Authentic.

In a world that’s highly scripted, super-edited, and guessed and second-guessed, it’s become a buzz word.

What does it mean to be authentic?

Let’s break it down…

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Special note: this episode is from chapter 1 of Mike’s Seek. Adapt. Endure. book.

Access the complete audiobook for just $7.77 at https://www.juntotribe.com/offers/exun8Q72

God gave us hearts, minds, and bodies that crave exploration.

Our Creator wants to invite us into the adventure that is the life He originally designed for us.

Men, we love to search for new lands, new horizons, cross the oceans, and climb the tallest peaks. We search, question, inquire, and experiment because we were made to do so.

We must go forth into the world and explore! Find adventure! Get dirt on your jeans! Get wet in the rivers and oceans!

You are an explorer.

Discover new territory.

You were created by the Creator to create something only you can create…

With the advancement of technology, our computer and phone have sadly replaced our hammer and chisel. The ringing of hammer on anvil has been replaced by the tic-tac-tic of our computer keys.

Yet, the fact is, we are men, and we were born to create.

… b/c you are a craftsman

We once had a drive and passion to learn, grow, touch, feel, smell, taste and hear. We did this because we had an insatiable curiosity of the world around us. We wanted to find out more. We sought after knowledge because we had an innate desire given to us by God to know and understand. We once wanted to see what this world had to offer and not miss it.

How much time do we spend sitting down and learning from someone that has more experience and depth than us?

When was the last time we sat in silence and took time to think and contemplate the ways of the world?

When did we begin to allow movie stars the job of teaching us how to live our lives?

When did we stop listening to great minds like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien?

When did the words spoken by the Man from Galilee become boring, outdated fairy tales?

And when did politicians become messiahs, philosophers and kings?

You are a scholar. Learn & grow

Many believe the concept of a man as a warrior is an outdated, old belief that only knuckle-draggers still hold close to their hearts.

Whether we want to believe it or not, spiritual warfare is real and the enemy is looking to devour and destroy. We are human and therefore we are part of the fight. By nature, we are protectors and defenders and we don’t always have to pick up a sword and shield to defend.

In the final section of the human performance talk, we get practical about stepping forward.

By implementing a few tactics each day, we can step into a compounding effect that multiplies our growth.

(Pro tip: Ben Franklin— who created his own Junto— said that compounding interest is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. It doesn’t just work in banking, it works in life too!)

Here's how...

The gains— in any area of human performance— are found in the grind of the daily work. However, apart from a purpose, this process seems bleak and boring sometimes…

But, when we tap into a purpose, things change.

“As a man thinketh, so is he…”

Turns out, it’s somewhat true. The gains we make in human performance are largely determined by our belief structure.