You’ll hear practical, real-life lessons on goal-setting, confidence, stepping out of your comfort zone, the role of therapy, and why learning to listen might be one of the most important skills we can rebuild right now.

If you’re tired of taking every “no” personally, this episode will help you breathe, dust off your self-confidence, and keep building anyway. 

Connect with Brent: @brentmbailey on Instagram

Jackie Chan video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rRwvSaSsuec

If this episode helped you: please follow, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder.

Meaningful Moments

00:00 – “You were shy?!” + the audition moment that shows how fear + self-consciousness can stop us

01:02 – Ty’s intro: what Quick Before You Forget is (music, mindset, movement) + welcoming Brent Bailey

02:28 – Childhood roots: kindness, work ethic, and what Brent learned from his parents

03:59 – The “go all-in” lesson: why half-trying protects your ego (but blocks your growth)

05:39 – Setbacks as teachers + why the goalpost always moves

07:34 – Handling rejection: separating identity from career + finances + supportive relationships

09:36 – A specific setback: being “the commercial guy,” losing an agent, and learning to communicate goals

11:38 – Wins: Target Santa/Kris K + working with major names + why people matter most

13:17 – Transition figures & role models: community, coaches, and being a fan as a superpower

17:15 – What Brent would tell his 22-year-old self (and why he wouldn’t change the past)

19:46 – Megaphone message: “Be nice,” drop the extremes, and come back to listening

22:23 – How to become a better listener: ego, curiosity, and stepping outside your perspective

24:56 – Therapy + perspective: validating feelings without letting them swallow your life

27:18 – “Unreal” moments: leaving comfort → moving to LA → sleeping on a friend’s couch

32:38 – Turning pain into purpose: the heartbreak that pivoted his whole life

34:05 – Music + silence: why Brent prefers quiet and “ambient” grounding sounds

39:37 – Legacy question: what he hopes his future child would feel about his life

44:48 – What’s next: upcoming films + why he posts less but lives more

46:53 – Authentic interviews vs scripted answers

47:50 – Comfort food + Benihana joy

48:58 – Ty’s close: asking for connection, reviews, stars, and inviting listeners back

Top takeaways:

• Rejection hurts less when your career isn’t your identity.
• Going “half-in” protects your ego but it also blocks your breakthrough.
• Community + finances + self-awareness = resilience you can replicate.
• Reinvention is often born from discomfort… or heartbreak… and you can still be grateful for the pivot.

Reflection prompt: Where in your life are you “half-trying” so you’ll have an excuse if it doesn’t work… and what would change if you went all-in?