The Revolutionary Man Podcast

The Pursuit of Male Greatness Breaking Free from the Ordinary

March 11, 2024 Alain Dumonceaux Season 4 Episode 11
The Pursuit of Male Greatness Breaking Free from the Ordinary
The Revolutionary Man Podcast
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The Revolutionary Man Podcast
The Pursuit of Male Greatness Breaking Free from the Ordinary
Mar 11, 2024 Season 4 Episode 11
Alain Dumonceaux

Let me know your thoughts on the show and what topic you would like me to discuss next.

Ever felt like you're just going through the motions, unsure if you're living up to your full potential? You're not alone. Join me and my insightful guest Mark Jordan as we navigate the choppy waters of modern manhood, confronting the hidden struggles of loneliness and worthiness that many men face. Mark's personal journey, marked by moments of profound pain and growth, serves as a beacon of hope for all of us seeking to break free from the chains of mediocrity. Together, we unpack the importance of support and mentorship in charting a course toward a life that's anything but ordinary.

Unravelling isn't just about pulling at threads; it's about reweaving the fabric of our lives into something stronger and more vibrant. In our deep-dive conversation, Mark introduces the 'Unravel' program – a sanctuary where men can collectively push past barriers and champion each other's quests for excellence and leadership. We dissect the powerful outcomes of joining such a community, like crafting a vision and a personal mission statement, which act as compasses guiding us toward a fulfilling, purpose-driven existence. The alignment of values and missions emerges as a lighthouse, steering us away from the stagnation that can so easily ensnare us.

Lastly, we confront the fears that all too often immobilize us, examining the 'lollipop of mediocrity' and its deceptive allure. In dissecting strategies to escape the underachievement cycle, we focus on the five pillars of a balanced life: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances. By arming ourselves with not just the tools but also the camaraderie of a supportive brotherhood, strides towards personal excellence become not just possible, but inevitable. So, if you're ready to shed the cloak of the average and step into the extraordinary, this episode serves as your rallying call. Join us, as part of the awakened brotherhood, in the relentless pursuit of our fullest potential.

Key moments in this episode:
10:00 Unravel Groups: Leading Men to Pursue Excellence 
16:48 The Fear of Failure: A Barrier to Men's Progress
23:18 The Best Piece of Advice: Making Conscious Choices 
28:07 Final Thoughts: Pursuing Progress and Meeting the Demands of Reality
28:50 Conclusion: How to Connect with Unravel Groups

How to reach Mark:
Website: http://www.unravelgroups.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unravelgroups/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnravelGroups/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unravel-groups/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnravelGroups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unravelgroups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aJoSJReQjBBLpqlyYA2Iw

Support the Show.

Thanks for listening to the Revolutionary Man Podcast. If you want more information about our programs use the links below to check us out. It could be the step that changes your life.

👉To join our movement:

📖 Free Course: Crafting Your Mission - https://bit.ly/3Ogvjpj

🕸 The Awakened Man: https://www.theawakenedman.net

💪 Band of Brothers: https://bit.ly/4b8X0Ky

🦸‍♀️ Hero’s Quest: https://bit.ly/3Sc544y

🤝Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/3SfgK6n

IG - /theawakenedman2020/

FB - /theawakenedman.net

xSgCzA4yXaCpX3hi81RC

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Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Let me know your thoughts on the show and what topic you would like me to discuss next.

Ever felt like you're just going through the motions, unsure if you're living up to your full potential? You're not alone. Join me and my insightful guest Mark Jordan as we navigate the choppy waters of modern manhood, confronting the hidden struggles of loneliness and worthiness that many men face. Mark's personal journey, marked by moments of profound pain and growth, serves as a beacon of hope for all of us seeking to break free from the chains of mediocrity. Together, we unpack the importance of support and mentorship in charting a course toward a life that's anything but ordinary.

Unravelling isn't just about pulling at threads; it's about reweaving the fabric of our lives into something stronger and more vibrant. In our deep-dive conversation, Mark introduces the 'Unravel' program – a sanctuary where men can collectively push past barriers and champion each other's quests for excellence and leadership. We dissect the powerful outcomes of joining such a community, like crafting a vision and a personal mission statement, which act as compasses guiding us toward a fulfilling, purpose-driven existence. The alignment of values and missions emerges as a lighthouse, steering us away from the stagnation that can so easily ensnare us.

