Apogee Strong

When we were kids, all we could think about was getting older and doing "grown-up" things. We spent our entire childhood imagining what we would do when we finally "grew up," and now that we are almost fully grown, we still aren't sure what it is we want to accomplish. When the time comes for the picture to be removed from the wall and put into action, it's not nearly as much fun as painting the picture in our heads of what it will be like when we ultimately do grow up. Curt Storring imparts his life's lessons, wisdom, and counsel to everyone listening today. Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. After all, maturity is a high price to pay for growing up. Tune in as he is asked questions about life, personal growth, and more! Quotes: “With our emotions, we need to know how to be with our children and see, appreciate, and affirm them.” – Curt Storring “Anytime you are struggling, give thanks because you're being forged. You're being forged into an absolute savage because you can handle it.” – Curt Storring “Act your age, not your shoe size.” – Curt Storring Takeaways: Parents have the biggest influence on how their children will grow up so be sure to give them the support they need, After all, children don’t need the perfect parent, they just need you. There is scarcely any passion without struggle. You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun. A lot of people seem to grow old but never actually grow up. Stop acting immaturely and become the calm, bright, and mature person you were always meant to be. Conclusion: Growing up isn't about doing what's right or wrong; rather, it's about accepting responsibility for your actions, managing the fallout, and pursuing your goals. It has to do with how you handle situations in a responsible manner. Only through life experience and learning from mistakes will one be able to achieve them. Even as adults, we continue to learn and encounter things that make us smarter, therefore the process of growing up may never be completely accomplished.

In a world where problems are abundant, feeling powerless and overwhelmed is easy. However, some refuse to let these problems defeat them and instead find innovative ways to make a difference. These individuals view the world's challenges as opportunities for growth and change. They understand that it's never too early to make a difference and today's youth can play a crucial role in shaping a better future. Whether you're a young person looking for ways to make a difference or someone who wants to contribute to a better world, you have the power of innovation and the impact that it can have on our communities and the world at large. Benjamin Wong shares his life experiences, lessons, and advice with future entrepreneurs. Age has nothing to do with what you can contribute to society. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: "I'm all about getting more kids involved with entrepreneurship and exposed to entrepreneurship, you know, as a way to close the opportunity gap and provide enormous opportunities to kids all across the world, quite literally."– Benjamin Wong "So there's been times where I was sad, I'm going to college. But interestingly enough, whenever I was so focused on getting the right grades, or the right, extracurriculars, I ended up not being as productive as when I didn't care and was doing things for fun."– Benjamin Wong "And just like that, that ethos of just providing a ton of value to people in combination with having a podcast where all these people weren't organically coming on. Just look at this roster of connections that are very valuable to me today."– Benjamin Wong Takeaways: While traditional education can provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, it doesn't always prepare us for the challenges and complexities of real life. We need to recognize that there are limitations to what school can teach us and seek out opportunities to learn from other sources. Schools need to incorporate practical life skills such as financial literacy, communication, and critical thinking into the curriculum. These skills are essential for success in the real world and can help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application. One of the greatest benefits of podcasts is connecting with a diverse range of people and learning from their experiences. We can find communities of like-minded individuals through podcasts and expand our perspectives beyond our immediate surroundings. Podcasts offer a wealth of information and insights on a variety of topics. They can be a powerful tool for lifelong learning, providing access to expert knowledge and thought-provoking discussions. With the right approach, podcasts can help us deepen our understanding of the world around us and broaden our horizons. Conclusion: Entrepreneurship and social impact are two powerful ways to make a difference. Regardless of age, anyone can become an entrepreneur with the help of consistency and perseverance. Turning an idea into a successful business venture takes time, dedication, and hard work. With persistence, entrepreneurs can overcome obstacles, learn from failures, and ultimately achieve success. Consistency and perseverance are vital qualities that can help anyone become a successful entrepreneur, while young people have the potential to create a significant social impact. By combining these two forces, we can inspire change, create value, and build a better future for ourselves and future generations.

