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Hey guys for this week\u2019s \u201cFive Minute Thursday\u201d I wanted to\nhighlight a few takeaways from our interview with Jason Mackenzie,\nfounder of the The Book of Open.

Empowerment through Vulnerability

For most men, we associate vulnerability with weakness.\xa0 To\nbe honest, even hearing the word \u201cvulnerable\u201d my first thought is\n\u201cunwanted exposure to weakness.\u201d\xa0 However, vulnerability is a\nstrength.\xa0 Vulnerability is empowerment through authenticity,\nwhich is being true to one\u2019s self.\xa0

I have been working with men/fathers for the past three years,\nand I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that if men are\ngoing to be \u201cvulnerable\u201d with each other, it has to be in an\natmosphere or situation where it \u201ccool thing.\u201d\xa0

I can tell you from experience that men will check out when you\nstart talking about sensitive stuff like \u201clet\u2019s share our\nfeelings.\u201d\xa0 Men simply don\u2019t respond to that when in the\npresence of another man.\xa0 In fact, it\u2019s even hard for us to do\nthis with our wives for the most part.

However, men are good at one thing\u2026problem solving.\xa0 We\nlove to problem solve.\xa0 We feel empowered when we share our\nwisdom and give advice.\xa0 To be honest, being vulnerable is\nsharing a struggle or an obstacle and simply asking for\ninput.\xa0

The way to kick start a \u201ccool atmosphere\u201d of vulnerability is to\nask for advice from a friend.\xa0

Here\u2019s an example that will really hit this home\u2026If you are\nsitting across that table with a friend and he says:

\u201cHey Mike, I am struggling in my marriage and I need to share my\nfeelings with you about it.\u201d\xa0

OR

\u201cHey Mike\u2026man\u2026so check this out, Jen and I are having some tough\ntimes lately.\xa0 There is a ton of tension between Jen and\nme.\xa0 I can\u2019t really figure out how to get things back in the\ngroove.\xa0 Have you and Becky been through this?\xa0 If so,\nhow can you help me out man?\u201d

Which one of those sounds better and would be received\nbetter?\xa0 It\u2019s the same dilemma and situation\u2026just teed up\nbetter.

Abundance versus Scarcity

Jason hit upon a great topic that is powerful for all of us and\nthat is having the right mentality.\xa0 Our brains are wired up\nto default to fear and keep us from danger.\xa0 This part of our\nbrain is the amygdala and it has been a part of our hardwired DNA\nsince the beginning.\xa0 This is the part of our brain where we\nhear the voice of fear and consequences.\xa0 It\u2019s the same part\nof your brain that will talk you out of risks and tells you are not\ngood enough.\xa0 It\u2019s not our fault; it\u2019s just part of our\nhardwiring.\xa0

It takes a trained and disciplined mind to look at our lives\nwith abundance vs. scarcity.\xa0 Successful people don\u2019t think\nabout what they are going to lose by taking a calculated\nrisk.\xa0 Successful people consider what they will lose if they\ndon\u2019t take a calculated risk and move forward.\xa0

So, the next time that fear voice starts to bend your ear,\nremember the words of wisdom from Jason Mackenzie on this\nsubject.\xa0 It\u2019s all about perspective and reframing.

No One Relates to Perfection

I grew up in the 80\u2019s and I was a die-hard WWF professional\nwrestling fan.\xa0 Hulk Hogan, Rick Flair, Jimmy Superfly, and\nso-on were my heroes.\xa0 The most hated guys in that sport at\nthat time was \u201cMr. Perfect and Mr. Wonderful.\u201d\xa0 Want to know\nwhy?\xa0 It\u2019s because no one can relate to inflated egos and\nperfection.

People relate to real-life authenticity and transparency.\xa0\nOur greatest human need is the need for community and\nrelationships.\xa0 It\u2019s impossible for us to relate to others\nthat view themselves as superhuman or \u201cperfect.\u201d\xa0

The big lesson here is there is connection and empowerment\nthrough being authentic, vulnerable, and transparent.\xa0 People\nrelate to us better in that mindset and we are more willing to\naccept ourselves.

Guys, thanks for checking out this week\u2019s \u201cFive Minute\nThursday.\u201d\xa0 See you next week and have an awesome weekend!