Identity, Success & Positive Masculinity

Mike Van Pelt is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and men’s life coach leader. He is the founder of True Man Life Coaching and host of the popular men’s podcast, True Man Podcast. Mike has served in leadership roles for most of his career, bringing over two decades of engagement and expertise in account management, consulting, and leadership development.

Today, Mike joins the show to discuss the work he’s doing mentoring and guiding men, what positive masculinity means to him, and why so many men tie their identities to their careers.

📺 Watch on YouTube

https://youtu.be/OoeKu5-K33U

Key Takeaways

00:51 – Jonathan introduces today’s guest, Mike Van Pelt, who joins the show to share early financial lessons he learned, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his views on the wealth gap

15:21 – Mike gets vulnerable and opens up about his unique relationship with his wife and her career

19:59 – Why men tie their identities so closely to their careers

26:05 – Defining ‘positive masculinity’

29:00 – What Mike has observed about young men and their thoughts on what it means to be a man

42:07 – One thing we can do to find success and one thing to completely avoid

53:34 – One thing people don’t know about Mike that he would like them to know and the one question Mike would know the answer to

57:36 – Jonathan thanks Mike for joining the show and lets listeners know where to connect with him

Tweetable Quotes

“Now I view money as something that easily comes to me. I try to think of it that way rather than repelling it away from me.” (04:16) (Mike)

“I just thought everybody around me was the same way. And so, I didn’t necessarily think about who was rich or who was poor. I knew whose dad owned the car dealership down the street and whose dad was the attorney, but my view of them was we’re equals.” (07:23) (Mike)

“It gives me a really unique view and seat in looking at the world of masculinity and the world of issues women deal with, such as pay equity. So, I’ve had a unique view of that and I’m glad I did because it’s really opened my mind to what’s going on.” (25:33) (Mike)

“Masculinity is more along the lines of being real, being authentic, and being vulnerable.” (27:06) (Mike)

“Life is so short; it’s so tender. You never know when you’re gonna lose the people around you. And I don’t think we can ever lose sight of that. And as I get older, I tend to choose more wisely the people that I put around me or the people I’m exposed to. I like to say in my world, ‘I want more givers around me and fewer takers.’” (42:59) (Mike)

“You gotta take control over your own life because nobody else is gonna look out for you. They’re worried about themselves. At the end of the day, you are in control of your mind, your body, what you say, and what you do. And if you don’t take action to be present and positive, nobody’s gonna want to be around you.” (50:00) (Mike)