Lastly, we confront the fears that all too often immobilize us, examining the 'lollipop of mediocrity' and its deceptive allure. In dissecting strategies to escape the underachievement cycle, we focus on the five pillars of a balanced life: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances. By arming ourselves with not just the tools but also the camaraderie of a supportive brotherhood, strides towards personal excellence become not just possible, but inevitable. So, if you're ready to shed the cloak of the average and step into the extraordinary, this episode serves as your rallying call. Join us, as part of the awakened brotherhood, in the relentless pursuit of our fullest potential.

Key moments in this episode:
10:00 Unravel Groups: Leading Men to Pursue Excellence 
16:48 The Fear of Failure: A Barrier to Men's Progress
23:18 The Best Piece of Advice: Making Conscious Choices 
28:07 Final Thoughts: Pursuing Progress and Meeting the Demands of Reality
28:50 Conclusion: How to Connect with Unravel Groups

How to reach Mark:
Website: http://www.unravelgroups.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unravelgroups/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnravelGroups/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unravel-groups/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnravelGroups
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unravelgroups
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6aJoSJReQjBBLpqlyYA2Iw

Support the Show.

Thanks for listening to the Revolutionary Man Podcast. If you want more information about our programs use the links below to check us out. It could be the step that changes your life.

👉To join our movement:

📖 Free Course: Crafting Your Mission - https://bit.ly/3Ogvjpj

🕸 The Awakened Man: https://www.theawakenedman.net

💪 Band of Brothers: https://bit.ly/4b8X0Ky

🦸‍♀️ Hero’s Quest: https://bit.ly/3Sc544y

🤝Clarity Call: https://bit.ly/3SfgK6n

IG - /theawakenedman2020/

FB - /theawakenedman.net

xSgCzA4yXaCpX3hi81RC

Speaker 1:

Today look like every other day, and is that a good thing or is that a bad thing? You know, many of us get wrapped up in the mundane of our daily lives, and so much so that our goals, our dreams and our desires are either taking a backseat or they're completely forgotten. And so it is in this ball of the mundane that we need to start to unravel, so that we can no longer accept the mediocrity that our lives have become and instead, when we don't pursue mediocrity, we can actually start to pursue excellence. And isn't that truly what life's all about Pursuing the most that we can become.

Speaker 1:

And so today, my guest is going to share his story, and it's phenomenal work that he's doing in transforming men's lives, helping them unravel the mundane that they currently live in. And before we get into that, we all know that being a man today has never been more challenging. And so this pain is real for us, it's a pain of loneliness and of worthiness, and it's masked by our anger and our resentment, and it's all because we are uncertain and afraid to take that next step. So if you're tired and fed up of where you're at, then I'm going to encourage you to start your hero's quest where you can become more, accomplish more and live more than ever before. Just go to membersunit and start your quest today, and with that let's get on with today's episode.

Speaker 2:

Welcome everyone to the Revolutionary man Podcast.

Speaker 1:

I'm the founder of the Awakened man movement and your host, alan Damonso. Let me start by asking you a couple of questions. Do you have a circle of men that you can lean on? And if so, great and congratulations. But if not, why not? You know, I think for many men we struggle with this idea that we need to be this lone wolf and figure things out in ourselves. We have this fear of being alone. Figure things out in ourselves. We have this fear and complacency within us to reach out and ask for help, whether we think that that's something that's going to be make us feel weak or be or be shameful of it. But the truth of the matter is is that when we choose to lean into the things that are hurting us, the things that are holding us back, that what we find is that what resides inside of us is much greater than anything that we can ever be faced against. And so today I have a guest who is teaching men how to unravel their lives, or actually get their lives put back together, if they may be unraveling, however you want to look at that. So allow me to introduce my guest today.