During the adolescent period, we will face various challenges that can alter our way of life. How we would deal with those challenges can dictate the life ahead of us. But oftentimes, the culture in our society affects its outcomes. If you are upset or disappointed by something, let those feelings out and show your emotions. It is not a weakness but bravery—a courageous step to take action and resolve what you feel inside. Jordan Rogers shares his life experiences, advice, and guidance with future leaders. Turning from a boy to a man is not a simple task. You’ll need to recognize your mistakes in life and slowly transition to be a better man. If you struggle, reconnect with yourself by unifying your mind, body, and spirit.  Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, business, and more! Quotes: “In order to heal it, you have to feel it.” – Jordan Rogers “We are physical beings—the mind, body, and spirit all work together. And so working those in unison helped me heal myself from addiction. That’s why I became passionate about helping others harness that power and heal.  – Jordan Rogers “If we focus on other people, we suddenly can’t be in our head all day long. So we can serve them and have an impact as well.” – Jordan Rogers Takeaways: It's okay to be disappointed or upset. Voicing what you feel will help you recognize your true emotions, learn from them, and heal. In our culture, people who take drugs will be branded as bad people and frequently cast away. This kind of thinking is wrong; as those people are not bad, they are hurt. As such, instead of seeing them as bad, we need to help them elevate their pain and get back to their enjoyable way of life. Rebrand yourself and reconnect with your body. Work your body, mind, and spirit, and harness that power to heal. Conclusion: As we take our steps toward adulthood, we will constantly stumble upon challenges that can bring us down. And with how society works, we might find it hard to climb up. With the pain the problems brought us, healing would be tough. But if we harness the power of unifying our mind, body, and spirit, we can recover from our addiction, slowly transitioning from a boy to a truly wise man.

We often hear the quote, “Education is Power”. This is true as education equips us with the weapon of knowledge to achieve our dreams and face any challenges in life. Sadly, people are willing to spend on education just to get small value. Students cannot see how critical it is to have education, the knowledge they can use to improve the world and their lives. The world is slowly becoming illiterate, as students don’t have the desire to read. And they use different methods to cheat, not knowing that they only fool themselves. Roger Parrot shares his life experiences, wisdom, and advice with future generations. Education is critical, but nowadays, people do not see how valuable it is. Students must understand how education can revolutionize their life to be prepared for the challenges in life, but they need to put in the effort to acquire it. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, education, and more! Quotes: “College experience shouldn't be transformational. It should show that revolutionize your life to prepare you for great things. However, you've got to invest, ” – Roger Parrot “The downside of this generation is they don't read. And we are becoming an illiterate world, not just a country. People do not want to read. And when you don't read the words, you don't get the enrichment and insights, all the things that you could get out of it.” – Roger Parrot “I'm challenging my campus to ask students who you're cheating. If you use Chat GPT and use it for paper, you didn't cheat us, and we'll give you the grade. It didn't change anything. It didn't hurt us. All you're doing is cheating yourself.” – Roger Parrot Takeaways: Education is the only product that people purchase and are content to receive a low value for. On the other hand, if students demanded value for their education, the nature of higher education would change. This generation of students knows the importance of working as a team and helping each other out. The downside is that students now do not want to read, and the world is becoming illiterate. Students should love reading and realize the value of it to get pieces of knowledge that can help them in life. Students must understand that when they cheat, they only cheat themselves. As such, students need to take their studies seriously because, in the end, their lack of knowledge from cheating will have a huge impact on their life. Conclusion: A person's most powerful weapon should be education. It equips us with the knowledge we need to navigate this complex world. It prepares us for life's challenges. And it will be one of the means by which our dreams will be realized. Education is essential; everyone should have it and must enjoy it in order to get the most out of it.

Failure has many valuable lessons to teach us, one of which is that anyone can experience it. It is difficult to accept the fact that no one is immune to it. The fact that it teaches us to never take anything for granted and to always put in the effort makes it a very essential lesson as well. Everyone is fallible, and mistakes are common. But the ability to learn from these errors and turn them into stepping stones for achievement is what sets the successful apart from the unsuccessful. Giancarlo Bodoni imparts his life's lessons, wisdom, and counsel to aspiring leaders. Failure is a part of life, and it makes us more resilient. If we give up every time we run into a roadblock, we'll never succeed. We must develop the ability to accept our mistakes and grow from them. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: “I struggled a lot with self-doubt and confidence in general. But I didn't want anybody to think that I had tried something and failed. I refused to fail.” – Giancarlo Bodoni “I want to be able to do something that I haven't done before. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to do it, as long as I set my mind to it.” – Giancarlo Bodoni “Don't try to change people and try to make them more like you. Instead, have everybody be on the same page and have them identify each of their strengths and weaknesses.” – Giancarlo Bodoni Takeaways: The idea is to never give up despite the difficulties and disappointments that come with life. We must never give up; we must constantly get back up and keep going. Making seemingly impossible undertakings possible requires a strong will. The motto of outstanding people is "Nothing is Impossible," as any task can be completed with tenacity and diligence. Having a solid group of people around you not only keeps you grounded but also allows you to think creatively, push the envelope with new ideas, and most importantly, it gives you a strong support system. It is crucial for a team to function cohesively, to have a common objective, and to support one another in achieving that objective. Conclusion: Although difficult, failure is a valuable experience. We may apply the lessons it teaches us to better our lives. It demonstrates to us that we are fallible and that difficulties abound in life. It also teaches us the value of perseverance, humility, and learning from our mistakes. The youth need to learn these lessons as they set out on their path to becoming successful adults.

