Why Young Men Are In Crisis and What We Can Do About It
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Something alarming is happening.
1 in 6 young men today is suffering from depression. Many feel lost, disconnected, and without a compelling future. And if we look closer, there’s a pattern:
- Fewer male role models.
- A lack of purpose, mentorship, and belonging.
- The disappearance of traditional rites of passage into adulthood.
When young men don’t find healthy teams and communities around them, they form destructive gangs—online and in real life.
Our young men are in crisis. And as a dad with a son, this is scary.
After an eye-opening conversation with Dan Sullivan, I had a massive aha moment—a few game-changing insights that can help you break free, level up, and create a future that excites you and hopefully a young man you know.
KEY INSIGHTS
- The Societal Impact of Male Congregation: Dan Sullivan argues that the way young men come together is fundamental to a society's prosperity and creativity. Encouraging the formation of teams that benefit the public is essential, while failure to do so can lead to the rise of gangs.
- Addressing Status Frustration: Mike Koenigs references Albert Cohen's study of delinquent subcultures, noting that gangs often emerge from status frustration among working-class youth. The solution lies in channeling collective action and shared ideals into positive team-building activities.
- The Significance of a Compelling Future: A major theme is the lack of a compelling future for many young men, which contributes to feelings of being lost and can even lead to homelessness.
- Combating Dopamine Addiction and Human Avoidance: There is a growing problem of dopamine addiction to technology, easy sex, and pornography, which leads to social isolation and the rise of "incel" culture. Real-world interactions and teamwork can combat these negative trends.
- The Importance of Teamwork and Unique Abilities: Teamwork and individual capabilities are paramount in today's entrepreneurial landscape. Recognize and appreciate the unique abilities of each team member.
- Appreciating Gender Differences in Teams: Dan Sullivan notes that men and women have different biological and social dynamics, but the most successful entrepreneurs are those who can effectively collaborate with the opposite gender.
- Experiential Education: Dan Sullivan advocates for a different kind of educational system where you study your own experience and turn it into lessons.
- The American Advantage: The American system is flexible, which allows individuals to thrive and create their own opportunities.
- Leadership and Mentorship: Strong leadership and mentorship is imperative. Dan notes that his company is run by a woman and his wife, Babs, who oversees the operations, while he focuses on the creative aspects.
TIME STAMPS
- [00:01:48] The nature of a society is greatly affected by how young men congregate; a prosperous society ensures young men congregate in teams beneficial to the public, otherwise they may form gangs.
- [00:03:42] Some believe Caitlin Clark's success in women's basketball is attributed to her early experience playing on boys' teams, learning a different, more competitive style of play.[
- [00:07:50] Delinquent subcultures and gangs form as a response to status frustration, but collective action can be channeled into positive team building.
- [00:08:53] A lack of a compelling future frustrates young men, contributing to homelessness.
- [00:15:14] The U.S. Army today is a better, all-volunteer army with a demographic of people slightly above average in education and background. Social structures, institutions, economic opportunities, social mobility, positive outlets, mentorship, collective action, and group identity help propel men forward.
- [00:19:26] Dopamine addiction to phones, easy sex, and porn, coupled with human avoidance, is creating an epidemic-level incel culture among young men.
- [00:20:34] Children today lack the sense of usefulness and role in something bigger that farm kids had.
- [00:25:11] Role models and knowing what adulthood looks like are important, and gaming has picked up some of the slack in this area.
- [00:28:19] Women in Strategic Coach workshops are "lucky exceptions" because they've learned how men operate.
- [00:32:11] Entrepreneurs have early personal confidence and are willing to stick with their path even if it costs them socially.Some entrepreneurs always had a singularity of purpose and were more interested in their own pursuits than what others were doing.
- [00:39:10] A different kind of educational system is needed where one studies their own experience and turns it into lessons.
- [00:41:12] Men naturally form teams, while women have cliques and are told to be pleasing to men. Male entrepreneurs who work well with women and vice versa are way ahead.
- [00:49:13] It is possible to create great teamwork regardless of team members due to entrepreneurism and technology. Appreciate differences, but congregate around unique abilities; life is bigger than just you, and you can contribute to big things as part of a team.
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