Speaker 1:

Mark has been married, mark Jordan that has been married to his wife for over 35 years and they have two daughters and two wonderful son-in-laws. And Mark is the author of several books and he's been also started a couple of companies and started a couple of churches as well. But he realized that after a successful career in investment banking that he wanted to do more with his life, and so he founded unravel groups, and unravels focused specifically on leading men to transforming and progressing their lives in all aspects and every way that they show up. So Mark's really passionate about mentoring men and discovering better ways for them to reorient their lives. So welcome to the show today, mark. How are things, my friend?

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much for having me Great and I'm just really excited to be here with you today and to chat about men and their future and how we can all grow and move the ball down the field.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely, my friend. There's so many, there's so many different ways that men's groups have come around, and we're going to get into that today a little bit later. But my opening question to all my guests as they come here is we talk a lot here at the Awakened man about everyone of us being on our own hero's quest or our own journey, and so when you're, when I want you to think about your life, tell us about a time when you knew that things just had to change. You know, what did you do about that and how has that experience shaped you into the man you are and the work that you're doing?

Speaker 3:

Interesting question. Yeah, it's 61. I can tell you that a lot of experiences like that in my life, so it's more of a question of you know which one to pick. You know, I think probably the thing that jumps out for me right now, or that's probably worth highlighting, is back in 2009,. I was playing racquetball one day which I loved to play, and a lot of other sports and went for a shot and next thing, you know, my back was in excruciating pain and pretty much in bed for three days. That is that kind of sent me on a journey that I'm still going on. We'll be on, likely for the rest of my life of 24, seven pain. It's never stopped. I've had three back surgeries, a couple fusions and you know it's a journey that's just likely going to continue on. And you know what what I've learned from that has been so much and what I'd like for that to be gone. Of course, you know I'm certainly not looking to continue it. That having been said, since it's likely not going away, I can tell you I'm grateful for it at this point in my life and that's a that's a recent evolution for me, certainly for the. You know, the vast majority of the time.

Speaker 3:

At that point, it's been, of course, all the standard things you think about. I can't do this anymore. That's not fair. Why can't I do that? You know, the pain is awful, et cetera, et cetera, and all those are certainly valid feelings and certainly things that you know I've grappled with, and but I look back on that now, the journey I'm on and have been on to this point in that regard, I'll call it the journey of pain, and we all experience pain in our life in lots of different ways, you know, and I've had it in my life in other ways, just as happens to be one area and a couple of things that have really changed me through this experience. The first one I would say is grace.

Speaker 3:

Now, in prior to this, prior to this 2009 beginning of this journey, you know, I didn't certainly didn't have as much grace and understanding for people that struggled with, struggled with challenges of life let's just say they're coming, all different flavors, but I just didn't have compassion, you know, to the level that I, that I feel like I should have.

Speaker 3:

And, man, this changes you quickly because you start realizing wow, you know, I'm just a tiny step away. I'm being in the same boat that a lot of other people are and, by the way, I'm a tiny step away from being in bed every day and so it really Calls me to have just a greater degree of grace and compassion for people who are struggling, even struggling in areas that I don't understand. That don't make sense to me, and I think the second big thing that came out of it is time. You know, I took a lot all that time that I was spending, which was great, and I would wish I had it back, but all the time I'm spending in sports and activities and redirected that into, you know, things that are eternal building endeavors and initiatives and just getting involved in areas that maybe I wouldn't have previously, or certainly maybe not to the degree. So this is so much good that's come out of that and change me and continues to build my character.

Speaker 1:

Isn't it so true? Right, we truly are forged in the fire of our challenges, are we not? And I think you know you mentioned two big words there.

Speaker 1:

You talked about grace, you talked about compassion, and I want to thank you for also saying, you know, recognizing that the pain is still there, that that part of your life and what for you will probably be there For the rest of the rest of your days, but the learning from it, and so, because those words are so big, especially word grace, I'd like to spend a little bit more time really talking about what. What does grace look, feel like for you today and how we can maybe help other guys understand exactly what we're talking about.

Speaker 3:

I think at first starts with just changing, growing your inner vocabulary. I think that's the first step. You know it's easy to say have more grace or have more patience. Patience is certainly done on a lifelong struggle of mine as well. It starts with inner vocabulary, right in learning new tools and new ways to interact with yourself In the moment, which that requires, of course, a degree of self awareness.

