The Grounded Man

What if the value you have been chasing has been within you all along? In this episode of The Deru Way, John explores the season of Rooting and what it means to move from being a pressured provider to a present provider. He shares his own experience of starting a business, struggling with money, pricing, and sales, and how chasing success and outcomes created more pressure instead of helping him m...

What are you holding on to that is getting in the way of your own growth? In this episode of The Deru Way, John explores the season of Release and what it really means to let go. He shares how pressure, comparison, expectations, and the need for control can drain your energy and disconnect you from the present. John also explores the difference between what you are responsible for, what you are re...

What happens when you stop forcing life and start returning to who you really are? In this episode of The Deru Way, John explores the first season: Return. He shares a recent experience that left him frustrated and explains how awareness helped him see the real issue behind it, let go of the story he had created, and return to a more grounded state. John also explores how fear, pressure, scarcity,...

Are you leading your business from presence, or are you leading from pressure? In the first episode of The Deru Way, a special six-week series of The Grounded Man Podcast, John explores why there has never been more opportunity to grow a business, but also never been more noise and distraction competing for your attention. He explains why staying grounded and present is becoming increasingly impor...

How do you grow a family business without losing the values that built it? In this episode, John is joined by Michael O’Reilly, second-generation Managing Director of Pneumatics Group, for a walk-and-talk about his four decades in the family business. Michael reflects on its humble beginnings, why holding stock became a competitive advantage, and how learning every part of the company has been bot...

How much of your week is intentionally designed to protect and raise your energy? In this episode, John explores why making time for yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential to how you lead. He shares a simple exercise around work, family, and yourself, and explains why where you actually spend your time and energy is a better reflection of your priorities than what you say matters most. John also...

What are you carrying that you no longer need to hold onto? In this episode, John reflects on the first Grounded Man Hike and the conversations that came from stepping away from business, pressure, and everyday noise. He shares the idea behind carrying a stone up the mountain, what it represented, and why letting go can sometimes be just as important as pushing forward. John also looks ahead to th...

Can you grow a successful business without sacrificing your energy, your family, or the life you actually want to live? In this episode, John is joined by Sam Harte, director of Harte Outdoor Lighting, for a walk through Wicklow as they explore what it means to work on yourself while growing a business. Sam shares how purpose, presence, the Leadership Hour, and focusing on his daily energy have he...

There's a version of success where you build something real — a team, a reputation, clients who trust you — and somehow end up more trapped than when you started. This week on The Grounded Man, we get into why that happens — and why the fix isn't a better system, it's learning to grow people instead of managing tasks. We talk about the real cost of downsizing to avoid people problem...

Are you spending too much time working in the business instead of on it? In this episode, John explores why strategy execution is not just about knowing what needs to be done, but creating the space, structure, and leadership rhythm to actually do it. He explains why business owners can get trapped in doing, fixing, and firefighting, and how shifting into clearer thinking, better decisions, and le...

Do you feel like your team still does not fully understand the vision, even after you have explained it? In this episode, John explores why communication is one of the biggest challenges for business owners and why real alignment comes from clarity, consistency, and repeating the vision often. He also looks at what can get in the way, including ego, people-pleasing, and waiting until everything fe...

What happens when the pressure of business starts affecting your health? In this episode, John walks with Barry Finnegan, founder of a technology business based in County Meath, to explore what it really means to carry responsibility without letting it consume you. Barry shares how a mild heart attack became a wake-up call to rethink stress, personal responsibility, health, and the way he was hold...

Do you feel like there are never enough hours in the day? In this episode, John explores why so many business owners feel trapped by their own calendars, constantly chasing time, success, and opportunities outside of themselves. He explains why your real value is not in the number of hours you work, but in your presence, focus, strengths, and ability to choose what truly deserves your energy. For...

Do you ever feel like cash flow, sales, and money pressure are keeping you up at night? In this episode, John explores the deeper mindset behind financial pressure in business. He explains why money is not something to be chased, but a byproduct of the value we create. He also talks about underpricing, saying yes to the wrong clients, avoiding the numbers, and learning to shift from a scarcity min...

Do you ever feel like you are the only one who truly cares about your business? In this episode, John explores the loneliness and pressure that can come from carrying too much responsibility alone. He explains why business is not just a machine built on systems and output, but a living thing built on people, trust, relationships, and purpose. He also talks about letting go of the belief that you a...

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 s...

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...

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 guil...

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 r...

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 Swi...

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...

Show Notes 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...

Show Notes 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...

Show Notes 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),...

Show Notes 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...