Raising your standards means setting a higher bar for yourself and refusing to settle for anything less. It involves pushing yourself to grow and develop, learn new skills, and take on new challenges. It's about striving for excellence in everything you do, from your relationships to your career. John Richards is a highly accomplished individual with a rich military service and leadership background. He served as a US Navy SEAL for over two decades, completing numerous deployments to various parts of the world. During his time in the military, John demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and was recognized for his contributions to the success of his teams. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: "It always ends up being a small world. You find that when you have people moving forward intentionally, paths inevitably cross with people with those lower standards. And so people want to raise the standards."– John Richards "I wanted to be something far bigger than myself. I wanted to have a purpose I wanted to try. And that's I think that's something we missed today with technology, is people are not just removed, but severed from an actual tribe."– John Richards "If you truly want to do something, you don't care how inconvenient it is, you'll go make it happen, and you're going to get far more creative than you ever thought you could be. Because you're obsessed with getting the answer you're looking for."– John Richards "Because the way you do things is the way you do everything. So, make you better so that you can go do whatever." – John Richards Takeaways: Raising your standards means setting a higher bar for yourself and refusing to settle for mediocrity. By setting high standards, you push yourself to grow and develop, learn new skills, and take on new challenges. Having a sense of purpose that is bigger than yourself can help you stay motivated and focused. It gives you a reason to push through difficult times and work towards something meaningful. Whether it's your personal relationships or your professional endeavors, strive to do your best in everything you do. This means putting in the effort and taking the time to do things right, even when it's difficult or challenging. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward. Cultivate resilience by developing a growth mindset, staying positive, and focusing on solutions rather than problems. Conclusion: In conclusion, raising standards, having a sense of purpose, and doing your best in all aspects of life are crucial elements for achieving success and fulfillment. These principles are particularly important for young men who are still figuring out their place in the world. Having a sense of purpose at an early age can provide young men with a guiding compass that can help them navigate through the challenges and obstacles they will undoubtedly face in life. It gives them something to work towards and a reason to push through the tough times. It can also help them develop a strong sense of self, cultivate resilience, and foster a growth mindset.

Being in our comfort zone is what makes us feel safe and happy. But just staying inside will be the reason why we are weak. Thus, we need to understand that being uncomfortable is what we need to grow, develop, and be more vital to face any problems life might throw at us. We need to stand for the truth and what we feel is right, even if it makes us uncomfortable because that makes us more solid and enjoy our life without regrets. We might hurt others in the process, but it is not bullying. We just need to know how to do that respectfully. JP Sears shares his life experiences, lessons, and advice with people, particularly caged in their own comfort zone.  As a child grows up, the gate to the world opens slowly. Children eventually learn about the problematic world we live in and might be scared to leave their comfort zone. But getting out of our comfortable lifestyle is the key for us to improve and be stronger. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: “If you're not ruffling any feathers, you better check in and see, am I using my heart as my North Star? Or am I just in this people-pleasing, frail, yet comfortable mindset of trying to avoid? If we do that before too long, we wake up and realize, Oh, I'm just living in the coffin of my comfort zone. It's comfortable, but it ain't no way to live.” – JP Sears “Approval is very worthless. It doesn't create fulfillment. It doesn't create purpose. It doesn't make better people's lives. It's all in avoiding discomfort mentality” – JP Sears “As a kid, my programming was, Oh, if something is uncomfortable, then it's bad for you. But if something's comfortable, it's good for you. We got to flip the script on that. So flipping the script, we will see that something comfortable is terrible for us and something uncomfortable is good for us.” –  JP Sears Takeaways: It is essential to stand for the truth–for what we believe is our right decision and get out of our comfort zone. Yes, we may hurt others, but we must realize that being bold, brave, and unapologetic is not bullying. Pursuing people's approval is a huge mistake, and it feels good but just for a short period of time. In the long run, we will feel empty since we betray ourselves. Staying comfortable creates a weakness within ourselves. However, Doing uncomfortable things will make us better and stronger. Conclusion: A comfortable lifestyle is good; this is where we feel safe and happy. But we need to learn to leave our comfort zone because this is when we improve, grow, and be robust–enough to tackle this complex world and live a life of freedom without regrets.