Speaker 3:

I love Henry clouds definition of integrity, the courage to meet the demands of reality. So we got to live in reality first. That's okay. I'm more self aware when I'm not experiencing grace or when I'm not showing grace toward other people, whether it be just in my own thinking or whether it be overtly toward them. Then it's developing new vocabulary and new tools to equip myself for that. And you went out of. One of the first steps for that, for me, is just learning to not learning to be, to being more effective at apologizing Again the moment if I'm overtly not showing that grace. Okay, I'm sorry. Yeah, that's not the, that's not the version of myself I wish you would have seen in this moment. So I'm sorry, you know. Let's rewind that and go again man, I just love that, that.

Speaker 1:

That last piece is just so, so profound right of being able to be able to apologize and know that, that we've made that. That mistake and I think back to earlier in my career Is, you know, leading teams and that, and I can think of there was a time in my life where I wouldn't have admitted that I had made a mistake. That would just be forget it. You just don't do that. Leaders don't do that. But what I recognize, the when I started to actually take responsibility for my actions and my words, that life started to change, for not just for me, but for them. They people actually start to trust you more Because they see that you recognize the vulnerability and the pieces, the parts of you that aren't perfect, and that you're willing to step into that and do something different. I think that's a such a great way that you've explained that well said well said.

Speaker 1:

So let's talk a little bit about your unravel groups piece here. So what is it all about? And you talked a little bit about how we start, how you're starting it, how you started, but let's get into unravel groups and what its purpose and mission is.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I don't know if this has been your experience over time, but it's certainly been mine and a lot of people. I know that, generally speaking, there's this acceptance of mediocrity in the marketplace and in the person people's personal life as well. So that's really been a theme I've noticed over the years with men including myself at times is challenging. You know, the constantly be looking to grow. So this idea of the pursuit of excellence has become something that's really been important to me over time. So unravel was founded to lead men in that regard and in the pursuit of excellence. That's really what it's about. Leadership as well, of course, but the pursuit of excellence, that's really what the focus of unravel is. And every man feels stuck in some area of his life. I mean, I don't care how successful he is, I don't care how unsuccessful he is, everyone is stuck in some area. So everyone can benefit from growing in this area of excellence in leadership.

Speaker 3:

The word unravel came about because we feel like first you have to go through this process of disintegration before you can go through the process of integration. So it's unraveling all of this stuff in our lives. That, of course, is a lifelong journey. It doesn't happen overnight, it's not conquered overnight, but unraveling all of this stuff in our lives, in whatever area it is, whether it's faith, family, friends, fitness, finances, whatever it is unraveling that and then learning new tools to move the ball forward and grow in that area.

Speaker 3:

So we have multiple environments unraveled, but unravel one, which is our core and kind of founding environments, a 12 month environment, 12 month small group environment where men in community learn to pursue excellence together. So that's unravel one. We've got unravel go, which is a self-paced, you know six week or six session environment, if you will, for men to sort of have an easier on-ramp to unravel one. And then we actually have unravel two for men that have finished unravel one. That's a six month focus on leadership. And then, lastly, Helen is to move to unravel three. Our hope for every man is they would move into an unravel three group. That's for life, where they're doing. They're doing life with men who were about the same things that they are.

Speaker 1:

And what a great structure. I just love that it's taking copious notes and I really like how you've, how you split that up and I think there's so much power in groups and that we get an opportunity to. I think that's how we learn as men, how to be men, when we can be in groups and see it being see it being, you know, manifested or produced in front of us that we can see what it looks like oh that's what it looks like for someone to be, to be vulnerable man.

Speaker 1:

That guy had so much courage to do that and you feel that and you start to feel the things that we've been, we've been suppressing and we don't want and that we've been fighting against, and I think, the power of what you've done here with these groups and leading them through these different spots. I just think what a great format that you've developed.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and it's, it's we really believe and this is probably in your experience too that sustained growth.

Speaker 3:

It's very hard to do it by yourself you know doing it in a group it's much easier to scale it, to sustain it over time, because you have men around you that are on the same journey. It's like running a marathon. You know to go out and do it by yourself. If you've never done it before, it's kind of hard. But you do it with a friend or a group. It's a much easier experience and it's more gratifying to be on the journey, to complete parts of the journey with other men who are doing it with you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that with. How does the saying go if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go with, bring others.

