The Great Man Within

#101: Yesterday, I talked about how a lot of men experienced “The Dip,” this week.   Today, instead of diving into more inner work…   ….Bryan and I decided to take off our personal development hats.   This episode is a lighthearted discussion about the little things that are bringing us joy right now.   Some of those things include: Bryan missing an important part of his face (yes, you read that right) Reminiscing about practical jokes I played in the corporate office The esteemed position Bryan once held in a pet store The one major upcoming sports event that I’m most excited for this week   And I also share a major declaration I made this week… …regarding bringing a new addition to my home.   We hope this episode brings a smile to your face, some added ease to your day and a fresh outlook for tomorrow.   -DQ

#100: This past Saturday, I hit “The Dip.”   After a solid 4 week run…my energy and motivation hit bottom.   As it turns out, I’m not the only one.   A few of the leaders in The Great Man Mastermind also felt the following:   “On a scale of 1 to 10, my motivation is at 1.5”   “I gave myself permission to chill and made that the main goal for the day. Some days that worked, others it didn’t.”   “How do I balance the obligation to be productive while also allowing myself necessary downtime?”   In the past, I used to experience “The Dip” as a failure, I’d beat myself up internally and I’d push myself twice as hard to get out of it as fast as possible.   This typically resulted in me employing short term fixes – like extra caffeine consumption or doubling down on work – that had longer term destructive effects.   Now, I’ve got a new protocol for handling The Dip which I share in today’s episode:   How to accept The Dip without letting responsibilities slip How to accelerate through The Dip with power and peace How to eliminate the suffering and resistance that often comes with The Dip   -DQ

#99: Its week 5 of quarantine, and the #1 answer I’m still getting when I ask people “what’s the ONE word that best describes how you’re feeling right now?” is:   ANXIOUS   Anxiety comes from fear and uncertainty about the future.   There are way more questions than answers these days, which is causing perpetual anxiety.   But I see a troubling trend emerging:   In an effort to alleviate that anxiety, I see people over-consuming news in a desperate attempt to find the piece of information that’ll finally bring relief.   And yet, the opposite is happening.   It’s time to put a temporary pause on news consumption…   …or at least develop a mindful protocol on how to consume news that doesn’t perpetuate your anxiety.   In today’s episode: The benefits of taking a 48-hour temporary abstinence period from news A 4-step information consumption protocol that will help you build better habits around what and how much news to consume   -DQ

#98: “Initiation is the process of dying and being reborn.” – Robert Moore, The Archetype of Initiation   What if you were to look at the Coronavirus era as an “initiation” process?   There are 3 phases of initiation:   The Challenge: Crisis; departure from the ordinary world The Transcendence: Transition into the unknown The Reconstitution: Adaptation to the new environment   Almost every hero’s journey that we love – The Matrix, Star Wars, Forrest Gump – follows this process.   That’s because true transformation and growth always means leaving an old part of yourself behind, so you can elevate to a greater version of you.   One step closer, to The Great Man Within.   -DQ

#97: If you’re like most men, your friendships rarely dive below the surface of: Business Sports Women Bowel Movements While all of these things are awesome and have their time and place…   …this limited window has destructive effects on you and your friends over a longer timeline.    Too many men grow old… …surrounded by people… …but feel totally alone on the inside.   I can guarantee, that at least one of your buddies feels this way…right now.   So I have a question for you:   Are you brave enough to lead your friends beyond the surface?   Are you going to brave enough to break protocol and the comforts of standard communication, in the spirit of elevating your relationship with the men you care about?   Today I give you a few tools as to how I’ve had success deepening relationships that I’ve had for decades.   The next move is yours.     -DQ

