Men Are Forged

Grant Skeldon started Initiative Network when he was 23 with the goal to develop young leaders into Christ-loving, city-changing, church-investing, disciple-making local missionaries. Initiative has united and accelerated some of the most diverse and dynamic next gen leaders from across the country. In 2020, Grant got married and moved to Nashville to become the Next Gen Director for Q Ideas. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Relevant, The Gospel Coalition, and was recently featured on the cover of Outreach Magazine. His book on the next generation, The Passion Generation, has helped thousands of pastors and parents who are trying to reach, raise, and retain the next generation.

In this interview, Grant and I discuss bridging the gap between generations. He talks about the vale of a healthy community and the power of life in prayer. Check out Grant at grantskeldon.com and qideas.org. 

Questions to Ask Yourself from the interview: 
1. What person younger than me am I actively helping? (giving time, advice, or access to network)
2. How do I see Jesus as the model for leading, mentoring, and discipling others? 
3. How have I taken advantage of my time as a single person?
4. What thing do I want to be great at, that I can learn in community?
5. What have I valued for multiple years, where its created tangible fruit in my life?

Highlights
3:00 - Generational bridge building
7:50 - Jesus and His value and intentionality toward discipling those close to Him
12:02 - Early Influences (2 fictional, 1 real) 
12:58 - George Bailey of “It’s A Wonderful Life” as a ‘man of the city’ 
19:30 - Starting a non-profit with his friend for local ministries in Dallas 
22:20 - Leaving College
23:50 - The Gift of influence and convening power
24:15 - First big speaking event
26:50 - The Power of being discipled or mentored
29:50 - Found his “sweet spot” in speaking to young people
34:50 - Don’t waste your single years, set yourself up for your married years
37:55 - First job
42:10 - Learning to speak publicly and authentically in community
46:45 - “Becoming Confident in who you are, and Comfortable in who you are not.”
48:40 - Value for Prayer and intimacy with God
50:30 - Story of God showing up through prayer
57:15 - What his prayer life looks like

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Recap of Stephen Scoggins Interview

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Who have I surrounded myself with that influences my mindsets? 
2. How have I created value in me this year? What has my money gone to? 
3. How am I “amplifying” the best qualities about me?
4. How am I getting in my own way in becoming a great leader and person?
5. If I die tomorrow, what legacy am I leaving?

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Today, my interview is with Stephen Scoggins. Stephen and I discuss mindsets that create success and purpose in your life and business. He goes into the people in his life that shaped his thinking and influenced him on his path to today as a leader, entrepreneur, and man of character and influence. Find more about Stephen stephenscoggins.com and checkout his event, Transform U Live, October 21-23. For coaching, cohort, and content, go to menareforged.com 

The highlights from my interview...

2:45 - Being raised by his grandmother
3:50 - Learning about outstanding work ethic from his dad
7:36 - Best piece of advice he got from the mom of his girlfriend, “Mama Wama”
9:30 - His Definition of a ‘Sojourner’
11:10 - Advice for people in their 20s, “Pay for things that create more…Become more of who you are.”
12:20 - Stuck to Unstoppable 
14:03 - Quotes The Rock
16:25 - “Be Teaching and learning from someone at all times”
17:20 - Stephen’s Strengths Assessment (find on his website)18:12 - Seed, Stock, Plant19:42 - “My identity is NOT tied to my mistakes”
20:25 - 3 questions to sit down and ask yourself
24:15 - “Limitations are as big as your choices”28:10 - Insights for the Christian Business Leader
34:20 - “Leadership 101 - Your team is always watching.”
34:56 - Advice for his 25 year old self, “Focus on the right priority”
36:30 - Transform U Event on October 21-23, 2021

Questions to Ask Yourself from The Interview

1. Who have I surrounded myself with that influences my mindsets? 
2. How have I created value in me this year? What has my money gone to? 
3. How am I “amplifying” the best qualities about me?
4. How am I getting in my own way in becoming a great leader and person?
5. If I die tomorrow, what legacy am I leaving?

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Recap of Jeff Felten Interview

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Today, my interview is with Jeff Felten of contentremedy.co, Jeff is an entrepreneur, adventurer, and a new dad. In the interview, we discuss his life in Washington state, his outdoor lifestyle, and his experiences after college that lead him to who he is today. 

Each recap, I discuss the key insights from the interview. 

8:20 - Grew up believing he was limited in options after high school and college
13:25 - Playing baseball in college
17:35 - Became friends with a guy who did graphic design for a living, his realization of doing something "outside the box" began.
23:00 - Trial & Error working at a coffee shop and building a brand"I enjoyed branding and thought; how do I do more of that?"
27:00 - "I have to feel free, freedom to go play. A job is not worth giving up freedom."
32:10 - Prioritizing Fun and Adventure
35:05 - "Building a business that serves me, instead of me serving the business"
41:00 - Easy access to adventure and variety

For coaching, cohort, and content, go to menareforged.com, and subscribe.

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Recap of Connell Barrett Interview

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. How am I growing in confidence in who I am and what I have to offer the opposite sex?
2. What are the unique things about me that I love and think others would love as well?
3. How do I fight the urge to constantly impress others and present true self everyday?
4. How am I positioning myself to love and be loved in a romantic/meaningful relationship?

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Connell Barrett is a real life "Hitch", he is a dating coach and the author of Dating Sucks But You Don't: The Modern Guy's Guide to Total Confidence, Romantic Connection, and The Perfect Partner. The best part about my interview with Connell was talking about helping men be comfortable and confident in who they are.

Connell's Website

This episode, I share highlights from the interview:
10:30 - Growing in confidence during your 20s
13:00 - 25 Reasons why you bring value to a woman
16:20 - Presenting Your Authentic Self
20:10 - "What if it is not rejection?"
22:15 - Who the book is written for
31:40 - The goal of the first date is NOT to impress
37:10 - Big lessons from bad first dates
42:00 - Rom-Com stereotypes and lack of reality

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Recap of Mike Ruman Interview

*This episode, I share highlights from my interview with Mike Ruman from Healthydads.com. Each recap is key insights that I took from the interview.

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Today, my interview is with Mike Ruman of Healthydads.com, Mike is an entrepreneur, business owner, and a foster dad. In the interview, we discuss his early influences, running multiple businesses, raising kids, confronting hard things in your life, and much more.

3:20 - Biggest influence at a young age was his football coach believing him more than he believed in himself
6:40 - Asking Questions as parent builds trust with your child
8:45 - Received a death threat
14:05 - "what is the truth?" 
17:20 - Job in publishing with Zondervan
22:55 - "Selling the dream, living the nightmare"
24:50 - Training for MMA fight
31:25 - "Commit to something bigger than yourself"
37:05 - Last piece of advice: "Biggest successes came from biggest failures"

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.

Recap of Corey Hilton Interview

*BONUS Clip at the end: a 10-minute clip of Corey talking about being "Man Enough". 

Support the show

MEN ARE FORGED develops young professional men to pursue God's calling — so they can grow, lead, and maximize influence in the world around them.

Send in a question to be answered on the pod!

For more on what we do, go to menareforged.com.