Speaker 3:

And yeah, that's exactly right, love it.

Speaker 1:

So how? This is obviously some passion for you and your work. Now, what are you starting to see? What's the transformation you're starting to see in men? In men in your, in your circle, but also in the circles that they're in their communities? How is that transforming their lives?

Speaker 3:

It's so exciting. I wanted to get the testimonials and emails and et cetera, et cetera from men who have been through it and the life has changed from their spouses, friends. It's just so exciting to see it happen. I would say here are the biggest outcomes that we see from men. First, a God-given vision. Men leave unravel with a God-given vision and when you have a vision suddenly for your future, of your life, it gets more exciting. It really becomes something you're looking forward to, waking up every day to participate in. Secondly is a practical framework for moving the vision forward. So it's not enough just to have a vision, you have a framework for moving the vision forward. Then a third thing is a mission statement that kind of comes out of that like a calibrating, governing, directing statement that every day, every week, every month, you can filter your activities through to see and calibrate your mission and your vision as it relates to your activities.

Speaker 1:

And I just love that. One of the things that we do here at the Awaken man in our groups is the very first module that I call the Return of the King, and what it's all about is taking them through a process of ultimately crafting a life, mission, vision statement for themselves, and so we look at taking down barriers of their limiting beliefs, how their values are either serving them or not serving them. Are they truly living that? And it sounds like we have some similar ideas, I think, from our experiences. I think what we find is that when we're out of alignment and we don't have that thing, that idea, that something to connect to that, we tend to struggle as men. Is that what you're finding as well in your work and your life? Yeah, 100%.

Speaker 3:

It's so true it's easy to just float around and kind of live in status quo on a daily basis and not really be about something bigger.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's kind of like. You know, we talked about accepting mediocrity and I can remember years ago a business mentor of mine said you know, beware. His famous quote was always beware the lollipop of mediocrity one lick and you suck forever.

Speaker 3:

And how often do we?

Speaker 1:

lollipop right.

Speaker 3:

Right, yeah, that's right. The lollipop tastes good until it doesn't.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because it's simple and it's and we may not want to be in that pain. We have this fear, this fear that is preventing us from moving forward, and so I want to talk a little bit about that now as well. And what are you finding in your men's work and your, you know, in unravel? What are the fears that are holding men back from living the lives that they, that they, truly desire?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I think a big one is just simply fear of failure. You know, I think that's a struggle. All men have the fear of failure. How am I going to look to the people around me, my loved ones, my friends, if I fail, you know, if I'm not able to really succeed at this endeavor? So to put yourself out there and say I'm going to craft a vision, I'm going to be about that on a regular basis. Suddenly now, people have a standard, if you will, to hold you to. And if you don't meet it which you won't meet it perfectly every time, no one does but when you don't meet it, it doesn't feel good.

Speaker 3:

And in fact that's something that we talk to guys about when they're starting unravel is look, one of the first things you're going to feel ashamed because you're, as you become aware of your possibilities and the opportunities you have, and then you become aware of how far away you are from those, the first thing you're going to do is feel shame, which is okay, I'm not good enough to do this, and we write out the blocks. One guy's to know hey, that's not the case at all. We're going to take one step at a time, right on the journey this year, on journey together, and you'll see when you look back, wow, the progress I made was incredible. So I think the shame, you know, the fear of failure, I think are the biggest things that hold, hold men back in reaching and pursuing and driving themselves forward.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, I completely agree when you. When you mentioned the word shame, I would just just hit me like a ton of bricks as I just think about my personal journey and starting and working through through my things and then starting doing, doing men's work and that piece of shame for us to overcome as can be such a heavy burden, and when we get opportunity to be in groups where leaders such as yourself and myself are helping men understand how that, that that's okay to feel that and that it's not a we're not going to climb the mountain one step. It's going to take time and we're here for support and we have the tools. So I know, for me, I'm not, I'm not a book therapist, I'm not. My my life experience is what's led me. Yes, I've done some training and I've done some things to help round out my skill to be able to lead men. So tell me a little bit about you. If you were to say, if I was to ask you, you know what qualifies you to lead men today. What would you say to that?