#96: Dwayne Lally was a man’s man. He was a boxer, he was dominant, he was an alpha dog. He had an abundance of friends, parties to go to, he even had a family and a girlfriend who loved him. At the age of 24, Dwayne took his own life. Sam Webb, his friend, was rocked to the core by Dwayne’s suicide. Sam vowed to make mental health – and talking openly about mental health issues – a priority, so that people like Dwayne could get the help they need…long before taking such tragic action. Today’s episode is how a Great Man can create safe spaces for deep, meaningful conversations about mental health. As Sam would say, “It Ain’t Weak to Speak.” In this Episode The two words a man uses as a shield, to deflect how he’s actually feeling Why being a “man’s man” is quite possibly the most dangerous thing a man can be How you can become the safest person to talk to so the men in your life will open up to you Why you need to avoid the temptation to solve someone’s problem or give advice…and instead listen, so the other person can be seen, heard and understood…a small distinction, which may just save a life Who is Sam Webb? Sam is the co-founder of Livin, a mental health charity that is elevating the conversation around mental health Livin provides mental literacy training and de-stigmatizes mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and bi-polar disorder They’re also an amazing lifestyle brand, I wear their workout gear all the time – you have to go check out living.org to get you some Sam is an Aussie through and through…and in 2016 he participated in Australia’s very first season ever of Australian Survivor…and he’s got a ridiculous story from his experience on the island of Samoa that will have cracking up by the end of this episode Resources Buy Livin Workout Gear: livin.org/collections Follow Sam Webb on Instagram: @SamWebb It Ain’t Weak to Speak Podcast

#95: In NYC we have officially completed our 4th week of quarantine.   It’s time to check in and assess how you’ve been showing up as a leader.   Here are 3 questions I want you to ask yourself:   Write 3 Words that Describe: How have I been showing up as a leader in my business these last 4 weeks?   Write 3 Words that Describe: How have I been showing as a leader in my relationships these last 4 weeks?   Write 3 Words that Describe: How have I been leading myself these last 4 weeks?   This exercise in and of itself is illuminating, but there’s a 4th question that’s the lynchpin to leveling up your leadership.   Tune into today’s episode – 3 Areas to Assess Your Leadership – to hear that 4th question.   Greatness awaits,   -DQ

#94: Over the past month, I’ve noticed a distinct difference between two categories of men.   Group A: Men without a foundation of Inner Work. Group B: Men with a foundation of Inner Work.   Here are the 3 biggest differences: Men with an inner work foundation adapt faster to unfamiliar circumstances.   Men with an inner work foundation swiftly architect empowering new protocols to meet the changing landscape.   Men with an inner work foundation feel the significance of the time we are in, and are using this opportunity to fortify everything they care about in their lives.   That is why inner work has never been more important.   I invite you to invest 20 minutes of your time with me today, doing the inner work.   You can start by listening to today’s episode.   -DQ

#93: I owe you a debt of gratitude.   This past week, The Great Man Within Podcast cracked the Top 50 podcasts in self-development in the United States on Apple Podcasts.   We’ve also hit #41 in Canada and #44 in Australia.   You have helped spread the word. You have helped create a movement.   You are helping more men discover and live the Great Man Within.   To that, I thank you.   A Great Man Plays the Long Game   I’ve been in the business of producing content for over 5 years now.   During that time, not a single piece of my content has gone viral.   Or even mildly viral, for that matter.   And yet, here we are – in the top 50 in our category.   The rewards of your daily commitment don’t always payoff overnight.   Sometimes, it takes time.   That’s why I am a strong believer that a Great Man Plays the Long Game.   A Great Man Commits. A Great Man Keeps Going When Others Would Stop. A Great Man Has a Purpose and is Unrelenting in His Pursuit of It.   Let’s walk this path together, of discovering and living The Great Man Within.   -DQ

#92: It’s been quite a while since we’ve done an episode on the topic of sex. So let’s jump back into the arena with a discussion on the sources of sexual confidence. Sexual Confidence means: Being ok with your sexuality Being able to ask for what you want in bed Being in control of your sexual impulses Understanding your partner’s pleasure and how they experience sex In this episode: One book on sexuality you need to read The concept of “sexual performance” and how that actually ruins performance Integrating the dark sides of our sexual desires to avoid shame and elevate arousal Why obstacles to fulfilling your sexual desires actually end up amplifying that very desire Why shame around your sexual desires – subtle and otherwise – is keeping you from your fullest sense of sexual confidence Who is Ryan Thomas Ryan is a relationship and sex coach for men, that Bryan first met when he was running his sexual health company Ryan helps guys have epic sex by breaking through the emotional BS that fucks up your relationships and sex life He runs www.TheIntimateLifestyle.com