Although the transition from childhood to adulthood is unavoidable, young people mature at various rates and at different ages, creating a diverse range of physical, psychological, and emotional skills. As youths develop into adults, Jonathan Rios offers guidance, insights, and experiences from his own life to them. The teenage years are the beginning of maturity. And many of the experiences you have during those years will influence how you develop as a person and become a mature adult. Tune in as Jonathan talks about life, maturity, mindset, and growth. Quotes: “When you have an issue with a friend, parent, work, or even your future girlfriend or wife, it's important to talk to them first before approaching anybody else. This is especially important as we mature into men.” - Jonathan Rios “If you guys want to get better at anything, you have to be teachable. You have to be willing to suck for a while so that you can become the master.”  - Jonathan Rios “Information only informs you, it doesn't transform you. You must do something with it.”  - Jonathan Rios Takeaways: As you become more mature, you'll need to learn how to communicate with people you have problems with, even if it makes you uncomfortable. Talking about it with others won't get to the core of the problem. If you will be willing to suck at your interest for a while, you can become a master if you'll stay persistent. And know that you can succeed and grow if you continue to be teachable. The way you assimilate the information is you then go do it. Exercise, practice, iteration, and repetition are all terms for putting something to the test. See whether it works. Then, go back and try it from another angle. Conclusion: We all have goals. However, your process goals are what truly get things moving. Our mistake was that we were too focused on our primary goal and neglected the three process goals. By hitting those nearly continuously, we will move closer to our desired outcome.

Ryan has spent the last 15 years in the fitness industry with the majority of that time being dedicated to functional fitness. In 2010 he trained with the US Olympic Skeleton and Bobsled Teams (Qualifying for Olympic Trials in both sports). He also has been a CrossFit Regionals qualifier 7 times. He has made fitness programs for the US Military, large corporations, and several professional athletes around the globe. Ryan hosts the top fitness podcast on iTunes called, “Real Chalk" and currently owns and operates one of the top CrossFit affiliates in the world - CrossFit CHALK in Orange County, CA. MORE PLACES YOU CAN FIND RYAN Instagram - @ryanfisch Twitter - @RyanPFisch Website - www.gymryan.com MORE CONTENT Follow Matt on social to get the latest updates and Essential content. Instagram: @mattbeaudreau Twitter: @mattbeaudreau YouTube: Matt Beaudreau

Perspective is everything. For today's guest, the experiences and the things he saw as a young man shaped how he viewed the world, freedom, and his role to play in fighting for that very freedom. As men, we need a mission, a calling that will change the world. In this episode, Stephen Mansfield discusses with the young men of Apogee Strong how they can hone in on and utilize their own skills to do just that. STEPHEN MANSFIELD Stephen is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and popular speaker who is a servant of several vital social causes. Stephen is also deeply concerned about the current state of manhood. To help reverse the downward trend of modern masculinity, he has written leading books on the subject, has appeared in major media, has spoken at conferences around the world, and has launched the GreatMan movement to train men in the art of noble manhood. Stephen grew up as the son of a US Army officer, and spent many formative years living in Berlin during the dark days of the Cold War. Returning to the US, he attended college, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy and later a master’s in history and public policy and a doctorate in history and literature. MORE PLACES YOU CAN FIND STEPHEN Instagram - @masfieldwrites Twitter - @MasfieldWrites Website - stephenmansfield.tv MORE CONTENT Follow Matt on social to get the latest updates and Essential content. Instagram: @mattbeaudreau Twitter: @mattbeaudreau YouTube: Matt Beaudreau