Speaker 3:

We get that question in a lot of different, you know, formats and different ways, from all kinds of different people and in circumstances, in different contexts and circumstances, and you know. The short answer to that is I'm a man who has lived life and experienced life just like you have and every other man has. My experiences aren't mean, of course, they feel unique to me. The reality is, the labels on those experiences are. There's a? There's not that many and all men have them, though. What qualifies me as a man who has encountered them and has a passion for talking about them and a passion for equipping men to make progress in those, that's it. We didn't. It's not like we created some secret formula, or it's not like we, you know, created some special format or curriculum or book or curriculum. All we've done is take from great thinkers, great theologians, great writers, great speakers, and we've curated that content into an environment that meets men in every key area of their life.

Speaker 1:

I just love that and I think that what's really important about what you're saying there is that you're, you've taken tools and aspects of life experience and other things that are out there and made to and made this format, and I think earlier you started to talk, rattle off a few. I'll call them. They're probably your, your, your powerful F's. You know family, faith, finance. Tell us a little bit more about that. Is that really part of the structure of what you're doing with men? Is that how you help them really understand their life?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we feel like that everything can be broken down into those five categories in one way or another. You know some you got to stretch a little bit to get them in one of those, those labels. But, and we feel like first faith is the wrapping, the, the, the container for everything. So that's not really a separate category as much as it is the wrapping or the container that everything else sits within. And but yes, the faith, family, friends, fitness, finances everything in unravel is going to touch on those areas and equip men with practical tools to make progress in their growth in those areas. That's the word growth that we really try to get men to get excited about, not perfection. So our phrase is progress, not perfection. Perfection is not going to happen, it's never going to happen, but progress can happen every day of your life, and so we're going to give men tools and all of those areas to make progress and then empower them to recognize that they can make sustaining, inskillable progress over time Right on.

Speaker 1:

Just love that as well, and I like that you're using the, the overall encompassing of our faith, because I truly believe that until we recognize that there is that, that we cannot do this alone, and even in the group of other men that we're and we're working together as men, we still need something much, much more powerful. We need more, something more guiding for us, and whether I refer to that, to that as God, others refer it in different, in different ways, the point being is that once we recognize that we have that connection, that life for us seems to be much easier, and I don't know if you find that to be the same in your work, in your work.

Speaker 3:

Yes, yes, and that's one of our values. I mean, in fact, that's part of our overall, you know, mission is we want people to grow in their relationship with God. We want that to be a part. It's a part of it, and how that, what that looks like for them and to the depth that it happens, varies of course, but we feel like that's a crucial piece. The crucial piece is to growing in that relationship, which then leads you into making progress and the areas of your life that you need to make progress in.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, right on, Just want to go a little bit different to a different spot here. Let me. Let me ask you what's the best piece of advice that you've ever been given and how has it served you.

Speaker 3:

You know it's an interesting question. The best piece of advice, well, there's been so much. You know. Again, at 61, I'll look back and go, wow, I've been blessed with so many people investing in my life and giving me wise advice. So you know what comes to mind.

Speaker 3:

Interesting enough was it came about when one of my close friends and I were water skiing one day and he and I would go water skiing a lot of early Saturday mornings and we would talk about life and how we orient toward life. And we sort of came up with this phrase as we were rifting a little bit and just kind of having a fun time talking about life. And the phrase is you can have almost anything you want, but you can't have everything you want. You can have almost anything you want, but you can't have everything you want. And of course, that phrase was a byproduct of tons of great advice I've gotten over the years and it was just kind of our way of repackaging all this wonderful advice we've gotten into this simple statement that is applicable in your faith I mean, excuse me, in your personal life and your vocational life. You can have almost anything, but you can't have everything in your life. So we were really talking about more from an economic standpoint, like Possessions and material and growth and financial desires, that you can pretty much have pretty much anything you want.

