The Grounded Man
The Grounded Man is a podcast by Deru for hardworking men who are building businesses, carrying responsibility, and providing for their families while feeling they should be freer. It explores how the world has changed and why leading through hard work and long hours can limit a man's influence. Deru offers a way to change how leaders lead from the inside out, carrying the load without constant pressure. The goal is to help listeners enjoy what they are building and still have energy for life.
Episodes
The Season of Restore – is your environment more ambitious than you?
What if the next step in your growth starts with changing the environment around you?In this episode of The Deru Way, John explores the season of Restore and what it means to create the right conditions to thrive. He shares how wanting more enjoyment in his work and more time outdoors led to the Grounded Man hike, bringing together his love of hiking, coaching, and community.John also explores how
The Season of Rise: How many €1,000 decisions are you making every day?
What if the way forward starts with changing how you make decisions?In this episode of The Deru Way, John explores the season of Rise and what it means to turn clarity about your value into decisions and action. He shares his experience of returning from his honeymoon, feeling overwhelmed by business and personal commitments, and how a reminder to prioritize his energy helped him regain focus.John
The Season of Root: When I'm not providing, who am I?
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 mo
The Season of Release: Are you blocking your growth on purpose?
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 resp
The Season of Return: Leading from your true nature
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, a
The Deru Way: Opportunity is present, but are you?
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 import
Lessons from 40 years leading a family business with Michael O’Reilly
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 both
If you don't take the time, you won't have the energy
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 in
How a hike can grow your business
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 the
Success is being in my best energy everyday - Sam Harte
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 hel
Growing your business – and freedom – by growing your people.
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 problems
Does your business Revolve around you – or Run without you?
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 lea
Why can't they just get it — is it them or is it me?
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 fee
Letting go to get your energy back - with Barry Finnegan
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 holdi
If There's Not Enough Hours in the Day — You're Counting Them Wrong
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 mo
Your financial pressure has nothing to do with money
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 mind
Am I the only one that cares about the business?
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 ar
Running on empty - or just dirt in the fuel line?
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 st
Why It's So Hard To Not Doubt Yourself
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
Doing everything you can and still feeling like it’s not enough
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
If the business owns you – it’s time to own yourself.
The Grounded Man Episode 09Do 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 rea
If you can't switch off - switch on
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-conversation00:00:00 — Introduction00:01:09 — Reframing Switchi
Taking the work out of life with Ross Griffin
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
Enjoy the build - Look forward to Mondays again
Show NotesHave 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 foc
How To Lead with Freedom When Pressure is Constant
Show NotesIn 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 fr
Carrying the weight without losing yourself
Show NotesIn 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), wha
Leading By Example Starts With Your State
Show NotesIn 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
Stop Working to Earn Freedom — Lead With Freedom
Show NotesIn this episode, John Douglas talks about why so many hardworking men still feel stuck even when they are doing everything right.He breaks down the idea that freedom is not something you earn later, but something you learn to live now.Instead of constantly reacting to pressure, expectations, and responsibilities, this episode focuses on leading from within. It is about understanding your
The Hardworking Man: Old Strength in a New World
Description & Shownotes:In this debut episode of The Grounded Man Podcast, host John Douglas explores the shift from traditional, physically-driven strength to a new form of inner strength essential for today’s leaders.He breaks down how constant connectivity and modern pressures demand emotional, mental, and spiritual resilience not just hard work. John encourages men to master their inner ga
