The Grounded Man

Do you feel like there is more energy, focus, and power inside you, but something is blocking it from coming through?

In this episode, John explores burnout, overwhelm, and the hidden blocks that stop men from operating at their full potential. Using the story of a tractor losing power because of dirt in the fuel line, he explains how men can have the energy, vision, and ability inside them, but still feel drained when fear, control, and pressure get in the way.

John talks about the difference between physical tiredness and deeper mental drain, why trying to control everything can leave you exhausted, and how people pleasing, proving, perfectionism, and protecting can quietly steal your energy. He also shares why trusting the process, accepting where you are, and giving energy back to yourself is the key to moving from burnout back into freedom.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:01:20 — Running on High or Running on Empty

00:02:30 — Dirt in the Fuel Line

00:04:15 — Burnout and Overwhelm

00:06:35 — Alignment and Energy

00:08:45 — Trusting the Process

00:10:30 — Control and Mental Drain

00:13:05 — The Four Cloaks of Fear

00:16:10 — Giving Energy Back to Yourself

00:18:20 — Permission to Trust Life 

Do you find yourself stuck because you are afraid of making the wrong decision, even when you know something needs to change?

In this episode, John explores how decision-making shapes the lives of hardworking men who feel trapped despite their success. He talks about how decisions keep life moving forward, why fear of letting people down can lead to hesitation, and how trusting yourself allows you to lead with more confidence, courage, and freedom.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:00:00 — The Importance of Decision-Making

00:01:14 — Identifying Your Tribe

00:02:10 — The Fear of Letting People Down

00:06:43 — The Cost of Indecision

00:12:25 — Building Certainty in Yourself

00:14:23 — Fear vs. Intention

00:17:03 — Your Tribe Wants You, Not Perfection

00:19:01 — Closing Remarks 

Do you feel guilty for not doing enough, even when you are already carrying so much for your business, your family, and the people around you?

In this episode, John explores how guilt can quietly eat away at your energy, confidence, and ability to grow. He talks about the impossible expectation of keeping everyone happy, the danger of constantly giving without receiving, and why letting go of guilt helps you return to the present moment with renewed focus.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:01:18 — Guilt and Self-Worth

00:03:09 — Impossible Expectations

00:06:32 — When Guilt Becomes Identity

00:08:18 — Guilt and Financial Pressure

00:10:07 — How Guilt Blocks Progress

00:11:57 — The Danger of Constant Giving

00:13:53 — Guilt as Judge, Jury, and Jailer

00:15:41 — Accepting Your Limitations

00:17:28 — Wipe the Slate Clean

00:18:19 — Closing Remarks

The Grounded Man Episode 09

Do you feel like your business was meant to give you freedom, but somehow it now owns your time, energy, and headspace?

In this episode, John explores why many hardworking men feel trapped by the very business they built. He talks about separating your identity from your business, setting clearer boundaries, and building the self-awareness needed to respond instead of react.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com and explore more resources from John 

00:01:03 — Freedom and Business

00:03:18 — When the Business Owns You

00:05:20 — The Impact at Home

00:06:26 — Setting Boundaries

00:08:13 — You Are Not the Business

00:09:09 — Ego and Identity

00:11:06 — Taking Responsibility

00:12:49 — Building Self-Awareness

00:14:58 — Changing Your Mindset

00:17:35 — A Healthier Business Relationship

00:19:29 — Closing Remarks

Do you find it hard to switch off from business and work? - Well, maybe you're not built to switch off, maybe you're built to be on. This episode explains how to stay present and have peace of mind without switching off.

Interested in working with John?
 Book a Grounded Call here: https://calendly.com/johndouglas-coaching/deru-conversation

00:00:00 — Introduction

00:01:09 — Reframing Switching Off

00:02:04 — The Racing Mind

00:03:01 — Being Present at Home

00:04:54 — You Are Not the Business

00:05:52 — The Cost of Pressure

00:08:37 — Fear and Ego

00:11:25 — Your Relationship With Work

00:12:34 — Permission to Rest

00:13:29 — Focus on What You Can Control

00:15:52 — The Impact of Presence

00:16:32 — Who Are You Behind the Titles?