Speaker 3:

Right, but you can't have everything. So if your your economic life is about choices, more importantly about trade-offs If I want this, I can't have that and there's health, there's value In making those trade-offs and developing that muscle the same thing applies in your personal life. You know you can't spend a hundred percent of your time with One aspect of your personal life or the other aspects of it are going to suffer. So it's what are those trade-offs? What am I intentionally trading off for so that I can make progress in the area of my life, or the areas of my life that matter? Now I find it to be just so helpful, and so many areas of of my life is that is just looking at that kind of almost anything I want, but I can't have everything one. And, by the way, it's not good To try to have everything you want. It's not healthy.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, absolutely not. That's what leads to things like it's all obsession, addictions and other things start to come out when, when, that, when we go on that path and what I like, what you're saw what piece of advice is that? What you're, what you're really saying, is For us to live consciously. That's my takeaway from it.

Speaker 1:

Consciously I can have anything that I want, and now it's about choices and trade-offs and decisions, and then that to me then leads to now you're really. What you're really asking men to do, then is to what do you truly value, and is this decision, this choice, worth the trade-off that I'm going to make? So like what profound information? You know a piece that you've just given us. I just love that mark.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, thank you. Yeah, I it's been very helpful for me and over time and it just applies in so many different circumstances your most basic of Financial choices all the way up to complex personal relationships in your life yeah, so it's very helpful, absolutely.

Speaker 1:

So what encouragement would you give? Would you give to other men about who are maybe stuck in their life and they're thinking about wanting to make a change? What would you say to that, to that guy listening right now?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I would say imagine yourself 10 years from now and you look back on the last 10 years of your life and and look at these, these five areas of your life the faith, family, friends, fitness, finances and ask yourself If nothing changes over the next 10 years, how am I going to feel about that 10 years from now?

Speaker 3:

Right, and in the vast majority, of people are going to say to themselves I'm not going to feel very good about it. Well, if that's the case, and then you got to ask yourself the second question what are you going to do differently? Because if you don't do something differently than what you're doing now, you are going to keep getting what you're getting in that area of your life. So you got to do something different, pursue progress, and that's the only thing that's going to make a difference for you is Is committing to that growth in your life. Otherwise, status quo, mediocrity, as you've already touched on it's just, it's too easy, it's too simple and it tastes too good and it feels too good in the moment to move out of it.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely. Geez, I just love that. What a great, what a great way to put that together. You know of everything that we spoke about today, mark, and maybe there was something we didn't get a chance to touch on, so this is your opportunity to leave our mess, our listeners, with what's the one takeaway message you want to make sure they get from our conversation today.

Speaker 3:

I think I just love coming back to this idea of pursuing progress and and then coupling that with courage to meet the demands of reality. That's integrity. So to be a man who lives in reality and says, okay, here's my reality in these areas of my life, oh, I see that that's not where I need to be, where I want to be, where God's called me to be. Now I'm going to demonstrate courage, I'm going to lead myself courageously, I'm going to lead people around me courageously and I'm going to make progress in those areas. And, of course, we believe unravel is a great tool, a great environment to affect that change that that men need and just love that.

Speaker 1:

What a great way to To wrap our conversation up today. I just want to say once again, thank you so much, mark, for spending time with me today, and the work you're doing with unravel is just so needed. We need men's groups. We need different perspectives on how we go and shape and help men, you know, guide them through to the next phase of their life. So if they're interested there's a guy listening today is interested why don't you get involved with your program? What's the best way for them to reach out to?

Speaker 3:

the best ways to go to unravel groups calm. At unravel groups calm, there's everything that can be join a group, get some of the self-paced material that we have. Get exposed to some content. We've got an incredible blog that has very practical, helpful content For making progress in your life. So yeah, unravel groups calm, you can get exposed out of our social media Links there and get plugged into that as well.

Speaker 1:

Absolutely. I'm going to make sure all that information in the show notes, including your, your social media and folks can get a chance to reach out to you. I want to say once again, thank you so much for being on the show. Love the conversation today.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for hanging out with me today, enjoyed it.

Speaker 2:

Thank you for listening to the revolutionary man podcast. Are you ready to own your destiny, to become more the man you are destined to be? Join the brotherhood that is the awakened man at the awakened man net and start forging a new destiny today.

Unraveling the Mundane
Men's Transformation Through Group Growth
Overcoming Fear and Pursuing Growth
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