00:17:13 — Closing Remarks

Ross Griffin grew up on a farm in the west of Ireland, built a business, across multiple countries with his partners, and still thought he wasn't doing enough for Kosmos Company.

In this conversation he talks about the guilt of taking a walk in the sun. The thinking he did in front of the TV instead of being present with his family. The frustration that had nothing to do with the business and everything to do with what was going on inside him.

Today Ross shows up differently — calmer, more present, more confident in the journey. The difference between then and now — is that Ross stopped long enough to question what he was doing and say yes to putting himself first.

Interested in working with John?
Book a Grounded Call here: https://calendly.com/johndouglas-coaching/deru-conversation

00:00:00 — Teaser
00:00:33 — Introduction
00:01:34 — Meet Ross Griffin
00:03:25 — Pressure Behind Business Growth
00:06:37 — Self Awareness and Ego
00:10:39 — Changing the Relationship with Business
00:15:19 — Building a Better Culture
00:21:03 — Culture and Profitability
00:25:41 — Advice for Leaders
00:30:03 — Closing Thoughts

If you'd like to connect with Ross,
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-griffin-kosmos/

Have you built the life you've always dreamed of - family, business, team, revenue  but struggle to enjoy it? 

John talks about how constant pressure, responsibility, and the fear of slowing down can quietly lead to burnout and take the enjoyment out of the process.

He introduces the Smart Freedoms Framework, a five layer approach to creating a more aligned and fulfilling life. It focuses on Spiritual, Mental, Action, Resource, and Time freedom, showing how your internal state directly shapes your external results.

Through the analogy of a drill stuck in reverse, John highlights how pushing harder doesn’t always move you forward if you’re not aligned.

Instead, he encourages a shift toward freedom, flow, and being intentional with how you build both your work and your life.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:00:00 – Taking Breaks & Enjoying the Process

00:03:15 – Why Joy Matters in Leadership

00:04:08 – SMART Freedoms Framework

00:07:08 – Mental Clarity & Aligned Action

00:10:39 – Time Freedom Explained

00:13:32 – The Drill Analogy

00:15:40 – Building Real Freedom

00:17:21 – Reflection & Closing

Introduction & Context
 • Enjoying what you build
 • Feeling trapped by pressure

Understanding Pressure
 • Constant pressure and burnout
 • Why slowing down feels hard

SMART Freedoms Framework
 • Overview of the five freedoms
 • Working from the inside out

Alignment & Action
 • Focusing on what actually matters
 • Time and energy going to the right places

Closing Reflection
 • Freedom vs feeling stuck
 • Building a life you enjoy

In this episode of the Grounded Man Podcast, host John Douglas explores the constant pressure faced by men building businesses and supporting their families.

He breaks down the difference between the chosen pressure of an exciting challenge versus the constant pressure that slowly drains your energy and headspace.

John explains that pressure is not coming from your responsibilities, but from how you relate to them internally, often driven by fear, scarcity, and unconscious conditioning.

He unpacks how the fear of loss, failure, and rejection keeps many men stuck in a cycle of tension and overthinking.

By shifting toward an abundance mindset, practicing presence, and building self awareness, you can begin to release unnecessary pressure.

This allows you to lead with more clarity, freedom, and enjoyment in both your business and your life.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@derunation

00:00:00 — Introduction

00:01:17 — What Constant Pressure Feels Like

00:02:15 — Chosen vs Constant Pressure

00:04:08 — Pressure is Internal

00:05:05 — Fear and Pressure

00:08:00 — The Cost of Indecision

00:09:52 — Scarcity Mindset

00:10:56 — Moving to Abundance

00:15:35 — Presence and Letting Go

00:17:45 — Observe When Pressure Rises

00:20:03 — Closing Thoughts

Introduction & Context
 • Podcast purpose and eliminating pressure

Understanding Pressure
 • What constant pressure feels like
 • Hidden burnout and mental weight

Chosen vs Constant Pressure
 • Growth vs draining pressure

Pressure is Internal
 • Driven by perception and the future

Fear and Scarcity
 • Fear of loss and survival thinking
 • Scarcity mindset

Shifting to Abundance
 • Energy is abundant
 • Focus on what you can control

Presence and Letting Go
 • Acting with clarity and faith
 • Detaching from outcomes

Root Causes of Pressure
 • Conditioning and need to prove

Self Awareness Practice
 • Noticing tension and asking why

Freedom from Pressure
 • Leading with presence and freedom

In this episode of the Grounded Man Podcast, host John Douglas explores the relationship between responsibility and pressure for hardworking men building businesses and providing for their families.

John explains that pressure doesn’t come from responsibility itself, but from how we carry it.

He breaks responsibility into three categories: what you control (thoughts, actions, mindset), what you influence but don’t control (family, team, business), and what’s entirely outside your control (others’ reactions, outcomes).

By focusing your energy on what you can control and trusting yourself and the process, you can carry responsibility more effectively and experience greater freedom.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:01:21 — Analogy: Manual Labor and Carrying Weight

00:02:16 — Redefining Responsibility and Pressure

00:03:19 — Energy, Cause and Effect

00:04:26 — Focus on What You Can Control

00:05:28 — Building Site Analogy

00:07:33 — The Role of Trust

00:08:32 — Three Categories of Responsibility

00:13:01 — Letting Go of the Uncontrollable

00:13:51 — Trusting the Process and Sharing the Load

00:16:01 — Building a Strong Relationship with Yourself

00:17:03 — Conclusion and Call to Action 

Introduction & Context

• Responsibility vs. pressure
• Pressure comes from how it’s carried

Analogy: Carrying Weight

• Manual labor analogy
• Carrying properly vs. poorly

Redefining Responsibility

• Responsibility is ownership, not stress
• Separating pressure from responsibility

Control vs. Outcomes

• Focus on actions, not results
• Let go of trying to control everything

The Role of Trust

• Lack of trust creates pressure
• Overcontrol leads to burnout

Three Categories of Responsibility

• What you control
• What you influence
• What you can’t control

Letting Go & Trusting the Process

• Shift focus to inputs
• Share responsibility with others

Self-Leadership & Application

• Build self-trust and awareness
• Lead without pressure

Conclusion

• Reflect and apply
• Share the message

In this episode, John Douglas talks about what leadership really means today.

He explains how leadership is shifting away from just hard work and control, and toward mindset, energy, and self-mastery. Your internal state doesn’t just affect you. It shapes your business, your team, and your family.

John encourages letting go of outdated habits, taking personal responsibility, and showing up in a way that naturally inspires others.

Leadership isn’t just about what you do. It starts with how you show up.

When you lead with the right energy and direction, people step up, ownership grows, and results improve without constant pressure.

If you want to lead with purpose, clarity, and calm, this episode is for you.

For more on the Deru approach to leadership from the inside out, visit www.derunation.com

00:00:00 — Improving leadership through energy

00:04:25 — Everything starts from within

00:09:29 — Modern leadership and inner mastery
 

00:10:38 — Focus on self-leadership first

00:16:19 — Focusing on personal growth

Introduction & Context

• Changing expectations of younger generations regarding leadership
• The importance of leading with purpose, presence, and peace of mind
• Purpose of The Grounded Man Podcast
• Vision for leadership in the 21st century

What is Leadership?

• Definition: Influence and inspiration of others and events
• Leverage: Influencing without direct involvement
• Challenges: Team members not stepping up or taking responsibility

The Role of Energy in Leadership

• Self-leadership’s impact on others
• Understanding energy: frequency and vibration
• Reference to Nikola Tesla’s views on vibration and frequency
• Numbers as the basis for scientific and business progress

Influence through Energy and Identity

• Ripple effect metaphor: pebble in a pond
• Individual energy, identity, and behaviors shaping outcomes and environment
• Attraction of similar energy; repulsion of dissimilar energy
• Positive and negative states attracting corresponding outcomes
• The futility of expecting positive results from a negative state

Identity in Business Leadership

• Fixer vs. Creator identities:
  • Fixer: solving others’ problems, making decisions for others, drained of energy
  • Creator: visionary, strategist, culture builder, empowers others
• Shifting from front-line doer to leader and organizer
• Value of self-perception as a leader
• Growth into leadership, not being born a leader